God Rising
Chapter 124
Written by: AtheistBasementDragon
Edited by: The Usual Gang Of Drunken Perverted Idiots
AN: I know some of you have been expecting this for awhile, and I hope I do the scene justice, let me know what you think. :) BTW, originally this chapter was going to have two different perspective scenes, however I ultimately decided against it because this has been so long in the offing, it worked better as its own chapter.
...Re-Estize Kingdom...Capital City...
Brain went out drinking with Alden that afternoon, one bag of gold coins to the good and the first mug was to be his treat. Climb found himself walking in front of Princess Renner all the way to her bedroom, and he checked every room along the way, the over protectiveness of her 'puppy' was so very precious to watch. He was taking no chances at all, and behind him, her eyes were wide with obsessive madness. Her fists clenched and unclenched, as she looked at his back.
'He's mine, all mine, and nobody can ever take him away from me, never again, no, not ever, ever ever never, no never, not ever again... my Climb, my Climb, my Climb, my Climb, my Climb, my Climb!' Her obsessive thoughts furiously raced through her head, over and over again. Her footfalls were even and deliberate and echoed off the walls of the palace as she made sure to keep her steps in perfect rhythm several feet behind his own.
His was a martial step, hard, heavy, pronounced, but hers were the steps of a dancer, light and lithe, graceful and done with the purpose of being beautiful. Under one arm there was a box, a very special box that was a special gift of the Sorcerer King, delivered to her by the Guardian Overseer herself.
The box had a tantalizing puzzle on the top which contained multiple parts, Renner had one by one, solved the different locks, and now she was about to solve the final one, she just wanted to be alone with her puppy, in her room, when she did so.
Occasionally she took the box from under her arm and held it in front of her with both hands, she smiled down at it joyfully. Whatever it contained, she longed to see it.
When she gazed at it, her deliberate forward step would shift as she twirled behind her bodyguard, she spun so quickly that her dress whirled up with the force she created, only for her to then fall back into perfect step as if nothing had happened.
Door by door and turn by turn they moved over the smooth polished floor until at last they reached her room. The creak of the door as the handle was lifted and it opened outward was one of the most beautiful sounds she'd ever heard in all her mad life. Climb bowed low and held the door open for her after he inspected the room for any hint of a potential assassin come to end the life of his precious princess.
"Welcome home, your highness." He said in a voice that seemed... deeper than she remembered.
'Perhaps he's not such a boy anymore.' Renner thought to herself, 'But it doesn't matter, he's mine, he's mine and only mine and none can ever have him!' She carefully suppressed her smile and walked slowly past him back into the room she'd abandoned in seeming haste once before. She set the ornate little box down onto the table, and a glimmer of sanity peaked through. She looked over to Climb.
"Climb, you meant what you said, didn't you?" She asked.
"What was that?" He asked.
"That you loved me, no matter what, right?" She probed further, her voice grew momentarily weak.
"I did. I am yours to the end." He said with bold confidence.
'Yes, mine. MINE!' She thought as that glimmer of thought was buried under her obsession.
She smiled sweetly. "Good." She said and moved the last tiny square in the puzzle box into place. It fell into position with a neat little 'snick' sound, and the pie slice shaped pieces spun round three times, then slid open, revealing a small key. The key was ordinary looking enough, she reached down and took it out, then held it before her eyes at level with her nose. She looked at it in abject confusion until she heard the sound of little ringing bells. "Climb, did you hear that?" She asked.
"Hear what your highness?" He asked with concern, his grip tightened on his sword, he closed and secured the door behind him and then approached to where she stood, alert for any dangers.
She followed the sound and looked down at the box, at the front where there had been none before, a keyhole appeared, it glowed and sparkled like tiny stars before her eyes. She inserted the key, it was a perfect fit, she turned it, and heard a satisfying 'click'. Then and only then could she open the lid, inside were two items.
The first was a scroll wrapped up in a note which was secured with red thread. The second was a small white egg shaped object that felt like it was made of porcelain and was decorated with many curious symbols. She looked at the contents with a dubious expression, but gingerly reached down and pulled the red thread loose, and withdrew the note from its resting place on the deep blue lining on the inside of the box. The note was short and to the point.
"Use the scroll and send me this message, "Vivat Rex", then retrieve the object and wait. Signed, Albedo"
Renner frowned deeply, this was not what she had expected, but perhaps that was the point. Nothing was as simple as it seemed when it came to her monstrously brilliant master.
She took the scroll and looked it over, it was a simple message scroll. Understanding began to dawn. She used the scroll and called for Albedo.
"Vivat Rex." She said, hoping she was pronouncing the odd 'words?' properly.
"I understand, congratulations, in a moment the gate will open, take up the item beside the scroll, and step through it." Albedo replied.
The Guardian Overseer was as good as her word, the gate opened, and Renner began to walk towards it. "Your Highness, please, let me go with you..." Climb began to say, only to stop when he saw her looking at him with a sad expression.
"Not this time, my Climb. You had your journey, and you served His Majesty better than I ever dreamed when you were in Kami Miyako, my instructions for this were clear. When I opened this box; I was to come alone, I cannot take you on this task of mine, but I will come back. Please, wait here for me." She said in a small, sensitive voice that reminded him of when she was very small.
"Princess please, I don't..." He started to say, only for her to cut him off.
"No." She said firmly, sharp enough that it brought him up short.
"I'm sorry, I have spoken out of turn, my apologies, princess." He replied and bowed his head.
"No Climb,"she said more gently. "Just wait here, I know why you want to go, but not this time."
He took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. She then went to the gate and stepped through, disappearing entirely from his view, the gate closed as soon as she was gone, and Climb stood alone in her room. It reminded him very much of the first time he'd looked around the tower room he had to himself in Kami Miyako. That had not been a good feeling, and nor was this, but for the noble knight, what other choice was there but to wait for the return of his mistress? None.
When she looked around on the other side, she found herself standing outside of the double doors that led to the throne room of Ainz Ooal Gown. Beside her, stood a demoness. "Hi there." Vanysa greeted casually. "I've been told to expect you, and to tell you what to expect when you go in."
Renner looked at the golden skinned demoness and nodded mutely.
"Quiet one, aren't you." Vanysa commented, then shrugged, "It's fine, you don't need to talk, just listen, you passed a test few humans would. With His Majesty, many things are tests, either for himself or for ourselves. Neia Baraja's test was to offer up her own life, my own unwitting test was to sacrifice myself, Queen Draudillon's was to raise an army in his name, Lakyus' was to choose between her god and her family, and Climb's was to hold faith in captivity. For you it was different, yours was a mental test, but in every test no matter how strange, there is change as either challenge or reward. Do you understand?" Vanysa asked her patiently.
Renner shook her head. "No."
"I used to look like this." Vanysa said, and drew her wings in, revealing her human shape, "Then I died, I took my own life rather than betray my master, he restored me to life as a demoness of retribution and punishment, befitting my nature. Lakyus was rewarded with a place and status within the changing world, Neia has received power that has only grown over the years and is nearing its very peak. One by one our master is rewarding those who succeed, and now you will be presented with a choice of your own." The demoness said gently, enfolding her talons over the soft human hands.
Renner looked uncertain, but gradually, Vanysa saw that understanding was starting to dawn on the princess' face. "It is time for you to grow, choose wisely, like the vine that must wind it's way with care to ascend to the greatest heights. Now go on in, the master waits." Vanysa urged lightly, and pressed lightly on the great door, it parted, and Renner stepped within.
She had been in this room many times in service to the Sorcerer King, and it was a point of pride that it had never been to report a failure. In all those comings and goings, she had never left this place unimpressed. Not with the power, not with the raw beauty, not with the unparalleled intellect which she encountered within its sacred walls. She always left feeling like she was leaving a divine realm and returning to a mortal one.
Still for all that, only twice had she come in a state of anxiety. Her first time, and this time. In both cases it was the uncertainty of it all that had her at a loss. She well knew others, the few like the Marquis Raeven and her brother, King Zanac, who recognized her inner nature, considered her to be twisted. At times like this, she wondered if they were right. However, she was bound and determined not to shame herself, and so she strode purposefully forward, her hands folded around the little egg, as they hung daintily in front of her.
She stopped when she reached the base of the throne and knelt before the Sorcerer King. She lowered her gaze and raised up her arms. There, cupped in her hands, was the little egg that had rested within the box.
"Congratulations." The Sorcerer King spoke up grandly, "This completes the test, and astutely done, completing it on the day your capital is reclaimed, I couldn't have timed it better myself." He said with a dark laugh.
"Of course there remains the matter of that final city, but I expect they will offer up terms of surrender shortly, do as you see fit in that regard." Ainz said magnanimously.
"Thank you, My Lord." Princess Renner said in her most gentle, feminine voice. "Yet your servant does not quite understand what this object is to do, the servant at the door explained somewhat, but..." She hesitated, and Albedo chuckled patiently.
"Princess Renner, the servant, Vanysa..." she gestured to the demoness who stood within the chamber near the door, well behind Renner, "...showed you how she had been, and how she now is, did she not?" Albedo asked.
"She did, Lady Albedo." Princess Renner replied affirmatively.
"For her, death was required first, but that will not be the case for you, however your human days are done." Albedo stated in a tone of voice that was more 'order' than 'explanation'. "You are to be promoted to the status of a Guardian. However, my lord in his infinite wisdom, has chosen to make a distinction there, you will be what he has chosen to call an 'Outer Guardian'. In short, you will be the 'Outer Guardian of Re-Estize'."
"Does this mean my brother will be deposed then?" She asked casually.
"No, he will retain his position, you however, will be responsible for ensuring his competency and compliance with the will of the Sorcerer King." Albedo said in a precise, professional tone.
"And this object will let me do that?" She asked.
"In a manner of speaking," Albedo began to explain, "you will choose one of the undying races, it matters not to us which it is, you may become a vampire, or a demoness, or anything you wish, so long as it is a being that will not be touched by the passage of time."
"What of my... puppy?" Renner asked weakly.
'What puppy is she talking about? I don't remember her having a dog...?' Ainz thought, before dismissing it as a trivially unimportant detail.
"We can keep him from death indefinitely without changing him if necessary, by way of using Idun's apples." Albedo explained, and a wave of relief swept over Renner's face.
"How do I use it, Lady Albedo?" The Princess asked, drawing her arms in close to her chest, she looked down with awe at the little egg.
"Clutch it to your breast, and state your choice, it will do the rest." Albedo said simply.
She looked down at the little thing, of all the possibilities that might have lain within the box, this seemed beyond words, so many things came to mind, the demoness behind her had an appealing body, as did the succubus in front of her, to be a vampiress would allow for many possibilities, but for her there was but one, only one for the Golden Princess. She looked at the little egg one more time, emblazoning its every feel, contour, and look into her memory forever, and then whispered softly so that only the magic within the object could hear her.
Light poured out of her body as if through countless cracks. She immediately felt as if she were stabbed with ten thousand knives all over her flesh, she wanted to scream, but all she could do was arch her back and look up as light poured out of both her throat and her eyes.
"Master, what is happening to her?" Vanysa asked cautiously.
"She is changing, nothing more." The Sorcerer King said patiently.
The light gradually began to fade away and reveal the form within, and when it did, great white feathered wings burst forth, and Princess Renner hovered where she had been kneeling before. "What a wonderful feeling." She said softly as she looked herself over, her body had not changed greatly, but there was now a kind of holy 'glow' coming from her skin, no more bright than what one might find from ordinary cave moss, but it was a visible, white glow that made her body absolutely radiant. "So, this is what it feels like to be an archangel." She said, her eyes were now completely white, as if there were no pupils, and she gazed up the steps to the Throne of Kings, and slowly brought herself down to the stone floor, back to her knees, and with some fumbling effort, brought the unfamiliar appendages on her back under control.
"Archangel Princess Renner, Outer Guardian of Re-Estize, awaits the commands of her god and is at his service, now and forever." She declared, gazing at the lowest step.
Behind her, Vanysa could not help but smirk, Renner was kneeling where she had before. Where a demoness had risen and knelt, now an archangel did, though she rather doubted the beautiful golden princess was going to bounce up and ask if she was still pretty and nice to look at. It was all she could do not to laugh at the solemn event of another human's elevation. Idly she wondered if the Sorcerer King ever intended on making a similar gift to Neia or Jircniv, or others who had been critical to the success of his plans. She dismissed the idle thought as irrelevant at the present, and focused on the events taking place at the base of the throne.
"Rise, Outer Guardian, and return to your duties, you have played your part well these long months, and I will not forget your service." The Sorcerer King said in his ever noble voice. "Fold your wings in to your back, and you will again look 'yourself' as you were before this hour, in that way you may pass comfortably around normal humans and other beings." He said patiently, she did as he instructed, though with this too she fumbled a bit, until at last she was restored to herself.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The Outer Guardian said with humility and pride mixed within her voice.
"You may reveal your new self to your brother, your bodyguard, and what few need know of it, but let that information slip only gradually out into public knowledge, until the rumor becomes so commonly accepted that the demonstrated truth is almost banal." He cautioned her.
"It will be as you say, My Lord." She responded in a voice that seemed more powerful to herself than it had been an hour ago. She stood, backed away from the throne, and began to walk towards Vanysa, where a portal opened.
As she came close, Vanysa whispered, "Congratulations, but trust me, when you want to start flying, don't jump off a roof right away, the ground still hurts when you slam into it, take off from the ground until you've got full control over those things back there." She giggled, tapped the princess on the back, and winked at her with a knowing smile.
It so caught the newly minted Archangel off guard that she stopped, stunned, and stared at the demoness in disbelief. And then as she processed all the words and the images they conjured up, she found it in herself to start to laugh before she stepped back through the gate, and into her room once again.
When she finally entered her room, Climb was still exactly where he had been when she left, his face was filled with anxiety. Even though he had come to a degree of respect, even trust in the Sorcerer King, the fact was that he had killed Climb's comrade, idol, and teacher. That was no small thing to let go of, and so anxiety rose unbidden from his heart.
As soon as she had returned, he immediately began to ask in a hushed voice with wide staring eyes, "My princess, is everything..."
What ever he was going to say was silenced by surprise when Renner, moving faster than he had ever seen her move before, came close and grabbed him with strength her tiny, flawless, soft royal fingers had no right at all to possess. She held him up a few inches off the ground at arm's length, greatly increasing his surprise at this formerly impossible feat. And in a breathless, joy filled voice, she said...
"Oh my Climb, my dear sweet Climb, everything is perfect, absolutely perfect."