I stepped into a hall, the floors and walls seemed to be made of blue water. it was more accurately built like a fancy aquarium where the walls were the aquarium, but the focus wasn't to watch fish. I had forgotten how pretty Alledra was. I had to wait for the two men to appear so I took the time to inspect this place. The walls had enchantments on them for safety and aestetic reasons.
The floor below me was the same and it had fish swimming in them. I was getting hungry again and saw an opportunity as nobody was looking. I swapped a fish out of the floor, fried it, and ate it as I had enough time before these guys would arrive.
I regretted not coming here earlier. This palace reminded me of [Hsien], maybe I could get ideas from this palace! I would request a tour after the empress has had her talk. There was no need for her to thank me but if it meant that I can look around in this place then I’m fine with it. Alledra went to the top of the list of places that had to be protected at all cost.
The men finally stepped out of the teleport gate and looked around while sniffing. “That’s strange, I smell fried fish.”
Hmm, now that you say that, I smell it too!
They led me through the beautiful blue-green corridors. Various different races were walking around doing their thing. It was like Gittrian although species that I didn’t recognize also walked around and their Kaledonian seemed a bit rough.
Did the Aquini Kingdom integrate the new species already? This is insanity, now I really wanted to meet this empress. These newer species all seemed to have something in common though, they either had more than 2 arms or legs or multiple heads. Did the ‘multi’ dimension merge with ours? The monkeys in my home also had 4 arms.
I got lead to what I assume is the throne room and prepared myself for something spectacular when i heard a soft strane voice.
Hmm? Did you say something?
“I didn’t say anything, come the empress is waiting.” One of the blue men pushed in the door.
I was sure I heard him say something. The door opened and I had so many mixed feelings. The throne room was gorgeous. Pearls and coral everywhere. The floor and walls had colorful fish swimming around. It was as if it came straight out of a fairy tale. Speaking about fairies…
The whispering sounds got louder and it was quie clear they were carried on mana waves, they sounded sweet and pleasant but it notified me of a fairy’s presence, a strong one nonetheless. Another mixed feeling was, this empress, the one from which these sounds came from, was gorgeous. I didn’t feel any nausea, no deception, just despair as this might be my final day.
The empress of Aquini Kingdom is a large beautiful fairy. Who would have seen this coming, She was the only fairy in the throne room though.
“Welcome! Come closer!” Another problem was that this fairy was radiating charm magic. I wish life would stop throwing terrible matchups at me.
I got closer and her presence became heavier and heavier as I got closer.
“Oh my. I did not expect this at all, everyone, thank you for your service, I want to talk to him in private.” She must be planning to thank me and then gobble me up. I wanted to run but I was already caught in her charm net.
The room got cleared out and the countdown to my demise started.
“Firstly, I want to thank you for helping out my country. You might had your own reasons for doing what you did but the reality is that it helped us immensely. I normally go under the name of Anavel Seynoux but as you might have noticed, I’m not from this dimension. My real name is Naqu Maru.” She transformed into what I assume is her fairy form but it didn’t change very much. She grew 2 large bird wings made out of ice and water out of her back, which were quite colorful. No eyes on them or her body besides the 2 on her face. “I am a sea phoenix fairy. I know the relation between my race and yours is terrible and I apologize.”
I didn’t sense any hostility. So not all fairies are abominations and not all are evil.
“I wasn’t aware that you weren’t a human, even less than you were a nine-tailed spirit fox, this might seem like a trap but I assure you it’s not.”
A phoenix fairy? Why are you so different from all those psychos flying around?
“Not all of us agree with how the majority of our race does things, it also seems that doing what they love the most distorts their appearance.”
So, invading other dimensions distorts them?
“Eating spirits does.”
I inspected the empress.
Judging by your appearance you’ve never touched a spirit in your life.
“Thank you. I just want you to know that there are those of us that are good. Just… know that most are as you see outside, so don’t let your meeting with me twist your mind into thinking that any fairy can be good.”
Honestly, this is a breath of fresh air. I would have been so dead if you wanted to eat me. so ehh can you stop with the charm magic?
“I can’t turn this off sorry.”
Ugh, I will try to deal with this. I should also do something about my terrible losing streak.
The empress seemed to attempt to tone down the charm magic but with no success. It even got worse. Is this how I go out? And then suddenly… It completely disappeared; the empress seemed shocked however and she looked to the side as if something intimidated her.
Uhh are you alright?
“That… was unexpected. I’m fine yeah. I was wondering if you’re interested in becoming an esteemed citizen of the Aquini Kingdom.”
Hmm what are the benefits of that?
“Not much, I’m sorry, only a residence in Alledra, a…”
Deal!
“What? I wasn’t done yet…”
Doesn’t matter, to be honest, your city and this palace are gorgeous. All my other houses have monkeys invading them or are in the middle of nowhere.
The empress seemed confused but happy nonetheless. I still hope she doesn’t try to keep me close in case she gets hungry. “I see, I didn’t realize you liked it this much.”
So, what are your thoughts about the current state of the world?
“I am not qualified to talk on that since you probably know more about this, I have also been occupied in keeping my citizens safe but I am repulsed by what my kin is doing. I am wrapping up some issues with Denga and then personally going out. I don’t care if I become a kin slayer.”
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Understandable. So, a phoenix fairy eh? Sounds mythical.
“Not many like me, not mythical although. eating up spirits and drying up planets could be seen as such, so fairies could be seen as mythical. I love this planet; I will not tolerate it turning into a lifeless husk!”
So, are you similar to phoenixes?
“I don’t know. I only know that I look similar to a phoenix in flight.”
One of few, eh? Where nobody understands your problems or help because they are unique to just you.
“Sadly yes, but I’m blessed with immortality so this isn’t an issue for me. I have my country to look after, loneliness isn’t an issue for me.”
The burden of immortality, eh?
The empress seemed to be happy to be herself and talk about immortality. I wondered if the citizens knew.
“Do you see it as a burden?”
For most if not all races originating from this dimension, immortality is more of a tool. It’s to make sure the races with important functions don’t die like flies and leave the world to collapse in itself, something that’s slowly happening now.
“Ugh, I hate my kin!” The pleasant whisper sounds turned into angry whisper sounds and became quite disturbing.
It’s not just your kin there are countless other factors. I’m sure I only see a small piece of the puzzle; every other immortal race sees a different piece of the puzzle.
“I see, I never considered what immortality meant here. Is there any way I can assist?”
I think you’re doing just fine being an empress of probably the best country on Kaledon. It is making use of immortality in its own way since this country would probably fall if you disappeared.
“I see, the rumors are true, you are a strange race.”
What have you heard about us?
“Experiences might differ depending on the approach. Getting a serious answer out of a deceptive race seems to be quite a gem on this planet.”
Well, you’re quite unique so I don’t want to waste this rare opportunity. I could always harass you at every meeting after, as long as you don’t eat me.
“I am not interested in eating you. I will arrange for your citizenship, if there’s anything you need don’t hesitate, you are my first immortal friend.”
Are you sure you’re not lonely? You might be surrounded by people but that doesn’t mean you aren’t lonely. The fact that you call me a friend from that brief exchange suggests you might be. It’s quite easy to get lonely as an immortal if you don’t surround yourself with those who share the same lifespan.
“Hmm, I need to think about those words. You have given me a lot to think about. Thank you for coming here. I might be the empress but before that, I’m a simple phoenix fairy, thank you for treating me like any other being and not as a leader of a country, a monster, or a hungry predator.”
Don’t worry about it, I get told that I’m often too casual, but I’m happy that I don’t get into trouble for this. I will enjoy your beautiful city.
The angry whispers turned back into sweet whisper sounds and started to become loud so I got out of the throne room and was met by the two men in blue. I took a deep breath. That encounter was dangerous in a different way of what I had expected.
The men in the blue made a polite bow. “Thank you for meeting the empress, it seems she is very pleased.”
How can you tell?
“The sound her presence made became even more pleasant.”
Ah, I see.
It seems the people in the palace know. Maybe not about what a fairy really is. So far I had no reason to believe that Anavel is a problem. I didn’t know for how long she had been ruling the Aquini Kingdom but it had been a great country since almost forever. I got a short tour as a large part of the palace had been damaged so there wasn’t much to admire.
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I walked around in Alledra. The city was still as beautiful as ever. Most parts were still in repair. How much does it tell about the city if it's still beautiful even when it’s heavily damaged? I had heard that it had endured direct attacks from the Igrini Kingdom. Most of the city had been repaired but some buildings around the palace and the palace itself were still damaged. Fixing the palace as last. What a good ruler.
The citizens seemed happy but malnourished. Was this the issue she had to address? Don’t they have a lot of fish in the palace? Is that true though? Most of the palace didn’t have fish, the throne room seemed to have most of the fish, the rest of the walls and floors were empty. Did they actually use all the fish from the palace as food? Anavel seems a bit obsessed with pretty things so this must have been a difficult decision for her. My food is mine, I’m not sharing it but I might help these guys out to get some more food.
We need fish that’s for sure. What else do humans eat besides fish?
I approached a stranger.
Hey, excuse me I want to help get more food can you tell me what you guys eat? I’m a new resident here.
“Oh welcome to our destroyed, yet beautiful city! We mainly eat fish!”
Perfect! Anything else?
“Fruits, nuts, boar and pheasant meat from the jungle and forests.”
Pheasants and boars, eh? Takes me back. Alright, I will go catch some fish and meat!
“Wait! Let me get some others to help you out!” People started to gather after they heard that someone was about to procure food.
“Ooh it's the Silver Torrent!”
Oh right. I'm quite well-known, anyways guys! You look like you can’t remember your last meal! Now I’m getting some pheasants, boars, and fish! I don’t care if your diet is different! Also, don't catch Pheasantboars! They are strong and probably taste like shit!
The 8 men that would help me cheered and we got together and made a plan.
Now I said all that but we should split up, are any of you good enough with water magic to spend long periods of time underwater?
They all shook their heads.
Alright here is the plan I will take care of all the fish, you guys get 2 on the pheasants since they are stupid and easy, and the other 6 go for the boars.
“I know you’re the Silver Torrent but is just you on the fish going to be enough? And how are you going to carry it all?” I showed them my dimensional box.
“Ohh! How reliable!”
Don’t worry about me, as you might know, I’m proficient in water magic.
“So, the limiting factor is how much we can carry? I think my cousin had a dimensional box; I will ask him if he can join!”
Guys don’t forget! Nature is ruthless! Watch out for those flying abominations and don’t underestimate those boars!
We let out battle cries and split up. One guy went to ask their cousin. I shifted my gaze to the lake. I would fish here first and later hop into the Aquini river and fish in it until I hit the ocean and fish there for more. Normally I would see this as work but it’s a holiday compared to the other things I had done lately