Valefor’s Throne Room- Will O’ World

“My lord, you have called for us?” His most loyal servants appeared, kneeling before him.

Their eyes beam with interest and curiosity.

Besides the management of their master’s castle and territory, they were free to do with their time however they wish. Since their lord seeks solitude, they dutifully kept their distance whilst revering him.

Even though their age and appearance differ greatly, they all share a common point. They were all picked up off the streets and given a new life by the person before them.

Before they became his servants, they were nothing more than the trash of society- half-breeds, slaves, serfs, heretics, criminals, and others who were never given a chance at life.

Sitting on a throne of pitch black glass, with the hanging, glass chandeliers illuminating the dark room underneath it, he looked down at those that have gathered under his command.

There were twelve vassals that were kneeling before him.

“I have decided,” Erebus spoke out after a moment of silence, “I have decided to leave this castle and embark on an adventure. Where it leads me, I am uncertain.”

When they heard his decision, his servants stared blankly, unable to absorb what he had said. Most, startled by the news, looked up at him in hope of finding anything that would contradict his statement.

“My lord, if I may ask,” the closest demon to him said, raising his head calmly, “why have you decided to leave?”

His expression was a mixture of concern and fear. Even amongst his most loyal subjects, the one before him was most devoted vassal.

“Ignus, I have received a prophecy from my priestess,” he answered solemnly, “in order to achieve my goals, I must not remain in the demon territory. Rather, there is a grand, open world outside these walls that I must see for myself. Only then, will I find the answers to my problems.”

Ignus, who was his treasurer and devoted worshipper, nodded his head and said no further.

The others, seeing how calm Ignus became, grew more worried.

“My lord, the world is far too dangerous to wonder by yourself,” a few demons began to protest, “take us with you.”

“That, I cannot and will not do,” Erebus responded with an unwavering resolution, “you are needed here.”

“And what of you my lord? You are the core of our world,” the secretary of defense, Nidhogg, responded, “once you leave, what will happen to us? What will happen to those who swore to you? I implore you to stay my lord!”

“There is no hope for me to achieve my goal if I remain here.” Erebus answered him, “But, even though I will no longer be here, I will not forsake the lives of my subjects. In time that requires my presence, I have instructed Gwendolyn to call me back.”

“… Even then, my lord,” Nidhogg continued, “you are the symbol of our kingdom, without you-”

“Have you grown so weak that you require my presence to keep order, Nidhogg?” Erebus glared at him with annoyance, “if you cannot maintain order without me, then I do not need you.”

“My apologies, my lord,” Nidhogg replied helplessly, biting down on his lips.

Erebus sighed and said dejectedly, “No, I should be apologizing Nidhogg. I know that I am abandoning my duty as the demon lord, but this is the only path I can take in order to achieve my goals. I cannot remain here.”

“I understand my lord.”

“Is there any other question or complaint?” He said, looking at his vassals.

“My lord…” one of the less visible figures, a girl adorned in a pitch black robe, raised her hand slightly, “ah… please don’t… stare at me.”

Noticing that the entire audience hall had their attention on her, she began to shrink in fear.

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She became frightened by the stares of others and hide her face under her hood.

“Do not be afraid Echinacea, ask me what you want to know,” Erebus said with a soothing voice.

“Wh-what… will we do… about the diplomatic, financial, and social aspect… of the kingdom”

“Small matters will be taken care of by the respective individual assigned to each task, whilst the important matters that requires my decision will now be settled by the majority vote of the council, which will be composed of all representatives of all fields.” 

“Thank… you… for answering… my question,” she said, bowing lightly before trying her best to hide her presence once more.

“Ignus, you seem like you wish to say something,” Erebus said, noticing the fact that Ignus has been staring at him for a long duration of time, “do you wish to raise a complaint?”

“No, I do not believe that there is anything I can say that will change your mind, not after you’ve decided on the matter,” Ignus responded, smiling wryly at his master as he shook his head, “rather, I pray that your journey will be a successful one.”

*****

Knock. Knock.

“Who is there?” Gwendolyn asked.

The voice answered, “it is me, Ignus.”

“You may come in,” Gwendolyn said, without removing her eyes from the glass window she stood by, “though I do not see why you would want to.”

The dark priestesses of demon lords are confined within their room for the reason beyond mere desire to keep them locked up.

Each priestess wields an incredible amount of power that allows them to peak into the void. As a consequence, many priestesses are cursed and any who associate themselves with them will receive their curse. It is said that only demon lords are immune to such curses that are attached to the priestesses.

Still, there were people who did not fear the curse.

“I hate coming in here as much as you hate me entering your room,” he said, showing visible sign of annoyance at the sight of her room.

They were mortal enemies since the day that she wanted her room to be built in a manner that defied all logic. Ever since then, whenever Mikhail is accompanied by Ignus, she would avoid talking to them, and visa-versa.  

“I do not want your stench in my room,” she responded, “if you want to say something, then say it and leave.”

“He will be leaving now,” Ignus said after a moment of silence.

“I know,” she replied, her gaze gentle and silent, “if that is it, you may leave. I do not welcome you here.”

“…Erebus told me about the prophecy, how he will die at the end of his road,” Ignus said, seeing that she would not say anything on the matter, “why did you tell him? You could have hidden it from him and prevent all of this. When he dies, it will be your fault. It will always be your fault, as it always has been. Every time he changes, it is always because of you. You, who continues to sow the seeds of change into him, urging him to walk towards his death, to challenge insurmountable odds. Are you proud of yourself? I have never believed in the Goddess of Darkness, or your pathetic existences, but if this prophecy comes true, and Erebus dies, I will not let you die a peaceful death.”

“Is that all you have to say?” Gwendolyn responded, pressing her hand against the glass window, yearning for a place far away from here, beside her lord, “are you done now?”

 “How weak,” he responded, leaving the room.

Once he finished what he had to say, he closed the door without waiting for her response.  

From inside, he could hear her soft cries.

“My lord, please come back to me safely,” Gwendolyn muttered, holding her hands together and praying to the Goddess of Darkness.