"Ain't no fucking WAY! NOPE! I am NOT gonna call this punk-ass, KING! Bitch-ass busta-ass. I repeat, ain't no FUCKING WAY. I would rather be forced to walk on four paws for the rest of my life and be a whole-ass Panther who CAN’T talk, than ever call her motherfucking Teufel-ASS, King." Menelik was less than pleased with what was happening, and he was very expressive about it. "She can't control herself; she may kill one of us again."
"You can relax on that front," Aladdin assured, giving Maeve a comforting pat on the shoulders as he positioned himself in front of her. "Maeve's mother is no more, returned to the All Tree. No need to fear a repeat of the Oduduwa incident. I guarantee you that."
Taharqa raised an eyebrow. "And who are you?"
"Ah, the Dark Elf," Aladdin acknowledged, a hint of caution in his tone. "Given your people's history, it's understandable to be wary. All things considered."
Menelik and Idris shifted their attention to Taharqa. "What's he talking about?" Idris inquired. "What happened to your peoples?"
Taharqa sighed, shaking his head. "We don’t need to worry about that now; they're doing fine these days. Let's just say we were a bit too trusting in the past."
Menelik wasn't satisfied. "Come on, now I'm curious, bro."
Taharqa shot a small glare at Aladdin, who responded with a wink and a nod. "How about we hash all this out over some tea by the fire?" Before anyone could answer, Aladdin snapped his fingers and they found themselves standing in the Emperor's personal chambers. Despite the chaos of teleportation to Highbluff and the ensuing war, the room remained untouched by the mayhem.
A grand mantle fireplace adorned the far wall, its flames gracefully dancing along a sizable stack of logs. The king's quarters were nothing short of splendid—an expansive space with rich tan wood flooring, complemented by a magnificent red and blue rug embellished with golden hems. The intricate patterns within the rug added an elegant touch, weaving a tapestry of designs.
Despite the absence of windows, the room basked in a warm and enchanting glow, thanks to bright magic stones artfully arranged in ornate lamp-like fixtures strategically placed around the chamber. The grand bed, adorned with a canopy, boasted luxurious red blankets and an abundance of pillows. The canopy, in contrast, was an off-white expanse, adding a regal touch to the sleeping quarters.
In lieu of traditional windows, large paintings adorned the walls. Above the fireplace, a meticulously detailed map of Arrithia graced the space. On the left side, above a desk, a collection of maps formed a diamond-like shape, each depicting the various kingdoms of Sidra, with an overarching view of the entire island at the center.
A well-furnished table sat at the room's center, hosting several cups of warm tea, inviting the company to partake in a moment of respite. The chamber was vast, spacious enough to accommodate a small dance recital, with an abundance of chairs and seats for those gathered. At the far wall, a small indent offered a hidden table, seamlessly pulled out from the wall itself, adding a touch of practicality to the otherwise opulent setting.
Menelik, breaking the silence, asked, "Is this where King Bitch will be staying for now on?"
"No, actually," Aladdin corrected. "This will be my new office. Any more questions before tea?"
The group's attention turned to Aladdin, confusion evident on each face.
Sukki inquired, "What about Zero?"
"He's dead," Menelik replied.
"For now," Aladdin interrupted. "As much as I know about this world and its laws, I don't know any way to bring the dead back to life. But when I saw the look in Zero's eyes when he told me his plan, I actually believed it was possible. So he is dead, for now."
Benny, with his long blonde hair cast behind his ear, raised his hand. "Excuse me."
"Ah, the hybrid child, yes, what is it you have to say?" Aladdin remarked.
"Are we to mourn him or not? I am unaccustomed to the ways of any of your people, and this group is more than odd," Benny pointed to Menelik. "He is filled with such hate and anger, all directed at Maeve, who has not shed one tear for her husband in his death. But then there is Miss. Sukki, who has hidden hers but has shed them." He turned toward Idris and Taharqa. "And both of them have not shed a tear, but their sadness dwells from within." He looked back at Aladdin. "I am unsure of how I am supposed to feel right now."
A lingering silence hung in the air before Aladdin spoke up. "You feel however you want, Benny; that's up to you."
"Ah," Benny replied. "Very good, then may I have some tea? I am thirsty."
Aladdin nodded, his eyes widening as he turned his gaze to the rest of the group. "Quite strange that one." he whispered.
"He's like twelve hours old or something; cut him some slack," Oiwa stated.
"I can hear you," Benny said.
"Wasn't trying to whisper," Oiwa replied. She gestured at the table. "Can I have some tea too?"
"Why don't we all have tea?" Maeve suggested, her attention fixed on Menelik. "Then we can talk... about EVERYTHING."
Menelik stood there, his intense turquoise eyes piercing through Maeve. After a moment or so, he nodded.
Menelik turned toward the tea table, and the others followed suit. "By the way, when you get your cloak back or whatever, I want Oduduwa's heart."
Maeve remained silent, standing as the group migrated to the table and took their seats.
"This is an older recipe, they call it Jasmine. Got it from a Fire Breathing Adventurer, an older man with a hearty laugh and always the wisest of little things to say," Aladdin shared, pouring the tea into Menelik's cup first and then circling around the group, one by one.
"How old are you, Aladdin?" Menelik inquired, raising the tea to his snout. After holding it there for a moment, he glanced around, then began slurping the tea with his tongue.
"Ah, let’s see," Aladdin stated. "I’m about as old as my tongue and a bit older than my teeth."
Menelik held his tongue just above the tea, tucking it back in for one last comment. "Why are you the way you are?"
Aladdin let out a small laugh, then turned to Maeve, who still stood by the doorway, a small smile on her face as she observed the group beginning to drink their tea. He was about to call her over, but stopped; the look on her face suggested no immediate need for involvement. She would come over when she wanted. However, as usual, Menelik had other plans.
"What’s wrong?" Menelik boasted. "You starting to think Zero won’t be able to come back?" Menelik stood up, his tail swaying back and forth in his armor. "Would be a shame if someone close to you died."
"Hey, man," Idris interjected. "That’s enough. Let’s just—."
"No," Maeve interrupted. "Let him speak. I want to hear what he has to say."
Menelik wasted no time with his quick answer. “I need everyone to listen up to what this bitch did.”
“We know what she did?” Oiwa stated, standing up from her chair. “Most of us were there, and I don’t think we need to really keep—.”
“You’re not listening, I’m telling Sukki and Benny here what happened and who knows.” Menelik gestured to his side. “Aladdin here might need to know too.”
The room fell silent.
“When we finally got out of that stupid maze…” He glanced over directly at Oiwa. “No offense.”
She threw her hands up at him, shrugging her shoulders. “I understand.”
“Anyhow, we got out of there, and we ended up here, and the moon was all funky, and this bitch.” Menelik rested his hand on Maeve’s shoulder. “She gets all caught up in it, and Oduduwa comes up to check on her and shit, and she cuts off his hand, then plunges her hand into his chest and steals his heart. Then tucks it into her cloak thing, which that place we were all in back there, that endless darkness, she has that sewn into a cape.”
Menelik glanced at Maeve, then shifted his gaze back to the group. "She doesn't have it right now, but it's real."
Benny shot up his hand. "Yes, Benjamin," Menelik acknowledged.
"Why did she do it?" Benny inquired.
"Because her mother, she’s the one who trapped us in the Void earlier—"
"Nix is a Higher," Benny interjected.
"Yes," Menelik affirmed.
"So she is quite powerful?" Benny sought clarification.
"Yes, she was. She's dead now, so I guess not that powerful," Menelik replied.
"But that's because Zero is an Immortal. It's like saying a Higher isn't powerful because it died to another Higher," Benny explained.
Menelik looked around, confusion evident in his twitching head. "Yeah, but you're not listening. We're talking about two different things. Anyway, her mother put an enchantment on her when she was born, allowing her to take control of Maeve whenever she wanted."
"So she wasn't in control?" Sukki sought clarification.
Menelik raised a hand. "That's the funny part. She says she broke the spell a long time ago, and it was just a lapse in judgment."
"The tree was an amplifier," Benny interrupted. "It's rather simple to see, really."
Menelik sneered at Benny, walking over to him and lifting him from his seat. Benny struggled for a moment, clutching his tea frantically as he was dragged away and placed in front of everyone. "There, since you've got all the answers, you tell the story.
Benny stood there, teacup in hand, and the whole crew, including Maeve and Aladdin, had settled down, fixing their eyes on him, waiting.
"Speak up, buddy," Menelik urged. "It's your show now."
Benny gave a nod, taking a sip of the tea. "The Vampire Tree, it was meant to amplify Nix’s magic," he explained, glancing at Maeve and then Menelik. "ALL of her magic. So, even if she managed to outsmart her mom's enchantment, a birth spell is near impossible to fully break. And that tree..." Benny paused, his expression turning serious. After a moment, he swallowed and stared straight ahead. "That tree represented 88% of Sidra’s population." A heavy silence filled the room, a collective sense of dread sinking in. They knew things were bad, but this was something else entirely. Before anyone could react, Benny pressed on.
"There was another eight percent wiped out in the slaughter," he continued, his voice now carrying a weighty tone. His eyes scanned the room with a newfound confidence. "Do the math. Your friend is just one more in a sea of losses. You need to look toward the future and have faith in your comrade, because unlike the others, he has a chance to return."
"Ain't no fucking WAY! NOPE! I am NOT gonna call this punk-ass, KING! Bitch-ass busta-ass. I repeat, ain't no FUCKING WAY. I would rather be forced to walk on four paws for the rest of my life and be a whole-ass Panther who CAN’T talk, than ever call her motherfucking Teufel-ASS, King." Menelik was less than pleased with what was happening, and he was very expressive about it. "She can't control herself; she may kill one of us again."
"You can relax on that front," Aladdin assured, giving Maeve a comforting pat on the shoulders as he positioned himself in front of her. "Maeve's mother is no more, returned to the All Tree. No need to fear a repeat of the Oduduwa incident. I guarantee you that."
Taharqa raised an eyebrow. "And who are you?"
"Ah, the Dark Elf," Aladdin acknowledged, a hint of caution in his tone. "Given your people's history, it's understandable to be wary. All things considered."
Menelik and Idris shifted their attention to Taharqa. "What's he talking about?" Idris inquired. "What happened to your peoples?"
Taharqa sighed, shaking his head. "We don’t need to worry about that now; they're doing fine these days. Let's just say we were a bit too trusting in the past."
Menelik wasn't satisfied. "Come on, now I'm curious, bro."
Taharqa shot a small glare at Aladdin, who responded with a wink and a nod. "How about we hash all this out over some tea by the fire?" Before anyone could answer, Aladdin snapped his fingers and they found themselves standing in the Emperor's personal chambers. Despite the chaos of teleportation to Highbluff and the ensuing war, the room remained untouched by the mayhem.
A grand mantle fireplace adorned the far wall, its flames gracefully dancing along a sizable stack of logs. The king's quarters were nothing short of splendid—an expansive space with rich tan wood flooring, complemented by a magnificent red and blue rug embellished with golden hems. The intricate patterns within the rug added an elegant touch, weaving a tapestry of designs.
Despite the absence of windows, the room basked in a warm and enchanting glow, thanks to bright magic stones artfully arranged in ornate lamp-like fixtures strategically placed around the chamber. The grand bed, adorned with a canopy, boasted luxurious red blankets and an abundance of pillows. The canopy, in contrast, was an off-white expanse, adding a regal touch to the sleeping quarters.
In lieu of traditional windows, large paintings adorned the walls. Above the fireplace, a meticulously detailed map of Arrithia graced the space. On the left side, above a desk, a collection of maps formed a diamond-like shape, each depicting the various kingdoms of Sidra, with an overarching view of the entire island at the center.
A well-furnished table sat at the room's center, hosting several cups of warm tea, inviting the company to partake in a moment of respite. The chamber was vast, spacious enough to accommodate a small dance recital, with an abundance of chairs and seats for those gathered. At the far wall, a small indent offered a hidden table, seamlessly pulled out from the wall itself, adding a touch of practicality to the otherwise opulent setting.
Menelik, breaking the silence, asked, "Is this where King Bitch will be staying for now on?"
"No, actually," Aladdin corrected. "This will be my new office. Any more questions before tea?"
The group's attention turned to Aladdin, confusion evident on each face.
Sukki inquired, "What about Zero?"
"He's dead," Menelik replied.
"For now," Aladdin interrupted. "As much as I know about this world and its laws, I don't know any way to bring the dead back to life. But when I saw the look in Zero's eyes when he told me his plan, I actually believed it was possible. So he is dead, for now."
Benny, with his long blonde hair cast behind his ear, raised his hand. "Excuse me."
"Ah, the hybrid child, yes, what is it you have to say?" Aladdin remarked.
"Are we to mourn him or not? I am unaccustomed to the ways of any of your people, and this group is more than odd," Benny pointed to Menelik. "He is filled with such hate and anger, all directed at Maeve, who has not shed one tear for her husband in his death. But then there is Miss. Sukki, who has hidden hers but has shed them." He turned toward Idris and Taharqa. "And both of them have not shed a tear, but their sadness dwells from within." He looked back at Aladdin. "I am unsure of how I am supposed to feel right now."
A lingering silence hung in the air before Aladdin spoke up. "You feel however you want, Benny; that's up to you."
"Ah," Benny replied. "Very good, then may I have some tea? I am thirsty."
Aladdin nodded, his eyes widening as he turned his gaze to the rest of the group. "Quite strange that one." he whispered.
"He's like twelve hours old or something; cut him some slack," Oiwa stated.
"I can hear you," Benny said.
"Wasn't trying to whisper," Oiwa replied. She gestured at the table. "Can I have some tea too?"
"Why don't we all have tea?" Maeve suggested, her attention fixed on Menelik. "Then we can talk... about EVERYTHING."
Menelik stood there, his intense turquoise eyes piercing through Maeve. After a moment or so, he nodded.
Menelik turned toward the tea table, and the others followed suit. "By the way, when you get your cloak back or whatever, I want Oduduwa's heart."
Maeve remained silent, standing as the group migrated to the table and took their seats.
"This is an older recipe, they call it Jasmine. Got it from a Fire Breathing Adventurer, an older man with a hearty laugh and always the wisest of little things to say," Aladdin shared, pouring the tea into Menelik's cup first and then circling around the group, one by one.
"How old are you, Aladdin?" Menelik inquired, raising the tea to his snout. After holding it there for a moment, he glanced around, then began slurping the tea with his tongue.
"Ah, let’s see," Aladdin stated. "I’m about as old as my tongue and a bit older than my teeth."
Menelik held his tongue just above the tea, tucking it back in for one last comment. "Why are you the way you are?"
Aladdin let out a small laugh, then turned to Maeve, who still stood by the doorway, a small smile on her face as she observed the group beginning to drink their tea. He was about to call her over, but stopped; the look on her face suggested no immediate need for involvement. She would come over when she wanted. However, as usual, Menelik had other plans.
"What’s wrong?" Menelik boasted. "You starting to think Zero won’t be able to come back?" Menelik stood up, his tail swaying back and forth in his armor. "Would be a shame if someone close to you died."
"Hey, man," Idris interjected. "That’s enough. Let’s just—."
"No," Maeve interrupted. "Let him speak. I want to hear what he has to say."
Menelik wasted no time with his quick answer. “I need everyone to listen up to what this bitch did.”
“We know what she did?” Oiwa stated, standing up from her chair. “Most of us were there, and I don’t think we need to really keep—.”
“You’re not listening, I’m telling Sukki and Benny here what happened and who knows.” Menelik gestured to his side. “Aladdin here might need to know too.”
The room fell silent.
“When we finally got out of that stupid maze…” He glanced over directly at Oiwa. “No offense.”
She threw her hands up at him, shrugging her shoulders. “I understand.”
“Anyhow, we got out of there, and we ended up here, and the moon was all funky, and this bitch.” Menelik rested his hand on Maeve’s shoulder. “She gets all caught up in it, and Oduduwa comes up to check on her and shit, and she cuts off his hand, then plunges her hand into his chest and steals his heart. Then tucks it into her cloak thing, which that place we were all in back there, that endless darkness, she has that sewn into a cape.”
Menelik glanced at Maeve, then shifted his gaze back to the group. "She doesn't have it right now, but it's real."
Benny shot up his hand. "Yes, Benjamin," Menelik acknowledged.
"Why did she do it?" Benny inquired.
"Because her mother, she’s the one who trapped us in the Void earlier—"
"Nix is a Higher," Benny interjected.
"Yes," Menelik affirmed.
"So she is quite powerful?" Benny sought clarification.
"Yes, she was. She's dead now, so I guess not that powerful," Menelik replied.
"But that's because Zero is an Immortal. It's like saying a Higher isn't powerful because it died to another Higher," Benny explained.
Menelik looked around, confusion evident in his twitching head. "Yeah, but you're not listening. We're talking about two different things. Anyway, her mother put an enchantment on her when she was born, allowing her to take control of Maeve whenever she wanted."
"So she wasn't in control?" Sukki sought clarification.
Menelik raised a hand. "That's the funny part. She says she broke the spell a long time ago, and it was just a lapse in judgment."
"The tree was an amplifier," Benny interrupted. "It's rather simple to see, really."
Menelik sneered at Benny, walking over to him and lifting him from his seat. Benny struggled for a moment, clutching his tea frantically as he was dragged away and placed in front of everyone. "There, since you've got all the answers, you tell the story.
Benny stood there, teacup in hand, and the whole crew, including Maeve and Aladdin, had settled down, fixing their eyes on him, waiting.
"Speak up, buddy," Menelik urged. "It's your show now."
Benny gave a nod, taking a sip of the tea. "The Vampire Tree, it was meant to amplify Nix’s magic," he explained, glancing at Maeve and then Menelik. "ALL of her magic. So, even if she managed to outsmart her mom's enchantment, a birth spell is near impossible to fully break. And that tree..." Benny paused, his expression turning serious. After a moment, he swallowed and stared straight ahead. "That tree represented 88% of Sidra’s population." A heavy silence filled the room, a collective sense of dread sinking in. They knew things were bad, but this was something else entirely. Before anyone could react, Benny pressed on.
"There was another eight percent wiped out in the slaughter," he continued, his voice now carrying a weighty tone. His eyes scanned the room with a newfound confidence. "Do the math. Your friend is just one more in a sea of losses. You need to look toward the future and have faith in your comrade, because unlike the others, he has a chance to return."
