Clara winced as blood dripped down her arm, she was still holding on, her eyes locked on Maria's unconscious body. Blood pooling around it. The clashing of blades against claws became background noise to her, her thoughts swirled as her instincts took over. I can't do this, I'm not strong enough. . . Why, why this shouldn't have happened here, now. When Skarlet is gone, Cody isn't here. Aiko and Amethyst are in the city. It's just me, I'm just a servant. I was never trained for this. . . She was shaking, fear overtaking her as her thoughts felt fuzzy. the most basic instinct began to overtake her, however her desire for flight was overtaken by the desire to fight, to not runaway while the master who saved and protected her lay dying.
"Why are you doing this? You're Master will die here, is it worth throwing your life into the same flame that snuffed the very person who enslaved you." A voice whispered in her ear.
"Betray your master and kill the person behind you, I will guarantee your life." Another voice into the other ear.
"You're wrong, she's not the one who bound me, she. . . She's the one who set me free." Clara was pulled from her thoughts as anger swelled up. She lunged at the voice and slashed. Blood graced her claws as an energy began to rise in her. She felt her stamina, speed, and perception increase.
"Damn beast peasant, I am a noble, how disrespectful can you be." A voice cried out as the boy appeared again while holding his arm as blood dripped down it.
"Brother, something is off, she's not a normal Lithian." The girl's voice suddenly spoke up from behind Clara, she spun around and jumped forward. Pain sliced through her side, she let out a cry like an injured animal as she barely managed to protect Charlotte from an attack. The girl was on the ground, eyes wide open and blank she was terrified to the point that she may have lost consciousness.
Clara panted softly as the pain filled her senses, she frowned with frustration. I'm not very skilled but even I can tell that they're playing with me.
"Yes, you're right sister. Change of plans, kill them both before an unexpected variable appears." As soon as the boy finished speaking the fight changed.
Clara stepped back instantly as a blade sliced through the bridge of her nose causing her to stumble backwards.
"Dang, I was aiming for her eyes, she's definitely faster now." The girl commented. Though before she even finished talking Clara was swinging her claws to block the boy's knife. I can't keep this up. She lamented as a blade slashed her side as she barely moved her center of mass to the side. They're cornering me. She thought as a knife cut her hand, she was slower to block that time.
Suddenly a weight smashed into the back of Clara's knee, sending her knee smashing into the ground. She looked up in time to see the young noble girls dress fluttering as a round kick smashed into the side of her face. She hit the wooden deck hard enough to hear it crack, a irony taste in her mouth. She panted heavily as her whole body screamed to get up, but she couldn't.
"Heh, brother she's down should we revert to the original plan?" The girl spoke up as she paused with her blade pointed at Clara.
"No we've wasted too much time, kill her I'll kill the target." The boy ordered calmly.
Clara sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before opening them to stare at her killer. The young girl stabbed her sword into Clara's back, not once, but over and over again as glee took over her face. "hahaha, that was a fun fight but you never had a chance. Hehe by the way." She retracted her sword from Clara's hole ridden back and crouched down to look at her. "My name is Bonnie nice to meet you hehe. My brother's name is Clyde, just thought you should know the names of the people who killed you. I respect someone with the determination to face death and stand their ground. Even in a hopeless situation, impressive. Like a general charging into battle at the head of his squad, against impossible odds. He knows he's gonna die but he doesn't stop, he Steeles his nerves and dies for his cause. Kinda romantic don't you. . . Awe you passed out before I finished."
"Bonnie, you were rambling so much. . . We have company." Clyde spoke with a hint of annoyance as he glanced at the man stepping from the shadows. A butler with grey hair and a beard, a sword at his waist. "Jack, right hand to the Spearmans. It's an honor to make your acquaintance." Clyde bowed respectfully and Jack did the same.
"Yes, hmmm, Assassin twins Bonnie and Clyde. I haven't heard anything about you two in a few years now. Welcome back to the limelight." Jack spoke carefreely, suddenly, one of the sets of doors leading to the ballroom opened and four Royal Guards stomped out. Jack drew his sword and pointed it at the two. "Thank goodness, I was worried I'd have to face these two alone. I'm not in my prime anymore." Jack feigned frailty with a smile and the twins backsteped before bolting. They both leaped off the balcony, with an eagle dive.
Jack turned and held his hand out to Charlotte, lifting her to her feet as he sheathed his sword. The guards split and worked together to carry Maria and Clara back inside, the party had already settled down by the time the confrontation started and people had already started excusing themselves and heading home. The Princess was the first, as no one dared to leave till the lady of the hour had.
Jack walked Charlotte into the ballroom, she was shaking and unsteady. Jack helped her follow the knights, not out the door to where their carriages waited but instead through the door the Princess had left through. Charlotte was too disoriented to even notice and the states of Maria and Clara was. . . Not good either.
~
Maria slowly opened her eyes, she winced in pain as they began to adjust. She was lying face down on a bed. She felt the pain subside and in response she pushed herself up. Overwhelmed by her need to make sure Clara was alright she frantically glanced around. Only settling as she saw her friend nearby getting treated by a healer. Maria immediately moved towards her, grabbing her hand, she looked up at the healer and froze.
"Princess?" Maria was startled as she realized the Princess of Kozak, the Empire of slavery was healing a Lithian Slave personally.
"Hello young Maria, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm sorry about the trouble you ran into. Someone thought it wasn't important for me to know enough information to stop it." The princess spoke gently, but soon her voice became icy as her eyes landed on someone else in the room. Maria turned to see a young girl in a priest outfit, she was blindfolded and only smiled softly.
"I've told you before, the future is fickle. Some things need to happen. And stopping them is akin to rejecting the future you desire." The girl spoke roughly. "I'm really sorry princess, but Asmo is right. . . This was necessary as much as it pains me to see them hurt." The girl spoke once more, but this time her voice was softer, respectful and hesitant.
"No, Amelia, I understand. The concept of a future born through situations is not difficult to grasp. So in a way I understand that the people wouldn't be the same at the end if you saved them from every situation prior to it happening. I'm just frustrated that the guests I personally invited were attacked." The Princess replied in an explanation, Amelia nodded but didn't speak further.
Maria turned to look around the room and realized that Charlotte was also here. Though she was quietly sitting in a chair, she seemed dazed, but mostly ok. Oddly enough though, there were no guards.
"M-Maria." Clara struggled to speak as she slowly woke up, red eyes looked at Maria. She frowned, Clara's eyes weren't red. She brushed it aside however and helped her friend sit up. That's when she noticed streaks of red in her hair and tail tip. It wasn't blood. . . It was like she'd gained an extra pigment in her hair. Clara also began to look over herself, confusion overtook her as she examined herself.
"Well then. If we're all feeling better how about we move locations there's some people I want you to meet." The Princess clapped her hands as she watched Clara get to her feet. Maria and Clara made eye contact and decided to talk about it later. The group gathered around the princess as she led the way from her room.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Maria glanced at Clara as they walked, the red in her hair was pretty, Clara smiled at her. Maria nodded and turned her gaze to Charlotte, she was quiet and kept glancing at Clara. Her gaze finally landed on Amelia, for someone who was apparently blind she walked without difficulty, staying close to the princess.
It didn't take them to long to arrive at their destination, a room with a circular table in it. A couple new faces already sat at this table, one of those faces caused Maria, Charlotte, and Clara to bow immediately. The King himself, though he simply raised his hand and told them to sit. Another unexpected face was David Spearman with his attendant Jack standing behind his chair. Maria sat down and Clara stood behind her chair, mirroring Jack. Amelia and the Princess sat down, other than that there was a young girl in a witch's hat leaned back in her chair. She seemed to be sleeping, quiet snores drifted out from under her hat.
There was an older woman sitting next to the witch, Charlotte saw her and her eyes widened. "Mom?"
"Sit Charlotte." The head of the Percival family called her daughter and heir over to sit.
Lastly an old man in a wizards hat sat on the other side of the young witch he looked like he'd one day say the words "you shall not pass." Though he has elf ears and at the moment he was holding a rather serious expression.
"It seems everyone is here, should I start sir?" Amelia spoke suddenly, her voice was rough and impolite.
"Ha, Asmodeus, I'm the King of an Empire, do I really not deserve your respect." The King, Sirius Goldman spoke with exasperation.
"Sir, very very few are worthy of respect to a Bishop." Amelia stood up quietly, an energy began to radiate from her white and black mixed to create an energy like a galaxy of stars, it enveloped her. The energy covered her for a moment before evaporating with an outward blast a sweep of air washed the room.
White crossing black her wings opened, one angelic and one demonic. A horn grew from one side and a broken halo floated on the other, sparks of electricity arched off from the broken edges. Her outfit had changed from a priestess robe to an open backed, sleeveless dress. The blindfold fell revealing an angelic golden eye and a demonic demon eye.
"My name is Amelia, my name is Asmodeus, I am an angel, I am a demon. We are the Bishop of Prophecy." Two voices seemed to come from her simultaneously however they were both easily distinguished.
"Oh, things are getting interesting." David smiled as he commented.
"Huh, oh shoot are we starting!" The young witch lifted her hat, a cat ear peeked out from under it.
"Hmph, demon you say. It has been four hundred years after all. About time I reckon." The old wizard spoke up.
"Your majesty, I hope there's an explanation for this." The Percival head spoke up.
"Of course, Amelia, enough theatrics. We don't have all night." Sirius hurried her along.
"Of course sir." Amelia responded. "There's a war coming, the Church is planning to make a final push and take the empire for themselves. They've backed our king into a corner, currently with no heir if they kill him they can forcefully take the seat of power."
"Miss Margaret, your family was wrongfully denounced by the church and had your legitimacy called in to question in order to remove the King's shield." Sirius added on with a nod to her.
"Miss Maria and Clara, I'll have you stay with the Percival's rather than the inn your currently at. Bring your other companions as well. For the future plans I need you to stay in the capital. I will also be sending an old friend to meet you there. He has words he wishes to share with you. I'll let him convey the rest."
"Wait, excuse my rudeness, but my city is being lightly managed by an attendant he won't be able to do that for long." Maria voice her worries as politely as she could.
"Maria, you weren't planning to go home immediately right? Spend at least a day at the Percival Mansion. I guarantee it'll work out." Amelia explained before turning to the young witch.
"Annabelle, your being dismissed from service."
"Haaa! That's funny, yeah right where in the world are you gonna find a new court witch with my skill huh?" Annabelle exclaimed, sticking her tongue out. "Y'all wanted me so bad that you lied to the whole empire. The church would lose it if they knew the court wizard was a Lithian." She pulled her hat off and smiled as her ears twitched with annoyance.
"You're being dismissed in order to free you up for a different task." A rough voice cut in. "I need you to go to Otalos, the Hero will be passing through I need you to meet up with him. And give him a message, everything you'll need has been prepared for you. You're dismissed from the meeting." Asmodeus explained.
Annabelle stood up with a disgruntled expression, she plopped her hat back on her head, then turned and left.
"Cliff, you will be given Wanted posters and commissions from the church targeting Cody and eventually Skarlet. Make sure they never spread outside of Kozak and spread the news to the branch Guilds that the posters will be posted but won't be honored." Amelia picked up her speech when Annabelle was gone.
"Of course, The hero and his companions, you want to ease their escape. I'll spread the word to the guild branches in Kozak and contact the Guild Masters from other countries." Cliff accepted easily.
"David, you've been working on changing the Merchant Guild's main form of trade from Slavery back to the outward and inward importation of Goods. Correct?"
"Yes, the profits are projected to go negative for a short while then jump back up. Due to our current main product being only sellable in Kozak we practically gave up on exports and imports. So as we shift focus we should actually become more profitable. I'm actually ashamed that past head's of my family made the foolish decision to keep backing a dying horse, they should have moved back to exports and imports the moment the market outside closed." David explained, "My political and racial views have no barring on a simply rationally business decision." He smiled.
"Good, the last thing we need is a crippled economy." Sirius smiled, "You have your work cut out, the war is looming not quite here yet. We're not yet ready to win a physical war and the church isn't ready to win a moral war. So we're at a standstill, I'll do my best to keep that going until we're ready. For now this meeting is over. We'll likely reconvene later, things will be more clear then."
"Um excuse me, but I have a question." Maria suddenly spoke up, and as all eyes turned to her she fell a bead of sweat drip down her brow.
"Speak your mind child." Sirius spoke up.
"No I was just worried, you spoke about ending slavery in Kozak, but if that's something you want why has it taken so long?" Maria asked, she was aware of history but unsure if how that translated to the current problem.
"Ah, well you know of the war four hundred years ago. The war that killed the Demon King, also ignited fear towards the races that hold the blood of the chaos God. This is what originally led to slavery, though over time that fear mellowed out and people saw the truth again. However Kozak is different, blinded by Faith in the Church of Gia, that fear never mellowed. Mixed with the greed and desire that tends to be common among the High nobility. A lot of powerful people with sway in the country don't want slavery to end. However we're approaching the fall of either my reign or the Church. Depending on who falls, slavery will become worse or finally start disappearing as we catch up with the rest of the world." Sirius explained with a calm smile.
"So you're saying, if we can win the upcoming battle. We can sway the people in the right direction and eventually end slavery?" Maria asked hopefully.
"Well, yes, the church sways the large majority of the common people. With the church defeated or reformed that majority will be swayed in our favor instead. With the people's support behind us we can push reforms that normally would be hard stopped by other nobles with the support of their people." Sirius agreed with a nod.
"Ok, thank you. I will do whatever is asked of me to help." Maria replied as she stood up and bowed.
David, Kozak's Guild Master, and Margaret all stood up at that and with a bow, began getting ready to leave. Soon it was just Maria, Clara, Amelia, and the members of the Royal family. Amelia approached Clara and set her hand on her shoulder, "It's always nice to meet more Fatebreakers. I couldn't see you before but now, I can see what future you'll participate in creating. I can't wait to see you realize it." Amelia told her quietly, "It's just a bit disappointing that the hero missed you, he went looking for Fatebreakers and crossed paths with quite a few in Aguris. He was probably blinded by your master's plight."
After that Amelia left, leaving behind a bewildered Clara and a thoughtful Maria. "Fatebreaker huh? That kinda fits don't you think? I probably would have been the heir my father wanted if not for you."
"What? No way, Maria you're giving me too much credit!"
"I'm just teasing." Maria laughed as they both left the room.
"Is this enough?" The King asked the demon.
"Not yet." The prophet replied with a smile. "But things are moving in the right direction. Are you aware of her true lineage."
"Hah, yes of course. That girl will realize it soon. One of the Pillar families of Kozak. Her family will soon regain it's former renoun with such a young and spry new head don't you think." Sirius asked with a laugh.
"True, those two have a destiny beyond this country though. It's already been four hundred years. You know what that means right." Amelia reminded the king.
"Yes, somewhere in this world the new demon king has started it's journey. There's no way to find them yet. . . It's always like that in the beginning. The Demon King isn't a demon, no The Demon King is always a human tricked by the chaos God. I feel pity for the sorrowful soul who will become the greatest evil of this generation. But it's the enemy of humanity, we can't be divided when they finally rise and start their conquest." The King was solemn as he spoke, but an energy filled him as he looked up at Amelia. "We have to defeat the church soon, unite Kozak. Do our best to quell the rage of the beast races otherwise both our races may fall."
"Truly a wise king, stifled by the heretical Church." Amelia smiled wickedly.
"You give me too much credit. I am nothing but a fool." Sirius Goldman said before leaving the room himself.