Chapter 670: True Demonlord [1] (2/2)
”I had to care for a rather interesting intruder. What about you, judging by the pants, did you sprint here in heels?”
”Y-yeah,” her eyes wandered nervously, ”-don't stare intently…” her cheeks reddened, ”-fine, it's been weird for me, ok? I had to work with so many artists, Scott came back, we somewhat set our differences aside and he apologized. I'm lost and don't know what to do,” she timidly placed her head onto his chest, ”-a new place, a new environment. I thought I was strong, turns out, I'm weak. The past still haunts me, I can't rest, lest the memories ease.”
”Aceline,” he gave a firm and comforting hug, ”-you're working hard, I can say, I'm very proud. I selfishly brought thee back from death. I should have been more careful… I-” he paused for she warmly lifted her lashes to his words, ”-I felt lonely, I guess. Yeah, yeah, laugh while you can, I just wanted to have someone who knew me from way back then. Someone I could talk to, or something, I don't know,” the bi-colored eyes nervously tried to stand firm, Origin's emotions seeped onto the cold heart; a warm dash of water onto an ice-cold rock. ”-I have to ask, Aceline, you're young, very young. I'd say mid-twenties, meanwhile, I met your best friend, Queen Gallienne, she's been subject to the passage of time, or is in the process.”
”You met Gallienne?” her eyes sparkled, ”-oh,” she stepped back and breathed, ”-I guess you would have. Not me, I- I've betrayed her trust more than once.”
”Yes, hello,” hands-on the earring, ”-Éclair, could you transfer the call to my mother?”
”-what are you doing?” she inquired in a mumble.
”Greeting's lady mother, I'm sorry for the sudden call,” the voice grew distant, the world around her shut, the nose burnt, her throat tightened, a moment of joy and terror lifted her chest, '-w-w-why, w-why…'
”-Yes, could you please get me in contact with Queen Gallienne?”
'-Why is he doing this…'
”My humble greetings, majesty, if I may be so bold, could you spare me and a companion of mine a sliver of your time?” he handed over the phone, Aceline watched on verge of tears, ”-go on,” urged Igna, ”-take the phone.”
”Who is it at this hour?” exhaled she over the phone, ”-don't run around the palace,” she fired distantly. The phone shakily touched her cheeks, ”-hello?” Silence permeated on both sides, a blast from the past relit their memories. Bliss, woe, struggles, and ultimately, death.
”Aceline, is that you…?”
”Y-yeah…”
”Hand the phone to Igna right away,” she missed her target blurry from the whelming tears. A short onslaught of insult from the royal, the latter gave to her emotions and asked for Aceline to head for the castle. Quick to oblige, a stationed helicopter of allegiance to Apexi, headed for the palace without Igna. He stood on the side in the company of Julius and Scott. She had to face her past and make amends, in a way, he had done so for Eira too.
The brisk tempest of upper floors solicited shivers, ”-let's head back,” proposed Julius. Orangish hue of the lift reflected against Scott's flashy forehead, ”-Igna, I ought to know, who are you?”
”No one special, just a guy who has a lot of contacts,” he chuckled, ”-I heard Xius's gotten to their level of reputation from your work.”
”Not really,” the lift descended slowly, ”-I just helped Emi Muko and the band get together. Can you believe them, I've asked so many times to find a full-time drummer, they never do the effort and end up firing any prospective talent. Xius's a great band, take away their passion for alcohol, they're good people with good hearts.”
”I know,” a feeble laugh escaped, ”-we did have a lot of fun.” Julius knew what he referred to, a hole of which would take longer to fill. Down to the ground floor, the empty crowd grew, familiar faces waited around the receptionist. The worker exchanged chatter and banter; morale was high regardless of the incident. Part of Vorn, present for jam sessions took breaks to meet their friends. A live broadcast of a popular late-night show flaunted the charismatic trio of; Nola, Enna, and Sheiwai. Applause from the audience was loud and substantial. Beyond the reception at the entrance were investigators.
”I'll take care of negotiations,” said Igna, ”-could you check on Vanesa for me?”
”Alright,” they winked. The channel swapped for a rerun of a particular cooking show, the young star of the culinary world, Kyle Darker, and his explosive personality in the kitchen.
”Officers.” The old man shoved a pen under his beret and itched in a '-whatever' type of mood.
”You are?”
”Igna Haggard, I presume you've come for an eyewitness account?”
”Yeah, could you answer a few questions?”
”Sure, let's move to a more private area.” He led the way to a corridor, ”-we should be far enough,” the reception's bright atmosphere nulled to one of threat. ”-I'll say with this, the incident was caused by a Demonlord, a monster of whom no current adventurer can hope to ever combat. I speak on the authority of the Viscount of Glenda; if a mess is to be made of this situation, we may incur their wrath. I'd strongly advise wiping the incident from thy memories.”
”-sure,” they gulped.