For a month, the djinn sisters–Riyanzah and Seraphim had distracted the children with their many abilities to manipulate fire, icy winds, and the waters. On one hand, Riyanzah would summon a school of fish to swim at the edge of the water for the children to catch, on the other, Riyanzah would freeze or burn any monster that tried to get close to the children. The unlikely duo kept the startled children occupied for long, roasting fish, speaking to mermaids and merfolks that answered to Riyanzah’s command. Had it not been for them, perhaps the trauma of losing their homes, and for some even their families, would’ve scarred them even more than it already had.
But with Eclanor being rebuilt and the same holding true for Alliance, it was time for the citizens of both kingdoms to move back in. Or at least that should’ve been the case, but with Eclanor being in the desert and no resources around it to rebuild it from, not to mention the loss of teleportation for transport, made it impossible to rebuild the kingdom in the desert.
Forced to accompany the people of Alliance, Melenai was crowned as the leader of their new council. Frazer remained a part of the same, and so did Maria, and the handful of others in charge of making important decisions for the city. However, now it wasn’t just the burden of one kingdom on their shoulder, but two–Eclanor and Alliance, each now in their purview.
Meanwhile, Helga had finally made her way back to the docks after a long time away at Aranuvia with her daughters. She’d heard news of the Trident’s repairs finally coming to an end and had thus rushed over, leaving Cerebus in her stead to look after her girls alongside Gallaria.
Many others were still scattered throughout the lands, especially the monster girls with their hands full, trying to rebuild Alliance for the people moving back in. Aelin was helping with the construction with her beast of burdens, bred to lug weight on any sort of ground. The red mane coppelicons helped as well, though their speciality lies in speed and not hauling cargo everywhere.
Then there was Raven’s crew, waiting on Athenia to finish with her preparations to infiltrate Nerva’s lair. Moeria had already found the witch goddess’s hiding place as well as the prison where both Athenia herself was alongside the prison holding the fae mothers–all thanks to both the goddess and the mistress of Luseferious. Though one amongst them was hoping to gain something soon from this alliance before she returned to the hells.
Snatching power from the grips of Nerva, nothing would bring greater joy to her master than that. The witch goddess sapping this world of its suffering, the very foundation of the human condition, the very source of challenge that the mortals must overcome–Luseferious, being a primordial born at the birth of this world, would not have that.
However, while one devil was gone, another had taken its place. Moera and Luceila, the right and left arms of the defeated demon general and currently Markus’s underlings; being taught in ways to protect the king for when the dark knight hopes to retire.
"Lord Knight wished to inform you of Viola’s shifting condition, master Raven," addressing Raven with the utmost respect, the devil tried not to seem fidgety, though the bead of sweat down her temples was giving her true feelings away. "There’s been an anxiety brewing in the queen’s belly. She can feel her child, but it’s obvious from her sudden change in behavior that her mind is drifting."
"Y-yes," speaking up as well, the pale ghost woman Luceila tried to shoulder some of her sister’s anxiety. "Mood swings are one thing, but she has stopped eating as much, and Lady Gray believes that it’s a symptom of postpartum, even though she can still feel the child in her belly."
The sisters’ gaze shifted between each other, breathing heavily, for their minds were stressed from having to be the ones to deliver the news. Yet, as Raven’s gaze lifted back to them, the girls sprang back into further explanation.
"Of course, we know that this may take time–"
"Yes! But Lord Knight has advised you to be quick with the rescue of the children from the witch goddess!"
With just a nod, Raven brushed them away. The girls left his tent and were already about to make their way back to Athenia. Left with nothing but his thoughts inside the tent, the hero couldn’t help but wonder just how long Athenia’s preparations would take. Linkle had already acquired the replacement material needed for the teleportation jewels–ones that won’t fail them even if a god tries to intervene. And while Elenaria had helped with the acquisition, she wasn’t quite happy either about this wait. After all, she had her own plans to infiltrate the heavenly court and smack some gods in their faces with Mono and her army of countless souls, Batimos included.
’Hmm...’ The weight of the world was no small burden to shoulder, even the toughest man would crumble under it, and Raven felt no different. ’Nightsilver, how the hell did you manage to rally thousands upon thousands of chosen warriors against the demon lord when a few legions feel like a burden for a dozen lifetimes?’
The man who could’ve been considered his father, Raven could get his tales out of his head. Even Helga was just another general working under the man instead of one of the main collaborators.
’Athenia said she needs a week for something before we begin the infiltration.’ Placing his hands on his knees, he lifted himself and looked out the tent’s entrance. ’I suppose we can visit the people from the kingdom beyond Alliance. Figure out what the hell’s going on over there. A week should be enough?’
With Kledia, the dragon-demi-human, already sent as a spy to that very kingdom for more than a fortnight, it appeared that the people were truly hoping for an alliance with him. No deception was found in Kledia’s report, although many of her letters talked about how the girls offered to Raven as his betrothed pecked her about him all the time.
The details of what she told them were often obscure, but even in what little she did reveal, it seemed that Kledia wasn’t the only one who’d fallen for the hero’s dashing looks.
"Time to leave," walking out of his tent, Raven held his hand up and instantly got everyone’s attention. "Amedith, get everyone ready. Including the injured soldiers and the civilian families that travel with us, Diane and the lot too, Aradin’s group might also need a dip; we’re going to the consulate!"
"Now?" The magus narrowed his gaze at the sudden order.
"We have a week, don’t we?" Dropping his shoulders, he added. "I’ve heard they have natural hot springs and they butter even their damned teas."
As weird as the last part of his sentence was, the magus was convinced at the mention of a hot spring. A week’s worth of relaxation, what better way to spend time to unwind while Athenia finished her greatest act of deception?
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