Killua and Gon had agreed on a grand entrance on the way to the palace. Luckily, they were at least somewhat familiar with it after their tour on the night of the dinner with the High Priestess. So they knew that the intricate stained glass window led to the throne room, which was undoubtedly where Camilla currently was.
The two boys took a flying leap from the nearest rooftop, and crashed through the stained glass window, sending shards of colorful glass everywhere, a frigid wind following them in as they landed down on the white tile floor.
The two boys landed in matching crouches, and straightened in perfect sync.
Killua's mind jutted off onto a tangent: he couldn't help but smile at the way he and his best friend could match each other perfectly. It was an incredible feeling, being on the exact same wavelength as someone. Especially someone as special to him as Gon.
He pushed these thoughts away, and walked stride in stride with Gon as they approached the dias on which Camilla's intricate crystal throne sat.
The High Priestess was seated there, just as the two boys had estimated.
Several courtesans were scattered around her, holding various reports.
The palace workers were painted in various colors of shock and fear, they had most definitely not expected Gon and Killua to bust in like this.
It disgusts me. Look at them! Just sitting back as if nothing was wrong! They knew the serpent was attacking, but because of Camilla slaughter has been accepted as a normal occurrence. What the hell!
The two boys stomped up the stairs to the dais, shards of glass falling out of their hair, leaving bloody footprints all over the previously clean floor.
Camilla glared down her nose at them, her nasty true side showing.
Today she was dressed in baby blue, another intricate gown. Her crown glittered atop her head, and that Medusa-like golden hair snaked out from her scalp in all directions.
"Why did you make it illegal for the citizens to defend themselves against the serpent."
The courtesans squirmed, Gon had spoken first, an unexpected occurrence.
It had not been a question, but an order.
His voice was dark and hard, and it made Killua's insides recoil… yet at the same time, made his heart race.
Camilla's face contorted into one of distaste, so unlike her plastered serene expression from the dinner event. "Why should I tell you? Outsiders! Who just defiled my palace, no less."
"Outsiders who just drove that damned ice serpent off again for you," Killua growled.
But you already knew that, didn't you? It's obvious. We're covered in blood, and an attack is clearly the only viable catalyst for our discovery of sensitive information.
Camilla "hmph"ed.
"Answer me," Gon said in a calm voice, it was much more threatening than any yell.
I've never seen him like this before… well… he sort of got like this when he fought Tonpa and then the Skinwalker… he's really mad.
The High Priestess scoffed.
"Fine, then. If you must know."
The two boys stared her down incedulously.
"Our village was not always this way. We used to be a clan of warrior women, warrior women who took pride in our constant victory against our enemies, the ice serpents. However, as the years wore on, less Neko-Girls joined the military ranks, until eventually, our warrior numbers had dwindled to a pitiful amount. It happened at the worst of times. As I am sure you are aware from all of your snooping, eight years ago our village was attacked by an army of serpents. Our warriors fought bravely… but were vastly outnumbered. H-half the village was destroyed."
Camilla's voice choked with emotion. This part of the story was clearly one of which she held great emotion over. She turned her eyes downcast.
"Many of our warriors died… including my… daughter."
Camilla looked back up, and stared Killua and Gon dead in the eyes.
Their crystalline blue depths were lined with the silver of tears.
"My daughter… Princess of our Village. Her name was Dominique. She meant… everything to me. Everything to us. She died in that battle, along with the rest of her fellow warriors… with only one serpent left alive. The one that the two of you have fought. The last words off my daughter's lips… were to leave this creature alive."
A chill ran through Killua, the intensity in Camilla's eyes was striking.
"That is why we leave the creature untouched."
"But that doesn't mean you can't fight back," Gon pointed out darkly.
Camilla slightly recoiled at the threat in his voice.
"Why did you make it illegal for them to protect themselves?" Gon was trembling, it was unnoticeable to anyone but Killua, but he was shivering with rage.
Camilla shuddered a sigh, and two shimmering tears slipped down her flawless cheeks.
"We lost- so many. My dear Domonique… and so many more."
The High Priestess perked up all of a sudden, her eyes burning with fiery determination.
"I couldn't bear to see any more of my people die fighting that creature. So I made it illegal to fight it."
Killua frowned. "But they do die!" He snarled at the confusing woman.
Camilla glared at him with burning blue eyes, "Far more would die if we fought. I cannot stand to see any of my precious people fighting that- that thing."
"Then if it's illegal then why did you praise us so much for fighting it?" Killua snapped.
"I cannot stand to see my people fighting the creature. But I do not like to see them be killed by that thing either. The two of you are outsiders, when you came and fought it, you saved us from the creature. With the two of you here, the creature can be fought and my people's lives can be saved without any of us dying as warriors. I am grateful for that."
Killua glanced at Gon out of the corner of his eye.
The green haired boy was glaring at Camilla, but with less rage than before.
"At least she has a reason," I bet that's what he's thinking.
Gon…
How can you be so kind and accepting?
It's truly inspiring…
The High Priestess stood up, and two more tears slipped down her face. She fixed the two boys with an intense look, Killua couldn't read her at all.
This woman… is not right in the head.
"Master Gon, Prince Killua."
Each of the boys lifted their chins slightly in acknowledgement.
"You have saved our village two times already, and we are eternally grateful to you. With the two of you here, our village and my people are finally safe. Would the two of you honor my and my fellow Neko-Sisters by staying here forever, and assimilating into our society as the Champions of our village?"
Killua's eyes widened.
Didn't see that one coming.
The Valkyrie exchanged a look with Gon, who's burning amber eyes had calmed down to a low simmer.
"Would you, Gon Freecs and Killua Zoldyck, take up the positions of our Champions? And stay here permanently to defend our village from the ice serpent?" the blonde Queen reiterated. "You will be treated with the highest regard, and will be free to do whatever you wish in our village. You will be given personal rooms in the palace, and a workforce of personal handmaids, hired just for you, and not from my own employ. It is a position of the highest honor, and one that I humbly ask of you to consider."
The High Priestess curtseyed elegantly, her head bowed down as she waited for their response.
Killua quirked an eyebrow at Gon.
"We would become Champions of the village," Gon clarified, "and would be treated as royalty. Our job would be to drive off the serpent, but leave it alive, am I correct?"
"Yes, Master Gon," Camilla answered while still bowed down.
Gon looked at Killua and Killua looked at Gon.
"What do you think?" Killua whispered so that only Gon could hear.
"I think… we should take the offer."
"But only stay until we kill the serpent?"
"Yes."
Killua held back a smirk.
I knew we'd be on the same page.
No way we're leaving that gods forsaken thing alive. We don't give a rat's ass what Cami-bitch says, it's wrong to live like this and we are killing that mother fucker no matter what she says.
Gon and Killua both turned back to Camilla.
"We accept," Gon said, eyes still shadowed. He may have calmed down a little, but he was still enraged at Camilla's allowing her people to die night after night, and preventing them from fighting back.
"We will be your Champions."
The High Priestess straightened in a flash, eyes sparkling, tear trails staining her face, and mouth split open in a grateful smile. It was the first time the woman's eyes matched up with her facial expression.
"Excellent, I graciously thank you, Champion's Gon and Killua. You will now be referred to as Lords Gon and Killua. You will spend one more night at the Inn, and tomorrow you will be transferred to the palace, to your personal quarters. You will be measured and fitted for a personal set of Neko-Clothing, and I will have your maids hired specifically for your service ready by tomorrow. I welcome you to our society with open arms," she bowed once more.
The two newly dubbed Lords bowed their heads in turn, meeting each other's eyes with burning gazes. Knowing that under no circumstance would they listen to this crazy woman. They also knew that this would give them the freedom they needed to continue investigating.
I know she told us the whole story…
But there is still the question of why Princess Dominique wanted the serpent left alive.
If we can solve that, then we will be able to kill the creature with all other things in order.
Camilla may think that she has us under her thumb now, but little does she know that she just informed us of exactly what we need to be searching for.
