A noble in formal attire rushes through the door into the throne room of Celestine empires Lord.
He sees the Lord of Celestine conversing with four other Nobles, discussing their political alignment with the Cassell church.
The Lord, listening to the nobles below, is clearly agitated. He sits on his wooden throne with his hand clenching his long brown hair at the side of his face and his expression becoming more and more sour alongside his blue eyes shifting from noble to noble as they each took turns speaking.
The lord has his conversation interrupted by this very noble.
"Lord Kaiser! Lord Kaiser!" The noble bands down to catch his breath.
The Lord peeks, curious by the man's actions. "What is it"
After a few moments of catching his breath, he finally speaks. "The country of Dahlia has fallen to the Demons!"
Everyone within the room became pale.
"H-how did the city of Gralin Fall!?? And what happened to the army we've sent!" Another noble shouted.
"I-I don't know!"
Another man enters. "Your lordship! I have urgent news from the border! Rangers patrolling the border are said to have found some of the soldiers with the head of General Harry."
"What!! When was this" Lord Kaiser exclaimed.
"T-they were just found three days ago."
"Three days?! And what about the city??"
The noble stutter. "O-o-o-over two weeks my lord."
The city of Gralin is a month away from the border at least with the road they had to take." one of the nobles said.
"If that's the case they either fled or were killed before serving as reinforcements…" a third noble concluded. "Where are these soldiers now?"
"They're all dead." The man said.
"Dah! Of course they're dead."
"Yes. All with their throats slit. Bandits must've ambushed them in the night."
The Lord got from his chair. "How they die doesn't matter any more. We must deploy any remaining troops we have and reinforce our east and south-eastern borders! No one goes in or out of that country! no one!"
"Y-your lordship The bishop won't be happy-"
Kaiser quickly glared at the noble talking ."THIS IS A DIRECT ORDER FROM YOUR FUTURE EMPEROR!! I WILL NOT BE SLOWED DOWN BY THAT FOOLISH MAN ANY FURTHER!!"
"FOR FAR TOO LONG I LET HIM HELP GOVERN THIS CONSOLE WITH EACH DECISION HE MADE LEADING US TO FURTHER RUIN!!"
"L-lord Please calm dow-"
"I WILL NOT CALM MYSELF ARNOLD! WE'VE WAITED AND DID NOTHING! FOR YEARS!! AND FOR WHAT!?? FOR OUR ENEMIES TO GET STRONGER AS THEY RAVISHED OUR NEIGHBORS???"
Kaiser turned his head to the side of the room. "Harold!!"
A ginger haired man wearing light armor appears from the side. He quickly gets to his knees, trying to keep himself composed. "Y-yes your lordship?
"Have your men Apprehend Bishop George Reign the third and bring him here." With the order given, Kaiser waved off the man to complete his given command.
"Y-your lordship T-this is against the law of the church! Our people could r-revolt, not to mention-"
"The PEOPLE will revolt if they hear of our Failure to support the Heroes of Prophecy! The PEOPLE will revolt if their homes are destroyed and lands burned!" Kaiser stepped closer and closer to the noble still raising his opposition. " The PEOPLE will revolt if word gets out that we could've prevented this DISASTER! THEY WILL SEE US AS INCOMPETENT AND WEAK MEN OF THE COURT, INCAPABLE OF DEFENDING OUR OWN BORDERS!!!!"
Kaiser now stared down at the now cowering Noble.
"From henceforth The Church will have no more bearings in how I can govern our people or military"
Kaiser turned away from the noble, leaving the throne room.
"B-but y-y-your Lordships-"
"You can't just exclude the church! God would never approve of this decision!" Another noble finished.
Kaiser glanced behind himself with a furious gaze. He turned to Guard beside him, giving an indistinctive order. quickly after the guards escorted the other men in the room out leaving jus the nobles and Lord.
A cold sweat ran down the nobles faces face. "L-Lord Kaiser?"
A few moments later a mountain of ten guards entered the throne room, locking all the doors.
"I relieve you four of your duties as my advisors," Kaiser said.
"God. The lord's gone mad." The fourth nobles muttered.
Not long after the guards approached the noblemen. The nobles pleaded for mercy as the floor became painted with red.
The Lord watched on as each men was executed before him until it was finally finished. "Clean this up." And with those last few words Lord Kaiser left his bloodied throne room.
********
Just outside of the Demon Castle a blue winged demon flies hold a scroll in hand. He Approaches the castle landing on the Balcony. Awaiting there is Bjorn, whose horns are slowly growing back to normal. He takes the message in hand and allows the demon to leave as he delivers it to the recipient.
Walking along the Hall, Bjorn notices that a lot of renovations are being done. Eventually he enters the room with Rakon working on a piece of Parchment. Bjorn hands over the scroll.
"Very good." Rakon says, taking the scrolled message.
He opens it reading its contents. He smiles. "I think you'll be happy to hear that the Last City has fallen, Bjorn." Rakon quickly shift his expressions to that of disappointment. "However it seems the King and queen are now dead."
Bjorn is taken aback by this news. "That can't be true. Who wrote this report?"
"None other than Azar. Half the army was also wiped unfortunately but we can still make due." Rakon got up from his chair leaving the room as Bjorn just stood.
"There'll be some important changes we'll have to undertake." Rakon Gestured for Bjorn to follow.
Walking through the hall, demon servants and succubus assist in ensuring the walls and decorations are done. With everything being adorn in the colors of black, red and purple.
"Since my brother is now dead the right of succession needs to be held again, which means the appointment of new generals. Of course if you wish you can choose to opt out of this arrangement. I don't mind picking new candidates from the Pit. In fact I already have a few in mind." Rakon glanced over, seeing Bjorn's bitter.
He continues. "As you know, This also means that I'll need to be released from my confines below, so be sure to send someone to get me."
"What about the Girl?" Bjorn suddenly asked.
"Hmm?" Rakon stops. Bjorn follows suit.
"I've heard you've formed a contract with her, allowing her freedom if she kills people of your choosing."
Rakon narrowed his eyes before shifting them elsewhere. "What of it?"
"Are you sure we should let her free? This girl is Immortal capable of killing our best. In fact I've heard she killed two of our guards just last week alone."
Rakon rolled his eyes. "Firstly, I never promised her freedom. I simply offered release from her current confines to be put under my protection. So if it's any relief to you, I'll be the one keeping a close eye on her."
Rakon began to walk past Bjorn.
"And as for those guards, They've all been sufficiently warned to keep away from her."
Bjorn started following behind. "And what if she doesn't kill that maid of hers? Succubus are known for overstimulating the bodies of even demons. And the maid is-"
"That maid will die. Just like the other two," Rakon said. "In fact I'm handing someone she should despise on a silver platter to her. I'm sure she'll want to play around with her food before she eventually bites into it."
Rakon glared back, seeing Bjorn tense up and clutching his hand. "That look doesn't suit you Bjorn. Don't forget your role as a General."
"Y…Yes…" Bjorn released his hands.
"Aside from Kalika. I think it's proper that we prepare a celebration for this upcoming week. It should give me just enough time to arrive once word is received for my release. I'll even have a few old friends come by."
Rakon stopped, seeing pink petals flow by him. Looking to his left he saw the flower in the preserved pink garden start wilting away, preparing for the change in weather.
"What a shame. Looks like they're losing their beauty once again."
********
"
Groups of prisoners are escorted from the arena by guards. Some gave glances back watching Kalika. She stared blankly at another cowering inmate lying on his back, twirling her dagger by his face.
The guards quickly dragged the man away. They then exchanged nervous glances at each other unsure how to proceed.
"
Kalika glared back at the demon women standing before her. She returned to spinning her blade a few more times before getting up.
The other two demon women arrived.
Seeing the other two arrive, she sighs, quickly giving in.
Soon after, the three escorted Kalika back to her cell. Shortly after, she's pushed into her cell by one of the women. Looking back she closed her cell door, allowing them to lock it.
Finished with their duty, the three ladies leave, conversing in their native language. Obviously talking about Kalika then shifting to talk about Rhonda, her maid.
Kalika slumped herself into her bed, looking at the stony ceiling above. She raised her hand, conjuring the blood blade in it. She throws it to the ground, repeating the process over and over. Conjuring it, and then throwing it to the floor.
"Zorbian… Zorbian… Zorbian… Zorbian."
She conjured it once again, now examining it. The pure red matted blade with black accents started to feel more and more comfortable the longer she held it. And despite its random act of killing her she feels in much better control overall.
"Strange…"
She can feel her heart starting to race, reaching its limit. She slowed it down, calming herself.
"Even with you, I'm still no match for them…or Rakon…But Rhonda…"
Kalika's arms became limp. She fell into silence, turning to her side.
"There's no other way…"
"It's not like she mattered, anyways… She's a demon just like them… and they're all the same. They're just liars… all of them."
"Liars?"
Kalika recognized this voice.
"Rakon…" Kalika refused to look in his direction.
Rakon stood just outside her cell door, peering through the bars. "You should be excited. One more week and you're finally released from your shackles. In fact I'll have something special to share with you once this bout is over."
Kalika peeked at the demon. She returned her gaze back to the before her, uninterested.
Rakon gave a slight frown. "Don't feel like talking today either, huh."
Rakon turned to leave. "Have it your way. By the way if it's of any interest… That last city has fallen. And the remaining generals of the human army dead. From this point on this country is now demon territory. So you should expect some big changes Kalika."
Rakon gave a sly smile before leaving.
Kalika in the shadows of her cell, begins to feel flushed and teary eyed. She wipes her eyes a few times, as she clutches her blood blade much more tightly.
"It was alway inevitable…" She said to herself. Her heart started to ache, a feeling she didn't recognize. "N-no…No...… I hate demons. I hate them!"
Thoughts of Lillian flashes in Kalika's mind. "It only took half a year for Lillian to win the war with the demon king… humans really are just weak… They'll probably just make us all their slaves… Then it's only a matter of time before they'll want to conquer other countries."
Kalika's dagger slipped away from her hand as she moved to hug herself. "It…it's all my fault…I-"
"No! I refuse to believe him!... I won't believe him!"
********
Somewhere deep in the mountain forest in the encroaching darkness, Deer's jump through and past trees. Each one of them is trying to escape something. An earth rod is shot through most of the heads, neck and even bodies of the fleeing deer's. Rod after rod killing each deer in sight with no regard for the forest.
across the forest and the trees laid the corpse and blood of the deer's. A being of pure white, blonde hair and yellow eyes approached on of their corpses. Touching the deer, he absorbed it into his body.
"These creatures care so little magic, but it's still sufficient for lasting nearly a day."
It moves to absorb more deer's but is suddenly shot in the back by an arrow. It turns out to be a frightened young hunter. The hunter quickly scurries away, panicked.
An earth arrow is then shot in the hunter's back, piercing through his chest. He drops down hard on the ground.
"Thank you for the meal."
Touching the man, he is absorbed into the white being leaving behind his clothes.
The Angel Terrocht smiled constantly. "His magic will last me three months."
Terrocht started to glow brightly as it looked at the clothes on the ground, taking them.
He starts to put the clothes on. "Yes God Cassell… I shall find her… Understood…"
With the clothes on he shifts and contorts his skin then slowly changes its color to match that of the man he had just killed. "Yes…My new mission is to find the Evil one. And seal her away for all eternity."
Terrocht's eyes dimmed back down. He absorbed the remainder of his kills leaving the stains of red behind in the forest.
He stops for a moment, looking at his hands. "Hmmm… I'll need a lot more magic energy another one hundred years should be sufficient."
With those last few words, he continued his journey, trekking deeper into the forest with a singular goal in mind.