Prometheus was led through the halls towards the throne room. He was surrounded by guards and Shadow Cat leading the way. 'Shall I get a spell ready?' His grimoire mentally asked floating beside him invisible to everyone. 'No. Not yet. Make a note that if I do need to attack these people get the nonlethal spells ready. I don't need to kill anyone. I understand their trepidation, but that doesn't mean I have to like it' he answered back.
They entered the throne room where Cornelius sat with the Old Lord who stood on his right the room was filled with guards. The new king sat with white robes and a green mask upon his face. Next to him his emerald sword. Prometheus and Shadow Cat approached as the Hand bowed, "Your majesty this stranger refuses to identify himself to us and only to you. He is requesting an audience and has been adamant. I apologize for his interruption of your daily duties, but he has threatened the lives of our people in this palace" Shadow Cat was clearly nervous. "It's okay Shadow Cat I saw this meeting outside through the crown. So stranger what is it you want? Mind you threatening my people has not put me in a generous mood so make it plain" Cornelius said with disdain.
"My name is Prometheus. I am a primordial who works for the World" he said this to let it sink in. Shadow Cat's eyes bulged along with everyone else's. The stranger had been right no one would be able to stop him not even the king. "What can I do for you Prometheus?" Cornelius asked with a more direct tone now that the stakes had rose. "I am looking for someone. Someone you should thank that put you in that seat. The Slayer. He has gone missing and last whereabouts was here in your realm. I would like to know where he went?"
'Use the spell Truth Seer' he mentally said to his grimoire. The spell activated in Prometheus's Mind Palace igniting runes in his mind. "To be honest he left here after going through the library. He was not present when we fought the Knights of the Chivalry Realm. He was even blunt that after killing the king his job was done here. Have not seen him since leaving the council chamber. When I last heard from him a puppet that works for the World arrived to give me a key to our royal vault. That is all I know" Cornelius confessed. 'He seems to be telling the truth. No hesitation and the spell can clearly tell he is not lying' Prometheus thought.
Prometheus nodded at this. "Do you know where he was heading afterwards? A realm he may have mentioned that was next on his list?" The king shook his head. 'Still the truth. Well then this I thought would be advantageous before speaking to the Gate. Such a bother' Prometheus then bowed, "Thank you for your time. I will leave you in peace" he then turned to walk away. "I have a few questions of my own if you'll indulge me?" Cornelius said stopping his departure. Prometheus turned raising an eye brow. "What questions might you have?" He asked with a cold tone.
"Why is the World looking for the Slayer? Isn't he in constant contact with your master? See I consider the man a friend and I owe him much we all do. So I ask out of concern?" Cornelius remained calm and kept his voice as such. Prometheus nodded at this, "I can understand. A blood debt is not something you can do without feeling obligation to repay that debt. You were a slave right? Or were you cattle? Either way you were freed and now you sit as king. You are a living myth itself. So I give you this answer out of respect for all you have achieved. I wouldn't ask questions on the business of the World. Your title could be taken away if you stand between the business of my master" he then turned to leave without hearing Cornelius's retort.
He left the palace and his grimoire became visible floating next to him. "Well that was a waste of time" the book said. "No kidding. Well so much for going to the Gate with leverage. Keep the Truth Seer open it will lie to us" they walked through the forest till they finally came to the Gate sitting empty of the green face. He sighed and came up to the empty ring began to bang on it. "WAKE UP!" He screamed.
The ring flickered and appeared the smiling face of the gate. "Well hello brother! What do I owe the pleasure?" He asked giggling. Prometheus looked unamused as he shook his head. "Jormungandr…you are a troublesome fool. What are my duties in our master's service?" The gate looked confused scowling. "You create life from your plane. Keeper of the Flame of Life. Master of all magic and spells. Working to create new realms, new species, and give us new stories to speak about over the ages" the Gate explained with a dull annoyance. Prometheus nodded, "And yours?" He asked glaring at the Gate. "My duties are travel, eyes and ears to the World. With my body in every realm I take up the serpent pass connecting all realms to one another. I am the World's Serpent" the Gate recited this like a prayer.
"Seems you have remembered your duties. So then explain to me where is the Slayer?" He asked point blank. He sat upon a rock the same rock Sister Spinner sat upon as he was brought into this drama. "I wouldn't know" the Gate lied and smiled. "You can't possibly think that's going to work?" Prometheus was now getting perturbed. "Come now you can't blame me. My life is boring I need the excitement. This is my show too!" The Gate said frowning at Prometheus. The Primordial fixed his glasses and sighed. "Where is he?" Prometheus asked again. The Gate rolled its eyes. "Ash Realm" he told him. Prometheus shot his head up straight glaring at the Gate with suspicion. "The…Ash Realm…you sent a servant of the World's to the Ash Realm?!" He then stood up clenching his fists. "The Wolf King is another subordinate of the World what could possibly happen to him?" The Gate made a good argument, but Prometheus couldn't let it win. "True. And if I were a betting man and I'd like to think I am. This whole thing is our sisters doing? Right? She asked you to do this?" The Gate remained silent.
Prometheus rolled his eyes, "Oh come on just saying the realms name gives up the ghost Jor. I know about the king and sister's love affair for centuries" Prometheus stood cleaning dirt off his pants. "She give a reason for this?" He asked. "She saw something in his fate and it was time she was to enter is life. She could be doing this for the greater good" the Gate stated. "And sticking it to our master she has never been the same since the Puppeteer" Prometheus stated. "She is the Weaver of Fates she did this like I said for a reason I believe will save us. Destiny is playing out" The Gate was not smiling. Prometheus was deep in thought. 'Long ago she saw the Regime as a future threat. Worried about another Puppeteer situation. She had a contingency plan in place the Walking Ruin plan is what she called it once.'
'A way to bring the Regime down if it was becoming too much…this may be what's happening here. Or she is using this plan for something else?' he crossed his arms thinking. "We work together in creating life and legends. She right now is about to create her masterpiece" he said softly. "Well look's like we are done here" Prometheus said turning from the gate. His grimoire opened up and a beam of light shot out creating a swirling portal. "What will you do?" The Gate asked. "Great question. Maybe come to the Ash Realm and see for yourself" he then stepped into the portal walking into a landscape of thick fog.
The Gate materialized behind him. "Good luck brother" The Gate stated. Prometheus said nothing as he walked into the fog. "Master what do you expect from this?" The Grimoire asked. "Simple. I'm here to see my beloved sister and retrieve the Slayer" he said glaring forward. "Yeah well your face shows a catastrophe in the making once we find your sister and the slayer" the book mocked. Prometheus said nothing as he smirked.