Chapter 901: Post War
On Elliana’s crash; the Devil who’d awaken his past self, vowed to Marinda a perfect addition to his kingdom, Hidros. No matter who ruled, who attacked, or ruined – Hidros, his place of birth, was, is, and would always be his mother. And so, a divisive sche sparked within his mind – on bringing the Floating castle down, he instated himself into a sowhat known familia’s entourage. Elliana and her butler Jae, by sheer luck, were a duo in search of sothing greater, sothing more than their day-to-day lives. And so, Igna gave what they wished in the form of an enigmatic demon. Second, the annihilation of the Sen’s dynasty and the forceful capture of a god’s symbol. A ssage sent both in the heavenly and mortal realms. Overprotective gods, akin to overprotective parents, sought to keep their children safe but to a certain extent. Gods were stranger entities, far more coy and abrasive than their children, Celestials. From his plane to the mortal realm, let’s say the ssage was more than a well-ford threat.
Thus, the Haggard Dynasty established itself as a true Celestial, who but had three requirents; fortune, power, and the symbol of a god. Three of which the Dynasty drowned in. Behind the scene, under the harshness of the Devil act, the following wars weren’t just shows of bloodshed and defiance, no, absolutely not. In cos, Elya, representative of the Lixbin’s head, and Ron, representative of Lombart’s head. On the declaration of war; the families vowed to see who was the strongest. And in a small but necessary move, after the show of his forces and wit, the representative of Ron’s court scurried into Orn village. Underneath the shadowy night, they made a deal – information in exchange for the Lombart’s safety. A wise move for Igna was on their heels, and in exchange of the heads of Lombart’s lives, the devil wished for a target of higher importance to be presented – there, Zeus’s na was uttered – a ntion which shook Alfred to his core, the persona screeched internally. The scene was thus set for the later battles. Like the Sen dynasty, Lixbin’s heads were brought to the Sen palace, a simple carriage ride from the higher district in Nordway. A man, a lady, and two sons, dressed in lovely clothes and bound by rusted chains were pushed through the gates. The close eting discussion was never known to Azian familiar or the little entourage Igna built thus far. Like the Sen’s, the Lixbin’s were thrown on a velvety red carpet.
The Devil sat at his throne( a leathery couch) behind which laid a deathly landscape of mutilation and torture. Limbs left hanging from the ceiling; Igna scanned the prisoners, their fate laid in his hand, was in heaven, was it hell – judgnt looked upon the captive emotionlessly.
Sky cackled, black lightning struck the building – a dark presence shrouded in godly mana peered at Igna with beaten white flakes, “-Igna!”
“Lord Lixbin.”
“What is this?” he turned to his children whomst bowed before the heavy presence.
“I’m judging the weak,” he said, “-Lord Lixbin, do not dismay for I haven’t forgotten what thee did. Granted, there were tis you aided be in the past – all the good was undone per a simple act of deception. Cleopatra,” he narrowed, “-the muse who brought about my downfall. Lucifer and Zeus joined hands to take my symbols. Too bad,” he smirked, “-the symbols will never be found nor will I allow anyone else to inherit them. My curse of never becoming a god’s forced to take on the title of an equal but perilous path.”
.....
“You were always a devil,” he cried, “-as Staxius, must I na the countless heads slain?”
“Please, don’t plead,” he laughed, “-the god of Darkness at my court arguing if my actions were right or wrong. Will I bla you for taking the path of darkness? No, will I take my revenge? Yes. And you, will you bla the inheritor of Death’s elent for killing? No, you won’t. It goes against the nature of things. Besides, the title of God of Darkness isn’t so known by the world. Lucifer, on the other hand,” he summoned the wings above the palm, “-is far more valuable.”
Stunned, “-what is it thee wishes, Devil?”
“Nothing,” he returned, “-I have what I want and get what I wish. Nothing the God of Darkness can offer. Perhaps the soul of Cleopatra, but then again, I don’t much care for a snarly little vixen who fooled and caused her lover to kill himself,” he crossed his legs and stared at the family, “-the family’s been defeated, how about we stay at that. Head of Lixbin, I grant thee freedom.”
The God, Lixbin, rose a baffled brow at Igna, then turned to his children, then Igna again, “-why?”
“Kill them with kindness?” he laughed, “-I jest,” he rose and walked around until facing their exposed backs, “-I have a fondness for families who look tight and welcoming to each other. I understand empathy and relatability, both of which I used selfishly when it suits my whims. To see a god lower himself to the mortal realm in a plea for his children’s life, I’m impressed. More than that,” the chains clicked, “-thee choose the path of negotiation and not the path of battle. Many disagreents can be settled in simple conversations, the middle-ground is always a line we should aspire to reach.”
Lixbin, confused and amazed, rubbed his hands and exhaled, “-Igna Haggard, I’m surprised. You’re truly wise,” he looked at the family, “-I assu the kindness is signed blank check?”
“Right you are,” he returned, “-when the ti cos, I will ask for thy assistance.”
“And I’ll respect the agreent,” in a heavy puff of smoke, the god vanished. Similarly, after each battle, Igna brought the captives to Sen manor where matters went either peacefully or ended in grueso torture. The latter, bloodied, filled with agony and pain. During said secret etings of life and death, information about the inner workings of Marinda boarded the chessboard.
To truly overturn the current hold, Igna needed the support of the people and the Celestials – factions who at the ti were oil and water. Backed by the Azian family, Igna sowed distrust, assassinated servants, and pinned the incident on other families. There were tis he even controlled noblen to lure noble ladies of other households to cottages where he’d order the nobleman to abuse the unconsenting ladies. Many were conscious and scread for their lives, so were allowed to live and tell the stories, others were killed, and so had their closest friend and family mber walk in on the blasphemous display. Extramarital affairs and abuse were frowned upon in the elite society of Celestials. There was no risk in the ploys for the families hid the occurrence in fear of public sha.
Months turned years, Haggard fought wars, gathered allies, force their influence, and gained montum. On the defeat of the Xinfe familia – Haggard’s reached a critical stage – the turning point of tales of the Devil’s influence. He kindly presented two sides of himself – a murderous demon and a caring protector of Orn. Tania’s exploit also showed how the Devil could nurture a village girl into a princess. The title of Princess of Faes was bestowed on her by the guardians of the forest, the dryads. To the natives – ‘twould be the sa to a god descending on the earth to bless one of their children.
Gustv, the inheritor of Intherna’s symbol. Rumor of the Wiseman was sotis the closest guarded secret the prisoners held. Empty shells of prisoners fell upon the floor, Rosespire II landed at the capital. Igna strode onto the street and made for the bridge where young Djen proposed to Mariane, there, pieces fell into order – the outco of taking Marinda wasn’t an idea, but a possibility. Rest is known by history – Xinfe and Danio played major parts in antagonizing the Wiseman’s council. A bait Igna threw to get Gustv on his side. A eting with Intherna brought the powerful young fellow at his side, thus, angering the last boss, the committee. Facades shattered, layers of protection broken to expose the heart of Marinda’s influence, the elderly Celestials.
Smoke puffed onto the empty ceiling; the tranquil lakes chirped and splashed. Many months passed since the War of Independence; Marinda dove into another hidden realm per Cthulhu hunger, therein, ti flashed. Those peaceful inebriated days of nothings healed Igna’s soul.
Marinda’s new leadership acted quickly in implenting acts and treaties. The island would be broken into regions for easier managent. Defenses aside, the tall task of rebuilding a stable environnt fell onto the capable shoulders of Gustv and his comrades. For most of the idle days, Igna fished and worked as a shop-owner, dawn was on the lake’s tranquil mirror. The hectic lifestyle of the capital wasn’t much interesting, thus the return of the Rosespire II at Cthulhu. ‘-Einheim’s secret,’ he crushed the cigar and exited the quiet manor dressed in working attire, “-a simple lie to motivate the troops in taking an otherwise useless castle.”
Workers passed the bridge and waved, “-Igna,” they waved, “-how’s the morning today?”
“Normal,” he returned with a laugh. Fishern passed, gave quick handshakes, and left for their trip. Igna hopped into the Twin Jelly shop, lit his stove, and began another day of work. For the first ti in a long while, the citizen was able to pay for Igna’s services that included freshly cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a nearby tavern. Another was partly dropped on him by a vindictive Elliana – the tightly spaced shelves were stacked with items from the capital. Life in a booming mining town, what else was there. Igna lived and laughed, the locals were friendly and also enjoyed laughs. News occasionally ca from the capital – improvents of roads and towns; in the back of his mind, there was an unresolved issue, “-the beast’s hunger.”
Mug against the cheerful counter, “-that’s it for tonight,” said the Devil. Younger ladies frowned at him coyly, “...’
“Not tonight,” he said respectfully and left.
“Goodnight,” bellowed the tavern, after which he stepped into the chilly streets. Passersby wore overcoats, couples ran to the nearest taverns for warm als, the always amber volcano’s mouth seed a lighthouse to nightly travelers. The Act of Adventuring was passed to ensure the safe passage of travelers at night. Slowly but surely, the more reserved raced boarded their reach -a different yet reminiscent Ardanian feel sprung along the street and sky.
*Woosh,* “-Cthulhu,” the voice echoed, “-are you there, friend?”
“Igna,” multiple masses joined into a humanoid figure, “-good to see you,” the speech trendously improved. “-Sorry, my hunger, I can’t control it for long.”
“Yeah, I understand,” a table and two chairs summoned, “-as it stands, for Marinda to truly reach its potential, we’ll have to give them the mana they need.”
“Kill ,” he said, “-without around, I think they’ll be happy to live after.’
“No, friend,” shook Igna, “-you will not be dying anyti soon. I promise that much, my friend. We will find another way.”
“What other way, friend. I nearly devoured... daughter was very happy about the ritual. Death’s the only way forward. I pain every day, it’s hard, very hard, I cannot think properly and my stomach controls my action.”
“Well, friend, I have a solution, no guarantee but it might work.”
“What solution?”
“When in doubt,” he leaned into his chair, “-call onto my friends,” the ground shook.
*Goddess of Chaos, Goddess of Fire, Guardian of ti and Queen of Demons, heed my humble voice,* portals warped into reality, the four generals stepped into the mortal realm with the cries of nature, lightning, rain, the sea, everything shuddered on the entrance of the Alterian Goddesses.
“Long ti no see,” winked Lilith already at beast’s side.
“And here I thought you’d never ask,” smiled Intherna taking a seat on the table.
“Where are we?” wondered Gophy, staring the cave up and down.
“Hello, Igna,” added Miira, “-you called?”
He coughed, “-lower the auras,” he gasped, “-lim-”
“Oh, sorry,” they returned, the heavy presence nearly shattered the isle’s core, “-so, why have thee called on us?”
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