Good luck and I'm sorry." Shiro said with an apologetic and guilty smile.
"For wha-"
Kougyoku dreams of when Shiro knocks them out but suddenly she wakes up from someone yelling or arguing.
Kougyoku puts a hand to her head try to clear out the webs of sleep and focus as to where she is. She observed the wooden room and a slight sway and realize she's on a ship.
Where- where are we?
Kougyoku gets up from the small bed and walks to the door where all the shouting in coming from. She blocked her eyes from the sunlight but once her eyes adjusted she sighed in relief when Lina came to view. Lina's arms were held by two cabin boys who are scared as hell because Lina wasn't making it easy to restrain her. There's a man in front of Lina with a dark bruise on his right cheek and blood on his neck and arms from cuts. The boys are also worse for wear as Lina kept struggling to escape.
Lina's red in the face with angry and the will to kill the man, "Well I want to know where we are going?! You son of a -!"
Kougyoku spoke softly but it's enough, "Lina..."
Lina stopped in mid rant and grinned as she turned to her princess, "Oh thank rukh! Your awake!"
Once the girls woke up they found themselves on a ship that was taking them to who knows where. After the unpleasant ride they made it to land and the girls were thrown off board. Lina quickly got up and raged, screaming every curse word known to man, some of the words actually made the sailors blush. Kougyoku rolled her eyes but she's enraged too but she try to keep her mind and bloodlust calm. Knowing she can easy get rid of the commoners but won't because she isn't her family and right they aren't important, both them and sailors. Plus they knew the ship won't be back, so the girls turned around and started walking on the side of the cliffs where a trail is located.
It's been a few hours but they found a cave to sleep in, oblivious to the small dragon carved in the wall and if they had noticed, the dragon's eyes are following them, not in the creepy, fear me way. More of the protector, and safe way. A noise woke Kougyoku, suddenly aware that the cave they slept in, change.
No longer were they in a small, dusty cave, no they were in a regal stone city. They are alone with just their echoes and the beautiful, well-crafted walls of the city.
"What happened here?" Lina ran a hand over the wall in awe.
"I don't know..." Kougyoku is surprise as Lina but kept walking as if something, deep in her soul was calling her towards the middle of the city.
Kougyoku and Lina have been in the stone city for two days, they found a way to tell when it's time for sleep and when to start working and planning how to get out of the city.
In the center of the city were doors, two to be exact. The one on the right is the color of gold coins and the one on the left is gray like a stormy cloud. The girls felt it was best to leave the doors alone for the time being.
They also found food but it was running out fast, and water was no worry due to Kougyoku but she didn't like using Vinea like that. Plus it was taking a lot of magoi so they had to stop for a while for Kougyoku to rest.
Lina was playing around with the fire with a stick before asking, "Hey Princess..."
"Hm?"
"How come you didn't tell Sinbad or the Hunters you have a metal vessel or that you're an actually princess, well sort of, and it's not just a nickname?"
The princess thought about it and said with a sighed, "...I guess, I just want to feel like a normal girl for once."
The green haired girl raised an eyebrow, "But you're not."
Gyoku huffed in annoyances, "I know that! But they don't and I like being unknown even if it's only for a little while. Beside you're the only one who knows what I truly am or rather who I am." Kougyoku looked at Lina with puppy eyes and slightly, because she a royal, begged. "Please just for a little while longer like after the trials I will tell them."
Lina's eye twitch and caved, "Yes... Your Majesty." She smirked as her friend froze at the title.
"...Was that really necessary?"
"...Yep!" Lina nodded and grinned.
During the third night, the girls woke up from a loud noise. Turns out the cave was clasping on itself. The girls left everything and ran towards the doors.
"Which one?!"
"Um... we'll each take one!"
"...Promise me well see each other at the end."
"Of course."
"Let's do this!"
Lina open the gray door, as Kougyoku went through the gold one. Both were surprise what they saw on the other side but as they turned around the doors were gone.
Lina had to close her eyes from the bright light, she open her stormy gray eyes, and slowly she took in the site in front of her.
The room gave off a relax and sleepy atmosphere, the walls are a soft gray, the room itself is large with the biggest bed Lina has ever seen, with lots of gray and gray-blue pillows and a comfortable looking light-black blanket. One of the walls are actually a large window. It show her the ocean and a forest. Its a nice view, just gloomy with no life. Lina put a hand to the window only to pull back right away because the window nearly froze her hand off. The green hair lady back away from the suspicious, icy window and saw a hallway. Smooth to the touch with gray-blue lights shining the way down the hall. Lina wanted to go through the hallway but something stop her.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A husky, sleep filled voice called out from behind Lina.
Lina turned around as fast as lighting and saw the most unusual... woman, in her entire life.
"Who are you? How did you get here? Where am I?" Lina reached for her knives but remember she left them as well as her spear on the ground where she was sleeping before the cave collapsed.
"Oh..." The woman stretch her limbs and lay down again on the bed, "Oh... A brave one I see." She release a big yawn. "Well if you must know I'm the Sin of Sloth, spiritual apathy and inactivity but please call me, King."
Lina raised an eyebrow, "King?"
"It's a joke..." King, had an amused smile but lost it when Lina didn't get the joke, "...never mind." King yawned again, "And the how and where part, well I'm a part of you. And this is where you keep me."
"...what?"
"This is going to be boring but fun." King raised an eyebrow as she got in a comfortable position to look and talk to Lina.
Kougyoku saw no door but a golden wall with beautiful silver designs, she ignore that and started banging the wall and shouting, "Lina!"
"It's no use my dear." A velvet, low pitch female voice echoed the room.
Kougyoku grabbed her hair pin but it wasn't in her hair, "Who's there?!"
"My, my bloodthirsty are you? This is interesting."
Kougyoku look around trying to find the voice but instead she only saw a beautiful, golden room. It reminded her of the drawings of Heliohapt but at the same time it isn't. There is a small pool looking out to the sea, a rich, silky bed with gold sheets and black feathered pillows and a table at the foot of the bed filled with gold, jewelry and different types of coins, gems and money from all over the world. There were some she didn't recognized or know of. Kougyoku also saw a hallway with candles set on a beautiful piece of glass hanging from the ceiling.
"Whoa..." Kougyoku looked in awe.
"Beautiful right."
Kougyoku jumped and turned around as she follow the noise to the pool.
A woman had her feet in the stream water as she sipped from her glass cup of red wine, "Do you know you're quite rare? You have no desire for treasure, for money, for clothes, no what you desire is more... primal."
"Where am I? And who are you? What happen to my hair pin? Where's the cave and Lina?" Kougyoku wanted answers and the stranger woman has them or at least an idea.
"Where are my manners?" The woman laughed as she got out of the pool and bowed to the Princess, "I'm Greed, one of the seven deadly sins, a selfish desire for more of something than is needed. But please, Ban will do. Your hair pin doesn't belong here but it might be returned to you... later that is. As for the cave... technically you and your friend are still in the cave, just in an area that's different from everywhere else."
Kougyoku blinked in confusion, "What? Is this place like a dungeon?"
"Dungeon? No my dear, those are a different, older, lost type of magic. This place is more of the rare and unusual type. And like I said you're rare."
"You know nothing of me." The princess glared.
"You see that's where you're wrong. I am you. Your desire, your secret greed that's buried deep within you. And I know exactly who you are... Your Majesty."
"Don't call me that." Kougyoku narrow her eyes.
Ban shrugged indifferently, "Sorry but as I said I'm you, well the selfish part anyways."
"I don't believe you."
"God, stubborn much." Ban got close to the Princess and reached for Kougyoku, who flinched away. Ban sighed and forcefully grabbed Kougyoku by the back of her and softly touched her forehead, "Here, I'll show you since you refuse to see."
Lina gave the "female sin" a once over, she's pretty in a sleepy, I just got out of bed, way. Gray tone skin, gray hair with highlights, an odd sleep gown but still able to move around if she so wish to. But what stands out is her face and horns: glowing white eyes, some type of tattoos on her face, a line starting from her bottom lip going down her body. Lina has no idea where it stops. There's also an upside down crescent moon shape on her forehead with a line across her cheekbones to her ears on both sides. Her horns glow dark by her roots but gets lighter as she looks at the tips.
"What do you mean you're a part of me?" Lina narrow her eyes and asked.
King yawned, "... Jeez, you're slow. Come take a seat." Lina hesitated, she didn't want to be around the woman. The demon looking girl rolled her eyes, "Honey, I am too lazy to do anything and it takes way too much work and energy so get your pretty little arse over here." King saw Lina was taking her time and snapped her fingers. "OMG better right?"
As she did that Lina was sitting right next to her, which confused the hell out of Lina, "The hell?"
King put an arm around green hair girl's shoulders, Lina froze at the touch, "Now I know your past, your hate. Pretty much everything. Here, you can forget everything and just... stay put. Do nothing as the ones you despise die. Now what do you think about that?"
Lina stared at the wall with an unknown emotion, if someone gave her this deal about a year ago, hell even five months ago, she would have taken it but after everything with Kougyoku, meeting Sinbad, Esra-san, and the Hunters, she wanted to do more.
"Why can't I through the hallway?" Lina said after being quiet for so long.
King sighed and took her arm away from Lina, "Damn you're strong. Nothing is wrong with it you can go through it but there's one obstacle you must defeat."
Lina took a second and realization flashed in her eyes and look at the sleepy sin, "You."
King smile and nodded, "Me."
King and Lina jumped away from the bed and from each other, trying to find a weakness before running at full speed kicking, punching, dodging, jumping all over the gray-blue room. King seem to have the upper hand knocking Lina to the ground multiple times but Lina wouldn't give up. She would get back up again and again and finally found the weakness in the Sloth and gave the finally punch in King's diaphragm.
King, out of breath and on the ground, looking at Lina. "You're good... I'll give you that ... and congrats... you passed me."
"What was all this about?!"
King sat up, gingerly rubbing her stomach as she gave Lina a tired smirked, "To be Diligence, you sacrifice your personal comfort to do your duty as a Huntress."
Lina shook her head trying to grasp the situation but couldn't, "Say what?"
The Sin laughed and with a yawned, she moves her hand towards the hallway and Lina walks through the hallway with King behind her, they leave the room and enter darkness.
Ban is golden, well partially gold, the long hair in pigtails, skin, eyes, and clothing...The only different color is a shiny black with gold tones. Her black over the knee boots and a tight black shirt with gold like chains weave into a flower-star in the middle of the shirt. A golden skirt and a gold jacket and a black circlet.
Ban touch Kougyoku's head and in a flash she understand, her selfish desires, her greed, everything Ban has been trying to tell her. Her darkest secret.
"Now you understand, Your Majesty." Ban smirked at the recognition in the jade-red haired girl's eyes.
"Please stop calling me that." Gyoku growled.
"Why? It's one of your desires. Koubun Ka must be so proud. All of his hard work payed off. Your family on the other hand... well they're not here, are they? And you love it."
"No!"
"Yes! And not to mention your bloodlust, you always want more then needed, so! Take! Give in! Here you can and more!" Ban spoke with hungry and a bloodlust the Kou Princess is very familiar with.
Kougyoku closed her eyes, she knew everything Ban said and showed is true but... then she remembers the villages, Ersa-san, Yuki-san, the Captain and his guards, and Sinbad. She's been giving, never taking or asking for more than needed. And when a wanted poster says Dead or Alive she always kept them alive for a second chance or just to start over.
Kougyoku opens her eyes and with determination, she tells the sin with a regal voice, "No! I'm not that person anymore. This time I'm choosing my own path! One that's not tainted by my family's darkness! So you can shove it somewhere else because that is not my way nor am I interested."
"Well one way to find out, Your Majesty." Ban had the biggest grin and with a snap of her fingers both were hold swords and ran towards one another.
The fight was short but intense and destructive. The once beautiful, golden room now no longer looks the same. The bed ripped apart with feathers all over the remains. The pool destroyed and the wine spilled making the pool red like blood. The coins, jewelries and glass covered the surface of the floor.
Kougyoku and Ban face one another, chest heavy with each breath, faces are red, their hair sticking to their faces with sweat. Their arms shaking for one last hit. One of them moved and in a flash they sprinted, their swords clash, suddenly the sound of thunder fill the room with Kougyoku turning around disarming the sin and kicking her to the ground and quickly got on top and criss-cross the swords on Ban's neck.
Ban scowled but couldn't move anymore. "Finish it! Destroy me!" Ban is under Kougyoku swords, on the ground, both breathing heavy and sweating from the short but intense fight.
Kougyoku shook her head not wanting to take someone life, "No! Because underneath all that gold, is a beautiful, genuine person."
Ban's scowl is wiped from her face, she blinks a few times and smiled, "Congrats you passed.
"Wha-"
They were surrounded by darkness amd fell into the abyss.
Before they knew it Lina and Kougyoku saw they ended up outside and next to each other. It was almost like they haven't seen each other in years.
"Lina!"
"Princess!" The girls hug but a cough cut them off. They turn to the Sins who are glowing.
"Well girls you two passed your first test."
"How?" The girls asked the same time.
The Sloth sin smile and explained, "Lina, you sacrifice your personal comfort to do your duty."
And then Greed sin took over, "Kougyoku, you remember the times you gave your time, talents, and gifts freely no matter the situation."
"Not to mention you both showed survival skills, teamwork, and loyalty." They said at the same time, "We were the Sins of Sloth and Greed and now we're Virtues of Diligence and Temperance." The Sins transformed into beautiful Virtues.
Sloth is now Diligence, a lovely mix of white and silver-blue. Her gray skin is now white as snow, her hair is long, silky and silver. Her horns are gone as are the tattoos. Her eyes now a light blue, twinkling like stars with light blue eyeshadow.
Greed still in her gold theme but in more regal way and turned into Temperance with long blonde hair to her thighs, honey gold eyes, and pale skin. She wears a beautiful, majestic black with gold designs dress and on her neck is a beautiful silver and blue necklace that flows to her shoulders making a beautiful web pattern. On her head is a gold crown but one neither of the girls have ever seen.
The Virtues faces softens as they look at the girls, "Now there is a Queen in that building who might need some help." They disappear but there's a whisper in the air flowing towards them and beyond, "Good luck."
Kougyoku and Lina smile and quickly up the hill, they were surprise with how light they felt like a weight they never knew they had has lifted. On top on the hill they were shocked by what they found.
"It's a dungeon!" The dungeon is beautiful as always but this one is wide and has structures that Kougyoku has seen in pictures. (Picture the Temple of Artemis).
"Shall we?" Lina asked with a grin, happy to have her weapons back.
"We shall!" Kougyoku placed her hair pin back where it belong and her twin katanas were on her back as well.
They ran up the stairs to the glowing gate, they held hands and touch the gate and saw the red planet before a bright line hit them.
"Wow."
They landed in a rainforest but it was cover in ice and snow, making it look like a winter wonderland. After a moment they found the path and started to run towards it, before they knew it the path was leading them into the middle of the forest but they saw a hail storm, with thunder, lighting, and a volcano about to erupt.
In the forest, there were many beasts with a different look each time one pass by, they had to fight a few but lucky they were fast and strong due to their past or future. They made it out of the winter wonderland forest and ended up in a thunder, lightning storm surrounding a volcano. By the edge near the entrance to the path up the mountain is a small group of women, three to be exact.
Kougyoku and Lina try to hide but one of the blonde women spotted them. "Halt! How did you get here? And why are you in Artemyra!?"
All of the blondes are very slim and youthful women. But one of them has straight blonde hair down to her ankles and long, dark eyelashes. She wears a kind of crown-like helmet with tall spikes pointing upwards, and there is a tattoo on her right cheek. She wears a simple dress with a feather collar, befitting the fashion of Artemyra. She also wears a metallic necklace and leg protectors with wing-shaped protrusions. She's barefoot and carries a spear.
"Wait! Please, we were doing a test for the Hunters Organization and at the end of the test it brought us to the gate of the dungeon. We just want to get out." Kougyoku said in a rush, she didn't want to be killed by one of the woman she respected deeply. Kougyoku recognize the queen when she saw her but she has a bad feeling about the women.
"...Kill them."
Turns out she's right, "Well fuck."
They started to fight but a giant beast with wings got in the middle of it.
"Watch out!" Kougyoku got in front of the queen and protected her from a blast of water from the creature. After defeating the beast the five women agree to a truce and climbed the mountain.
"You are powerful. I'll give you that. Thank you for protecting my sisters. Although I try to have you and your friend killed." The one Kougyoku saw as a queen said to her.
"Thanks, I think... I'm Gyoku and this is my friend, Lina."
"How do you do. I'm Mira and those two are Parsine and Cassandra."
"Hello!" The other blondes put their arms round Lina leading her away from the royals.
"H-hi!"
"So, H.O. Huh?" Mira asked with a smirk.
"You know then?" Gyoku raised an eyebrow.
The queen nodded and looked forward, "Yes, some of my sister are part of H.O., sorry I was told to kill or fight any recruits on site, if they survive or passed, and well they move on. Out of curiosity do you know where we are?"
"Yes, we're in a Dungeon." Kougyoku looked around and saw many creatures and different parts of the dungeons.
"Ah, so does that mean you know about Magi's and all?"
"Yes, but we have come with no agenda to conquer this dungeon."
"And whys that?"
"Because you're here. I like to believe the dungeons were placed where they needed to be."
Mira turned to the young woman with slight shock in her eyes and smile, "You're insightful, definitely a special one."
"Thank you." Kougyoku blushed and played with her red hair.
They walked up the volcano talking about magic, dungeons and so on, but after an hour they made it to a cave that has some type of writing on it.
Lina and the other blondes stopped and let their leaders know. "Princess! We're here."
"It's Tran." Kougyoku ran a hand on the words and started to remember the times her older brothers taught how to read Tran.
"You can read it." Mira stated as Kougyoku nods. "Good let me know if I'm wrong, Take a journey throughout the caves, trust in another. The knowledge you seek is at the end, near the Sphinx."
"You're correct. Sphinx?" Kougyoku nodded in agreement.
"This is going to be fun." Lina said to her royal friend.
"Let's go."
The group of women had each back as they cross the frightening cave filled with monsters. Finally they found the Sphinx with three doors.
"It Tran again it says, You're lost in the cave, and don't know where to go."
"Well it's not wrong." Lina mumbled but Parsine elbow her to stay quiet. Lina groan from the hit, Parsine quickly apologized and helped Lina.
"There are three doors that lead to the treasures. Door one; there is poisonous gas that is extremely toxic to animals. Door 2; there are blood-sucking bats. If you get bitten, you are infected with a deathly disease. Door 3; there are radioactive plants."
"What's radioactive?" Cassandra asked with a worry tone.
"Well, it can kill you." Mira said softly.
"What door do you choice?" Kougyoku finished the riddle.
"Hm, toxic, bats, plants all can kill..." Parsine mumbled but everyone heard her fine thinking the same.
Lina's head snapped up just as Kougyoku's did, "Wait. Yes, they all kill but one is dangerous for-"
"For animals."
"Its door one." Mira said walking towards the door.
"Well let's go."
They open the door, instead of poison gas they found the eye of the storm in the middle of the volcano, with buildings.
"Whoa..."
"Beautiful."
"Indeed."
"Look a gate!" Cassandra pointed to the gate that was a far from where they are.
"That must be it! Queen Mira that's where you djinns is." Kougyoku excitedly jumped and grabbed the queen to run, "Let's go!"
Queen Mira looked at the girl and smile while running with her. They made it to the gate to open the gate three left hands must open it.
"Huh. That works."
"Yup. Your country, your hands."
The Artemyra women placed their hands on the hands with a glow it opens. The gates open wide and they walk into the treasure room. All the saw broken, dusty, everything in ruins room.
"Where's the djinn?"
"Don't know..." They look around before climbing the stairs to a platform that has a justice scale. Both the queen and princess touch the scale and supply everything was glittering with god, silver, scrolls and more.
"Whoa."
"Beautiful..."
"Amazing."
"Who shall be the next King? Who's the King's Vessel?"
The djinn a giant three headed animal that has four arms or legs and three faces but its a very beautiful creature. The djinn has different kind of weapons and show different expressions. The body on her left is crying and is carrying two opened vajras. The body on her right looks furious and is carrying an arc and an arrow. Cerberus's main body wears a scarf that elongates in her back. In addition she's wearing a necklace and shoulder straps. Each head has the characteristic third-eye on its forehead, and each arm is wearing a bracelet, and has crystal-like feathers on its elbow. Cerberus has this kind of feathers on her legs too and her feet are paws. She also has a tail and a golden halo.
Kougyoku raised an eyebrow at Mira, who smirked and walk forward stating, "That would be me, Mira Dianus Artemina, Queen of Artemyra."
"Hm, you're strong. What about you? I see you already have one. Vinea, I believe."
Kougyoku's pin glowed for a second before she answered, "Huh? What? No, no! I just want answers that's all."
"I see." Cerberus nodded, shirking down to get a closer look at Kougyoku and Lina, "Well from what I can tell, you are here by accidents but only the one who sent you can send you back."
Kougyoku blinked and face palmed, "...You got to be kidding."
"Whelp! We're stuck here." Lina said sarcastically while throwing her arms in the air.
Cerberus laughed as the two, "Ha-ha you two are amusing but choose a king, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty?" Mira asked.
Kougyoku sweat dropped just a bit, "Long story, Queen Mira is the best candidate she'll make you proud."
Cerberus nodded and turned to the queen, "Very well. Treasure, knowledge and all are yours. Your vessel?"
"My staff."
"You are King!" A bright light shine throughout the room and they are back in the valley near Artemyra, the sun giving the country a glow of enteral and mystical.
"You have a beautiful home." Kougyoku looked out in awe.
"Thank you, please help yourself to the treasure."
"Thank you but we must be going."
"How about dinner and a good night rest?"
"Thank you. Your Excellency, we'll take it." Lina said before her princess talked the queen out of it.
"Thank you." Kougyoku bowed and smile.
"Follow us."
The queen called on her birds and they flew to the palace. Queen and Princess talked.
"May I ask?"
"You're wondering why Cerberus called me 'Your Majesty', like I said it a long story."
"We got some time."
"Alright. I guess you can say I'm a runaway Princess but really I was just crown Empress in my country."
"Empress? But you're so young."
"Thank you but I'm actually 21 and Lina's 23. We got into an accident and no one knows where we are but I'm not too worry because I trust my family till I find a way back."
"Is that what you asked Cerberus, a way home?"
"Yes..."
"I see, well I wish you two the best of luck."
"Thank you."
"Welcome to Artemyra! The City in the Sky!" Queen Mira shouted as her giant birds landed by the palace.
The queen got off the bird quickly as some of her warriors ran towards her. "Your Excellency, you're back!"
"Yes, has there been any problems since I've been away?"
"Only a few letters, but no problems."
"Good and we have guest. Treat them well, they saved my life after all."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Dinner was a party of the Queen's returned, they gave Kougyoku and Lina new clothes to wear and told them how to get to their next test. One of the letters were from H.O. informing them of new recruits, Lina saw the signature and went into a rage about Shiro and she'll do if she every sees him again. After that the girls became part of the Artemis family.
Once sunlight hit they were off to their next test...
Sasan.