Ch.3
It's been two months after they had gone to the Bazaar making Sell's time of being with the King and the underground tunnels to be nine months. Today was different. Sell awoke to feel the air of the tunnels to be very different. She kept near Hel all day as they saw people enter the tunnels from outside. These people were unknown to Hel when Sell asked who they were.
Lord Inohani sought out his student and appeared in the dimly lit tunnel hall behind them. His mask on as he watched the group of people filing down a tunnel towards the back tunnels. His arms folded over his chest knowing what today was about. "The day of change is today. Those are the people that will bring it about."
Sell turned to look at the Lord confused. "A day of change? How are they to bring the change?"
Hel was confused about this too. How were these people going to change anything? The mask looked upon the young girl that stared at him. "Why don't we follow and see?"
She looked back as the last person turned down the tunnel and left her view. Was it really ok to follow them? Curiosity prodded her feet to walk and she was sneaking off behind them before she knew it. Hel was suddenly held back by the Lord in a tight grip on his shoulder.
"You are to go with the bandits today. They need you for a special mission that the King has set up for them."
Hel stared down the dark tunnel that Sell had snuck down. He wanted to see what those people were doing here and how they'd bring change but an order was an order. He gave a slow nod before heading towards the bandits. The Lord touched his mask and gave a slow sigh of air he had been holding in out of fear. Fear of what Hel would say about what was going on.
He knew Hel was just following orders but the bad thing was that there was no special mission for the boy. The bandits were just being sent off out of the tunnels on a long scouting mission for the next raid. Hel did have some use for scouting but he would be too far to teleport back to Sell's side or anywhere in the tunnels. Inohani walked down the tunnel that Sell and the group of people were heading down. The main event was about to start.
A room that had been newly dug out and built had been designed purely for todays agenda. Glass tubes with water within them, iron top and bottom stood off to the side. A iron table lay in the middle with a lamp hanging above. These people filed into the room and took their position around the newly made lab. Sell poked her head around the room in surprise by what was there.
"What is this?"
"A new world," The Lord spoke behind her darkly as he struck behind Sell's head. As Sell crumpled to the ground his arms were out to catch and cradle her gently. "Forgive me. This was an order from the King." He carried her to the iron table and layed her body upon it.
"Shall we begin now that our specimen has arrived?" The man that stood next to the table asked his assisstants.
"That was a lot faster than the others," Joked a woman by the water tubes. "The King did say to begin when she got here."
"Very well," The man said to the others. "Let us begin. Bring me the Chorus plant flower."
The Lord stood by watching as the doctors got to work on changing the young girl. They had told the King the younger the body was the easier it was to transform them. They split the plant taking the seeds from it that hadn't been pushed from the still closed flower. From there they extracted the juices from the young plant which they mixed into a bowl. The nurses kept the child under close watch as the doctor prepared the syrum and things.
This plant which was created from the very creations that were created to teleport, beings called Endermen that the King used a lot of the time for his bidding. Endermen could teleport far away when attacked. If the teleport was controlled the Endermen could give their attacker a surprise from every angle, something that was highly useful in the King's eyes. Sell squirmed a little on the iron table which caused some of the assisstants to hold her down. The doctor turned to the others with another order.
"Give me the Fire Resistance, Magma Cream and Blaze Rod."
These three items, a potion, a jar of fire cream and a Blaze Rod was handed to him. He mixed them together creating a paste. He then broke the Blaze Rod that contained fiery liquid within it that made it get its name. He poured the mixture into the paste stirring it to make it creamy. He took up a Wither Skull smearing the creamy paste within it.
He placed this skull upon Sell's doctor watched as his nurses spread the odd mixture over the childs doctor turned to look upon the King giving a head nod. Hatos stepped forward to look upon Sell, his work almost complete. "Bring in the electricity."
The tanks that were stationed around the room were suddenly inhabited by pale large fish with one eye and spines all over their bodies. They were called Elder Guardians and been brought over by Endermen that were given water breathing potions. The floor sunk down one block and the tanks opened for the several Elder Guardians to be carried into this small pool. The elder Guardians then set their sights upon Sell and allowed their powerful zap to course through her body several times, the Wither Skull sinking into her body as if it was becoming one with the child. The people watched in the seats around the room in awe as the child was molded into a new and perfect experiment.
Hatos sent his Endermen to grab the fish and take them away. He went near Sell looking her body over and gave a nod to the doctor. He looked about the room with a big smile. "Ladies and gentlemen! The expirement was a sucess! This child will be my daughter! I want you all to meet the new and reborn Princess Ananon!"
The room went into an uproar as all of the people gathered around the upper part cheered. Lord Inohani stood there in shocked silence. Hatos had the doctor and nurses remove Sell and carry her off to a different part of the under ground tunnel system, a part that was new and unfamiliar to Lord Inohani. He was following behind when he was grabbed suddenly making the Lord jump to see his father. "Dad!"
"I'm sorry, Inohani, but I can't allow you to go any further. This sector is for senior Lords and elders only." His father Lord Lisen explained. "Only in dire situations are the younger generation allowed around here. Please excuse us."
Lord Lisen took his leave from Lord Inohani and proceeded off after the doctors and the King with the Princess in their grasp. Lord Inohani wasn't quite sure of what to think on this situation. It made him wonder why he had never heard about or seen this tunnel system before. Was it really that big of a secret? He turned around to head back out and enter the familiar tunnels.
This was where he had finally reached the difference of age and ability compared to his father and older Lords. He had always wondered when or where the barrier would hit and it was finally shown. The Princess was no longer under his care which made him feel quite empty, something he hadn't felt for a long time and made him wonder if the Princess would ever return to their tunnels again?
Hel and the small group were returning from their raid. Hel had done absolutely nothing and saw that there was no need for him being there in any shape or form. So why had the King said for him to join the raid for? Lord Inohani was watching over Sell and he had no ill will towards Sell. He adored her like she was his sister.
It didn't make sense for Hel in any way as much as he thought about it. He spurred his horse on past the raiding group. The lead head shouted out to the boy. "Hel! Where are you going?!"
Hel spun his horse around causing it to prance in place anxiously to get going. "Where do you think?! I'm heading back! Something doesn't feel right!"
"Stop worrying about your girlfriend!" Laughed a few of the guys in the ground.
Hel turned the horse about spurring it on and ignored them all. "I'm going back. I don't give a damn about any of you humans." His gaze lighting brightly from annoyance.
Three figures that had been trailing the boy under orders that were unknown to Hel disappeared in a teleport. They returned to the base awaiting for Hel and the horse carrying him to arrive. It wasn't long before the sounds of hooves charged towards them. One of the three men sprang out ahead, scaring the horse and causing it to rear suddenly tossing Hel off. A second figure grabbed Hel before he could hit the ground.
The first figure accompanied the second off leaving the third with the horse. All three were standing within the King's office waiting. Hel looked to the two holding him tightly seeing that they were the elders of the organization. He fell to a knee waiting their orders.
"Lord Doyle, Lord Syacrio. What can I do for the two of you?"
The two older men looked upon Hel with dulled red eyes. Lord Syacrio spoke first. "Hel, you were to remain with the group until they reached the hide out again. Why have you left them and returned first?"
Hel kept his head down as he knelt there. "I was worried. Something felt weird about today and I returned to check on things."
"Your loyalty and worry are praised by all Elders, Hel, but this was an important mission. All heads of the raiding body were to return together. Do not worry about the happenings of the base. We are very much able and over qualified to handle the issues that may arrise," Lord doyle spoke then to the boy.
Hel nodded his bowed head. "Yes, sir's. My deepest apology for my selfish acts. Please forgive me."
"Hel, things are changing within the tunnels," Lord Syacrio said seriously to the boy, his voice turning dark. "You will be leaving this base to go with Lord Inokari, Knives and Prince Anzel. You will also be having Lord Dom, his son Socaza and your father Lord Maul."
Hel raised his head to look wide eyed at the Elder Lord. "Sir! If I may so boldly refuse this order! Why does my father have to be at the other base for?! What of Princess Sell?!"
"You are in no position to refuse this order, Hel," spoke Lord Doyle calmly. "You will remain at the other base until further orders come from the King himself."
Hel bowed his head once more staring at the dirt floor. "Sir. I will remain at the other base until notified by the King."
"You and the others will be leaving in the morning. Do not disappoint us, Hel. You do want your title, do you not?" Asked Lord Doyle who looked to Lord Syacrio.
He did want the Lord title very badly. So much in fact this was a deal that would most definately break him of getting such a title. He could feel the thin ice that he and the others were being put on. "Sir. I will not disappoint."
"Go to your room. You will remain there and dinner will be served to you. Resting for the journey in the morning is what you must focus on," Lord Syacrio said turning around to leave. "The Princess is in the Elder's care now. You and her are heading down two different paths. You will both get stronger this way."
Hel gave a slow nod. Now he could see what the King was doing. "Take care of Sell. She's precious to a lot of people around the tunnels."
Lord Doyle took Hel to his room and placed him under house arrest. Guards were then stationed at each of the rooms that had been ordered to stay inside until tomorrow. Sadly Hel couldn't sleep at all. He sat in his room thinking on reasons why the King would be seperating them like this.
"My child sitting like that in bed reminds me of my own self when I was lost in thought. Usually it was troubling matters."
Hel looked towards his door to see his father looking in through the windows. "Dad...I didn't hear you approach." He stood to stand at the door. "Aren't you under house arrest as well? What are you doing here?"
Lord Maul gave a wry smile, "I have relieved the Elder of his guard duty. I thought since it was you that I was to guard we could catch up on things."
He nodded to his father understanding the need of getting close to him again. It was due to his father that Hel was given the chance to be tested upon and a second chance at life. If the King had not tested on Hel he would've been killed. "Dad, forgive me for speaking out like this but something doesn't feel right. It's felt off all day. How's Sell? Do you know?"
Lord Maul leaned on the wall quietly outside. This was a tricky question all in its own. His son was very keen and quite sharp. "There's been a change in the King's plans about taking over Lord Rien and Lord Lones village. He has found no need to do so. He wants to see how Lord Rien's second daughter will turn out."
Hel rested his forhead against the door thinking about this. "Why watch the other when we already have Sell? Is the King wanting both?"
The father gave a chuckle and waved his hand as he folded his arms. "Who knows? The King announced that he would be training Sell personally. He wanted no distractions within the tunnels."
"Meaning I, Knives and Anzel are leaving along with Socaza and Aeno." Hel heaved a sigh turning and flopping onto his bed. "No male presence's are to be around Sell unless it is the King himself."
There was a cough and clearing of one's throat as a face peered through the windows of the door. "Socaza's father is also going along with you all. The way you put it makes it all sound like my children and grandchildren are nothing but a boring lot compared to the Princess."
The boy rolled over in his bed to sit up. "No! No, no, no! My apologies, Lord Dom! That's not what I meant at all!"
The two older men gave chuckles of amusement at Hel's reaction. "Be mindful of who comes into earshot, Hel. You will have plenty of time to learn that as we train and grow at the other base. Won't we, Lord Maul?" Lord Dom looked to his old friend with a smile that was recalled fondly by him.
Lord Maul gave a smile in return to Lord Dom. "Like the old days back on Imantras. I do wonder how Lord Valind is doing? Last I heard he had fallen in with the good lot."
"Shameful," grumbled Maul as he scowled at the news. "Izo would be highly pissed off if he were still alive today to hear of his own blood betrayed the family. Hell, he'd rip apart Valind's father Lord Vindar for allowing such shit. I do believe upon Izo's dying wish he wanted Lord Vindar dead before the bastard could create children."
"Are we speaking of the fabled Izo?" Asked an Elder as he approached up the tunnel. "It's been so long since any have spoken of him. I miss such stories."
The two Elders bowed to the other. "Lord Alluan. It would be you to know the stories of Lord Izo well, eh?"
"Lord Izo has such a wonderful bunch of grand stories to be told! He was the greatest of the Famous Five!" Lord Alluan leaned on the stick he had to help him walk. Now crippled from the many wars he had fought on the front lines.
Hel layed on his bed to listen to the stories about Izo and the other elder's of the famous group that were to have been the birth leaders of the the King's group. Two of the Famous Five had died, Izo and Doyle. Now there was talk from the Elders that a new generation of Famous Five would be created. Izo had written down and compared all of the members long before he passed but it was now in the hands of Lord Alluan and the other two to decide who would make the cut.
"So, has a decision been made about the future five leaders to take ya'lls place?" Maul asked as he looked in on his sleeping son.
"Leonius,Lyov and myself believe that it will be Hel, the Princess, Prince Anzel, Lord Hart and Lord Cyprianus. My son has no wish to be in such a group and has relieved his position to the Princess and of course Hel is the last descendant of Izo. It's natural that he'd be placed in the group. Lyov's children don't want to be famous and backed out, offering it to the Prince." Lord Alluan gave a sigh and a slight shrug. "The rest is explainable by itself. Lord Hart and Lord Cyprianus wish to protect the Princess since she is the figure of our group now."
"It's rather surprising such a girl can create such an impact on men. This is the most ruthless bunch and they melt before her. Not so tough after all." Maul gave a half chuckle as he sat in the hall. "You on the other hand have been avoiding her like the plague. You and the other three High Elders have been watching her from afar."
"It's not common in our laws and ways to place outside blood within our ranks with such a high title. It is truely an honor for one such as the Princess to be given a title as the Famous Five. It is required to be descendants but the King wanted the exception to be made for her. We obliged and are waiting to see what happens." Lord Alluan gave a bow to Lord Maul and Lord Dom. "I'm retiring now. I wish us luck with the young ones."
Maul sat in the dim hallway watching the High Elder shuffle off along with Lord Dom "As do I, friend."
"Well, it's set in stone, Maul. Hel's life is layed before him in Gold and Diamond forever. As with the Princess and the Prince." Lord Dom sat in the chair across the hall from him. "It won't be much longer now for Hel to receive his final transformation."
Maul shook his head to this. "He won't be recieving it anymore. He wants to keep what he has. He says he enjoys it."
Lord Dom was rather surprised by this. "Really? If he doesn't recieve the last transformation he won't be as strong as Knives! Knives is by far the strongest of any! Everyone has already bet those two would be the duo of evil!"
The father sat there nodding his head as Dom spoke. "I know, I know. I'll try to convince Hel to get the last transformation that the King wants to do but it might not be us that he'll listen too."
Lord Dom stared at the other Lord for a moment and he already knew this himself. "The High Elders have her from now on. I don't know when this happened but the Princess...She's going to be much different. You need to get Hel to her before you leave. It's crucial."
Maul looked back at the door that was his son's room. "I'll need Inohani for that. I know just how crucial this is for him to see her for the last time. Much like our own love live's around here, eh?" He gave a pained smile as he recalled his own wife that he hadn't seen in many years.
Dom stood walking off. "Be quick about it. Let Hel loose. He'll know where she is. They have a connection that's much stronger than any that I've seen before. He acts like a dog to her."
"Doesn't he though?" Maul chuckled getting to his feet. Inohani was suddenly standing in the hall from a teleport. "I have sensed that I am needed."
The two Lord's stared in surprise at him. "Inohani..."
Hel had found himself being carried off down the hallway. Why was he being carried for? His eyes were shut but he could see the hall way just as clearly. An ability that was rare to some that were given the DNA of Endermen. He could sense her but she felt much different than before.
It hadn't been spoken about but he knew that the day would come sooner or later that she'd recieve her transformation. It was the reason that he was sent away on the raiding group. His hands clenched into fists at the lies that had been told to him by the King and those around him. "Inohani, why are you taking me to her?"
"It's important that you see her. She will be much different. She will be unrecognizable. The next time you see her will be in war. Lord Dom, myself, and your father don't want that." Inohani whispered as he walked through the black as night tunnel. "I'll be your mentor while we are away. You have an important path to fill one day."
This sounded like a fairytale to Hel. It kind of amused him in the smallest way. "Why are there no guards here? There should be many."
Inohani remained silent at the question and kept walking. "Secrets are within these walls. This is not the hallway that was made by the King. It was made by your grandfather due to his untrusting nature. He made many secret tunnels throughout this place that were important."
"Secret...tunnels?" Hel asked quite surprised by this. How had no one known of Izo and his secrets? "My grandfather followed the King until death, so why the secrets for?"
"Your father is the only one that knows of these tunnels and he uses them like we are now. He has seen the Princess. The new Princess. She is someone she is not and never will be." Inohani looked to Hel in his arms. "You need to fix this one day. It is up to you. Understood?"
Hel stared at his mentor for a moment as something passed between them. He gave a nod of certainty. He was placed down on the dirt floor as Inohani crouched next to Hel, placing a large hand on his head. "Take a good look upon her and remember her."
Hel watched as a block of the wall was removed and light shone into the dark tunnel. His eyes blinked adjusting as they stared at the figure laying on the bed. His body left the tunnel in a teleport and stood within the room looking at Sell. Her hair was changing color. Changing from plum purple to white. His hand took up her short strands having it fall from his fingers back onto the bed.
Sell's milky blue eyes opened faintly to stare at Hell, a figure going in and out of blurry vision.
"I swear I'll find you again. Don't forget me because I won't forget you, Princess. The next time we meet it'll be on different terms." Hel took up her cold hand that was starting to warm again and kissed it. "Don't forget me. I'm Hel. I will always serve you. Just call."
His eyes lit up brightly as Sell lifted her head more to stare at him in a slight confused look before he was gone from her room. Sell was alone again. Her head hit the pillow once more as the transformation took its toll on her body.