Scene-1:
All the ministers became speechless as they were stunned with the appearance of their master who they hadn't seen in a long time. The silence was followed by a loud sound of several knees hitting the ground at once as all ministers prostrated to Rudra. Even though their heads were down one could notice that they were overwhelmed with emotions. Some held back, some sniffed and some outrightly cried.
All the 8 ministers of the Arcanum were present there. They were Elsabeth Sang La Nuitrouge, Merlin, Zodd, Mors, Querehsha, Jatayu Airborne and Swamp.
Rudra was completely shocked by the situation. He expected at least someone to be upset with his return because ministers would no longer hold the highest authority in the Arcanum. But contrary to what he expected it seemed his return was more than welcoming.
The first one to speak was Merlin, the greatest mage in Arcanum, "My lord, if we were the reason for your absence this long we are extremely sorry. Although we managed to maintain Arcanum but in your absence we were nothing but puppets with no strings. Everyone in Arcanum exists solely to serve you. Please once again command us as you fit."
Merlin spoke in a cool and calm way with a light smile. Merlin was known for being a fun loving and playful person. She always saw the bright side in things and would often crack jokes during serious times. Merlin looked like a cool woman in her mid twenties but was actually an ageless Majin. She was the smartest minister. She oversees the magic and science development in Arcanum. Merlin loved knowledge. Because of her desire to learn everything.
Merlin tended to use anyone as a magical guinea pig to test out new techniques she learned so long as the results were good. Merlin was a very calm and passive woman, almost never losing her cool regardless of the situation. Often, most people had a difficult time telling what she is after. Despite her usually kind and calm behavior, Merlin knew when to be serious. This was one of those moments.
"Master! I had been waiting for you for a very long time. For 20 years, I was lamenting that there was no one who could truly best me in a battle. Although my fellow ministers are strong, even they could not completely defeat me without putting their life on the line.I was very lonely as there was nobody stronger than me to motivate me to fight and train. But today, with your mere presence you made me feel weak and rekindle my passion for battle."
A passionate speech was given by a towering figure over 7 feet. His physique was the epitome of strength, with bulging muscles covered in scars from countless battles. His face was rugged and beast-like, with sharp, angular features with His eyes glowing with a menacing amber or red hue, broad nose, visible fangs, short, spiky, wild, and unkempt dark brown hair. Zodd often wears heavy, dark armor that looks ancient and battle-worn, adorned with spikes and demonic motifs. His armor was functional yet intimidating, designed for battle rather than ornamentation. A massive, jagged greatsword rested on his back.
"You are too loud and too talkative, Zodd. While you say such things in front of his majesty, you are the most uncooperative one in all of us." said a tall skeleton with an expensive cloak in a cold, reprimanding tone. He wore a gray colored cloak. His eyes were glowing with small blue flames.
"Watch your mouth, Mors. I follow the master and only him." Zodd retorted and folded his hands. Zodd was from a heteromorphic race, so his current form was not his true form. Even this base form looked more beastly than humanly appearance. As his appearance suggested, Zodd was a warrior and he was following the warrior conduct. Wars and battles were the only things that matter to him. He took pleasure in fighting strong opponents and always believed in strength. He also had absolute loyalty towards Rudra.
"You are a fool who acts on his feelings. That is why you are so inefficient. My lord, please punish Zodd, He is becoming too unruly." said Mors. As Mors was an undead it helps him to think with cold rationality. He always thinks in a practical way and has a vast amount of military knowledge. Combining those skills with undead legion, he always works hard for Arcanum.
Zodd and Mors had contrasting personalities, so they always tended to argue with each other. Zodd was a warrior who believed in strength, physical domination and he preferred direct overwhelming assaults in war. On the other hand, Mors was a cunning tactician who excelled in large scale war with schemes. Zodd was the army general and imprisonment overseer. Mors was the military strategist and defense commander. Rudra chose those positions so he could use combat prowess and dynamic presence of Zodd which could instill fear, loyalty, at the same time while simultaneously using cunning tactics and undead legion of Mors.
"You two, stop showing your disgraceful side in front of his majesty." a rather aloof voice stopped the verbal fight of Zodd and Mors. The voice belongs to a humanoid with avian features like eagle head, golden wings, claws and others. He wore ancient Egyptian attire such as minimal clothing and numerous golden ornaments. His name was Jatayu, probably the fastest minister, he handles external affairs and usually acts as an ambassador. He was named Jatayu.
"We are extremely grateful that you returned, your majesty. Please use our services as you wish." said Jatayu in a solemn tone. He was always the type of a person who talked less and worked more. Even though he appears very stoic, he was a very serious person. As he was part of the noble family from the Avian race, he also followed noble etiquette.
"I.AM.VERY.HAPPY.THAT.I.SAW.YOU.AGAIN.MY.LORD." said a large, hulking figure over 10 feet height covered in vines, moss, red eyes and bark-like skin in an extremely slow manner of speech with an echoing undertone. He was a hybrid of a dryad, elemental and spirit.
"Swamp, sure, is in a joyous mood," said merlin. Swamp affirmed merlin by nodding his head which was filled with mud and vines. Swamp had no gender and it was just a personification of plants or green matter. It had no specific height or weight because its body mass depends upon the amount of matter it takes into its body. Swamp's essence can abandon his body, traveling through The Green, and grow a new body in another region, made with endemic plant matter.
All the flora life and vegetative matter in the Arcanum were under jurisdiction of Swamp. Swamp was one of the most rare custom NPCs designed by Rudra himself in the Nero game. Its skills of the high class druid added with racial skills made it the not only most useful minister but also the most destructive one.
Swamp had the ability to commune with plant life and to control its growth and form. He could summon forth vines to entangle or snare, and so on. He could threaten to cause the microscopic flora within his enemies bodies to grow out and kill them from the inside. He could make a replica of an entire city or become a giant.
"Hoho, my beloved master, the only man i cannot rule above, meeting you again how elated I am." said Querehsha. Querehsha was a tall and very attractive young woman with glowing red eyes, pale skin, long flowing black hair, dark purple lips, large breasts, a voluptuous figure, and insectile characteristics, particularly on her legs and arms. She also wore greenish-black armor that left her upper cleavage and shoulders exposed.
"My lord, you are just as magnificent and beautiful as I remember you." she said with a seductive look and licked her lips. Querehsha had a sensuous personality and was attracted towards anything she cannot break or submit. Even though she was an insectoid, she was very beautiful but also very sadistic.
Querehsha was a bloodthirsty individual who lived to kill and savored every opportunity she got to slaughter her prey. However, she also had a motherly disposition towards her minions and regarded them as her children. Her minions were insects and insectoids ranging from giant spiders to almost invisible flies. She used most of her minions for information gathering and espionage. Querehsha herself was a top level assassin with top notch infiltration skills through shadows and poison attacks. Furthermore she was one of the best overall close combat fighters.
"Is something wrong, Elsabeth?" Merlin asked Elsabeth because Elsabeth did not talk at all ever since they entered the Throne room. As Merlin knew about the obsessive love of Elsabeth on Rudra, she was even more confused as to why Elsabeth did yet start talking with her beloved master. Then Merlin noticed that Elsabeth was slightly trembling while keeping her head down. When Merlin called out Elsabeth, everyone in the room was also surprised at the odd behaviour of Elsabeth.
All of a sudden Elsabeth launched herself towards Rudra with a fervor look and crazy eyes while shouting, "MY LOVE!", but she was barely stopped by Michael. "Calm down! Elsabeth, are you trying to assault his majesty?!" said Michael.
Then Elsabeth came out of the fervor. She coughed and regained her composure. She slightly adjusted her dress before bowing elegantly as if the earlier incident never happened.
"I have missed you, my majesty, so much. Seeing you again is the most joyous moment in my life." Elsabeth said with a wholehearted smile, she was so charming that even Rudra, who had mental protection from Brahma, lost his composure for a brief moment.
Usually Elsabeth was the most dignified woman in the entire Arcanum. She acts a perfect lady with no flaws, her gestures reeks of royalness and every miniscule detail of her appearance would be meticulously maintained. The atmosphere around her reflects that of a goddess as she adorns a thin smile on her face almost always. Her status as the Chancellor, the highest ranking position in the Arcanum besides Rudra, and Vampire Queen, only added to her majestic nature.
But when she saw the love of her life after two decades her emotions overwhelmed her and she launched herself to hug him. Because of her extreme love for him, she breaks her outward appearance whenever it was anything related to him.
Rudra came to learn about her feelings for him just now. As she cannot express her emotions in the Game Nero due to the programming. Now, Rudra understood why the loyalty of Elsabeth would be always all time. Although only now Rudra found her feelings, he knew true nature when he read her settings in the past while playing.
Although her appearance resembles that of a goddess, her true nature was cold, calculative and arrogant. She views herself above everyone, except Rudra, especially outsiders. Of course, it did not apply to the residents of the Arcanum as she took pride in her duty as the prime minister. She was also extremely manipulative and possessive.
Elsabeth said, "Now, everyone. To the Supreme Being, ritual of fidelity." All the eight ministers nodded as one and formed a line. All of them had solemn, respectful expressions.
Merlin, who stood at one end of the line, came forward, kneeled on one knee with one hand pressed against her and bowed deeply and said:
"Merlin, Minister of Magic and science, presents herself to the master."
It was followed by Michael who did the same thing as Merlin and said:
"Michael, Chief Butler, presents himself to the master."
Jatayu came forward and kneeled in line with Merlin and Michael. All three of them had the exact same position. Jatayu also declared much like:
"Jatayu Airborne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, presents himself to the master."
Swamp also kneeled exactly like others even though he had a different body and spoke in his eerie echoing voice:
"SWAMP.MINISTER.OF.THE.GREEN.PRESENTS.HIMSELF.TO.THE.MASTER."
"Querehsha, minister of intelligence, presents herself to the master." said Querehsha who kneeled next in the line. After her, Mors stepped up and kneeled while speaking in his cold hoarse voice:
"Mors, minister of military strategies and necromancy, presents himself to the master."
Zodd then followed the suit of Mors and kneeled next to him. He said passionately:
"Zodd, minister of war and army, presents himself to the master."
Finally it was Elsabeth's turn. She stood in the middle with two steps ahead and descended gracefully on her knee and bowed. She said with a smile:
"Elsabeth Sang La Nuitrouge, Prime minister, presents herself to the master."