"So...it represents the penis?"
"Essentially," Basileus affirmed. "Incrementa are just growths that form as a sort of self-defense mechanism. One of the wonders of being a Luxuria in battle. For incubi, spikes can form over injuries, like the one you received from the Homines Ignis, which some call a representation of our penises. For succubi, the Incrementa are v-shaped shields, representing vaginas. They form involuntarily to protect bigger injuries while they heal, but, as you saw, you can will them into being, too. But, in typical you fashion, it seems, you achieved it far earlier than you should've. Quite well, too."
Tetsuda wanted to nod, but the pain wracking his skull was far too great. He lay in a private recovery room, as Tyrannus had called it, separate from the "rabble" that lay in the communal infirmary. The walls were dark green, and though small, it did have a window that allowed light to enter from outside. The bed he lay in was relatively comfortable, the pillows propping his back up quite soft and the blankets not scratchy. He had to wonder if Tyrannus had done that especially for him—no, he wouldn't have done that. He didn't care about Tetsuda that much, did he?
Basileus had carried him off the courtyard, as Tetsuda could barely keep his eyes open, let alone walk. After a brief stint of unconsciousness, he'd awoken here with Basileus in a chair at the bedside and Tyrannus nowhere to be found. The early moments of awakening had revealed a hazy image and the garbled noises of who he assumed was Regina. Perhaps Potentia. They had the same hair, so he couldn't be sure.
"You're confused, ain't ya?" Basileus asked, crossing one leg over the other. "About what Lord Tyrannus said?"
"A...A bit, yes."
"C'mon, Tetsuda, don't lie to me. Some of the Ultimos and Ultimas were far more confused than you. Believe me. I was one of them when he first told me."
His gaze shifted to his lap in place of a nod. "What...what is Ceniyan, exactly?"
"It's a territory," Basileus began, "that lays between the two demonic kingdoms of Naiyan and Suiyan. It acts as a buffer of sorts between the two kingdoms, quite literally in the center of Iyan, though it's small. It's mostly just fields and shit, but there are a couple of villages and even the beginnings of a main city. Even if it's a border, Lord Tyrannus is more in control of it than Suiyan is."
"What's Suiyan like, exactly? It's not really talked about much."
Basileus stared forward, and in a rare show, his face wore a bit of worry. "Ah...it ain't my place to say. Lord Tyrannus and the King of Suiyan, they...they have a deep history, but it's also an obscure one. I dunno much, but I do know that Lord Tyrannus hates him. More than anyone or anything." His voice lowered. "Some have said that it's a fear thing, too."
Tetsuda stared intently at his lap. Hatred and fear...the former he could fully see, but the latter...from Tyrannus, that was like receiving a threat from a fish—wholly unfitting and greatly intriguing. Come to think, he truly didn't know much about Tyrannus, and Tetsuda was around him most of the time! What exactly was he hiding?
"Best not to bring it up, though," Basileus continued. "If he finds out, he'll probably—"
The door opened, and in walked the devil they'd been speaking of. Basileus straightened up, and Tetsuda lifted his eyes. Tyrannus gazed at him with the warm impassiveness for which Tetsuda knew him, and instantly some of his pain subsided.
"You're awake," Tyrannus commented. "Relatively healed, too. How weak do you feel?"
"I'm fighting to keep myself awake," Tetsuda said. "But my body doesn't hurt as much anymore."
"Good to hear. I won't have to plan any executions now."
"You'd really kill them over me still being in pain?"
"The medical staff is here to help people feel better—not keep them feeling like shit. Not only that, but in your case, it's extremely concerning if you're still in pain. Injuries from the Homines Ignis can easily turn fatal if poorly treated. I had them focus on you over all other injured demons."
"I...I see...well, thank you, then. For giving me precedence."
He nodded, then looked to Basileus. "Thank you for watching over him for me."
"No issue, Lord Tyrannus. How did it go? They believe ya?"
"They're all hesitant," he said, "but in the end, I'm the king. My word is law, and my word is that he go to Ceniyan."
"What for, exactly?" Tetsuda asked.
"You'll see when we go." He stepped over to Tetsuda's side, his gaze warming just a tad. "You should be able to travel by tomorrow. I don't want you stumbling and groaning all over the place. It'll hinder your focus, and I need you paying close attention when we go."
Tetsuda's initial and thus-far impression had been that all of Iyan was a land of dry desolation, yet the journey to Ceniyan had proved him false ten times over. At the halfway point, forests—albeit comprised of naked trees and yellow grass—sprouted from the earth, and three-fourths of the way there, he'd seen boiling, steaming rivers of water, not lava. Tyrannus explained that, geographically, his palace lay in the center of Naiyan, and further north were lands of snow and ice. Suiyan was comprised in a similar manner, he'd explained tersely, yet Naiyan had more tactical advantages, as it possessed more mountains and Et Cinere—they'd distract troops as they passed up. Why he'd mentioned that, Tetsuda did not know, but he had a feeling it related to what Basileus had mentioned the days previous.
Ceniyan was an "unofficial barrier" that existed between Naiyan and Suiyan, yet most of the "official" territory fell into Naiyan's boundaries—nearly seventy percent, Tyrannus had said—so most of the influence came from Naiyan.
Though it also included a moderate amount of untouched land, Ceniyan only possessed about three settlements, two of which were tiny villages. The third was barely a town, yet it did possess a vaguely palatial building, a dwarf compared to the Naiyan palace, and a populace of a thousand that had begun developing a guild of blacksmiths and a tiny militia
When they entered the town, Tetsuda vaguely hearkened back to the human realm, the little stone and wood buildings modest but also charming, just as little settlements always were. The citizens, on first glance, were mostly Luxuria, with a few Invidia and Ira here and there. Still, no one seemed overly hostile or violent—it was almost like having dozens of Basileus roaming about. As he and Tyrannus strolled through the streets, they bowed their heads in respect but showed no fear nor intimidation—just an air of pleasantry and contentment.
"It's been here for awhile," Tyrannus explained. "The town, I mean. Not as populated, though. Though a predominantly Naiyan territory, most of the citizens are refugees from Suiyan. I don't trust them in my kingdom—I don't trust anyone from that cesspool—but here, they're close enough for monitoring but far enough for containment."
"Is Suiyan truly that terrible?"
"Yes," he answered immediately. "The king, he's…" He shook his head. "I don't want to start. I'll torch the place if I do. Anyway, there's not much development in the territory as a whole, as it's still relatively new and completely unofficial, but there is potential for greatness. They lack a government, but I hope to change that soon."
After a short walk though the main street—there wasn't much to it, in truth—Tyrannus led Tetsuda to the "palace," which acted more as a reception hall for the few-and-far-between meetings between the citizens. It was about half the size of the Factionry, comprised of a main square building with two smaller towers on either side. The entryway was arched, filled by a wooden door with the symbol of a dragon branded into the front.
"Is that the symbol of Naiyan?" Tetsuda asked.
Tyrannus nodded. "Suiyan's symbol is the phoenix, representing rebirth—or easy death, depending on your view. Iyan's as a whole is both, but when it split, we shared the symbols. As I said, most here are defectors from Suiyan, so it makes sense that they'd embrace my symbol."
The interior of the place vaguely resembled that of Tyrannus's palace, though smaller and not nearly as ornate. The door opened immediately to a small hallway, which then poured into a massive throne room—minus a throne, though it did possess a dais that would imply the usage of a throne. Pews sat in neat rows before the dais, and a few stadium-style seats stood against the walls on either side of the entryway.
"The towers hold a few smaller reception rooms," Tyrannus explained, "but I plan on converting those into living chambers. This, as you've probably guessed, is the meeting room, which would be turned into a 'throne room' of sorts."
They crossed the room and stepped onto the dais, the back wall of which possessed two curving windows. A few more stone buildings lay outside, yet the windows also showed a steaming river that lay a little ways away. It appeared to stretch for at least a mile across, though Tetsuda couldn't see the end of it.
"That's the Haissen," Tyrannus said. "It's the official border between Naiyan and Suiyan. Nothing much, but clear enough for even the imbeciles to follow." He turned to Tetsuda. "Do you like it?"
"Ah...I suppose. It's nice enough. Very close-knit and warm."
He nodded. "And it should only expand with you here."
"What?"
"I want you to rule over Ceniyan."
He widened his eyes. "Rule? Me? But...but I'm—"
"Young, I know, and wholly inexperienced. But you're extremely powerful, albeit underdeveloped, and you have a clearer head than the other Ultimos do. You've earned my trust, Tetsuda—you've earned this duty."
Slowly, he shook his head. "Lord Tyrannus, as much as I'm honored to hear that from you, I can't do this. There's still so much I don't know, so much I haven't seen. I barely know the workings of your palace, let alone how to run a territory."
"It won't be nearly as challenging as you believe," Tyrannus insisted. "Aside from this town, you won't have much else to worry about. In a sense, you're only becoming the leader of this town. However, I've faith that you'll expand Ceniyan and grow it to new heights." He placed his hands on Tetsuda's cheeks and pressed their foreheads together. "I'm not jesting with you when I say this, you know. I faced the scrutiny of the Ultimos and Ultimas by making that decision—Basileus included. Still, I stand firm by my instinct—you would be an excellent ruler."
"Lord Tyrannus…"
"If you don't agree, I won't be angered. I'll hold the position for as long as you want to wait—though I may put in a puppet of sorts to hold the place, just for precaution's sake. Please, accept. You can achieve greatness, despite how young you may be. You'll grow quickly; I believe in you."
Tetsuda cast his eyes downward as Tyrannus lowered his hands. He'd spoken so tenderly, so lovingly…
The responsibility was great, but Tyrannus was intelligent. He would've thought this out long before broaching the topic to Tetsuda—of that, he was certain. Still...to lead a whole territory...
He lifted his eyes, now hardened. "I'll accept."
And he smiled.
Not from the thrill of dominance, but from a genuine appreciation—happiness, even. A happiness that Tetsuda would to revel in for months to come.
