The demon appeared at the front door, his demeanor as calm and composed as if he were taking a leisurely stroll through a park . His skin, much like that of Alzaroth, had a grey hue, but unlike his brethren, this one boasted four small horns protruding from the sides of his head.
Standing tall and imposing, he scanned the room with a piercing gaze that seemed to size up each individual with contempt. In his presence, even the most confident person would shrink to the size of a mere insect awaiting the crushing blow of an iron heel.
Strange, there were 300 people and the court was as silent as a crypt...
The hushed whispers and murmurs were swallowed by the overwhelming sense of dread that permeated the room. The demon looked around, relishing in the fear that emanated from every person present. It was as if he fed off their terror and it only fueled his delight.
The king's booming voice cut through the tense silence that fell upon the throne room as soon as the intruder entered. The air was heavy with suspicion and unease, but the demon seemed completely at ease.
"May I know why we have been graced with your presence, Maalkar?" King Edward asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and authority. It was evident that he knew exactly who this was.
"King Edward, what a pleasure to see you again," Maalkar replied in a faint voice . "It must have been 9 or 10 years since we last met? Oh yes, when we extended an olive branch at the end of the war , I remember how you and your men grabbed it as if it was gold." He chuckled, remembering the past encounter .''Seems like you still bring that pouch of gold with you...''
"and it was nearly taken by one of yours....I reiterate my question, why is the demon King's envoy here?" The king asked again, making eye contact with his guards who subtly started to move closer, ready for any unexpected moves from Maalkar.
As the tension rose, I could see Ser Elarion and Ser Renard exchanging a quick glance before moving to opposite sides of the room, preparing for a potential fight. Evalie and I exchanged a look - while it was not unheard of for demons to send envoys, this particular visit seemed out of place. After all, this feast was meant to celebrate their defeat at the hands of our kingdom.
But Maalkar seemed unfazed by our confusion. "I am here to join in your celebration," he stated casually as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "I understand your excitement - after all, how long has it been since you've won anything against us?" His words dripped with sarcasm and mockery, causing a collective gasp from those in attendance.
The demon's gaze shifted slowly from the king to me, his eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity. I could feel his scrutinizing stare assessing my worth and potential threat.
His eyes locked onto mine, and a wicked smile crept onto his lips, though his eyes remained cold and filled with anger. ''So you are the youngster that killed Alzaroth,'' he said, his voice dripping with disdain. ''Quite an accomplishment for a mere worm-like yourself.''
I remained silent, turning towards the trembling servant who must have pissed himself , holding a tray of wine. Casually taking another cup, I approached the menacing demon.Sarcasm can only be answered with sarcasm.
The guests around us flinched and backed away as they saw me getting closer to the creature they were desperately trying to avoid.
''Yes, that's me,'' I admitted proudly. ''And since you're here to congratulate us on our victory, I'm sure you wouldn't mind sharing a cup of wine with us.'' I extended the cup towards him, my hand shaking slightly as his cold fingers and sharp claws lightly brushed against it.
For a moment, the demon stood still before finally accepting the cup. His piercing gaze never left my face as I took a sip from my own cup. ''I am curious,'' I began, smiling coyly at him and tilting my head to the side. ''Did you really come here just to share in our joy over your brethren's death? What did your king think of Alzaroth's demise?''
''He was weak'' he asnwered
Nervous murmurs spread through the room as the guards started to close in on us. But I remained calm as a lake; after all, I knew exactly who this demon was - an envoy serving under the king of demons. And with two powerful war saints present in the room, any attempt of violence would surely result in his immediate demise.
''What were his last words?'' He then asked
''Mh?'' I hummed, my confusion evident in my voice.
''Alzaroth's last words, what were they?'' His tone was serious and his gaze intense.
''Why are you so interested in it?'' I asked, genuinely curious.
His expression turned grave as he replied, ''I regarded him as my friend. I would like to know what his final thoughts were before...before he passed.''He said the last words passed through the hammering of his teeth.
''Well, his 'literal' last words were just a gurgle as his blood filled his mouth and throat," I said bluntly mimicking his coughing as my spits went around "But if you're asking about his last coherent words, I believe they were something along the lines of 'It was a fun fight, but I think it's time for it to end'." Nonetheless a chill settled over me as memories of that fateful battle resurfaced,after all I still bore the scar of that event.
"What about his body? Where is it?" He pressed on.
"Where are they, you mean?" I corrected with a cheeky smile . "His body is mounted on the wall of my room. As for his head..." I hesitated, unsure if I should reveal the gruesome truth. But ultimately, I admitted with a dark chuckle, "His head sits on a shelf in my chamber. I use it as a bowl to clean my teeth each morning and evening. Though, perhaps I should also do so in the afternoon...but I must admit, laziness often gets the best of me." In the end I have not used it for my pee, I mean I tried but it would splash all around....
The sound of gulping surrounded me, as all eyes in the room fixated on my every move. Despite their doubts, I remained calm and in control, knowing that the demon standing before me posed no threat to my safety. In fact, if he dared make a move against me, he would meet a swift end by either my hand or the hands of the other formidable individuals in attendance, after all he was that weak right now and the only reason for which the demon king kept him as pet was because he was good with words, perfect to use for diplomacy amongst the high demon he was probably the weakest . My confidence radiated like a shield, protecting me from any potential danger.
Knowing that, what was the issue if I wanted to have some fun with him?