28 CHAPTER 28: PASSAGE OF DARKNESS (1/2)
In a very different place, Mai was now at the very gates of a certain castle town, returning home where her queen lives, since Mai wanted to tell her report about Zeran who was no longer a king due to some circumstances. Though, she felt there was something wrong in the breeze, making her to be in her thoughts,
(”That's odd...I'm sure there should be people here...”).
There were no chirping birds nor the vibe was filled with the joyful citizens roaming around frolicking at the very entrance. She noticed that there were no watchers nor guards at present, turning her to gulp that mere moment, since the atmosphere was too deafening even for her ears. As soon as she entered the fountain plaza, there, she saw the pile of dead rotting corpses of the poor innocent citizens. Some were even fresh and scattered along the winding paths. The whole place was damaged and wrecked beyond contemplation. The kingdom wasn't that grand anymore but, it turned into such ruins. Her eyes looked scarred that was filled with immense fear, making her to rush to the castle of her beloved queen, with her thoughts filled with doubts,
(”Please...don't let my intuitions be correct...”).
Sadly, she had seen more dead bodies of blue plated knights and warriors along the hallways ridden in aged blood. She entered the meeting room and the whole place was totalled, there were corpses aswell but, it seemed they were the high ranking nobles and aristocrats of men and women. Her worried look was letting out tears, as she went running to the throne room. Sadly, as she entered the throne room, the very pillars were crushed and wrecked. More than that, there were some blue plated knights with high ranking symbols dead and down for the count. Even worse, their very bodies were penetrated by deep thrusts of a drilling claw, dismembering their bodies inside-out. She had seen her violet haired and matured-like queen sitting on a throne but, it was also the same in her case yet, the worst that ever happened to anyone. As Mai went closer, she witnessed the dead queen who had been fully destroyed and penetrated by lots of spears and swords inside-out, surging out her rich crimson blood along the royal floor. Not only that, it seemed the queen was also ravaged and desecrated in the utmost putrid way as possible such as she was a feast for thirsty demonic humans before she was killed, since her very clothes have been ruined totally, while she was letting out deep blood from her mouth and sensitive sanctuary. Mai felt everything she had done was lost and her very heart was crushed inside-out, since the queen treated her like she was her own daughter, whence Mai was just a wanderer before in the world of Himenea. Mai's tears were flowing endlessly and her heartbroken cries can be heard outside, while she was hugging the dead corpse of the violet haired queen, telling to herself 'tis just but, a nightmarish dream. Sadly, it wasn't, as it was all too real for her senses. Later, Mai released all of her pent-up emotions, reaching out from the top of her lungs. As she calmed down, she removed all of the penetrated objects stuck to her dead queen and she said with a forsakened face,
”This is the only thing I could do for my queen now...”.
Sometime soon, Queen Fae emerged in a magical whiff of black dust and winds, depicting a dazzling entry to Mai. Though, Mai wasn't pleased, as she saw Fae. Suddenly, Mai brought out her shining crossbow, aiming at the Queen Fae and Mai uttered out her words, reaching from the deep abyss,
”Did you do all of this?”.
Queen Fae cracked out an evil smile and said, like a fascinating little girl, despite the wretched and vile things she had done, wreathing the place in a very twisted presence,
”Yes I did...”
”But tell you what...why don't we talk this out...”.
Mai wasn't happy nor interested in Fae's offer, as the enraged Mai was ready to pull the trigger and get her wrathful revenge on Fae. Though, Fae was persistent in her devious ways, as she sneaked-up close to Mai's left ear. Then, Fae whispered like a sharp-tongued demon,
”You can still be a heroine...even under me...”
”Besides you can have ZERAN ALL TO YOURSELF...”
”Isn't that what you want?”
”I can make some exceptions for holy Goddess Ange ya know...”
”Since I'm her priestess...”
”Not a bad deal is it?”.
Mai was in her thoughts afterwards, recalling the chilling words of Fae, making Mai to wear a suspicious look,
(”So...she knows I still like Zeran...”)
(”And knows of my ambition...”)
(”Yet...she wants me to turn a BLIND EYE FOR WHAT SHE HAD DONE?!”).
Though, it seemed the vile Queen Fae was in a hurry, so she says bidding her farewell to Mai,
”Although...I shall wait for your answer...see you soon...”
”HEROINE Mai...”.
Queen Fae, closed her eyes and vanished into the black ominous air, such as she was a spectre on the prowl. Her presence was completely gone afterwards. The frozen winds of death were gone, as the deed of destruction has been done, leaving Mai all alone. She fell down on her knees feeling quite hopeless, since she doesn't know what to do next. Her tears welled up yet again and she was deep in her thoughts, feeling the huge hole of regrets and burden of guilts amassed in her chest,
(”I want to crush...her...but...I can't take her down...all by myself...”)
(”Queen Azela...I'm sorry...If only I came back faster...”).
On the other hand, Zeran and Ru were now at the snowy and frozen cliffs known as Shiverwind cliffs where the stormy blizzard is eternal in its wake. Though, this was no ordinary snowy place, since instead of just white snowfall, there were glistening blue snowflakes blanketing the very skies. More than that, the very thin air was whiffed in the purple colored fog. It seemed they were on a combat with a huge purple ice golem. Its form was very huge, such as the size of the former crustacean monster. Though, the purple ice golem was dyed in the color of deep purple. It has protruding blue crystals and minerals around its body, reflecting anyone's image such as a polished glass. Its very form was somehow similar to a high-tech robot but, made through the use of ancient magic and runic rocks. The massive frame of the monster made it very slow-moving, thus giving Zeran and Ru a huge advantage. Zeran was wearing his golden claw, while Ru has a long powerful lavender sniper as a weapon now. The sniper complemented her perfectly, since the aiming vision was butterfly in form and the body was accessorized by a vinyl of small purple butterflies. For a second, Zeran was dumbstruck in his thoughts,
(”Okay...when did Ru get a sniper?”).
She was a few distances away from the monster, while Zeran was the close-combatant. The huge golem let out another smash of its solid fist although, Zeran just dodged its strike like it was nothing. For some reason, Ru was shooting out loads of bullets at its crystals, turning them into broken fragments. Zeran wasn't taking on the offensive, rather he was just distracting the monster away from the fragile dark Goddess Ru. The battle took longer than expected and there was only one crystal left to break. Zeran was being attacked more and more but with his lightning reflexes it was almost far too easy for him to dodge. The monster had gone tired of hitting the evasive Zeran so, it changed its target and attempted to attack Ru. Sadly, Ru was focusing and aiming a perfect shot at the monster, so she was very vulnerable in her stead. He noticed that the monster was after Ru, so he grabbed Ru away from the monster's powerful slam on her and he exclaimed,
”Watch out Ru!”.
Though, as Zeran nabbed the focused Goddess Ru, she was able to trigger a shot at the monster suddenly. Miraculously, the shot was able to hit the monster's remaining crystal, turning it into broken glass. The monster roared its terrifying voice high into the sky,
”GRRRRRUUUUUOOOOOHHHHHHRRR!”.
The monster turned into dead rocks across the snowy ground later on. It seemed Zeran and Ru were able to take down the monster due to some miracle. They sheathed and stashed away their weapons. The both of them tread along the snowy plains holding hands together. More than that, their very faces were wearing soothing smiles, as they feel each others hearts and presence, in which it was quite amusing to see for a fallen hero and a mesmerizing dark Goddess such as a budding couple. Though, the two of them were still too shy on expressing themselves although, the forming bond was growing in a gradual pace. The very snowy place was cold but, due to their warming hearts together, the chill didn't penetrate their bodies, so they were able to trudge upon the dire place without any hesitation. After sometime, they entered into a cave to rest and shelter themselves. Even though, the place was in the vicinity of the cold area, it was quite warm and similar to a resting house or lodge. The both stayed in the cave and Zeran slept without noticing he had already fallen asleep. In turn, the dark Goddess Ru was on scout. She noticed that Zeran was feeling cold in his sleep, so she removed her full-fledged cloak and hugged him with all her heart, to share off her body heat to him. Moreover, she put her fluffy and puffy tail on his cheek to relax his senses even more. Her appearance looked very lewd and even vulgar to anyone but, her intentions were pure as a Goddess to Zeran. With Ru's loving care and concern, Zeran was able to slumber in peace.
Once again, Zeran was in a subtle trance. That moment, he was seeing a little girl at the center looking at some kind of light force. The light force spoke its divine message that reverberated as judgement,
”You have been given another opportunity...”
”Rather a 3rd choice due to your inner desires...”
”Your choices are...”
”Reincarnation...”
”Absolute Heavens...in your terms...Peace from all mortal bindings...”
”Or to become a dark Goddess who judges the world and the hero under the jurisdiction of Celestia Heavens”.
The little girl replies with seething rage,
”I'll become the dark Goddess...”