First, thank you for all your reviews on the story, I love reading them all.
In particular, Lucius Walker, sacke110, and Master Fan Reader. L.W. left a very heartwarming review and Sacke and M.F.R, who showered the story with reviews. I greatly enjoy reading those.
Secondly, If you squint your eyes really hard, Camila and Belos' relationship is just Beauty and the Beast without the Stockholm syndrome.
Thirdly, WE HAVE A TVTROPES PAGE! I learned this from a Reviewer who pointed it out. I'm so happy to see that we were able to get one in the first place. A deep deep thank you from anyone who worked on it, whoever you may be, I read the entire thing so many times in my excitement. I hope to keep making y'all proud enough to deserve it. Next goal, a wiki page!
I'm kidding!
Or am I…?
Also sorry for the long wait for this new chapter. A lot of stuff happened in my life, and in season 2 of the Owl House too, I'm hoping to write enough that I can break free from the canon stuff and go completely off the rails. I even have several specials planned!
Also, I wanted to get into what Camila does as Empress, I only mentioned it in the chapter, but didn't get too into it, which makes me slightly irked with myself. So sadly, we won't see that just yet. But I promise to get to it soon when I get an opportunity.
Enough talk, onwards to the chapter!
Camila and an unmasked Emperor have been talking for a while now, it mostly consisted of Camila talking about the mistakes she feels she's made and the ones she was sure were a mistake while raising their daughter alone in the human world.
"We couldn't have known that Luz would have magic," Alexander said, holding her hand, "At the time, you believed that it would've been better for her to remain in the human realm, and I understood, as much as it pained me to leave you both behind, all those years ago..."
Camila sighed.
"But it was a mistake, in the end, she grew up around humans feeling different and ostracized from our entire town. No one wanted to be around her because her untamed magic caused so much damage and chaos to those around her, back in Gravesfield… I… I didn't see or maybe even want to believe that she had magic like her father…"
"Are you ashamed that she does?" Alexander asked, quite calmly while asking such a heated question, "Or perhaps you're disappointed that she does have magic?"
"Of course not!" She said quickly, "I could never be disappointed or ashamed of Luz! I'm just… Do you remember when I first landed here on the Isles?"
"How could one forget? I was discussing certain things with my old coven heads, those bastards, when an "assassin" appeared in my lap, falling through a wild Titan Blood portal..." Alexander said with a chuckle, before continuing, "The Coven Heads were all too shocked to stop you as you ran out of the room, and you ran directly into the dangerous woods that surrounded my castle at the time."
Camila nodded, folding her hands together, drumming her fingers.
"I saw... So many things to be scared of in those woods, a nesting slime, a giant snake thing, and what appeared to be a kitten with tentacles in its mouth?" She asked, not remembering the name of the beast she encountered in the forest.
"A Flerken," He remembered with a nod, "Those are some ravenous creatures…" He said, shaking his head, "If you want to see something truly ravenous, however, you should see Kikimora's pegasus when they haven't been fed… Oh, that poor guard…" He sighed, "I'm still sending reparations to his family after that incident, you know, but I know it'll never be enough…" He said, looking off into the distance.
Belos has seen a lot in his time but that… That was something else entirely, no amount of war and pain could prepare anybody for it…
Camila shook her head, just wondering how carnivorous horses could even exist in the first place, before continuing;
"I then ran into the town below and almost got eaten 5 different times and was mobbed by every Witch that was seeing a Human for the first time," Camila said, "I was absolutely terrified, but then a certain captain found me in the streets..."
"Ah yes, Lilith, at the time she had just been made captain of her very own strike squad, there was a very promising future I saw ahead of her," Alexander commented with a chuckle, "Guess I was right, in the end..."
"After she found me, I willingly came back with her to be imprisoned because I was absolutely terrified with everything that I saw!" Camila then stood up from the chair, pacing the floor of her daughter's room.
"But you're no longer terrified, correct?" Alexander asked.
"Terrified…? No… No, not anymore, but I would say that I'm slightly… Bothered at times… unlike our daughter… Luz ran face-first into the unknown here, not even bothering to look back and… And I don't think I've seen her happier in my whole life… Dios mio, I let my daughter be miserable for fourteen years because I was so scared of the Isles and what it could do to her… Of everything that could hurt her…" She said, covering her mouth as she felt tears welling in her eyes.
"My love," Alexander stood, reaching out and placing a hand on her shoulder before pulling her into a comforting hold, "You mustn't blame yourself for your fears… You've done what you thought was best for Luz at the time… If I had known of our daughter's existence, I surely would have agreed with your decision to raise her as a human if she had been born without Magic to defend herself…" He looked down at Camila and gently wiped tears from her eyes.
"So don't cry, my love, it hurts me to see your beautiful face in such a state," He said, smiling down at her.
Camila couldn't help but smile, reaching up and holding his hand.
"Alexander W. Belos being so romantic and loving… You truly are an entirely different man from all those years ago…" She commented, laughing, "If I remember, you were so suspicious of anyone who cared for you that wasn't Kikimora or little Hunter…"
Alexander playfully rolled his eyes, snapping his fingers and a soft tune began to play on a red ethereal piano.
He held her hand and Camila instantly knew what this was.
"You remembered the song we danced to?" She asked in shock that he would remember something such as that, especially after so long.
"Of course, I would be foolish to even dare to forget, it was such a monumental moment for me, more than you could know…"
Alexander then paused, before smiling at Camila. Knowing exactly what to say to her to make her feel better.
"Camila, you must realize how much you've changed the course of my life by now, like how you vastly improved my accursed condition with your persistence, research, and as well as your acquired Boiling Isles medical knowledge that you gained from your time here… Who would've thought you would've been able to make such an effective potion for my curse…?" He asked with a laugh.
Of course, Camila remembered, it was one of those things that she would never forget… She nearly died the first time...
-Years ago-
A younger Camila and a hurt Belos were teleported into his private study. She quickly placed him on the available armchair and rushed to a desk that had a great many items, she began to rummage through the many things the Emperor had.
"C- Camila, you need to…" Belos attempted but only coughed violently, black goo seemingly spilling from the sides of his mask before it fell off to reveal the dark substance was leaking from his eyes and mouth, the tree-like scar further spreading across his face.
"Y- you need to get away… I can stabilize myself if you'd only give me a palisman and-"
"Te dije que te callaras con lo Palismans!" She shouted, opening a wild magic spellbook and flipping through the pages as well as her own medical journal, one that she wrote while helping in the Healing Wing of the castle.
"You and I both know that those Palisman are only a temporary buff for your condition, what's worse they're not even improving your condition anymore, you just keep needing more and more… It's an addiction… I can help you with what I've learned here on the Isles, I'm not leaving you to suffer like this!" She said with a huff, "I may not be a doctor but I think I definitely qualify for a nurse by now." She said with a laugh.
Camila was working on finishing her veterinarian degree when she was suddenly pulled through the portal. Such a jarring transition, from practicing to be a veterinarian to having to perform emergency surgery on an injured guard with a healer, to learning about healing and many other things from an old friend of Belos… Hele was her name, she believed.
"Please, a simple nurse doesn't describe your natural talents and all else you've learned while here on the Isles… You should be considered a fully realized Healer in your realm, at this point…" Belos commented, still holding his side in pain.
"Thanks… I think…" Camila said, a small smile on her face before she turned back to the desk.
Camila began to fish through her large bag, putting various Boiling Isles medical instruments and powerful medications she made in secret/practice, that she herself made from the help of a powerful potioness with strong control over the elements, on the desk.
Even a great many ingredients that Belos was suspicious of. Where had she gotten them from and who had given them to her? He couldn't think of that at the moment, however.
Belos held his chest in pain, feeling many parts of his form shifting, turning dark and runny like a thick slime.
"Wild Magic did this to me…" He growled, the anger in his voice easily identifiable, "And now you expect me to believe that Wild Magic will help heal me? Ridiculous…"
"I thought I was a fully realized Healer? Now you're questioning me? And I told you before pendijo," She said, mixing a few potions in front of her and grabbing a palisman that was nearby, staring at for a moment, before cracking it into the concoction she was making, "If wild magic did this to you, so there has to be a solution in it there as well…" She said, mixing the palisman and potion, the colors changing into a deep blue.
"You remind me of my Father… More stubborn than an Oni and just as ambitious…" He whispered.
Belos suddenly groaned in pain, holding himself as he felt the curse striking at his very heart. Looking, he saw that parts of his form were shifting and even turning into that horrid goo-like material, an effect of the curse…
He looked towards the desk where Camila was working and saw the particular wild magic book she was using as a guide.
He couldn't believe his eyes. Oh, how things came around…
"Of all the books you could've chosen from the Archive… You choose that one…?" He asked as he leaned back into the chair, "Amazing are the fates…"
"What's wrong with this one? It was the only one that I could understand..." She said, looking at the leather-bound journal cover, the title was scratched out in most parts, but it read something like, "A stranger's guide to…. Wild Healing, and Even Wilder Magic,"
"Most likely because it was written by a human…" Belos said with a grunt, coughing a view more times, "A Human who simply went by the title of "Stranger"... They left it behind during the age of the rebellion, in my younger years, during the final battle… I haven't seen them since, that journal was the only thing that proves their existence… Their knowledge of battles was vast and their… Wild Magic was a powerful asset in winning my War against Crisis," He said with a dry laugh before it turned into a violent cough, "Aren't I lucky to have met two genius humans in my lifetime stranded on the Isles…"
Camila was intrigued about this genius human who had met Belos, how did they get here? Through a chance Titan blood portal as well? How was all this even possible? She knew it was all magic, but it always felt like something more, if she was being honest with herself… She couldn't think of that right now, she had a patient to treat.
"Well, if their magic was so impressive and their knowledge so vast, then why didn't you use it to help heal you?" Camila asked, reading the wild magic book and reaching over the desk, mixing something else before finally pouring the entire thing into a potion bottle, even corking it.
Just in case… She couldn't be too sure...
"Because it is wild magic…" He said, "Its very existence in my archives is a plight on the Titan's will… I should've burnt it long ago..."
Camila groaned at his words, turning to face him while holding the glowing blue Potion. The Strangers Concoction.
"You're letting a pile of bones tell you what to think," She said, "Wild Magic is dangerous, yes, but you said it yourself, you've been in power for almost 30 years now, it's time to start easing up, you're not going to be overthrown."
"Even then… Wild Witches are still a plight on the Isles, them and their wild magic, just because they refuse to join a Coven… They will all become the stone statues that line the gardens!" He said, eyes glowing blue in his anger before they receded once again, the strain hurting his bile sac.
"Fine, but you must understand that not all wild magic is dangerous or harmful to you, Emperor," She said before displaying the broken Palisman to him, "Eating these by themselves are just as harmful to you… Here, look, I'll show you…"
Camila then suddenly sat in the Emperor's lap, shocking him greatly. This human really dared get so close to him, in such a manner no less… He didn't complain though, listening to Camila begin to read the journal in one hand, the other holding the Concoction.
"My companion… I still call her a companion? I amaze myself with my weird nerves… Anyways, she has fallen ill from a disease that was all but eradicated back home, she has no immunity to it… I thought I would lose her but I remembered a recipe, one that my Mother used to treat my father and myself multiple times and while a Palisman isn't a required ingredient, using one will greatly strengthen its effects and act as a jumpstart to the recipient's healing… My companion doesn't need to know what it is inside of the Potion, she would hate me for sure…" Camila continued to read the journal entry, "Finding the ingredients nearly killed me to collect, as they aren't common as they are back home, but I have them all…"
Camila went off to describe all the ingredients, it was a great many items that Belos didn't even know could be used as ingredients…
Camila then closed the journal with a smug smile, one that turned into a wide grin at the Emperor's shocked expression.
"It's amazing what you can find in your own library…" She said, "But do you know what else this medicine can do?" Camila asked the still in shock Emperor.
Belos was slow to respond.
"What does it say…?" He asked finally.
"It also says here that your condition can be greatly improved if you take the medicine regularly, you'll become miles better than what you are now," Camila said, standing up once again and handing him the concoction, "You'll even be able to use your magic again at full power, too."
"You lie..." He said, not believing her in the slightest. To be able to protect the Isles at full power once again… It felt as if it was an unreachable dream coming true…
"I would never lie to the mighty Emperor Belos, Menace to Emperor Crisis and Great Unifier of the Isles," She said mockingly before showing him the entry, "Look, it says right here… Major afflictions are cured as long as the person consistently drinks this Medicine once every week, magic becomes restored, the body heals, everything, you just need to take this medicine…"
Belos didn't know what to think about all of this… Wild Magic had brought this condition onto him and here was another human telling him that he could be healed by it… It must've been a lie…
The hesitant Emperor took the potion bottle in hand, staring at it.
"If I were to consume this potion-"
"Medicine," Camila corrected.
"If I were to take this Medicine…" He said with an eye roll, "You are certain that I will be cured of my curse?"
"I wouldn't say cured exactly... But it's a step forward, for sure, don't you think?"
"What if it doesn't work?"
"Haciendo todas estas preguntas…" She whispered with an eyeroll, "Just drink it before-"
Belos suddenly hissed in pain, dropping the bottle, but Camila was quick to catch it before it shattered on the floor.
"What's wrong?" She asked quickly, moving towards Belos but the Emperor held up a hand, trying to tell her to stay back but he was in too much pain to actually speak.
It was taking every bit of his will to hold himself together… He couldn't let the Human see him like that…
But… Why? Why did he even care...? Why did it matter if this Human saw that monstrous side of him… The one that he despised with a passion…
"C- Camila... Get away… I don't…" He whispered, looking away and using a wall to support himself as one of his arms shifted into a dark substance. He screamed and punched the stone wall repeatedly. Gritting his teeth as his mask fell off, revealing the long hair and the tree-like scarred face with the short, pointed ears.
"I… Don't want to hurt you…" He said, sounding exhausted, tears streaming down his face, the mental strain of holding back this curse weighing in on him.
"Please just… Just stay away…" He whispered with a pant.
Camila pursed her lips as she took a few steps back, wanting to listen to him, but a feeling told her to push forth. So she did, walking close to him.
"Alexander…"
Belos quickly turned to face her, eyes glowing a dangerous blue, his form shifted from that of a humanoid witch to that of a cursed beast with mud leaking off his body.
"How do you know that name?" He asked, gritting his teeth before he fell forward, onto his hands and knees, "It's Emperor Belos… Alexander is gone…" He whispered, "For as long as I've been cursed, he has been dead… All thanks to my carelessness..."
"Now we both know that isn't true…" Camila said as she crouched in front of Belos, bringing up the potion and holding his shoulder, her hand becoming covered in the mud-like substance, but she ignored it.
"Alexander W. Belos can't be dead… He led a rebellion against a truly evil tyrannical Emperor, who sought to "cleanse" the Isles from Demons… Alexander W. Belos integrated demons into the Isles with Kikimora, Alexander W. Belos protected his home from the invading Demon King and his invading forces, and led the Isles to its current greatness… It's time to bring back that Emperor Belos… Not this spiteful one…"
Belos was in a state of absolute shock… How had she known so much about his history…? She's probably been speaking to Kikimora… No, she's been spending time in the library… That must be it…
But what he couldn't understand was why… why were her words so moving to him and why… Why did he believe every single word she spoke…
"Camila, I—" He gasped, feeling his form shifting once again, screaming as his form became truly monstrous, exuding a roar as claws formed at his fingers and a pair of horns appeared, resembling those of his mask.
Suddenly, Camila tackled the Mud Monster of an Emperor to the floor, actually being able to hold him down, as the transformation wasn't fully complete yet.
"Back home, we force patients to take their medicine!" She shouted, forcing his jaw open and pouring the potion into his mouth before she covered it securely with her hand.
The Mud Monster thrashed under her, its arm forming into a spike that stabbed Camila through her midsection in an attempt to be free of her meddling.
Camila gasped at the sudden pain but gritted her teeth, holding steady.
"Bebe... La maldita medicina…" She whispered in Spanish, "There's gotta be some light in you, and I'm going to reach through all that mud and find it…" She whispered.
The mud-like material seemed to infect her wound, spreading into her system, but she held on. Too stubborn to let it hurt her… Not while Alex was still suffering from this curse…
Camila watched as the Mud Monster's form shrunk, going from a progressively monstrous form back to a stable form of a witch. His clothes were torn in many places but his cloak remained intact. Camila carefully climbed off of him, panting herself from the amount of strength it took to even hold him in place.
Belos suddenly felt… A burning feeling in his chest and face. It was a strong one, similar to the feeling of when one used an overabundance of magic. He quickly got to his feet, stumbling over to a hanging mirror and looking into it.
"The curse… It's… It's receding…" He whispered, watching as the green scar that once lined most of his face was receding, actually becoming smaller and smaller until it was as if it never existed.
He carefully looked down at his hands and clenched them and then opened them and a set of fireballs formed in his palm.
"No artificial magic to help me cast… Just the power of the Titan in my veins…" He whispered, feeling a smile creep onto his face as he twirled the fireballs in his palm, "I don't think... I've felt like this in years… Not since my fight with The King of Demons… The Titan would not heal my condition, not even Hele could help ease the suffering..."
He waited for a response from the human, knowing that she would most likely gloat, but it never came…
"Human?" He asked, turning around. His eyes widened at the sight of Camila, bleeding from a large puncture-like stab wound in her midsection. He quickly moved towards the Human, crouching at her side and inspecting her.
"Camila! Y- you've been injured… I told you to stay back…" He said silently, the rare feeling of regret forming in his chest.
"I- I'm fine… Emperor…" She whispered, holding the wound tightly, holding back any of her blood from spilling out, any further, "Y- you said that your magic was back right? How about you help me with this…" She asked through gritted teeth.
"I can't perform healing Magic… Any attempt ends up further wounding the recipient…" He said grimly, "A side-effect from the gift of the Titan…"
Camila groaned.
"All-powerful Emperor my ass…" She said with a hiss of pain, coughing up some blood with a groan.
Seeing her like this brought an intense feeling of guilt and pain to him… He needed to do something… Something like… No no, He hasn't done it in decades… Belos wasn't even sure if he could use that part of him anymore… He had to try, though...
"Please, Human-" He lifted his hand, glowing a dark red with his magic as he brought it to the wound, "-I believe we've moved past the use of honorifics and titles… Call me… Alexander…"
Camila watched in confusion as Alexander's usual red magic shifted from that of Blood Red to a shiny metallic Silver color… It was… So Bright and shiny… And so different to anything she's seen so far from the Emperor… As if, the source of his magic was pure now… It even made her feel warm inside...
Alex visibly strained as he cast a high-level healing spell with this new Silver magic, hand smoking from using it but he persisted, he would heal her... Even if using this magic burned away at him...
His hand glowed brightly against the wound, Camila's eyes widened as she felt the wound healing before it was as if it never even existed. All that was left behind was a small round scar.
Alexander was quick to dispel the Silver Magic once he confirmed that Camila was healed, waving his hand as if he touched a hot stove.
"Blasted Light Magic…" He commented silently, hissing in pain as he looked at the burns on his hands. They were horrible… His eyes widened once they began to heal, just as quick as they had formed, they were gone.
"Ah, I see… My healing is back to full potential because of that Medicine…" He commented, smiling as he clenched his fist, flaring it up in his usual Red Magic, "You continue to impress me Human…"
Camila was now looking herself over, she had been healed… No pain at all, only a small scar of what was once there…
"Please, Alexander," She said, stepping up to him, "I think you can call me Camila, instead of Healer, Human, or whatever…" She responded with a light laugh.
Alexander smiled as he helped bring Camila to her feet, a warm feeling forming in his chest, one that he… He couldn't explain, not yet… It was too early to guess…
"Camila… From the bottom of my heart… Thank you…" He said, surprisingly bowing to her, "You've done so much more for me in these last few months, much more than any around me have in the last 50 years… I must repay you in any way I can… State your wish, I will grant it… Long life, riches, a place of power at my side, the Noble title of Lady Noceda, anything to make our debt even…"
Camila was in a state of shock but she did know what she wanted from him…
"I… Want to go home…" She said softly.
Alex was silent for a moment, it was anyone's guess as to what he was thinking.
He rose back up to a standing position from his bow.
"Back to the human realm?" He asked, "But the way you came here was entirely by chance, Titan blood meeting water and forming a portal to your realm, you could've been spit out anywhere in the vast multiverse, you were lucky to even land somewhere where you could breathe the same air."
"Is the all-powerful Emperor Belos saying that he can't do it?" Camila asked.
He scoffed.
"Please, don't insult my power," He said as he moved past her and began to scan a wall of books, "But… I do believe that I have a way to attempt to get you home…" He then pulled a leather-bound journal from the shelf, "Here it is…"
"How is that journal supposed to get me home?" Camila asked, looking at the leather cover of the journal the Emperor had just pulled out from the shelf.
"Don't judge a book by its cover, Camila… This one contains a very special ingredient that'll help us achieve our goal…" Alex said as he opened the journal. Revealing that it was cut out to contain a single vial of-
"What is that?" Camila asked, "It's… Blue…?"
"Titan's Blood… The rarest Magical substance on the Isles… It's what sent you here in the first place, and it's what's going to get you back home." Alex held up the small vial and looked it over.
It was the last of the Titan's Blood that he had found in those mines before that blasted Guardian found him and his Coven and promptly kicked him and them out with heavy prejudice…
"If it sent me here, why not just use it right now to send me back?" Camila asked curiously.
"Because the blood itself is an extremely volatile substance, it can send you to a world where magic doesn't exist, a world where the air is poisonous or maybe even to the edge of reality itself, it's a risk that one can not afford to take… No, we need to control it, for a more precise gateway to your world…"
"Like… A doorway to the Human realm?" She asked.
Alexander smiled as he floated his mask back over to him, looking at it.
"Hm… How ironic of you to say that…" He said to himself before nodding." But yes, something like that…" He said before putting the mask on, his magic fixing any damages that were done to it, and becoming Emperor Belos once again.
"Let's be off, there's a lot of work to do…"
With that, Camila followed Belos out of his study. To begin work on the Portal back home…
-Present-
Camila smiled at the memory, laughing slightly.
"I still can not believe you used every drop of Titan Blood you had left for me…" She said as she reached out, taking Belos' hand.
"And I'd do it all over again if you asked me to…" He said softly, holding her hand and pulling her close, "You've done so much for me, from healing me to making me remember my original mission when I started a Rebellion against the old Emperor Crisis…"
They then slowly began to dance and twirl, the piano perfectly syncing to their movements.
Their dance was perfect, each step looking as if it was coordinated and practiced hours beforehand, each knowing exactly how the other would step and move. No one would expect the Emperor to be such an experienced dancer either.
"And what was your original mission, mi amor?" Camila asked, being twirled by her husband perfectly before her back was to his chest and he held her close.
"To bring the Boiling Isles to new heights, once again… To stop the Wild Witches from abusing the magic that we were blessed with, and to protect the innocent demons who suffered from Crisis' reign, and help the weak, to be a great ruler once again…" He said, turning her to face him, "But most importantly… It was to protect my Home. The Savage Ages were a time of strife and pain like no other…" He looked off to the side, thinking of the past.
"I still have nightmares of the things I've seen and done to ensure victory, but after losing my family to Wild Witches, I wanted nothing more than to fix it all and for the most part, I did, I really did… But I quickly realized that without force, nothing would be done, as the Isles is such a massive land… So I became a "good" tyrant to fulfill my goals… I guess that I just fell so far into the role that I lost myself…"
Alexander placed a hand on her cheek, pausing their dance as the piano slowed, staring deeply into her eyes.
"But meeting you… It was such… I… I can't explain it, I was compelled to learn more of this odd fearful human who fell into my lap, practically a gift from the Titan if I was being honest with myself," Alex said with a laugh, "I didn't know it at the time but… I believe the human saying is; "love at first sight" if I'm not mistaken." He pulled Camila closer as if the Emperor was scared to let her go.
"You leaving back to the Human realm made me realize many things… Such as my Council of Coven Heads at the time, none of them wanting to improve the Isles… Most simply wished to improve their standing in society and make themselves richer. I decided that the Isles deserved better and replaced them with more competent Witches, ones that I knew would help improve the Isles into what I originally wanted it to be…"
"Ah, so that's why none of the original pendejos are here anymore… Especially that Darius… so pretentious…"
"Indeed, he was…" He chuckled, "Camila you are the reason the Isles is the way it is now, you are why I would die to protect my people once again, you reminded me that this is my home and that it means everything to me to keep it safe… Abyss below, I even listen to the people's petitions and pleas now when I'm feeling generous!" He said with a laugh.
Camila smiled, leaning up and kissing Belos on the lips, only a small peck.
"And I'm proud of you for all of it, Alexander…" She said softly.
Alex beamed with pride at that.
"Your approval is what I live for…" He said with a laugh before clearing his throat, "But I believe we've become greatly sidetracked… Put simply, my love, I believe that you indeed did make a mistake by not telling Luz about her magic her whole life… But in the end, you brought her here, somewhere where she's finally happy and safe… You said it yourself, our Little Light has never been happier, even after jumping face-first into the unknown world of the Isles…"
Alexander then reached out and held her hand once again, a thumb tracing over her new wedding ring. Silver and simple gems of Camila's favorite colors as well as a blue gemstone that resembled the color of his eyes.
"But Luz must hate me for never telling her…" She said dejectedly.
The Emperor scoffed at that.
"In these few weeks I've known our daughter, I can already tell that she does not have a hateful bone in her body, just like her Mother… She is simply upset with you for not telling her the truth and then making excuses for it, our Little Light could never hate you, I think a simple apology would fix this entire situation…"
"Maybe…" Camila said softly, leaning against Alexander with a groan, "I just don't know how to handle an upset daughter…"
"Ahem…" A voice cleared their throat.
Looking, both Empress and Emperor turned to look at Kikimora, who was standing at the threshold of the door to the Princess' room.
"Emperor, Empress…" Kikimora said, bowing respectfully, "I know you wished to be alone today for personal reasons…" She said before standing up straight once again, "But several complications arose that required the Empress' attention."
"Where's Hele?" Alexander asked, confused, as she was supposed to be in the castle today.
"Well, I believe that she became busy running an entire Coven, as is her job and not maintaining the Castle's guard." Kikimora said with a very discreet eye roll.
"Was that sass?" Alexander asked with a raised brow.
"100% sir," She said casually, "Will I inform the Healers den of your arrival, Empress?" She asked.
Camila sighed before she nodded.
"I'm already on my way," She said.
"Good… and, Sir…?" Kikimora asked, turning to face Alex, "It's about that time of the year, again…" She said silently.
Alexander nodded, already knowing what she was talking about.
"I understand, forgive me for not remembering sooner, Kiki. Take the rest of the week for yourself if you need," He said in an understanding tone.
"That won't be necessary, sir… We are very busy after all, here at the castle…" And with that, she took her leave, disappearing in a blitz of speed.
Alexander then turned to his wife, giving her a loving peck on the cheek.
"I guess that I should return to work as well, then… Good luck, my dear… Remember that you can call me at a moment's notice," He said.
Camila nodded, leaning up to kiss his cheek back, but paused as she noticed something. She tsked, sighing.
"You forgot to take your medicine this morning, didn't you?" She asked with narrowed eyes.
"...Yes…" He said silently, avoiding her gaze, "How could you tell?" He asked, looking back at her.
"Because," Camila pointed at a green tree-like scar that was making its way back up his neck, currently edging onto his cheek, as well as many black veins appearing, "That ugly scar is back and your veins are turning black again..." She said, shaking her head, "I told you, every two weeks, Alexander." She scolded as she walked past him.
The mighty Emperor followed behind her.
"I know, it's just that I forget at times. With everything I must attend to and do daily as Emperor and enforce the Titan's Will, as well."
"You can't enforce his "Will" if you are that Mud monster suffering from a demon curse at the same time, Alexander."
Camila then led them to their bedroom.
Looking around the room, she found what she was looking for. A blue potion.
"Here," She tossed the potion at Alex, to which he easily caught with one hand.
"It's not glowing this time?" He asked.
"No palisman life force," She clarified.
"Why not?" He asked as he swirled the contents of the potion, looking at it curiously.
"Because you need to be taken off of those things, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Those things aren't good for you, especially in the Long term…" She then reached into her dresser and pulled out the Wild Witch's journal from all those years ago. Alexander found it interesting that she still had it at all.
"Besides, a palisman was never required for your medicine," She said, flipping a few pages in the book, "It was just used by the Stranger as an emergency jump start for their Companion. Emergency being the keyword, mi amor," She said, shutting the journal.
"Y entonces, unless you are about to be taken by your Curse, you shouldn't be using Palisman anymore, ok…?" Camila asked as she put down the book and went over to Alexander, placing a soft hand on his cheek, "I don't want to see you hurting these poor creatures anymore unless we are left with no other choices…"
Alex looked down at his wife, blue eyes softening as he sighed.
"Alright… I won't consume them anymore… I need little convincing after being forced to use one for Luz's condition… I know I said she doesn't have a hateful bone in her body, but if she were to learn what was used to heal her… I believe that she would develop such." He said with a laugh.
"She won't come to find out, hun…" She leaned up and kissed his cheek once again, "Now bebé la maldita medicina…" She said, pushing the potion to his chest.
Alexander rolled his eyes and undid the cork on the potion and instantly down the contents before raising a brow at the taste.
"Is that…" He thought, "Blueberries?" He asked, confused about how she had done that.
"I had the idea when I remembered you describing that it tasted like eyeballs… I still don't know if that's a good thing or not, but I thought something sweeter would be nice." She said with a small giggle.
Camila watched as the green scar on his neck receded till it was once again gone and out of sight. Same with the black in his veins, turning back to normal blood. Alexander sighed in relief as he stretched.
"I will always thank you for coming into my life…" He said with a smile.
"And I will always thank that portal for dropping me into your lap all those years ago," She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, "The Castle Guard need me since Hele is absent apparently…"
"Alright," Alexander nodded, "Good luck, my lovely nurse…"
Camila smiled at the name, giggling.
"To you as well, my Mighty Emperor…"
With that final word, Camila turned around and left their bedroom, leaving the Emperor to his thoughts.
Alexander sighed as he turned to face himself in the mirror, looking at his long ash-blond hair that reached past his shoulder and the corn-flower blue eyes of his. He remembered when they were once green, but such is the blessing of the Titan and Its magic.
He looked down at his hand and summoned his staff. Same old design with new mechanisms, he made it right after Camila vastly improved his condition.
His old staff used artificial magic to operate, enabling him to continue serving the Titan's will without the denizens of the Isles noticing his crutch. But not this one.
Being as powerful as he is, he couldn't use the full extent of his magic at all times.
With this new design, he would channel his immense magic into the staff and the glass orb, which was actually made of a very very strong crystal, would refine it to cast whatever spell he was trying to cast.
"Still can not believe the Stranger helped make this…" He said to himself, "I never did thank them for their genius…" He said softly before sending away his staff once more, "They said that they were blessed by the Titan as well… She should still be alive then… I must find her… They'd surely be a great asset to-"
Suddenly there was a flash of light behind him. He recognized it.
"Hawk…" He said, turning to face the Elite Guard, "I wasn't expecting a report… In my bedroom no less..."
Hawk scoffed, crossing her arms.
"I didn't want to be giving one in here either, Emperor, I just wanted to inform you of something important…" She said softly, her voice once again disguised.
"And what is that?" He asked.
"I've confirmed the rumors and theories that you had on Edalyn Claythorne… She indeed has a portal to the human realm…"
Alexander nodded, turning back around.
"After all these years, only to find out that it was just in Bonesborugh below… Cruel are the fates of design…" He commented.
"Emperor, allow me to move in on the portal," She said, stepping forward, clenching her fist in determination, "With the Owl Ladies Curse, it'll be easy to dispatch her and claim the portal and Key as well."
Alex was silent for a moment before nodding.
"Yes… That is a-"
Suddenly his eyes landed on the portrait on his shared dresser.
It was a picture of a younger Luz that Camila brought from the Human realm. She was smiling brightly in the picture with her wild long hair. She was holding up a book, Azura he believed as well as an Azura figure.
He smiled at the sight of his daughter before he frowned.
The Owl Lady was her mentor… She fought so hard to convince him to see things a different way on her sentencing and she was so excited to be learning magic from such a Wild Witch as her…
Alexander sighed, turning to face Hawk, he shook his head.
"No, do not move in on the Owl Lady's portal to the Human Realm. The Portal is not yet ready anyway, it would be a waste of resources to acquire something that isn't going anywhere… We must keep up appearances with the Owl Lady and my daughter to keep her and the portal close… Keep your distance but watch the Owl Lady closely…"
"But- Emperor-"
"Enough! I've made my decision and it's final, don't let me find out that you went against my orders or you will learn what it means to be at the Titan's Mercy!" He threatened, eyes glowing blue as a warning to her.
Hawk conceded… Some things never changed...
The Elite Guard nodded and kneeled, bowing her head.
"I understand, your highness… I won't go against " She said silently.
Alexander nodded as he snapped his fingers and made his mask appear in his hand.
"Good… Now get back to work… I believe there are two others you are in charge of, correct?"
Hawked nodded, placing a fist on her chest, over her heart.
"Yes, sir… I'll report if anything develops…" She said, "For the Will of the Titan…" She whispered before flashing away in a golden light.
Alexander looked down at the mask in his hands.
"Yes…" He whispered as he put the mask on, Becoming the Emperor Belos once again, "For the Titan and his Will…" He said silently, looking at the picture frame of Luz for longer than he intended before turning and walking out of his bedroom.
It was time to be a tyrant once again...