285 Jotun Giants IV : The Use Of The Shield & Spooky Premonitions

I was sitting in my office, trying to make a proper plan and figure out my next move when Asare came in. And judging by the look on his face it seems my general doesn't have any good news for me.

"Where is she?" I asked him as I leaned back on my seat.

"She's gone, left at the first sign of trouble." He answered.

"And what of Malek's son, how is he?" I kept on asking.

"He's dead, had his heart ripped out and his skull smashed to pieces. She was ad brutal as possible in other to ensure he stays dead. After all his father is genius, who's to say Malek won't have a way to bring his son back."

"How is Malek taking it, I don't such a trauma would be easy for him to bear."

"He's locked himself in his lab and thrown himself into all of his work and research. Something's broken inside of him, and I fear none of us would be able to give him the comfort that he needs. I think it's better if we leave him be, at least for now." Asare said to me.

"I understand, some people just deal with their grief better when they're alone and with things familiar to them rather than people. Have Farina prepare a funeral for him, and if you can get Malek to spend at least fifteen minutes outside of his lab, have him outfit the hunters and send them after Queen. I know most of the shadow division has already been deployed, but send a few them along too. If Queen is still anywhere on Shearath, I want her found and brought back here. Dead or alive. Do you understand me Asare?" I asked him with a hard edge to my voice.

"I do sire."

"That's good. Now please do me a favor and assemble what's left of the giants in the courtyard. It's time we had a talk with them, and plan our next course of action."

"Yes sire." Asare replied with a bow as he made his way out.

His obedience was a little awkward for me. But it seems he's accepted my role as king and is acting accordingly. Though many people call me a king, I've not had a coronation or anything, so it wasn't official, at least not yet anyway. But there was no hurry anyway. For everything in life there was a time and season for it, being officially crowned as king doesn't help me or anyone at the moment. I needed to find a way to protect my people from the threats that always seems to be never ending. That's what a true king would do, he would prioritize the safety of his people, over his own glory.

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The loud stomps and the rumbling of the earth as the Giants got closer was nerve wracking. But it wad aloe majestic and impressive none the less. There were eleven of then there, and each and every single one of them was exuding an aura of battle hardened tenacity. I didn't recognize any of the giants, the elderly giant I had spoken to last time seems to be among the casualties of Grimgar's attack.

I felt bad that I couldn't do anything to save them all, but at the very least it these guys made it out. I'm not really a fan of the mentality a little is better than none, but this was what I had to work with. Hopefully they don't hold it against me for not arriving in time to save the lives of their comrades.

But this was not the time for blame, and I'm sure they knew it. We had to figure out our next course of action and stick to it. I was a little confused before about why vampires were so important, before I remembered the conversation I had with the giant elder a few months ago.

Vampires were the only race or one of the few races that were both alive and dead. Their entire existence was one magical and scientific enigma, which made it possible for materials harvested from their body to be able to open gates to other dimensions, and with enough of it, another universe.

"We have kept your shield safe King Kael, but at great costs. You understand what you have to do with this right?" one of the giants came closer and spoke. This giant was actually female.

"I'm sorry for your loss, but to be honest I have no idea what to really do with that shield. All I know is that it's one of seven keys capable of opening the gates to the next universal layer. It was because I wanted to know what next step to take, that I had come to see your leader. But alas, misfortune struck before I arrived."

"What you have to do is simple. In five years, when the veil between the two universe is weak enough, and their merger is almost complete. You would use your shield to open the gates and fully allow both universes to become one. But please beware, you must do so at the right time, when the soul planets of this Layer are aligned. Then after you've done so, it is up to the dragon king of the mind to search the newly merged sixth and seventh universe for his own key, which I believe is a mask, and also safeguarded by another tribe of giants. And then just like you, he would have to merge the universe when the mind planets are aligned. Then it is up to the dragon queens of magic to find the third key, and in similar fashion, merge the fourth universe, and so and so forth until the seventh, where further instructions would be prepared for you."

Once again another seemingly impossible yet fantastical quest has been placed in front of me. I had so many things that I had to do, and while I'm happy about the somewhat detailed instructions that I have been given, I so did not fucking understand anything of what I had to do, or what most of the terms used meant."

"What is a soul planet?" I asked the giant.

"A soul planet is a planet that embodies the element of the soul. They shouldn't be hard to find as there are only seven of them, and each located in the same galaxy to ensure proper alignment. As for which galaxy, you would have to scour the cosmos yourself, looking for the right one.However there is a problem and if it's not solved, we might all end up dead before the merger is even half complete."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. There's always one problem after another, one bloody hiccup in the path to throw you off your game. This was really exhausting, but I have to say that I've sort of gotten used to it, and maybe a little numb. I looked at the giant and gave her a nod to continue with what she was saying.

"I heard someone is trying to make a gate between the seventh and sixth layer universes. It's going to fail, because the layer between both universes won't open for anything other than your key, and right during the alignment of the soul planets. Any tampering between them before the appointed time, would unleash an unending amount of unspeakable cosmic horrors, and that's the best case scenario, since that means it can be contained. The worst case scenario would be total annihilation. We all would cease to exist. So you have to put a stop to it, and fast!"

I felt a headache coming on. Not that I would mind kicking the butt of whoever it seems is pulling the strings behind a lot of shit that's been happening to the vampires. But I knew like everything else that I've had to do, it's going to take an unbelievable amount of effort to get pastthat person and out an end to all his schemes. But that was what I do, it's what I've been doing, and it's all I know how to do. I beat the odds stacked against me, over and over again, and even if they're sill being stacked, I know I'll still beat them. And that's because I can't afford to lose.

"I understand what I have to do, and there'sproblem with that. I will work my hardest to make sure I fulfill everything that's required of me. In the main time, I would like to ask you guys, if you would be willing to join Ethernalia Leonis as one of the ruling races. You can have a seat on the council and have designated duties for the betterment of the city. This would be your home, and everyone here, your family." I said to them with a smile.

The giants looked at me for a while, then turned to face each other. There was a significant amount of eye contact between all eleven of them, almost as if they were having some sort of telepathy oriented conversation. It was weird, but I think now I realized what me, Asha and Xaseah look like when we're talking to each other in our minds, it's crazy.

"We thank you for your kind offer your majesty, and we accept. However we have two requests from you if you don't mind. We would like to be the guardians and protector of the world tree, just as it protects your city. It is very young and has not gotten to the full scope of it's abilities yet, and since we are oracles in our own right and quite conversant with nature. I believe we're the best people for the task."

"There's no problem with that, you all can look after him. I will prepare a seat on the council for you, so I expect you to send a representative as soon as possible. But you mentioned you had two requests, you've already mentioned one, what's the last one?" I asked them with a smile.

"A new oracle has been born, and it is to our knowledge that she's not just under your protection, but she's also betrothed to your young son. We ask for the honor of being her teachers. We might not be able to teach her how to control and master her powers as a demi-god, but we can teach her to master her visions, to interpret and understand them. And how to trigger this powerful ability of hers at will and use it in the battles to come. For we have seen her destiny, it is entwined tightly with those of your children, and she needs to be ready, they all do, for the fight that's come."

Oh great, this giant bitch just jinxed my kids, can't anything ever be normal around here. Now there's obviously a threat in the future that I'll be unable to protect my children from, or worse not even be around to do so. I'm not really up for this prophecy crap, which is why I'm only taking this premonition with a grain of salt. I'm going to do whatever the fuck I have to do to make sure that my kids never have to fight, no matter the reason.

"I can't make such a decision for Ariel, at least not yet if not ever. But I'll have a talks with her mother and explain to her what you just suggested. I'll get back to you and let you know once we've decided on a course of action."

"Very well your Majesty, your favor is greatly appreciated. By your leave your majesty?"

"By all means. Please make yourself at home, and if you need anything don't hesitate to come to me. You're a part of my family now."

The giants gave me a bow, and it was still an intimidating sight none the less. But whatever it is, we've had to talk about has already been said, but no doubt they still left me a lot to think about. It seems the strength I have right now is not enough. But that's okay, if I have to get stronger I will, and I won't stop until I'm so strong nothing can hurt the people I love. After all, I'm living in a world and reality where anything seems possible, so definitely I can make our happy ending a reality.