“When I had in mind to “give a warning” I thought of something more subtle, more personal. It never crossed my mind that thousands of people would die and a city would be destroyed.” Crixus speaks with only one of his mouths, and in a low and controlled manner. A recent habit he acquired when he is extremely nervous.
“Husband, it wasn’t the whole city, it was just one…” Agar, the 9th wife, begins to speak. Kneeling beside her on the floor of the castle’s central hall, inside the star fortress, are her twin sisters, Agatan and Agata. The three are naked, showing off their perfect and sensual bodies, but today, that’s not working.
In front of them, Crixus, the other wives, Akaos and the guards look at the three with stern looks.
Bhenkumbyrznaax doesn’t hide his joy at the misfortune of the three succubi.
Ingath the Thunderer looks at the three of them as if she were looking at the sole of a shoe that had stepped in shit. Her mind is filled with various types of punishment.
Hethress, still recovering from the recent copy, is sitting and hugging one of Crixus' three squid tentacles. Still feeling a little lost with all the events.
Meikosil is sitting on one of the thrones available for the wives in the great hall, reading an ancient grimoire, from the giants, which was part of the treasures found by Crixus in the Tomb of the Kings and in the Golden Soldier's Vault.
"SHUT UP!" Crixus' three mouths thunder through the hall! "I expected more from you, I thought you were more intelligent. But I see that you are true Greek gifts. Now I learn that I am known as the Demon King, I think that does not help me much, in fact it only makes things worse. That my servants in the capital's house have been arrested, and are probably being tortured." Crixus takes a deep breath and counts to 10. Not a sound is heard in the hall, until time seems to have stopped, such is the aura of hatred that exudes from Crixus' body.
"You have solved the problem you caused. You will resurrect every innocent person you killed, by accident or not. You will compensate all the innocent people whose lives were affected by this event. You have offered asylum to those who cannot return to their previous lives or the means for these people to start over. Until then... I... DON'T... WANT... TO... SEE... YOUR... FACE!"
The council room emanated an icy silence after Crixus' order, broken only by the sound of Agatan, Agata and Agar's heavy breathing. Crixus' three wives were on your knees, hunched under the weight of their husband's stern gaze. Their faces, once radiant, were now pale and stained with tears.
"Father," Akaos's voice echoed through the room, "please have mercy on them. They were only trying to help. They killed rats, scum, fragile and pathetic creatures."
Crixus, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "Akaos, do you understand what they did? It seems that it was not clear, those who did and do evil must be punished, the innocent must be protected. That is why I freed the slaves. Perhaps you should join them. Akaos, you need to help them learn to behave and understand why they are being punished and why they have disappointed me."
Akaos clenched his fists, fighting to contain his anger, for having, along with the stupid succubi, disappointed his Father. He did not understand his Father's compassion for these disgusting and useless creatures, but feeling his Father's disappointment was something he would never feel again, this pain was unbearable. He bowed, head bowed, and said, "I understand, Father. I accept your decision."
"You three," the Crixus voice rang out like thunder, "have disappointed me. Your conduct was irresponsible and dangerous, putting at risk not only yourselves, but also the safety of thousands of innocent people."
Agatan, the eldest of the three, her voice trembling. "Husband, we only wanted to help you. But there were so many "rats", it was so much fun to watch them run around, trying to hide in vain. We got carried away."
"The danger to innocent lives was not our responsibility. It was just their bad luck, it was not our fault," Agar said in a hoarse and not at all remorseful voice.
Agata tried to argue: "But we are your wives! We cannot simply ignore your suffering, the suffering and the offenses caused to our beloved husband, vermin have to suffer. And mortals die all the time, it is part of their nature."
"My 'suffering' is no excuse for what you did," Crixus snapped, his patience wearing thin. "You three cleaned up the mess you made until you learned the meaning of my disappointment."
Agar, the youngest, sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "Please, Husband, don't separate us from you, don't drive us away! We love you, we need you, you are our life, our God, our everything." Her sobs grew louder.
Crixus remained impassive. "You will have time to think about your actions. And when you return, I hope you will have learned your lesson. Or you are no longer my wives."
Agatan, Agata, and Agar looked at each other, their eyes filled with despair. The punishment was harsh, but they knew there was nothing they could do. Their hearts were heavy with sadness and guilt, not for what they had done, not for the innocent lives that had been affected, but for not pleasing their husband.
"GO!" Crixus thundered once more. And the four of them disappeared.
Crixus, his expression implacable. "I hope you all do the same. Learn from this mistake." Crixus left the room, his heart broken. They all felt, through the link, the suffering they had caused their creator. They all swore that they would do everything they could to never cause their creator, father, and husband such suffering again.
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The Company of the Wives of Charity, commonly called The Wives or Wives of Charity, is a society for women founded by wealthy matrons of the Lundine society. Its members take annual vows throughout their lives, which leaves them free to leave without the need for permission from their husbands. The Society was founded two years after the Demon King's attack on the capital of Lundine and declares that the Society is dedicated to serving the poor through material and spiritual works of mercy. They are popularly known in France as "the Sisters of Purple" after the color of their traditional religious habit. The 1996 publication The Vincentian Family Tree provides an overview of the related communities from a genealogical perspective.[1] Members use the initials DC after their names. The current Superior General of the Society is Countess Herveline Quiviger.
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The Company of the Wives of Charity, by 3 anonymous widows. The need for organization in their work with the poor suggested to the three widows that they form a confraternity among the women of their capital. It was so successful that it spread from the capital to the rural districts, where the noble ladies often found it difficult to give personal care to the needs of the poor and sent their servants to minister to the needy.
These 3 widows formed the nucleus of the Company of the Wives of Charity now spread throughout Zeisibar. Soon the 3 widows began a more systematic training of the women, particularly in the care of the sick. The wives lived in the community to develop their spiritual life better so as to carry out their mission of service more effectively. The Wives of Charity differed from other religious congregations of the time in that they were not cloistered and led a more normal life. They maintained the necessary mobility and availability and lived among those they served and their families. From the beginning, the motto of the community was: "Do not disappoint the Creator!"
The newly formed Wives of Charity set up soup kitchens, organized community hospitals, established schools and homes for orphaned children, provided vocational training, and taught young people to read and write. Several hospitals were established with the support of the Company of the Wives of Charity; in less than 10 years the Company of the Wives of Charity had 40 hospitals in the capital and surrounding provinces, as well as several orphanages and homes for widows.
In the decades that followed, the Company of the Wives of Charity expanded across four continents, with thousands of members of various races and both sexes.
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200 years in the future.
In the heart of a dormant volcano, where black smoke mingles with the scarlet sky, the Conclave of the Nine Crowns meets once a year. This group is made up of nine Demon Kings, each ruling one of the continents of Dhah'ar.
Crixus, the Father. The first and creator of all. He controls the Continent of Xokál and is known for his relentless fury.
Hostus, the King of Night. He controls the Continent of Zeisibar, rules over dreams, illusions and dark magic, and is known for his cunning intelligence and seductive nature.
Lar, the King of Destruction, cold and ruthless. He controls the Continent of Slavash, loves war, chaos and destruction, and is known for his brute strength and insatiable thirst for power.
Mettius, the King of Greed. He controls the Continent of Eadrus, is crazy about gold and precious stones, cruel, and has eyes that shine like diamonds. He controls wealth, ambition, and greed, and is known for his cunning and his ability to manipulate others.
Manius, the King of Pleasure. He controls the Continent of Eadrusas, sensual and a being of pure lust. He controls pleasure, lust, and seduction, and is known for his ability to corrupt and destroy the soul and take over and fulfill the greatest sexual desires.
Octanus, the King of Flies. He controls the Continent of Chian Xi, worships death and suffering. He controls disease, pestilence, and decay, and is known for his cruelty and his ability to spread fear.
Decius, the King of the Seas A colossal sea monster, who lives in the depths of the sea between Hiso and Varar'k. He controls the oceans, sea monsters, and the fury of nature, and is known for his brute strength and unpredictable nature.
Vopiscus, the King of Death. He controls the Continent of Hiso, a being of bones and shadows, with a hollow gaze and an aura of death. He controls death and souls, and is known for his ability to collect souls.
Gallus, the Fallen King. He controls the Continent of Varar'k, worships rebellion, intelligence, and ambition, and is known for his ability to corrupt those who relentlessly seek power.
In the Conclave of the Nine Crowns, the Demon Kings discuss their plans for the world, plot intrigues and conspiracies, and plan their next move against the Heroes. They are the force of chaos that threatens the peace of Dhah'ar.
The dense, sulfuric air of the volcano trembles with the arrival of the Nine Demon Kings. The flames dance in a frenzied ritual, while guttural voices echo through the caverns.
Crixus, the Father, stands, his colossal figure dominating the room. "Children, the time of the game draws near! Let the new season open, and Dhah'ar be our board."
"Father, the last season was disappointing. The heroes are growing stronger," Hostus, the Night King, murmurs, his eyes shining with a wicked intelligence.
"Disappointing? No, son. It was a distraction. They feed on our energy, our fury. But the game always changes," Crixus replies, his voice booming like thunder.
"What kind of game, Father? What kind of challenge can we offer to truly break them, to divert their attention?" asks Lar, the King of Destruction, his voice harsh as clashing stones.
"Bigger stakes, children! Stakes that will make the heroes writhe in their own fears!" exclaims Mettius, the King of Greed, his voice hissing like coins clanging together.
"And what kind of stakes, my brother?" asks Manius, the King of Pleasure, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"Stakes that involve something fundamental, something they love!" replies Crixus, his voice deep and menacing. "The strongest heroes will be challenged and drawn to our fortresses and dungeons, their will, their powers put to the test.
He who refuses will lose everything. And he who succumbs will be ours forever. As it has been all these years."
"And the score, Father? How will we measure victory?" asks Octanus, the King of the Flies, his gaze fixed on Crixus, full of expectation.
"The score will be simple. Each hero captured will be a point for us. And each hero managed to corrupt will be double the points. If any of us die, the points will be reset. Whoever has the most points at the end of the season will be the winner. And the victor will have the right to all the captured heroes for his collection." "And what will happen to the losers, Father?" Decius, the Sea King, asks, his voice deep as the raging sea. "The losers gave their wives to the victor," Crixus replies, his voice unforgiving. "Father, what will we do with those who refuse to play?" Vopiscus, the King of Death, asks, his voice cold and empty. "Those who refuse to play will be treated as prey. They will be hunted, and forced to play one way or another. There will be no mercy for cowards," Crixus replies, his eyes blazing with fury. "Father, what will happen to the heroes who win?" Gallus, the Fallen King, asks, his voice thick with ambition. "The heroes who win will receive the treasures of the vanquished. Spoils of war," Crixus replies, his voice ringing with power. "So, the game begins! Let the heroes prepare for the annual battle!" Crixus declares, his voice echoing through the caverns.
The Nine Demon Kings rise, their eyes shining with the promise of fun. The Conclave of the Nine Crowns is ready for the new season of games. The fate of Dhah'ar hangs in the balance.
And their greatest enemy is not the heroes or the Gods.
It is boredom.
END