The crackling fire cast dancing shadows across their faces., illuminating the room with an eerie glow. A scent, both enticing and foreboding, wafted into the air. Small bits of fire flickered, rising into the heat plum and fading like fireflies. Each drawing them closer. But beneath the surface, a deep-rooted mistrust was simmering, evident by deepening lines and guarded expressions on their faces.
The iron pot perched precariously over the flames, the lid clanging under the pressure of the rising steam. Wooded bowls stacked in meticulous arrangement nearby. She nodded her permission to the four males. Each one grinning. The old woman's weathered, hard expression gestured, granting permission to partake. Each one stood, holding the bowls as if in a holy communion. She slowly ladled each one. The males bowed twice and sat and waited.
Mikoto knew.
She could see it buried just below the surface. Indignation burned in Rae's gaze as she locked eyes with the old woman. An unspoken accusation passed between them. The old woman gave Rae an icy stare and smirk as she offered. She held it across the fire, ignoring the heat rising and enveloping her skinny bare arm. She refused. The old woman shrugged.
Nya leaned forward, fueled by smoldering rage. Her word lace in malice."I will take your arm first, old woman." She hissed, dripping with quiet contempt. The room tensed, and the tension crackled in the air.
One male shifted, hand going to an enormous axe on his hip. Nya rolled her head, eyes turning blacker and colder. Her hand on her thighs was not even moving to her blade. "Before your fingers twitch, I will have your head on the floor." Deep inside her, a primal growl rolled from her chest.
Her glare chilled the space between them. Doubts rose in the male's eyes.
The old woman shrugged, the hostility growing and gathering like a storm on the horizon. Aya and Gallum quietly refused the offering, expressions hard in defiance. Their action speaks louder than words.
The room erupted in a murmur of contempt as the four males and the others around the room grimaced at what they perceived as insulting their queen.
The old woman was undeterred by the refusal. Held the offering out to Mikoto.
She knew. She recognized the smell. She had smelled it as they walked through the camp. The pots boiling filled with opaquely colored chunks of flesh. Her breath hitched as she looked at the bowl in the old woman's hand. She held it loosely, weathered dirty fingers sticking in the broth. Chunks of flesh and root-style vegetables bobbed and steamed. The bowl contained the remains of little ones. Shock and anger surged within her. Locking eyes with the old woman, she shook her head, refusing the offering. Little misaka gasped, face turning with disgust. "Ain't eating that." She growled. "But her…. I'd love to sink our fangs into her throat."
Mikoto let her eyes speak. Her emotions were icy. But her eyes simmered in anger, and the old woman knew. Thinning her eyes, she smirked maliciously.
Vita had her eyes closed, slowly shaking her head.
The old woman's shoulder shook in silent laughter as she leaned back from the iron pot, closed it, and sat back in her comfortable chair. And took a spoon and ate.
Rae took a breath, leaned forward, and began. Fingers turning white wrapped tight together. Her hatred was visible just underneath.
In the room, the old woman sat hunched over the bowl of broth, slurping it with gusto. Her wrinkled face showed no concern as she tilted the bowl, allowing the viscous liquid to splash and drip to the ground. Without grace, she scooped out a sizable chunk of opaque flesh, thrust it into her mouth, and chewed loudly, reminiscent of a grazing cow. The squishy, noisy feast continued, with broth and saliva dribbling down her chin. Ignorant of the mess she was making. She swallowed, took a drink, and stared brazenly at Rae.
"Why do I care?" the old woman responded nonchalantly to her earlier remark. "Everything dies…"
Rae, with unwavering determination, locked eyes with the old woman. Who claimed to be the queen. Having nothing but disgust for her.
"And do your people follow this pathetic view of yours?" Rae asked.
"I am the queen," she declared. Her voice filled with authority. "And all will follow…."
"Not much of a queen who leads her people to their deaths." Rae retorted, bearing a sneer.
"Who says we die…. today…or any day," she replied, taking a breath as she leaned back. The bowl in her lap. Broth splashed, staining her dress.
"You are surrounded. No chance of escape. " Rae leaned forward, pressing the issue. "we can show you how to grow and harvest much of our food. Tree pods, plants, and bugs. We can trade and work with you…. we… can."
"We take what we want when we want. And we kill and eat what we want. Our gods have told us this," the old woman interrupted, nodding confidently. She believed wholeheartedly in her convictions. "They will come to our aid when we need them most…."
Rea closed her eyes, shaking her head, "Your gods will not come to your aid." leaning back in her seat, "They will never come."
"And why do you think that?" the queen tightened her intense gaze on Rae. Her voice became brutal and cruel.
"I have seen their weathered bones in the flourishing fields passed out gardens." Rae explained, "The flesh nourishing the fresh growth and their bones slowly being swallowed by the new jungles."
"Wait! What?" Mikoto bit down on the inside of her lip. The taste of iron in her mouth." when and where was I.?"
"Pretty sure we were sleeping at the time." Little misaka rolled her eyes, covering her mouth as she yawned.
"Liar!" the old woman screamed, unexpectedly standing and spilling her broth. The fires crackled and spat while the bowl rolled around before settling at her feet. Flames sizzled and spit.
With a swift and menacing movement, she lunged towards Rae, but Gallum instantly rose, her blade pressing against the old woman's chest. With a single swipe, she could have cleaved her in half. The guards and warriors jumped up, growling and snarling, ready to defend their queen.
"Bahamut will come…." the old woman growled defiantly.
"Bahamut and those who crawl under the ground are gone. They betrayed the oath of negotiation, and they have paid the price." Rae breathed, still sitting, an icy gaze fixed on the queen. The queen let out her frustrated growl, allowing the warriors to pull her back to her chair.
"Bahamut is the strongest of all the gods. Nobody could defeat him." She proclaimed, snatching her bowl from the ground. She reached over to the black pot and refilled her bowl. Delving into the iron pot, she pulled out large chunks of meat. Her face contorted in anger as she leaned back in her chair. "Liar," she spat. "The ones who crawl beneath. Are also very formidable." She snorted, her words laced with a mixture of rage and frustration.
Rae, known for her shrewdness and quick thinking, couldn't help but smile crookedly as the tension in the room thickened. She had been accused of lying about the demise of their gods. But she was ready to defend her words.
She had spent her time working by Vita's side. Watching and learning. She was the queen of her village. Thanks to the folly of her brother. The fact Mikoto had beaten him to a pulp. Her mother surmised that the goddess Mikoto did not favor him but favored her because she accepted her in her bed. And as head priestess of Mikoto's new house, she wanted to show she could handle the position. She hated the role of queen. But as a head priestess, she could travel and meet the other tribes of the gardens.
"Why would I lie?" Rae began, her voice filled with confidence and smooth as honey. Her eyes narrowed as she fixed her gaze on the old woman. "What proof do you have I lie?" Rae rolled her head slightly, causing a satisfying crack in her neck. Her tone worked like a warm breeze. "if your god is all-powerful, where is he now? Why have you been led into this trap and found yourself surrounded?"
The old woman sneered, her confidence wavering in the face of Rae's pointed questions. She paused, taking a moment to think of the implications. The weight of Rae's words hung like a hangman's noose. Rae pressed on, her voice slipping through the old woman's defense like a sharp blade.
"We show mercy and hope to negotiate a better life for you and yours," Rae explained, expressing a benevolent intention. "And what do you do? You cling to a dead god who will come and save you. "
The old woman's expression hardened her belief in the ancient god unyielding. But the words Rae spoke wormed their way into her mind and struck a nerve, planting seeds of doubt that were blooming. The sneer on her face faltered for just a moment, replaced with a flicker of uncertainty. As the silence settled over the room, Rae's confidence remained unshaken. She quickly peeked over at Mikoto. Hoping for a hint of her approval.
Despite the rising temperature from the crackling fire and a simmering pot of food. The mass of bodies inside the enclosed space. A sudden chill descended upon the room. The air grew chilly, causing a shiver to run down the spines of those present. Something shifted in the atmosphere. As if an invisible force had entered the tent and taken hold.
Rae was no longer sitting. Standing among the seated, exuding an aura resembling that of a predator, embracing her predatory instincts with a gleeful grin. There was an undeniable allure to her expression, something salacious and intriguing that drew all eyes to her.
"It is only a matter of time," Rae proclaimed, her voice conveying unwavering determination. "We will expand beyond the confines of the garden, going out into new gardens and experiencing growth like never before."
Her words hung in the air, seeping into the minds of all listening. A mix of anticipation and uncertainty outside the tent and beyond. The crowds had gathered, sitting around and listening. They could feel the imminent change that Rae envisioned for the future. It was a transformation that would reshape their lives to their core and take them farther than they could ever imagine.
Whispers rippled through the crowds, and those inside the tent exchanged worried glances and stares. As the murmurs from outside the tent grew louder. Excitement and trepidation filled the air. Rae's bold and terrifying declaration sparked a surge of hope among the crowds.
"Holy crap!" little misaka exclaimed, unable to contain her astonishment. Her eyes widened as she watched and listened intently from inside her oversized chair. Besides her, an attractive woman sat on the armrest, her arm draped around Little Misaka's shoulders as she slowly played with her hair. A flush of excitement colored little misaka's cheeks as she absorbed every word.
"She is certainly grown up?" Little misaka remarked, sipping her soda to quell her amazement.
The attractive woman's voice trembled with awe as she responded. "She really is quite something. Her presence commands attention, and her words hold great power. "
A frown creased Little Misaka's forehead as she contemplated the situation. "Should I be jealous?" she pondered aloud, unsure how to react. The attractive woman hesitated momentarily before offering a coy smile." Yes. Perhaps a little jealousy is warranted. After all, she possesses a certain charm and influence that is hard to resist. It is like watching your child go from crawling to running."
The old woman's curiosity got better, and she couldn't help but ask. "And who…if I am to believe, are the ones that took them down…!" her voice caught in her throat, and she instinctively covered her mouth. As if she had committed blasphemy.
The room fell silent, and all eyes stayed on her. Rae stepped forward. Her words carried across the room, seeping through the tent and spreading in ripples over the crowd.
"she walks among us. Sits beside us and partakes in our meals. She is both the bringer of pain and a harbinger of mercy. She is a destroyer and builder. She is our mistress…." Rae proclaimed with conviction. Her fingers snapped and pointed, emphasizing her following statement with undeniable force. "she is our goddess! Mikoto Misaka!"
The tent erupted into a mix of gasps and hushed denials.
Little misaka sitting in the big chair. A newfound realization of immense power and significance surrounding her. She was the embodiment of something extraordinary. Someone who commanded the reverence and devotion of those around. The weight of this revelation settled upon her shoulders. She was breathless, not really. And humbled by the magnitude of her own existence. "Hear that? I'm a goddess!" She nodded confidently. "Jealous now?"
"I think she's talking about Mikoto, my love, and not you." The attractive woman leaned over and kissed Little misaka on the cheek." Nice try, though."