Chapter 688: True Demonlord [19]

The grassy land felt peculiar, Brvya in her moment of bafflement at Midne's choice remained still. A scan around displayed plenty o' buildings in which were people who returned the favor. A familiar presence to the nose, and not the eye, appeared, "-Welcome to the Shadow Realm."

"And you are?" 

"My name's Vengeance. Guardian spirit of our watcher. You've been granted the honor to reside here, a realm of infinite possibilities," during the introduction, a wave of hot energy cut across, "-I'll take it from here," said a lady straddled atop a skeletal horse of open flames. "-You're the Valkyries," she blinked, left a mist, and reappeared after a ball of flame, "-how foolish to attack a continent where my comrade resides. In any case, welcome, the days have only begun. The other goddesses await patiently in the test arena. Prove thy worth, else," she glanced into the distance, "-he'll be disappointed." 

"Here starts our journey," they remarked.

Similarly, over yonder, the town of Glenda's evening went in two fashions, a long night of drinking, or a peaceful night of rest. Depending on who visited, the townsfolk were excited to party, the adventuring life was one much desired, especially after the many current reforms. "-Headless knight," cowered the first guards, "-call for backup."

"Hear me, I have come to meet the stewardess." Just so it happens, the discrepancy caught the eye of the council. She crossed the arched bridge and paused at the peak, '-who's that?' her steps, a promenade mere seconds ago, turned to a little run.

"Stewardess."

"Guards, what's the matter," she panted and stared at the behemoth

"Here," said a voice, "-my head is here."

From the neck to the stomach, "-a Dullahan," she exclaimed, "-apologies for the rudeness. Who are you?"

"My name's Dulan, I've come on order of Lord Igna. He told me to ask for the stewardess."

"You've met the viscount," she mumbled. Already, the guard's faces told of another tale, the mention of their lord filled the hearts with pride and confidence. The tale of the devil of Glenda was one sung frequently at the tavern, her observant demeanor scanned a few points and exhaled, "-I see, welcome to Glenda. Were there any tasks he assigned?"

"Not that I know of," they dove into the heart of the town, an aerial view showed crowds upon crowds, merchants, adventurers, travelers, the list knew no bounds. In more ways than stated, Glenda became an important part of Arda. Luscious fields of crops were spotted due north, the granted land became integral for combat against famine. There on, the headless knight's adventure would only just begin, the tales of Arda and the continent of Hidros would be known sooner or later.

The imperial family's beachside estate, or resort, was one of great riches. The sharply designed interior affected Midne more, '-I hope I don't break something,' galloped across her mind. Igna remained nonchalant and arrived at the living room, a grand set of sofas puzzled in a C-shape with sharpened edges. It gave onto the crystal-like pool. 

A butler, soft in his touch yet stern in expression, tended to the prince's injuries. The younger brother, Hyde, stood as a shield to their mother. '-Now that I remember, I haven't met her before.'

"You're Igna Haggard, right?" inquired Xyra only managing to side-glance his savior. The butler adamantly held, rather, gripped his chin for an extensive look at mild injuries. 

"Correct," he replied confidently, "-how are your injuries?" they inched forward, Midne showed no interest to follow.

"Stand back!" yelled Hyde, "-don't let her anywhere close to my brother or mother."

"Excuse you?" turned Igna, "-Is there perhaps something you wish to say?" he centered on the prince.

"Yes, isn't it obvious," the chest buffed to hide most of their mother, "-she's the one who began the attack, don't expect me to allow the invaders a place to rest."

The words made sense, '-he's right,' her hands eased in a way to say, '-I give up.'

"How convenient," refuted Igna, cold fingers ran across her arms and gripped the bra, "-for someone who didn't naught but stand and watch, very strong words I must say. I digress however, my sister has married into the Sultria family, I wish not to cause her relations trouble."

"-don't let go," whispered Igna, "-else it is indecent exposure."

"I'm sorry," her hands perked to hold the undergarment.

"I'm back," echoed down the hall, "-what's happened here?" 

"Loftha, how could you allow our enemy in our home, are you insane?" chastised Hyde, "-mother could have been hurt."

"Looks like kindness isn't repaid in full," he gave a disgusted glare to the princes and turned, "-Loftha, I appreciate for her change of outfit," he took the shirt, "-we should get going, the imperial family has worse manners. Even an alcoholic knows to pay their respects to someone who've saved them, alas, naught is be done. Carry on the legacy of the Imperial Family, I do wonder what my uncle saw in such a family of ingrates."

"Stop," fired the princess, "-just because you've saved us, don't mean there's any leeway to fire insults."

"Look at me," he physically slammed his forehead against hers, "-do I look like a person who cares?" a vicious aura of killing intent hovered above his head, "-if the family is ever in trouble, best find another who'll jump in for the rescue," he touched his ring, "-then again, monsters are prevalent, a simple order and this estate could have monsters lay siege."

"What do you mean?" she caught his mumble.

"Nothing," Midne slithered into the oversized shirt, "-we'll get going." 

An icy cold presence dropped in the middle of the yard, the Empress, dressed in a lovely blue dress waited in the company of the emperor, who'd grown muscular and facially pleasing over the years. 

"Igna?" the door opened.

"Empress," he replied.

"What happened here?" inquired the emperor, "-Loftha, tell me right now," her dejected expression, fueled by annoyance, refused to look, let alone speak.

"Igna, what happened to you?" she spotted a few scratches.

"Don't touch me," he blocked her hands, "-Ice Empress, I hope you have a nice life at the Sultrian household. I'm sure the emperor isn't one to take disrespect lightly."

"You," he glared, "-what have you done to my sister?"

"What is it to his imperial majesty," glared Igna.

"Such blatant insolence…"

"No," he smirked, "-not insolence, I see it best use, reality check, instead. Tis what the new generations are using."

"Guards."

"Emperor," fired Eira, "-isn't it too much?"

"I'm sorry, Eira, I have to know what happened. I can't disregard what the boy might have done."

"No," interjected Midne, "-don't fight on my account. I was wrong to think I had the right to accompa-"

"Shush," he placed an index to her lowered head, "-Midne, you're a member of my family, life ahead will be rough, and as your friend, I've vowed to stand up for who you are. It doesn't matter who stands in my way," he frowned at the emperor, "-King, god, demons, no matter, I'll fight even if tis the end of me."

"GUARDS!" 

"Emperor," a feeble man managed to answer, "-I apologize, the guards are scared of the young lord. The Devil of Glenda is one not to be taken lightly," he dropped to one knee, "-we faced an invasion of strong beings, stronger than ever before. Lady Loftha was defeated so easily; most were petrified by fear. Prince Xyra took a stand and nearly died if not for the young lord."

"Tell me more."

"-The lady in his company was a member of the invaders. She's strong, stronger than our whole guard regiment put together."

"Tell me, guard, how many were there?"

"Ten valkyries and a Dullahan," answered Xyra. 

"Are you well?" inquired the emperor.

"Yes, my brother, I'm very well," he stumbled out the manor, "-Hyde showed blatant disrespect to our savior."

"No, he also insulted our family," interjected Loftha, "-by all means, have the insolent bastard taste his medicine. Empress, you're duty-bound to us, use whatever means thee can and hurt him." 

"-HAHAHAHA,"

"-Igna…" whispered Eira.

"This is great," he stared at the sky and facepalmed, "-the imperial family has grown daft over the years. Tell me," the expression froze upon crossing the emperor, "-where's the man my uncle saw fit to marry my cousin."

"What do you mean?" 

"Igna, stop."

"No, no," he held a finger to her, "-allow me to take the blunt of my actions," he stared emotionlessly, "-emperor Sultria VI, what makes thee think thou art deserving enough to have wed my sister. Is it nobility, is it the power of being an emperor, or was it the endorsement from my late uncle?"

"What do you mean?"

"Did I stutter, tell me your worth."

"BROTHER!" cried Hyde, "-don't listen to him, we're the Imperial family, there's no need to answer."

"Silence," fired Igna, "-overstep your boundaries and I'll have thine head."

"-Don't you even try," rebutted Eira, "-they're right, I'm duty-bound to this family now," flowery iced-petals hovered, "-I must keep the vows of marriage." 

"Empress," smirked Hyde, "-hear that, we have the ice-empress on our side."

"-Ice Empress?" he nonchalantly grinned, "-I knew it, Emperor Sultria VI, you're worthless. Here thee stands unable to act, my words sound harsh, and they're meant to. I've noticed one thing, the family doesn't seem to have accepted her as a person," he moved to the side and stared each party, "-I apologize for thinking the life would be easy, dearest big sister. We've gone through a lot, and I had hoped for thy life to be a peaceful one."

"What's all this talking going to accomplished?" shrugged Loftha, "-apologize and scurry to where ever thee've crawled from." 

"-My point is proven. Emperor Sultria VI, how can you allow them to treat my sister, they refer to her as the empress as opposed to her name or even a nickname. The imperial family is nothing, you're worth nothing."

"You're getting on my nerves," gritted Hyde, "-even if my brother owes a debt…"

"I said, don't interject," a pulse of dense aura, unaffected by the ice-barrier, knocked the siblings onto their bottoms.

"Enough," said Sultria, "-Igna," the head rose with a timid smile, "-you're right, we're worthless. The imperial family doesn't have much influence, the power we have is what's allowed by the conglomerates. There's no need to keep up faces, he saw right through us. I honestly don't deserve Eira, the many letters I sent were to end relations, then one day, she flew over and we spoke, in a way, I confided and she listened. Even if I try, I can't, I want to make her proud to have me. Take away the title, and I'm naught but a spectator. The Haggard name," he exhaled and dropped onto his knees, "-I'm envious. The dynasty has done so much in the greater world, you've affected entire kingdoms, people fear, others love, it's amazing to see the influence. The prodigious pianist, Lizzie Haggard, the ex-pop idol who once had the entertainment world in on his finger, Julius Haggard, and you, the son of the Queen of Arda, the devil of Glenda, I've followed the adventures without stop. My family name, Sultria, was once great and lawful, the people looked up to us, to my father… I can't help it, I've disgraced the family," the façade of anger subsided, shamed glances went around, Loftha and Hyde tried to keep a strong face, alas, when their loved brother broke down, they could but follow.

"I knew it," said he, "-the imperial family is worthless." The sun broke to illuminate the yard, "-stand up, brother-in-law."

"Excuse me?" 

"Drop the melancholic expression," he leaned and gave a hand.

"Didn't you say I wasn't worthy?"

"You aren't," they clasped hands, "-the sign of a strong man is acceptance of weakness, the will to face the lies and confront himself. I knew from Loftha's unusual expression, she displayed a soft and innocent look when she came for help, and then, here, I noticed it all. Xyra, Hyde, and even the lady mother. Big sister Eira, you're easy to read," he pulled the emperor to his feet, "-he's a good husband, congratulations."