"More than 1000 years ago, civilization was divided not into countries, but into different kingdoms, scattered on each continent, among them, 3 rose above the others, the kingdom of Ambrosia on our continent, the kingdom of Fenrir in the far north, and the kingdom of the elves on the continent of Kalaharis, the land of the giants. This period was called the ancient era"Eryl snapped her fingers, and a hologram of a world map appeared on the small table in front of her. "We don't have all the information, but historical accounts suggest that each of these kingdoms was struck by natural disasters after a massive incident. The resulting economic crises led to internal revolts by citizens who were severely affected by poverty. As a consequence, monarchies around the world were gradually abandoned, making way for new political systems. Though not always effective, these systems no longer limited suffering only to peasants."**
In the heavenly garden, Dora slowly lowered his gaze, as the azure eyes of the Queen pierced him.
She stood up and walked toward him, and for each step she did, Dora felt his anguish growing.
"What an ambiguous appearance... Your name was Anesidora? I suppose your guardians couldn't decide if they should give you a male or a female name, but let me know if you have any preference."
She stopped in front of him and leaned closer to his face.
"It's surprising to see another one who has beautiful eyes like that. Nice to meet you, I'm Gloria, People call me the Queen, but I'm also an Avatar, too, just like you."
Dora's eyes moved unconsciously towards the ground.
He hoped to drown the terror that consumed him by losing sight of the lady, but the opposite effect occurred. His impressive senses told him, all too accurately, that death was right in front of him.
"Hmm? You look a little shy... Oh, are you perhaps feeling uncomfortable?"
"N-No! Not at all..."
Dora replied, speaking without even trying. He felt like his body was no longer under his control. The Queen chuckled softly, seeing him panic.
*
*
Back in the car, Eryl continued her speech.
"To overcome rising revolts, ancient nobles resorted to silent negotiations or political marriages with some of the rebel leaders. At this time, the kingdom was on the brink of civil war. Like many other kingdoms, the future had to come at the price of the heads and blood of the nobles. It was then that a "miracle" appeared."
Solaria's mouth opened wide in surprise.
"A thousand years ago?" she asked.
"Yes, Princess. This is the first miracle, information that was kept secret by everyone and transmitted to the elites through a rulebook written centuries ago, the Code."
The faces of the young nobles showed concern, gradually understanding the servant's implications.
"Mother existed... one thousand years ago?" whispered Moonra.
*
*
The queen placed her hand on Dora's head. Suddenly, his vision became blurry and he felt like he was losing his balance.
Do not touch me!
He felt as if the ground disappeared beneath his feet and he shivered. When his vision returned, he was surprised to find himself sitting on the ground.
The Queen shook her hand and walked towards the table.
"My, what a nasty pest," she said. "I see, it's already awake, but it haven't taken over yet. I'm lucky to have met you now."
She sat down to a service of tea and cake and invited Dora to join her. He stood up shyly and walked towards her.
"Don't be so stiff, We're the same, two miracles fighting against the invaders within us."
Dora sat down, understanding the Queen's terrible words. He didn't know anything about her, but he was sure that she could read him like a book.
"You know?" he asked.
"Of course I do, haven't I told you we're the same? I know the danger that slowly devours you from the inside, but don't worry, I've waited too long to meet someone like you to let this thing take you away."
"Wait, it's a misunderstanding, she didn't do anything bad to me!" Dora stood up abruptly. The Queen looked at him curiously and smiled mockingly, making him aware of his own embarrassment.
"I mean... We... We work together, like a team. She's not doing anything bad to me, so please, can't you... Not forbid her to take me away? "
"Ah, it's just too precious... But you're wrong my dear, the thing inside you is the embodiment of a Sin, yours is called Greed, and contrary to what you think, sooner or later it will try to devour you."
She took a macaroon from one of the trays and brought it to her mouth.
"I know this, this is how we operate, we are the Avatars, and we play their game, and once the game is over, in their language when their Avatar is at max level, they will get them back as their body."
Dora was becoming more and more confused.
"... What are you talking about?"
"Hm?... Gosh, it's really hard to understand everything you're saying, were you actually talking about the snake girl?"
In her darkness, Midgard shivered. Dora opened his eyes wide and met the Queen's azure, how far was she able to decipher him? She laughed softly and poured Dora a glass of wine.
She didn't ask him his preferences, neither if he drank alcohol, Dora quickly understood that he was living in her world at the moment, and therefore, if the Queen offered you a drink, you drink it, no question permitted.
He grabbed the glass and poured the sour liquid into his mouth, before grimacing horribly, much to the Queen's amusement.
"Don't worry, if it's her you're worried about, you can relax. I learned a few things about her and... I wouldn't mind."
She rested her chin on her hands and looked at the young man.
"I don't know yet how you communicate with her, but give her this message, from Gluttony: you will not be punished for initiating a pact, as long as Anesidora remains in control."
Dora stood still for a moment, he couldn't see her, but he felt that Midgard reacted the same way.
He lowered his head and sighed.
"... Thank you."
"It's normal, I'm a very generous person, you can also tell her that she no longer needs to stay at the academy, her new cage will extend to the borders of the kingdom. Only the borders."
"Thank you... My Queen."
She laughed and lightly offered him another glass of wine, both of them enjoying a wonderful afternoon.
*
*
Eryl touched the globe and three continents lit up on the map.
"As war struck at the kingdom's gates, legend has it that a young girl, from the lowest social caste among the nobles, rose and overthrew the ancient royal family. Well, that's the fairy tale version, the true story is that Queen Gloria, who was then a teenager, woke up as the sin of gluttony. With immense power, beyond the norm of reality, she massacred the people who threatened the castle one by one, but since rebellion is a form of treason, among the hostiles were nobles. She massacred any of them, civilians, rebels, nobles, everything that carried the will to fight was buried."
The hologram showed the silhouette of the Queen on the central continent.
"It took a few months for Gloria to establish herself as a powerful figure and bring peace to our kingdom. Her reputation preceded her, and her fear-inducing tactics ultimately led to the cessation of fighting. Gloria was no longer seen as just another emissary; she was recognized as a unique life form, distinct from humans and other emissaries. She was close, but not equal, to a God. A God is someone who transcends time and space, and has the power to create anything, making them capable of manipulating reality. Gloria, on the other hand, was feared because, at heart, she was still human, and as such, imperfect. Nine hundred years ago, she emerged from the castle where she had been hidden for twenty years. Legend has it that some people who saw her for the first time after so long died of shock, because they witnessed one of her species' blessings: immortality."
She touched the globe again and seven figures appeared in different boxes.
"After that fateful day, she vowed never to leave her castle, except once every half-century when the heirs of each noble family were set to succeed their parents. On such occasions, she invited them to the castle to impress upon them the fact that they lived in a world where a monster held their very existence in the palm of her hand. She established the laws of the kingdom based on her own whims and fancies. If she wanted sheep to be raised in a lake, people would raise them in a lake; if she decreed that Monday was a fast day, no one would eat on Monday. The kingdom was a kingdom only because she loved the system of monarchy, the power of a long pure lineage, and nothing else. She loved her world in a certain way, a futile dream, and yet she made it a reality. That was the power of a god, the power to bend reality to one's will."
She looked wistfully at the silhouette of the Queen on the hologram, then at the figure right next to her, and her eyes darkened.
"As I said, a human will always be a human, and humans are skilled in malice and destruction. But what about another species possessing the blessings of a god? Six hundreds years ago, the kingdom received a report from adventurers exploring Kalaharis, and this would prove to be a revolutionary revelation: the existence of another being, transcending time and leading her people, the current Queen of the Elves, carrying the sin of envy."