Stolas paced back and forth in front of Eli, who sat in his royal demon form, calmly watching his teacher. Stella had been around more often now that the constant bickering between her and Stolas had subsided.
"I'm sorry, Eli, but could you repeat what you said earlier?" Stolas's tone betrayed his concern, his usual regal confidence slipping.
Eli stirred his tea, his expression contemplative. "A mannequin-like woman with neatly curled short blond hair and no eyes... She wore a red Victorian dress. I saw her in the funhouse that day, and I had a distinct feeling she was with me a few days ago." He said, his voice steady. He sipped his tea and set the delicate cup down on the table, his golden eyes meeting Stolas's. "Who is she, Prince?" He asked, noting the unease in his teacher's manner.
Stolas stopped pacing and turned to Eli, his four eyes locking onto his student with a seriousness that would have unnerved anyone else. But Eli's expression remained calm, a testament to his own strength and resolve. "Eli, listen to me closely." Stolas said firmly.
Eli straightened, his gaze narrowing.
"The woman you described is a powerful Overlord who has been missing for decades." Stolas began, his voice low and grave.
Eli's eyes widened ever so slightly, his composure briefly cracking. "Missing?"
Stolas nodded, moving to the nearby mirror. His reflection stared back at him as he spoke. "She is known as the Shattered Queen. At first, none of us paid her much mind, assuming she was just another sinner attempting to make a name for herself. But then… things changed."
Eli remained silent, his attention fixed on his mentor.
"Not long after her rise, lower demon royalty began to disappear." Stolas continued, his voice echoing in the otherwise quiet room. "When they reappeared, they would mutter the word 'sorry' repeatedly, as if haunted, and it took days for them to recover."
Eli's gaze flickered to the mirror Stolas was glaring at, but it showed nothing unusual.
"Do you know who Alastor is?" Stolas asked suddenly, turning back to face his student.
Eli nodded. "The Radio Demon, right? The one who's struck fear into the heart Hell since the 1960s because of his unnatural power?" Eli replied, recalling the countless warnings Moxxie and Millie had given him about avoiding any sinner wearing a red suit and carrying a microphone cane.
"Yes." Stolas confirmed, returning to his seat. "Alastor emerged seemingly out of nowhere, toppling Overlords who had been active for decades. The Shattered Queen rose to power in a similar manner, but she was far more discreet. That's why she's not as well known."
He rubbed his temple, as if warding off an impending headache. "Alastor, with his sadistic tendencies, broadcasted the screams of the Overlords he defeated, flaunting his power for all to witness. The Shattered Queen, however, didn't seek fame or fear. She worked from the shadows."
Stolas's voice dropped as he continued, his gaze sharpening. "Alastor targeted her eventually, seeing her as a challenge. One day, every mirror in every royal demon's abode suddenly showed a scene: Alastor, fleeing for his life from her."
Stolas chuckled lightly, though the sound lacked humor. "It was… amusing to see such a mighty force reduced to a coward."
Eli blinked, processing the revelation. "If she's that powerful, why isn't she more infamous?"
Stolas sighed, standing to look out the window. "Because only royal demons witnessed her triumph over Alastor. We don't know why the vision was limited to us."
Eli followed Stolas to the window, their gazes fixed on the sprawling dystopian city below. "And now she's taken an interest in you." Stolas murmured, his voice tinged with worry.
Eli stiffened slightly, his mind racing. He was no stranger to danger, but the idea of an Overlord like the Shattered Queen fixating on him was unsettling. Before he could respond, a soft, haunting chuckle echoed behind them.
Both Eli and Stolas turned swiftly, summoning whip-like magical constructs. On the couch where Eli had been sitting earlier, the mannequin-like woman lounged casually, sipping from Eli's teacup.
"You flatter me, Stolas." She said, her voice a melodic echo.
Stolas stepped protectively in front of Eli, his magical weapon coiling tighter. Eli mirrored the action, his calm exterior masking his heightened alertness.
The woman laughed lightly, waving a hand dismissively. "Now, now, I'm not here for trouble. I only came to talk. Please, sit." Her tone carried a playful lilt, but there was an undeniable weight behind her words.
Stolas and Eli exchanged a wary glance before silently agreeing to lower their weapons. They moved cautiously to the seats across from her, their guard still firmly up.
The Shattered Queen studied them both, her empty gaze unsettling yet oddly warm. She took another sip of tea, prompting Stolas to break the silence.
"I'll be direct." He said, his tone cool but firm. "Why are you interested in this boy?"
The woman huffed, crossing her arms. "You don't even ask my name first? Hmph! How rude."
Eli's royal form faded, leaving him in his human guise. He watched her closely, a strange sense of familiarity tugging at him. She turned her gaze to him and smiled, the gesture soft yet deeply unsettling.
"Hello, my little miracle..." She greeted softly, as if speaking to someone she'd known for years.
Stolas raised a brow, his curiosity deepening. "Little miracle?" He echoed. Her demeanor was at odds with everything he'd heard about her—calculating, dangerous, and perpetually shrouded in an ominous miasma. Yet here she was, kind and almost maternal.
The Shattered Queen chuckled, placing her hands neatly on her lap as she bowed her head slightly. "I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Mary Sanguis Clark." She said.
Stolas blinked, while Eli froze in shock. He heard of that name before...
A/N: I had so many work that made it very hard to find time to write this...
Your question has been answered... probably, I think.
The Cherubs... I have an interesting plan for them, probably.
I'm gonna go back to doing 1K words since the 6K one took me almost the whole day, my respect to the authors that was able to write more than 10K... Just a fair warning for those who are a fan of Striker, I'm gonna be apprehending him early since the future scene is gonna be a huge headache to deal with.