"Things seems to be going well in realm 235, the herald has potentially secured a meeting with the sovereign of a nation. This should speed things up significantly." Punito Moe said
"Yes however it appears the religion of 41 has degraded greatly over the course of our absence. It may be hard for the Herald to provide a convincing case against the current religion of the six." Yamaiko said
"Mortals always manage to mess things up it seems." Lucifer said
"We could prepare some avataras and send those in our stead if the indigenoius population needs some persuading." Amanomahitotsu said
"The realm is still too far, the tether is working but it will take half a year at least before the realm is close enough for the world to support an avatara." Tabula Smaragdina said
"Yes and closer we move it to Yggdrasil the more realms get caught inside the blast radius. Currently 5 realms are in danger, once we move the realm close enough to send in an avatara, 2 more realms will enter the blast radius." Punito Moe said wearily
"Estimated casualties?" Chagama asked
"Now it's about 50 million, once the two realms enter the blast zone the number goes up to 2.6 billion. One of the realms is a hive world." Punito Moe said with a sigh
"Shit." Peroroncino cursed
"Language!" Chagama rebuked as Peroroncino visibly flinched at the words
"On the plus side there appears to be some exceptional individuals on world, they could prove useful." Punito Moe said
"Indeed we can bring them here, if they still cling to their false gods." Momonga said
"If they still don't budge? You know how mortals are, they believe what they want to believe regardless of the truth." Ulbert said
"Then we show them the true face of their lie. You see I found something in the Profaned Valley after I caught wind that the six so called gods had died about 200 years ago." Momonga said
With a wave of his hand six portals appeared at the great plaza and six figures made of wisps of white light were thrown out of the portal. Around their necks were black smoking chains that led into the portal. Another six figures appeared after them from the portal, they were grotesque beings. Over 2 metres in higher wearing tattered armor and frayed capes, their armor and bodies seemed to be constantly giving off ash as it floated off their bodies and vanished. Their faces were sunken emancipated things, with no eyes to speak of merely dry rotting skin pulled over what appears to be a smooth skull. Their mouths however were gaping oval holes lined with serrated teeth. From their maws constantly spewed a white fog that chilled the air around them. An odd sound constantly leaked from their maws, it sounded like the howl of winter wind but also like the groans of the dying.
These are the Abyss Walkers, the jailers of the Profaned Valley and a part of Momonga's final solution. This was the fate of those who had souls of great power but failed in virtue. Be not mistaken the meaning of virtue to the 41 is very different from those of mortals. To seek vengeance and punishment would revere Ulbert Alain Odle just as much if you sought justice in the name of Touch Me. You see justice and vengeance are simply two sides of the same coin. However if your vengeance is misguided and you target the innocent and helpless... Then pray your soul is weak so that it may return formless into the abyss being consumed by the fall, if you are found wanting but are strong enough to maintain your sense of identity as you plummet towards the Profaned Valley, then you will find yourself in a place of unimaginable horror. Your reward for your strength will be eternal damnation.
Every new… guest of the profaned valley will have a chain fixed to their necks. This chain has 41 links, every millenia one chain will burn away, except for the last chain. The last chain takes 41 millenia. Each link will determine what kind of abyss creature you become, the weaker ones who fail anywhere with the first 37 chains will fade into feral abyss creatures known as void born to serve at the whim of the Abyss Walkers. The 38th chain are known as Watchdogs, they are the weakest of the Abyss Walkers and are the ones sent to guard the different realms. Since they are weak they do not damage their surroundings as much as their stronger brethren. The 39th and 40th chains are much stronger, strong enough that they corrode the space around them killing everything the mortals, foliage, air and the earth. They are known as the Harvesters. Now the last chain is perhaps the most cruel fate for they retain portions of their identity, so they now exist in this horror ridden valley with their minds mostly intact. They are the Abyss Lords of the 41st chain. Of the uncountable amount of souls that fall to the Profaned Valley only four have escaped their last chain…
The six souls tremble and quaked as they looked up at the 41. Their souls wracked with indescribable agony as their chains hissed and burn, tearing at their souls. This place was much better than that accursed place, that valley with the skies and walls bleeding black ichor, air filled with the screams of tormented souls. The air… it didn't burn as it did in that hell scape. Alah Alaf remembers arriving in that unspeakable valley, he had arrived with another soul. He remembers the moment the chain was fixed to other soul, it screamed and immediately began to lose its form. He initially thought that it was a reprieve perhaps this was the true end, but how wrong he was. The chain dissolved into thick black substance and engulfed the soul turning it into a disgusting, hissing worm that joined the endlessly wriggling floors and walls. It was then that it realised all these worms… they were souls that succumbed…
"I suggest since their followers seems so eager to meet their gods I say why not give them the opportunity?" Momonga said
With those words echoes of laughter from the gods rained down on the six. In their hearts they trembled wondering what fate had in store for them.
Maeve and Pandora rode into the capital atop the horse that had been gifted to them by the governor of E-Rantel. Maeve looked around at the capital, the buildings were relatively well constructed relative to the level of technology this world possessed. Most realms stay trapped at the late medieval period if they have access to magic unless… some foreign intervention appears. You always have to be careful with these things, the wrong knowledge granted at the wrong time can spell disaster. The people here seemed happy and contented, there wasn't a sense of despair as compared to some other pockets of civilisation she visited. Overall it's a good sign, happy citizens means good rulers. Although... there was a lack of luxury goods being worn or on sale, indicating a less complex economy. Probably a decent standard of living, basic needs covered, seems to lack potential for social progression judging by what she had heard from Gazef. The nobility were firmly entrenched in this society, the commoners merely laboured for their lords with no hope of improving their lives. The Re-Estize kingdom and neighbouring Baharuth Empire both followed a Feudal social structure. That's not to say the people were miserable, their lives were stable and they had most of their basic needs fulfilled. In general you could call it a happy ignorant populace. The siblings were led to large manor in what appeared to be the wealthy district.
"Maeve dono, Momon dono this is my residence. Please wait here while I go to see the king, I will let you know if the audience has been granted." Gazef said
"No need to rush Gazef dono, take it slow. It's fine even if the request is denied." Maeve replied
"I thank you for your generosity Maeve dono but I feel I must at least succeed in this small request." Gazef replied
"As you wish Gazef dono." Maeve replied
"I'll take my leave for now." Gazef said with a slight bow of his head
Gazef turned and started walking towards the palace looking at the streets around him. The people were happy, HIS people were happy. He remembered the sight of the two crying women standing on the earth dyed red with blood of their loved ones. He remembered the angel come to smite these innocent people from existence and he remembered how powerless he felt under the shadow of such a being. He looked to his right and saw a pair of children running and laughing down the street. He resolved himself once again to protect the people of this kingdom, to protect its people… his people.
When Gazef entered the throne room he saw there were many figures in attendance. The king sat on his throne gazing at him, to his sides were his children. The hot blooded warrior, the first prince Barbro, his second son the rather short and squat prince Zanac and lastly his third child the beautiful and brilliant Golden Princess Renner. In his mind he felt that Princess Renner would be the best ruler. After his experience at the village he felt this fact more starkly than ever before. With the Slaine Theocracy meddling in other nations they needed a strong ruler to fend off their aggression. This nation needed a leader kinder than Prince Barbro and a leader stronger willed than Prince Zanac. Princess Renner was both of those things and more. Behind Princess Renner stood her personal bodyguard, a young man of low birth who was an excellent swordsman, he lacked talent but he made for it with hard work. He remembered once when he trained so hard he caught a bad fever, the Princess was hysterical for the whole ordeal.
Flanking the royal family was the nobles of the court, on the kings right were the royal faction the preeminent faction that held most of the political power who backed the royal family. Among them was Marquis Raevan one of the great nobles and a personal benefactor of the adventurer's guild. His sizeable donations have ensured that the adventurers always had good equipment available for purchase at an affordable price. He never asked anything of the adventurers maintaining the stance that a well funded and strong adventurers guild will ensure a prosperous stable kingdom. Gazef couldn't agree more, in fact he would do something similar but in the form of free training sessions with some of the adventurers. Needless to say he got along quite well with the Marquis both having mutual admiration for each other. He assumed he had a good relationship with Princess Renner as well, he had often seen talking to each other in the corridors of the palace.
Then there was Nfirea Bareare the young head of the Alchemy Research Division, like his house this was a rather new organisation founded to improve the kingdom's alchemical technology. He knew it was an open secret that Princess Renner started this initiative as well. At this point everything that led to the rising of a commoner of talent into the noble circle was just assumed to be the work of Princess Renner regardless of the truth. On the surface these decisions were the wise decisions of the king but as someone who was in the inner circle he knew better.
Next in line was Brain Unglaus primus of his brother house or… rival house depending on how you look at it. Personally he preferred brother in arms over rival but he knew Brain had a competitive streak, especially since Brain had never bested him in a duel. He knew this was a sore spot for him.
As he approached the throne he saw the nobles on the left of the king giving him dirty looks. He knew he and the other ascended commoners were eye sores. Especially him since he was the first to rise above the station given to him by his birth. They viewed him as the catalyst that started this whole debacle and the one that gave Princess Renner the opening to rise in the eyes of the king as a capable and forward thinking leader. Now there were whispers that Princess Renner would be the heir and not the eldest son Prince Barbro who the noble faction backed. Now the factions were split down between the lines of succession. Prince Zanac had said he had no intention of inheriting the throne but he spent his time in the Royal Faction who appeared to back no one on the surface. However they often proposed measures that seemed very much like something Princess Renner would enact. This was just a thinly veiled disguise of the support of Princess Renner and even her older brother had thrown his support behind her. The Royal Faction will never back Prince Barbro viewing him as a simpleton and warmonger, which wasn't surprising considering he frequently provoked their neighbour the Baharuth Empire and advocated military hostilities against them. He seemed more interested in personal glory than the betterment of his nation. Which is fitting considering the noble faction wanted to back Barbro as they hoped if he became king it would improve their stations. Essentially the court was split into those who wanted a better world for their citizens and those only interested in their own selfish desires. Gazef silently thanked whatever gods there were the court wasn't split down the middle and disempowered the king. That would truly be disastrous…
He knelt before the king and bowed his head. Almost immediately he was ordered to raise his head but the order didn't come from his king but from Princess Renner. He looked up surprised at the sudden change. Seeing his shock Prince Zanac let out a laugh.
"Calm your self Gazef dono, the King is ill as I am sure you are aware, so he has requested that dear sister here help him speak out the words required for decorum in order to conserve his strength." Zanac said
Gazef looked to the smiling siblings of Zanac and Renner then to the mask of rage that was the face of Prince Barbro. Truly things were starting to change, it was as if the herald of change had arrived in his kingdom.
"Now my head warrior, to whom I trust like my right hand we have received your reports with regards to *cough cough* the battle at Carne Village. I am pleased to see you alive and well. You mentioned you were transporting a prisoner?" the king asked sounding very weak.
Gazef's heart ached at the sight, he loved his king from the bottom of his heart. He was the first to see the value in the commoners. His passing would be a great loss to the kingdom. Seeing his king in poor health as if death itself was knocking on his kings bedroom door he felt a wave of sadness pass over him.
"Yes I dispatched a report but… I omitted some details. For example that the foe we faced were not in fact bandits but the Sunlight Scripture from the Slaine Theocracy" Gazef announced
"What?" the king asked
"Also I would like to say that I did not defeat the scripture but instead two valoros warriors did, I was merely a spectator to their great deeds." Gazef said
"Why did you omit such things in your report? Do you take your duties lightly Warrior Captain?" a noble from the nobles faction said
"I am sure he had his reasons. Let him finish." said Marquis Raevan
"Yes thank you my lord. The reason why I omitted the details was at the request of one of the warriors. She felt that such sensitive information was in danger of being intercepted if sent in its entirety to the court." Gazef replied
"Wise but what are you leaving out? This information though important hardly requires such secrecy." Marquis Raevan replied
"Yes the reason was this…" as he said he gestured to one of his warrior band who was holding a wooden box.
"I believe this skirmish may directly impact the Slaine Theocracy's national strength." Gazef said as he held the box
"Hmph as if a single skirmish over a village can impact a nation, don't try to inflate your accomplishments peasant." Marquis Boullope spat
Marquis Boullope was another of the kingdoms great nobles, he has a large and well trained standing army. Making him the possessor of the strongest military force in the kingdom second only to the crown. He used to have the strongest force but after the creation of the two martial houses the balance of power shifted, as now both martial houses offered significant military power to the king or perhaps more accurately to Princess Renner. This made Gazef and Brain people Marquis Boullope despised greatly as their very existence has weakened his house.
Gazef didn't say a word of reply and simply opened up the box and showed the sealing crystal to the court. The faces of the Magicians guild mages and Nfriea immediately changed to shock.
"What… how?" one of the mages sputtered
"It's empty…" Nfriea muttered looking at the sealing crystal
"Yes the spell was released by the captain of the Sunlight Scripture. The spell summoned an angel called Dominion Authority." Gazef said
At those words the faces of the mages and Nfriea immediately blanched pale as parchment. Renner's eyes were as wide as saucers as those words, the shock clear on her face.
"Gazef forgive me, I don't mean to demean you in any way but if I'm not mistaken that was the angel that struck down one of the greed kings 100 years ago… how are you alive?" Princess Renner said softly as she looked to the mages for confirmation.
"You are well informed Princess Renner. The angel Dominion Authority is said to be the highest tier angel capable of casting the 7th tier spell Holy Smite." Nfriea said with a sigh
"The two warrioirs I spoke of were powerful, almost absurdly so. One of them cut the angel in half in a single blow." Gazef said
"What nonsense are you spouting! You expect us to believe someone cut the highest tier angel in half with a single blow?" Marquis Buollop shouted
"Marquis Buollop enough." Princess Renner said
Gazef looked up in surprise, Princess Renner never spoke out like this in court. The most surprised of course was Marquis Buollop. He was stunned, never in his life had he been silenced. He had always possessed considerable station in court due to the military strength of his house. His shock turned to rage as his face turned purple and he reached for his sword. Before he even got half the sword out Brain and Climb were standing in front of Princess Renner.
"I suggest you put that away Marquis Buollop." Brain said coldly
"Yes Marquis calm yourself, I for one beleive Gazef dono.: Marquis Raevan said
"Think on it Marquis Buollop, what could the Warrior Captain possibly stand to gain by telling such an outlandish lie. Unless of course it's the truth." Princess Renner said calmly
"Do not presume to command me Princess, you are not my queen. You are an upstart…" Marquis Buollop hissed
"Enough! Was I not clear Marquis Buollop? I commanded the Princess Renner speak in my stead, you shout in my throne room, draw a blade against my daughter and now you insult…" the king shouted in rage before falling into a coughing fit. The Princess Renner immediately rushed to the kings side and held a cloth to his mouth.
"Get the royal physician and a healer! NOW!" Princess Renner shouted
The court stood and watched as the physician and the healer was rushed in, after some healing spells and few constitution enhancing potions, the king was returned back to a semi functioning state. Although what they found on that cloth that was held to his mouth was concerning, there was blood red mucus staining the cloth. Previously there was phlegm but never blood.
"Father perhaps we should continue this tomorrow. You should get some rest, it's getting late…" Prince Zanac suggested
"No... four villagers were burned down before the warrior captain stopped them. Now reports of Slaine Theocracy Scriptures summoning legendary angels to attack my greatest warrior. No… all those lives lost, the least I can do is sit in this damned chair and listen to the whole thing." the king rasped
"As... as you command father." Prince Zanac replied face filled with worry
"Gazef continue…" the king said
"Yes your grace. During the fight one of the warriors who was a young girl about 10 summers old took the brunt of the spell Holy Smite. I thought she would vaporise but instead she laughed as she withstood the spell, at the end she was unharmed." Gazef said
"Hmm Holy Smite is a spell that does damage based on the victim's evil alignment. If she is unharmed it might be safe to assume she has no evil alignment." one of the mages said
"Yes she mentioned something similar as well… also at the end she casted one herself on one of the scripture members and the man was instantly reduced to ashes." Gazef added
"She casted one herself? You say she was a child?" Marquis Raevan asked eyes as wide as saucers.
"Yes she did… the two of them are strong… strong beyond comprehension, it's almost hard to believe they are human." Gazef said
"Well that's a relief, it's good to hear those two aren't evil." the king said
"Where are they now?" the king asked
"They are here in the capital, they offered to help escort the prisoner and they also expressed an interest in meeting you your majesty." Gazef said
"Hmph no doubt coming to ask for some reward. Greedy little peas…" Marquis Buollop began
At those words Renner noticed her father close his eyes and look down, hand shaking in rage. Then something inside her snapped…
"Can't you just shut up?! Father… YOUR KING IS ILL! Why do you keep spouting these worthless words? Are you trying to kill him?" Princess Renner sobbed
The court went silent at these words, Marquis Buollop stared slack jawed at the sobbing Princess. The king reached up and touched her hand.
"My daughter please calm down… you must be strong for our kingdom." the king rasped
His choice of words was odd to say the least, everyone in the room knew what the king was implying. Out of the corner of his eye Gazef saw Prince Barbro shaking with rage as the very real reality of Princess Renner inheriting the throne started forming in his mind. As Renner calmed down, the king motioned for Gazef to continue.
"The warrior's did not ask for a reward… they suggested that we give whatever reward that was offered to be given to the villagers instead to help them rebuild. I offered at her suggestion to give up a week of pay for myself and my warrior band as we had failed to protect the villages until they arrived." Gazef said softly
"You are too hard on yourself Gazef dono." Marquis Raevan said
"Yes Gazef dono if you had reached in time all that would have happened was that you would be killed by that angel." Princess Renner soothed
"It is heartening… to see that warriors of such great virtue exist in this world." the king said with a weak smile.
"Now please bring them here I wish to thank them in person and see what they have to say. Also all of you are to treat them with the greatest respect, they have saved our citizens without asking for anything in return. Their virtue alone is worthy of respect." the king said firmly
Renner looked on as the two figures entered the throne room, Gazef wasn't lying the girl looked so young. She looked like she was supposed to be playing with her friends and going to school, instead here she stands wearing exquisite war gear and armed to the teeth. Privately her heart ached wondering what turn of events would cause someone so young to take up arms. The two approached and bowed hands over their heart, idly she wondered where did they come from their customs seemed different from those of the kingdom.
The warrior in full plate was largest person she had ever seen, towering over 2 metres in height. He gave off the air of a seasoned warrior, confident in his abilities, he looked every bit the hero that so often sung in the songs. Then there was the girl she walked light as if she barely weighed anything and her eyes one as black as obsidian the other gold and glowing.
"We greet you your Majesty, we are unsure of the customs of this nation we apologise for any disrespect that we may convey." the girl said calmly
"In this kingdom typically peasants kneel before their betters girl." Marquis Buollop said
"I'm afraid we cannot acquiesce to that request, where we come from kneeling is reserved only to our true masters. As I try to respect your cultural norms please respect ours as well." the girl said calmly
"It wasn't a request you upjumped peasant, you are standing before a king." Marquis Buollop snapped
"Enough. One more outburst from you Marquis and I will have you removed from *cough cough*" the king rebuked before coughing out blood red phlegm staining his robe. The attending physician immediately rushed to help him wipe the blood.
"You are ill your majesty, would tomorrow be a better time to come? Perhaps you should get some rest.." the girl said calmly
"No no this isn't something that will be cured with a night of rest. Also forgive me I didn't hear your names." the king said
"I am Maeve this is my brother Momon." the girl replied
Renner felt the air change at those words. She looked to the priests and saw their expressions immediately darken. In the human nations the main religion was either the six or the four. The 41 is still worshiped in demi human nations and tribes. Due to the constant conflicts between the races the 41 has become vilified in the eyes of the priest hood. In the Slaine Theocracy the act of worshipping the 41 is an act of heresy and the punishment is death by burning. In the Re-Estize Kingdom and Baharuth Empire the official state religion is the four gods of wind, water, fire and earth. This religion is an offshoot of the six worshipped in the Slaine Theocracy although similar this difference in doctrine still causes friction between the nations. In the kingdom and the empire it is not illegal to worship the 41 but it is greatly stigmatised, in the past many an angry mob has stormed into districts where the 41 were worshipped. This has led to most followers of the 41 to leave the cities and live on the outskirts of the kingdom and the empire over the course of history. This reinforced the view in the eyes of the wealthy and the nobility that the 41 was a crude and barbaric religion shrouded in pagan superstition, a religion only fit for the lowest of the low.
You see the religion of the 41 advocates virtues it does not dictate what a being must do explicitly. It merely arrays a range of virtues for the being to choose from and make their own decisions and understandings. A mother may follow the virtue of Bukubuku Chagama and love their children, or a general may worship Punito Moe by trying to perfect his stratagems, a smith may revere Amanomahitotsu through his work even a vengeful warrior may plot the most painful punishment possible for those that wronged him in the name off Ulbert Alain Odle. All of these virtues have one thing in common, they demand self improvement. Whether in song or torture if you strive to improve you worship the 41. There is one virtue that binds them all together, the virtue of Momonga, the virtue of duty to oneself and others. If a mother loves their children but forgoes the duty of raising them well and instead spoils them, the children will inevitably suffer. Can you truly call that love when by the very act of loving your children you damn them? If you your vengeance is misdirected and damn countless innocents in your pursuit for justice then are you truly doing your duty to right the wrong that was done to you? Without duty all things fall apart, complacency and irresponsibility is profane to the supreme ones. Those with power will be able to do more, influence more, create greater things. The greater the power the greater the duty, thus when you are powerful but you leave yourself to rot in your sin you profane the very virtues you pursue. Thus why the ones who have the power but do nothing and are found wanting end up in the Profaned Valley...
"You worship the 41?" one the priests asked
"Yes we are adherents the 41 Supreme Beings." Maeve replied
"Well I shouldn't be surprised you worship those false gods considering you are peasants who don't even know you need to bow before a king." Marquis Buollop sneered eyes filled with contempt
"Careful now Marquis, it isn't wise to provoke us." Maeve said cooly
"Is that a threat?" Marquis Buollop said his face turning a very lurid shade of purple
"No I am educating you on the dangers of insulting an armed and armored person standing a few paces from you... If you ever insult my gods again I will cut out your tongue and make you eat it. THAT was a threat, see the difference?" Maeve said her gaze as cold as ice
"I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD HERETIC!" Marquis Buollop shouted spittle flying from his mouth
"If you want my head come down and take it, or is that sword at your waist just a decoration." Maeve sneered
Marquis Buollop roared as he drew his sword, however before he could even take one step down the stairs glowing blue chains erupted from her hands and ripped the sword right out of the Marquis's hand. The blade was pulled towards Maeve and she deftly caught the sword by handle before looking down at the sword.
"Fancy sword, even if the construction is poor. Maybe I'll pick my teeth with it… it's a bit long though…" Maeve said as she calmly inspected the blade totally disregarding the Marquis. She then snapped the blade in half as easily as one would snap a twig.
"No actually my teeth deserve better." Maeve said and threw the broken sword at the foot of the stairs leading up to the throne.
The rest of the court gazed mouths agape at the scene before them. Marquis Buollop especially looked like a goldfish with his mouth open and eyes bulging.
King Rampossa stood up and gazed at the girl before him, she looked just like Renner when she was a child. Change her eyes to blue put her in a court dress and she would pass for her little sister. He looked at the broken sword at the foot of the stairs and thought how much does one so young have to live through to become this strong.
"Guards arrest them!" Marquis Buollop shouted
The guards looked to one another unsure what to do, they served at the discretion of their king. So an order from a noble when in the presence of the king may not be considered valid based on the circumstances. Also they were not eager to arrest two warriors who defeated a scripture…
"Marquis Buollop." King Rampossa said quietly
"Your majesty please give the order to arrest these heretics." Marquis Buollop said
"Marquis Buollop." the king repeated
"Yes your majesty?" the Marquis said uncertainty
"Get out of my throne room." the king said quietly
"My king?" Marquis Buoloop said stunned
"I said… GET OUT OF MY THRONE ROOM!" the king thundered.
King Rampossa knew he was dying, he could feel the grip or mortality tightening around his neck like a hang man's noose. When you are dying you start to see the world differently. Your desires stop being about you and your future and more about what you leave behind. When he heard the reports and saw the two warriors he had hoped to create friendly relations with them. Such virtuous and powerful beings were few and far between, so he had hoped that these two would perhaps help his children after he departs this world. He always felt that the best way to eliminate threats was to make as many allies as possible, enemies who become friends are no longer threats. Then here this fool was, insulting and threatening the two of them… over his rule he was always known one great truth, the one good thing about listening to these hot blooded warmongers was that if you did everything they said no one will be alive to tell them they were wrong…
Renner looked to her father as he roared at the Marquis, she hadn't seen him this way in years. Ever since the illness began he had always been weak and mild, she attributed it to the weakness brought on by the illness. She looked to the girl, Maeve was her name and her brother Momon both followers of the old gods. Devout followers of the old gods… devout enough they would threaten violence in the presence of a king. Some would say she was young and naive but Renner didn't feel that was so, there was an intelligence behind those mismatched eyes. She had a feeling this girl was wiser beyond her years. She noticed Maeve's eyes widen for a moment then her glowing yellow eye flash for the briefest of moments. Then she noticed her father collapsing…
Before her father had even dropped his head Maeve and Momon had already caught him. They gently lowered him back on the throne before gazing intently at his face. Her eye now glowed in earnest, casting a yellow light on her father's face. She looked to see blood leaking out from his mouth and his face was deathly pale.
"Asclepius, trauma care." the girl said and behind her a blue sphere materialised. It was a sphere of swirling arcane circles that hovered over her father.
"Maeve sama recommend that patient be placed in a supine position, blood is clogging the airways, asphyxiation imminent. Immediate clearing of the trachea is priority one." the sphere spoke in a monotonous unfeeling voice.
"Brother give me a hand." Maeve called out
Momon immediately picked up the king and laid him on the floor. Renner looked on horrified as her father's lips turned a ghastly shade of blue. The sphere placed a strange transparent rope into her father's mouth and she could see blood being pulled along the inside of the tube and is being collected in transparent bag.
"Blood pressure falling, detecting severe haemorrhage in the oesophagus, hypovolemic shock imminent. Recommend immediate blood transfusion... possible donor acquired " the voice said as the sphere turned to face Renner
"What… what does that mean?" Renner asked desperately
"It means your father is bleeding to death and he needs blood or he's going to die. We need your blood. Do I have your permission to take some?" Maeve said looking at her
"Yes yes please take whatever you need." Renner said
"Princess Renner is that wise. We should at least cast a healing spell" the head physician said
"Enough, go gather all the alchemists, healers and priests in the capital and bring them to the palace. Now!" Renner commanded
"Show me your wrist." Maeve said
Renner rolled up the sleeve of her dress exposing her wrist, the sphere then produced a needle connected to the same transparent rope that was used to take blood out of her father's body. An ethereal rope was tied around her upper arm and she felt her arm go numb. The needle was then inserted into her wrist, but in her desperate panic she didn't even feel it. She saw her blood being drawn out and being pumped into her father's body.
"Airways clear, administering healing spell and stimulants." the sphere said
Gradually as her blood flowed into her father's body some color seemed to return to her father's face and his chest began to rise and fall.
"Patient stabilising, vitals acceptable, ceasing blood transfusion. Further diagnosis required to determine treatment options." the sphere said
"Thank you Asclepius that will be all." Maeve said with a sigh as the sphere extracted the needle from her arm and vanished leaving the bag of her father's blood lying on the throne room floor. Maeve cast a quick healing spell on her to stop the bleeding from her arm.
"The king should be fine for tonight at least. I suggest everyone get some rest I will see to the king's condition again in the morning. For now put him in his bed let him rest." Maeve said as she stood up
"Thank you for your service today Maeve dono. I will always remember it. May I know where you will be resting for the night?" Renner said as she was helped up by Climb still pale and unsteady on her feet due to the blood loss.
"Gazef dono has graciously offered his residence to us for the duration of our stay in the capital." Maeve replied
"Maeve dono, Momon dono would you be willing to stay here in the palace I would feel much more at ease to have someone of your healing skill close at hand." Renner replied
"It would be our honour…" Maeve said with a pause
"Renner. I am Princes Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, third princess of the Kingdom of Re-Estise. " Renner said
"Well Princess I would be glad to accept your offer, now then my lords and ladies I bid you goodnight." Maeve said with a bow
"Please allow me to walk you to your rooms, it is the least I can do for the person that saved my father's life." Renner said
"I haven't saved him yet Princess Renner, I don't want to give you false hope." Maeve said
"Yes but you ensured he would survive to see another dawn and for that I am eternally grateful." Renner said
Renner walked the siblings to the room reserved for visiting sovereigns, she knew this choice would cause some issues with the court. She was basically treating them like another monarch. Knowledge of their religion struck a chord with her for in her private hours she had been reading books of old, in her cupboard in a secret compartment lay an old ancient tome locked away from the rest of the world. The tome spoke about certain ancient gods who once ruled this world. Asclepius… the name of that sphere that helped save her father, she now wore something that bore the same name. It was a rosary that was in the shape of a snake coiled around a staff, it signified the staff of Asclepius, the symbol of natural healing, a type of healing that was detached from the arcane. This knowledge was the domain of the god Blue Planet.
She had started researching other means of healing once it became apparent healing spells were not working on her father. She exhausted every known tome within the temples in search of a cure. Her search was fruitless but there was one line in an old tome that said the old healing methods from the old gods used mundane methods in conjunction with the arcane. This led her to read into the gods of old and slowly their teachings began to move her. So she secretly studied the old tomes locked away in the palace archives but try as she might she could not make sense of the teachings. It seemed so strange, totally at odds to what she had been taught since her youth. Now today she had seen those methods in action, they had done more in half an hour than the priest could do in a year. She knew if the two siblings had not intervened her father would be dead having been killed by the stupid brute Marquiss Buollop.
"Here we are, please make yourselves comfortable." Renner said as she smiled sweetly
"Thank you Princess, you should get some rest, the blood we took was not a small amount. You may feel weak for a day or two." Maeve said
"Thank you for your concern, I will see you tomorrow. Please rest well." Renner replied
"Oh yes one more thing Princess, I noticed that you were essentially holding court just now and you mentioned you were the third princess. I assume that means you are the third in line for the throne?" Maeve asked
"Yes… yes I am." Renner said uncomfortably
"I'm assuming usually the third in line does not hold court as if you were the heir?" Maeve asked
"No… " Renner said quietly
"Well your father may not survive this illness. If he doesn't there is going to be political implications, if the heir is undecided you might want to sort things out before something bad happens." Maeve said
Be careful Princess Renner, nothing kills royal heirs like a power vacuum…
Author's notes:
So this chapter took a bit longer than usual, I was trying to properly portray a medical illness in Rampossa which took a bit of research especially since I had to tie this in with the laws of this world. I am trying to make the whole medical situation seem convincing and not contrived. However that said I am not a doctor nor do I have any medical background so if any of you reading this are doctors or have medical knowledge and there are any inaccuracies I do apologise. '
Also to those wondering if Renner is actually a good person here or if it's just an act like in canon. I would like to answer this question with this quote "Monsters are made not born." I don't view this as a spoiler as the very acknowledgement of the mystery of her true face at this stage would be breaking the fourth wall. So to put it simply no she's not a psychopath, she's actually a good person. The reason for that is that in this world the 41 have influenced this world in the past so things are better overall as compared to the corrupt shit hole that was the original Re - Estise. So I view with a stronger centralised power around Rampossa and less of the faction infighting Renner would have gotten a better childhood so she wouldn't have turned into what she became in canon. This creative decision was also influenced by my personal feelings as well as I felt the original Renner was so pitiful in that she was basically being treated as a broodmare to be used as a political chess piece. This would make her intelligence a curse as she would very early in her life realise what was going on without the necessary life experience to handle that emotionally. Which is why she turned out the way she did in my opinion. So this in a way is what I feel Renner could have been if she had grown up in a kinder more gentle world.
So once again hope you enjoyed the story so far. If you like these political set ups and dives into medical matters then feel free to let me know in a review or pm. If not let me know as well all criticism is appreciated. See you guys in the next chapter!