"What has eight legs and big tits and likes to hang out in sewers?"
"A What?" Kuka returned, but I could see a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Did you meet something while gallivanting in the sewer?"
"So, you knew that there was a man-eating spider lady down there, and you just, I don't know, FORGOT TO TELL ME?!" I snapped, but she just lifted both eyebrows at me, feigning ignorance.
"I do not remember you asking me about such a thing, and Shigora is not likely to eat you, yet," Kuka laughed, but I found this less than funny.
Letting out a huff, I planted my hands on my hips, trying to project more annoyance than the fear that had left my heart pounding in the darkness of the sewer.
"Shigora, is it? Well, next time, a little heads-up would be nice," I said, attempting to regain some composure. "Anyway, that's not my only reason for being here. After last night, I have even more questions now than before. This world, it's... a lot more than I bargained for."
Kuka's expression sobered, and she motioned for me to sit across from her. "So, now that you have had a taste of fear, you would like to learn more? You still want to go back down there?"
"What? Of course, I do! I just don't want to be surprised the next time I do!" I growled, but then let out another big sigh. "Sorry. Last night's experience put a bit of the fear of god in me, and I would like to avoid any future surprises. Like, how did she know that I had been looking at the maps?!"
"There is no place that is off limits to me."
"Oh, hell no!" I roared as I flew back out of my chair to get into a defensive position, but I was just laughed at.
"It seems that our meeting last night has left a lasting impression on you," Shigora said from above.
I looked up just in time to see her lower down to my eye level from a thick silver thread. Seeing this creature in the light did not make me feel any better, so I distracted myself. The Spider Lady really did have an impressive rack!
"Typical male, but the fact that you didn't run is amusing, to say the least. Still, I am curious about why you, a prince, are interested in the underworld?" She asked as she lowered herself to the ground.
I steadied my breathing, refusing to let Shigora's sudden appearance rattle me further. "Interest is an understatement," I said, meeting her many, unnervingly perceptive eyes. "I plan to control the underworld, not to just dabble in it for fun. And it seems you're a major player I wasn't aware of."
Shigora's smile was enigmatic, her many eyes glinting. "Control is a strong word, young prince. Especially in a realm where shadows dictate the pace. But your ambition... it's intriguing."
Kuka observed our exchange with a knowing look. "I think that the two of you getting to know each other is good, considering your goal. Shigora knows the movement of everything in the kingdom."
I turned to her with a questioning look. "Is it normal for her to just come inside the castle? Should I be worried for the safety of the royal family?"
"What would you do if I did want to hurt them?"
There was no malice in Shigora's voice, and when I turned back to look into her eyes, not an easy task, there was a curious look in them. What would I do? Was there anything? This creature was bigger than me, stronger, and clearly older than both my lifetimes put together.
"I would figure something out, but I can't run away. That would just leave a bad taste in my mouth. For the first time, I belong somewhere, and people respect and love me. I know what it is like to not have them and to have them ripped away, so I would figure something out, or more than likely die trying," I said with more honesty than resolve. I wasn't a hero, but I didn't think you needed a reason to want to protect what meant the most to you.
Shigora tilted her head in a surprisingly human gesture of contemplation. The movement caused her silky, silver locks to flow over her shoulders like water over a cliffside. "Determined, aren't you? Admirable," she mused, her gaze lingering on me. "Perhaps your presence in the Underworld will be... refreshing."
Kuka nodded, almost approvingly. "Gideon, not all entities of the night are foes to be bested. Some, such as Shigora here, have been guardians of sorts. But your willingness to protect what is yours translates well no matter the realm."
There was a silence hanging in the air, heavy with unspoken words. Shigora and Kuka, ancient beings of this magical reality, seemed to be measuring the will behind my words. It was as if they could see into the core of who I was and what I stood for.
Shigora finally revealed herself in her cloak of shadows, her eyes appearing as faint glimmers beneath a shroud. "For such a small human, you have intrigued me. I like interesting things, but I am not yet sure how I feel about you. You have great potential, but the world is changing, and not just at our shores. A war is brewing, and your heart alone will not be enough to stop it."
War... Such a stupid ordeal, but I couldn't control everything. What I could do was prepare, and plan. "Thank you for that," I said, but she was already gone. Behind me, Kuka let out a gasp, and I turned around to find her breathing hard, and sweating.
"What are... you?!" She demanded of me once she got her breath back. "Are you completely crazy, or just too stupid to be scared?!"
I just stared at her. Of course, I was scared, but she had been playing it off like they were old friends. This was clearly not the case from the wild look in Kuka's eyes.
"I mean, you seemed fine," I said, but that just got me a heavy glare that made me put my hands up in defense.
"She had been waiting for you! I almost became a snack for her after I refused to tell her anything about you! Do you even know what you have awoken?!" She nearly screamed at me.
The intensity of Kuka's reaction made me reassess what I had just gone through. The realization that I had inadvertently put her in danger sobered me instantly.
"I didn't realize," I admitted, my demeanor changing to one of concern. "I never meant to bring danger to you or anyone else in the castle. She seemed...curious, more than anything else. But now I see that there are layers to this world that I've only just scratched the surface of."
Kuka paced the room, her composure slowly returning. "She's from an ancient lineage, not prone to meddling in the affairs of humans or elves," she said. "But she's been watching you since you arrived in this kingdom, which is more involvement than she's shown in centuries. And that's worrying."
I sighed deeply, leaning back against the desk. The weight of everything hit me like a ton of bricks. "I need to understand the extent of what I'm dealing with here, and what this impending war could mean for us."
Kuka stopped her pacing and looked at me, her expression stern. "You've stepped into a much larger game, Gideon. But if Shigora is taking an interest, it means she sees something in you. Just be wary; her intrigue cuts both ways; it can shield you or eviscerate you."
The room felt stifling suddenly, the walls too close. "Right," I said, steadying my voice. "I want to be prepared, Kuka. Teach me. You hold the keys to knowledge that I need. I need to know what else is out there."
Kuka nodded, a sense of resolve passing between us. "Very well. Preparation is the foundation of success and survival. I'll aid you as best as I can."
With an unspoken agreement in place, we spent the next hours poring over ancient texts and hidden lore within the library, unraveling the secrets and powers of Velum. It was fascinating and terrifying all at once, revealing a world that was as beautiful as it was deadly.
As I left the library late into the night, my head was full of whispers from the past, warnings from the present, and the unknown promises of the future. If my life before had been a straight line, now it was a web of possibilities and perils, and I was at its very center.
Soaking into my bed, I contemplated everything. The looming war, my role in it, and how I could navigate this increasingly complex life without losing myself in the process. The one certainty among all these uncertainties was that tomorrow was another day to forge ahead, to learn, and to protect what had become mine.
As sleep finally claimed me, I was neither afraid nor at peace; I simply was, and that was enough for now.