41 (Ch 41)Rising Tides
In a land of lava and brimstone, covered in ever-flowing ash and draped in depravity a single being sat bored upon the tallest black stone tower in the area. The land itself seemed to stretch out endlessly but the small remnants of growing flora and running water made it clear the place was at least inhabitable.
The being atop this tower sat on his throne, covered jewels and made out a metal that seemed to shift and move with chaotic energy. If one was privy to the metals of Astretis, the world Faith resided in, they would notice that this metal comprising this throne was certainly not among them. The being itself covered from head to toe in armour so elegant it would make one question how the crafter had even made such a thing stared down at the city below.
It was filled with millions of beings all busting around in their everyday life within this hellish domain, unperturbed by the violent atmosphere surrounding their homes. The housing itself was of similar building materials to the brimstone tower just far less elegant and intimidating.
"It's all so boring." The being mumbled, as its single horn peeked out through the hood it usual adorned.
It could sense more activity from the other 5 major cities within the realm, all having their own tower and protector/ruler. It all bored the being so much, it wanted something new.
"Your lordship, it might be less boring if you were more proactive." A hooded figure that stood slightly behind its might throne replied. One would notice that a single horn similar to the mighty beings horn stuck out from the face of the hooded figure that was otherwise hidden by the shadow of its hood.
In fact all the beings beneath it in this brimstone city were adorned with a single horn, though none came near the elegance or length of the being atop its throne.
"Archipel, since when have I ever been proactive in the centuries you've known me," it replied, tone bordering on apathy.
"Not once my lord."
"Then why would I do so now?"
"It's always good to change bad habits." The hooded figure replied to its question.
"Hmmph, whatever." The being replied going back to surveying the area below.
The hooded figure didn't continue his pestering but anyone who knew the being atop the throne would question how this hooded thing could possibly speak with such blatant arrogance or rudeness not to mention stand so close to such a monumental being.
"I've just received word that apparently the 4th has picked his fourteenth candidate for the rights of accession. A lich who conquered an entire lower world named Ta'lezeen, apparently his army of undead is unmatched among the lower worlds and his skills with magic are quite impressive. I believe he'll be entering the labyrinth for his first test anytime now." The hooded figure said, hoping to cheer up the melancholic ruler who sat idly on his throne.
As an attendant, it was his duty to improve his Lord's knowledge of the other ruling party and manage his lands but also to stop him from getting in a bad mood and becoming a problem.
"A lich is just a lich and there are infinite lower worlds for it to scavenge, if the 4th wants to send it directly to the labyrinth then he can. Anything that doesn't come from Astretis is at a massive disadvantage anyway." The being replied, dismissing the rather colossal achievement as nothing more then Childs play.
"You're still no better my Lord, have you even elected a being yet?" The figure hooded asked, receiving the ruling being's silence as its thoughts drifted.
"There's no point." It replied, too bored to care.
The hooded figure didn't think that was a suitable answer but didn't press the subject once again. It was quite annoying to have a ruler so uncaring about important subjects like this, especially when the others took it so seriously. Yet the hooded figure couldn't complain that the being atop its throne was a much better ruler than the others when it was actually trying, rare as that was.
Receiving another message telepathically seemly urgent the hooded figure quickly bid the ruling being goodbye before hastily making way towards its new problem. The being upon its throne watched the attendant leave before opening an almost glass-like spatial window from thin air, that displayed many images of many different worlds.
"Now, let's see what fun you can show me this time," it muttered halting on the image of a certain white-haired demon.
"I broke a lot of rules for you, show me your worth it," it said, following with a low cackle as it watched unbeknownst to the little demon.
************
Within a courtyard, located in the inner palace of the human empire a single girl could be seen swinging her rapier, back and forth following with fluid piercing motions on the poor golem set up ad her target.
Her Hair was a strange kind that could only be found within the noblest of spirit bloodline, almost a translucent white that shimmered off light, making it look quite like a precious crystal or glass. While the passerby of the inner castle was mostly branches of the imperial family or high nobles, none of them stopped to talk to her.
They were beneath her and they were quite aware of that.
Her half-siblings were barely permitted to talk to her and word around the castle from her attendants was Anima liked it that way. None were allowed to break her focus within the garden court she used to train. Being half spirit Anima found her best results came when she was closer to nature and neither her mother nor father would say no to her.
After all not only was Anima a prized heir between the queen of spirits and the current emperor of humans but she was also their child, spoiling her rotten was the only way either of them thought they could do to make a good impression on her, despite being Anima's parents.
Anima's grace and skill with her rapier were unmatched as its nimble and precise nature perfectly suited her style and talent. But she wasn't weak, in terms of physical strength she far exceeded what could be considered normal for a spirit or human. Such was the nature of a hybrid born from royal bloodlines.
"It's not enough" she mumbled, in a serene yet prideful and rather arrogant voice, clearly dictating the confidence the girl carried in her self.
The golem in front had long since been riddled with holes from the mana strikes it couldn't hope to defend against yet she wasn't satisfied.
"I beat everyone else during the familiar event and only two people on the other side got a familiar this year…" Anima continued, her clear white eyes with tints of a brilliant gold representing her innate affinity for light magic becoming cloudy.
"…But it still isn't enough," Anima said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
She honestly wasn't worried about the upcoming meeting between races and was confident in destroying everyone in her age bracket. after all, she possessed one of the rarest skills passed down through the royal spirit bloodlines.
Empathic telepathy, the ability to see ones real emotions and hear who were deep down.
It was a skill that Anima had found was far more of a curse than a blessing. She had told no one she had it purely because by the time she could reason too she no longer trusted anyone close to her. The upside was it also told her what moves and emotions her opponents had, making a fight as simple as reading a book for her.
Anima at this point only cared for herself and no one else, people were tools and those of lower status or power were simply trash to be laughed at or played with, then disposed of. Anime strived for greater power and precision with almost insanity bordering intensity purely because that was the only thing left she enjoyed and the quickest way to prove that she was better than all the others that only Anime herself could see as trash.
Everyone had a place in the world. A pillar of status, power, talent and prestige that they stood on and Anima knew for a fact her's was the tallest.
"I can do it better, I can do it all so much better," She told herself, prepping the self-repairing golem before resuming its battering session.
"L-lady Anima, I-it's time for y-your studying s-session" Anima's personal maid called from the side of the courtyard.
Anima replied by throwing a fireball at the annoying pest who dared interrupt her training time, the poor maid barely dodging in time. She was used to it but never stopped being afraid of the little girl nearing the age of six who would hurl fireballs at you with the justification that light magic could heal anything.
"What a bother, so what useless subject will you be teaching me?" Anima asked her maid who also happened to be a tutor in general studies.
"H-history" The maid replied timidly.
"Well, I guess it will be fun to learn how terrible my ancestors were" Anime chuckled, sheathing her rapier while dusting off the small white dress she was wearing.
