Maeve stood in the throne room, surveying the aftermath of the clash between Zero and the Emperor. Although the majority of the castle had been meticulously restored, and even the throne room had undergone repairs, the throne itself stood as a poignant reminder to the battle's fury. While Sol advocated for its restoration, and Luna remained indifferent, Zus insisted on preserving its shattered state, viewing it as a symbol marking the demise of humanity—a grim reminder he had found oddly satisfying.
"Should I fix that?" Aladdin's voice echoed from behind. He lingered by the door, patiently awaiting Maeve's next commands. "Greed and the others should be arriving at the dock soon. Shall I bid them farewell once I'm done here?"
Maeve turned to face him. "No to your second question, yes to the first."
Aladdin nodded, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Advancing towards the throne, he withdrew his wand, twirling it with a flourish. With each graceful movement, stone fragments levitated and seamlessly rejoined, reconstructing the throne in a matter of moments. With one final, elegant sweep, Aladdin stowed his wand away.
Stepping back, he gestured towards the now-restored throne with a flourish. "Your majesty." Aladdin inclined his head, looking up at Maeve. "Your throne awaits." He grinned, mischief glinting in his eyes. "I have added some more personal touches, I hope you don’t mind."
"Huh, you really do like using gold," she stated.
Maeve looked to the now-restored masterpiece before her. The golden throne, resplendent and regal, beckoned with an air of majesty that echoed Pök sandstone. The previously shattered seat now boasted opulent black cushions, providing a stark yet elegant contrast to the gleaming gold covered sandstone.
As she approached, intricate raven designs adorned the sides of the throne, their feathers etched in meticulous detail. The dark silhouettes alongside the radiant gold exuded an otherworldly charm.
But it was on the back of the throne where Aladdin had left his creative mark. Woven into the fabric, a mesmerizing array of constellations twinkled in the cosmic darkness. The stars seemed to dance, forming an ethereal portrait of the night sky.
Seated upon this ornate throne, Maeve felt the weight of her newfound responsibilities, yet a sense of empowerment surged through her. The melding of golden grandeur, dark sophistication, and celestial wonders encapsulated not just a seat of power but the first step in the next part of her journey.
She looked down at Aladdin. "Sukki, Benny, and Oiwa, have they decided if they are leaving with Autumn and Shiroe?"
Aladdin nodded. "They actually left already, Benny and Oiwa, that is. Sukki has elected to stay here; without the moon, she is quite vulnerable." He shifted his focus more on Maeve, giving her more of his attention. "I believe they are heading to Centalará. Shiroe has been telling me he wants to study the magic residue left over from whatever broke the Elven barrier."
Just as Maeve was about to reply, the throne doors burst open, and the amount of aura that followed pushed Maeve back into the throne cushion, keeping her there for a moment as a screaming woman came forward.
"WHAT THE FUUUHUUUCCK?! JUST HAAAAAAHPPPPPPPENED? TO THE FUUUUCKING MOOOOOON?!" The woman's voice shook the entire hall. "I KNOW FOR A FACT! THAT GIANT FLAME BEAM CAME FROM HERE! NOW WHO THE FUCK AND WHY THE FUCK AND EVEN HOW THE FUCK?! JUST AHHHH!"
Aladdin stood there, his mouth fitted in an awkward smile as his eyes darted from the woman to Maeve.
She had beautiful gray skin with white freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks; her eyes were a deep blue, her hair was a pristine white that waved its way down her shoulders, completely covering her bare chest, which was adorned with more white freckles. A string of jewels displaying the five phases of the moon adorned her neck and around her waist was a long white gown; she had tied the arms around her waist, leaving her arms exposed from the shoulders down to the elbow where long white gloves laid over her fingers. Her bare feet were complemented with white polish that matched the freckles across her body.
Maeve stood up, her eyes wide; she tried to hide her laughter, but some of it slipped out.
"YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!" She called out to Maeve.
"I'm not laughing at you. State your name."
The woman's head leaned back as she took in an audibly deep and angered breath. She held it for a moment, and just as she was about to let it out, the cries of four voices echoed from the open door and down the hall, and soon after, four, what could be best described as sentient colored fog rounded the corner.
"WHO DID IT, IVARA?" The yellow one called out as they all four burst into the room and surrounded the woman.
"LET ME KNOW SO I CAN FUCK THEM UP." The red one shouted.
"Was it her?" The blue one asked, turning all their attention to Maeve.
The red one shook up and down. "Let me at her, I can take her."
The woman pushed all four of them down and behind her then she looked back at Maeve. "I am Ivara, Higher of Moon, a FUCKING GODDESS AND YOU JUST BLEW UP THE SOURCE OF MY POWER!"
"AND OUR HOME!" The red fog shouted.
"WHY'D YOU DO IT?!" The green one asked.
"YEAH TELL US!" the red one shouted again.
Ivara shushed them and pulled them back behind her again. "You don't understand the consequences of what you just did."
As if an answer to her silent call, a deluge of scorching energy burst into the room, mercilessly tearing through the ceiling and creating a smoky rupture. Amidst the fiery chaos, the outline of a majestic figure materialized, bathed in the radiant glow of a brilliant yellow inferno. "And you don’t know what would have happened if they didn’t."
The figure possessed a rich tapestry of features—an embodiment of dark, velvety skin adorned with short white dreadlocks. Golden tattoos, aglow with a celestial light, adorned every inch of their form, casting an ethereal radiance that danced in harmony with the flickering flames. The eyes, twin orbs of molten gold, burned fiercely with an inner fire, peering out from the midst of the conflagration.
Clothed in divine simplicity, the figure appeared shirtless, with bands of gold and red encircling mighty forearms, and wrist gauntlets adding to their battle ready appearance. Below, billowing pants, adorned with a scroll bound and draped over the front, swirled with each step.
He extinguished his flames, and instantly Ivara shouted. "Sarynn?!" She ran up to him, her hands reaching for his; she pulled it close. "You, you, you've woken from the long sleep?!"
Sarynn turned to her, his face full of confusion. "Huh?" He pulled his hand away. "I wasn't in the long sleep, I was just taking a nap."
"What." Ivara's voice was so annoyed that Maeve couldn't help but cop a smirk. "You mean to tell me I have been working double taking care of the moon and both suns, and you were FUCKING NAPPING?"
"For what it's worth, you only needed to take care of one sun, I only made one, the other was just my shell for napping, but the temperature dropped and I woke up, and when I woke up, I saw the moon explode, that sucks."
Ivara lunged at Sarynn, and the two engaged in a wrestling match. Sarynn's laughter echoed, but it abruptly ceased when Ivara started landing repeated punches on his face, her shouts punctuating each blow.
"I've been working tirelessly, and you've been napping?" she exclaimed, delivering a final punch before standing up. "You act like my powers fading and the seasons being completely obliterated from their bodies isn't a big deal."
Sarynn, brushing off dust from his chest, retorted, "Endless darkness, did you want that?"
"What?" Ivara replied, confused.
"Are you really that stupid?" Sarynn's gaze prevented her from taking another swing. He turned to Maeve, asking, "Nix is dead, is that correct?"
Maeve nodded. "Yes, she was what destroyed the moon when my husband threw himself and her into it."
Ivara attempted to step forward, but Sarynn extended his hand. "Your husband, is he dead too?"
Maeve nodded again.
"Understood." Sarynn shifted his attention to Aladdin. "What do you make of all this?"
"The moon is the least of my worries," Aladdin replied. "We can make another."
Ivara shot him a disgusted look. "Excuse me, just MAKE another?"
Sarynn rolled his eyes and turned to Maeve. "The Warlords are on their way; I saw their ships sailing this way while I was coming here. They're probably here for what's bothering the big guy." He gestured to Aladdin.
"And what might that be?" Ivara inquired.
Sarynn sighed before looking up at Maeve.
"Arrithia is dying."
END OF VOLUME II
See you in 2024 for Chapter 51 and the start of Volume III
Maeve stood in the throne room, surveying the aftermath of the clash between Zero and the Emperor. Although the majority of the castle had been meticulously restored, and even the throne room had undergone repairs, the throne itself stood as a poignant reminder to the battle's fury. While Sol advocated for its restoration, and Luna remained indifferent, Zus insisted on preserving its shattered state, viewing it as a symbol marking the demise of humanity—a grim reminder he had found oddly satisfying.
"Should I fix that?" Aladdin's voice echoed from behind. He lingered by the door, patiently awaiting Maeve's next commands. "Greed and the others should be arriving at the dock soon. Shall I bid them farewell once I'm done here?"
Maeve turned to face him. "No to your second question, yes to the first."
Aladdin nodded, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Advancing towards the throne, he withdrew his wand, twirling it with a flourish. With each graceful movement, stone fragments levitated and seamlessly rejoined, reconstructing the throne in a matter of moments. With one final, elegant sweep, Aladdin stowed his wand away.
Stepping back, he gestured towards the now-restored throne with a flourish. "Your majesty." Aladdin inclined his head, looking up at Maeve. "Your throne awaits." He grinned, mischief glinting in his eyes. "I have added some more personal touches, I hope you don’t mind."
"Huh, you really do like using gold," she stated.
Maeve looked to the now-restored masterpiece before her. The golden throne, resplendent and regal, beckoned with an air of majesty that echoed Pök sandstone. The previously shattered seat now boasted opulent black cushions, providing a stark yet elegant contrast to the gleaming gold covered sandstone.
As she approached, intricate raven designs adorned the sides of the throne, their feathers etched in meticulous detail. The dark silhouettes alongside the radiant gold exuded an otherworldly charm.
But it was on the back of the throne where Aladdin had left his creative mark. Woven into the fabric, a mesmerizing array of constellations twinkled in the cosmic darkness. The stars seemed to dance, forming an ethereal portrait of the night sky.
Seated upon this ornate throne, Maeve felt the weight of her newfound responsibilities, yet a sense of empowerment surged through her. The melding of golden grandeur, dark sophistication, and celestial wonders encapsulated not just a seat of power but the first step in the next part of her journey.
She looked down at Aladdin. "Sukki, Benny, and Oiwa, have they decided if they are leaving with Autumn and Shiroe?"
Aladdin nodded. "They actually left already, Benny and Oiwa, that is. Sukki has elected to stay here; without the moon, she is quite vulnerable." He shifted his focus more on Maeve, giving her more of his attention. "I believe they are heading to Centalará. Shiroe has been telling me he wants to study the magic residue left over from whatever broke the Elven barrier."
Just as Maeve was about to reply, the throne doors burst open, and the amount of aura that followed pushed Maeve back into the throne cushion, keeping her there for a moment as a screaming woman came forward.
"WHAT THE FUUUHUUUCCK?! JUST HAAAAAAHPPPPPPPENED? TO THE FUUUUCKING MOOOOOON?!" The woman's voice shook the entire hall. "I KNOW FOR A FACT! THAT GIANT FLAME BEAM CAME FROM HERE! NOW WHO THE FUCK AND WHY THE FUCK AND EVEN HOW THE FUCK?! JUST AHHHH!"
Aladdin stood there, his mouth fitted in an awkward smile as his eyes darted from the woman to Maeve.
She had beautiful gray skin with white freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks; her eyes were a deep blue, her hair was a pristine white that waved its way down her shoulders, completely covering her bare chest, which was adorned with more white freckles. A string of jewels displaying the five phases of the moon adorned her neck and around her waist was a long white gown; she had tied the arms around her waist, leaving her arms exposed from the shoulders down to the elbow where long white gloves laid over her fingers. Her bare feet were complemented with white polish that matched the freckles across her body.
Maeve stood up, her eyes wide; she tried to hide her laughter, but some of it slipped out.
"YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!" She called out to Maeve.
"I'm not laughing at you. State your name."
The woman's head leaned back as she took in an audibly deep and angered breath. She held it for a moment, and just as she was about to let it out, the cries of four voices echoed from the open door and down the hall, and soon after, four, what could be best described as sentient colored fog rounded the corner.
"WHO DID IT, IVARA?" The yellow one called out as they all four burst into the room and surrounded the woman.
"LET ME KNOW SO I CAN FUCK THEM UP." The red one shouted.
"Was it her?" The blue one asked, turning all their attention to Maeve.
The red one shook up and down. "Let me at her, I can take her."
The woman pushed all four of them down and behind her then she looked back at Maeve. "I am Ivara, Higher of Moon, a FUCKING GODDESS AND YOU JUST BLEW UP THE SOURCE OF MY POWER!"
"AND OUR HOME!" The red fog shouted.
"WHY'D YOU DO IT?!" The green one asked.
"YEAH TELL US!" the red one shouted again.
Ivara shushed them and pulled them back behind her again. "You don't understand the consequences of what you just did."
As if an answer to her silent call, a deluge of scorching energy burst into the room, mercilessly tearing through the ceiling and creating a smoky rupture. Amidst the fiery chaos, the outline of a majestic figure materialized, bathed in the radiant glow of a brilliant yellow inferno. "And you don’t know what would have happened if they didn’t."
The figure possessed a rich tapestry of features—an embodiment of dark, velvety skin adorned with short white dreadlocks. Golden tattoos, aglow with a celestial light, adorned every inch of their form, casting an ethereal radiance that danced in harmony with the flickering flames. The eyes, twin orbs of molten gold, burned fiercely with an inner fire, peering out from the midst of the conflagration.
Clothed in divine simplicity, the figure appeared shirtless, with bands of gold and red encircling mighty forearms, and wrist gauntlets adding to their battle ready appearance. Below, billowing pants, adorned with a scroll bound and draped over the front, swirled with each step.
He extinguished his flames, and instantly Ivara shouted. "Sarynn?!" She ran up to him, her hands reaching for his; she pulled it close. "You, you, you've woken from the long sleep?!"
Sarynn turned to her, his face full of confusion. "Huh?" He pulled his hand away. "I wasn't in the long sleep, I was just taking a nap."
"What." Ivara's voice was so annoyed that Maeve couldn't help but cop a smirk. "You mean to tell me I have been working double taking care of the moon and both suns, and you were FUCKING NAPPING?"
"For what it's worth, you only needed to take care of one sun, I only made one, the other was just my shell for napping, but the temperature dropped and I woke up, and when I woke up, I saw the moon explode, that sucks."
Ivara lunged at Sarynn, and the two engaged in a wrestling match. Sarynn's laughter echoed, but it abruptly ceased when Ivara started landing repeated punches on his face, her shouts punctuating each blow.
"I've been working tirelessly, and you've been napping?" she exclaimed, delivering a final punch before standing up. "You act like my powers fading and the seasons being completely obliterated from their bodies isn't a big deal."
Sarynn, brushing off dust from his chest, retorted, "Endless darkness, did you want that?"
"What?" Ivara replied, confused.
"Are you really that stupid?" Sarynn's gaze prevented her from taking another swing. He turned to Maeve, asking, "Nix is dead, is that correct?"
Maeve nodded. "Yes, she was what destroyed the moon when my husband threw himself and her into it."
Ivara attempted to step forward, but Sarynn extended his hand. "Your husband, is he dead too?"
Maeve nodded again.
"Understood." Sarynn shifted his attention to Aladdin. "What do you make of all this?"
"The moon is the least of my worries," Aladdin replied. "We can make another."
Ivara shot him a disgusted look. "Excuse me, just MAKE another?"
Sarynn rolled his eyes and turned to Maeve. "The Warlords are on their way; I saw their ships sailing this way while I was coming here. They're probably here for what's bothering the big guy." He gestured to Aladdin.
"And what might that be?" Ivara inquired.
Sarynn sighed before looking up at Maeve.
"Arrithia is dying."
END OF VOLUME II
See you in 2024 for Chapter 51 and the start of Volume III
