Stepping in front of him, I say, "Wait! Is this really fair for the leaders of a country to do?"
With an aggressive aura, Veekeeris says, "Silence human. Your trail is coming!"
Vėja says, "Don't think for a moment that you're getting off easy."
Stiprais says, "Sullied our land during our most secret event? Your punishment will be just as bad as Avram's."
"SHUT THE HELL UP!"
All three of the are taken aback, but I can't control the rage inside me and says, "YOU DUMBASS ARE TRYING TO OVERLY PUNSIH A CITIZEN FOR SOMETHING THEY ALREADY APOLOGISED FOR! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT SULLING A COUNTRY'S CUSTOMS WHEN YOU ARE DOING IT RIGHT NOW YOU THREE IDIOTS!"
Calming down from my rant, I rub the back of my head and say in a neutered voice, "So maybe we should reach a common dialogue."
Avram bursts out in laughter and says, "You showed them. Never thought the octopus, tree, and looks good on rice would be stunned like this."
"I am not food!" Vėja says.
Stiprais, holding out his arm, says, "I think we should speed up their sentence and executions right now!"
Standing up, Veekeeris says, "Let me be the executioner."
Sending spirit energy through my hand, I say, "Everyone, battle positions, we're making a run for it."
I instantly move to break my chains through the force of my arms moving away, but as I do, they don't break even a bit, and my hands feel a surge of pain flow through them.
"OWWWWW!" Willow, Abban, and I shout.
Elia says, "Those are all made from a cursed animal. They nullify all blunt force; there is no way to strength your way out of them."
I turn my head to Avram, and he says, "Oops, I forgot to tell you."
"I am smacking you after this!"
He nods his head in acceptance, and my eyes scan the room looking for something sharp to cut my chains on. And seeing a decoration in the room, I move towards it and say, "There."
But the moment I take my first step, my foot sinks into the ground, and I say, "What?" Soon, the rest of my body starts to sink, and then I look around, seeing that all of us in the room in the area around Avram to the entrance have started to sink into the floor.
Veekeeris says, "You never had a chance to escape, now die, you rotten fish guts!"
We all start to skin slower and slower, but then, feeling a soft sensation around my waist, I smile, and then, as I am pulled up, I say, "SUZUKA!"
In front of the door, Orb, Suzuka, Iancu, and a strange man all arrive.
Then the strange man smacks his cane made of bones onto the ground, and says, "Enough of this farce."
Φ Suzuka continues to hold everyone in the air, and Dragoste says, "Aren't the three of you ashamed of this behaviour?"
"You forget we have authority over them, don't overstep your bounds, temporary prime minister. Respect your elder, you newborn curse."
"Temporary or not, Vėja, I currently hold the queen's power as I speak, and I can judge each and every one of you. So release your curses."
The floor returns to normal, and Dragoste turns to Avram and says, "Uncle, you know you should have come to me first," with a sigh.
"I thought the queen would be hear."
"Even if she was, if one of the ministers saw you. They'd just assassinate you before you could see her."
Laughing a bit, Avram says, "I guess you're right, but maybe I didn't want the little rivers of tears to be sad again."
Losing his composure, Dragoste says, "DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
"Do you really think that I'd forget about how often you soaked my things with your tears growing up?"
"FORGET IT, FORGET IT!"
As Avram smiles, Iancu's eyes are drawn to his father's face, and Orb says into his ear, "Avram looks a lot less serious than usual; it seems he is a bit happier."
Smiling, Iancu says, "I guess he is."
Turning to Iancu Avram's joy vanishes, and with a serious look, he says, "You better not have caused any trouble. I thought you to respect your elders."
"LIAR!" The three ministers yell, right before Maple smashes Avram in the face with a drop kick.
Dragoste, turning to face them, says, "I will be taking a handle of this situation from now on, including what is happening with the humans here. Is that clear?"
Veekeeris says, "You can't jus-."
"Are we clear?"
Vėja say, "We're clear."
Veekeeris prepares to speak, but Vėja says, "Rank above all else. Without order, we devolve into chaos."
Willow says, "I would have liked that when you were trying to execute us."
"DID I HEAR BACKTALKING BOY!"
Iancu moves in front of Willow and then says, "YEAH YOU DID HAG, DO YOU WANT US TO SAY IT LOUDER! OR MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST GET IN THE POT AND GIVE US SOME PROTEIN FOR OUR MEAL!"
Avram burst into laughter but quickly restrained himself, and looking at Iancu, he says, "Don't insult people like that?"
The look Maple gives Avram in that moment is so dirty that one would think he threw up in her mouth.
Dragoste says, "Now let's leave to discuss this matter."
As the entire group leaves, Stiprais says, "Did you bring them?"
Avram, turning around, says, "Nope, they all choose to stay back."
"I see. No harm had better come to them, because if it did, rank be dammed, your head will roll."
"As a father, I assure you that if it does, I am fine with that."
-Break-
Location: Meeting room 4
As everyone sits across a long table, Dragoste, with tea in his hand, takes a sip. Then gives everyone a bright smile before spitting it all out over the table!
He starts to cough and Orb says, "ARE YOU OKAY! DO YOU NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION? QUICKLY CALL A DOCTOR. NO WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT, I WILL TAKE HIM MYSELF!"
Willow puts his hands on Orb's shoulder and guides him back down to his chair, and Dragoste holds up his hands, saying, "I am fine, this is just a lot to take in. You guys just informed me that not only is Victoria working as a continent, Magnolia's descendants are still alive, the children of Skydust escaped with all of the Tavis's, and that the beastkin who were thought to be extinct are still alive. This is world-shaking information, and apparently, outside of you, I am the only one who knows any of this."
Avram, with a big smile on his face, says, "You're going to cry. Needy you blankie."
"Don't make me kill you, Avram."
"Scary?"
Sighing, Dragoste turns to Orb and then smiles, and says, "First, I would like to thank you for the time you spent with my father in his final moments. It means a lot to me that you'd do that and bury my mother."
Orb fiddles with his fingers while dropping his head down, embarrassed, and then says, "It's no big deal."
Iancu starts to poke him in his side, and says, "Looks like we have another Suzuka. Maybe you have become as dumb as her."
Suzuka, whom Maple holds in her arms for comfort, says, "When I am free, I am striking you in the face."
Orb slowly raises his head to see Dragoste, but as he does, his eyes cross Elia, who mouths the word; maiden.
Orb instantly recomposes himself and then says, "NO PROBLEM!"
"Now moving on, I want you all to know that the idea of an alliance that you proposed between Niflheim and Blestemate sounds like a wonderful idea."
Abbán, in his mini form on Willow's shoulder, gives Willow a high five out of happiness, and Maples starts hugging Suzuka closer.
"But I don't think it would be possible for me to finalise anything."
Sitting up, Iancu says, "Why is that? The fields in Blestemate aren't the best for growing crops due to how the curse on the soil affects the way nutrients are absorbed and given. But when Victoria is up and running, our agricultural production will be unmatched, which could give you near economic independence on this front. And that's only one of the many benefits of this."
Iancu has a desperate and angry look on his face, causing Orb to get up and give him a hug, saying, "Look how much you care."
Orb is struck in the stomach by Iancu falling down, and Dragoste says, "While I don't dismiss the benefits, there is a giant safety risk. First and foremost, beastkin aren't liked.
Places that keep the very few humans who end up showing beastkin traits already get massive amounts of harassment. If people found out that our most important supplier where the beastkin, there would be a problem domestically and internationally.
Next would be the issues with your group. While you do current possess the worlds supply of Basileia crystals it was only done by an event that pissed a bunch of the upper-class across the world off.
I have heard a series of stories throughout the last year, such as the destruction of Seirei's most important port city, and that there was an attack on Jedidiah, a country that is heavily affiliated with Gevurah, and it resulted in the sandstorm around the country to fall down and fade."
Confused, Iancu says, "What do you mean Jedidah is affiliated with Gevurah? I saw nothing at the tim-,"
Orb quickly closes his mouth, and it dawns on Iancu.
"So you guys were the ones responsible for that attack," Dragoste says with a sigh.
Elia then says, "Gevurah is unofficially allied with Jedidah. Every single time a country has tried to invade Jedidah, Gevurah has spared no expense in fighting them back, even back when they were far weaker than today."
"So if you guys are identified as the ones who caused the attack. Bad things would happen to you, and the people of this country don't need any other battles to fight in this moment."
Iancu grips his fist and says, "I think you should still accept the deal. The people of Niflheim are strong and hardworking. In the two months since we have been together, we have already built a lot and will continue to do more. If you guys make this deal with us, I am sure any benefits we give you will outweigh the negatives."
The eyes of everyone in the room fall on Iancu, and Dragoste says, "I agree with you."
Smiling, he says, "Then?"
"Sorry, I still can't finalise it. I need the queen's permission for anything like this that could harm our country, but I assure you I'd put in a good word."
Everyone except Avram lets out a smile at Dragoste's word, and then Dragoste claps his hands, saying, "That will be all for today. You should all head to your rooms here."
"Where staying here?" Orb asks.
"It's better if you do. I don't want any problems to fall upon you while in the city, so you guys can stay in the spare rooms we have. You should know where they're located, Avram?"
Standing up, Avram says, "Let's go, guys. But our conversation isn't over. I would like to speak to you later, Dragoste."
Dragoste's expression sours, and he says, "Fine, I am sure you've wanted an explanation on it by now."
Everyone starts standing up, except for Orb, whose eyes land on Dragoste.
"Is something wrong, Orb?"
Erratically standing up, he says, "Oh no. I was just wondering if you might have any free time over Radonitsa. BUT IF YOU DON'T THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE AS WELL!"
Dragoste smiles and then says, "I will have some free time tomorrow night, Orb. You can come to my residency and we can have a chat about whatever you want."
Smiling Orb says, "Thank you so much," and then rushes out of the door with everyone else.
But they all soon stop as they see a series of guards walking with two very familiar faces, and as one of the faces sees the group, he says, "The greatest in all creation has arrived."
Cyrus, with his head low, says, "Sorry."
"YOU IDIOT!" the group, except Elia and Avram, yell at them.