Chapter 131: Diplomatic Overtures
I nodded in satisfaction once this dunce in my hand gave an affirmative on passing on my message to Nemesis. Alright, now that just left getting him on his way back to his dark mistress. As I looked at him he really still looked pretty irked. Well, I suppose getting manhandled and having his men slaughtered would sour anyone’s mood. But still, he did ruin this patch of forest, someone has to pay for the lost property value and it sure as hell isn’t going to be me!
“Alright I’m going to send you on your way but first I need to tell you something. Consider it free advice.” I said. Theseus predictably remained silent and continued to try to drill a hole in my head with his glare.
“Remember to roll.” I said simply and I saw his demeanour change slightly in confusion.
“What?” Theseus asked, breaking the silence.
“For when you land, remember to roll.” I replied with a smirk and I saw his brow furrow for a moment before widening in realisation.
“Have a nice flight.” I said with a laugh before I flexed my arm and chucked him up over the tree line towards Averlon. We were quite deep in the forest so he should land somewhere along the forest edge.
“Pretty good throw if I do say so myself.” I said as I watched him soar off into the distance. His spear and shield that were lying on the ground trembled on the ground for a moment before shooting into the air after their master.
“Huh now that I think of it, that’s a handy trick... pretty dramatic too...” I muttered as I watched the two pieces of war gear fly off into the distance.
“Now then are you alright?” I asked as I turned to face the angel named Ariel. She visibly flinched as I faced her, I could sense the jolt of fear.
It made sense why she was afraid she was almost overwhelmed by the Syndicate and I defeated all of them like I was swatting flies. Findd new stories at novelhall.com
“I could have sworn you High Angels were stronger the last time I was around. Or are you just not a very good fighter.” I said as I approached.
“I’m a scout. I’m not as well trained for combat.” Ariel replied cautiously.
“So stealth then, still you could stand to be stealthier. I mean you got knocked right out of the sky from what I heard.” I said and I saw her awkwardly shuffle her feet at those words.
“Anyway, it looks like you’re injured, one of your wings got clipped. Turn around.” I said as I motioned for her to show me her back. She didn’t move, she just stared at me suspiciously and I sighed in response.
“I’m going to heal you, your wings are mostly ether circuits. It’s just a matter of repairing the circuit. You probably don’t know this can be done since humanoids don’t have the fine control to do it.” I said and Ariel furrowed her brow in suspicion. She glanced at the hive soldiers around her before turning around and showing me her wings. I saw one of her wings had a slash in it and the ether circuit there was fried from the ensuing short circuit.
It was a simple fix, clamp the ether flow and fix the circuit. Then the wing should fill itself back up. High Angel wings, although looking to be made of feathers, were actually more ether than flesh. So as I did the quick fix I noticed the circuits on her wings seemed atrophied from lack of use.
“You walk everywhere?” I asked and Ariel turned her head as she shifted some of her wings so she could get a good look at me.
“What?” Ariel asked in confusion.
“Your ether circuits are atrophied, if you don’t use them enough they tend to degrade over time. When was the last time you really used these wings?” I asked and Ariel furrowed her brow at those words.
“I spend most of my time in the palace, I don’t get to leave much.” Ariel replied softly.
“Huh, bird in a cage then. Well, I’ll fix that too, you should get more exercise or you may end up grounded.” I said as I repaired the last atrophied circuit and power flooded into her wings.
Ariel let out this weird gasp as her wings fluttered for a moment. She took in deep breaths of air as she gently flapped her wings as if to test them.
“Most of the ancients would find little joy in such things. You are truly a strange one.” Ariel said as she turned to look at me just as the entrance opened up.
“Well I can assure you there is nothing like me, the Eternal Mother ensured that fact.” I replied with a smirk as Ariel tilted her head in response.
“You mentioned that earlier, so are you a creation of the Firstborn?” Ariel asked.
“Yes I was created by a Firstborn, as to whether I am a failed or successful creation that depends on who you ask.” I replied with a playful smirk. Honestly this was pretty fun, yes they do say the Firstborn are unreadable by most means. However, I am still playing on the safe side. The whole cover story of me being a rogue hive leader from the Eternal Mother’s hive was a good cover. I’ve got to hand it to Mahaila, this cover story was perfect. It gave me a lot of flexibility to say misleading truths.
For instance I am technically made by Firstborn because I came from a Firstborn egg. There is indeed nothing like me because each Firstborn was unique. The Eternal Mother did ensure I was quite different considering she gave me a piece of her power which interacted in strange ways with my baseline abilities. As to whether I am a failed or successful creation, well that depends on if I survive and win this grand game. After all the show isn’t over till the fat lady sings...
Actually, why do they say that? The show isn’t over until the fat lady sings? What fat lady? Why does the lady that ends the show have to be fat? Ah well, I’ll ask Cecilia later.
We continued through the facility towards this main atrium. I could tell Ariel was still extremely cautious. Which was a good thing, if she wasn’t she was a fucking idiot. To be fair she didn’t really have a choice but to follow me in here. Ariel was almost killed by the Syndicate and I swatted that attack team like a bunch of flies.
“So how will you contact your mother? Or will you not contact her?” I said as I turned to look at her just as she flinched.
“You are brave, I will give you that, but you should know that I can tell when you are lying.” I said and I saw Ariel fidget in response. It was obvious to me that she was hesitant on calling the Archangel here.
“You know if you want to leave you can just go, I just thought it might be best if our factions at least started to have some level of communications established. I know what’s happening in the north. Now a high angel is here alone and the Syndicate attacks her. I’m sure you can understand why I want to talk.
So if you really want to leave I just need you to answer at least one question...” I said as I faced her. I saw her tense as if preparing for a fight. This was just an instinct to a perceived threat, nothing more. To her this was hardly unexpected. If she followed me in here, she was prepared to die in here.
“Why are you here?” I asked and Ariel averted her gaze for a moment. No doubt contemplating how much to tell me.
“I am a scout, the north is in ruins so my mother wished to ensure the south was stable.” Ariel said after some hesitation.
“Alright, in truth I just brought you here as a little test and also to have a private chat with the Empress. After which you can be on your way, or you can walk the city and decide for yourself if what is happening here is acceptable to you and your fellows.
If you want to call some extra security or clear it with those up there that’s fine too.” I said and I saw Ariel give me a funny look.
Yeah, surprising right? The giant monster being soooooo acommodating...
I saw her gaze shift her eyes darting all across the room. She was expecting some kind of trick and I could tell thoughts were racing through her mind. Honestly, I kind of like her, she’s earnest and honest. Which was another way to call someone naive but honestly I don’t like shifty types. She reminds me of Beatrice in a way... yeah she was definitely sheltered as all hell...
It didn't take long but soon I could tell she was ready to answer so let’s see what she is going to say.
“I would like to speak with the Empress first, I assume she is on the way here?” Ariel asked in an attempt to look calm.
Yes, I think I can work with this, if she was some mindless brute I would have to kill her...
She’s on the way...
We have a lot to talk about...