Chapter 755: ‘-we’re doomed.’ (2/2)
”Turn the frown upside down,” said Igna poking her cheeks, ”-let's get ready to depart.”
”I beg of thee,” the priestess dropped onto her knees and clenched her palms in prayer, the crowd threw suspicious glares, ”-o' thee who owns me and mine soul, I promise to make good on our contract. Do not discard me for I shall endeavor to serve without prejudice…”
”Enough.” The teleportation crystal summoned; ”-we're heading home.”
Somewhere inside the castle, an unforeseen threat loomed in the shadows. The head-butler, old of age and strong in mind, walked, the footsteps echoed per the grandeur of the hallway, towards the balcony. The outside dampness, ignorant to the festivities, cast a melancholic dullness through the windows. Tray in hand and duty in thought, he stoutly struggled across the lushly woven carpet, which in hindsight, felt more to walking through water. Therein, his hair rose, the confident walk stopped, cackles flickered to and fro, a creek forced a gulp.
'Three, two, one,' murmured.
'This sensation,' he watched cautiously, '-don't tell me.'
”CHARGE!” two figures cut towards him, ”-ATTACK THE ENEMY!” Saniata's griffin held Draconis and its master, the former held a makeshift lance – a mop. The dirty end hit his stomach directly, the butler buckled and was yet to drop the drinks, ”-thank you for the refreshment,” winked Saniata who proceeded to run into the sunset, else known as the throne room.”
”Back home,” they dropped onto a green plain of grass, the side of the castle rose before them.
”Where are we?” fired Fenrir.
”The Shadow Realm,” replied Intherna, ”-good job,” she leaned and offered a helping hand.
”Thank you for the assistance,” he took her offer, ”-the quest isn't accomplished yet,” an unsettling gaze rested on Yuio.
”Why the strange look?”
The wind whistled, a lovely figure arrived, ”-long time no see, my heir.”
”Adete,” he smiled, ”-it has been a while, where have you been?”
”Exploring the world,” she curtly added, ”-hold on a moment, Fenrir?”
”Adete?”
”IT IS YOU!” they leaped into a close embrace.
”I trust you'll explain Fenrir where we are and what happened?”
”Will do,” for the first time in ages, the first progenitor held a genuine smile.
”I ought to report our journey to the others,” wings of fire sprouted, ”-see you around, Igna.”
Soon after – Igna and Éclair stood behind a protective barrier. In front rested a pod.
”Took quite the effort to put her in there,” complained Éclair.
”She's very energetic. How's her soul, suitable to be the sister-system?”
”Beyond suitable, master, I'd say, the pod was made for her. The soul is stable and her consciousness is perfect for the world she's about to be embarked on.”
”Long as she's of use, I don't mind,” they faced away, the sleeping demoness soon faded into nothingness, a side panel slid to a surgical room, here, under the bright light of a lamp, laid a lifeless body, puppet to be exact. The surgeon, inhumane in appearance, worked its tentacles, ”-she'll inhabit the body?”
”Yes, tis the plan,” added Éclair, ”-I proud myself in being thy personal assistant, hard as I work, I'm afraid it would be a hard endeavor to overexert myself. Hence, the new soul will be fragmented, we'll separate her into two beings, one as the emotionless soul charged to overseer the AFR, and Phantom's infrastructure, whilst the second, the body, will be employed as thy assistant, naturally, she's going to be useful in the various task I wish her to partake.”
”Working her to the death,” he laughed, ”-how long were we gone?”
”A week? We're on the 10th of December,” Éclair replied.
”Any reports from Vesper?” the phone vibrated, to which Éclair handed the device over, ”-speak of the devil,” he answered, ”-Hello?”
”Master, Vesper speaking. I have news, the adventuring party has made it through floor 198, it shan't be long till they beat floor 199 and climbed to the top. Could thee kindly return to the overworld and make for the Azure Wall?”
”Can't we teleport from here directly?”
”Sadly not, the link's been ruptured. I've sent a photo – rejoin him no later than three days from now, preparation is key for our second coming.”