36 the AFTERMATH (1/2)

Zeba's rhythmic knock came only by a fraction of a second as she entered Prodea's solitary quarters which appeared quite smugly to Prodea. She's letting her know she doesn't fear her anymore by not waiting outside and doing what she wants to do for a change but that doesn't quite bode well for her as she witnessed inside a cheerful Prodea clasping her hands as if awaiting her arrival.

”Good evening, Zeba. Look! I have a surprise for you.”

She pointed right in front and saw a new titan kneeling to Prodea. A man with a figure that is darkened by the black smoke engulfing him. As if the smoke akin to the black fumes of a bonfire smothers his appearance being blurred.

Zeba walked in curious to inspect and asked. ”Isn't that the Earl, Eryk Caden?”

Prodea smiled still peeled at the kneeling titan with a bow. ”I told him I always come through with my promises. Indeed, I honor my word more than anything, and when I say I'd do something, I always try and follow through with it.”

The titan mumbled to find words and only managed to choke on a few letters.

”You have my permission to speak,” Prodea ordered as if enjoying herself.

”This is not what we discussed,” he said with a depressed tone, almost angry but shaking to soften every word to provide respect to his new master. ”You said I will marry Lime...”

”Oh! Indeed, this is what we've discussed,” Prodea refuted. ”I told you, you will marry someone within two months. If that doesn't happen, I make you a titan. And now here you are. A titan. Does this not please you?”

”You said I will marry Lime you witch!” he said almost crying. He managed to shout but was forced to bow his head lower than before for his impudence.

”Again? I thought you understood what my answer is days ago? I thought that searing pain has branded my answer on your thick skull.”

”You betrayed me...”

”What I said is you'll marry. I didn't say to whom, nor specified it to be Lime. I already told you Lime will take time but no, you insisted you be married within two months and so here we are. If you took a step back to notice, it clearly is your fault. You shouldn't have forced me to take this path.”

”You've cheated me.”

”You think you feel cheated? What about me? Have you considered my feelings too? Clearly your transformation is virtually a waste of good slaves. You're of much use to me as a personal butler especially with that kind of power you obtained. Simply pathetic!”

Tears accumulated on her carpet for about half a minute till Prodea laughed again to mock him.

”You know who you should blame though?” She paused for a while letting go of her leash on the titan to make him look at her eyeing on Zeba. ”Now, I don't want to play the blame game, but I was legally dead for forty-one days and she's the one planning your marriage. I don't want to insinuate but I think you know where to point the finger.”

”Me!?” scoffed Zeba. ”I'm not the one who turned him into a black- s-shadowy- dark smoking man, or whatever it is that he is now!”

”Well you should own after your own mistakes Zeba. After all, Illyriah escaped because of your ill-planning. If the marriage took place weeks ago, he shouldn't have been like that and I would've gotten a better Titan. I mean look at him? Does that look like a titan that I can use when I battle out Kuya-Artemus? His skill is to disperse in the air for goodness sake! What the Yit'ard is that!? Sure, he could dodge a punch but what then? What then!?”

”You should've thought of that before you made him titan!” Zeba proudly responded which made Prodea gasp being entertained in her streak of petulance. ”Or better yet, you should've modified his skill to what you like. Isn't that the purpose of sacrificing slave lives? To give your titans power?”

Prodea just smiled and waved her hands to the crying Eryk to dismiss him. ”Go ponder with your mistakes at the catacombs and don't leave there till I call you. That should probably dull your tongue blunt.”

With this, he was forced to disintegrate and turn into a black mist that rushed outside the door, closing what Zeba forgot to shut.

Zeba smiled smugly as she turned away walking to the door till Prodea stopped her.

”Oh!? I didn't recall dismissing you, my dear sister-in-law.”

Zeba turned around smiling appreciating Prodea's newfound kindness and respect that she has exhibiting and pegged it to the humiliation she suffered on her insults earlier. ”What is it, Sister?” she replied. ”Do you want me to further insult you on your embarrassing failure?”

”Well, for one thing, I have my mood high up today that I didn't really mind your unintelligent blather earlier. Surely, Bathala have not granted you an inkling of intellect to grasp Dim'ion's intricate spells so I'm not going to take it out on you. You most certainly won't get mad if a dog does not speak now, won't you? And you most certainly won't take it against her if she doesn't understand what you're saying.”

”Am I just here for your insults? I don't like wasting your time so if that's the case, then I think it'll be more productive if I just leave.”

”Oh goody! So, you know how to analyze? That you're the dog I'm referring to? My, my, that will speed things up splendidly.”

Zeba just smiled having a nerve tweaking just before boiling point and turned around. Prodea upon seeing this called her again.

”Oh, Zeba, look what I got here.”

Zeba humored her and turned once more rolling her eyes now showing her irritation. ”What is it this time?”

Prodea opened her palm and showed her a vial with a wooden stopper. Inside this vial lays a single metal pin, just rolling inside as she moved her hands to play with it.

”Hurrah! You have a needle pin! Let us announce this to the kingdom!”

”Nuh-uh-ah!” Prodea smiled devilishly clicking her tongue getting close to her. ”Please don't mock the person who's going to help you, Zeba. That's just plain disrespectful. Oh wait, I mean: Don't bite the hand that feeds you. And wouldn't you know it?! It's another dog analogy! You're in a roll here Zeba!”

Zeba's interest was piqued so she humored her again with an unconvinced question. ”How's the pin going to help me this time? You're letting me stitch your gown? Did you rip one again?”

”No but I'm offering you a way out to stitch your own life. But this comes with a cost, your soul in fact. But that's your decision. You're a big girl now, and I think you should have one. For old times' sake.”

Zeba smiled raising her eyebrows in disbelief in Prodea's further insult. She would've retaliated but Prodea anticipated this and continued forth.

”You see Zeba, there's a certain caster asking the palace constable's aid to summon you for twenty-nine counts of murder and another count for both conspiracies to murder and treason. I mean can you believe that? That you're capable of doing something like that? A noble mortal like you committing high crimes like this? Well, I think its madness. No?”

”Impossible. You are just tricking me again and I'm not going to fall for it this time!”

”Her name is Kei. I believe you've already met?”

Zeba's eyes widened now losing the smug smile that she's harboring earlier. ”S-she's one of those casters you assimilated at Bakunawa's...”

”Great! Your memory is still intact, and we won't have any time wasted! Anyway, she-”

”How did she come to be?!” Zeba cut in quite angry. ”How did she come back?!”

”My, my, Zeba. It's disrespectful to cut me in while I'm telling a story that you may want to hear. Might as well pucker that cesspool of a mouth that you have and listen to my story if you want me to help you, you ungrateful petulant dog!”

Zeba scoffed. She could not do anything but to shush giving Prodea a broad smile for a few seconds savoring her obedience till she continued.

”Now the constable said that she's accusing you of murdering twenty-nine of her brothers and sisters in the Caster's medical division who have been missing these past few months. She said that she barely escaped with her life. She suffers now from dehydration, some painful injuries, and a minute memory loss due to the trauma she has sustained, that poor girl.”

”But you're the one that killed them all! You're the one who called them all up and gathered there, not me!”

”Yes, but, see, it's very hard to say that when she remembers that it's you.” Prodea pouted mocking her eyes harboring tears like a dam. ”She's even saying that you poisoned Karr and buried his body on the side of the road to Bakunawa. They haven't searched for Karr's remains, but I assure you, they'll find it there. I checked. I think she's leaning on the fact that Karr protected them from you, but you killed him to eliminate them all. If I'm the judge, I'll be inclined to believe that. Oh wait! I am! I forgot that I am the Chief Magistrate. Silly me.”

”This is madness! This is your doing! You're resorting to blackmail now?!”

”Oh, but that's not it actually. There's more distressing news coming your way. See, remember the night you played that garter string thing with Sarram and Gantee on the common room of the west wing just two hallways from the Queen's chambers?”

”The night of the assassination...” she mouthed looking furious at Prodea.

”See, I told you, you have a knack in remembering things. That's why I made you my right hand in this thing we're doing. Anyway, she saw you as you left for thirty minutes on that same night as you let four men slip by the windows to execute their plans. Your Daomagarian brothers I believe, but it's just conjecture, I'll let the evidence decide on that one.”

”That's preposterous! I was preparing a midnight snack for my husband and son! I have witnesses!”

Prodea inhaled sharply as she continued on with a derisive chuckle. ”Ah... the problem with that story is that your witnesses are her witnesses too. She said your plan is to kill all the medical casters so that when the assassination happens, the Queen will not receive any medical help to help her quickly recover, no one to give her first aid. She said you plan for her to be left alone to die in her chambers. Alone to die, Zeba, are you hearing that correctly? That's a mighty accusation to disprove! Every evidence is against you and I'm sure the citizens of Nagozul will not let you state your case. I heard that the first time and I'm shock beyond belief, that a Daomagar can do this to his brother Nagozulian. This is a disastrous thing you committed. I only wish there was a way for you to escape. I wonder what it could be...”

”You... You planned this whole thing for me! All your machinations are intended for make me take the fall! To make you Queen!”

”Oh no, Zeba, I don't intend to be your Queen. I am true to my words when I said that you could be the Queen in this pathetic Island. You could be Queen of the Holy Lands for all I care. And surely, I love you so much, as my pathetic dense sister-in-law to make you take your fall.”

”What then? What are you planning here then?!”

”Seriously Zeba? You're not piecing all of this together? Unbelievable! I'm showing you a needle pin? And you're seriously talking about you, you, you? Bathala did leave you an empty skull, didn't he? I'm not going to be surprised if your head floated like a buoy.”

”The pin is for...”

”Yes! The pin is for her! Yit'ard, Zeba I thought you have some brain to figure that one out for yourself. I don't really have to spell everything to you. Seriously, you're like a newborn child rolling around on the ground.

”She's the only thing impeding you on your goal and being branded as a traitor. Being exiled out of the Holy Lands is not really optimal for you. After all, the Yagisiv Haya's Priestess can remove the Bathala-given powers that you have received and that would really be troublesome for you in the real world outside our borders. You've seen it right? You know how harsh it is to mortals? Especially to women folk.”

”W-what does it do? W-what will it do to her?”

”Kill her.” She smiled pocketing it inside her gown. ”That simple. She's at the infirmary now. They are treating her with everything since she's dehydrated and suffering from multiple wounds, wounds she has sustained from you somehow. For now, they said that she's being delusional, so everything has been a secret. Only I and the constable know of this so if you do this now, no harm will befall you.”

”How can I be sure of this? That you won't do this again?”

”Ah! Here's the thing,” Prodea went close to her as she gulps in tension. ”I will repeat this again, and again, and again, every time you're feeling up for insubordination, Zeba. This way you get to kill those casters that I have assimilated. This way you get to have your hands bloodied for your own pathetic gains. I am tired shouldering everything on my own. It's time for you to prove your worth for once.”

Zeba tried to contain her fury gnashing her teeth in irritation. ”What is it? What's in the needle? Another one of Dim'ion's Arts?”

”Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. See, Juni and my brother, together with Dal'Gur, have managed to research about the tiny, tiny critters that causes illness to people. These critters sometimes harbor on the brain and defile it so that it can cause hallucinations or paranoia to the patient, the brain sickness as they call it. Now, I have engineered this critter, with Dim'ion's Magick of course, making their growth accelerate into dangerous levels. One prick and she'll sleep for good. It won't feel a thing since she'll die convulsing after a few hours. After that, there will be an autopsy and I'm sure you could guess what they will find in the brain.”

”I-I'm not sure I can live with this.”

”Oh, please. I'm sure you can't live with a lot of things, you sanctimonious Yit'Vit. Please, let's stop pretending to be something we are not. I'm sure you can't stand losing your husband and son and I think you will kill a thousand innocent people just to save them. But the weird thing is that you'll kill ten thousand more to save you. That's how selfish you are. You may contest to that but we both know you're just going to lie to yourself. If you're too noble you would've backed-out from this and reported me long ago, but you didn't. I know you too well, Zeba. I know you're not a Hero. I know you're a coward. And that's a fact!”

Prodea grabbed the vial and placed it in her palms snickering as if disgusted at her. Zeba was stunned, motionless, speechless. Prodea passed, her by opening her doors in exit, till she stopped her.

”What is it that you want in return?”

Prodea looked back and closed the door again to answer her shuddering. ”Nothing. This time it's free.”

”You're giving me this, out of the goodness of your heart? I don't think so! Everything has a price with you.”

”Well, you could cut that sharp tongue of yours, that's a start. But I honestly only did that to prove a point.” Prodea walked slowly to her with malicious eyes that pierced her soul and whispered. ”That I could really hurt you in a number of ways. Be thankful I'm not your enemy, you disrespectful rotten goblin.” She stepped back and smiled again, only this time she's enjoying the sad look on her face. ”Besides, this is a warning. The lowly mongrel follows the pack master. Remember that I am your benefactor, your guardian, your master. The moment you forget this again, you will lose your teeth. And by teeth I meant I will kill Sarram and Gantee in front of you and bleed them dry, just to help you picture this out since you can't analyze for yourself - but I'll let you kill everyone I assimilated living inside me first before doing that. Just so I could see you crawling in the mud falling on your high horse.”

Prodea strode to the door smiling still till she stopped her yet again as she was about to clutch the doorknob.

”You won't get away with this. Everyone knows all your plans have failed. Rumors in the city are spreading like wildfire. One of these days you're going to pay for what you've done!”

”Oh really? Well firstly, this little thing that we're experiencing? I call this a setback. It's not really a failure since it's your fault not mine, a fault I could easily fix. Secondly, If I'm going to pay for my crimes, you're going to pay for yours too! Don't you forget that one bit. And since we're talking about paying from crimes, Sarram is not too innocent too since he's been seen blatantly harassing Sayed in the Hishma's so that's a little added bonus in the feature.”

”You're laughing now but one of these days Artemus's Army in the north will come and will dispose of you! They're not going to bother themselves with us. They're going straight to you! And when that time comes, I will gladly roll the carpet to your whereabouts!”

”Why thank you, Zeba,” Prodea smiled which confounded her. ”I'll say let them come and fight the might of the spawn of Dim'ion.”

Zeba's face turned white hearing her words which got her attention.

”Oh? You know that, huh? Glad to see you're remembering your elementary education. Because of the scrolls I acquired from Eryk, I can now imbue Leonus's army with the powers of Dim'ion. It will take time, I know, but six months is all I need to create a hefty regiment fit to battle with his. And with my six titans as their generals, I think I could reverse the tides of success here. So, yes. Try and frighten me about that but just so you know, Zeba, five months from now, I know you're going to change your mind about that.”

Zeba turned stuttering in both fear and dread, ”What will you gain from all of this? You don't want to be Queen? You don't want the Holy Lands? What is the purpose of all of these!? What is it that you want!?”

”Let's see...” Prodea sighed and thought hard till she turned to her with kind eyes that suddenly disrupted Zeba's frantic outburst. ”World peace. While you're selling your soul for the chance of being Queen of Nagozul, I'm selling mine for world peace. That's something to think about, huh?”

She then opened the door and left her alone with the poisoned needle in her clutches, still bewildered with what she meant. Depressed and scared and furious, but dumbfounded, nonetheless.

-------ooO0Ooo-------

The rain unleashed an angry rhythmic bash on the roofs as it pounded them like drums for longer than a day now. Weather in Nagozul has gone awry and everyone knows why. The Immortal Bakunawa has fervently managed the skies of Nagozul as his part on keeping the Holy Lands safe. With him now missing, nobody's watching over them anymore. No one's minding the tides of the seas too. Everyone now came to appreciate his efforts but it's too late. And with rumors of his alleged assassination by the usurping Grand Princess, everyone is in panic. Everyone is now in the mercy of fear's tight clutches, especially after the rumors of the sighting of the first snow fall in Nagozul. Nobody has seen or felt the devastating effects of a cold blizzard for a thousand years and now they will bear witness its destructive effect only this time without their Bathala-given Elemental Energies which practically will increase the potential danger even more.

”My King, are you sure he will comply with your summons?”

Artemus smiled wide looking at the bowing Master General Jeng and replied. ”I'm not king yet, Master General. Though I am truly grateful for the gesture, I can't resume my position without the unification of the whole of Nagozul and I can't do that while Prodea is still at the Palace. I would appreciate it if you tone it down a bit. I do not want to incite a rebellion after all.”

”Forgive me, Grand General, it is not my intention to put you under that position.”

”It seems we made a good decision inviting you in the Omega Tribe's roster, Master General Jeng,” Narra chuckled. ”Just try showing your loyalty at the minimum when in public. We can't have anyone snooping around being suspicious, especially to Prodea's minions. We know she has spies here now. We must take every precaution needed to ensure our organization's secrecy.”

”He will come,” Major Camyl smiled leaning casually against the wall. ”He's not practically late yet so please be patient. There is serious flooding at the Southern Part of Nagozul but that doesn't mean he'll suddenly break his record of punctuality. He's indeed the most punctual man in Daomagar. We haven't had rains this long since the Elven Rebellion so please forgive his slight delay.”

Everyone in the room just nodded in agreement. Even if one wants to add to further their conversation, one will think twice before even attempting because of the heavy rains that roared fiercely as if getting in between them.

They could have talked with the people at their sides, but they didn't. They have been practically distressed by the destruction of Hishma, for one thing. What they want to say to the nearest person, they want to share to everyone, and this made them contemplate in silence awaiting the right moment to bring this discussion to their secret council.

A faint knock on the door snapped them all out of their meandering daydreams. They all stood straight as an arrow in anticipation but relaxed without grabbing their weapons at the ready.

”Good Afternoon, everyone,” greeted Deito with smiling eyes, pushing the water right out of his raincoat stashing it outside before entering. All Daomagarian soldiers knelt down with their clenched fists at their chest bowing. ”No need to greet me my brothers,” he immediately called refusing for the acknowledgement, pulling the first Daomagar in front of him who is the frightening General Enro. ”We are amongst friends and thusly we are without designation or rank. Today I stand before you as your equal.”

Mikael Deito, the eighteen-year-old Deito Clan's current Clan Head and the Daomagar's Chieftain, rushed to Narra and kneeled to bless. Narra didn't make him wait as he gave his arm instantaneously.

Deito is known as Narra's Great-Grandson from his brother's lineage. He's the bastard son of his grandson from his dead elder brother Pahbs the second, but a great-grandson, nonetheless. Even though he's the chief of all Daomagars, he didn't forget to give respect to the Great Narra, the Daomagar Clan's Current Clan Head, which impressed some in the room

It didn't take long for him to pull a chair at the sides with a beaming face for all of them as if waiting for the commencement of their assembly. He looks scrawny and non-threatening with his slender physique but he's without a doubt the pride of the Deito Clan bordering to genius when it comes to using his Fists of Ana'giel, which everyone thought he had mastered to perfection.

It is important to note this feat since the Deito Clan is a clan of merchants. Surely their ancestors have been famous fist fighters in the past, but they do not have any good fighters born from their clans for thousands of years and that's why Mikael's skill has been widely celebrated. He has quickly risen to prominence and has garnered the title Deito surprisingly at a very young age. The title Deito is usually given to the best merchant of the clan, but now things are different. Now they can have a reason to be proud that at last they have a great fighter in their family.

”So...” Mikael started chuckling, ”Where do we start? Grand Prince?”

”Ah, I think we should be on point and first discuss your demands. Will you reconsider your order, recalling all of Daomagarians in Nagozul? That's practically an exaggerated request, considering all that is happening.”

”On the contrary, Grand Prince, I think it's only fitting I recall all of my brothers and sisters especially after all that has happened. I will not let my brothers and sisters be subjected to involuntary servitude.”

”Please be reasonable. My people will starve without your efficient and skilled laborers. You have become an integral part of our lives. Abruptly recalling all of them will result to famine and possibly death, especially after hearing about the arrival of winter next month.”

Mikael's face turned sour as he replied. ”Slavery is the worst slap on Bathala's face and I will not tolerate such actions under my current leadership. You know I respect you and because of this I will do my best to preserve our relationship. Just be glad that we did not resort to war. We have waged war on Nagozul in the past for less. Be thankful that I'm a member of the Omega Tribe. Be thankful that I have calmed my people into retaliating to your sister's mess.”

”I'm sorry for asking,” Artemus replied. ”I do not mean to offend you. I know you're trying your best to contain this situation. I appreciate what you are doing for us. I didn't realize it's worse than what I had anticipated.”

”It sure is,” Mikael said forcing a smile. ”I barely made my council to stand down. They are planning a bitter retaliation to Nagozul, even cutting trade with your people. Now that they know that Prodea's sitting at the throne, things got uglier and even harder to control. They are even contemplating to assassinate her using the Four Pillars of Sibara if you do not fix your nation within the year - well, three now since one has been rumored to have been killed in an ambush here.”

The others were instantaneously curious about the report but Artemus spoke eagerly fast disrupting their intentions to ask further.

”I see. Well you can't blame me for trying. I have to at least try and urge you to change your decision. It's my duty as Nagozul's Grand Prince after all.”