亚洲综合中美

“We’re off the air,” returned a softer gaze, “-drop the formalities, Courtney.”

“Is it over?” her pure white hair rose above the somewhat tall desk.

“Yeah, and no thanks to you.”

“Come on, there’s no need for animosity. I very much despise worthless talks, and this meeting is the embodiment of petty.”

“Calm it,” returned the queen, “-the Federation’s finally on way to the top, we must keep in regular contact.”

“Sure, if babysitting Easel Run Gard and running my men thin in war efforts at Elendor appeases the members, I suppose the Haggard needs to take the brunt of the backlash whilst they reap the profits.”

.....

“Hidros and Arda are the leaders, we must show our power to inspire the lower masses.”

“We’re martyrs in the conflict of global supremacy. The Cobalt Unit’s joined sides with king Juvey. Phantom’s forces have managed to slow their assault, same can’t be said for Elendor’s army, they’ve taken huge casualties. Who would have imagined they’d go underwater, developments on submarines far outreach ours. Phantom alone cannot carry the war effort; lady Elendor doesn’t wish to acknowledge our situation.”

“The frustration’s well-grounded and I totally agree. We can’t do much in the wake of it all – war’s the surest way to advance technology, and well, a lot of money can be made. Phantom’s reaping the profits, don’t pretend it doesn’t benefit the company.”

“Don’t misunderstand, Gallienne – the money made is sucked into the black hole of aid to the fighters. We’ve granted Easel Run Gard a lot of capital to restart their economy, I don’t want to admit, the situation has left us exposed to uncertainty.”

“The nature of war is so; Rotherham and Arda seem to be making good progress. Condition of living has improved.”

“Rosespire’s shines brighter. I’m afraid the empire and Federation are at a deadlock. Phantom back the federation, Cobalt Unit backs the Empire, our biggest buyer has switched to purchasing weapons from the Cobalt Unit instead. There goes a big chunk of the income. I’m afraid the Haggard’s will have to bow out the fight sooner or later, when the day comes, Elendor will fall. The collapse can’t be avoided,” a conniving air went about the room, “-if we can’t win, let’s stage the downfall of her kingdom.”

“Did you really just say what I thought?” Gallienne’s coldness shot at the maliciously enticing idea, “-will it not be obvious?”

“No it wouldn’t,” she smiled, “-when the tide is against us, a gust needs be summoned the change the flow. Just so it happens, my son’s returned to Hidros.”

“About him,” paused with a thoughtful expression, “-what did he exactly accomplish in Alphia?”

“Oh, worry not,” her face kept still, “-more information will be made available when I meet the boy.” A thud halted at the entrance and swiftly gave a tap.

“Enter,” returned they.

“I apologize for the intrusion,” bright blond hair entered, “-my lady aunt, I have to escort thee to Rotherham, I was informed the meeting concluded?”

“You heard correctly,” kisses exchanged between the queens, “-what we discussed is a tall order, it will require intellect, and most of all, a strong heart and nonchalantness in the face of death,” the entrance soon after closed, not after setting on the Queen’s joyous expression. The walk to the car was short and uninteresting.

“-You seem rather pleased,” commented lady Courtney.

“Why would I not be?” he chuckled, “-my lady, my cousin’s returned home. Granted he’s yet to show his face in Rotherham, I don’t doubt there are things he must attend. In the meantime, about Malley and I’s marriage, I trust we have thy blessing?”

“Yes, you do,” she smiled, “-without a shadow of a doubt my dear nephew. Malley’s a great girl, good in spirit and body, I only wish the best for the union.”

20th of December, the day Igna landed, would also be one to forever warp the foreseeable future. The time read 16:43, Julius held light-hearted chats in the company of lady Courtney. The drive outside Rosespire towards Rotherham was very often scenic on accounts of forestry, expansive landscape, and the seamless union of the railway into the wild. Midway through the drive, an explosion rattled the land, a crater remained in place of where the car used to be.

Alarms cried, the ears rang, ‘-what happened?’ wondered Julius hung upside down, ‘-where’s aunt Courtney?’ it took effort to claw out the jumbled mess. There, upon pulling himself up from the toppled car that the situation grew apparent. High pitch buzzing eased, the vision cleared albeit hampered by the wreckage.

“We’ve found you!” explained mysterious robed figures, “-wife of Hades. Our master has searched the dimensions to find thy location; is it not a fortune to have such a caring husband?” said one at the forefront, black robes and a staff made of feathers atop which rested a pair of wings.

“What are you doing here?” returned loudly, blood flowed from the temples, “-I don’t belong to the man anymore, I was killed by lord Death, isn’t it apparent?”

“Not killed,” returned the black-robed one, “-simply kidnapped. We stumbled onto the land on pure luck, such a decrepit world doesn’t fancy the demon god. Tell me, will thee follow on peace or must we take, let’s say violent actions?”

“Aunt?” said heavy pants, “-I’ve called help, who are these people?”

“Julius, listen to me closely,” a fragment of the Death Reaper’s sword manifested, “-I’m sorry. Take this message to Igna, live a great life for both of us, mother has to take care of old matters. She’ll figure a way out of the situation, enjoy the life which is to come, I consider my days spent here to be worth every bit. Remember, I’ll always love you,” the sword slid, an unseen palm shoved Julius aside, he but stared, a hemisphere manifested and imploded, land and lady. A perfectly symmetrical remnant laid in the middle of the forest, ‘-what happened?’ the distant sound of a helicopter sent the mind awry.

“See, there was no reason to fight, was there?” said a snickering tone, “-mother, how are you?” the realm swapped.

“Don’t address me so casually,” fired across, “-a son wouldn’t dare treat her mother as a prisoner,” hands and feet were chained to a singular boulder on a floating isle. Molten lava flowed akin to stream, imagine an idyllic place of refuge – a crystal clear waterfall smoothly washes down, the resultant lake boasts a piece of land where the water is calm. The border’s surrounded in grass and lusciously vivid green; how it would be nice. Replace the water in the waterfall with lava, the lake, made of magma, the surrounding, turn it into pitch-black rocks – as for the isle, make it a dull platform. Forget the peaceful breeze, here each gust seemed to be the exhale of a fire dragon. No visible sky, the very top held a floating castle, further up, rocks. Reddish creatures hovered to and fro. The chirping of birds turned screams of the tormented, the middle-sat lady Courtney dressed in rags, stripped of her weapons, and hair cut without care.

“Who will come to the rescue?” chuckled the presumptuous figure riding a headless steed, “-mother, lord death’s gone, none is powerful enough to enter the realm, let alone fight my minions. The strongest demon god is and always will be Hades. Don’t bother escaping, sword or not, being shackled to the chain that held Fenrir must be a big inconvenience. No harsh feelings, mother, I hope father has the stomach to see thee again.”

‘Brat,’ she laid face up, ‘-captured once again. I knew deep down this moment would arrive. Hades’ shadow can’t be escaped so easily. Lord Death rescued and forged my soul into part of his weapon. I wish I could have seen Igna once more. I’ll live out the rest of my life in the underworld, the strong decide, and the weak obey.’ Outside, commotion grew – media arrived to cover the accident. Prince Julius was spotted wrapped in a white cloth and taken to the hospital, no more information was made known. Within the next hour, an armed escort barged into the hospice and made straight for his room.

“Julius!” the door slammed, Elvira’s restless expression laid on his, “-tell me what happened.”

“My lady, should we?”

“Shut up, lock the door, guard the outside. Have Rotherham put on maximum security. Identify anyone and everyone, close the border, this is an order.”

“Understood, ma’am.”

Her slightly shorter stature lowered onto a bedside stood, her fingers ran up and locked with his, the warmth added color to the pale demeanor, “-lady Elvira.”

“Tell me, what happened?”

“We were ambushed.”

“By who?”

“Lady Elvira,” he stared her sincerely, “-knowledge about my sister, Eira, being a goddess is known to you, right?”

“Yes, what of it?”

“Here’s the situation,” he gulped, “-I know who’s responsible, we can’t fight them, no matter the weapon or method, tis a loss cause.”

“I don’t care,” she persisted, “-tell me who’s responsible.”

“The Demon God, one of the three supreme gods, Hades, the ruler of the underworld. Lady Courtney is wife to Hades, long ago, and I speak in terms of thousands of years ago, Lord Death invaded Hades’ realm and kidnapped her. The outcome resulted in a brief war between the two gods, many lives were lost, and in the end, the ruler of the underworld had significant powers taken.”

“The situation’s dire,” she reached for her phone, “-we need to council with Eira then, if she’s a god, we can make use of her clout.”

“No,” he pressed her phone to the bed, “-by goddess, she’s only just reached the rank, nothing’s set in stone. Her body and mind will change in due time, the only boon granted as of yet is immortality. By going against a supreme god, one needs to be equal, if not, stronger than said being.”

“How about you, you knew of her true identity and name, isn’t there anything?”

“No, I only have the power to create, not destroy, and certainly, not the powers to fight. We’re talking about fighting against an entity that’s at the peak of existence, words aren’t enough to describe their status. They control entire universes, dominions over multiple worlds and the idea of us, mere nobodies residing on the plane they guard, to stand up against them, no way.”

“There’s one person,” her eyes rose to the ajar window, “-or was one, recently reincarnated. The Blood-King, Staxius Haggard.”

“...” his hands pressed in frustration, the chin burrowed into his chest, the eyelids shut in complete despair, ‘-I watched her be abducted, how can I show my face to cousin, I’ve lost the right to stand at his side.’

“-Lady Elvira,” he grabbed her arms, “-she’s probably dead. They must have separated her soul from the weapon, once done, she’ll forever be bound to whatever they see fit. The battle’s lost before even starting.”

“The battle’s yet to start,” a nauseating sensation wrapped at the bed’s foot, “-trust me,” the hair levitated in white and red, “-I won’t forgive anyone who dares move against my family. Cousin Julius, please rest.”

“How did you know?” asked Elvira.

“éclair reported the incident,” he explained, “-the news over social media, Julius had an accident.”

“Heir to death, inheritor of Origin and Time’s will, you understand what’s at stake. The vessel of which thee bear won’t survive an hour in the underworld. Immortality from the death element’s restricted – as for the vampire blood, what will it serve against higher-realm beings.”

“And, should I yield?”

“COUSIN!” fired an outburst, “-Aunt Courtney accepted her fate, she knows more than we do. Here, ‘live a great life for the both of us, mother has to take care of old matters. She’ll figure a way out of the situation, enjoy the life which is to come, I consider my days spent here to be worth every bit. Remember, I’ll always love you,’ don’t you see what she means?”

“I’m not conceited,” the arms lowered, the shoulders dropped, “-I know my weakness, most of all, I know what’s important to me. Without her, I wouldn’t stand here; she rescued me, tis time I repay the favor. I’ll be back shortly – I promise, we’ll celebrate thy union together.”