Still, Artoria's firm grasp, we stood outside Ickni's throne room. She didn't move to open the door, standing still, deep in thought. By the indifferent expression, I couldn't exactly tell what was on her mind, as she didn't let a single one of her emotions slip when we were flying to the palace.
Despite my many attempts to strike up a conversation of some sort, seeking more information on her past nothing came. I wanted her direct explanation of what had happened in the past. I didn't want to rely on Seraphina's information about her, but I doubted that she would slip her secrets any time soon, especially when she's still under Ickni's thumb.
Artoria suddenly released her grip on me, dropping to the floor, causing me to smack my head against the marble floors. My weakened state was apparent as a small sliver of blood oozed from my temple. But luckily it closed up quickly, although it took longer than before.
Artoria's violet eyes locked onto mine for a moment. I was stunned by the beauty of the angel. I had never seen such a sight on Earth; no one matched her starless beauty. She gripped the sacred band around her neck, muttering something under her breath; her words were followed by the same dark matter from earlier wrapping around the band.
The sacred band's light was completely shut out, painting it black.
"I've blocked Ickni's eyes. Listen to me carefully. I don't know what the source of your power is or what inhabited your body, but I know that it would only cause tragedy if you told Ickni the truth. You mustn't, no matter what she says."
Artoria placed a finger on her lips, the dark matter reseeded back into the darkness, revealing the shining band. Its light was considerably brighter than earlier, causing me to avert my eyes.
She said nothing more to me, not even glancing my way once, thrusting open the doors, she briskly walked into the throne room, stopping just short of the azure throne, bending the knee to the small figure atop.
I trailed behind her warily. I didn't want to meet with Ickni again after the first time. I was frankly scared of her; the wicked grin that was plastered on her face already didn't invite anything positive into my heart.
"I've brought him, Custodian. His name is Evernight."
The familiar small figure of Ickni jumped off her throne, clapping her hands; the room's torches all suddenly burned brighter, illuminating the room, giving me a better look at the Ickni.
"Evernight is it? I wondered about the name of the sole person to be rejected by sacred bands. Perhaps I should've let it explode your mind, I didn't think you would attempt to annihilate my glorious city," exclaimed Ickni, her childish voice deepening into a low growl with each word.
I couldn't move in the face of Ickni while a smile was plastered on her face. She wasn't happy at all, instead seething with unbridled anger. A small fire was growing within her eyes, replacing her emerald eyes with a deep crimson as she sank further in the depths of rage.
"Do you have nothing to say for yourself? Do you believe you're unblemished? Is that it?"
Ickni's six wings pointed towards my throat, although she was a couple of paces away. I knew her threat wasn't empty. Her gaze sharpened with each hollow second that passed. I just couldn't bring myself to speak under her ire; it was overwhelming.
"Custodian, he has just fought a fierce battle —"
"Silence! I didn't ask for your opinion; the boy will speak his mind."
Artoria's face twisted with pain, the sacred band around her neck casting out the looming shadows, producing a hideous smell of burning flesh. Despite the pain, she didn't voice a single word of discomfort, keeping her eyes pointed to the floor, not daring to move another muscle.
"It was self-defense. I merely acted in the interest of conserving my life."
"Do you know the laws in this Dominion?"
"No."
"You are nothing but a wingless mutt. When someone declares that they wish for your death, you present the nape of your neck. Fighting against the inevitable isn't something that is tolerated in this Dominion. My word is law and order. If I wish for your death, then you will be resting in a shallow grave by the end of day."
"So will you kill me then? Will you rob me of my life twice in the day, or will you make a spectacle of my death to further the roots of control in this Dominion?" I spat. I was beginning to become tired of this world's cruelty and blatant aversion to me, even though I hadn't done anything but defend myself.
Ickni's eyes twitched slightly at my words. For some reason unknown to me, the fire within her eyes dimmed slightly, revealing half of her emerald eyes. Her eyes were quite interesting, split between crimson and emerald, while I didn't like a single thing about the girl. I had to admit her eyes were quite the enchanting sight.
"No one has spoken to me with such hostility since I seized this Dominion from Artoria's grasp. It's quite refreshing to hear, for some reason," said Ickni, slowly walking towards me, her footsteps hollow and her hands clasped behind her back, appearing to me a normal, innocent child. "You don't seem shocked by my words. Do you know the tale of how I seized control of this Dominion?"
"I know that Artoria is the Dominion of Conquest, and you use that sacred band to control her every action. Forcing her to commit murder and your wicked schemes."
"Huh? I don't force anyone to do anything; they do it because they want to follow my schemes. Artoria isn't some lost damsel that is forced to commit my will against her own volition. She does it because she loves to kill, she's become so attuned to death and my orders that she's turned into an obedient little dog."
"That's twisted! How can you even try to justify slavery? You use those bands to control and incite fear into the masses to control their every move and wishes. Harmony can't exist in such a land. Are you just blind or truly evil?"
"Slavery? No, under my thumb, they are enlightened, and given my blessing, without me, they would be nothing but insolent little worms festering in the dirt. Doing nothing but polluting the air with their lesser breath, under my rule, they are ascended into a purer angel. I am their God."
"You believe your people to be pure!? How can you say such a thing, knowing corruption and rot are running rampant in your 'perfect' society?"
"An angel needs to be acquainted with death to truly thrive. I don't blame them for trying to take my verdict into their hands; that just shows the love they have for me and my iron grip on their minds. The only path of rebellion in the eyes of order is death. Those who don't accept my order don't deserve to breathe the same air as me."
"You're nothing close to angelic… How can you speak such vile poison when you are supposed to embody purity? How…"
"Bahahaha! You think angels are pure of heart, take a look around you. Didn't you almost get stoned to death because you are wingless? Is that your idea of pure? Tell me what is an angel is supposed to be?"
Ickni suddenly appeared in front of me, grabbing my face, floating slightly to reach my face. She pulled me down, staring intently into my eyes, her grip growing oppressive. The emerald of her eyes was beginning to be replaced with a sinister crimson, her malice filling the surrounding air, ripping the breath from my lungs.
"Tell me!"
"I don't know any more…"
"You know what I love more than watching an execution? When a proud man's eyes fall into despair. It's more intoxicating than anything else in this world."
A gleeful smile was plastered on Ickni's face, the emerald colouring in her eyes practically dancing with ecstasy at my realization.
"So Evernight, the wingless anomaly, will you serve me and bend the knee?"
"What? No, I would never serve a corrupted being such as yourself. I'll never bend my knee to a Devil."
"Devil? I'm nothing close to a Devil; I can promise that Devils are much worse than I am. Creatures that thrive on bloodlust and misery will never be the same as me. I'll forgive your comparison this time, don't repeat yourself, or I'll sever the tendons in your muscles until you beg me to stop."
My complexion paled at her words of pure unbridled malice, her face didn't convey the same vile feelings that were spilling from her mouth. Her messy azure hair and gleaming emerald eyes gave her the look of an innocent child, not a wicked dictator.
"Nothing to say? Not even a single sorry, my lord? Hehe, it's okay, I'll make you bow eventually. It's only a matter of time before you yield. I've decided what to do with you! You'll join the Servants of Order, and work with Artoria to destroy the roots of rebellion in our divine city!"
"What!? You aren't going to kill me?"
"Of course not. But if you resist my order, I may have to lock you in the deepest pit of Grandheart, but don't worry, I won't let you die; you'll live in pain and hunger for the rest of eternity. If that's the future you wish for, I'll arrange it immediately."
Ickni clapped her hands; the thunderous sound echoed throughout the grand throne room, causing me to almost jump out of my skin. A servant soon entered the room as soon as the sound dissipated, as if he'd practiced the correct timing for years on end.
"No! I'll serve you." I shouted desperately, trying to halt Ickni's schemes. The last thing I wanted was to suffer in some pit.
"Spill your secrets then if you want to serve. What is your power?"
"Edict of Light."
"Edict of Light? But you bear no mark of an Edict, and Edicts are basically impossible for wingless vermin to get. They have barely any divinity; if they do have an Edict, it's weak and unreliable. Don't lie to me. Lies will get you nowhere but a cold cell."
"The mark of Light is on my heart, it's inside my body, it's what saved my life from Artoria's fatal blow."
Artoria's gaze caught my own for a brief moment; she looked almost impressed by my lie.
"Interesting. I didn't expect that, while I haven't heard of such a thing before, I don't shun the possibility, but that doesn't explain your power. You nearly annihilated my city if Artoria wasn't there; my paradise would be a pile of ashes."
"I'm special."
I was trying my best to come up with believable lies, but my ideas were running thin. I didn't know how to explain my power without spilling all the details about Seraphina. That was obviously something I couldn't do. I doubt she would even believe me in the first place.
"Special?"
From Seraphina's disappointment with angels, I didn't think that a single angel would have ever met with her in person. Saying I met with their God and was granted a portion of its power would just be treated as blasphemy.
"You're obviously lying. It's quite cute how you try to lie to me. But it's of no great importance, I'll tolerate your lies after all time tells no lies. All will be revealed in the passing of time. I look forward to unwrapping the mystery named Evernight."
A banging sound interrupted Ickni's joy, her expression sinking into annoyance. Soon after, another servant appeared at the end of the hall, a dire expression plastered on his face. He was panting, his legs shaking, looking ready to die any moment.
"Well?! What is it!? I have an important guest, you know? Don't just interrupt me, then stand there panting!"
"Custodian, the Moon's second in command, is here requesting an imminent audience. He says it's of the utmost importance, but wouldn't tell us what exactly his business is."
"Huh?! If it were of utmost importance, Selvar would have come instead of some small fry."
"But, Custodian. The Dominion of the Moon is on the frontlines fighting against the Devils. He can't come to meet you in person. The frontlines are months away from here."
"I know where the frontlines are, you insolent pest! Fine, whatever, escort him in in five minutes. What is this second's name?"
"The Pale Crescent, Lucius von Snow."
"Von, eh? Okay, begone."
The servant bowed his head and silently closed the grand doors, ensuring not a sliver of a sound escaped into the throne room.
"Perhaps this unwanted meeting will be interesting. I haven't seen someone bearing the title of Von in a couple of centuries. How amusing, this day just keeps getting better."
Artoria stood up, not saying a word, pulling me along with her, knowing that our conversation with Ickni was over; staying past our welcome would only invite her ire. Artoria knew that better than anyone.
"Oh, Evernight. It's quite ironic, isn't it? You just spoke out against my ways of ruling, but you are doing my bidding, charging straight into the rebellion of this city, preparing to slaughter hundreds in order to secure my rule. Hehe, I love the irony."
"I won't kill for you, I won't."
"They all say that, and guess what, they still end up doing it anyway. Will you sink into despair once someone's blood is on your hands, or will you become something else?"
I didn't respond to Ickni's taunts, walking out the door just before Artoria closed the door. I heard a string of words that made my blood run cold.
"01812, Explode."
A small, rupturing sound pierced through the silent halls of the palace, the smell of metal polluting the surrounding area. The many servants lining the halls of the palace didn't move a muscle in response to their dead friend, only gazing outwards, detached and emotionless, completely devoid of any light. One of the servants draped a cloth around the body and walls, covering Ickni's vile act, his face telling the story that this was a regular occurrence.
"Screams would only invite more death; they know that well. Death is something everyone is acquainted with; you'll have to learn to dismiss it, or else you won't survive," stated Artoria forcefully, pulling me away from the smell.
"I can't— do that…"