Tales of Revenants

Chapter 82 – Audience of the Empress

The way things Laken expected the turn of crisis is an obligation he didn't consider at first.

There's no longer a return for them. What they have undertaken cannot be reversed nor be canceled. It seems for him, Tetra got them good.

Now he's fully aware of what is happening and why does the queen of Archreverie and the empress of the Balakh Empire are in a single room together with everyone else.

Laken also knew that the maids around them aren't normal housekeepers at all. The maidens before them are all skilled assassins that have the experience to decapacitate a Heavenly Hero's life.

They are present in the room ready to kill as they were trained to specifically protect the empress. She's prominent and the monarch so defending her life is the highest priority of their duty.

But the emperor was actually the one who's killed, and it seems they knew who's the culprit behind the murder.

"I am aware of my soldiers attacking Eagleborn Town so please accept my deepest apology." The empress was so kind even Luciella can feel the resolution of her desire to preserve the peace of the empire.

"Your words are always–" Tetra's speech got interrupted when Laken breaks the mood.

"Cut the acting part you all. Is the trial finish? Did we passed or not?" Laken interjected that puzzled Luciella's mind.

The head-maid swiftly seized a hidden knife from her thighs and exclaimed, "Such insolence! Former hero or not, you're at the presence of the empress!"

The maiden threatened Laken in front of them. Whether it's impertinence or not, his comrades won't let the maiden pass what she just pointed out at him.

The eerie permeated around the room as Eirisse revealed her deadly fangs and claws to frighten the maiden, "I could cut your throat before you can throw your knife."

Xenon's clanking chest changed his personality in an instant, "Changing attribute: defender... Pick one, a hole on your head or chest?" He directed the muzzle of his rifle on the maiden as to remind her what she did is a wrong move.

The other maids showed their aggression when Eirisse and Xenon draw their weapons. Of course, Alisa would never let them do as they please. 

She gestured castless magic to summon her most loyal servant, Iser to do the dirty work, "My loyal servant, obliterate those who try to get near."

Everything was about to go downhill when the empress herself got into the knees and implored, "Please accept the apology of mine and my maidens. It was our mistake to accuse you of something that isn't true, so please..."

It was truly a sight for them that the empress was kneeling. The irony isn't a thing the maidens' liked as it put the empress' pedestal on disgrace. They also knelt down to show they didn't mean harm.

"Now we're talking." Laken simply said. Eirisse, Xenon, and Alisa pulled back their aggression the moment the maids hid their weapons.

Meanwhile, Thalfeur was simply looking at the thighs of the maids who are currently hiding their knives through their skirt, and most of all, he can't get enough view out of the beauty of Empress Marielye.

Though he's aware he'll be killed if ever he tried to make a move with her, so he just left his fantasies to do the work.

The empress returned to her royal seat and began speaking informally as to make the conversation faster, "I'm blessed by the magic of light the moment I was born, and I possessed the Eye of the Beholder."

Marielye just revealed her left eyeball is colored purple brimming with magic. It's about herself that she should not normally talk among strangers, but she's proving she's trusting everyone in the room.

"I think I read a book about that." Luciella ponders where she heard about Marielye's eye.

"It's truly the blessing of light. The one who's born with the Eye of the Beholder can see an image of the distant future as well as the correction of chaos." Alisa explained as Luciella remembered it.

Few are born with such an eye and they are considered as the envoy of the Gods. Both Laken and Luciella think if there such a person existing can predict the future, then it means they also have the ability to perceive the end of the world.

"If you knew the emperor would be murdered, then why didn't you stop it? You should also know who killed him." Laken implies.

"First of all, I'm sorry I suspected you all Revenants. To be honest, I'm not sure if I can trust everyone here, but I must at least be someone you can trust instead." Marielye removed the sugar coating and said what she's struggling with.

"According to the law of nature, a future revealed from the present can be changed." Xenon shared his opinion regarding the matter.

"From the moment I was born, I already know I'll be the empress of the Balakh Empire. Besides, my eyes can see the future, but this isn't some kind of fortune-telling; meaning, what the Eye of the Beholder saw cannot be changed." Marielye pointed out the truth.

Things are pretty confusing so Luciella asked, "Then you can at least know the identity of the killer."

The empress breathed as she cleared her throat, and then she replied, "Everyone is aware the Eye of the Beholder uses mostly light magic. The correction of chaos plunges the world through further darkness right at the moment."

"Then..." Luciella got the gist of it.

"What you're thinking right now is right Luciella," they were quite surprised Luciella didn't introduce herself yet she already knew.

The empress continued what she was explaining, "The feeble darkness that started impotent now pervades the world at an incredible rate to the point the Beholders' visions are blackened. I clearly saw who killed the emperor, yet I can't seem to see the killer's face."

"It can't be..." Luciella mourned of Marielye's behalf.

"If you suspected us, then it means you figured out who it was." Alisa infers.

"I now know who he is. He ascended into a Demon Lord and commanded the Nightbeasts to obliterate the neighboring cities far across north-east of the Balakh Empire's lands. You know who he is more than anyone, Laken." Marielye stated.

Alisa can see the three sides of the room, the queen of Archreverie and Frainan who's attentively listening to them, the empress' side, and her comrades.

"The attack at Eagleborn was meant to destroy the town, but I remained calm when I saw from my eye that the Revenants interfered. I'm sure you still remembered the Dark Entity, a balakhian soldier officer," Marielye recounted the past incident.

The empress is aware they know about the Demon Lord. Then Laken deduces she knows better than anyone.

"I got it. I'm a simple man so I'd like to have a bargain." Laken is considering ahead for his party.

"State yourself," The empress permitted him.

"We won't take Tetra's command, we shall make move according to what we deem to be rightful. Empress, you can just tell us what to do and we'll take care of it." Laken was being assertive. He used to hate long talks and wanted to get into the real deal.

"I like your spirit Bloodless Revenant so I allow it. I should explain first the information about the Demon Lords and Dark Entities I have seen from my eye." Marielye also wanted to simplify things faster as she perceives they don't have much time.

Each time that passes by, darkness creeps the world. The empress is afraid that if the darkness becomes too abundant, she'll also lose the ability to use the Eye of the Beholder.

"I am your audience," Laken simply said.

"As you're all aware, there must be five Demon Lords that pulls the string behind the Midnight Pentagram. Also, Dark Entities are the direct servant of a Demon Lord." Marielye stated.

"And one of the Demon Lord is the one behind the murder of the emperor?" Laken asked. Eris was a little troubled when her queen is looking at her for some reason.

"Yes, precisely. The Demon Lord has four Dark Entity in which the one who assaulted Eagleborn is amongst the remaining." Marielye gave the hint, and it was the time Tetra gestured them to show reverence as the empress shall give them an official blessing.

The moment Marielye offered her hand, Laken and the rest except for Luciella knelt down. She nervously stoops and kneels as her comrades did. It was her error that she doesn't know the customs of how to accept a monarch's official order.

Marielye chanted simple light magic as the glitters of light circled around their left wrist forming the mark of the protector. It means if they die or something happens to them, Empress Marielye shall hold accountable.

"I, Marielye Nerwingilm; Empress of the Balakh Empire order you to defeat the one who killed the emperor." She closed the deal with an explicit bow.

Laken placed his right hand onto her left chest. Eirisse and Alisa held the lower part of their garment and bowed down, while Xenon, Tetra, Eris, and Thalfeur gave the empress a salute to display their deepest gratitude for such honor.

On the other hand, Luciella kind of mirrored Alisa as she doesn't know how to properly do in such an event.

"Make yourself at home. I shall attempt to predict the future tonight so you can rest easy for a while." Marielye said as to break off the formality.

After the joint meeting of three sides ended, Luciella approached Laken as she desires to ask him a couple of things but she suddenly sensed pulsating energy coming from Tetra.

The Shard of Time is giving Luciella too much light that she didn't know it was that important, so she just ignored it either way. Little did she know the shard was trying to give her a message in which she would regret not paying attention at all.

The day is still young, yet the eye of the abyss stays above the clouds; blinding the horizon of the path Laken strives to push forward.