Never before had Shill seen so much gold. The Skypierce was filled with it, from the massive golden statues to the lowliest maid’s heel. He and Cecilia stuck out like sore thumbs in their gear, even outside the throne room. It wasn’t a testament to wealth, he’d learned, but because it reflected the sun’s rays best out of all metals. The palace was open to the sky above, and the golden panels and surfaces seemed to gather the light in its spacious halls to counteract the cold air of the mountain. Shill felt this pleasant warmth brush against his face, a testament to the gold shaper’s mastery.
Today was a good day. The imperial advisor himself had requested their presence in Skypierce, and the news of it was circulating the media not five minutes earlier. They were the first players to ever be allowed entrance. Even Asire had made no mention of it. It’d be a huge boost in their popularity, and that in turn would draw more sponsorship deals.
“What do you think they want from us?” Cecilia whispered next to him.
“Hmm?” Shill snapped back to reality. “Perhaps to discuss the progress on the Andur Vita exploration. It is a rather monumental milestone.”
“I guess we should thank Vince for that,” Cecilia said. “Speaking of which, Toshimir is being annoying again.”
“A dog that bites the hand that feeds him, that’s what he is.” Shill leaned with his armour against the golden walls and crossed his arms over his chest. For some reason, they’d been requested to attend in full military gear. Cecilia wore her red runic robe and carried the fanciest of staves they could find in the guild vault. “Just use the same tactic that made him calm down after Vince di– left. If you threaten to take another cut from his expedition earnings, he’ll remember his place. He might be stupid, but he’s got a wife and a daughter to support.”
“Brutish,” Cecilia raised a brow. “But definitely effective. I simply worry that we’ll incite some resistance from the other guild members.”
“And what are they gonna do?” Shill scoffed. “There’s a hundred others ready to pounce on an opportunity. For better or worse, this business attracts a lot of people. We just need to find the talented ones and manage them properly.”
“If we have a mass exodus, that will be a lot of recruiting.”
“Then do it,” Shill snapped at her. “That’s your job, isn’t it? Either keep them in check or find–”
The massive doors in front of them ground open, flooding the hall with even more light, somehow. A guard clad in full golden plate stepped out with practised steps and unfurled the scroll between his gauntlets. The gold light reflected on his features. “Shill and Cecilia of the Glimmer guild.” His eyes snapped up at them, before returning to the scroll. “The highest peak is yours for ten minutes.” He stepped to the side and allowed them entrance.
Shill took some careful steps inside, with Cecilia sticking close behind. There was so much light that he had to squint to see. The throne room was impossibly vast, yet it felt empty, without even the magnificent seat that would make it worthy of the name. Simple golden plates arranged to form half a sphere beneath their feet, and above, only the blistering midday sun. Shill walked to the very centre of the room, where a ring of rubies were inlaid in the metal. There, as they’d been instructed from the day before, they knelt. Shill waited, his heart beating in nervous anticipation and excitement. He tried to ignore the dozens of system messages and titles flashing on the edges of his vision and simply waited.
Soon, he heard soft footsteps approach them. Shill dared a quick glance upward and saw a pair of naked feet and legs having come to rest inches from them. The sunlight quickly forced his head back down. It was hard to look up. Most likely by design.
“Do you know where you kneel?”
“Skypierce,” Shill replied solemnly. “The closest to the one true God humanity has ever been. The eternal ba–”
“No,” the Queen interrupted. “You kneel in front of me. Do you know who I am?”
“Queen Amariana Tine, suntouched, blessed by the eternal light and ruler of all that can be seen under the day's sky.”
“Good.” The Queen rounded them once, her graceful walk barely reaching his ears. “Tell me then, Shill.” She spoke the name with some disdain. “Have I ever slighted you?”
Shill could feel himself growing flushed. The taxes this damn kingdom imposes are anything but. “Not once, your majesty.”
“Mmm.” Amariana let out a satisfied hum from above. “Is it true that during the last two months, your guild’s force has completely cleared the forests surrounding the town of Ertira from monsters?”
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“Yes, your majesty.” Shill tried to hold in his excitement. Just what gift could they get from the Queen herself? What harboured such a display? It had to be grand.
“I see,” Amariana replied with a neutral tone. “Are you a hunting guild?”
“I– No, your majesty.” Shill furrowed his brows and gazed at his pauldrons a little harder. What was going on?
“And yet, you have used your forces to slay creatures and sell their materials for profit. Ertira has many able-bodied hunters who will ask for your aid, should they decide they need it.”
Shill cursed inwardly and lowered his head a little more. He suddenly felt dizzy. They were being reprimanded. By the Queen herself. This was bad. As he thought of an excuse, the plates around him and Cecilia started shifting, moving to reach the edges of the throne room and assemble upward into a sphere. And as they did, the warmth grew more intense. What was happening?
“Is it true that you use weapons and armour supplied to you by the kingdom’s armory for the sole reason of destroying our enemies?” The Queen continued.
“Yes,” Shill responded, clasping his eyes shut entirely. Beneath his plate, the heat grew almost tortuous.
“And is it true that emblazoned on your armor is not my divine crest, but that of others?”
Shit, the sponsors. Shill found it hard to breathe in that heat, much less attempt to speak. He could see notifications flashing red and his health draining quickly. “Yes,” he forced through clenched teeth.
“Now, you see, I am lenient and benevolent in the judgement of my worshippers.” Amariana’s voice held the same unfazed tone, even as Shill burned. “You have a chance to make this right, and regain my trust.”
The light converged on them even more, piercing through his eyelids. He focused on the notifications flashing black in his vision.
Compulsory Quest : Amariana’s Punishment Description: Lead your guild into battle, and collectively massacre the Darkblessed armies. Difficulty : A+
Quest Clear Conditions :
Kill 7000 Darkblessed players. (0/7000)
Quest time limit :
2 Weeks.
Rewards :
None.
Failure repercussions:
Depend on Quest progress.
Amariana’s Ambition Description: Lay siege to the city of Moonholme and after a short period of management, surrender it to imperial control. Difficulty : S
Quest Clear Conditions :
Capture Moonholme and hold it for three days.
Quest time limit :
2 Weeks
Rewards :
Affinity with Amariana Tine will increase
Failure repercussions:
Depend on Quest progress
[ The Gods of light are watching you closely. Until the quests have been completed or failed, you will reap increased rewards, but also suffer additional penalties. Warning: This may lead to permanent debilitating changes to your character. ]
This… This would ruin them all. His career, his future. The very thing that had doomed Vin had come back to haunt him. Before he had time to protest, he heard Cecilia screaming next to him, then going silent. He knew she had died without even turning to look.
“The true wonders of this room are lost on those blessed by the stars.” Amariana spoke with a tinge of sadness for the first time. “You feel numbed pain and fear no death. It makes you hard to control, irrational, and worst of all, boring.”
Shill felt the heat surrounding him fade as the golden plates silently slid back into place. He opened his eyes again to see Amariana walking away, her slick tanned skin naked for the sun to see. With awkward movements, he stood and made to walk out. The metal of his armour burned wherever it touched his skin.
Today had not been a good day.