Note: The end of Volume 1; next week, Volume 2 begins!
PoV: Empress Elinor (Our Undead Ruler!)
Recap: Last week, we followed Koma, our little 3-year-old Ri’bot, tasked with letting our Empress know that not everyone in the Clan felt as the Chief, pleading, praying for mercy.
Luckily, the Empress dissected the Chief’s plans, showed him a fool before Camellia mercilessly splattered his elite warriors across the grass and sampling them to the Delthax’s horror.
Xaria Meji, in his pride, tried attacking the Supreme Chief of the Pits, causing our gem, Iris, to cut him clean in two before anyone knew what happened.
After that, the Empress unleashed a horrific display, acted out by her former mother’s Witchcraft, inverting the innards of one of Delthax’s best warriors in a nightmarish display that showcased a ‘light punishment’ before he entered the Pits.
Chief Kalix was stunned by the unbelievable abhorrence of the punishment before his great grandfather stabbed him in the chest with his own blade, a gift he’d given his great-grandson for his eighth birthday.
Empress Elinor left the other Clan’s Chiefs there to stabilize the Clan before returning to the city fortress for further instruction. Now, we find out what our Empress’ next actions will be to conclude the day … the price for her Undead army nears…
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Elinor’s body was pressed against Quin’s hand as he rushed through the jungle, racing back to the fortress. The sun had fallen below the horizon just as they were finishing up her conquest of the Delthax, and most of her army lagged behind, under orders to return.
Edmon, Iris, Tiffany, Garu, and Camellia were with her; the Doom Guard and Witch still riding upon their eight-legged mounts, but at this pace, none of the jungle creatures would approach them. There was something about her Undead that made the majority of the native residents shy away; of course, it could have also been the green flames that frightened the wildlife off.
Her green aura had diminished, Lich’s Conquest deactivating after Chief Kalix’s revelation; the Komath and Roxim were leaving the valley, she’d won the territorial dispute. Tomorrow would bring rise to a new battle as she moved to occupy the rest of the valley, but the war was settled for now.
Tiffany was still in communication with Valdar, keeping tabs of who was being put in the line-up for the next Chief. There was some debate as different candidates were discussed and which one would be the best choice to serve the Empire they’d become a part of. Not one Ri’bot had opted to run away, all falling under her dominion, and she could feel the strength of her new religion growing inside her breast.
The Empress mused upon the reception they’d received from the Delthax, ignoring her surroundings as her minions did all the work. G-forces pressed against her body with the rapid movements they made, making it difficult to breathe, but she felt no pain and needed no air with her Artificial Body.
After a time, she addressed Edmon.
What was your impression of their interpretation?
The DoomGuard sat cross-legged upon his mount, somehow staying attached without effort with its sharp jerks that occasionally brought him upside down, yet he didn’t fall.
“Fortuitous, to be honest,” he replied with a mildly amused tone. “The Ri’bot haven’t even seriously considered you to be an imposter, taking the name of their beloved deities, but instead, took all their beliefs and smashed them in a manner to accept it. Perhaps they’ve always wanted a ruler or someone to tell them what to do?
“In any case, your status as One Above All has cemented in their minds, and to even think that they came up with a reason on their own that your powers had diminished from their infinite spectrum … a war in heaven that includes the changed woman taken by the Clavex.”
Tiffany jumped in, cutting off her communication with Valdar as she finished.
“Most definitely!” She giggled. “We learned so much, and apparently, much of that information came from a young Plant Caller within the Clan, a relative of Valdars.”
“Hmm,” Edmon’s arms crossed. “Is the information valid, then?”
“Valdar seems to think so, which means the Roxim and Komath have already determined they’re not powerful enough to fight us.”
Iris’ stepped into the chat.
“Could it be a ruse, combining armies to march on the fortress while still open?”
Tiffany brushed her hair back as the wind shifted directions, blowing it in her face. “Mmh, I doubt it … I mean, the possibility is still there, though, and who knows how this Plant Caller magic functions, to begin with. I know almost nothing about the topic, other than the scant information Valdar’s provided me. For all I know, The Jungle, as he calls it, is actually giving that young Mystic a false report, directed by another Plant Caller to deceive.”
“I agree,” Edmon hummed. “It is a little too early to decide, but we might be able to spot such a large exodus from the top of the fortress tower. If we could find some kind of binoculars, it would help a lot in monitoring the valley.”
“We’ll work with what we can,” Tiffany dismissively replied. “It’s clear that we have a growing influence among the Ri’bot, and I expect it will grow as Valdar educates missionaries to venture out.”
Interested in the topic, Elinor cut in. How long will that take?
Tiffany sucked in her bottom lip, vision falling to her mount as it skittered around and over obstacles to return them to the fortress, just over fifty-five miles back through the dense jungle from the Delthax village atop the western shelf.
“That’s a bit difficult to determine, but it’s not a complicated message to teach Ri’bot. Really, we’ll take the best parts of their own imagination and mold it into your religion, and the Delthax’s interpretation, mixed with the Plant Caller’s information, made their minds spin a wild tale … and if what Nina says is true…”
“Mmh,” Edmon’s voice darkened. “The Nalvea are worshiping Yesenia; it could pose a threat to you, Empress.”
A threat to me, she repeated softly, thinking back upon the snake-like woman. I don’t know anything about her, but she’s gaining power south. We do share the same beginning, though; couldn’t that work out for our favor?
Tiffany had to shift her legs a little to keep her thighs positioned in a way so she wouldn’t be thrown off, but her Thélméthra was being much more careful with her than Edmon’s since he didn’t have the same balancing issues as the Witch.
“Umm—it’s viable that she could become an ally, but at the same time, she is not the same woman that she was before the Ri’bot abducted her, killed almost everyone she knows and loves, while also trapping her in this nightmarish world. You are a testament to how drastically a person can change in such a short amount of time.”
True, Elinor whispered, swallowing as the memories returned to her. It feels like months have gone by … but it’s been less than thirty hours.
A thought suddenly struck her, and it was so logical, but at the same time, the answer to her deeply seeded desire haunted her. I’m a Lich Empress … controlling hordes of Undead.
Edmon and Tiffany turned a quizzical eye toward her.
I think … between me losing all my friends, and how things were changing at High School … I felt like a ghost. Friends weren’t answering their phones, and some were saying we couldn’t hang out anymore … I was afraid I would end up alone. I was feeling like a ghost … and now I kind of am. She whispered, left hand rising to brush against the gems housing her corrupted spirit.
“You’ll never be alone!” Tiffany reassured. “We’ll always be here for you! Always!”
Edmon jumped in. “Not even death will separate you from those you love.”
She could feel Iris’ confusion upon her declaration, and she didn’t respond since it was such a foreign concept to her.
Elinor’s green eyes fell to the jungle floor below as they swung through the trees; a sad smile touched her lips, experiencing the rare emotion before it faded.
You’re right. Elinor responded, but she hid her innermost thoughts from her Court. Is it real when they’re created to serve me from the start? Maybe Tiffany subconsciously recognized this part of me. She made the religion to compensate … even if she doesn’t approve of the living, or even recognize them as anything but tools.
Am I really alone, and these are simply the constructs … imaginary friends I’ve forged to fill that void inside me? I’m scared … losing touch of everything I know. Will all this fade, and they’ll just disappear like a phantom—abandon me? No … they can’t fade or leave … and there’s another problem. I can’t be alone.
She quickly brushed the thoughts away, tightness in her chest dispersing as she discounted the rabbit hole as unproductive, and connected back to her nexus, regaining her composure.
Continue with the missionary topic, Tiffany.
“Umm, yeah—so,” Tiffany’s concerned orange irises followed, but she did as she was ordered. “Missionaries … we only have two Clans left in the valley.”
“If the Roxim and Komath have exited,” Iris corrected.
“Right … that goes without saying,” Tiffany mumbled, trying to hide her agitation. “That means we have the Xaltan and Prume left. The Prume are a mystery; we should be cautious of them since the other Clans have so little contact. The Xaltan are supposedly having a difficult time with the humans the Komath handed over to them.”
Elinor centered on the topic as they passed over a small brook below. That interests me. Why did the Komath choose to just release all of their prisoners? Was it to lighten their burden and travel faster?
Edmon made a doubtful sound in his throat. “Just because the Plant Caller was shown humans in the Xaltan territory and the Roxim and Komath leaving don’t necessarily mean what it seems on the surface.”
“I agree,” Iris stated, moving into an area she was more comfortable with. Her refined, lush voice was like the pretty teachers that all the school-boys fawned over, taking the class just because the instructor was attractive. “The more difficult humans might have escaped the escort or been more trouble than they were worth keeping.”
The Doom Guard picked up where she left off. “That’s the most likely scenario. My guess, the Komath needs a few humans as examples to show the other Clans they’re hoping to ally with what you look like. They released most of their prisoners…”
“Likely all the men and most of the women,” Tiffany interjected. “We should also include everyone that doesn’t appear to have similar characteristics to you.”
Hmm … so, they’re probably holding all the teenage girls, releasing the rest.
Edmon cleared this throat. “It’s not a terrible plan. They don’t need humans but captured us to see if we’d be worth anything. We were supposed to be like exotic cattle for trade among other Clans and races; however, it seems they were more trouble than they were worth.
“Of course, there could be another option. The Xaltan has the most influence in the valley, so what if they ambushed the Komath Clan? They stole all the goods they’d taken from Earth, allowing them to return unharmed since they surrendered, unwilling to slow down with the possibility of your minions being in pursuit.”
“Oh!” Tiffany’s eyes brightened with her smile, but it soon fell after a sharp bump nearly threw her off as the Thélméthra leaped over a log. “Shoot … uh, what was I saying?”
She barely got the question out before Edmon responded. “Interrupting me as usual.”
“Ah, right!” The Witch brightly chimed without a hint of an apology, causing Edmon to breath a frustrated sigh. “So, I got further clarification on the group that was fighting the Xaltan.”
The annoyance Elinor felt in her connection to Edmon evaporated.
“Go on.”
“It’s so interesting,” Tiffany hummed, gathering her thoughts. “They’re definitely a small group of ability users, meaning they have the seed in them that Demon wants, which plants a target on their backs. There might be a power difference between each type of seed, but I believe Demon is the collecting type; he’ll go after every one of them.”
“How many?” Iris questioned.
“Five, well—arguably five that Nina saw. It could be seven or eight, but she wasn’t positive … a bit of an unreliable power, I must admit. Perhaps they just don’t know how to properly utilize it, though … oh, anyway, umm—they’re growing in strength shockingly fast, and were able to form a group of small survivors.”
Edmon’s black helmet fell, staring at his armored legs. “What else did she discover about them? Could they be a threat or possibly brought into the Empire—dead or alive?”
“Mmh, I can’t say for sure,” Tiffany responded. “Nina could tell they were desperate, angry, and emotionally breaking down after so much trauma … it’s not like most humans these days have to deal with an army coming in to make them slaves. These are simple South American, small villagers who go about their daily lives—although, I believe one of them might be from the U.S. by her description.”
“You could tell their genders?”
Tiffany giggled. “I wouldn’t put much faith in the young Ri’bot’s ability to spot the difference between male and female with so little experience, but it seems like there are three males and two females. They’re moving southeast, though, and I doubt we’d be able to find them in time.”
“I could,” Iris responded without hesitation.
“Eh—I have no doubt, Iris, ” Edmon mumbled, helmet shifting to view the large Thélméthra moving ahead of them as she scouted out their path with Garu and Camellia keeping their perimeter. “However, I’d feel better if you were around in case of an attack, at least, until we arrive back at the fortress, and the Empress is safe in the tower.”
Elinor didn’t really like the thought of being cooped up indoors but knew it was the most logical decision until they had a chance to repair the broken fortress and search it for possible threats.
Wait … while we wait for the Chiefs to gather and the missionaries to be sent out, my extra Zombies can search the rest of the fortress for possible threats.
Edmon nodded, and Iris seemed to accept his opinion when she didn’t counter it. “That would be prudent, but I think it keeping a tight perimeter with some of our forces would be a better tactic; we can send the rest out to look for more Quen’Talrat bones for you to revive.”
“Oh,” Tiffany hummed at his proposal. “That would be useful for our labor force. Zombies are only good for the fighting creatures that can be infected, usually targets with a circulatory system. Skeletal Quen’Talrat will have much greater use in the long-run.”
Seeing the logic in Edmon’s plan, she accepted it.
It took them nearly three hours to travel the fifty-five miles back to the fortress walls, and another thirty to navigate through the maze to the center tower, traveling about twenty-five miles an hour with her Undead mount through the even streets.
Within that time, Elinor had a lot to think about. There was so much to prepare for, but this was the start; she had founded her kingdom, and it was taking shape before her eyes. She’d need to build, explore, and develop relationships with kingdoms, destroying others.
She entered through the front with her entourage, and the humans she’d rescued gathered along the balcony as the noises they made echoed through the massive hall. There were a few cheerful welcomes, but most mumbled it in fear.
Elinor gave them a soft smile, waving before entering the Throne Room, leaving Camellia to guard the door with Garu.
She ordered her skeletal Quen’Talrat to open the first doors and they entered, having it close them, move onto the next, and shut those.
A soft sigh left Elinor’s lips as she stared around the mythical room Ke’Thra’Ma had designed; the radiant view hadn’t changed in the least. A room of Life Energy … fueling a kingdom of the dead. How ironic.
Ordering Quin to set her down, Edmon, Tiffany, and Iris joined her; she could feel the Doom Guard’s nervousness spike as he stared around the room, spotting potential threats to her weakness against Life Energy everywhere, but he dealt with his discomfort.
She expected her legs to almost buckle since she’d been carried for most the day, but somehow, her legs hadn’t lost any strength from non-use, and her bare feet folded over the evenly cut ocean green grass.
Pawing the ground, she smiled; her Court stood at attention, not giving any outward indication about their thoughts as they waited. How can grass feel so soothing to the touch? This world has such strange things in it, and it’s largely unexplored.
Elinor walked up the small hill to the fruit Tiffany had left, but paused as Tiffany held out her hand; Edmon scooped her up and jumped all the way back across the bridge, massive shield appearing to defend her. Iris seemed perfectly fluid and relaxed, but through her connection to the Spider Queen, Elinor knew she was ready to attack the picked fruit.
“Wait … it’s changed,” Tiffany whispered.
“How?” Edmon demanded, already well back, and prepped before Tiffany finished her statement.
Elinor hadn’t gotten a good look at it before Edmon had carried her away, making her peek around the Doom Guard’s cross-like shield.
“Small glowing veins are protruding from the skin,” she mumbled, snapping her fingers to generate a ball of Witch Fire.
Examining the Life Fruit, Tiffany released a dark hum. “The flow of Life Energy has increased dramatically … I don’t know if it’s a defensive response to being plucked or being corrupted and drawn out? There was a reaction to the Empress’ interaction before, but it was expanding … now, it’s receding, pulling into a tight, fast ball of swirling force.”
“What does that mean?” Iris asked. “Should I toss it toward the wall? Smashing it might release the energy, correct?”
“Yeah,” Tiffany groaned, running her fingers through her hair, “I’m not sure if any physical action is advised.”
Elinor’s vision fell to one of the colorful flowers, pondering her choices.
If I don’t extract energy … in less than two hours, my army will be destroyed, including Garu and Quin. The Spider Sisters will take a massive hit as their energy is extracted to pay for their continual existence … the same with my Court. I need this, or all this work I’ve done will be in danger of falling apart.
Elinor’s glowing green eyes hardened as she made up her mind. “Tiffany, should we store that somewhere else and pluck a new one?”
Edmon didn’t like her response. “Empress, I’d rather we leave immediately.”
“No.”
Her three Court members’ eyes locked on her, and Quin’s large skeletal body stiffened at her tone.
“I will not lose all that I’ve gained, or be afraid of something because it’s a mystery to us; I cannot live while retreating to safety every time an unknown element shows up.”
Tiffany seemed conflicted. “Yes, but Dear, this is literally your kryptonite. I couldn’t tell you how large an explosion it might cause if something this dense in Life Energy were to break out. It’s condensing further than before, pulling in at a constant rate.”
“Then use your Witch’s Fire to move it to the corner of the room, and we will test the next one to see if it goes through the same process. Isn’t it you that is focused on experimentation?”
“Yes … but not when it puts your life in danger,” Tiffany pleaded.
“We’ll go forward with the test,” Elinor stated, feeling the internal stress building in Tiffany, but the calm that fell over Edmon and Iris surprised her. Tiffany’s more resistant than Edmon or Iris about this … I thought she’d be the most interested in discovering the mysteries connected to this fruit.
Tiffany scratched the back of her head with irritation, hair bunching as she glared down at the Life Fruit. “Could—would you please move to the opposite side of the room while I transport it, and Edmon…”
“You don’t even have to ask.”
“Right…” She whispered something under her breath, but Elinor already knew what it must have been. This is such a terrible idea!
The Witch carefully carried the hazardous object in her Witch’s Fire when Elinor was safely on the left side of the room, standing beside Ke’Thra’Ma’s bones. She set it down, leaning against the wall before retreating.
“Pick another and put it a few feet away from the other so we can test to see how it responds.”
Tiffany begrudgingly complied, and Quin shifted nervously, feeling the tension within the Nexus as if he were a boy watching his parents argue.
Upon completing the task, she brought over the third Life Fruit, unwilling to allow her any closer to the possible threat. “Please—don’t be so reckless,” Tiffany said while approaching, giving a forced laugh, “you’re taking years off my life.”
Even if it was in a light manner, she knew the Witch was terrified about the threat the fruit brought and the future decisions she might take.
Elinor used Life Tap, feeling the energy leave the glowing, living reactor in Tiffany’s orange flames. “I won’t have to once your plan with the religion grows … until then, I need these to progress and maintain my stability in this world—it’s a necessity.”
Tiffany didn’t respond, focus still on the changing pome.
Edmon and Iris were ready to react if needed but didn’t hold the haunting emotions embedded in Tiffany, and Elinor began to better understand the Witch.
She couldn’t live with herself if I were hurt because of her … this is her living nightmare. There was relatively little risk before, but now, this has shaken her.
Breathing a soft sigh, Elinor smiled at her Royal Ritualist. “Tiffany, if you want to vet these fruits, then please do, and if I need to pluck a new one each time, I will—if that’s what you’d be comfortable with.”
“It wouldn’t,” Tiffany whispered, trying not to allow her deeper emotions to reflect in her voice. “Nothing good happens when something dangerous starts condensing—my greatest fear is to live without you.”
Her words stuck Elinor like a blow, realizing her own fears were reflected in her minions. Right … the Royal Court can live a long time without receiving my own energy, even if it permanently weakens them over time. She’s terrified of a world I’m not in.
“I understand,” Elinor’s sad smile fell to the stream. “I’ll be more careful, Tiffany. Please, set things up tomorrow in a way that will make you feel comfortable. All I care about is receiving the energy I need to sustain my current network; from there, we can work on expanding that.”
A lump dropped down Tiffany’s throat, mind working upon her request. “I’ll do better, Empress Elinor … I’ll find a way.”
Elinor didn’t know what to make of her response; she didn’t elaborate. She didn’t say dear or call me by name … she’s really upset by this.
The time passed and she easily obtained the proper amount needed to handle her minions’ daily maintenance, but the draw was a bit taxing, leaving her breathless; it felt like a chunk of herself was shaved off and distributed through her Nexus.
Her time using Life Tap drew a welcomed benefit, though.
With her massive draw, overflowing her Death Pool cap, Overpowered II became Overpowered III, reaching Rookie, Rank Six. She now gained a fifteen percent reduction of Death Energy lost if exceeding her cap.
Death Pool had increased from Rookie, Rank One, to Rookie, Rank Seven, which increased her overall limit to 326DE.
Her Life Tap Rank advanced to Max with the constant stream of Death Energy being corrupted and extracted. She increased its level to five to allow it to continue rising, gaining the Proficiency Skill Rapid Draw along the way.
It increased the skill’s effectiveness by tripling its corruption and intake in a ramping fashion, rising by one-tenth for every minute used, maxing out in thirty minutes.
Upon completing her task, she left Tiffany to further learn about the fruit, taking the anti-gravity elevator to the tower’s top. She stood at the glass overlooking her new land, pondering the division that had caused a temporary rift between her and her Royal Ritualist.
Iris took an hour to somehow create a silken throne for her to sit upon while observing the jungle valley and city below, forming the base with hardened silk; it was the most comfortable seat she’d used.
The Spider Queen then departed upon her orders, searching the valley for any humans that survived. She wasn’t to kill any of the Ri’bot until her missionary organization had been formed. They could become citizens of the Empire, but it would be no different from the trial she had with the Delthax and Clavex; if there were crimes, they would be brought to court.
Edmon returned to the library, directing her labor forces that slowly returned, arriving at different times, depending on their speed.
She had people that would spread the word of her rule, missionaries in training while Tiffany created ritualistic, unholy soldiers for her living army.
Is this a Holy or Unholy Empire? I suppose it doesn’t matter in the end; people will label me as they wish, but they cannot ignore me. Friend or foe … I will be known and worshiped as a goddess … that’s my future. What a career day choice that would be.
An amused smile lifted her lips, green irises sweeping the sea of sickly colored trees of the alien world; she’d carved a place for herself out of this hostile land that had tried to swallow her. Now, the jungle kneeled before her, and it had taken less than a day.
The Empress’ focus shifted to a massive fissure in the ground within the Roxim territory, staring at the gaping maw. It was a hotspot in the valley that she’d have to explore.
Her gaze moved to the colossal river after a time, and she could envision it teeming with trade ships in the future and roads cutting a path through the land with a sprawling civilization. Millions would visit her city to pay her respects, no, worship her.
Now, to make that happen, she had to expand, and learn how to govern her growing Holy Empire. World intelligence was key; she needed more knowledge and had to develop her army, but at the same time, her daily pool of Death Energy had to increase.
There was still so much to be done, but the foundations, the seat of her power were set.
This fortress is the cornerstone of my Empire. I was forced to live here … to survive, and from that, this world will know my name … they will respect me, revere me, and if not, taste the horror my wrath can bring as The One Above All … I will be a goddess, whatever that brings.
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