A compelling argument, topped by an impeccable presentation. Though Mithras wasn't one to get wowed by words easily, he had to admit Akamana had mastered the art of pleading her case.
"First of all, I'm curious about one thing. Why all of...this? For someone who won't allow herself to become vulnerable and lose her heart, you don't seem to be able to let go of me," Mithras said, visibly unfazed by Mana's performance.
"Well, that might be because you're irresistible. Divine and transcendent, a true sight for sore eyes. How can a girl look at you without wanting to sink her claws in your chest and keep you for herself?"
"Nice...and so unhealthy. See, Mana, moments like this make me thankful our thing didn't get to the next level. You got too much game for someone who still hasn't figured out what she wants in a man, a dangerous combination.
Your type of gal would have likely shattered my poor heart. Praise the Lord you left. Saves me the trouble of the whole 'I hate you! Can't forgive you! But damn do I miss you,' type of BS." Mithras replied in a calm and straightforward tone, the words catching Mana off guard and knocking the wind out of her chest.
"You didn't just say that." For reasons she couldn't figure out yet, Mithras' words were like a knife to Akamana's guts, making her grit her teeth as her eyes stabbed into him with an almost feral intensity.
"Oh I for sure did. And got plenty more in the tank if you're resolved to act a fool with the joker." Mithras clapped back, the calm and poise on his face blowing through Akamana's intensity.
"Mana, Mana, 1,000 years and you still haven't figured out the wisdom of the saying 'Love is like a declaration of war. Fall first and lose,' So funny when we consider that...you invented that saying.
You wouldn't let me fall for you, yet still ended up falling for me anyway. A tragically classic case of 'do what I say, not what I do.'
I don't mind either way. Just feel that it's a pity someone who's lived for a millennium still can't show a lick of nerve and courage when it matters the most," Mithras went off, the barrage of honest jabs ripping through Akamana's defenses and making her spasm in a silent outburst of indignation.
Here, Mithras stood up, towering above the Grand Priestess with a teasing look.
"As for my old man's crew, one by one, five by five, 100 or the whole package, they can come whenever and with all they got. I will crush them still. Why the confidence? Cause I have all the tools to back up my words.
My only match in the Purple Dawn is Hadubrangr. But time...is so not on his side. I'm stronger today than I was yesterday. And I will be stronger tomorrow by a mile. It's not just the Blood Potency. The 100,000 years of individual experience accumulated by the First Generation is feeding my brain, while their Abominations serve as my sparring partners.
As we speak I'm modifying my organs, improving my body and attributes in ways you can't fathom.
So if the Blood Aristocracy is the only reason why I need you..." Mithras raised his hand, gently stroking Akamana's cheek while leaning over and letting his cool breath breeze through her raven hair.
"Mhm...let's just say that I agree with my old man about one thing: disorder in the house always leads to disasters. So, you gotta snuff out the embers of trouble before they blossom into problems. And that's exactly what I'm doing...cleaning up the streets," Mithras said, and as his words trailed off, a series of violent crimes swept through Springtime City.
On the streets, beggars beheaded. Unassuming shopkeepers, beheaded. In fancy mansions, crime lords and renowned bankers...beheaded. In the local administration, judges and lawmakers...beheaded.
No one could tell where the murderers were coming from or how they got to their targets, decapitating so many, so fast, and with such brutal efficiency.
The only clue was a mark, a sanguine rose surrounded by a blood star carved in the victims' chests with flaming knives!
'Grand Priestess, it's bad...it's really bad! One-fourth of the spies and assassins we've planted or acquired in Springtime City...have been murdered in the last 45 minutes. If we don't find the source and stop this trend...all our agents are about to lose their heads!'
A series of mental messages boomed in Akamana's mind—making the Grand Priestess' eyes stretch impossibly.
Alas...the worst had yet to come.
'Grand Priestess! Grand Priestess! The Seafaring Nations...are seceding from the Alliance!' A desperate voice boomed in Akamana's mind, and she escaped Mithras' grasp, about to vanish from the scene when the youth stopped her with a shoulder grab, forcing Akamana to sit on his lap as he returned to his seat.
"Ah, Mana...I do like me some frustrated you. But there's nothing you can do about this one. The 'drug' has already swept through your number one vassal state, and the only cure...your only hope to not lose the Seafaring Nations...is me.
People can be so dumb sometimes. Why send an army to conquer the land...when you can just conquer the rulers? Just gotta figure out what makes a man peddle his ass to the Devil...and put it at his feet.
And that, love...is exactly what we've done to the Lords of the Seafaring Nations," Mithras whispered in Akamana's ear, his chin resting on her shoulder as her pulse raced like an intoxicated driver on the freeway.
"Now geography is what makes things so tough here. Cause in case you've forgotten, the Seafaring Nations connect the Principality of Astalon to your Mainyu Archipelago. It's like a straight line to the heartland of Angra.
Let's not even mention the boatload of resources you will lose without that naval superpower at your beck and call. Just a direct border with the Angra Theocracy...is enough for me to cause a lot of damage.
So yeah, my offer still stands. If you can forgive me for splitting your empire, and screwing you over so bad the world and your vassals will no doubt be questioning your leadership tomorrow morning...if you can forgive that...why couldn't I forgive you?
After all, I like to think that between husband and wife...it's all about dialogue. That too...is something I've learned from you," Mithras said, and for the first time since they met, Akamana couldn't help but feel that her cutie pie...had become crazier than she ever was.