Alvin
I looked upon the massacre that was being executed below. Black masses shaped in the form of hideous tentacles that seemed to arise from the abyss itself were rampaging about. A jaw was ripped off the head of a blonde mid 20s woman, her teeth flying in the air. Blood dripping down from what was left of her face. A look of sheer incredulity visible from the remnants of her once attractive face. Her eyes popped out from their sockets like bullets from a gun, as her half face was crushed into pulp. Blood splattered everywhere, her corpse slid down to the road; dead before she dropped down. A middle aged man of African descent was ripped in two by two of the tentacles, barely letting out an hysterical shriek as his life was stole from him. His organs and innards spilled out. I could see his intestines and pancreas, his liver and stomach, his kidneys and bladder. I could see his lungs and the divided ribcage, the fist sized mass of flesh that was his heart. From his broken skull, cerebrospinal fluid leaked out as the contents from his brain lay on the bare road.
Another man was picked up by five tentacles; one for each of his limbs and his head. He was writihing and wriggling, struggling for all he was worth. The holds the tentacles had latched unto, were all pulled on simultaneously and ripped from their sockets Fountains of blood gushed out. The head was picked and used as a projectile leaving a gaping hole in the torso of another man. A red haired office lady in her late 20s or early 30s was picked up by two tentacles. Two gripped her hands and two gripped her feet. Her body was stretched to its limits. Her face was a horrible unsightly mess; covered in tears and snot. She was hyperventilating and wheezing, not even managing to scream. The tentacles then began turning and turning. Her body twisted as she screamed in raw anguish. Blood began to flow out of her body as her bones snapped, her organs were crushed and she began to take an appearance similar to a rag been squeezed dry, she was dropped on the pavement; unrecognisable as the human being she once was. I saw a couple hugging eachother and screaming as they were eaten alive by another of the tentacles; gnawed and mauled, their shreiks of terror and primal fear, merely adding to the cacophony of the city below. I couldn't smell it from here, but I had no delusions that permeated the city below. The smell of death, of blood and suffering.
The city of Moose Jaw in the County of Saskatchewan was a scene from hell. Cars were picked up and smashed into houses. Trees were uprooted, the earth was upturned. Electric poles came crashing down, several fires had started, and blood continued to flow. The citizens screamed in raw terror and primal fear. Some of the espers amongst them tried to fight back, but the tentacles were completely impervious to their attacks. The entire city was surrounded in a conical dome 10 km high made from the same black tentacles that now terrorised its inhabitants. Completely isolated from the outside world, the city of Moose Jaw had become a kill zone.
The people; His Majesty's subjects were dropping dead like flies. My heart clenched and hurt squeezing ever tight. It really hurt me. Hurt me to watch this slaughter, this madness. But alas, I could not interfere.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
HAHAHAHAH!!!!"
A maniacal laugh resounded as the perpetrator of this massacre reveled in their deed. He was caucasian in his early 20s. Clad in an oversized purple robe. He was bare footed, his nails and feet painted lilac. Half his face was covered in violet tatoos, in swirling patterns as if depicting a woman's hair. HIs shoulder length lavender hair was spread out in a star shape. Two Pentagrams were drawn on his hands pointing in in opposite directions. His face a twisted mask of maniacal glee.
"Blood for the blood god.
Skulls for the skull throne.
And your souls as an offering to our Goddess."
He was walking down the street, humming to himself with his hands frantically moving about as if conducting an orchestra. He twirled around spinning a few times, his tentacles forming a flower.
"Scream. Run. Cower in fear. Shiver in Terror. Let your pleas of help and salvation punctuate this wondrous night. Accentuate this offering with your torment. Flavour this night with your terror. Let your screams be a symphony. Echo far and wide until they reach the Lady of the Lake. An anthem to call upon our goddess. Scream and scream until she descends in all her incandescent glory, in all her raw majesty."
He inhaled as if taking in all the air in the world. His head lay flat on his shoulder, his face a feverish representation of ecstasy as he said.
"Tres Bien"
"Ooh Elizabeth!!! Mon Amour Elizabeth. When next will you grace me with your presence? When next will you shower me with your love? Take me once more to the heights of euphoria. Let me one again enjoy the apex of ecstasy.
Look at the offering I've prepared for you. 50,000 souls as a present for your birthday. Come to me Elizabeth. Come to me my love!!!"
Tears poured out from his eyes, as his heart rending screams split the sky.
The mad man's words in his heavy French accent managed to drown out the citizenry's screams. They were irritatingly audible as I listened to them from my vantage point; floating in the air 9 km above sea level, near the apex of the dome.
"Why. Just why must we permit this massacre to continue, this senseless slaughter of innocents? The citizens; your people are dying and we do nothing. I can't bear to watch this," exasperated, my aide screamed at me.
"Stop. We must not look away. It is our responsibility to watch their last moments. As the ones who have permitted this massacre it is the very least we can do."
"Then why? Why do nothing? Why stand by and watch this pointless killing of innocents? This senseless massacre? Even if he's a rank 6 esper, if it's you Lord Alvin you should be able to do something about it."
He was being overly emotional, but I had no intentions to fault him for it. He's a good man; his pain shows how deeply he cares for the populace. He was solid, and could continue this line of work yet a while. I was glad that Nietzsche's quote did not apply to him.
"Those who fight monsters, be careful not to become a monster yourself. For as you gaze into the abyss, the abyss surely gazes back at you."
As long as people like him were willing to fight for The Empire, then the day when His Majesty brings about true peace was not far off. I smiled. I too was pained that I had to watch His Majesty's people die. That's why, once the maniac had exhausted his use, I'll grant retribution upon him and his filthy organisation; the depraved MALEFICENCE.
"Sometimes to catch a big fish, you've got to let the smaller fish swim away."
"Huh?"
"Lancelot Amon; The Thousand Thread Tarantula, and the bane of His Majesty. 4 years ago this man was able to hold the entire world hostage. You could say that the Guild War was single handedly put into motion by him. If not for His Majesty's intervention, that man would have had the world at his mercy. He's a man who has earned His Majesty's recognition; he's received the second highest Threat level - 'Threat to Imperial Existence'. If we must put up with a mere 'Threat to Imperial Security' to catch Lancelot, then put up we shall. I am as disturbed as you by the "Beelzebub's Sin of Gluttony". However, if through him we can neutralise the threat known as Lancelot, then it is a measure we must take. Above all else we are His Majesty's right hand; his shield. We must put His Majesty's interests above our own. We can't jeopardise His Majesty's interests to satisfy our own petty conscience; our own vanity."
He slowly nodded as understanding reached his eyes.
I brought my left hand curled up in a fist to my heart. I stretched out my right hand, and brought up my forearm, my elbow at 90 degrees. I curled up my right hand into a fist, the back of my hand showing.
"Nihil Superbum"
I said reciting our maxim.
"Nihil Superbum"
My assistant replied returning the salute.
It seems the offering was enough to draw her attention; a rend was ripped in the fabric of space time, and she stepped out in her signature purple robe. I dismissed my attendant, and he teleported away.
"Revolting"
"Greetings Lady Elizabeth."
"Your devotion is as repugnant as always."
"A good day to you too Milady."
"Really. Say Eddie, won't you accept me as your goddess?"
"I already have my one true God. There's no space in my heart for another."
I still remember that faithful day 10 years ago, when I was knighted by His Majesty, when His Majesty first took up the banner; "Nihil Superbum", and when I stopped addressing His Majesty as "Your Highness", but as "Your Majesty".
His Majesty looked at me; a boy of 12 then, and His Majesty but a month older. His Majesty's visage was exuding his Royal presence. Was this what was meant by "Royal Grace"? Was this the fabled "Dei Gratia"? No this was something more majestic, something more sovereign. This wasn't Authority enjoyed as a proxy of another; nay this was the Authority of the divine itself. That immutable will that will never bow down to another. That unyielding conviction that vowed to claim the apex of this world. To consider His Majesty a proxy of another; some distant God was blasphemous, sacrilegious, the apex of Heresy. Nay His Majesty was divine in and of His Majesty's existence.
His Majesty's hair was a mop of crimson. Glowing rubies shone in place of His Majesty's eyes, and Red Lightning arced around His Majesty's body. Even the laws of Physics must bow before His Majesty.
I got down on both my knees. It is said that a knight went down on one knee as a sign of obeisance to their liege. And on two knees during prayer; as a sign of devotion to their God. I went on both my knees with my head lowered, my hands stretched out as in prayer. His Majesty understood my intention, and did not reach to take my hands.
"I Alvin Geralt, first son of the Geralt branch family of the Brittanias, born on August 31st 2000 in the village of Myrddyn in Annwn do pledge my allegiance to Your Majesty. I shall discard my past as a Geralt; father, mother, siblings, friends and lover and find value in my life solely as Your Majesty's follower. My heart, my head, my soul, my being, my entire existence is the belonging of Your Majesty. I grant on to Your Majesty my devotion.
This one vows to never betray Your Majesty's trust. Even if this entire world were to rise against Your Majesty, this one shall always remain at Your Majesty's side. Even if Heaven and Hell were to unite against Your Majesty, this one shall always support Your Majesty. Let this body and soul be used to further Your Majesty's cause. This one vows to the very last drop of this one's blood; even if it means that this soul were to be destroyed to be Your Majesty's loyal shield and Your Majesty's strongest sword.
Thus Your Majesty, please use this one as Your Majesty deems fit."
When nobles pledged fealty, they offered their hearts. When commoners pledged fealty, the offered their hearts and their heads. Peasants went as far as to offer even their souls. Yet that paled before my devotion; I was offering my everything, my entire being, entire existence. From this day forth, my love is His Majesty's and so also my scorn. My calm is His Majesty's, and so also my wrath. My pride is His Majesty's and so also my humility. My joy is his Majesty's and so also my sorrow. My guilt is His Majesty's and so also my innocence. I had cast aside my humanity and laid it all at His Majesty's feet. Offering my everything to His Majesty. That is why I referred to myself as "this one"; I was no longer a human; merely an extension of His Majesty. Thus, even if His Majesty rejected me. Even if His Majesty discarded me and sent me away from His Majesty's service, I would continue to devote my all to his cause. That was what it was meant by a "Knight's oath". That was true fealty.
Normally, a sword would be used to knight the vassal, or placed in their hands. Instead His Majesty placed in my hands a shield of Mithril.
"We Arthur George Brittania have observed thy pledge. Heed our words. We vow that we shall never return thy counsel with silence, never return their suggestions with scorn, never return their devotion with shame.
Thou shalt follow us as our loyal shield. In return for thy commitment We vow to bring thee to never before seen heights. We shall allow thee to enjoy the fullest of Authority. We shall make this world bow before the Lord which thou have recognised. With this shield We knight thee 'Edward', and grant thee the surname 'Brittania'.
Take up my mantle Alvin Edward Brittania. You shall become my right hand; my Superbum, my 'Aegis'."
I rose at His Majesty's words. His Majesty desired me not as a thing, but as a person. Who am I to find fault in His Majesty's wisdom?
His Majesty brought his left hand curled in a fist to his chest; where his heart was. "Nihil" was engraved in Crimson. His right arm he stretched out, raising his forearm up, his elbow at 90 degrees. His right hand also curled into a fist, the back facing me. "Superbum" was engraved in Vermilion. "Nihil Superbum" His Majesty said. "Nihil Superbum" I replied returning the salute. And thus, I became His Majesty's.
"Are you sure? Arthur's a hardcore siscon you know?"
I merely smiled in response.
"Even that aspect of His Majesty is flawless."
"No, no, no. This goes beyond being a siscon. Rather isn't Arthur's raison d'etre Roxanne?"
"That too is merely part of His Majesty's impeccability."
"Your devotion is not going to be rewarded you know. If it's either you; his loyal retainer who has served him earnestly for ten years, or the happiness of that sister of his, Arthur will sacrifice you in a heartbeat you know?"
"My faith is unshakable. That too is merely part of His Majesty's faultlessness. In the first place, I never required something like reciprocation from His Majesty. Do the martyrs of Faith all demand that their God reciprocate their devotion? Die for them as they would do for him?
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Even if His Majesty were to ask me to throw myself into a black hole, I would be beyond the event horizon in a nanosecond. That is true loyalty. That is true devotion"
"Truly, the moniker 'A Dog's Loyalty' suits you well." She spat as she mocked me.
"If I must be a dog to devote myself onto His Majesty, then so be it. I'll gladly take on the role of a dog."
"What about your nobility then? Someone as selfless as yourself may not see it a flaw that Arthur does not reciprocate your devotion, but what about the citizenry? Can you stand and watch by as 'His Majesty' sacrifices the world. If it was for the happiness of Roxanne, then what is this world to Arthur? Won't he go as far as to sacrifice the entire Universe?"
"Do not slander His Majesty. In that too His Majesty is infallible; though it pained His Majesty so, His Majesty sealed away His Majesty's dearest sister; the person His Majesty loved more than His Majesty's self; Her Highness Roxanne to protect the world."
"True. But you said it yourself didn't you? Arthur loves Roxanne more than himself. In the first place, was Arthur protecting the world from Roxanne, or protecting Roxanne from the world?"
"Does it matter? All that matters is that His Majesty did, and the world was saved."
"Yes it does. If Arthur was protecting the World from Roxanne, then the World's safety would have been the motivation by which Arthur sealed away his sister; a truly noble lord.
However, if it was the other way round; if Arthur was protecting Roxanne from the World, the Roxanne's own happiness would have been the motivation for sealing her away.
It's a world of difference you know? In the latter case, if Arthur thought it would make Roxanne happier, genuinely thought it would grant her joy, then he would release her. Release the Satan's Sin of Wrath; 'World Devouring Serpent' 'Whaitri' Roxanne Diana Brittania."
Her amethyst eyes had taken on a fanatical glee and her hands were spread wide as she tried to make me waver.
"Futile. My Faith is immutable. His Majesty did consider the World's safety back then. I was there and can testify it. I witnessed the moment of resolution in His Majesty's eyes then. Witnessed the unwavering conviction of His Majesty ten years ago. I was there in the flesh when His Majesty, no older than a boy of 12 resolved His Majesty's self to do what had to be done. Above all else, I witnessed it; witnessed the tears of blood that ran from His Majesty's eyes as His Majesty did the deed. Witnessed the heart rending screams that came from His Majesty's throat. And I was ultimately there; present for the unyielding resolution that came to His Majesty as His Majesty resolved himself to bear that sin. Shoulder upon His Majesty's back that burden. Your efforts to disparage His Majesty's honour are fruitless.
But even if. Even if I was to grant your hypothesis credence; allow that it was purely due to Her Highness Roxanne's happiness, with zero consideration for the World that His Majesty sealed away Her Highness Roxanne. Then I would only reply to you; what of it?"
I spread my hands in the sky as if to embrace the World as I began to teach this reprobate woman, this abomination to all that is virtuous, righteous and just truth.
"His Majesty is spotless, and His Majesty's wisdom is boundless. Who can understand His Majesty? Who can comprehend the depths of His Majesty's understanding? Who can know His Majesty's ways? His Majesty's sagacity is unfathomable, His Majesty's motivations are unquestionable. His Majesty's nature is unsearchable. Perfection, His Majesty is perfection. Faultless, Spotless, Blemishless. Impeccable, Immaculate, Flawless. Blameless, Irreproachable, Indefectible. Seamless in and of His Majesty's self. Transcendent. His Majesty is an Absolute existence. "
Elated, I twirled around as I floated above the clouds. I was gleeful; professing His Majesty's limitlessness always brought me the greatest of euphoria.
"In the first place, my morality is His Majesty's and so also is my immorality. My nobility is His Majesty's and so also is my ignobility. My integrity is His Majesty's, and so also is my corruption. My righteousness is His Majesty's and so also is my iniquity."
I embraced myself as I finished my twirl. Even under the high of professing His Majesty's immeasurableness, I wouldn't willingly embrace Lady Elizabeth.
"Now then Lady Elizabeth I ask you: what then is my conscience? What then is my virtue? Is it not naught but vanity?"
"Fanatic" she spat, the repulsion visible on her face.
I did an aristocratic bow and smiled as I replied:
"Why thank you Milady. I am much obliged."
Irrational? My faith in His Majesty is irrational? I should be ashamed of myself as a rationalist? Absurd. If any ritual of cognition required I abandon my faith in His Majesty, then it was that ritual of cognition that must be discarded. To begin with, epistemological rationality merely dealt with systematically increasing the accuracy of your beliefs. While instrumental rationality dealt with systematically achieving your goals. In those two, His Majesty had never led me wrong. Why then must I waver? If His Majesty said that grass is blue and the sky is green, then even without bothering to look down at the grass, or look up at the sky, I knew for a fact that the sky was indeed green, and grass was indeed blue. Only two things were truth in this world after all; His Majesty and His Majesty's words.
Verily, this Universe and the Multiverse shall pass away, but His Majesty's words will surely come to be.
If His Majesty said that sea was red, and snow was black, and I went to check for myself, and saw that snow was white and the sea was blue, and I asked the other 5 billion inhabitants of this planet, and they confirmed that the sea was blue and snow was white. Then the sea was indeed red, and snow was indeed black; I and the rest of the world were wrong.
Unscientific, my faith in His Majesty is unscientific? It is not the public reproducible knowledge of mankind? My faith in His Majesty does not constrain anticipation? It doesn't offer any testable predictions? There's no difference to my faith whatever observations I record. My faith is just as preposterous as Russell's tea pot? I could merely reply to you:
"What of it? Faith has never been a matter of observations, of evidence, of proof.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
But without faith it is impossible to please His Majesty: for they that cometh to His Majesty must believe that His Majesty is, and that His Majesty is a rewarder of them that diligently seek His Majesty. "
However, that would make me no different from any other devout of the numerous religions out there. For you my dear scientist, I have prepared a most wonderful Mathematically rigorous proof. Peerless in its brevity. Before I go into this proof, allow me to enlighten you of something called the Adamantine Proposition. Named as such to reflect it's indestructible nature.
"'His Majesty is Truth. Truth is His Majesty.'
Now to prove as it were that His Majesty was truth, one merely need to accept the Adamantine Proposition as one of the fundamental axioms of any system of Mathematics. Or alternatively, design them such that the Adamantine Proposition was immediately provable. For indeed, the Adamantine Proposition was more self evident than the principle of induction over the natural numbers, more fundamental than the commutativity of addition. More primitive than the succession operator.
I conclude my proof with an invocation of Godel's incompleteness theorem.
Quod Erat Demonstratum."
Now, mayhaps you were still not convinced. You still believe that there was a discrepancy somewhere. This had to be cognitive dissonance you say; I couldn't possibly profess both rationality and that His Majesty was the one true God. There was severe self delusion; at most I was merely believing in belief.
And then I shake my head and pat your shoulders. Then embrace you to spread His Majesty's magnanimity. Afterwards, I tell you
"Accept that His Majesty is Truth and Perfection. Only then shall you reach enlightenment."
It's useless Lady Elizabeth, no matter what you say, I will never falter. My faith was invariable. If there's one thing about my meagre self that I was confident in, then it was my faith in His Majesty. His Majesty had said it to me after all:
"Hey Eddie they say that only one thing is constant in this world; change. Do you agree?"
"Pardon the foolishness of this one Your Majesty. Your loyal servant is unable to discern the truth of this matter."
His Majesty then smiled and said to me:
"Only two thing's are constant in this world; Change and Eddie's devotion, and the latter is more unalterable than the former."
His Majesty had said it, thus it must be so; my Faith was incommutable.
"Eddie you really won't give up Arthur?"
"Nay Milady. My devotion is as fundamental as the second Law of Thermodynamics."
She pouted as she floated over to me, and started rubbing her body over me, whispering into me with that siren's voice of hers, laden with lust. It was pointless, my body refused to respond; even my arousal was His Majesty's. Without His Majesty's permission, how could I allow myself to feel lust, to get aroused, or even to enjoy sex; even my pleasure was His Majesty's. My devotion wasn't so flimsy that I would allow myself to lust without His Majesty's permission. After deciding that this time to, I will not react Lady Elizabeth drifted away.
"No fun, you're always no fun. But 'His Majesty' is a lie you know? 'Nihil Superbum'? 'Lucifer's Sin of Pride"? Lies! All glaring untruths. Love. That is Arthur's true nature. A twisted, hideous, disgusting, repugnant, revolting, repulsive, abhorrent, malignant love for his own sister. Love. For Love did Arthur seek my tutelage. For love did Arthur seek the summit. For love did Arthur desire this world.
'Nihil Superbum'? Was but a vow he made to Roxanne as he sealed her away. His pride is but an aftermath, a mere consequence of the love that consumes him. Everything until now that Arthur has done has been for love, and everything he will do from now on too is because of love.
Love. That is Arthur's true sin."
"And so? Is that not another part of His Majesty's infiniteness? His Majesty's unbounded benevolence? His Majesty's endless munificence? His Majesty's measureless magnanimity?"
I replied back incredulous, as I floated over to her and peered into her eyes, our noses touching.
Exasperated she said:
"If only I can have this devotion. Worship me Eddie, and I'll offer you this entire Universe. If you so desired, half the Multiverse would be yours. I'll even let Arthur become King over this Universe."
Her words were true; Lady Elizabeth was many things, but a liar she was not. As for her proposal? Dismissed. Rejected. Refused. Repudiate. Declined. Disallowed. Spurned. Turned down. Not up for consideration. My devotion wasn't so whimsical as to be tempted by even the Multiverse.
"I refuse. In the first place, Milady already has plenty of devotion; isn't the massacre taking place below us, naught but a tribute for Milady's birthday. Isn't that madness, that lunacy, that insanity, that maniacness naught but a proof of devotion to Milady. Reprobate. Milady is a most degenerate woman. How many men has Milady driven mad with lust? Lunatic with obsession? How many homes and family's has Milady ruined? How many nations and people's has Milady destroyed. How many innocents have been sacrificed in propitiation to Milady. Decadent. Milady is a most Debased woman."
I enjoyed the momentary flash of mortification that crossed Lady Elizabeth's face.
She sighed.
"My lover. You don't have to take me as your goddess, but just as your lover. Just love me with the same devotion you have for Arthur. That's all I ask for.
I shall return thy devotion with affection, and I promise to love thee in return. I swear upon my name, to take no other lovers but thee."
She looked at me longingly, tears visible on the periphery of her eyes.
"My answer is still nay Milady Elizabeth."
A pause.
"Or would you prefer Your Majesty Queen Gwendolyn?"
She sighed again, as her gaze became laden with sentiment.
"True. I once went by that name."
Her Majesty Queen Gwendolyn; ancestor of the Brittanias. I had long deduced that fact. Even if I tried to deny it, the sparkling resemblance of Her Highness Roxanne; down to the lavender hair and amethyst eyes, to Her Majesty laid the nail on the coffin.
But I had to wonder, was even this Lady Elizabeth's true identity?
"Or maybe I should address Milady by the first name Milady ever took. I am sorry but I have to reject your offer Asmodeus' Sin of Lust; Lady Lilith The Depraved".
It was very brief; an infinitemsal fraction of a second, so short that without my rank 6 Esper enhanced senses I wouldn't have noticed. But it was there, a look of genuine suprise; not like the emotions Lady Elizabeth wore on her face like a mask.
"My, my Eddie you never cease to surprise me. If I can't have your heart, then for now as well I'll settle for your body."
A rift once again appeared in the fabric of space time as Lady Elizabeth pulled me in. It was honestly a shot in the dark; I was just calling the oldest female I'd been able to find among the numerous mythologies. But still Lilith huh? I guess the existence of Adam's first wife raised the posterior probability of some religions being accurate. But all of that was irrelevant to me; My faith was rigid after all.
I was His Majesty's Right Hand; His Majesty's Superbum; His Majesty's "Aegis". I was Alvin Edward Brittania.
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