As the class and their allies were in the process of preparing for the race to start, a carriage was arriving at the Hades Seat. The former Cardinal of Piety Lucas Helbrand looked out of the window of his carriage at the people living their lives. Seeing such inhuman beasts living a peaceful life sickened him to the very depths of his soul.
They were lesser beings that deserved nothing less than subjugation by their betters. The only reason the beasts had yet to be subjugated was that they had inhuman monsters who preferred to dine on humanity.
“We are almost at the palace, sir,” the driver announced. His only response, though, was to scoff at the announcement.
Years ago, when he was still wet behind the ears, he had led a raid into the heartland of the Dark Continent and seen the palace of the Dark Lord. It wasn’t anything special. If anything, it was overhyped.
Supposedly built from the bones of the first ancient dragon that was so powerful, it took a unification of multiple empires just to take it down. Such a pathetic reason; a human warrior with the gods at his back could’ve taken down such a minor nuisance alone.
Stepping out of the carriage into the courtyard of Crozonia’s palace, he was greeted by the head of the local church and the head of the city guard. Both were humans, and even with his appraising eye, he could tell they were skilled.
“We welcome you,” the high priest said humbly as he lowered his head.
“I hope your journey wasn’t too trying on you,” the head guard asked.
Helbrand struggled to recall their names; he had been given a document with them on but had opted not to memorise race traitors. He was no longer Piety, so he no longer had to hunt such traitors down.
“It was acceptable,” came his blunt answer. He almost felt a spark of amusement seeing how uncomfortable they were.
“I assume the bitch is this way, then?” Helbrand asked, gesturing to the open doors behind the men.
“Please come this way, sir,” the head guard said as he hastily guided the way.
Helbrand had to hold back a snort of derision. Anyone calling the head of state a bitch would’ve been at least admonished. But for him to get away without even a verbal reprimand, this land of heathens must’ve fallen on hard times indeed.
“This right here is the hall of a thousand mirrors,” the high priest said as they made their way through a hallway.
“Yes If I recall correctly, weren’t a number of them ruined by that piggish oaf Braxis?”
“Indeed it is so, sir,” the high priest replied with a chuckle.
No defence of even their past rulers? Truly pathetic… He could barely stomach the air of this gods’ forsaken land, let alone the people. But their customs were so alien to him that he would giggle like a child if they could burn and salt this land.
“This here is the hall of Sinful Lords,” the head guard explained as they entered a hallway that was lined with portraits.
Such arrogance to embrace sinful ways was what rankled him most. Had he not left his sword in the carriage, he would already be tearing, these abominable images that had the gall to call themselves artwork, to pieces.
“Her majesty is just through there, sir,” the high priest said as he gestured to a pair of ornate doors.
Pushing the lessers aside, Helbrand opened the doors and confidently strode into the throne room. It was the first time he had ever met a Dark Lord. He had met kings, emperors and even her magnificence, the pope. But this woman…
Ever since he was young, he had been told stories of Crozonia. The woman drenched in the blood of a thousand, thousand men. It was said she could glide across the battlefield and leave carnage in her wake. He had always put these stories down as mere fairytales—fanciful things to keep children in line. ‘Be good otherwise, the big bad dark lord Crozonia will gobble you up’.
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But seeing her for the first time since he was young, he felt fear. A cold trickle of sweat ran down his back. Such was the presence that sat on the throne before him. Her gaze was sharper than any blade, and he could feel it piercing every fibre of his being.
“My name is-”
“I know who you are, Inquisitor Helbrand,” Crozonia interrupted. “I am, as you so kindly put it, ‘the Bitch’” A smile spread across her face that did not reach her eyes.
“For that, I would like to say-”
“It is ok, Helbrand… we do not peel the flesh off of dignitaries… well, not for such minor insults. Really now you can do better than bitch? You really should work to put some oomph into insulting me. If you don’t, it would hurt my feelings.”
“Yes,” Helbrand said, lowering his head. It took him a moment to realise what he had just done. He had shown deference to an inhuman monster, and it disgusted him.
“I assume you are here about that matter?”
“Yes, we wish to address the sudden demise of Johan,” Helbrand confirmed.
“Oh good, because we killed him.” Helbrand froze as he reached into his pocket to retrieve the documents he had been sent with.
“Pardon?”
“Yes, he was executed for breach of diplomatic etiquette. You know he didn’t call me a bitch, but he was doing some naughty stuff,” Crozonia’s smile finally reached her eyes.
Helbrand looked up at her and felt like he was a puppet dancing in her palm. Her gaze was entirely predatory, as if he were no more than a meal that had the manners to walk up to her.
“We understand a member of Sloth’s staff was involved. Give us that individual, and we will leave the situation as it is.” Crozonia seemed to ponder the offer for a moment, turning to look at her vizier only to look back at Helbrand.
“And should we refuse?”
“It will mean war. A fresh glorious crusade TO WIPE YOUR FILTH OFF THE MAP!!!” Helbrand had to contain himself as he had let slip his pious self slip.
“So the Crusaders are actually a cleaning crew?” Her tone was clearly mocking him.
“You mock me… but I am here with two options… hand over the mage responsible, or we will launch the ninth crusade.”
“Ok, we accept,” Helbrand froze at how quick the reply from Crozonia was.
“Pardon?”
“I said we accept. We will prepare our already supplied armies and wipe out your human race once and for all,” Crozonia had a mad grin as the entire room became swamped in an aura so dense Helbrand found it hard to breathe. As quickly as the aura appeared, it vanished.
“So… off you pop… or do I need to sign something to say I have received delivery of the declaration of war?”
“You seek the annihilation of the human race?!”
“Well, to be fair, you lot keep starting it. It is only fair we get to launch the punch first this time round.”
Again the vampire's tone was mocking him. But he had been made painfully aware of the difference in their power. He could see how the Dark Continent had resisted the Theocracy for so long, having a head of state this powerful.
“I will be granted safe passage home?”
“Of course, I made the extra effort to make sure you would not suffer a fate worse than death.”
“What do you mean?”
“That mage you wanted. He has a very particular bone to pick with you, as does one of my generals. Seems you are such a popular boy to have these people want to receive you with the most special of welcomes.”
“Oh them…” Helbrand swallowed as he thought over the reports he had read about the one he was to demand be handed over.
“What have I done to him then?”
“You slaughtered his home village apparently,” Crozonia’s reply was almost disinterested.
“I have done that to many accursed villages.”
“Isn’t it nice that one little butterfly flapped its wings and led to this crusade? Funny ole world we live in.”
“Well, I would recommend he not cause me any harm or undue death.”
“Why is that?” Crozonia seemed genuinely curious.
“The new Benevolence has her life tied to mine. Should I die, she would too. Be sure to tell him that.”
“Oh, I will. I’m sure that clever little monster could find a thousand and one ways to make sure you don’t die.”
Helbrand shuddered involuntarily as he turned on his heel and left the throne room. Entering the hall of Sinful Lords once more, Helbrand paused in front of the portrait of the man in question.
“That entire family is a blight on this world. I am ashamed you escaped me that day,” with one final flourish of his cloak, Helbrand left Hades Seat quick to return to the Theocracy to inform them to call their banners.