The portal was closed. A scientist at the other end, the land of the living, had pressed the emergency stop button. In the observation room, two of them looked on, the feed to the cameras having been cut. "…well, at least we know the native fauna are capable."
The other scientist slowly nodded his head. "Yeah. We're going to need more men. Why'd you give that order?"
"We needed to test their capabilities. If we lost the squad, we tie up loose ends, get a good idea of how these demons fight. If the squad won, then we'd have more material for the portals." The human lifted himself up, crossing his arms. "Speaking of… closing the portal sapped a lot of energy out."
The other man looked over, squinting at the dial of the gib receptacle. "…shit. We gotta get that up."
"Yeah. Call the doc."
Octavia stood in the hallway. Her pulse was pounding, her breathing was stiff and ragged. Despite being accompanied by her mother, the nerves were getting to her. This was it. This was the moment she'd inherit her father's place.
The main chamber of the Goetian Assembly was filled with raucous conversation. Gossip, rumours, mundanities about their jobs. It was chaos… but for now, the chaos didn't threaten to hurt anyone and was thus allowed to continue. Octavia could hear everything from the hall, and Stella noticed the rigidity in her daughter's body. "…it's okay. Just do everything the Emperor asks you to."
Octavia, with her formal garb, looked practically unrecognisable. It chafed at her body, defenestrated her casual self and outwardly moulded her into a perfect heiress. She took in air and exhaled, closing her eyes. "…okay." She almost spit the words out. It was clear to her mother that she was not okay.
Andrealphus was sat in his seat already, barely participating in the gossip. He watched the proceedings intently. Paimon… Belial… Beleth… it almost seemed like everyone was here. Stolas was not… although it looked like someone was sitting in his seat.
The Goetia were startled by the sound of a gong, and then the sounds of horns. The ornate chamber went silent, the cacophony drowning the conversation out. In between the breaths of the hornsmen were the subtle sound of rattling, the heavy thump of footsteps. A wooden double door was thrown open, clanging against the walls perpendicular to them. The Goetia stood up from their chairs, standing to attention.
The Infernal Throne, on top of a platform hovering in the air, was occupied by the Emperor of the Ars Goetia, Lucifer Morningstar, covered almost entirely by the pink, white, and gold mantle draped and secured over his shoulders, bejeweled crown nestled upon his head. The four most important of his courtiers, his diplomat, his marshal, his steward… his spymaster… were holding the four carrying poles of the platform, slowly stepping one at a time and bringing their liege forward.
A space in the middle of the Assembly had been prepared for the sovereign. As a choir began softly chanting in an ancient tongue, professing their undying loyalty and love for the monarch, the platform was softly turned to face the Goetia, the Emperor's face stony and determined. His courtiers kneeled, the platform being placed on the ground, and they moved out from underneath the carrying poles to stand at their monarch's side.
The Emperor looked on, the choir finishing their song as he sat on his throne. The voices petered out. Silence. Deafening, lasting only for a couple of seconds but practically feeling like hours. The sovereign finally spoke. "I hereby decree that the Goetian Assembly is in session. You may be seated." Almost like clockwork, the Goetia did as they were told. "…well, the good news is that I can see there is a quorum. We can go along with our agenda for today. Perhaps more would get done if the members of the Assembly made this a habit." The sovereign cleared his throat.
Seviathan, the spymaster, bowed to the Emperor. "Inferna invicta. I regret to inform the monarch that one of the members of the Assembly has perished." He opened up a scroll in front of the monarch. Lucifer read it carefully.
"Stolas Septimus von Goetia. I see. Thank you." The spymaster closed the scroll and took it away. The Emperor spoke, a forceful, raucous voice. "Stolas. A member of the Assembly, the commander of 26 legions, a man knowledgeable about the stars, herbs, plants, precious stones… has been assassinated by an imp."
The Assembly began to talk amongst each other, loudly, and shocked gasps escape many of the Goetia. Whispers about the perpetrator. An imp? How could this be? Even Octavia, in another room awaiting the monarch's prompting, nervously looked through the doorway.
The gong was hit loudly. It ran out into the room, its tone quieting the Goetia. Lucifer's face was deadpan. "I understand that the very thought of an imp killing their masters may be shocking to most in the Assembly. However, despite this, we must continue with our agenda. Fortunately for Stolas Septimus, he has produced an heiress that can sit on his behalf during these meetings. As I am not one to discuss legal proceedings without the rightful Goetia sitting in their seats, we shall officiate this transfer of power first."
The gong was hit again. The Emperor shouted. "Octavia! Come forth!"
The heiress could hear her blood flowing through her ears. Stella looked at her, whispering. "Go!"
So she did. Octavia stepped out of the hallway, into the chamber of the Assembly. Bombastic music was played from the second floor of the Assembly, picked out by Stella and Andrealphus. Siegfried's Funeral March, Richard Wagner. Her cheeks grew red. Did they seriously do that? Regardless, nothing was between her and the Emperor now. The sovereign watched her intently. She forced her legs to move, walking closer to her fate.
The intensity of the horns shook the room, bursts of bass, then slow meandering by the smaller instruments. Her boots clacked against the floor. Closer. Closer. Another burst of intensity. Her formal dress flowed behind her with every step.
Lucifer gave the order. "Halt." Octavia froze in place. "Kneel." She did as she was told.
"Your grimoire, please."
The music began swelling. A few moments of silence from Octavia. A few from Lucifer. He repeated his command. "Your grimoire."
She began sweating, her lip quivering. "…I don't have it."
Lucifer blinked a few times. "Sorry? I can't hear you over the horns!"
She yelled out.
"I DON'T HAVE IT!"
The Emperor's face twisted up in confusion. "Hey- HEY! HEY! STOP THE MUSIC!"
The band cut themselves off. Deafening silence. The Emperor stood up. "Stand up and come closer to me, please." Octavia obliged, Lucifer also doing his work of closing the distance by standing from his throne and clacking onto the floor. He met her halfway. "Were you given your grimoire?"
She swallowed. "No, sir… I came out without it."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed a bit. "…do you know where it is?"
"No, sir."
The Emperor cleared his throat, nodding, patting Octavia's shoulder. "It's okay, it's not your fault… we'll continue, I'll cue you in. Okay?" The heiress nodded. Lucifer stepped back. "Would the immediate family members of Octavia von Goetia stand up?"
Stella peeked out from the hallway. Andrealphus stood up. He looked at both. "Are you aware of the location of the Stolas household's grimoire?"
Andrealphus shook his head. "My wife and I have been looking for it for a month. We have no idea as to its whereabouts."
Lucifer cleared his throat. "Thank you, sit down." The Goetia was compliant. "…shame. Shame! The loss of a grimoire is a grave situation and one that disallows the current ascendancy of Octavia von Goetia. Until the grimoire is found and brought to me, I cannot give her full responsibility. What's a Goetia without their grimoire?" He steps up onto the platform and sits back on the Infernal Throne. "However, despite this unfortunate situation, Octavia can be elevated under the supervision of a regency until the grimoire is retrieved."
Andrealphus, as per ritual, stands, placing himself at attention. "My liege, I formally request to be the regent for Octavia von Goet-"
"Denied. Sit down."
