"Master! We have returned!" A cheerful voice called out to him. The Queen and Eli were surprised by the loud voice, flinching as they were still dealing with the shocking experience of watching the army that rampaged through their country was completely obliterated.
The doors to the throne room were pushed open with extreme force, nearly unhinging them and surprising the guards. They didn't expect to see four dazzling women walked into the chamber as if they owned it. A part of them raised up their weapons, while the more experienced guards quickly had them lower their weapons. Witnessing the battle and hearing Han explain that his subordinates were handling the issue, the guards were initially confused but quickly put things together. Knowing who they were, the more veteran guards knew that they stood no chance and chastised the less experienced members of their unit.
Anacolis and Aracia glanced at the guards and didn't wait for them to move out of the way as they went to where Han was standing. "Master, though we were unable to strike the final blow against the leader of the invading army, we were able to accomplish the overarching mission." Anacolis bowed to him.
From the way she glanced over at Brittany and her tone, Han assumed that Anacolis was not happy with her. Han tried to play peacemaker, not wanting to ruin a happy moment. "I am very proud of each of you. Though it is unfortunate that the leader was not eliminated, I feel confident that those demons will think twice before attempting such an attack again." He laid a hand on Anacolis's bare shoulder, gently rubbing her body with his thumb. "There is no need to feel like this is anything less than an incredible act."
Anacolis kept her head down, saying, "Master, you are too kind with your words. We are merely an extension of your body, willing to move at your whim and desires."
"Queen, I am very impressed with the number of dead you were able to summon!" Han complimented Queen. "How do you feel after using so much of your ability?" He asked, concerned that effort may have been too high for her.
Queen bowed and stated, "I was merely fulfilling your wish, though I regret not being able to honor you with the body of the leader."
Han sighed, seeing how unhappy they all looked. The usual cheerful Brittany was not her usual self, though she tried to hide it. "All of you look so depressed. Did I not say that you guys did a fantastic job? How could I judge your actions for what happened at the very end, especially when everything else was going splendidly?" Tilting up Anacolis's head, he bent down and kissed her forehead. He tried to convey all of his love to her, to wash away her sadness.
Han went to each of them and laid a tender kiss on their forehead, hoping that it would cheer them up and make them forget their small failure. He ended with Queen, though for her, Han gave her a deep kiss on the mouth as an award for doing such a great job at leading the others and putting in such effort, summoning her minions.
Slowly pulling away from her, Queen had a dazed expression considering she didn't expect to receive such attention. Her eyes were lost in their own world, and slowly her cheeks changed from the white porcelain color to a pink and then a red color. It was like watching a sunrise, with Queen raising a hand to her mouth and slightly grazing her lips with her fingers as if to embed it deep into her memory.
"No fair! I also want Master to give me a kiss!" Brittany broke the calm moment and waking Queen from her dream. Queen quickly glared at Brittany, but it was so sudden that Han would have likely missed it if he wasn't so close to her.
Though they got along well with one another, Han was starting to see how they tried to compete with one another. Seeing their attempt to get more of his attention and affection made him smile. It made it feel like he was part of a loving family, which was what he always wanted.
Brittany clung onto him and said, "Master! Brittany did a lot of hard work, too!"
Han laughed at how Brittany was acting so spoiled, happy to see that she was returning to her usual self. "I saw. My Brittany has become so powerful." Han said to her, kissing her on the lips. Unlike with Queen, Brittany inserted her tongue into his mouth. He felt the warmth from her body and the way her breasts pressed against his side. The way she was single mindedly kissing him like there was nothing more important in the world started to arouse him. If they were not in public, Han would have forced her onto the floor and taken her right there, feeling her breasts in his hand and the sound of her moaning in pleasure. He thought about how it would feel to insert himself into her, as she enveloped his penis with her wet pussy.
It was hard for him to pull away, a trail of saliva linking their mouths. The way her eyes seemed to dismiss everything but him, as they gazed at him, gave him a feeling of happiness. Without another word, she wrapped her arms around his left arm, burying it into her bosom. Resting her head on his shoulder, she acted as if her being attached to him was completely normal. With his right hand, he caressed her upper arm while also feeling like she belonged there.
His other creations seemed to ignore the way she was acting so possessive; likely thinking Brittany was just saving their own spots. Looking towards the Queen and Eli, the two of them tried to focus on anywhere but where he and his creation were, their faces red in embarrassment.
"S-still not shy with showing off?" Eli stuttered, failing to act like such public display of affection was natural. Even though Eli had been around when he behaved in such a manner, it seemed like she was still not used to it.
"They worked so hard for me, so I thought it was only natural." He laughed off her criticism. "I hope you were not offended, your Highness." Han looked towards the Queen.
Being placed in the spotlight, she raised both of her hands and waved them, saying, "They have done so much for my kingdom. It is only natural that they are rewarded for their efforts."
He bowed his head. "Thank you, for being so understanding."
There was a knock on the door to the throne room, and when Han turned to see who it was, he saw that it was an official.
The official approached the Queen and bowed. "Your Highness, we have completed the preliminary estimates of damages related to the enemy forces."
Seeing his grim expression, the Queen asked, "How serious are the losses?"
Raising a clipboard in this hand, he looked at the figures jotted down on it. "We have lost at least five major cities, ten towns, and over twenty villages. It seems that the enemy was trying to inflict as much damage as possible."
"H-how many of my people..." The Queen tried to ask but failed as she thought about the number of dead.
"Due to how suddenly they appeared, we can assume that there were few survivors." His voice became thick, and his eyes were moist, as he tried to hold back the tears.
Eli reached out for her mother's hand, which the Queen appreciatingly grabbed for comfort.
Though Han had the ability to bring them back, He also knew that bringing back people would have a cost though not to him. Life and death were something that had to be cherished, not ignored for personal pleasure. The image of his parents laid out next to one another in their coffin came to mind, as he watched relatives and friends approach to say their last goodbye. Even though he's able to bring his parents back to life, he didn't know if it would be a good thing. Society would likely view him as being cold and callous, but to him, it was better that they rest in peace.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Trying to hold back the emotions she was feeling; the Queen was unable to hold back all her tears. They rolled off her face, each one a reminder that she had a responsibility to her people.
-----
Several hours had passed since they had heard about the estimated number of people lost. Han sat on a small couch, with Brittany still clinging to his side as if she was charging up her internal batteries. Lifting a tea cup to his lips, Han tasted the soothing herbal mixture with a slight sweetness in it. He glanced over to the Queen and saw her also drinking her tea.
Compared to earlier, the Queen had regained her composure. Eli was still near her, holding her hand and trying to comfort her mother. By the way, they reacted to the news, Han knew that they were caring rulers who thought about their people first.
"With our forces practically gone, we are now exposed to the Empire." The Queen said out loud to no one in particular.
Eli gritted her teeth, hearing her mother's words. "How can they be such monsters, willing to invade a nation who is still recovering from such invaders?!"
"Have your two countries been in conflict with one another?" Han inquired, not knowing about the geopolitical situation in this world.
Eli's mother nodded her head at Han's question. "Even before the Empire's aggressive acts towards their neighbors, the Empire has always had their eyes set on our Kingdom. They are of the opinion that nonhumans are perfect to use as slaves. Also, they covet our natural resources. I do not know why they need such resources since they have plenty of their own, but after several major battles and us pushing them back, they have been content with watching us." She explained to him.
"I have been noticing an increase in anti non-human mentality inside of the Academy, do you think this is due to the Empire?" Han asked.
"That is very likely. Even though the Academy is within the Helios Kingdom, the Empire has done well with using their influence to change the mind of many who attend the Academy. The largest church is one that is headquartered in the Empire, and they preach that nonhumans should be enslaved instead of being allowed to walk freely. They believe that humans are the superior species, and it is their right to subjugate all others." The Queen's expression was a mixture of anger and weariness, thinking about how many of her people would likely be enslaved by the Empire's forces and she couldn't stop them.
Even after seeing what he was capable of, Han noticed that they didn't try and ask for his help. Considering what he has seen of them, this was likely due to not wanting him to get involved, instead of due to pride. Taking a sip of his tea, Han looked towards the Queen and Eli and offered a small gift. "With all that you have been through, I would like to offer my assistance in rebuilding your kingdom and defending your borders. If you would allow me, that is."
The two of them turned towards him, bewildered by what he was offering. "Han, I appreciate that you would be willing to assist my people, I am unsure how a single city would be able to do all the work necessary. I do not mean to belittle your kind offer, but..." She trailed off, unsure how to gracefully accept and decline his offer.
"I agree, with my daughter. To hear that you are willing to help us is greatly appreciated, but I am unsure what you will be able to do?" The Queen did a better job at politely voicing her thoughts and concerns to Han. This was likely due to her years of diplomatic experience as a ruler.
"It seems as though you are underestimating our Master's abilities." Anacolis hissed, annoyed at how they responded to his kind offer.
"Now. Now, Anacolis. There is no need to be rude. It is understandable that they would have doubts." He chastised her. Looking to the Queen and Eli, Han suggested, "How about I bring some people over, and if you are unsatisfied then I will be on my way?"
They looked at him, trying to understand whether he was serious especially with how casual he was being in regards to helping them out. Eli's mother just dumbly nodded her head.
"I am glad that you have accepted my offer." Han smiled at the two of them, excited about seeing their expression when he shows them what he's capable of.
-----
"Your Highness!!!" A voice could be heard off in the distance, sounding shocked by something.
Elisognia was staring at the mountains of paperwork in front of her. The army that invaded, she was later informed that they were demons by Yi, had done so much damage, so each of the representatives of the cities, towns, and villages had submitted reports and request for aid.
Reaching to massage her temples, she tried to keep a throbbing headache to a bearable level. Though many people would think that being a Queen would be fun and games, going to parties and talking to wealthy people, Elis's parents got rid of such notions at an early age. Her father and mother wanted her to know that being a ruler was extremely challenging and stressful when done right.
The door to her private study crashed open, revealing the individual who was calling out for her. Dressed in a very professional looking outfit, the woman who came barging open was one of Elis's closest advisors on day to day events.
Elis gently laid down the ink pen she was using and looked up at Crystal. Seeing the look on Crystal's face, Elis could feel the throbbing in her head increase. Putting on a calm and patient face, she asked, "Crystal, do you not think it is prudent to knock before you crash into my personal study?"
"I am very sorry, your Highness!" Crystal blushed at her unbecoming behavior. "There is something that you need to see! I knew that you would want to know about it as soon as possible!" she tried to maintain a certain level of dignity, but her frazzled look was making that difficult.
Sighing, Elis got up and walked around her desk. "I needed a break from all that paperwork, anyway, so let us go see what has gotten you all flustered."
Walking out of the study, she looked towards the guards and said, "I will be accompanying Crystal." Nodding at their salute, she followed Crystal who was walking very rapidly towards her destination. Not seeing a need to go at the same pace, Elis casually walked with her guards following her.
As they walked through the palace, she saw her daughter turn around the corner. "Eli, what are you doing here?" Elis asked her daughter.
"There is some kind of commotion happening outside of the city, so I wanted to go and investigate the matter," Eli explained to her.
"Interesting. I was wondering why Crystal was acting like a madwoman, suddenly entering my study without permission." Elis responded to her daughter's information.
Eli looked shocked by the news of Crystals behavior. "That is very unusual of Crystal, to ignore formalities and protocols."
"Well, at least it gave me an excuse to leave that mountain of papers for a moment. Daughter, I hope you are prepared for the amount of work that being a ruler brings." Elis sighed, feeling exhausted by all the work still left to do.
------
Riding in one of the royal carriages, Elis looked at the people chatting excitedly. The way they were going about waving their arms and looking so happy, she would have thought that a festival was getting near. Trying to remember when the next one was, Elis confirmed that it was still quite some time for people to begin discussing it.
Even though they had gone through such a horrible ordeal, the people still looked cheerful and full of life. Elis occasionally waved at her people as she passed by, happy that everyone had recovered themselves and weren't dwelling on the losses.
In front of the carriage, the entrance into the city could be seen. Like most cities inside of the Elven Kingdom, there was a feeling of artistic beauty. On either side of the gateway, there were beautiful elven women statues, as if welcoming people into the capital city. The capital city of the Elven Kingdom was considered one of the most dazzling of all the cities on this continent, though many were unable to see it considering how mainly elves were allowed into the Elven Kingdom.
Isolationist policies were created in reaction to the Empire, who smuggled in agents and operatives to spy on them. To protect their people, her father had closed the kingdom of all who were not elves. The cities near the border were where merchants were able to trade their wares, which made several of the trade cities to be quite larger than the average elven city.
Elis praised whatever power had allowed only a couple of the major trading cities to be destroyed, helping them to generate more revenues from the sale of goods which could only be found within the kingdom. The fate of her kingdom would have been more severe if several more of the trade cities were destroyed, cutting them off from rest of the world unless they opened their borders. This was something she would only consider as a desperate measure, not wanting to give the Empire more of an excuse to invade them.
While she was in thought, her eyes were drawn to a large doorway several hundred feet away from the entrance. It looked a little ridiculous, a door just sitting out in an open field. The more she looked at it, the bigger her eyes became. On the other side of the doorway, there were buildings, more advanced in appearance compared to those inside the capital city. Out of the doorway were hundreds of people, with several times the number of large moving stone statues.
"What are those things?" Eli asked no one in particular, as she stared at the moving statues.
"Crystal, when did this thing appear here?" Elis asked her advisor, who still hadn't regained her composure.
"Your Highness, this doorway appeared an hour ago, and soon after people were pouring out of the door. If it were not for our severe lack of military personnel, we would have tried to fight them off. It was not until we saw one of the women who came with that boy did we realize that they were friendly and not enemies." Crystal explained.
As the carriage approached the gateway, two women approached her. One of them was the silvered haired woman, and the other was someone that she hadn't seen before. Though this new woman was not as lovely as the silver haired woman, she was still someone that would attract a lot of attention.
"Your Highness," The silvered haired woman, greeted her, though she didn't curtsey or bow. "As my Master has promised, we have created a doorway to help make the movement of supplies and personnel easier. If you like, we can plan with your city designers so that any repairs are close to what the originals were in appearance. We will be creating additional gateways at each of the locations, with this being the central one that leads to Felicitas. If there is a different location you would like the door to be located, just let us know, and we will move it." The way she talked to Elis, it gave Elis the sense that this woman saw her as an equal, if not a higher status level.
"How are you able to do this??" Elis was at a loss for words, trying to understand what was happening. "What are those statues?" She pointed at them.
"Those are golems, and they were created by Yi to be used with completing various tasks," The woman explained, sounding more cheerful than the silver haired woman.
"Selestra, when did you get here?" Eli asked, interrupting them.
"Do you know this woman?" Elis asked her daughter.
Eli nodded her head. "She was a classmate of mine at the Academy and also one of the people that came along as an adventurer when I went to look into the ruins to find clues."
"It is good to see you too, Eli," Selestra answered politely, though by her tone and body language the two were not very close and seemed more like acquaintances.
"Are you still an adventurer or are you back to living inside of the Academy?" Eli looked curious to learn what this woman was up to.
"I have decided to leave that part of my life behind and stay near Yi's side." Selestra smiled, the look in her eyes explaining what she was thinking.
"You are doing well in serving our Master," the silvered haired woman stated.
Selestra blushed and gave a smile. "Thank you, Queen. That means a lot hearing you say that."
"You are now one of us, so it is only natural to say such a thing." Queen dismissed what Selestra had said.
Elis wasn't sure what was happening but based on how the two were acting something monumental was taking place. The woman named Queen turned back towards Elis and stated, "to help strengthen your borders, Master has deemed it necessary to place weaponry which will be manned by golems. This will allow you to secure yourself from the Empire and not worry about training issues that may arise by having your own personnel utilize the weapons." Her expression was like a parent who didn't trust a child with a dangerous weapon. "Master has also decided to gift you with a shield to replace the ones you have developed. These are far superior to what you have created, so there are no concerns about handling the Overflow. They will protect you from not only the monsters but any other unforeseen scenarios."
The girl named Selestra also added in, "Yi has allowed for travel between the capital city and Felicitas. Any of your people will be free to visit and enjoy the comforts we have to offer."
Based on how this offer was presented, Elis got the feeling that great changes would be seen inside of her kingdom with just this offer. Her spies that were sent into the city came back with reports detailing unbelievable things, which Elis still had difficulty in believing. The main point she was doubting was how the city had no concept of a traditional monetary system. Those living in the city could enjoy all and any of the services and products created in the city, without worrying about whether they had sufficient funds.
Deep down inside of her, she was grateful for being able to prevent the Empire from invading her kingdom. Though deeper than that there was a feeling of dread, as she wondered how much power this boy named Yi actually wielded and what would it look like for anyone he deemed to see as an enemy.