Chapter 84 - End of the Tyrant Queen

Capital of Harmek

As Witnessed by the Divine

"So, are you all ready?" The disembodied voice of the Great Monarch asks. "About as ready as I'll ever be..." Jax thinks to himself as he involuntarily takes a look at the room he's currently in. He'd just gotten dressed, at least, so the monster currently remote-controlling his body wouldn't get to look in his dresser, though he suspects she already knows.

Yet, he senses no judgement. His greatest secret, his greatest shame, laid bare, and not even a passing comment. Jax is uncertain whether it is because she doesn't care, or because she's unaware of the social stigma attached to his particular fancy.

"Okay, so this morning you're going to give your weekly report to the Queen, right?" The monster asks, even though she should already know the answer.

"Yes. I am to include the fact that even though I've 'tortured' your soldiers to the fullest extent of my ability, they refuse to change their story. I'm also to report that there is soon going to be a meeting between the other nations discussing the creation of Divine Springs as a sign of goodwill on the part of the Parshuran King." Jax recites the well rehearsed response.

Already, the other Council members have been forewarned that the Queen is soon to die, as an Oracle from Yo'ud kindly prophesied in return for repaying a favor Jax had done for him. Jax's information network dwarfs even that of his closest competitor for the spot of 'best informed of the goings on', the Hand of Aurellium.

Uncertain as to the nature of her death, they all responded differently, but overall, there's been an increase in the already strict guarding of the Queen and her surroundings, as well as the appointment of a round-the-clock tending to by Healers. Of course, the Queen herself is unaware of the prophecy, since it is feared she might become even more unhinged in her hatred for the Parshuran Kingdom if she was.

"You're sure you'll be able to pull this off? We most likely only have this one shot at it." Jax asks the Monarch as he makes his way to the throne room after a brief breakfast. His normally carefully cultivated aura of utter calm has been shattered these last few days, but he can sense that the Monarch is influencing his mind towards this same utter calmness despite his actual state of mind.

"I'm sure. I just need you to rile her up with the news." The Monarch calmly replies. Make the Queen upset? Towards what end? "Relax. It's not like you want me to explain in greater detail." A reminder of the deal they'd made that fateful night. He wasn't to be informed of the method of execution, per his own request.

Pausing momentarily before the throne-room, Jax calms himself with a deep breath. Like a switch has been flicked in his mind, his normally unshakable calm comes over him again, and all nervousness evaporates. Truly, the Monarch would make a terrific commander of war if bonded to her soldiers, able to turn off their fear and turn them into ruthless killers on command.

He quickly pushes such thoughts away, ashamed of even thinking them in his current situation. He is completely in her grasp. To think he is anything but a tool for her to use is arrogant in the extreme.

The doors open, and a guard announces: "Spymaster Jax, standing before Her Highness to deliver the weekly report." The guards voice is off, being too loud. Of course, it is easily explained by the special helmets he and his co-workers have to wear on these occasions. The knowledge Jax shares with the Queen is between him and her, no others.

As such, specially made helmets that cancel any incoming noise are worn. Originally a failed project aiming to make ear-protection for Hunters going after Nightcrawlers and similar monsters that rely on sound to devastate their opponents, it found use in the court of Harmek to prevent the leaking of information.

Jax kneels before the Queen, patiently awaiting the order to begin.

"Rise, Spymaster, and make your report." Queen Typhonas powerful voice easily reaches him, despite the distance between them. He rises, and begins to make his report. Recruitment to the army to replenish the losses suffered in the latest battle is nearly non-existent, and there is growing sentiment that now that the enemy possesses such a powerful ally as the Monarch, further conflict is pointless.

The Queen's eyes narrow. She is well aware that forcefully conscripting able-bodied soldiers from the already depleted populations would be political suicide. Although her hold on power is absolute, she doesn't have the resources to manage open rebellion among her own in addition to continuing the war effort.

Resources are dwindling, and the threat of famine looms on the horizon for many smaller villages. An army marches on its stomach, and at this point it will be a poorly equipped as well as hungry army that marches on Parshura.

Typhonas normally ashy pale cheeks flush red. Her knuckles white as her stiff grip on her regalia tightens further.

Crime is up. People are stealing to survive, and there's talks of the Aurellium operating nearly in the open. Various drugs, mostly the kind that keep ones spirit up, are all over, and people are slipping even further into poverty as they try to get a hold of something that makes them feel better for even a little while.

"Is that all?" Queen Typhona hisses as Jax takes a pause from his report. Her normally bad mood is now downright foul, and Jax fears that he might become an outlet for her anger if he continues, but he has to finish his report. He shakes his head, having not received the go-ahead to speak.

"Then, continue." She leans forward, scanning his face for any emotions. Thanks to the Monarchs interference, he has none to display.

"I've finished with the two surviving soldiers. I've gone to the extent I'm able to without killing them or completely breaking their minds. They refuse to change their story. They insist that the armor that the Aurellium supplied to us contained Malice, and that Malice was used to chimerify the Hero." His voice doesn't quiver or tremble, but deep inside, Jax is completely terrified of the reaction the Queen might have to his  next revelation.

"Lastly, there's talks of a gathering between Parshura, Yo'ud and Eyslef to discuss the creation of Divine Springs by the Monarch, as a sign of good-will from Parshura towards the other nations. I fear that if it goes through, Yo'ud and Eyslef will no longer be neutral parties in this conflict."

Jax glances over to the Healer, who has donned the same helmet as the guards. It stands at odds with the rest of their attire, but one can clearly see that they're worried for the Queen. However, they're not permitted to intervene until she gives the go-ahead.

Queen Typhona Vileclaw lets out a harrowing, throat-tearing roar of anger as she quickly rises from her throne. Just then, as her normally perfectly balanced act of getting up without toppling forwards from the weight of her crown shifting is happening, her tattered dress catches beneath one of her feet.

The sudden jerking motion of her dress not following along with her movements catches her unaware, and her roar of rage turns into a shriek of terror as she's sent toppling over the edge of the stairs leading up to the throne. Several loud snaps are heard as the frail old body of the Queen tumbles down the stairs. Along with one of the snaps, her cry is cut off abruptly.

She comes to rest in a heap at the bottom of the stairs, laying a few meters from Jax. He takes a hesitant step backwards, as his eyes intently focus on the crumpled body of Typhona. He quickly signals for the Healer, who hesitates as well, torn between their duty to save the Queen and the fear of being blamed if she dies.

"No need for a Healer. She's dead. Broke her neck in the fall, but before that, one of her broken femurs ripped through the main artery of her thigh, and triggered a heart attack from the sudden pain. Any of the three alone would be fatal." The monster making Jax study the body of the Queen informs him.

"S-She's dead!" The Healer cries out, having put a shaky hand onto the Queen's neck to check for a pulse. Jax motions for the guards to remove their helmets, as the Healer did when they finally decided to try to aid the Queen, and they all hesitantly gather around the motionless corpse of the former Queen.

"W-what do we do? I-it was an accident, right?" One of them asks nervously.

"We all saw that no-one touched the Queen beforehand. And since it was instantaneous, there was nothing we could do." Another reasons. "Spymaster, you- you should probably alert the Council." The same guard turns to Jax.

"Y-yes." He turns to leave before hesitating. Turning back, he instructs: "Get an Acolyte in the meanwhile, have them perform the rites as soon as possible." He then leaves, his heart pounding in his chest as the realization that the Tyrant Queen was finally dead finally hits him.

A few days later

Kingdom of Parshura, the throne room of King Dervix

"Why do I get the sense that you're responsible for this?" King Dervix glances from the urgent missive he's just received by carrier-monster from Harmek over to the Argos Eye contentedly sat atop Actvi's knight helmet, just barely visible through the feathered decor that adorns the top of it.

It looks over to him, and gently flutters down, hovering at eye-level with the King.

"I might, but there's the necessity for 'plausible deniability' for you, your Highness."

The voice of Millibelle seems to convey a knowing smirk to Dervix. He sighs. Although his greatest enemy now lies dead and buried, and the Kingdom of Harmek has issued a complete surrender to Parshura, he still feels like he should remain wary of the Council that now claims control of Harmek.

"And what do I now owe you?" He asks, already suspecting where this is heading.

"I want three things: For you to invite the Council to the talks, for you not to require cessation of land from Harmek, and to try your best to aid Harmek in rebuilding itself."

Dervix gives a solemn sigh. "Please, explain your reasoning." He requests.

"As I've already explained, my overarching goal is to create and sustain Balance. As part of this goal, I need to revive the Demigods of Lightning, Heat and Cold. However, if I was to revive them within my Domain, which lies in your Kingdom, I fear other nations would attack either out of fear or greed."

Dervix nods. So far he follows along.

"So, in order to foster good relationships between the nations bordering Parshura, I need to involve them in the process of deciding where the Demigods will be revived, as they will additionally require the construction of a Temple to them. I wish for Harmek to be involved in this as well."

"It seems a touch much, though? Their Queen dies and they surrender to me, and in return I bestow onto them a Demigod?" Dervix is still hesitant. Too long has the conflict with Harmek raged on to be so easily settled. Even if he is more than happy to move past it, most of the inhabitants of the Kingdom won't be so eager to forgive.

"Then what other nation do you suggest be invited in their stead?"

Her tone implies that there is no room to negotiate with her. Parshura is getting the one Demigod it already has, and the other three are to be 'given' to neighboring nations. Of course, she is putting him on the spot with this, as the only neighbor unaccounted for is Feyloche.

"You know we have no relations with Feyloche due to the Illomen Forest separating us." Dervix chides. "Besides, that area is highly dangerous at this time. I'm sure you are aware."

"... Yes. However, I remain firm on this. Either you officially organize this, or I will revive the Demigod without you. It is your choice whether this is a benevolent gift from a great and forgiving ruler, or the event that undoes the illusion of your control over me."

'Tch!' Dervix glares at the little monster before him. It shrinks away slightly. How dare she! He quickly reigns in his anger though, knowing better than to argue a point that's already been decided by the other side.

"F-fine. I will also invite the Harmekian Council. Now, regarding me refraining from demanding the cessation of land." He shifts in his seat, clearly annoyed by the situation. He is unused to not having the upper hand by virtue of being King, so this is a new and irritating situation.

"It is my belief that forcing a nation to pay exorbitant reparations and/or demanding cessation of large amounts of land only breeds malcontents. It might come back to bite you if you do."

Millibelle speaks with experience hard earned by her own World. Dervix is still unaware of her Otherworlder status, believing her a particularly intelligent monster.

"So, you're saying that I shouldn't demand anything at all?" He asks.

"Reparations might be needed, but they shouldn't be excessive. Harmek is already severely starved for resources from the long conflict, so I doubt there's much to be won other than the animosity of its inhabitants."

Dervix is half-tempted to ask how she knows this, but knows better than to pry. After all, so far, all her information has been correct. "So, as long as I'm not taking land, I should still be able to claim reparations." He surmises. "I will keep your advice in mind, Millibelle. So, the last point. What do I stand to gain from using resources on Harmek?"

"Goodwill. I'm not asking for much, but definitively lifting some of the border restrictions for Hunters would go a long way. If you demand they do the same in return, we'd see more hunters helping out on both sides. Additionally, the effect of the Demigod of Plant is an increase in plant fertility, yielding more and better crops, surely you could leverage that to sell some excess to them at a fair price."

"So, the goodwill of Harmek and money?" He remains skeptical.

"Need I remind you that I had to fix your little issue in Hu'ul where Hunters of sufficient Rank to take on a Morke were unavailable because of the border restrictions? If I recall correctly, the whole mine was becoming a Dungeon as well, completely shutting off its use."

Dervix winces. He is all too aware of the problems that have mounted since the tightening of the borders because of mutual fear of spies or saboteurs. "I- I yield. Fine. I'll try to aid Harmek."

"Excellent! Now, with the added need of contacting the Harmekian Council, when do you think the meeting would be?"

Poorly hidden glee is evident in her voice. Dervix has to remind himself not to lash out. Her continued cooperation is much too valuable to squander over something like this. It's not even like her demands cause significant problems on his end.

"Give me a week, and I'll come back to you with an estimate on the meeting. The actual leaders, and not merely representatives will be arriving this time, so there's a whole lot more involved in making it work." He waves off the Eye, tired after the discussion with Millibelle. It happily does a loop before retaking its position atop Actvi's helmet, to his dismay.