Two Fates: Divine Storm and War Maiden

Chapter Maya : Outing.

Maya was now outside with her father, Consort Graham and Sir Roderick. She was wearing a shirt and pants instead of the dresses. 

"We'll be joining the Empress today, so be on your best behavior." Consort Graham's words were like nails on a chalkboard. Arriving to the stables, where Maya looked at a horse that had a muffler. Trapped in a cage yet it looked a little off. Banging its head to the cage bars, Maya watched how some of it bent. 

"Maya? Are you paying attention?" Roderick asked as he tried to hold Maya's hand. Maya did not let his hand reach her, causing him to trip face first to the dirt. 

"Maya!" Maya refused to stop as she went to the cage, the horse moved closer. 

"Do you trust me?" It licked her hand and that was enough for an answer. Maya grabbed the bars of the cage, ripping them aside. Stepping aside as the horse stepped by her side, rubbing its head to Maya's hands. A black colt with white manes and blue eyes. A beautiful steed yet Maya could feel something ominous about this horse. 

"I will put my faith in you, human." She heard the voice.

"So you're not a normal horse then. Are you perhaps... One of the Divine Beasts?" Maya whispered.

"If you can hear my voice, then you must be someone who is worthy to be my rider. I am a nameless beast." The voice whispered as Maya stroked the nose. 

"Maya!" The horse headbutted Consort Graham back, it caused the consort to fall down. 

"Shall we go for a ride?" Maya asked, where a black saddle appeared by its body, Maya climbed on the horse with ease. 

"What shall my name be?" 

"Aquila. That's what I named a horse like yourself before." Maya said where the reigns for the horse reached her hands, as if compelled to her grasp.

"Aquila. Does it mean anything to you, my rider?" 

"Aquila in many languages means eagle, but I named my horse that way... Because of its sharp nature. My horse was able to get me out of dangerous situations by bringing me to safety." A smile crept on Maya's face, remembering what Aquila meant to her.  The horse that wore heavy armor, with inhuman stamina. It was one that Elena could trust with her life. A noble steed that died in her arms, shielding its master with the corpse. 

"I will accept the name as Aquila. I am the Divine Stallion, Aquila and my master shall be Maya Strongbow!" The horse's voice reached Maya as they both left the estate. Maya could hear her father and Sir Roderick screaming for her to come back. The servants tried to close the gates, where Maya smirkeed.

"Aquila... What do you think of that gate?" 

"Sturdy but... It cannot hold us." Maya smirked as she felt Aquila speed up, crashing through the gate and leaving the bewildered servants behind. Maya laughed happily as Aquila moved past vehicles with ease.

"Is that a horse?!" 

"Was that Her Highness on it?!" 

"It brings me joy to hear my master, being happy." Aquila spoke via telepathy.

"If you are a Divine beast... Then does that mean you have an affinity for certain magic types?" Maya said as they strolled through the streets. The cars could not keep up with the horse, even watching hot the horse phases through objects with ease. 

"Of course. I am one who dwells within the storm. Lightning magic is my specialty, I do have an affinity with fire and wind magic. Though I believe it may be the first time you've heard of such things?"  

"Yes, I never heard of Divine Beasts during my previous incarnation." 

"Ah, so I suppose you must be Elena Strongbow?" 

"You've heard of me?" 

"Every Divine BEast has heard of both you and Crow Blackwind. You two were the catalysts that prevented the Divine Beasts from going on a rampage. The Lover's Pact you made has been heard by all of us. The Divine Beasts and those of the Spirit World." Maya gently pulled the reigns of Aquila, arriving to where the Empress was with her 5 daughters and Lashti who sat beside her. 

"So that was the cause?" 

"The King of Triviana was trying to bring the Spirit World to this world. Tying the two worlds together would have caused the Spirit World's denizens to go on a rampage." Maya got down from the horse. Where there were a few guards of the Empress that held rifles in hand. Pointing it at Aquila that moved to a nearby tree and laid down.

"Oh, Maya. Seems as if you've arrived." Maya bowed to the Empress.

"I greet the Light of Alistair." Maya said as she bowed instead of a curtsy, where she could see the Empress's left hand shaking by the teacup. Perhaps it was due to the fury of a bow rather than a curtsy. Women are expected to curtsy, but Maya's bow was one meant for defiance. 

"Why don't you join us, Maya?" Lashti said as she grabbed Maya's hand. A smile to Lashti as she removed the hand away gently.

"I only came to greet the Light of Alistair and to see my dear sister." The way Maya phrased the word dear sister to Lashti, it sent a bit of a fright to Lashti's eyes. 

"You should really work on your manners, Maya. I thought being with Roderick would be a good choice but that is to be expected with your w***e of a mother." Maya chuckled to the Empress which surprsied her.

"Why, Your Imperial Majesty. I believed that you said before that you were one who was above insults that are lacking in tact." The glare in the Empress's eyes was perfect for Maya, perhaps her share of fun for the day is enough. The Empress may have been beautiful but with the tongue as sinister as a witch's. 

"I will have your horse executed just for that." The Empress retaliated.

"Like how you executed the nanny that took care of me until a year ago? Please, if threatening to kill people I cared for was all that you can do. Then you need to reevaluate your threats, Your Majesty." Maya curled a smile by the end of the sentence with a bow. 

Then walking back to her horse where a knight stood in front of her. 

"You may the Princess but such disrespect shall not be tolerated!" The knight readied a blade, only to be stopped by Roderick.

"Maya, dear... What's wrong?" Roderick tried to hold Maya's cheeks, only to have his hand slapped away.

"Don't waste time, with petty words. Roderick. You bore me." Maya said, seeing Roderick's face wrinkle with fury but that sight was merely a fine addition to her fun.

"Aquila." The horse galloped to Maya's side as Maya got on top of it. 

Consort Graham arrived, panting heavily.

"Maya!" 

"Please annul my engagement with Sir Roderick. I find that it is a waste of time." Maya said before galloping away.

"Wait, Maya!" Consort Graham called, then letting out a sigh. Shaking his head and looking at the others.

"What happened?" 

"Her Highness was rude to the Empress and also rude to Sir Roderick. We should teach her a lesson. COnsort." Consort Graham went over to the Empress.

"Teach her a lesson. I did hear there were a few criminals that are awaiting their death penalty. We could have them assault her and have Roderick come to her aide." The Empress said. 

"That would be a splendid Suggestion, Your Majesty." 

Maya rode Aquila back to the stables. 

"Aquila.. Is there anything you can do?" 

"I can pretend to be dead when they shoot me. It's not as if they can actually kill me." Aquila siad.

"Good. Do that. Where will you be?" 

"I will hide within your shadow, master."  Aquila said as Maya went back to her room. There was nobody in the castle, perhaps it was due to the usual hours of shift changing.  Whatever, she headed to the armory. Not even a single knight was present. The weapons were left unattended, Maya looked at a bayonet that was left. Picking it up, inspecting the blade. It had some sharpness but it needed a bit more sharpening to it. Picking up a piece of whetstone and going back to her room. Maya heard a gunshot from the distance.

"Aquila?" 

"Yes, they shot me. 20 gunmen. I will leave my corpse behind, master. I'm sure they would like to use it as a means of leverage towards you." Aquila responded.

"It's fine. I can handle it myself." 

"They also talked about a few people coming over to teach you a lesson." Aquila said.

"How many?" 

"10 of them. They are convicts by the sounds of it, and that Roderick fellow is preparing to rescue you." Maya did not care, 10 of them. Maybe armed and equipped with some light armor.  Sharpening the bayonet carefully, with the amount of strength she had in her veins. She could easily butcher the 10 of them. Perhaps vaporizing them until they turned into red paint would be wise.

There were a few ways to deal with it, Maya went to sleep as she placed the bayonet beside her. The slightest touch to the doorknob woke her up.

"Aquila?" 

"Yes, master. It is them. They are armed with knives and are wearing chainmail." 

"I can handle it ,Aquila. Just focus on recuperating." The door opened.

"Alright, she's asleep. So we're just supposed to scare her and then we go fr-" The first of the 10 had his neck pierced by the bayonet.

"I suppose, that you think I'm just an easy girl to scare. Well, maybe it is time for a little lesson." Maya said.

Meanwhile, outside. Roderick was waiting for the signal with Consort Graham.

"This should help teach her to be more obedient." Consort Graham said. 

"Then maybe she can stop with this annulment process. I trust that this will play a key role in Lashti's power." Roderick said, to which they see the door barge open, where one of the 10 criminals crawled out.

"Please... Please... Mercy! Help me!" The maids and servants that were present ran to see what was going on. Only to see body parts being thrown out from Maya's room. Fingers, hands, toes and feet. Screams were heard from Maya's room, one by one the criminals voiced out the names of the people that gave them the clearance to enter Maya's room. Shouting the names of Sir Roderick and Consort Graham. Their bodies were thrown out. One had his eyes gouged out, another had his skin peeled off. The others? They were not so lucky. Their shapes were no longer human, it was just as if they were meats at a butcher. The daggers that they wielded flew out of Maya's room. Striking the chests of the corpses, where it wriggled and the realization was there. 

They were still alive, they were in agony but they could not die. There was more to it, but they failed. Maya stepped out with the bayonet, grabbing one of the criminals by the head. Mouth moved but Maya could not hear the voice that eminated from it. She did not slit the criminal's throat, she beheaded him with the bayonet. She proceeded to behead the rest of them while the others watched. If they expected Maya to sit back and do nothing, then they were sorely mistaken.

"So, the great Sir Roderick and my father have been standing there. This entire time, along with the servants. Well, I suppose it make sense. Considering I am nothing but a source of power, I expect that I am to be executed in 3 years when I've matured. Have it covered up as an accident and Lashti, who is only 3 months younger than me will be able to inherit the power. Sir Roderick. You are a pathetic man, and dear father. Or rather I should say Consort Graham. You are a dreadful human being, and I will stop calling you my father. From today onwards, you are merely Consort Graham. I refuse to call you father and I refuse to acknowledge you both." Maya threw the bayonet aside then walked over to a maid.

"Wha.. Wha-" Maya grabbed the maid by the neck and threw her down to the floor.

"Make sure that my food is served properly. No poisons, make sure it's not rotten. This is your first and last warning to all of you. Do not hinder or annoy me. I can leave you all in a fate far worse than the criminals you see before you." Maya went back to her room and threw the rusty nails into the ground, where they watch it crack the floor.

"That will be all." Maya said as she headed back into her room. When Roderick and Consort Graham chased after her, only to find the door slammed to their faces. Following it up with the myriad of locks that had been brought up by Maya's spells to the door. 

"Well I suppose something's have to happen somehow." Maya said.