It was raining,the weather outside mirroring the tension in the room which was palpable as the various leaders of Opal gathered, each with their own agenda and concerns. At the center of it all was Hiera, the goblin captive.
The grand hall of Duke Philip's estate bustled with leaders.Glenn and Jack,the raider chief as well as the twin knights Mord and Mal. The Centaur Chief Chiron, his wife Rose, Ebern of the orcs, Minotaur Chief Ovid, Harpies Chief Altair, Lizardman Chief Gabbi, Merfolk Proxima, Gnoum Chief Hienz, Girgon chiefs Kalori, Euna, and Gwen, and Sharpling Chief Eduar all gathered around the room's center. Kojo, Sharone, Koniko, Lin, Adriana, Sasha, Rey, and Eden stood alongside them.
Sasha stepped forward . Her eyes narrowed, her voice cold and calculated.
"You're going to tell us everything you know, or I'll make sure you taste true dispair that is empty space. No light, no hope, just eternal darkness. You'll be trapped with nothing but your own thoughts, and eventually, even those will fade away and your mind will break. Then I will come and begin to ravage what is left of your body. You will wish for a death that will never come. You will want your demise but will only experience torment and suffering" Sasha's words dripped with malice, her gaze piercing Hiera's defenses.
Hiera snorted, rolling her eyes. "Please, darling. I've lived in worse conditions than any dungeon. Your threats are laughable. I've survived on scraps and sewage, fought for every meal, and guess what? I survived. You can't show me nothing." Hiera's confidence was unwavering, her smirk a clear challenge to Sasha's authority.
Sasha's face twisted in rage, her hand grasping for Hiera's throat and lifting her off the ground. The lights flickered as space slowly converged on Heira.
" Your survival means nothing in the face of death.Your overcoming struggl e up to this point are of no consequence.I'll strangle the life out of you, and no one will ever find your body. As for your suffering.... Well,hope that no one knows of your fate
" Sasha's fingers tightened around Hiera's neck, her grip like a vice.
Hiera's smile grew wider, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, how original. The classic 'I'll kill you ' threat. You're not even creative. Do you think you're the first to try and intimidate me? . Your petty threats are nothing but a joke." Hiera's laughter echoed through the room, mocking Sasha's attempts to break her. Sasha's grup tightened and she shocked but the smile on her face remained,her expression remained defiant.
Adriana our her hand on Sasha shoulder. Sasha glanced at her and released the hobgoblin who dropped heavily to the ground, coughing.
Adriana approached, gentle in her tone.
" Don't mind her. We're all in edge right now so please understand her annoyance."
Sasha scoffed and turned away, folding her arms.
"Please, we just want to understand." Adrian said kneeling down beside her with a gentle smile on her face, her voice soft and soothing.
"We don't want to hurt you. Why are you fighting for Decorum? What do you hope to achieve?" Adriana's eyes locked onto Hiera's, filled with empathy and compassion.
Hiera's gaze faltered, her smirk slipping for a moment. "I...I want to protect my people."
" But don't you think there were other way you could have done this?" Adriana asked. Her expression remained gentle, her tone encouraging. She ou a hand in Hiera's shoulder.
"I understand. We all want to protect our loved ones. But Decorum's methods are destructive, harmful."
Hierarchy seemed to ponder her words then her defiant smile returned.
" Oh? And what makes you humans any different. You've looked down on us and hunted us since the olden day. If not for the existence of our king you muddy pigs would have driven us to extinction. Even now we hear stories of families going out to hunt for food for their families only to be killed by human hands. Spare me the lecture on right and wrong."You're no better than the others." She said as flames engulfed her as she tried to break free, burning Adriana's hand. Kojo's Threads however supreme her power. Sasha took a step forward but Adriana stopped her.
" I'm fine" she said conjuring water with her magic to heal her hand.
The room fell silent. Kojo let out a sigh prepared to intervene, but a tense atmosphere filled the room.
As Sharone's aura shifted, an unsettling energy emanated from her, casting a pall of intimidation over the room. Her presence seemed to expand, filling the space with an unspoken threat, making the air thick with tension. Her piercing eyes gleamed with a cold, calculated intensity. The atmosphere grew heavy, weighing upon the shoulders of those present, as if the very darkness itself had coalesced around her. Duke Philip's usual composure faltered, his eyes darting nervously; Gabbi's jesting demeanor sobered; and even the battle-hardened Ebern and Ovid exchanged uneasy glances. Kojo, however, stood steadfast, his gaze locked onto Sharone with unwavering trust. Hiera, still defiant, felt the first tremors of fear creeping up her spine as Sharone's aura enveloped her, its chilling presence stripping away her bravado. The room held its collective breath, sensing the promise of ruthless efficiency and unyielding resolve that Sharone's aura conveyed: cross her, and suffer the consequences.
Her eyes narrowed, and her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Hiera, you have two options. Cooperate, and we grant you freedom. Refuse, and...well, let's just say you'll wish for death." Sharone's smile sent chills down the spines of even the most hardened leaders.
Heinz whispered to Glenn, "I wouldn't want to be in her bad books."
Gabbi whispered, "How did Kojo bag such a hottie?"
Sharone glanced at them and they looked away as if they'd done nothing.
Kojo smiled at Sharone as she returned to his side. "Didn't know you had that in you."
Sharone's voice was barely audible. "I'd do anything for you."
" Huh?"
" Huh?"
" I thought you said something."
" Oh it's nothing." Sharone said quickly,looking away.
Kojo glanced at her and shrugged.
(Clueless as ever.) Sysia said.
Hiera cleared her throat. "If you're done, I'll begin.Decorum's army is marching toward Ekron. They'll arrive in half a day from the goblin nation."
Hiera shrugged. "I joined Decorum to eradicate the class system among goblins, but even I know that our leader, Krone, strayed from our mission of equality within our race as well as with other races."
"Why attack Ekron thought? We have nothing to do with their intra-nation conflict." Kalori asked.
"It's doubtful the goblins themselves are behind this. The drug Glamour, enhancing their strength, likely comes from an external source. They're being used as pawns." Lin theorized.
" But I did hear that this specific attack was ordered by someone else." Hiera added.
"Then they plan occupy Ekron and use it as a base to bring down the Kingdom of Archadia."Rose speculated.
" That'd make more sense. It means they're in it 'cause their aims align." Ovid said.
Kojo's eyes narrowed. "It's gotta be the Dark Apostles."
"What about the Goblin King? Doesn't he have no interest in fighting humans?" Duke Philip inquired.
Hiera shook her head. "I only take orders."
Kojo walked toward and looked down at Hierarchy,his have expressionless. He extended his claws and she braced herself closing her eyes but he instead sliced through the web binding her.
"Part of the deal was information for freedom. But you're not free yet."
Sharone snapped her fingers, branding Hiera's forehead with a sigil.
"It's a bind to prevent you from making any moves against us.You'll provide us with the goblins' battle strategy and formation. Freedom comes after the threat is dealt with." She said.
"Things seem lively here."A voice said from the entrance.
Sol entered accompanied by Jaro and Arin.
"I missed the fun, but it's good you're all here," Sol said, surveying the room.Sol's gaze met Sharone's, and they exchanged subtle nods.