As they returned to the city, Mother Ora had some of the tribesmen take Jensen and Hallie to receive treatment with Elder Ebe, while she went with Priscilla towards a lounge room she personally used. The room was offset from the ground on raised platforms that elevated itself away from the dust, velvet cushions laid out by a low table with goblets and pitchers atop it. A water fixture flowed in a part of the room giving it a splash of crystal blue and coolness that one would not expect from a place like this, one in the depths of the sand.
Strange multi-coloured plants crept alongside the walls and ceiling giving the room a touch of radiance and beauty that suppressed every notion of the word 'barbarian' from people's minds as they set their sight upon it. The room was more divine than many noble property's that Priscilla had seen in her life. It exuded wealth and luxury that she couldn't fathom where it even came from.
''Wow— this place... it's magnificent.'' she uttered, her bottom lip hanging slightly open from surprise.
Mother Ora seeing her reaction couldn't help but giggle as she settled down on one of the leisurely cushions. Her long legs slenderly crossed as she poured herself a goblet full of what seemed to be some sort of wine. ''Sit, my dear. I get the feeling there's a lot for us to discuss.'' she said softly as she waved for the girl to settle down.
Priscilla sat down across from the woman, eyeing her strangely. There was an uncertainty about her, she was young and beautiful, but there was a pressure in her presence not unlike when she dealt with her father. It made some part of her feel a taut tension that she couldn't refute. ''I'll start then... my name is Priscilla Valentine, daughter of Duke Valentine, and I must return to the Empire as soon as possible.'' she said confidently, breaking the silent tension that formed for a second.
''Duke Valentine's daughter?'' Mother Ora questioned with a cocked eyebrow. ''Now that is a surprise. Am I supposed to believe this?'' she questioned with a charming grin.
Before Priscilla could reply, the woman continued cheekily. ''Duke Valentine's daughter was said to be dead. A witch. Burnt to ash.'' she rolled the goblet between her fingers playfully as she eyed the woman in front of her. ''Just because we live far from the Imperial city, does not mean we're clueless.''
But then she laughed, calming down the serious tone she was forcing. ''So how'd you come back?'' she asked curiously, causing Priscilla to frown in confusion.
''So you believe me?'' she asked, looking deeply at the woman before her.
The woman's eyes glowed with an amber hue as she arched herself towards Priscilla. ''My dear, I am Sharazz Ora Illita, descendant of the Parthian's of yore. I am blessed by the ancestors, their souls serving as guardians to our people since time immemorial. I can see them swirl around you, a yearning that stretches through time.''
''When I was nine the Divinity Yun'e shone her graceful light at me, with a mission to uphold, by the time I was ten I had traversed the sand and united all the tribes that broke apart in the sands of time. When I turned fifteen I had gone to war with the bordering nations three times, surviving each battle. Now fifteen years later the final battle encroaches upon my land, aiming to smite my people off the map. I have seen much in this world, so tell me. Why would I not believe you?'' she asked sweetly, her narration sending chills down Priscilla's back.
''I see...'' the girl spoke. ''When I 'died' I found myself in a strange place bereft of light and time, from there I managed to return...'' she took the other goblet filling it slightly and taking a sip of the wine.
''I want to get revenge on father and the Empire itself. And I too think I have a mission to uphold... those monsters are amassing in numbers, the Empire is stirring with evil, perhaps even my own execution was a part of it. I saw the streets littered with the corpses of all as the skies opened to welcome a man above.''
''What?'' Sharazz interrupted her. ''Did you see the Demon Divala? Was he a towering man, pale of flesh and hair of pristine white?''
''I don't know who that is. But yes that is what he looked like. The streets flooded with the blood of many, weaving a pattern into the flesh of the city and cracking the sky. Then he appeared with hysterical laughter as those below knelt subserviently.'' Priscilla said, recalling the scenes she had seen. ''Father, he too seemed involved somehow. So I must go and stop him.''
''Alright, dear. I'll help you.'' Sharazz said warmly. ''I have a bone to pick with the Empire anyways, so it works out.''
''I have a merchant friend who should be arriving once he hears about the attack. He always does hunt down a good profit when conflicts arise.'' she laughed. ''He can take you along his convoy back, and offer you some support while there.''
Sharazz stood up, patting her behind slightly as she walked towards Priscilla and sat down beside her. ''Once you get your revenge, what will you do next?'' she asked playfully, her finger gliding down the side of Priscilla's cheek.
Priscilla eyed her warily, but resisted jumping to not offend the woman. ''I don't know.'' she said shortly. ''I want to travel the world, I want to see what it has to offer. I have a friend I have to help as well... but besides that, I don't know what I want to do.'' she said honestly.
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''Why don't you stay here?'' Sharazz asked, revealing her teeth in a bright smile as she placed her hand under Priscilla's chin. She got a slap in response as Priscilla brushed her hand off.
''Why are you fooling around?'' she asked in annoyance. The woman's playfulness seemed so exaggerated that it made her uncomfortable.
''Fooling around? I'm not!'' she chuckled. ''I'm being quite serious. I thought you were cute from the moment I laid my eyes on you.'' she added playfully.
''But anyways... maybe you'll change your mind in the future. Would you like to have a meal first?''
''You haven't told me the rest of your story either...''
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Meanwhile in the Ellis Empire the winds of change blew, a veritable storm of chaos. People hid in their homes panicked as guards stormed the streets. 'Emperor Ellis had gone mad!' all claimed. He slaughtered the members of the Imperial family, stabbing their severed heads onto pikes that covered the length of the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Legion broke into two as half supported the Mad Emperor, and the other half fought for the people. Their blades crossed through the streets of the Imperial city as blood and limbs danced in the air. The people fled for their lives, but the Mad Emperor's guards cut them down mercilessly, refusing to give them a chance to neither beg nor submit.
''Charge!'' a loud gruff voice echoed flatly across the city, as troops stormed in on horseback. Their armor glistening in a mix of black and golden hues. They raised their blades confidently as they strode into the city attacking the Mad Emperor's men.
''Fear not, my citizens! I Karthus Ellis Valentine have returned!'' the man spoke loudly before his voice turned into a booming yell. ''AS THE SOLE LIVING HEIR TO THE EMPIRE, I WILL STOP MY BROTHER'S INSANITY!'' he roared as he took his greatsword piercing it into the depths of one of the soldier's skulls.
The soldiers opposing the Emperor cheered, they waved their weapons in the air chanting Duke Valentine's name proudly as they fought with the mad traitors. Even the people scared witless began to poke their heads out of their homes, crying and chanting the man's name. He came in like a saviour, like a God flailing his sword of judgement to punish the cruelty of the Emperor. With tears in their eyes they supported the man's assault faithfully.
''Stop him!'' one of the men roared, as he thrust his spear through the air aiming it at Duke Valentine's head. But the man easily deflected it, pulling on his reigns slightly to adjust the horse's course. He waved his greatsword in an arc that decapitated the man closest to him, while eyeing the one that threw the spear. One Valentine's men seeing this rushed in, he got close in a flash before thrusting his own spear down at the man's chest and lifting him up over his head, impaled and blood dripping down the cold metal.
The brutality was horrendous, blood flowed and corpses piled up in mounds all across the streets, the people's cheering would've been insane normally, yet in this situation it became a kind of norm. Why should they care about morality or rights? When the Emperor had chosen to slay both kin and nation all the same. He had started this carnival of blood, so as the people how could they not cheer for the man who came to stop his insanity. No matter how many bodies fell the people only gained more confidence, the madman's soldiers were dying out, the saviour's side was becoming victorious. They began leaving their homes confidently, the tears drying and turning into anger aimed at Emperor Ellis.
Duke Valentine known for his cold and stoic expression for once smiled an all-knowing grin as he continued hacking at the men in front of him. He and his men who he named the Valerius Legion stormed straight towards the palace, cutting down man after man until none remained that supported the madman. ''Wait here. I'll do this myself.'' the man said to his legion as he waved them off to the side.
He walked confidently towards the towering palace doors, opening them easily with a shove of his hands and walking inside. The doors seemingly on their own shut behind him, leaving the crowd of soldiers and people clueless of what was happening inside, but they cheered nonetheless.
''Slay him, Lord Valentine!''
''Kill the Mad Emperor!''
''WIN DUKE! YOU CAN DO IT!''
Their passionate roars echoed across the city and even entered into the Imperial Palace. Duke Valentine turned his head slightly, a mocking smile spreading across his face as he entered into the sprawling throne room where the large man sat legs crossed. His stern face eyeing aggressively at Duke Valentine.
''So you've finally come, my little brother.'' he said hoarsely. ''All those years I spent raising you, washing you, caring for you... and you turn your back on me like this. If only mother and father knew. The pity they would feel if they could see you now. The heartbreak they'd feel.''
''Why must you do this to me? You know how sad I feel seeing you come here?''
''Are you going to keep playing games?'' the Duke said impatiently with a smile. ''It's just the two of us here.''
The man on the throne laughed, his body contorting and bubbling as the flesh stretched and condensed rhythmically, his hair lengthened and changed, his form shifted, and flesh healed, as a woman stepped down from the throne. Her pale tender feet stepping on the cold tiles, tiptoeing gracefully towards the man as her hips swayed in her form-encompassing red gown.
''You never let me have fun, hubby.'' she giggled playfully as she wrapped her arms around the man's neck, letting him lift her up.
''It's simply because your jokes are never funny, Maxine.'' Duke Valentine said flatly, before he lifted the woman up with one arm beneath her bottom. As their eyes met they embraced into a passionate kiss as their tongues intertwined.
''Are you really doing this without me?'' another woman's voice broke them out of their passion, her steps lightly exited from the shadows of the throne room, her black gown dragging on the floor as she walked towards the two. Her charm and appeal no weaker than that of Maxine as she smiled her charming smile towards the man.
''So you're here as well.'' he said with a cold grin. ''We can start then.'' he added as he walked up to the woman and lifted her up as well onto his other side, her arm caressing his face as she snuggled into his chest.
''The time has come, for me to become the Emperor.''