I thought I managed to break my spacebar somehow and after a few headaches I realized it was just unaligned. I love my two brain cells
Thank You for reading, hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Overlord, that all goes to Maruyama-sama
It was a peaceful day by the average imperial citizen's perspective. Prices fluctuated while goods traded hands at the stalls of the central market, the Imperial Air Guard made their usual rounds, it was, by all means of the word, an ordinary day.
Everything seemed to just blend into the prior day except at the checkpoint of Arwinter, as had been designated to halt traffic for the first half of the day, this confused the guards stationed but they did as orders were told. Only the keen few could tell that something was to happen, as traffic was rarely, if ever forced to stagnate, and as a result the closed checkpoint appeared to be contributing to some disgruntled citizenry and merchants who used the opportunity made a fuss.
That was, until the Bloody Emperor's intricately detailed carriage was sighted, pulled by the iconic Sleipnirs. the carriage's base color was a deep red, it contrasted beautifully with the golden trim lining its edges and upon each of its corners were shining finials. The exquisite carriage was flanked by; who anyone could make out at a glance, were two of the, Fou- Three Imperial Knights, mounted on muscled warhorses that have clearly seen battle.
One of the two knights stayed flanking the emperor's carriage, adjacent to the sigil of Baharuth adhered on its door. As the lingering crowd realized who it was, the knight spoke,
"All peoples entering the capital, Arwinter, are to hereby proceed to the nearby immigration office to be sorted out. By word of His Majesty, the Emperor, all citizens must leave the area until further notice." The blonde knight stated, his words seemed to flow with a noble's authority.
The noble whom was mounted upon his horse was no other than Nimble Arc Dale Anoch. He had been practically ripped away from his tea tasting by order of his Lord. The one thing that could get him away from the memories of the Katze Plains, was the fresh taste and smell of tea, something about it was like a drug to Nimble, from the preparation of the leaves to the mundane brewing of a cup of tea.
Nimble didn't exactly appreciate being called upon during such times but what good was disobeying his emperor in exchange for some tea?.. Well maybe it was a possibility, he would just have to come up with good enough excuses.
Nimble escaped reality by way of imagining the tea that he had to leave sitting on his desk in his study, before catching himself and reeling his fantasy back to reality. Nimble watched the backs of the returning citizens, as he finished dredging his thoughts with that of tea. He had wondered why he specifically was called but the question left his mind as fast as it appeared, instead Nimble began questioning the exact circumstances he found himself in, and all that thought left was a bad taste in his mouth.
Nevertheless Nimble awaited the presence of his Emperor, who was still inside his carriage. Ever since Jircniv had told the three Imperial Knights of Fluder Paradyne's betrayal, Jircniv had kept everything, seemingly even himself at a distance. Nimble, though, knew better than to assume the state of his Lord, but it didn't mean he didn't wonder.
' Maybe I should've feigned an illness and enjoy some time off.' He would be lying if he said he didn't have to quell the impulse to report unwell to his Lord every once in awhile, but Nimble knew that actions were what made a man, not emotions.
Finally emancipated from his thoughts by the presence of his colleague, which he was grateful for, Nimble turned to face the most outspoken of the Imperial Knights, Baziwood Peshmel as he led his mount next to Nimbles own and nodded in acknowledgement.
"Im surprised you're not still at yur lil' tea-party Nimble, did you save any fer me?" Baziwood said while chucking and giving Nimble a pat on his back, almost knocking him unbalanced.
Nimble readjusted himself while sighing,
"It's not a tea-party, I simply enjoy tea. Besides, it's a healthier habit than the women you decide to frequent." Nimble counterattacked Baziwood, leaving him partially stunned.
"Well.. Maybe, but healers don't exist for nothin'. Just don' ferget to bring me to your next tea-party or... Maybe your sisters would be interested." Baziwood returned fire with the ease one would expect out of his character, leaving Nimble surprised at the direction Baziwood took the conversation.
Nimble, begrudgingly concluded that Baziwood had won this round, for he didn't want to curse himself by speaking ill of his sisters. He decided to change the subject,
"Have you seen Leinas around? I had been stationed at the palace less frequently than you have been recently." Nimble asked as Baziwood. Being as informal as Baziwood was, he was invaluable to exchange information with, as Nimble didn't have to worry about reading between the lines of his words.
Actually, I was gonna ask you. I've heard rumors but thats about all, and before you ask, I dont even know what im doing here, only that the Emperor called for us." Baziwood said straightforwardly.
'Well at least Baziwoods bluntness helped define the information that he didn't know.' Nimble thought as his eyes caught the Emperor's Carriage finally open.
Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix, the Bloody Emperor, stepped down from his carriage, his eyes scanning the now empty road. Upon realizing that the Emperor was finally gracing them with his precense, both Nimble and Baziwood got off from their mounts and displayed their subservience to their Emperor. Though Baziwood was less sophisticated than one usually in his position he still followed expected protocol.
The Bloody Emperor stood still, as the two knights wondered what exactly was to happen.
Jircniv had read on the ledger received from Shalltear that the undead would be "delivered" on this specific date at this designated location, but as his amethyst gaze roamed the length of the road, he saw nothing that would declare such a delivery.
That was when it happened.
A point of space both infinitely thin and infinitely dark, expanded rapidly, seeming to encroach upon the fabric of reality itself. It gave one the impression that it would grow forever unilaterally, expanding as if tearing space apart with a 2-dimensional rift. Nimble, who had seen such an effect before almost feinted instantaneously.
Columns of death protruded from the portal, a horde of menace, those were the simplest descriptions of the sight that met ones eyes on the road leading into Arwinter.
Standing at its front were what seemed to be skeletonized horses, reeved in a sick, infected puss-colored fog. Although only numbering three their aura of hunger heavily lingered on the wisps of negative energy that secreted from their skeleton frames. Behind them stood the row of seven Death Knights, standing stock still, like statues of peril. Their spiked armor coursed with bloodlust within the vein like patters within, as they held their tower shields and waved flamberges, as if waiting for the chance to come to life and act on such hatred. The least worrying but the most numerous were the 250 skeletons that formed a field of bones behind the spiked menaces.
Jircniv had quickly realized that his hopes of not sparking any panic in the Capital with the arrival of the undead was but wishful thinking.
Heavy wings propelled air as the frost dragon lifted off, returning in the direction of E-Rantel. Many quagoa used to hide on instinct when the sound of a flying dragon managed to reach them but now it was just background noise, similar to the sound of digging that had been going on since their arrival to this new mountain.
Pe Riyuro, as the Lord of his clan, needed to at least keep himself stable in the eyes of his clan, lest existential anxiety creep into their hearts and gnaw at their minds. Pe Riyuro had made sure to always be doing what his clan needed him to do, he would hunt and dig for days on end, trying to make an example for his fellows to follow. Even if it was unlikely for anyone to bounce back after the incident, he would at least be a role model, working to build a better future.
But even as he told himself such things, Pe Riyuro wasn't sure if a 'better' future was what awaited them, he could only hope. What was someone in his position supposed to do? Fight the chains of fate until they turn into a noose to destroy his species? No, he couldn't do that, maybe it would satisfy his pride but at what benefit is pride when one faces pure extinction?
Unfortunately no one could hear the conflicted thoughts of the Quagoa Lord, and even if they did, there was no right answer.
Pe Riyuro felt a claw poke at his back, it was one of the only survivors of clan Pu Surix, it was one of the females that acted as a mother of sorts to overburdened broods. Usually such task was left to the weak, but the red fur that glistened with radiance to Pe Riyuro told him that she was anything but weak.
"Please, Lord Pe Riyuro, you should rest. You might not be a child, but that doesn't mean you can work forever. " The female quagoa said, her claws held Pe Riyuros favorite snack, a cave lizard.
Pe Riyuro could swear that the female he was looking at had a halo around her, he realized that she must've been one of the 10,000 that he had to choose.
The Quagoa Lord swallowed the immense guilt he felt and as the darkness coagulated, he felt sick to his empty stomach, his face twisted in both anger and sadness, he wished this was just a bad dream. He wanted his home, he wanted his united clan, he wanted his throne, he wanted a family, he wanted everything, but it seemed so far away to him.
The silent Quagoa Lord fell to his knees, but was caught by the female quagoa.
" You can't fall yet... Just like you said to us all my lord, we can rebuild. Dont break your word and leave the greatest Quagoa Lord dead inside himself. " The quagoa said softly, as if to calm down a rowdy pup.
The darkness that had been etched into Pe Riyuros soul retreated, no longer running rampant inside his uneasy heart, at least for the time. Pe Riyuro steadied his breathing.
"Thank you. I dont know what came over me. Can I have the name of the one who saved me?" Pe Riyuro asked genuinely.
The female quagoa laughed, simply saying,
" I'm called Suri, but I didn't save you, only we can save ourselves.. I wanted to remind you of your own words, and of the possibility that you reminded us all of." The quagoa named Suri said.
Were those his words? They felt too foreign to have come from his mouth. Also... Save himself? How is he supposed to do that if he has to wait for someone else to come pick him up? Pe Riyuros face changed expressions as his confliction about his own worth rose from the depths.
No. This was wrong. These feelings were not him, Pe Riyuro knew this, but he felt hope was like he was reaching out to empty air. However, he also knew how he would feel if he stopped reaching, he would quickly plummet to the bottom, and each time, the abyss got deeper and darker.
"Thank you Suri, you would make a good wife." The Quagoa Lord said without thinking.
Before Suri could express her flusteredness, however, the mighty lord of ice's voice appeared inside Pe Riyuro's mind.
"Meet Outside, the cave." Cocytus said through the [Message] and it was terminated after Pe Riyuros acknowledgement.
" Thank you for your kindness and warmth Suri, but a situation presses itself for my involvement." He said, leaving the still flustered Suri where she was.
The creature born of all things cold stood directly outside the mouth of the cave. Pe Riyuro shook as he bowed submissively, both from fear and the general cold that radiated off of the anthropoid creature called Cocytus.
Pe Riyuro was thankful that Cocytus seemed to be considerate enough not to freeze their stream this time, it had taken days to melt and still hasn't gotten any warmer since being frozen. Which in itself Pe Riyuro doesn't understand since it is a moving body of water, these were the thoughts the quagoa Lord diverted his attention to, trying to fend off impending reality.
Cocytus spoke in his usual to-the-point method.
" Travel to Baharuth, connect trade for more resources." The expression of ice spoke, while pointing to the South-East.
"Your only direction needed is South-East. First, is Straeland, then Theiries, finally Arwinter, which is your destination." Cocytus explained to the silent Pe Riyuro.
"Yes, my lord but, will I need a map? I have never traveled to a human realm." Pe Riyuro tried to calm his fears of being hunted by the humans by the realization that they used forged weapons, giving him an advantage if he needed it.
"No. Once you reach Straeland you should be fine." Cocytus's words left no room for any other questions, so Pe Riyuro readied himself for his journey.
Mu'Aaz felt as if the sky was falling down and reality had a malfunction. Absolutely nothing made sense. His arms and legs moved as fast as they could, faster than he was even processing, his muscles extended and contracted, coursing with adrenaline from a fear he thought he had escaped long ago.
The fear of death, nonexistence, erasure. The primal fear that he had once been so used to now blared with warning sirens, announcing his soon demise. But Mu'Aaz didn't want to listen, he had led his clan to greatness among the Stone Eater, extending his race's prestige across the Abelion Hills, but that prestige felt like a glass of cold water at the moment.
After hearing those screams echo throughout the hills, he had immediately ordered an evacuation of his tribes home. Such a decision wasn't made lightly. As Stone Eaters grew attached to the certain composition of minerals they had grown up on, such things were bound to happen as in places of congregation, quantity of minerals was the most important aspect of finding a home and after eating the same mineral for all their lives, usually they stick with said mineral. Which can lead to degenerates that horde "their type" of minerals among other problems.
Mu'Aaz tried to distract himself with these distant thoughts but he couldn't escape reality.
He felt something fibrous catch on his wrist as his right arm was stopped in its tracks by a vine. The momentum of his body carried him along the axis of his shoulder, slamming him directly on his back. He yanked his arm but the vine only tightened, Mu'Azz widened his eyes as he realized it must've been a trap. He had no minerals on hand, his entire tribe was empty while they searched for a new home.
Mu'Aaz crunched painfully, as hard as he could, he clenched and slammed his jaw repeatedly. Normally such an action would be bizarre to the extreme, but for Mu'Aaz, it was his only hope. He felt something crack and so he clenched even harder, he was running out of time as something was emerging from the shadows from where the vine originated.
The pain was severe, but he finally felt one of his teeth, break off neatly at the gum, Stone Eater teeth could crush even diamond, so to say they were hard was an understatement. Mu'Aaz spat his tooth at sonic speed, obliterating the vine that held him hostage, and as he did, he watched it recoil and slither away.
He needed to regroup with his tribe, but such thoughts were interrupted by an uncanny voice, one that sounded like both a whisper carried by the wind and the creaking of a tree.
"Color me surprised, an insect decides to bite instead of flight." A despicable being in the form of a twisted tree said.
Mu'Aaz was nervous, very nervous. He couldn't tell from which nightmare the being before him manifested, but he knew what he had to do. He clenched his jaw as he tasted the blood of his missing tooth, he was slightly miffed that the last taste in his mouth would be that of his own blood and not his favorite mineral.
