She sat upon her throne, an otherworldly queen whose very countenance bespoke her sovereignty. Her skin was the color of a moonlit winter's ocean, deep and fathomless, adorned with markings as intricate as they were mysterious, glowing faintly as if reflecting the light of unseen stars. Her hair, dark as the midnight sea, flowed about her shoulders in waves, each strand a whisper of shadow.
Her eyes, sharp as a hawk's gaze, shone with the piercing blue of dragonfire, set beneath arched brows that promised both wisdom and challenge. A nose, small and straight, was a delicate centerpiece to her visage, flanked by high cheekbones that gave her a look of chiseled determination. Her lips, full and unsmiling, held the secrets of her kingdom as they were the gateway to her voice, which could command armies of the most hardened warriors.
Upon her head rested a circlet, wrought of gold and inlaid with gems that seemed to pulse with an inner light, mirroring the steadfast gleam of her gaze. Her ears, long and tapering to fine points, were bedecked with jewels that sparkled like tiny constellations, and a delicate septum ring was a nod to the fierce beauty of her martial heritage.
This was a visage not easily forgotten, etched into memory with the precision of a master sculptor's chisel, a face that could launch ships or lay siege to the very stars. In her gaze lay the unyielding force of the ocean's tide and the unspoken promise of storm's fury yet to come.
As we approached, her ascent was fluid and purposeful, reminiscent of a monarch gracing her court. Adorned in armor that was both ornate and formidable, it bore the craftsmanship of a people who valued beauty in strength, with gold filigree that traced patterns reminiscent of ancient runes. Jewels of oceanic blue nestled within the metal, their luminescence echoing the markings upon her skin, creating an aura of power that was both regal and otherworldly.
Her ears, elongated and elegant, bore delicate chains and gems that whispered of her high station. A circlet of gold, intricate and fine, crowned her brow, its centerpiece a gemstone that seemed to pulse with an internal light, a beacon of her indomitable will.
As moved towards us, her presence filled the space between us, her aura one of unspoken might and majesty, the air around her seemingly thrumming with the latent power she possessed. The scent that accompanied her was a complex blend of forest pine and ocean spray, a reminder of the vast empire she held sway over.
Even I, who had been able to mostly block out my emotions and withstand countless duels mostly unshaken, felt a ripple of something akin to awe. With each deliberate step, the Iron Princess commanded attention, her essence as enigmatic as the silent depths of the ocean. Her approach marked the advance of a legend alive before me, her story etched into history, her name carried on the breath of myths.
“Your majesty,” I began slowly.
“Octaviok.” She interrupted sharply. “So, Everett, Elyria,” she continued, her voice a melodic contrast to the silent tension that filled the room.
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“What is it I can do for my favorite drifter and his, mentor?”
Her voice dripped with sarcasm and something else, a slight tenseness that he couldn’t place. “What happened to Korrok? And what is happening to my planet? My home? The questions were flying out of my mouth. I could feel my emotions rising. I had been bottling everything for too long, just trying to get to the next fight, and the next after that. All with the hope of getting home, a home that I had just discovered might be gone.
“You seek answers about matters that are... well, they are layers upon layers of complexity. Like an artfully written book, one must peel back the cover to truly understand the narrative within.” She responded cryptically.
I exchanged a glance with Elyria, who stood with arms folded, her expression guarded. “We’re listening,” I said cautiously, aware that I had no reason to trust her and she really had no reason to help me.
Her gaze lingered on me a moment longer before she continued, “Korrok’s departure...” She trailed off, her eyes flickering to a distant corner of the room, as though she could see the threads of the story stretching into the shadows. “Let’s just say, he was given an opportunity and he took it. But whether that move was good for him or not, that remains to be seen.”
Elyria’s eyes narrowed. “And what of Earth?” she asked, her voice betraying a hint of the defensiveness I knew she felt. “Do you claim knowledge of the invasion as well?”
The Iron Princess, or Octaviok’s attention shifted, her gaze now ensnaring Elyria. “The invasion,” she mused, “was unplanned, a surprise.”
“What…? I asked.
She began again, slowly. “Invasions are a planned thing by the system. Well, usually they are, some factions have figured out how to assault planets pre-integration, giving them an opportunity to invaded as a solo force.”
“And this is what happened on earth?” I asked, my tone disbelieving.
“I do not know for sure, we were not there. We have forces there now of course, but not when it started. We think it was a, failed solo assault.”
“Why did it fail.” I asked, I could feel traces of hope building.
“Honestly drifter, I have no idea. These solo invasions are new. Well not new, almost nothing is new, remember that drifter. But anyways they are dangerous so they were rarely done. They have been more common as of late but it appears the tactic has backfired in the invasion of earth.
I watched the Iron Princess closely, trying to discern truth from fiction in her words. “I’m still confused,” I pressed, “so was the invasion of earth an accident, and what is happening now?”
She leaned forward, her armor glinting as she moved. “We are running short of time as much as I have enjoyed this exciting distraction the TWO of you have been…” Her eyes locked onto mine again, and I felt a strange sensation, as if she was peering into my very thoughts.
Elyria shifted uncomfortably, and I sensed her unease. “Anything you can give us, please.”
The Iron Princess smiled at that, a smile that resonated both warmth and a cold edge. “What is happening on earth now was an accident, it is a free-for-all. A wonderful, testing ground for the many factions that managed to get in, a delicious, complex battle-royale.” Her gaze softened slightly as she looked at me, and the air seemed to charge with an unspoken attraction. “Everett, you strike me as a man who appreciates complexities.” And then she stopped, her chin raising, a sign she was done.
Elyria was the first to recognize her look as a dismissal. “We will go then, please let us know if there is anything else you can do for us.”
“Oh there is much I can do for you.” Octaviok purred. “But for now, you should concentrate on your next fight, I can’t wait to see how you and that shield of yours take on this one.”