Ryukana is trying not to make a bad situation worse. She’s currently waiting patiently on the ground floor of the titanic castle known in this world as the Citadel. The three women, Treia, Gwenesphia, and Aoloan are also with her, but she made her presence known to the magic user that spoke to her without appearing.
The gods and goddesses of the Divine Realm uphold a system that has proven reliable for a long time. Nothing is perfect, as perfection is the domain of Order, and Order has always indulged Chaos when it comes to all of existence. For Chaos, imperfection is perfection, and it is their timeless balance that has allowed the existence of the Divine Realm, the worldly universe, and everything else.
The system the Divine Realm operates is a stability agent, injecting order in worlds leaning too far into chaos, and injecting chaos into worlds suffocating under stagnating order. Life is not complete without a balance between order and chaos, just as the Divine Order and the Divine Chaos.
That said, the gods and goddesses must attempt to correct the course of a world at the lowest level possible. This is achieved by several methods, but one of the most effective and reliable is to send help through means of divine summons. If the ritual is forgotten, the Divine Realm will sneak the knowledge back into the world. If the ritual is abused, the gods will evaluate the ritual’s necessity and ignore it if need be.
Direct intervention is avoided for several reasons. One reason is that countries and kingdoms where gods or goddesses make themselves known tend to become destabilizing agents and endanger the world all over again. Additionally, if the existence of gods and goddesses becomes fact, instead of belief, then a threshold to be overcome if they utilize their divine powers too much, it can leave behind residual magic in a world, which can become problematic. And, while not the last scenario, it’s definitely a prominent one; if a god or goddess lets their power be known, it creates a potential threshold that magic users of the world might be able to overcome, threatening the divide between the created worlds and the Divine Realm.
That said, she suspects the Citadel already has reached that threshold, whether they realize it or not, and she doesn’t want to provoke any sort of action when she only wants to speak to Daniel. Whatever the case is, he seems to be a welcome member of the Citadel.
Sensing something wrong, Ryukana detects a magic return spell being used, bringing individuals back to the Citadel.
Did they…? Yes, they undoubtedly did… Two in one day?
Before she can gather her thoughts, a second teleportation spell, this time sending an individual out, appears in the same relative location.
Ryukana weighs her options. Whatever is happening, if Daniel is in the middle of it, it’s her fault. She can’t allow him to perish now that she’s so close to finding him.
Ryukana states to the other three, “Stay here for now. You’ll be safe in the castle.”
Treia starts to object, but Ryukana transports herself to the roof of the castle, where she finds the source of the spell; a soul-infused golem resembling an anthropomorphized feldrok design. It’s not identical to the feldrok girl nearby who is in a humanized form, but the intent is there. And, speaking of, the two dragons and the feldrok that she saw with Daniel the first time they left the castle are present now, cheering as they watch the blast of another nuclear weapon from afar, the mushroom cloud of the superweapon from Earth rising above the mountains in the distance.
The golem, less focused on the blast, stares at Ryukana. It states with a female voice, “Be cautious with your next move.”
Ryukana replies, “I’m here to protect Daniel. Where did you send him?”
The golem is surprised. “What makes you think I sent him anywhere?”
“I sensed the spell. I need to find him and protect him.”
“You’re not the first one to say that.”
“No, but I am the first goddess who accidentally sent him to this world.”
The golem is silent for a long time. She glances at the other three, who have taken notice. The feldrok girl turns angry, more directed at the golem, “Xyreko!? Where is Daniel!?”
The shockwave slams the barrier around the Citadel, threatening to negate it, and everyone flinches, save Xyreko and Ryukana. Xyreko was monitoring it the whole time, and Ryukana is a goddess.
Ryukana adds, “He is hidden in this world because of his lack of magic. It is like looking for a bead of glass in the ocean.”
Xyreko asks coldly, “How does something like that happen? If you truly are a ‘goddess’ as you claim, are you not all powerful?”
Ryukana knows how dangerous it is to ask that question. There are two all powerful beings. Ryukana is very much not one of them. If anything, she’s more like middle management. If the Divine Realm is ever at threat of being destroyed or conquered, Chaos and Order can simply reset existence in any way they like and start again.
“We don’t have time to discuss this at length. I am a lesser goddess, if that will explain it. I am not all powerful, and I am not infallible. Daniel being in this world is proof of that.”
Ryuogriar asks as she approaches, “What do you intend to do when you find him?”
“He is out of place in this world, and it is very dangerous for him. I’ll return him to his home.”
“You can’t! He promised he’d stay!” Hekate faces the goddess aggressively, showing no deference for the supposed divine being’s ethereal nature.
And, Ryukana feels a sense of foreboding before the deceptively small being. Her true form is much larger, but it is actually the magic power that the tiny being possesses. Like the Citadel, she is approaching a level of power that would already stand on par with Ryukana, simply from absorbing the energy around her from the enemies defeated in her presence.
“I… Regardless of what you believe, I must find him and speak to him. I must atone.”
Xyreko shakes her head. “I was given explicit orders by my master. I will not send anyone.”
After only a moment, Reignleif is the one that states, “The Devourer… You sent him to the Devourer…”
“WHAT!?” snaps Hekate. She glares at Xyreko, who gives nothing.
The second shockwave slams the barrier, causing a deep hum and crackle on its surface, but the barrier holds.
Ryukana looks at the mushroom cloud. “So that’s it… That’s why the Demon Queen met with you…” She looks at Xyreko. “She wasn’t the real threat.”
Xyreko retorts coldly, “You seem to not be very omniscient.”
The goddess looks at the golem. “Do you truly believe Daniel can survive what you let him go up against?”
Xyreko nods confidently. “Without a doubt in my mind.”
Ryukana is silent. She can easily sense the being that is clinging to life in the distance, precisely where a devastating alien weapon was just unleashed, scattering the immense amount of divine energy around itself from the initial blast.
She states coldly, “The difference between us is this;” She looks directly at each of them. “Daniel and I don’t belong in this world.”
With that, Ryukana vanishes from the Citadel.
She arrives in an area stifled with magical energy as dust and smoke swirl in the elegant dance of destruction that follows the crescendo of doomsday. Daniel brought forth one of the worst weapons to ever exist, and one of the most powerful. Only a handful of worlds have ever been destroyed by a weapon, and most of those pulled a planet or gigantic asteroid into the target. Daniel’s weapon is made of a world’s trinkets and dust, in the grand scheme of things, and summons the gaze of Chaos herself.
The air around her is surprisingly quiet and calm, following the blast that cratered this world.
There, she finds him. Daniel, armored in metal belonging only to this world, facing off in battle against a presence even the gods have taken notice of. Though misinterpreted as the woman who has become Demon Queen, this creature known as the Devourer has become a de-stabilizing agent for this world, and it had to be stopped by the Divine Realm. Although it wasn’t the specific reason the Kingdom of Mornistae performed the divine summoning ritual, it is the reason the Divine Realm chose to accommodate the summoning, in preparation for the inevitable confrontation with the Devourer. Everything else was supposed to play out on its own. Daniel was the only anomaly.
To her horror, though, even when she stops time, even when she explains to him, he resists.
Something on his person; the armor that reacts with magical energy, or the sword that flares and crackles in response to her attempts to evacuate him from the area; something is resisting her.
Daniel asks softly after refusing to hear her explanation, “Why would you stop me now? I’m just one person.”
“B-Because! You were never supposed to be dragged into this! You shouldn’t have to give your life for this world! Not when it was my mistake…”
His gaze, hidden by his magic helmet bestowed upon him from this present world, locks with hers. She can feel his very soul’s determination. She silently begs him to yield and retreat before something irrevocable takes place.
Still, he doesn’t yield.
His voice comes from his helmet, soft and gentle. “My Lady Goddess Ryukana… I don’t see it as a mistake.”
She is able to cock her head, and that’s all the time it takes for him to make his move. He lunges for the Devourer, swinging his sword with all of his strength. Ryukana cries out in a futile effort, “NO!”
The sword, flaring with magical power as if it were on fire with a rainbow of black, blue, purple, red, and green flames, cleaves through the core of the Devourer, frozen by Ryukana’s power. The attack breaks the energy within the soul of the mutated and corrupted feldrok, held together as a magical core of energy, and even in its reduced state, exceeds Ryukana’s power as its own containment breaks.
She will survive. Her presence in this world is but a copy of her true consciousness, which resides in the Divine Realm. Even as the destruction takes place, she will simply continue to be present until she chooses not to be.
Daniel is merely a human from a world with no magic, armored with a metal from the world he’s in, but in no real way protected from what is to come. He might as well have attempted to survive his own nuclear weapon. Even if the armor and sword resist the heat and energy, the impact would pulverize Daniel in an instant.
The core of the creature known as the Devourer is its soul given physical form. As such, in form, it is amorphous, like flowing liquid energy, glowing brightly and swirling in a fluid-like motion as it floats.
Following Daniel’s slash, the core solidifies, cracking like a sphere of glass split in two with a clean break. As the core dies, it begins to crack and crumble before their eyes. Ryukana’s power is failing to contain it.
Daniel, seeming to desire reassurance, swings his sword again in a fluid motion. The core crumbles even further, spider cracks appearing all across the liquid-like core as crackling and crunching fills the air around them.
“D-Daniel! I…!”
“It’s okay. I accept my fate. If I can die saving a world, what greater purpose could I attain?”
The cracks widen, and the energy flares. Both Ryukana and Daniel flinch. She’s trying to contain it, and it’s taking all of her power just to keep it from annihilating Daniel in one swift motion. There is nowhere to escape to.
“Daniel! Throw down your sword! I can still save you!”
As the energy breaks, and time begins to move again, the black substance forming the Devourer’s corrupted form tries one last time to fight back. It spears towards the goddess; a source of pure and powerful divine energy in a condensed and easy to capture point.
Just as quickly, Daniel intercepts the black spear. He is no elegant swordsman, nor an awakened mage suddenly finding talent. He throws his weight behind a sword that can stand against gods and titans, swinging it with all of the strength his otherwise average body can manage.
It explodes with magic, shattering the black spear before it can reach Ryukana, and her recoil from the attack drops her focus.
The energy from the core begins to flare outwards, engulfing them both in bright light. Ryukana calls out, “Daniel! I swear! I’ll protect your soul! Please don’t give in!”
She can’t see him, and she can’t feel his presence. She’ll need to return to the Divine Realm and try to intercept his soul before it is reprocessed. If she can convince Chaos that Daniel served far above his calling and purpose, perhaps he can be reincarnated or even restored.
But then, Chaos isn’t known for benevolence or generosity. She is known for whims and change. Similarly, Order knows not pity nor mercy. Death is a return to fundamental order, and Order herself oversees the cleansing of souls once they move on from life.
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Ryukana can do nothing but hope she can make it up to Daniel when it’s all said and done.
“DANIEL!”
A second voice calls out his name from somewhere in the light, and all at once, the light fades. There is energy rushing by, and Daniel is in a kneel, barely surviving in the wake of the energy being carved by the strange and mysteriously powerful sword he managed to get his hands on.
And then, the current of the energy begins to flow in the opposite direction, swirling the ash and dust of the ground. Daniel coughs as he relaxes his low guard, observing his surroundings. He looks over his shoulder and sees Ryukana, and he nods at her. However, her own gaze is focused on the source of the new phenomenon.
A small girl with big black fox-like ears and a bushy black tail is standing with her hands held out, pulling the energy into a concentrated mass into her own body. She’s actively absorbing everything about the Devourer, as is her born gift.
“Daniel!” calls out the small girl. Her voice wavers this time, and she seems to be struggling as the energy crowds into her small body.
Daniel climbs quickly to his feet, stumbling through the torrent of energy and debris blowing all around. “Hekate! What are you-...”
“D-Daniel.. Y-You promised! You…” Tears are flowing from her eyes and she whimpers, straining against the intake of magical power. But, that’s not why her heart ails her.
She chokes out, “Daniel… I need you… I… I love you! Please… S-Say it once! Say you love me! Don’t go… please don’t go…”
Hekate’s body begins to twist and darken as magical energy begins to illuminate from beneath her skin, and her eyes glow, amplifying the glisten of her tears. She is absorbing the magical energy that accumulated and corrupted the Devourer, and it is threatening to do the same to her.
After only a second’s hesitation, Daniel drops to a kneel, hugging the girl, even in spite of the power swirling around her and actively corrupting her. He murmurs, “Hekate… I do love you.”
“R-Really?”
“Of course… I just… was trying to protect your home…”
She wraps her arms around him, crying into his shoulder, “You stupid dummy! I have no home if you aren’t with me!” She begins sobbing, and Daniel holds her for a long time. Slowly, the glow fades, and Hekate clings to Daniel.
Just that revelation alone seems to have stemmed the fury of the terrifying power, easing down as the energy fades.
What the three are left in is a wasteland, cratered deeply by Daniel’s crudely made nuclear bomb, with Daniel now cradling Hekate, who saved him at the last second from the magic energy of the Devourer from annihilating everything all over again -namely, Daniel himself-. She’s whimpering and crying, gripping his armor for all she’s worth.
After a moment, Daniel picks up his sword, still managing to cradle Hekate, and he stands up, facing Ryukana. She watches him for a moment.
In simple terms, she is surprised. She can’t believe it. Hekate absorbed most, if not all of the energy of the Devourer, and she managed to keep her form stable.
“Now, Lady Goddess; I wouldn’t guess myself so heretical or impudent as to insult a goddess intentionally, but I think we should return to the Citadel before we continue talking.”
“That sword…”
“Will stop interfering when I put it away. But, I’m not sure I trust you.”
Ryukana knows that he’s being suspicious for any of several reasons; he doesn’t believe she’s a goddess, she could be an evil goddess from his perspective, or he could be beholden to this world after all the time he has spent trapped in it.
“Very well. Then, I will go first.”
With that, Ryukana transports herself, though she keeps her gaze on him, so as to not lose him again.
He doesn’t move immediately, likely speaking privately to Hekate, but after a moment, they, too, return to the Citadel, where they are greeted by Xyreko, Ryuogriar, and Reignleif.
***
Daniel’s boots barely touch the return circle when he’s pounced on and knocked to the ground with Hekate by Ryuogriar and Reignleif crowding him. He chuckles, saying warmly, “I haven’t even made my report yet…”
Ryuogriar is the most dignified of the three, saying with a smile, “Magic leaves a strong fingerprint on the world, Master. It is easy to detect when one powerful life disappears.” She pets his cheek affectionately. “A pity yours is the only power that cannot be detected, Master.”
A regal voice asks a little coolly, “‘Master’, is it, Daniel?”
Daniel looks at Ryukana, retorting, “I’ve tried. They don’t listen.”
The three chuckle together, but Hekate suddenly states, “Xyreko, get rid of her. She’s trying to steal Daniel away.”
Xyreko replies in an icy tone, though mostly for humor. “You say that about every woman, Hekate.”
“No! I say they’re trying to seduce him! She’s trying to steal him!”
Ryukana sighs. She looks at Daniel for help. He acknowledges her silent plea with a nod, gently coaxing the three to let him rise back up to his feet. Hekate lets him up, but she clings to his armor’s belt, ensuring that he can’t be spirited away if she has anything to say about it. “I won’t let you take him. I don’t care who you claim to be.”
“I have told more people than I should who and what I am,” replies the goddess calmly. “I fear my mistake is already the death of my authority. Daniel, as I said before; I am very sorry.”
Daniel shifts a little, looking at those gathered around him. They stare back at him with nervous expressions.
He smiles softly, replying, “My Lady Goddess; as I said, I don’t view it as a mistake. If you or… the gods or goddesses you work for believe I have been wronged, I assure you, I couldn’t ask for a more satisfying life.”
Hekate grins, her eyes watering. She takes his hand, and he grips hers gently.
Ryukana ponders for a moment. The situation is unprecedented, but she isn’t sure what she can do. “Daniel… You weren’t chosen by the process. Divine Summons are chosen carefully, and they must consent…”
Daniel cocks his head. “Oh… Well… I consent now, if that means anything. Was… Rikuto…?”
She nods to confirm his suspicion. “He was chosen, and I briefed him. Though… I admittedly misinterpreted the threat… The Demon Queen that you spoke to not long ago.”
“I don’t believe she’s a threat to this world. She’s the one that told me about the Devourer.” Daniel withdraws an item from a belt pouch, handing it to Xyreko. “I captured what I could, as you instructed. I imagine we’ll need more than a few revival potations for there to be hope.”
Xyreko nods, saying softly, “Thank you, Mas… Daniel.”
He smirks and declares gently, “I’m back, Xyreko. As promised.”
“I noticed.” Her voice is tender and soft, and grateful. “The goddess may be deceptive, Daniel. She brought three outsiders with her, speaking Imperial Common.”
“Easterners? All the way here? More Stalvaltan soldiers?”
“No. They bear no sigils.”
Ryukana states, “I met them in my search for you, Daniel. They, too, were looking for you.”
He nods as he listens, though it is peculiar. “I haven’t made efforts to be found. Wasn’t anyone in this world I wanted finding me, other than the people here.”
Hekate waves her hand at Ryukana as if to shoo her away.
Ryukana smiles. “Daniel… My mistake cannot be overlooked, and there is a contract; a way it is supposed to work. Upon meeting the completion conditions for which you were summoned,... A wish is to be granted. I… don’t know if I can give you your rightful reward…”
Daniel shrugs. “Okay.”
There’s an awkward pause, and Ryukana cocks her head. “‘O-Okay’?”
“Yep,” confirms Daniel with a chipper tone. “Can’t hold it against you if you never made me any promises, right? Job’s done. World’s safe. If I can stay here, I don’t have anything specific to wish for that wouldn’t feel wrong.”
“What of your family on Earth? Your friends?”
Daniel looks away for a moment. He shrugs again, saying softly, “Didn’t have anyone to lose. Terrible at keeping friends, and my family was gone. Figured that was why I was summoned.” He chuckles, looking at Hekate when she brushes her head against his arm, trying to comfort him. “Kinda funny to think I was summoned by accident.” He looks at Ryukana, saying warmly, “If you haven’t already, then I’m sure you can happily report this world safe and your summons alive and well, yes? I recall a conversation with you before. Rikuto is working to stabilize the kingdoms, and I went hunting for the threat directly.”
Ryukana cocks her head. “You would have me, a goddess, lie?”
Daniel rocks his head back and forth, teetering on the line between ethical and unethical. “Ehhhh… ‘Lie’ is a strong way to put it. The truthful sequence of events was in an abnormal order. That’s all. No one has to lose.”
The goddess is left speechless for a moment. She sighs. “I must and will confess my mistake. Something abnormal occurred that I did not sense or witness. If it wasn’t entirely my own negligence, then we will need to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Daniel nods understandingly. “I understand. If there’s anything I need to do, I’ll be here, most likely. Or, someone will be here who knows where I am.”
She smiles and speaks softly, “I see… If… you wish to return home…”
Daniel can feel all three of the others crowd him, and Xyreko looks at him subtly. He smiles. “I am home, my Lady Goddess. I have nowhere in any world I’d rather be right now.”
This causes Ryuogriar, Reignleif, and Hekate to smile.
Ryukana smiles as well. “I see. Well then, I shall say farewell, for now, Daniel, Ladies. I suspect you will hear from me again once I’ve spoken to… well, my colleagues.”
Daniel bows respectfully. “Farewell, Ryukana. And, thank you.”
Her smile turns more tender, and she fades away as she leaves the world of Zenkon.
Daniel sighs, relaxing a bit.
That is, until Xyreko reminds him. “Daniel, there is still the matter of your visitors.”
“Ah. Right. That. Hekate?”
She grins, pumping her fist. “Leave it to me, Daniel! I’ll shoo anyone away! Especially other women!”
Ryuogriar teases, “You give your best effort, at least.”
“Shush you! If I really wanted you gone, you’d be gone! Vile Daniel-stealer!”
Daniel pushes Hekate gently by the back to urge her to head for the audience chamber, rather than getting distracted with Ryuogriar. Ryuogriar informs him, “We shall join you two shortly, Master.”
Reignleif nods in agreement, adding softly, “And, then we can all celebrate our victory.”
“Sounds good to me.” Daniel puts his helmet back on, following Hekate as she heads to the audience chamber, and Xyreko follows alongside Daniel. The Caretaker of the Citadel remarks, “They have been waiting patiently, Master, though two of them are armed.”
“Anything dangerous?”
“No. Not unless they get close, Master.”
“Good, good. I’ll try to stay alive.”
They make it to the audience chamber, and just as before, Hekate takes her seat on the throne, while Xyreko and Daniel stand on either side slightly behind her. Xyreko then has servant golems allow the visitors in.
Daniel has been in this world for a fair bit over a year -one of this world’s especially long years-, and he has learned and seen and done a lot of things. He scraped by through his modern knowledge, as well as by keeping his head down and staying as invisible as possible to as many people as possible -not always successfully-. He bore no grudges against anyone, but he also expected no loyalty or kindness from them.
So, when Xyreko first mentioned visitors, he never expected a goddess, nor the three individuals who stand before Hekate now.
As before, he’s wearing his armor, so they can’t tell who he is. For his part, though, he easily recognizes Lieutenant Gwenesphia, Sergeant Treia, and the succubus Aoloan.
The three approach and kneel, with Aoloan greeting Hekate on their behalf. “Greetings, gracious Lady Hekate, ruler of the Citadel and fair maiden of the south.”
Hekate hums in approval at being addressed so respectfully, and she rocks in her throne eagerly. “Greetings be to you as well, my fellow ladies. Please, feel free to praise me more.”
Aoloan rolls with it gracefully, replying warmly, “To think your beauty has yet to become a legend all across the world is a crime of the highest order, your Grace. And, your strength and wisdom must be limitless in order to have claimed dominion over the Citadel.”
Hekate replies, “Believe it or not, it was a gift. My Darling defeated the Feral Feldrok, and he gifted the Citadel to me.” She gestures over her shoulder at Daniel, who remains motionless, observing, but ensuring to show minimal interest, as a guard might.
Aoloan replies with a quaint smile, “Your darling must truly be strong, My Lady Hekate.”
Hekate nods proudly. “Mm-hmm! No one in this world is stronger. You may be envious, but you can’t have him.”
Aoloan smiles gently. “I appreciate it, my Lady. However, my heart belongs to another already.”
Hekate smiles. “Good. Then, we can be friends for now. So, my new friends, what brings you to my Citadel?”
Aoloan replies gently, “My Lady… the companions I have made recently assure me that the trail for my beloved leads to this castle.”
Hekate cocks her head, her gaze narrowing a little. “You don’t say. And, who, might I ask, do you seek? What is the name of your beloved?”
“Daniel, my Lady.”
“Daniel? You mean the Harbinger of Calamity.”
Aoloan twitches a little, asking, “You know of him, My Lady?”
It is this moment when Ryuogriar chooses to enter once more. “Indeed. We are intimately familiar with Daniel, the Harbinger of Calamity; the Feldrok Sorcerer;” She turns her tone and gaze darker, “The otherworlder summon.”
This causes all three of the visitors to shift uncomfortably. It’s clear that Aoloan recognizes Ryuogriar, either from her magical power, her horns and tail, or her color scheme coupled with the shimmering and beautiful egg that she’s holding in her arms, while Reignleif walks up behind her and to her side as well, also carrying her egg. Ryuogriar adds, “He is a dragon slayer, and he invaded my Lady’s castle in order to slay our kin.”
“We barely escaped with our lives.” Daniel twitches at the third dragon’s voice; Geirahoel, as she enters and stops alongside him, as opposed to on the far side of Hekate from him. Geirahoel stands proudly, looking down on the visitors. “We expended many potations to save our race. Perhaps you would like to accept the expense of replacing what he cost us.”
Aoloan stammers, and Gwenesphia finally speaks, “Your Grace, my ladies; Daniel acted only to defend people he cared about. I do not believe him to be a murderer or assassin.”
Hekate asks a little coldly, “You seek this Daniel as well?”
Gwen confirms with a nod. “Yes, your Grace. He was a soldier on our fortress; a comrade. He did not provoke your people. He was attacked and defended himself. But… regrettably, he was mistreated by ours… as well… So, he took it upon himself to stop the war, it seems. If you could direct us to him…”
“Do you intend to arrest him and take him back?” asks Hekate pointedly.
Gwenesphia hesitates a moment, glancing at Treia beside her. She replies, “We intend to take him back, your Grace. We are willing to negotiate for his life.”
Geirahoel retorts, “The debt he owns includes many lives, and you seek to merely take him back to your base? Are we to believe that justice will be done?”
Gwenesphia is silent as well. She offers gently, “He is important to me, personally… I want to bring him back for me. I understand your anger, but he was attacked first. Please understand, he’s not a cruel person. It is why I care so deeply for him. He is kind, more intelligent and brave than he lets on, and he always does his best to help people, even when they don’t deserve it.”
Hekate growls, “So, you’re in love with him, are you?”
Gwen looks down, and after a moment, she silently nods. “Without a doubt, your Grace.”
She glares at Aoloan, “And you?”
Aoloan nods softly. “Yes, my Lady. I, too, have fallen for Daniel.”
The young feldrok girl sucks her teeth, turning her scowl on Treia, who is the only one who hasn’t said anything yet, and her own expression is serious and seemingly unshakable. “What about you? Are you in love with Daniel?”
Treia is silent for a moment, staring back at Hekate. The intense gaze causes Hekate’s glare to narrow.
Suddenly, still without a word, Treia stands up.
She walks without hesitation towards the steps. Everyone watches her with disbelief, and the entire moment is awkward.
Treia ascends the stairs, walking directly towards the knight referred to as Hekate’s Darling.
Geirahoel is the first to growl, “You impudent little…”
Without warning, as she stops in front of Daniel, Treia’s expression wavers finally, and she sucker-punches Daniel in the abdomen. He coughs and grunts, and Gwenesphia and Aoloan gasp, as Hekate and Ryuogriar cock their heads in absolute disbelief.
Daniel himself is stunned, since he can’t figure out what she’s doing.
She stares into the face of his helmet, and her eyes begin watering.
***