Chapter 82: Return of the Ruler
Thympiles soared high above the clouds by flapping their giant ears. They are mostly used to the cool air and the borderless surroundings. "It's convenient to use them as transport, but they get tired easily." Fourteen rubbed Mimo's fur. He was the smallest of all the thympiles that Fourteen took care of. "The sky has the same color as Mimo." She sighed as she reached out her hand to touch the clouds.
"Are you going back to the floating isles?" Yllana asked Fourteen.
The smile on Fourteen's face faded. "It will take time before the floating isles will be rebuilt."
"Rebuilt?" Midel was surprised.
"The emperor burned the houses and destroyed almost all of the century-old trees." Fourteen laid down and played Mimo's fur with her fingers. There was an empty feeling inside her whenever she talks about the floating isles now. It used to be a beautiful paradise for them.
Larika looked at Yllana. When Yllana felt that someone was looking at her intently, she turned to Larika. "Rebuilding an entire community will take a toll on your resources. Since not all the elders of the South will be positive about the floating isles rehabilitation, you should consider giving them shelter first in the internal cities."
"Is that your decision?" Larika's round silver eyes concentrated on the woman before her. She even clasped her hands in front and waited for Yllana's confirmation.
"Yes," Yllana confirmed. She took out the stone from her pocket and looked at it once more. The word "Ruler" is still shining in golden lines. She asked for Larika's hand and placed the stone on it. The word disappeared. Larika chuckled.
"Don't try deceiving an enchanted material. It's the heavens that chose you." She pushed back the stone into Yllana's hands.
Enchanted material, when she heard those words again, she looked at her left hand. The bracelet and ring on her are both enchanted too. 'It seems you are a magnet for enchanted materials,' Blue commented within her.
The fanfare played a lively theme as they glided down. The trumpets played a spirited tune. The dancers, wearing bright colored skirts, swayed in the center of the streets while giggling. There was no evidence that there could have been a massive war between the two kingdoms. Petals and ribbons flew in the air and even landed on her robes.
When a rose petal got caught on her hair, Lucien leaned in and took it off her hair. She gave him a small smile. But it instantly vanished when she came down from Mimo. No, she does not feel like celebrating but she will not ruin the city's mood by declaring it openly. "Let's go back to the palace and settle the issues first."
At the corner of her eyes, she saw a large house at the side of the palace. It was locked with a chain and guarded by two knights. From the window, she could see a pair of white eyes with no life in it. The cursed ones.
"Yllana," Mariek and Kareem were both dressed in council clothes now. The banished villagers swore to go back to the kingdom with the condition that the ruler should be Yllana. Among the villagers, only Mariek and Kareem didn't have a change in appearance. Leon and Vannie's legs grew back to normal sizes when the blood rain hit them. Even Vandier who has his left eye always covered with bandage now unveiled his whole face.
"We could also build another council for the minority. It's how your kingdom almost fell into ruin last time." Yllana talked while they were walking to the palace. The celebration might be ongoing, but her mind was already set on her objectives to deal with as soon as possible so she could resume on her way.
"A council for the minority sounds good," Midel brushed his sleeves and looked around the windows that they pass by. "If ever there would be another problem regarding the lower classes, they could just approach the villagers."
Elder Evin, the oldest in the South Kingdom's council of elders, agreed. "We need to make a few changes so that what the past would not repeat itself. But for now, people need to witness your vow as a ruler. It will strengthen their resolve in rebuilding the lost ties and damaged spirits of our people. Although there are still some that we have failed to solve." His eyes traveled to the huge house beside the palace. There was a hint of moist in his eyes threatening to fall. But he blinked it back hard and coughed.
Yllana rubbed her temples. There is so much to be done. When her eyes glanced at Larika, she wondered how come this girl had become an empress without any knowledge in running an entire kingdom.
"Don't look at me. He kept me chained and locked inside the palace. I only escaped when he was caught off guard." She looked down on the floor and muttered to herself.
Then Yllana's eyes fell on Lucien who was walking behind them. She saw his gaze was fixed on the finger which he placed the ring. Is it wrong to cover it with a glove? Many people would be judging her now that she will be temporarily taking the position as a ruler so a simple ring might give her unwanted issues especially when she faces the elders. "I did not take it off. It is beneath this glove. What the…" Her face turned red when she noticed the ring. It was only that time when she noticed that the other elders were staring at her finger.
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The smell of rotting flesh and moldy swamp permeated his nose. But that did not change his facial expression. The scorn on his lips, the wrinkle on his forehead, and the flesh hanging out from his jaw was every bit the same mood as the place he was staring at.
A throng of long-armed and long-legged demons scamper under his gaze. In the middle of the demon swarm, a crowd of human soldiers shivered. Sweat kept on forming on their foreheads. But among them, there is one who did not feel the same – General Rua.
"I told you then, and I am telling you still. You do not have to do this to keep on seeking revenge for your parents. The dead will always stay dead. What matters is the future that you have to live for." He stepped out of the circle. The knights were trying to protect him from the demons around them.
"General, shouldn't we kill these demons? You told us that we will be allied with half-bloods, not full demons."
Schwing!
Blood poured out from the knight's neck. The other knights watched in horror as Darion retracted his long black hand back. The general kept quiet.
"Is there anyone else who wants to follow him?" The exposed flesh dangled on his cheek when he spoke. The other knights swallowed back their words. "Good choice. If you stay faithful to me, there will be endless rewards in the future.
The demons around them roared. The deafening sound resonated within the swamplands where thousands of half-bloods and full demons lie in wait for their leader's command.
"You see uncle, this is not the time to uphold morals since the heavens also do not want the Accursed One to live. The heavens have spoken. I am merely a tool for their words." Darion snickered and licked the drop of blood on his hand. In a flash, smoke enveloped him and turned him into a child again. "Curse this body! I need another sacrifice." He barked at the half-bloods behind him. "And put our guests to their rooms."
General Rua scanned the surroundings. Darion walked to the deepest part of the dark forest. He had never imagined that they would be camping in these parts of a hidden world. The forest is filled with trees that produce black and gray slime instead of leaves. Its crooked branches will give anyone the idea that it belongs to a world devoid of sunlight. There was even a thin mist covering the forest floor which gives an added eerie sense of the forest.
The demons moved aside to give way to them as they followed another half-blood. When they reached a few meters, a black palace appeared out of the mist. It was made of shiny black stones comparable to marble. The knights were all stunned at the beauty of the palace. There were more half-bloods guarding the palace and they were completely in human form and seem to be trained.
"You can call me Remu. I'm in charge of the lodgings and the designation of new warriors. This is the Black Gem Palace. Master's father built it a few years ago before being discovered by the Queen of the North Kingdom." Explained the half-blood.
"Why are there so many half-bloods in this place?" asked General Rua.
"It's one of the old armies. We were here to wait for the next master to arrive." He pointed at one of the huge towers on the side of the palace. "That is where you will be staying general. If you need anything, you can find me in the barracks." Remu raked his hand through his hair and winked at the half-blood women around them. They giggled and hid their faces from Remu.
"And Darion is your next master?" General Rua scoffed and frowned at the women who passed by. Unlike humans, the half-blood women have longer and more muscled arms and legs. The smallest was even as tall as General Rua and he is already considered tall for his height.
"Mine, yes. But not for everyone, at least not yet, General. Soon, you'll know why." Remu kept on smiling while leading them inside the palace. But just like the forest, his smile carries no warmth.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone