XI-I
The atmosphere in and around the city was one of misery. Every person, every race, all were eagerly awaiting for a sign of change. The only people still fixated on a perpetual proposition of the status quo were barricaded inside the electoral building, deep within the municipal college's inner chambers.
In that state of almost palpable anxiety and intense patriotic fervor, a carriage passed by the multitude of witnesses still gathered on the streets.
"So what do you make of it, my friend?"
"Um, what exactly are you referring to, Hendrickvor?"
"The current situation. The present state of affairs. Is it not to your benefit as well?"
"I am a Drykven lord, however small my stature and prestige may be. There will never be a positive outcome for me in this city, because I am tainted by my name no matter what I do".
It was true, yet Hendrickvor still persisted in his positive attitude. He firmly believed that the winds of change this time around could set the city's path straight once more. The corruption that had slowly seeped in throughout the years was about to be unfolded and destroyed to the core. It all depended on that one election.
"Just 4 more hours, Bellmor. Patience is key. We will win... and then lord Flannar will give you a voice. There are few candidates and even as we approach the fated hour, our party has laid out the groundwork for a smashing success".
"I hope you are right, for your own sake as well. I see so many citizens disillusioned by the word of the gods these days".
"True enough. However, even though our numbers are shrinking, we still have the majority. We need to persist and keep our spirits high".
It was true: the municipal college had finally reached an agreement, even though they had been waiting for new info regarding the old mayor, debate and strife had kept on going for weeks. All major political parties went beyond their limits and they were about to resort to physical violence among their peers; considering Flannar's recent involvement, their already short tempers had been greatly affected.
But now they were ready to move on. No more would they wait for the old mayor's whereabouts to be discovered. The citizenry was already in a state of seemingly perpetual uncertainty, as this setback had been the first of its kind since the city's own beginnings.
As the carriage passed through the richest suburbs of the old district, Hendrickvor noticed a large column of black smoke and debris elevate from a specific area, secluded from the rest of town due to its proximity to the most extremist families in the criminal underworld.
"...what is happening?"
"It looks like a fire could have broken out. But the smokestacks are too thin to be a recent event".
"Indeed. I wonder..."
Small shouts, at first directed at an isolated crowd of poor townsfolk, gradually spread larger and larger throughout the entire district. The carriage passed through; Hendrickvor witnessed firsthand a swarm of poor people seemingly protesting at the gates of a large estate, while others were walking away in a hurry. A certain figure amidst the ruins of what appeared to be a large mansion piqued his interest.
"Isnt that...?" he give the signal to stop the carriage right there, just a few paces away from the commotion. As soon as he sat foot outside, an officer who had been surveying the area hurried towards his position, shovel in hand.
"Elector Hendrickvor! What are you doing here? This is no place for a representative of the people. Please leave and let us secure the area before someone else gets hurt".
"Greetings citizen. Apologies but this is none of your concern. Besides, isnt lord Bormeliar a representative of the people himself?"
Hendrickvor acknowledged the officer's worries, however he had no time to deal with commoners. Usually a measured and kind man, his composure was easily swayed by the situation he found himself into. The officer frowned, then bowed. "Please stay safe. This is an important day. If you have any business within the manor, I highly recommend you step in and out before the area is restricted".
Hendrickvor nodded and immediately sped up his pace, his eyes darting in between the crowd and the target of his impulsive visit. Bormeliar didnt give him time to advance further however; his tall, imposing figure turned around and his glacial eyes met with his at the manor's gates.
"Good day, elector Hendrickvor. What brings you here? Surely you are not interested in the meddlings of lowlife criminals. Why dont you return to your duties?"
Hendrickvor froze in place and bowed slightly, assessing the situation.
*Good day to you. I came out of mere curiosity as it is not customary of me leaving the citizenry in needless peril. Where danger lays, the people's champions shall watch ever vigilant*.
*Ha! Bold words indeed, especially for a bookworm like you. But fine, I welcome it*. Bormeliar's attention shifted to someone directly behind himself *Now, where were we... ah yes. I seem to recall one of your henchmen has been stealing valuables at the royal refinery recently. These papers indicate that our suspicion was founded. You dont seem too fond of such events being revealed to the public, am I correct?*
The man he was addressing smirked sadly, then shook his head as if to imply he had a sudden realization.
"You know... the government should stop interfering with our honest work. As it stands now your kin is on the brink of ruin anyways. My agents tell me that the Sorcerer King himself is directly behind the city gates. What do you think will happen next? Stop acting so high and mighty and just go straight to the point, if you have nothing to say then I suggest you move along and go back to your world of paperwork and boredom".
"We both know you have absolutely no idea of what you're talking about. You may be Risélla's father, but at this time you are nothing but a mere bystander. Cooperate with us before it's too late for you to see your daughter again. The Brennedt were a far more noble and refined house once, you may want to attain to your ancestors' fountain of wisdom and recollect some of its former glory in light of recent events. If you have omitted even a single detail, please be concise and tell me anything relevant right now".
A deep sigh, then a barely noticeable handshake. These were the signs of a precarious reconciliation with himself. Hendrickvor witnessed it and it could not have been more pathetic in his eyes: the current head of house Brennedt seemed to be a man with no value, no future, nor prospect. He had known of the situation the municipal college had found itself in previously; being eased into an uneasy cooperation with rival families whose hands were deeply rooted in blood and slave trade, all for the sake of their profitable ends. However, Risélla's father was different. He had built his position with honesty and hard work before his soul got inevitably twisted and corrupted by the world around him. For that reason, Bormeliar was still hoping to appeal to his roots. If there was any sign of the former gentleman left in him, then he would have tried to revive its memory.
"...at first I thought our family butler did it. I know, it is a cliché at this point. Yet I am a man of distrust; even though I had conceded him multiple chances to redeem his qualities and abide by our own code, and he was a well behaved and well spoken member of our entourage, I went against my own judgment and I set out an internal investigation. You could say that I feared... my enemies were far closer". He stopped to take a breather, then his gaze shifted to Hendrickvor, who was just a few paces away, listening intently as the truth of that incident unfolded.
"Huh, why is he here? You should be fighting for our rights, and while you're at it, get rid of all these immigrants stealing our jobs and marrying our women!" the man gave him a stern look and his fist suddenly became agitated as if it had been moving on its own accord, ready to strike at an invisible assailant. A long pause ensued; the atmosphere became darker as new officers approached the manor and started to collect all the valuable and broken furniture left scattered across the street.
"Apologies for my outburst. I... my composure just vanishes when my daughter isnt around. I've had... a terrible wake up call".
Bormeliar smirked at him. "I have received the message. You dont seem too fond of her working at the facility, but you understand the situation we find ourselves in. So the government is willing to overlook these past crimes for a token of good conduct. I shouldn't even be here asking you to cooperate, as a matter of fact. I could order your immediate arrest, but I feel like this is a delicate time and doing so would be... less than ideal".
"Elections, right? Oh how am I glad this tragedy befell my family just at the right time" his interlocutor smirked back, a hint of anxiety in his eyes.
"...please find my daughter. I told your men everything they needed to know already. Tormenting me would just be a waste of time on your part. I only have her in this world... dont make me repeat myself. As long as there's a shred of dignity left in me, I want to do anything in my power to see this matter resolved".
"That makes two of us. She barely even had time to send a request for help, but thankfully it reached our base of operations. Not thanks to you, I hear". Bormeliar turned to Hendrickvor and bowed slightly "So, has your curiosity been satisfied yet?"
"Actually, no. I was going to reach the municipal college by carriage with my good friend Bellmor, who just retrieved his own papers to be able to vote. But since you're here, things can move smoothly and even faster. Care to join me for a short walk?"
Bormeliar nodded and gave one last look at the manor; its embroidered walls and valuable furniture had all but been burnt, destroyed or otherwise stolen.
"Come, let us move out of the way for a minute. Feel free to tell me whatever is on your mind at this time, I know you have been consulting lord Flannar for a good while now. However, please be advised that my patience, as well as my time, are limited. It seems that a storm is approaching... and the last thing I want is for us to be still fidgeting like unprepared fools while the curtain closes".
"You dont have to remind me, lord Bormeliar. I am well aware that the prospects for this election are way off our regular schedule. Still, it would be wise to review our situation".
"How many candidates?"
"There are 8 possible candidates. The old mayor had his successor in mind, yet he never shared any of his own thoughts publicly. There is nothing in his private chambers either, and it appears that his personal diary has been stolen and several documents have been burnt following the chaos right after lord Flannar's appearance. Somebody must have been manipulating members of the municipal college to sway their allegiance and meddle with the results".
"I see. Anything else of note?"
"I'm sure you have seen the large amount of people gathering at the tavern and the poorer suburbs. While it is true that there are no immediate risks of revolt, I fear that there could be more than a few dozen agitators spreading misinformation among the population. I overheard a conversation at the palace where several colleagues lamented a nonexistent lack of supplies, and an overworked officer affirmed as such several times."
"So the Sorcerer King has started disseminating panic among our ranks... I thought things could go a little slower due to the detention of one of his own, but it appears that I was wrong. Perhaps this made it even worse". Bormeliar rubbed his chin incessantly as he walked down the busy street, still filled with carts and merchants relocating after their district had been assaulted by Solution a few weeks prior.
The duo kept on walking in silence for several seconds before Bormeliar finally stopped and, looking at Hendrickvor with a piercing gaze, announced something unexpected.
"Well then, there is no other way to put it. We need to lock down the municipal college, assemble a squad of trained professionals in and around the perimeter, and sabotage the elections ourselves".
"What?!" Hendrickvor's eyes widened, "but... what about democracy?"
Bormeliar sighed softly "this is no time for games, elector Hendrickvor. You know that better than anyone. Democracy is only useful in times of peace and perpetual prosperity. In any other event, it is a subpar system by which to conduct business. We need quick decisions, wit and strength. Our electoral body has been weak and corrupt for quite some time, I only let it slide because of our more relaxed policies and peaceful lifestyle. This is a time for action".
"I'm... not sure I can follow through with this mentality, although I will do my best to recite the script". Hendrickvor's heart was deeply conflicted. His eyes looked at the ground and a tingling feeling in his chest started to form. Something akin to a very peculiar feeling that he had never experienced: guilt.
Bormeliar put a hand on his shoulder in solidarity, nodding firmly as if he had understood his position. However, his stoic expression said it all; there was no turning back.
"Should we come out unscathed from this mess, then I promise to reinstate fair elections for as long as I live. But the truth is that we may never come back to such a peaceful time".
Hendrickvor could do nothing but nod and remain silent as he watched Bormeliar take a few steps back.
"Anything else on your mind, elector?"
"I... no. If this is the way it has to be, so be it. Do you have anyone in mind?"
"Give me a list of all candidates and their allegiances. I'll be sure to convocate all of them in my office by noon. Lord Flannar was supposed to give a speech before the elections started, but he had to attend... matters of state. So all we are left with is miss Cledna's presence as a substitute for an authoritative figure. She has agreed to recite the same speech I had prepared for lord Flannar, and then attend a brief ceremony. At the end of which, we will send in the militia to seize the palace and block all exits".
"I hope not a single one of my colleagues will be harmed" Hendrickvor's thoughts were all over the place. His soul had been shaken ever so slightly.
"Come now, your grandfather is a high member of the church of lady Hilda, I'm sure you have witnessed more... peculiar affairs, shall we say. Do not concern yourself with this matter though. Unless I summon you personally to take part in the process, you have nothing to fear. Just repeat the usual procedures and elect a suitable candidate. When the time comes, you will know who to vote for. Are we clear?"
Hendrickvor's eyes closed for a brief moment. As he was desperately trying to find balance within himself, his mind wandered through the halls of the municipal college to find a single good soul that could lead the nation to a more stable way of life. Yet, he could not find any. There truly were too many corrupt politicians, and even considering himself was out of the question. He was not free of sin, despite being one of the lesser offenders in that regard.
"Honesty is a rare trait" he began to say, "one by which we cannot always abide. It is akin to a butterfly: it sets itself free for a day, and then it dies amidst the windy fields. Its life is short, yet beautiful".
"Precisely. I'm glad we are on the same page on this subject". Bormeliar seemed to have not a single scruple about the issue at hand. Within such a short amount of time, his decision making needed to be on point and sharp. There was no room for error nor pity. Either everyone would cooperate, or nobody could leave the building. In 4 hours, a new mayor would be nominated. And no matter what, it would become someone assertive and devout who could bow before the gods at a whim. A docile person with no ambitions other than to serve the state's interests. That was what Bormeliar needed. A pawn, a weakling. Someone easy to forget when not needed anymore. There were many such fanatics and inepts, and he would scan the entire municipal college to find the best of them all.
Hendrickvor was now free to explore the city at his leisure. Since he had no more authority nor value than a commoner at that point, and the results of the election would be all but decided, he returned to the carriage with a mixture of guilt and anxiety. Bellmor patiently waited for him to speak, but seeing no way for him to initiate a conversation, then he himself decided to break the ice.
"You dont have to tell me how it went, but I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me. Is our status being threatened? You look intimidated, isolated... alone ''.
"...I feel a weight that I rarely would have cared for in my younger years. And perhaps even just a few months ago" Hendrickvor replied "No, our status is not being threatened. We still remain faithful servants of the nation. We must, especially at a time like this. However, lord Bormeliar seems to have some drastic measures in mind. I do not wish to burden you with this knowledge, so please dont ask. My friend, if you still want to vote... I suggest you remain in your room at Luma's for today."
"Understood" Bellmor replied with a sad look, despite him not knowing what was going on, he trusted Hendrickvor and so he would not question his words. Nobody had helped him before due to his ties to the Drykven family, Hendrickvor truly was his only contact in town by which he could still feel part of the citizenry.
The carriage moved swiftly throughout town. Someone was watching intently from atop a large building outside.
Their eyes met someone else's just on the opposite end of the building. Both figures, shrouded in a large dark mantle and concealed by a magic item, immediately started zigzagging at lighting speed to one end of town to the next, till they finally reached their destination. There, in an alleyway secluded from the rest of the district, well past the entryway that led to the Falsjago family estate, someone was pleading for their life. Their eyes were nothing but bloody pulp of pink sclera and tears.
"Dont! Dont! Dont!" their feeble words and weak tongue could not process anything more. Their body was in a state of complete and utter despair.
"Please stop with this nonsense. My grandfather's ring... tell me where it is and you may receive a painless death. Prolonging this charade is starting to tickle my patience, you see". Rokkan pointed his sword to the pleading individual and smiled.
"Look at you, head of the Falsjagos, begging for their life in front of a Drykven. How does it feel? Having your possessions stolen, your trust betrayed, your life taken away. You are being treated as cruel as my grandfather was, no more, no less. You should feel honored, for I do not care about needlessly spilling blood, I am merely returning the favor in kind. This has been quite the entertainment... retribution truly has a sweet taste".
"I dont know anything! I dont! Leave!" his interlocutor struggled to breathe, he prostrated to his assailant's feet and kissed their boots "I beg you... I dont!"
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? How low can you possibly sink?" Rokkan moved away, as if he had suddenly lost all interest in his victim "you cant even die with some dignity. Pathetic".
One of the cloaked figures who had been moving towards that location materialized in front of them, as if appearing out of thin air. The victim, desperate and badly beaten, jolted and rolled on his back.
"Look my lord, he's acting like a dog showing submission!" the cloaked figure laughed as they witnessed that pitiful display of human weakness, "shall I end it for you?"
"No, that wont be necessary" Rokkan replied with something of a bothered look "I despise this kind of attitude from the lowest of commoners, let alone someone in his position. To think this sorry excuse for a human being once was one of my family's most feared enemies...".
His gaze seemed to pierce the agonizing man on the ground. He felt nothing but contempt and revulsion.
"Tell lady Hilda that the Sorcerer King sends her his regards". With that, he whistled once. Responding to his call, a maniple of goons not too distant from his location moved closer and brought with them half a dozen dogs, still chained and severely malnourished.
"It is a pity that a man with your wealth and status cannot possibly be bothered by the sorry state that your animals verse in. How can you be so cruel, I wonder" Rokkan mocked his victim while circling around him, enjoying the animals' barks getting increasingly louder.
"No! I swear I dont know! I dont know anything! I dont! I just dont!" the words coming out of Rokkan's victim were nothing but a putrescent mixture of blood oozing out of his throat and gall coming out of what remained of his stomach. The dogs got released and immediately locked their angered muzzles towards their target. In a matter of seconds, everything was over.
"Ah, what a splendid idea. Getting eaten by his own neglected animals, I see you are a man of mercy" the cloaked figure bowed. Rokkan spat where his victim used to stand, now nothing but a molded mess of feces and bloody remains.
"He just would not admit it, if only he had told me the exact location of my grandfather's ring I would have let him live a little longer. It was long overdue. I may not have been the one starting all this, but I shall be the one closing the matter. Such petty thieves and backstabbers dont even deserve to touch it. It is fine however, I know for a fact that it is still here somewhere. Now that the Falsjago's possessions are mine, it is only a matter of time.
Has the other issue been resolved yet? The election is coming up soon. I want lord Flannar's entourage to be decimated before then".
"There has been a bump in the road, my lord. It would appear that only two of our men returned alive from that encounter".
"What?! That is unconceivable! How can a simple engineer, a girl even, escape my assassins?" Rokkan looked genuinely concerned for once in the whole ordeal. His resolve had never wavered, he had vowed to keep his spirit high and his conviction above everything until the deed had been done. Such a failure was unacceptable. His heart ached for vengeance.
"We are still investigating. When you retreated from the conflict at the manor, things were heating up around the perimeter. The survivors swear that they have been attacked by a... boy. A blonde elf with incredible speed and strength. We suspect that lord Flannar has more allies than we thought. Someone with a great deal of power and magic prowess. Our men were reduced to a bloody pulp. Some appeared to have been hit just once".
"Another god? Perhaps a godhood breed? Is it even possible?" Rokkan's thoughts fixated on the only possible solution to that riddle. Did he overlook something in his plan? He thought he had everything figured out, yet that single failure meant that lady Albedo, who now was referred to by an increasing number of people as the "White Witch", could potentially withdraw her support to his cause. He needed to avoid it at all costs.
While he was pondering about his predicament, a sweaty middle aged henchman with a plethora of documents under his arm came rushing in "My lord! Here! Look at what we found!"
"What is this? Are these... ballots?!" Rokkan took a look at the documents and quickly scanned them one by one. A smile formed on his face, one that would soon turn into a grin and then resounding, hysterical laughter.
"Ahahah! I cant believe this! How many were there?"
"About twice as much as these. My guess would be uh... around 400 votes worth".
"That's one third of the entire municipal college..." Rokkan could not believe it. That discovery had no precedents in his line of business. To be so deeply rooted in dishonorable conduct that they'd be sinking their teeth all the way to the heart of the nation, that was a true accomplishment. One he could not give credit to the Falsjagos for.
"Seize them at once and burn any link to the Falsjagos. I give you permission to loot any valuables that you may find in this estate. Should you encounter survivors, kill them on sight".
The henchman bowed and hurriedly went outside to announce the good news to everyone else. Cheers and celebratory voices soon manifested themselves, as the realization that they had scored a gigantic victory over a rival family took hold of their hearts and minds.
"With this much we can sway any allegiance we may need. Surely they were trying to falsify these documents to bribe more electors into lord Flannar's side... but no more. Now only the Brennedt remain... starting with that little brat".
To say that Rokkan felt over excited would be an understatement. His own resolve had been emboldened tenfold by that discovery, so much so that he could almost feel his grandfather's spirit guiding his actions.
"Just watch me, I will take everything back from them, one piece at a time".
Rokkan immediately began replacing the candidates' names with his own, moved by a feverish fervor he had never felt before. As his hand sweeped through the ballots, his very spirit burned with anticipation and excitement comparable to a sexual act. If that was the will of the gods themselves smiling upon him for a once in a lifetime chance at redeeming his family name and elevating his own, he would've taken it with an iron fist. Thanks to lady Albedo's generous contributions, his powers had been steadily increasing, as well as his influence over the city's underworld. Attacking and successfully defeating the whole of the Falsjagos was an almost unconceivably stupid notion, yet he had accomplished it swiftly. He did not even have to resort to his grandfather's sword, now more powerful than ever and even praised by one of the Sorcerer King's underlings. He longed for the day he could finally set its true potential free to take his rightful place among the gods.
After a painstaking search, three henchmen clad in dark cloaks came back to him.
"We found it, my lord".
"Ah, mine at last! Bring me to it at once".
The awaited prize was now in his grasp. The Falsjago's residence was torn asunder, eviscerated of all its treasures and dignity; at the very top of the building, soaked amidst countless puddles of fresh blood, the ring still retained its former beauty. He did not wait for it to be spotless: his finger reclaimed it as if it had always been part of his very being.
A surge of power engulfed his lungs. His breathing became more erratic for a time due to the massive amount of dopamine released in his body all at once; his muscle mass felt like it had just grown out of proportion, to the point that his robes became extremely tight. His legs had never felt stronger and more powerful, as well as his mind, now racing at the speed of sound. His thought process was faster than any man and its processing power more nuanced. In that instant, surrounded by nothing but success, he thought himself to be a genius.
"I... am the smartest man alive. The strongest man alive. And the most courageous this world has ever seen!" his tiny pupils looked at the sky in awe "there is no end to my greatness. This feeling is beyond comprehension... father could never achieve anything in his miserable life. But I... I shall soon be a god!"
His patient yet reluctant henchmen looked at him with worry and a bit of a reserved opinion among themselves. Some thought he had been consumed by the White Witch's power and his soul had been lost to the true enemy, but many others saw him as a surefire way to get endless pay and recognition. Who could ever hope to defeat such a man, be it mad or sane? They cared not for his mental well being as long as their pockets remained full of valuables.
"Now... to the municipal college, respected colleagues. We shall enact just punishment upon those who kept us down for so long".
"What about the Brennedt, my lord? Should we keep pursuing?" someone dared ask.
"Inconsequential. Now that I have acquired such a measure of power, they are nothing but insects waiting to be stomped. Dispatch a search party and dispose of the little brat by whatever means necessary. Should my intervention be absolutely necessary then I shall see to it personally".
That said, he descended the estate among much cheering without a second thought and set out to find his horse. The Sorcerer King's emissary was already working in the shadows and soon would reveal himself to the electors, in the guise of the old mayor. His word, coupled with the newly found ballots, would be the sealing factor cementing his election and with that, a new age for the nation as a whole.
.
"I found him!" a loud voice echoed through the plain. Risélla's eyes went wide.
"Where is he? ...Oh my goodness!" she hurriedly moved from her position, right next to the place that had been set up by the Sorcerer King's subordinates as their temporary camp, "Plurimo! Get out of there! You'll end up killing yourself!"
A trembling young man could be spotted atop a large rock, at its very peak right next to a sizeable nest. His tall and slender body was sitting amid several eggs of varied colours and sizes. His eyes appeared to be darting in all directions, full of fear and confusion.
"I just... wanted to have a little space for myself. Away from all this madness!" he muttered through a mixture of tears and anxious puffing "Get away! All of you! I'm going to throw myself down, I'll do it! I swear that I'll do it!"
In his heart of hearts, just saying that gave him a powerful wave of pleasurable feelings. Actually following through with it was also a nice prospect, although he desperately refrained from it for two reasons: firstly, his fear that the Sorcerer King would just revive him and he'd be extremely angry at him for his actions. Secondly, because he had just spotted Risélla down below, and the mere notion that she was there felt nothing short of terrifying.
"Be reasonable! Come down, no wait, I'll come up there and take you with me!" Risélla was shocked and anguished at that turn of events. Why was her favorite person so stubborn and bold?
She started climbing the impassable rocky formation, still trying to maintain a proper demeanour for a lady. But someone else had caught on to the action and was far faster than her feeble human hands and feet; Bley's plastic body clinged onto the rock with her sharp nails and moved upwards at inhuman speed. Her unnatural posture made her look like a grotesque artificial spider aiming for her prey.
"M-My love! Look, look! I'm alive! I am aliiiiive!" her high pitched voice sounded cute and terrifying at the same time. Plurimo's gaze suddenly caught up to hers, and from that point forward never let go.
"What the... did it really work? Is that really her?!" his mind, caught in a loop between pure terror and admiration, could not contain his excitement. He instinctively spread his arms and let himself go; his body fell all the way down as if he wanted to be held.
"Ah! Wait for me!" Bley immediately steered her course and jumped like a feral beast towards his location. Her arms lovingly embraced him as they both fell.
Risélla could do nothing but watch as the two crashed on the ground. Due to Bley's body protecting his every vital part, Plurimo had undergone no harm nor physical pain. Bley's head had bent over the soil, but then it sprung back up and returned to its original position in a few seconds.
"That was the weirdest thing I've ever witnessed" Risélla tried to wash it off as a mere play, laughing softly while covering her mouth as a proper lady should, "what in the world is going on here?"
Plurimo had barely acknowledged her presence still. His body was busy in a warm embrace as his gaze lovingly inspected Bley's body and face with joy and a hint of craziness.
"Risélla, I'm sorry. I'm so... very... sorry" he began to speak, small tears forming at the corners of his eyes "this... is my wish. And the price for my cooperation".
"What do you mean?"
He explained everything. How he got accidentally kidnapped, how he had been treated, and his ultimate wish for Bley to become human. From that point forward, he would be cooperating with the Sorcerer King's forces in exchange for that miraculous gift.
"Are you insane?! Why did you... no, it does not matter now. Did you think lord Flannar could not achieve the same result?" Risélla's heart was filled with disappointment and regret.
"I dont know, I just... once I witnessed his power first hand and compared our own potential to his, I just couldnt think straight anymore. Suppose that lord Flannar could do it, I would never have the courage to ask him directly" Plurimo blushed heavily as Bley kissed his cheek, never refraining from showing her affection "How could I even have dreamed of it? I would love if you could animate my girlfriend. That sounds ridiculous and totally unbecoming of a senior of my caliber. I have too much respect to-"
"...respect? Hmph! Complete utter nonsense!" Risélla suddenly grabbed him by the collar, pulling closer to her visage "if you had a tiny bit of dignity left in you, you would've stayed with us and just admitted to what you needed. Lord Flannar would have given it to you, goodness even I-"
"You... what?"
"N-Nothing! Nevermind that! Forget it!" the girl's visage acquired a peculiar shade of red, of which Bley took note albeit subtly.
"... in any event, it is too late for me to refuse. I truly am sorry, I have done something terrible and my conduct has been nothing short of indecent. But ultimately I didnt have much of a choice. My allegiance has not changed in the slightest. I'm still your ally, and I want the city to survive this first strike".
"What do you mean? What's this first strike about?" Risélla sat on her heels in a formal manner, almost expecting him to end the phrase in a joke. Surely lord Ainz Ooal Gown would not attack a sovereign nation without a prior declaration of war.
Plurimo took a deep breath and let go of Bley's arms for a moment. His expression was dead serious.
"The chief of this operation is a demon they call Demiurge. He is a high official of Nazarick's forces, as I understood it. From what I could gather by my own estimates and my friend Mare's assertions, they plan on striking first thing tomorrow morning at the earliest. It seems that lord Ainz has made up his mind at last. The declaration of war is being redacted as we speak. Contrary to our customary praxis it's apparent that Demiurge wants to undermine the city's underground structure first and then take a frontal assault into consideration. News of one of their own being captured and detained in our prison has reached his ears... and he has not taken this action kindly".
Risélla's heart could not handle the truth of their current predicament. They were effectively captives in the heart of enemy territory and their lives were nothing but bargain for them to put their chips even closer to the city's core. As it stood, lord Flannar's entourage was missing two of their best members and the work at the R&D could simply not be performed as efficiently. The dire news caught her off guard, for she still nourished a small hope that Nazarick's forces were weeks away from reaching a settlement on their preparations.
"So... what do we do then? Should we just stay here and wait for the inevitable?"
"No, of course not" Plurimo seemed to be thinking hard despite his gaze being fixated on Bley's metallic cleavage "we may actually have a chance at communicating with lord Flannar now. What do you say, my love?"
"I will do whatever it takes to please you, my beloved!" his plastic girlfriend bowed to him and only to him, her cute smile slowly creeping out at the corner of her face akin to that of a maniac who had deeply fallen in love "Look, look! There is a way to get out of camp!" she pointed at the sky, towards the large rocky formations that encircled the large area used as hotsprings by the populace "once the geysers start pumping out water, I can sneak in and propel myself into the atmosphere!"
Plurimo nodded assertively "it is true. She may not look it, but her body is very resistent and lightweight. I designed her to be... well, flexible, and comfortable to carry around. Her ergonomic engineering is the result of my personal research into... um, specific topics, let's put it that way" he blushed softly, looking away from the bystanders "At any rate! All you need to know is that she can do it. I'm an engineer and a visual designer first and foremost, so if it pleases you, you should probably be the one writing to lord Flannar, Risélla. You've always been faster and more direct than me. And better at communicating, too". She sensed no flattery in his tone of voice. He was completely open and honest.
"I see. Well then, if we truly have a chance at it, no matter how small... we should take it. You can count on me".
The group did not know for how long they would've been able to keep their plan in motion, nor if they had any real way to complete it. However, the urgency of the situation required their full commitment. As their gathering came to an abrupt halt due to Nazarick's denizens assembling in a seemingly perfect line just mere kilometers away, a carriage transporting a large coffin was slowly but surely making its way towards their location. Demiurge's gaze scanned it with a hint of interest as soon as it got spotted amidst the clearing fog. Next to it, a small figure clad in dusty robes seemed to stare in the distance. Who or what it was, it could not be known for certain yet. But they would soon be able to discern friend from foe, for the ensuing confrontation was now inevitable.