In a far-off land, across the ocean, and deep underground, a certain undead's nonexistent ears started burning, momentarily pulling his attention away from the papers on his desk to look up at the ceiling and the world beyond it.
"Does something displease you, Lord Ainz?"
Albedo placed her papers back into the mountain of documents on Ainz's desk to direct her full attention to him. She and Demiurge were keyed into their lord's every action to an almost suffocating degree. Both now had their eyes locked on his form, eager to serve, to fix whatever flaw they had clearly missed. The pressure they applied was strong enough to kill. Thankfully, Ainz was already dead and thus able to recover quickly.
"No, it's nothing. Something else came to mind for a moment, but it's irrelevant here. This plan seems perfect; I trust you to finalize it."
The usual response of brushing off their worries and piling yet more work onto him was met with the usual satisfied smile and bows from Demiurge. Not understanding what the demon wanted or even knowing where this grand plan of his was taking Nazarick felt wrong, but Ainz simply couldn't keep up. He knew that all Demiurge did was in the best interest of the Great Tomb, so whether or not he understood the plan didn't really matter; he just needed to listen to his suggestions and everything would be fine.
[Philian Apolesai]
After a few more words of praise and a wag of his tail, Demiurge was off. His long stride quickly took him out of Ainz's office and out of the tomb. Work in the Re-Estize Kingdom was nearly complete and Jaldabaoth's grand entry into the Holy Kingdom needed to be ready to come right after. The wide smile always present on Demiurge's face managed to widen to an almost unnatural degree as he descended the steps of Nazarick.
"Just as Lord Ainz intended."
The awe he felt toward his lord darkly coated his tone. Even as he worked to make this small piece of Lord Ainz's vision come to life his lord was looking so far into the future with such extravagant planning that it would be pointless to speak of it now. His lord's ability to always be taking in information, to always be scheming, amazed the demon. He might never know the full extent of his lord's thoughts, but he would do all in his power to make them a reality. First, he needed to visit his farm. There was much work to be done.
[Philian Apolesai]
The humans on her island didn't know much about this mysterious king, but they said enough to pique her interest. A skeleton well-versed in magic was taking over the entire continent to the east. Getting her hopes up was something she had learned to avoid long ago but out of every rumor she had ever heard, every strong being she had ever seen in this world, this 'man' seemed the most familiar. The description alone was enough to make her start thinking of home. Vesi shook her head as she swam. She could not think of that old life now. There was nothing to be hopeful about. This great king was just another power-hungry ruler. The fact that he looked like someone she used to know was completely irrelevant.
That's what she kept repeating to herself until a nagging feeling ripped her from her thoughts. A slight tingling sensation buzzed throughout her entire body. She was being watched.
Nothing was around her though. She had gone down deep, almost to the ocean floor to ensure her path would be clear. Life here was sparse, and what was here could hardly be considered intelligent.
Vesi sent out a small pulse, like sonar, pushing it through the dark waters but there was still nothing. Only one option was left then. She closed her eyes to activate her [Magic Sense]. Looking around, everything seemed to still be clear. Just as Vesi began to doubt herself, she looked up. Sure enough, there was a crack in reality quite a ways above her. Whoever created it had somehow noticed her presence when she was still so far from any civilization. If this was the great Sorcerer King she'd heard about, he would certainly be worth the long trip she'd made. Maybe he would even be stronger than her.
Originally, this visit was just to see what all the fuss was about. It's not every day an undead gains consciousness and decides to create a country for monsters. Just the idea of it was exciting! How could she not go to at least peek at such an oddity? But now, with the chance to finally find someone on her level after so long, leaving without a proper conversation would be a waste. Perhaps this lord of monsters would appreciate a beast like her among the ranks?
She was getting hopeful again.
There will be nothing worthwhile. The King will be like all the others, and this trip is just for fun. Just done on a whim. A frivolous pursuit that would lead to nothing. Vesi worked hard to keep that thought in her mind. "Always expect the worst, and you will never know disappointment." Wise words from a wise man, and now her mantra.
Her mind finally clear, Vesi kept moving. She was near the shore now, and her mysterious stalker followed close behind. Perhaps if this was the Sorcerer King watching, she should put on a little show when she arrived? This wasn't being hopeful, no. It would simply establish her power to all nearby.
[Philian Apolesai]
The sands gradually started to rise beneath her. She was nearing the shore now and had decided on what her grand entrance would be. Vesi brought her feet to the ground below so she could stand upright, focusing on the water that enveloped her, feeling the currents push past her to the land ahead. It had been a long time since she'd used her magic, let alone anything on this scale—not in decades. The tides shifted, forgetting their natural push and pull to spin around Vesi. As she moved forward, the cyclone grew, reaching up to the stars above and leaving a circle of dry ground beneath her feet, splitting in two when she made it to the shoreline. Two massive hurricanes swirled behind her.
Over the roar of her artificial storm, a loud cRaCk could be heard. Apparently, her stalker had seen enough. Vesi did have a little more planned, but if they were satisfied, there would be no need to waste her energy. Letting out a long breath, she relaxed herself. The pair of twisters slowed, returning the ocean to its usual calm. Ignoring the large amount of seaweed on the coast, one wouldn't have even known they had been there at all. Exactly as it should be. Showing off was important, but destroying nature just for the sake of it was unforgivable. She'd already experienced the consequences man would face if they did not care for the world. It was poisoned. Broken beyond repair. One of the few goals she maintained was keeping this world safe. It was a second chance she had no intention of wasting.
As she thought of the task she had handed herself, she'd been walking along the shoreline until something caught her eye. It looked like a small city, but it was completely empty. The humans said the Sorcerer King had destroyed all the coastal settlements during his war; however, this one appeared to be almost fully intact. Moving closer confirmed her suspicions. All but the outer walls were completely fine. Most of the citizens had not died; they had clearly run away. Furniture, nice clothes, shoes, and rotten fruit littered the ground. Everything but the essentials had been left behind. Gently treading over the discarded items, Vesi continued her journey to the heart of the city, eventually coming upon a beautiful fountain. At least, it likely used to be beautiful. Now the water sat stagnant in the basin, releasing a putrid smell into the air. The statues were filthy and unloved, even broken in some places. The buildings around the square were all in similar states of disrepair. The life that was once here was gone. Nothing more than a remnant of times past.
Not that it mattered. Nothing here mattered anymore. Though there was something like beauty to be found in this haunted place, there was no value to be found here. Before she could resume her aimless wandering, a new presence disrupted her thoughts. They must have thought they were hidden, given how they slinked through the shadows, but Vesi could feel them. The magical power spilling forth from them wasn't much; they certainly didn't seem strong, but it was noticeable. All they did was watch from a nearby alley as Vesi walked back down the main street, not-so-subtly following her from the shadows. They might have information, but they also clearly wanted to be left alone. If she found nothing else of note, perhaps she would come back for them. But for now, they would be left in peace.
As Vesi moved back through the destroyed city gates, she had expected this presence to leave, but it continued to trail behind her. Now hovering around fifty paces behind, always making sure to only move closer when something blocked her line of sight on them. Strange as it was, at least they were ensuring she would have someone to interrogate if she couldn't find anyone that seemed more important. The faint silhouettes of more boroughs came into view on the horizon, though they all seemed to be in even worse condition than the one she'd found. The only thing remaining after what must have been a brutal onslaught was scattered mountains of rubble glittering in the moonlight.
Nearing the tree line, Vesi noticed more eyes on her. They seemed to be as strong as the one following her but much better equipped. As she drew closer, the clanking sound of their armor reached her ears. The idea that these were simply refugees of the Sorcerer King's attack seemed less likely now, but perhaps not entirely out of the question. Either way, it seemed wise to avoid the clutter of the forest for now. She chose instead to walk back to the beach and travel along the shore. Those in armor were joined by the one from the city, now following far behind while remaining in the safety of the trees.
[Philian Apolesai]
It was drawing closer. The beast the astrologer had foreseen. It was a horrifying figure: blue skin striped with white, dark hair clinging to its body. It wore a shimmering white gown. Were it not for the fins, scales, and webbed fingers showcasing its monstrous nature, it could have been mistaken for a beautiful woman. The mysterious lights that surrounded it constantly bathed its figure in a seemingly holy glow. But this was no angel; it was a potential threat to the Theocracy. A sword hung from its hip, and lower on its calf was a small dagger. They were told to only observe but not run from combat either. In other words, they were to test this beast.
It was so close now, barely beyond the trees. Mikael reached for his mace, hearing his comrades reach for their own weapons, but then it stopped. Its bright eyes opened wider, a brilliant light pouring from its sockets. He could feel the beast's gaze on him. There was no mistaking its actions; it knew they were there. It had seen through their camouflage and was now examining them. Its strange eyes slowly moved between them all, and its face split into a grotesque smile that stretched to a sickening degree, revealing two rows of sharp teeth to the humans in front of it.
Everyone had armed themselves now. Deras had even gone so far as to brandish the [Tears of the Sun]. The beast must be even stronger than it looks if its keeper felt the need to reveal their best item before even seeing what the monster could do. Fully braced, Mikael did his best to meet the monster's gaze, only losing his footing slightly when he felt the beast's eyes meet his. For that brief moment, a suffocating feeling of hopelessness attacked his mind. The feeling that no matter what he and his scripture did, they would not be able to harm the terror before them. That he should flee from its presence and never look back if he wished to live. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck, but before he could act on any of his primal urges, the beast showed a sliver of mercy, removing its petrifying gaze from him and moving away. Smile still wide, it turned from the mouth of the forest, walking back to the shoreline it had emerged from. Perhaps its mercy would continue, and the beast would leave them, returning to whatever unfathomable hell it had crawled from.
[Philian Apolesai]
Vesi made her way along the shoreline. A small group followed behind her, but they seemed content to remain hidden in the woods. What was more interesting was the sentient shadow that had just joined the voyeur's ranks. As Vesi walked past scattered driftwood and shells, the shadows of them trembled as the small monster leapt between them to keep up with her. The new presence didn't feel like a threat as the others had; it actually seemed a little cute. It jumped to the shadow of a particularly large shell right at her feet, and Vesi decided it would be alright to get a closer look. The shadow quivered as she drew near. It did not speak, but it did... purr? When she placed her hand in the darkness, a cool feeling engulfed her upper arm as the shadow moved to surround her for a moment. Still, she felt no malice from the creature. It only cooed sweetly as she waved her hand around in its darkness. It was such a polite creature, unlike any she'd seen in this world. Had she missed them the first time she'd explored this place? In all fairness, that was almost two hundred years ago now. Perhaps these sweet shadowy creatures didn't even exist then. Vesi withdrew her hand, pulling a sad trill from the dark creature. It was cute; however, she had other things to deal with. She would certainly have to find one for herself at some point, but now was not the time to adopt a pet.
"Alright, cutie, how about you run along now?"
The shadow seemed to understand her, bouncing around happily upon being called cute and immediately shooting back the way it had come from. Vesi wasn't expecting the strange thing to actually listen to her request, but it only endeared her to the creature more. Hopefully, she could find it again later. For now, though, she needed to deal with the ones still in the forest.
[Philian Apolesai]
The beast did not leave, even though Mikael had prayed to the gods it would. No, instead it walked along the beach. From so far away, the beast again looked only like a maiden enjoying a stroll, but now he knew the truth. A mere glance acquainted him with the terror this monster embodied far more than he ever wanted to be. The idea that he should just run while he had the chance remained in his mind.
His thoughts were interrupted by Siobhan sprinting into the forest to join them. She said nothing, only kept her eyes on the beast peacefully walking along the shore. She had been afflicted by the fear that monster's eyes brought, he could tell. But she had come back. Out of anyone here, she had the best chance to get away, yet she returned to continue with the mission. Readying a spell in her hands, she moved to follow the monster like she wasn't terrified. If she could be so close to that beast and continue, then so could he. Mikael steadied himself and followed behind her, the rest of the scripture clearly having a similar battle in their own minds before they worked up the courage to rejoin the pair.
Everyone present had their full attention on the monstrosity before them. For five minutes, it had walked, never again acknowledging the scripture following it. In fact, it hadn't done much at all. It slowly meandered along the shore, stopping to admire seashells, looking at the stars above, and occasionally splashing in the tide. It really did start to feel like they were stalking a woman on a stroll. Then, it disappeared. For only the slightest of moments did a tree or stray branch manage to block everyone's view of it, but evidently, that was enough. The monster was gone. The footprints it had been leaving in the sand abruptly stopped as well. They all panicked. Mikael held his mace tight to his chest and turned to Siobhan. She was already working on a tracking spell. It sounded like she'd cast multiple, but each one ended with a grunt of frustration and feverish chanting to try something else. She sighed and turned to her comrades. She opened her mouth, ready to tell them she could not find the beast, but before she could, a watery tendril shot through the brush and wrapped itself around her throat. She had only a moment to panic before it pulled her, dragging the small woman through the branches towards the beach.
While still trying to process what he had just seen, Mikael heard a scream from behind. Two more tendrils had tangled themselves around Erabin, the only other combat mage sent with them. Deras and Avonn were quick enough to grab onto him, but it wasn't enough. A harsh tug from the tendrils ripped Erabin from their arms and pulled him to the beach with Siobhan. What little training they'd had was out the window. Driven only by instinct, the four chased after their allies. Breaking through the thin tree line they had hidden behind, they saw the beast. It was standing proudly right where they had last seen it. Only now, a cyclone surrounded it. Wild snakes of water violently lashed out at them, but it seemed to be forming a defense rather than using them offensively. Behind the beast, they could see their comrades. Both were failing to fight against the ocean, barely keeping their heads above the waves in their struggle. Mikael didn't think as he moved farther onto the beach. The need to save them overrode his need for survival as he tried to loop around the monster before him.
Mikael finally came to his senses when he had fully made it to the monster's right side. It hadn't attacked him yet, but he still had much farther to go before he could hope to reach the mages in the water. The beast turned its head to gaze at him once more, the terror returning with it. There was no way for him to save them. It was unlikely he would survive this. They had been sent to the feet of a god-kin and were expected to reason with them. That's how it felt when under its gaze. That blood-chilling smile carved into its face as it watched him quiver in fear. There was truly nothing to be done; all he could do was hope the Astrologer was watching.
[Philian Apolesai]
The water swirling around her morphed into a mess of tendrils, lashing past the swordsmen and wrapping themselves around mages hiding from her. Casters are always the most troublesome ones, she thought, dragging them toward the ocean. The struggle to stay afloat in their heavy robes should keep them busy while she dealt with the others. She dispelled her invisibility and prepared to give chase. Surprisingly, the humans did not run or even seem shocked by the attack. Vesi had expected those still hidden to flee or at least use the trees to block her reach, but instead, they charged forward to face her. Four more emerged: three were fighters, and the last appeared to be a caster. Strange, considering he didn't seem to have any visible magical power. Did they finally learn to hide those things? Not that it was particularly relevant. The most interesting thing about him was the item in his hands: two small metal hoops linked by a long chain that glowed with a distinctly magical glint. The weapons of the fighters around him seemed enchanted as well, but they were clearly not of the same caliber. This might become a concern. Killing the one with the obvious ace was always a good idea, but he also seemed to be the highest ranked of the group. Killing him might mean losing valuable information. Vesi swayed with the breeze as she contemplated this. One of the men began creeping around to flank her.
One of these swordsmen would definitely be an easier catch, but would a bodyguard be as useful? Maybe it would be best to take whoever survives the longest. That seemed like a fun challenge. Vesi closed her eyes and stretched her arms out. Staying by the ocean had been a good idea. Not only was there an almost infinite source of water in front of her, but the humid air also ensured she was surrounded by moisture. She basked in the comforting feeling for a moment before balling her hands into fists. Her staff materialized within them, its bright glow chasing away the nearby shadows and those that hid within them. The ocean began to defy gravity, flowing upwards and morphing into a swirling pillar. The men reacted to the flashy display, but not as she had expected. What was supposed to be the signal to start their battle only threw them into disarray. They sprinted toward the man with the item, who cowered down. What was the point of surrounding her if they were just going to circle back to that weakling when something happened? Their lack of planning was disappointing. If they continued with this idiocy, her warmup would not last nearly as long as she had hoped.
Her massive pillar of water swung high into the air before crashing down onto the group. She had intentionally telegraphed her attack, but only one of them was quick enough to respond. A fighter wielding a morning star not only saved herself but also grabbed the one with the magic item, throwing him over her shoulder as she sprinted out of the way. Impressive. This woman might be able to provide the excitement she was after. Her larger comrades were not as agile and were left to be crushed by the waves, which threw them to the ground and buried them in the sand.
The woman and the mage had managed to recover. The mage, now back on his feet, seemed ready to join the fray. Loosening his grip on the metal hoops, he looped the smaller one over his wrist and began spinning it over his head like a lasso. Vesi still wasn't sure what sort of weapon this was, but she didn't have long to ponder it as the knight stepped in front of the mage once more. She widened her stance, raising her morning star, almost as if she wanted to shield the mage from Vesi's view.
Wanting all the attention in a situation like this was an obvious red flag. Even more concerning was that the mage was backing away to hide behind a rock. The trap couldn't be more obvious, but it was intriguing in its own way. What could they have planned so quickly? Would the mage use that strange weapon? There were too many possibilities presenting themselves for Vesi to stay cautious.
Brandishing [Light of the Void], Vesi turned her full attention to the woman. She stood strong, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet, ready to dodge or make a move if she spotted an opening.
"Wow. I can already tell you're better than most humans that cross me."
The woman didn't react to the praise at all. Smart, keeping her focus. She tightened her grip on her morning star, continuously scanning Vesi and searching desperately for even the smallest chance of attack. She seemed too timid to make the first move, so Vesi decided to take the initiative. She stepped toward her opponent, and the woman retreated, taking two steps back in response. Vesi couldn't help but frown. How plain.
But that didn't mean she couldn't have some fun. Vesi stayed on the offensive, swinging her staff at the woman, who continued to block each strike and retreat whenever possible, clearly aiming to lead Vesi behind the rock where her comrade had hidden.
As they rounded the corner, the human suddenly threw herself to the ground, clearing the way for the large hoop to fly over her head and hurtle toward Vesi. She reached to snatch the ring out of the air, intending to pull the weapon from him and beat the woman on the ground with it. However, as her hand connected with the hoop, the metal phased through her fingers. It passed through her grasp like a ghost, only becoming solid again once her arm was perfectly centered in the ring. A brilliant white glow enveloped the metal as it tightened around her upper arm. A strange sensation flooded through her body, as if all her mana was being drawn into the band.
Vesi did not use much magic and didn't have a lot of mana, but the feeling of something always a part of her being pulled away was almost indescribable. She looked at the small man before her. He was the first human to do something surprising in decades. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to have anything planned beyond this. He'd set up the beginnings of a trap perfectly but was unable to capitalize on it. He looked at the hoop around her with his mouth agape, as if he hadn't even considered his plan would work, only doing it because it was all he could manage.
"So it saps mana... I was curious. Quite a good item, honestly. Haven't seen anything like it in a while."
Vesi glanced back at the band. The drain was slow; it had been active for over ten seconds, yet she still had enough mana for a few spells. It wasn't the best at stealing mana, but it was still quite a find. She had marveled at it long enough. Vesi quickly wrapped the chain around her arm and pulled, yanking the man off his feet and grabbing him by the throat.
The woman rushed to her feet upon realizing their little plan hadn't worked. The woman moved in fast but what she would do to help the man Vesi was holding was unknown. A nagging voice in the back of her head told her she should let the human attack her. She'd yet to land a blow thanks to all her evading but now she was sprinting towards Vesi with her morning star raised high. However the pull on her wrist kept her thoughts straight. Clearly enough risks had been taken today. She was here for information, not to test a random group of humans. Tightening her grip on the chain of this strange weapon. Swinging it, and the man still holding the other end of it, to smash the two humans together. It was clear on the woman's face that she realized what was coming but she couldn't dodge him, not this time. She'd played with these humans enough.
The collision knocked both unconscious. Curiously, when the man fell, he dropped his weapon, and the loop around Vesi's arm started growing back to its original size. It slipped off easily and fell into the sand. Vesi hummed to herself as she picked it up. The glow had subsided, and it now looked like two simple metal hoops connected by an ordinary chain. She fiddled with it slightly, shifting the hoops around in her grasp to hold it the way she'd seen the man do. Threading her fingers through the smaller loop, the item came back to life. She could feel mana, her mana, surging through the metal. It was strange, certainly something she would have to play with later, but for now...
Vesi turned her attention back to the humans before her. Only two were still breathing, so hopefully, one of them could lead her to the sorcerer. A small void appeared, and her arm disappeared inside. When it returned, the magic hoops were gone, replaced by a simple, unenchanted rope. It wasn't special—just a plain rope she'd crafted out of boredom. Simple as it was, it would be enough.
[Philian Apolesai]
A loud shout ripped Avonn from her sleep. Confused, she tried to look around, but there was only darkness. A cold, hard darkness completely enveloped her. Avonn tried to roll and noticed that the ground had a little give. It shifted beneath her as she moved. It was sand. Memories flooded back, and her confusion was quickly replaced with fear. She was still on the beach, and someone was screaming for her help. Again, she flailed, desperately trying to get up, but her limbs still didn't listen to her. She was tied down, bound like an animal. Another scream—it was Duras. He was right next to her. Avonn used what little strength she had left to throw her body, finally turning herself upright to at least see what was happening. It was still there, the beast, and it was lifting Duras off the ground by his neck.
"Now, now, if you stopped pulling against those knots, maybe it wouldn't hurt so much~ This fighting won't get you anywhere. Just listen to my questions; you don't even know what I want to ask yet."
The monster's voice was almost sweet. It would have been a relaxing lullaby if it had come from anyone else. But this monster was anything but peaceful. Simply being so close to it terrified Avonn.
"I do not answer to beasts!"
Despite being even closer to the monster, Duras was able to stay strong before it. He writhed in its grasp, doing what little he could to free himself. The creature seemed to sigh in response, not offended or upset, merely annoyed.
"Well, thankfully your friend is up. Perhaps she will be more... cooperative."
Faster than Avonn could comprehend the monster swung its arm, slitting Duras' throat and unceremoniously dropping him to the ground. One of the Windflower's best trackers discarded to the sands. Without raising from its seat, the beast turned its full attention to her. The terrifying pressure now suffocating under its gaze. Instinctively, Avonn paused her squirming. As if seeming small or playing dead would somehow keep her safe. As the beast drew nearer her breathing quickened. Her heart hammered so loudly Avonn worried the monster could hear it.
"Don't be so frightened. I don't want to hurt you, so if you tell me what I need, I'll let you go."
That sickeningly sweet tone had returned to the monster's voice as it leaned over her. With a surprising amount of gentleness, it reached out, holding her face for a moment before moving to her mouth. It removed the gag Avonn hadn't yet had the time to process was there.
"Now, as I stated previously, I only have a few simple questions. I can tell you're scared, but I promise that no harm will come to you if you only act good and answer them."
Avonn could not help her eyes drifting to Duras' crumpled form behind the beast. A large and ornate dagger was still nestled deep inside his neck, blood pouring from him and staining the sands a deep red. Avonn wanted to scream, to vow that she would never tell this monster her secrets, bravely protecting her country, just as Duras had.
"Do you understand?"
The beast asked the question a bit more sharply, pulling Avonn's attention back to the present. Helping this monster might be a sin, but if it kept its word, she would be able to return to the Theocracy. Make it home and tell them firsthand of the danger the Astrologer saw. With that faint glimmer of hope in her heart, Avonn nodded. She did not know much of value anyway. She could not betray her country, but she could make it home.
Seeing her answer, the monster smiled at her—a blood-chilling smile that split the beast's face in half.
"Good." The beast purred. "First question then, who are you?"
The simplicity of it surprised Avonn. Doing nothing but staring up in shock for a moment. It laughed. The action seemed mean, but the sound was calming. Such a charming laugh should not have come from this terrible creature.
"Don't act so surprised; I told you my questions were simple. Once more now, who are you?"
It looked at her expectantly. This beast had managed to act polite, but Avonn knew its patience was running thin. For a moment, she wondered if this was one of the trickster beings of myth. Why would such a powerful monster care about something so pointless? Avonn quickly came to her senses. Why the creature was asking these things was irrelevant; the only thing that mattered was getting out of this safely. She rushed to give her answer, taking the most direct approach she could think of.
"I am Avonn. Avonn Cha'Varez, defender of Windflower Scripture's second division."
The beast withdrew slightly and closed its eyes. It almost seemed confused by her answer but recovered quickly, moving to hover over Avonn once more.
"And where do you come from?"
She hesitated again. Speaking the name of her homeland did not seem wrong to share, but the potential of being seen as a traitor nagged at the back of her mind. The monster brought its face closer to hers as it waited. Traitorous or not, she had to try to get home.
"The Slaine Theocracy..."
The creature hummed slightly in response. It sat silently for a brief moment before asking its next question.
"Well, Avonn of the Slaine Theocracy, have you ever heard of Ainz Ooal Gown?"
The mere mention of that name brought Avonn's mind to a crawl. This beast wanted to know about the walking death that plagued her nation. The fear that already clouded her mind was now paralyzing. This monster clearly noticed her shock; that same chilling smile crossed its features as it watched her body wrack with tremors.
"I'll take that as a yes. Tell me where he is."
The monster reached to its side and retrieved a scrap of paper from the ground. Slowly, it opened it and held it in front of Avonn. It was a map—Duras' map. The creature shifted its gaze between her and the map. Avonn shifted around slightly, hoping it would convince the beast to untie her so she could point.
"The map is labeled; just tell me."
The sudden harshness in the monster's voice made Avonn flinch. It would have been foolish to try and run away, but she just wanted to see if it would free her. The fact that it hadn't did not bode well for her, but she would not lose hope yet.
"There, right between E-Rantel and the Empire. He's claimed the Katze Plains."
The map was slightly outdated, but her information was not. His tomb and the land this false king had claimed were still in the same place. The most Avonn could pray for was that this beast was some enemy of the sorcerer who might at least weaken the undead.
"So right here?"
It laid the map on the ground and pointed below the Azerlisia Mountains with one of its long fingers. Close enough. Avonn quickly nodded, hoping the beast would be done with this interrogation soon.
"Excellent." A dark tone came through the monster's voice as it pocketed the map once more. "Thank you, Avonn. You have been most helpful in my search."
With a harsh tug at one of the knots, the rope immediately loosened, allowing Avonn a full breath of air after being bound for so long. She had been released. The monster only stared down at her now that she was free. She almost wanted to thank the beast for following through with its word, but the bodies of her comrades surrounding them quickly snapped her back to reality. She needed to get away, to put as much distance between herself and this creature as quickly as possible. Avonn scrambled to her feet, leaving her weapon and helmet in the sands, and fled. She was tired, her body weak. She wasn't moving fast, but she pushed what little she had left as hard as she could.
Avonn was already exhausted when she reached the tree line, grabbing onto one of the trunks for a brief rest. She'd only wanted a moment to catch her breath, but before she could start moving again, a loud thud seemed to resonate from inside her very skull. Running had been a challenge but now taking a single step seemed to be an impossible task. A river of warm liquid flowed down her neck yet she felt so cold. Her own weight was suddenly too much to bear and Avonn fell to her knees. Darkness clouded her vision. There was a voice behind her, but it sounded so far away that Avonn couldn't make out the words, like someone was shouting while she was underwater. Trying to get back on her feet was futile. She never felt herself hit the ground.
[Philian Apolesai]
Vesi calmly watched the woman process what had happened. She looked like a scared little animal as she got to her feet. Avonn glanced at Vesi, the bodies on the ground, and her weapon. For a moment, Vesi hoped she would do something foolish, but no. Without another word, she started running, making for the trees and likely headed back to her Theocracy. Then Vesi realized her error. Was it truly wise to tell an enemy exactly where she was going and then let that enemy go? It certainly didn't sound wise. Turning to the man behind her, Vesi saw her dagger still buried in his throat.
But she had promised to let her go.
Vesi looked back at the woman. She'd made it almost halfway up the beach now. She would be in the forest soon and catching her then would be such a hassle. Breaking promises wasn't something Vesi was ever known for doing, but she was willing to make an exception. Avonn was just a human, after all—a human who would definitely make her life much harder if given the chance.
Vesi sighed as she made her way over to the man, pulling her blade from him and checking on the woman once more. Avonn had moved faster than Vesi had anticipated. She was at the tree line now and would be gone soon. Thankfully, she had paused, leaning on a tree for a small break which made her quite a good target. Winding back, Vesi threw her dagger, lodging it firmly in the woman's head. Her death seemed slow. Avonn clung to her life and kept trying to move forward despite her body no longer listening to her.
"Quite admirable. Most humans do not have such will to live. It almost seems a waste to kill you like this, but letting you go would be foolish."
She praised the woman as she approached, though it was very unlikely Avonn heard any of it. Not that it mattered. The strong were notable, but Vesi knew nothing great had been lost today. Avonn slumped over, finally dead. She may not have been the greatest warrior, but a noble woman like her deserved a quiet death. But now she was gone, and there was nothing left here worth respecting. Vesi stepped on Avonn's neck to keep her body still as she pulled the knife from her skull. Her magical blade still pristine after all it had been through. She looked down at the corpse one last time. She had been helpful, though she didn't need to be. She was strong, fighting a monster she knew she had no chance against. Vesi wanted to remember such a good human. Her morning star, still buried in the sand where she had dropped it, was a beautiful weapon that seemed well-enchanted. Whenever she had the opportunity to kill with it, she could remember the humans that so bravely ran towards death.
Vesi retrieved all her mementos and threw the bodies into the sea. In death, they would serve the ocean, and the circle of life would continue.
Happy that the land had been left as she found it, Vesi started walking. She knew she was on the Western coast and now had quite the journey ahead of her.
[Philian Apolesai]
Pulcinella excitedly ran up and down the aisles of the barn. The skinning had just finished, and now that the sheep were healed, they were all so happy! PLUS, they'd managed to gather a record number of skins with no deaths at all, which would surely make Lord Demiurge happy as well! So much joy spread in a single day, the clown thought as he set the skins down on a table to begin tanning them. He cleared space so they could all be laid down flat. Blood dripped from them down a channel in the middle of the table, leading into a bucket on the ground. Nothing was ever wasted here.
The clown hummed to himself as he pulled up a small stool and placed it beside the table, spinning and dancing around the cabin to the beat of his made-up song while he gathered his tools. Not only had he made _so many_ people happy today, but now he got to work on a direct order from the final Supreme One by making scrolls for Nazarick! With that thought, Pulcinella became quite happy as well, continuing his small dance atop the stool as he carefully scraped the remaining flesh and blood from the skins. Just as he was ready to move on to the next step, a strange feeling stopped him in his tracks. It was as if the air itself was coiling around his throat.
Something powerful had appeared; he could sense it. He placed his tools down and silently messaged all of the guards. They all felt it as well, but it did not seem like the presence was coming any closer to the farm. That was good at least. A strange being damaging the farm would _not_ make Lord Demiurge happy. In fact, it might even make him angry... Squirming nervously in place, Pulcinella racked his brain for ideas to make sure that would never, _ever_, happen. Quickly, he summoned the high-ranking guards to surround the cabin and sent his shadow demon to find out what, or who, was causing this feeling. The standard procedure for approaching something foreign. It was already well understood by everyone here that what Lord Demiurge kept in the cabin was more important than everything else. More important than the buildings, the livestock, and them. It had to be kept from the outside world at all costs.
As the guards came to surround the cabin, the shadow demon left him. There was no visible difference, but it could be felt. A strange sort of emptiness washed over his body as the demon slid through the darkness and into the world beyond.
Now, he simply had to wait.
If the demon did not return with a report within ten minutes, they would be assumed dead, and the entire farm would be locked down. The barn and cabin would be burned, and they would leave some final Hanzo to look for this possible attacker while the rest fled back to Nazarick. Pulcinella allowed himself a small sigh. He did not wish for that to happen, and he knew Lord Demiurge did not wish for it either. It would be sad to restart the farm, but there could be no risks taken. Not when they were so close to the Kingdom that would soon be a part of Lord Ainz's great plan. Should someone from the Holy Kingdom appear and ruin everything... that would be far more sad than simply losing one farm.
Six minutes passed.
Pulcinella became even more anxious, pacing around the cabin in hopes of relieving himself of this excess energy. The aura coming from the coast hadn't gotten any fainter, nor had it grown stronger. It was as if whatever was there had come just close enough for him to feel its presence and then stood still. The thought put him even more on edge.
He messaged the four guards around him every minute like clockwork. Three were on the ground, surrounding the cabin in a triangular shape, while the fourth was on the roof, watching the direction from which the strange aura emanated, but he saw nothing. None of them saw anything.
[Philian Apolesai]
Finally, after eight minutes and thirty-seven seconds, the shadow returned. After apologizing for its lateness, it rejoined Pulcinella's shadow, allowing it to share its thoughts with him.
It spoke cheerfully about the woman it had met on the shore—her kindness and beauty. It mentioned how much she resembled their dear lady who had left long ago. The shadow emphasized its desire to go back and noted that there were armed humans watching her, recommending that more be sent to defend her. Although the demon wanted to say more and demand that their lady receive the assistance she deserved, it knew that it was only supposed to report what had happened. Being allowed to make any recommendation at all was already a mercy on Lord Pulcinella's part.
[Philian Apolesai]
Pulcinella was quite pleased with the report from his demon. He was surprised, to be sure, but still pleased. If a Supreme Being had truly returned, then immediate action would need to be taken. However, the clown hesitated. He had been instructed not to leave the farm, that everyone would be happiest if he defended the farm and kept everything here safe. Should he go? Send someone else? He wasn't even certain that this was truly their lady. Taking the word of one servant to drop everything and abandon his post felt wrong. But ignoring her also felt wrong! Pulcinella grabbed his head, desperately trying to determine what would truly be best. While he could usually figure such things out himself, Lord Demiurge always knew better when it came to strangers. Then again, was it truly wise to just ignore this being until Lord Demiurge arrived to deal with it? Would Lord Demiurge be happier to know that everyone trusted his judgment the most, or that his servants handled a stressful situation without him? Pulcinella bounced on his heels as he pondered. The situation was spiraling, and Pulcinella was not made to handle such complexities. It would be a miracle if she had returned, but leaving to chase after a woman simply because she looked similar seemed like the wrong answer. Pulcinella's head began to hurt as he tried to think of what to do next. Thankfully, a familiar presence was fast approaching. Lord Demiurge had returned!
The demon generals spread out in a semicircle to greet him, and Pulcinella swung open the door to stand with them. His lord landed before them, already looking displeased. His eyes were narrowed, and a deep frown was carved into his face. He could no doubt feel the strange presence as well, and suddenly Pulcinella felt as though he had not done enough. Merely watching the woman, while useful, was not all he could have done. Now he stood before his master with little information to offer about her. Pulcinella waddled up to Lord Demiurge and bowed meekly, pressing his head into the grass. The demon silently stalked over to him. It was not until Pulcinella saw his master's shoes right in front of his eyes that he realized Demiurge had moved.
"Pulcinella, I expect you can tell me what's going on?"
[Philian Apolesai]