Within the Spire, I stood in the direct presence of Ickni, the Dominion of Order, and the One who took it all from me. Leaving me a husk of my former self, never again able to grasp the strings of kingship and divinity that I once held.
I, Artoria Luminous, the former Dominion of Conquest, whose life was changed drastically when I first laid eyes on an anomaly named Evernight. Ever since that moment, a small spark of hope and rebellion has been growing deep within my heart.
"Lady Ickni, what is it that I can do for you today?" I asked.
Like always, Ickni was lazily sleeping on her throne, waiting for something interesting to happen. I hadn't seen her leave this room in over two hundred years. Her behaviour still confuses me to this day. I couldn't understand why a leader of a Dominion doesn't leave their throne.
But I suppose it was just the ways of Ickni, a stubborn and lazy leader ruling through absolute control and fear. Although even if she did venture outside, she would only be met with trivial matters and insolent angels, so I suppose I can understand her feelings. But she made it that way. If she truly detests her kingdom, then she should change it; she has the means to do so.
"Ugh."
Ickni slowly dragged herself up, discarding the many pillows and blankets covering her. She was still supporting the same messy azure hair from the first time I met her, although her eyes had changed; they still gleamed emerald under the light.
Her crimson eyes that would only appear once her anger had reached a tipping point were a side effect of her sacred band experiment. She never talks about it, but I can tell they deeply pain her every time she sees them.
"Mhm, why are you here, Artoria? I don't remember summoning you."
"You did."
Ickni rubbed her eyes, hopping off the throne and stretching her legs, trying to activate her brain while she paced back and forth around her throne.
I'd seen this very routine a million times over, so I just watched for a couple of minutes, waiting for her to remember. Although she had a brilliant mind and far surpassed my own intellect, she wasn't the best at remembering that same genius.
"Ah, yes! I'd wanted to discuss the mercenaries that boldly entered Grandheart, so what are you waiting for? Report," exclaimed Ickni.
"We were able to track down a couple of missing people reports to the mercenaries since they don't have sacred bands. We can't directly link them, but from the guards' reports. Some of the missing people have been spotted going in and never coming out, whether they are simply killing, keeping, or eating them. I don't know."
"Eating? So you think they are Devils. Mhm, I do admit I felt an ominous presence as soon as they appeared here, but whether that's due to their prowess or because of their dark inclination. I'm not totally sure."
"When I first made contact with them, I got a whiff of a putrid scent. It wasn't a mistake, it was the scent of Devils. Blood and death."
"Mhm, that is truly troublesome. To have devils right under my nose from the reports, there is at least thirty, and most likely a higher-ranked devil leading them."
"Could it be one of the Horsemen?"
"No. I'd have felt the presence of such an insurmountable force if they crossed through my border. If there is a leader, it'll be a Herald, but that is still quite troublesome; not everyone can deal with a Herald."
"Then I'll handle it. They are most definitely Famine Devils. They prioritized infiltration and spreading corruption over actual strength so it wouldn't be a problem for me."
"Famine Devils, then? I thought so. Such unruly pests being able to shapeshift on a whim is frantically annoying and inconsiderate."
I'm once again reminded of the slothful nature of Ickni. I'm truly amazed how you can call the enemy inconsiderate without even batting an eye, Ickni.
"So I'll deal with it, then."
"No. Evernight will."
"What? By himself? Are you truly sure that he is ready to face such a force by himself? Has he surpassed the abilities of a First String?"
"I don't know. I can't track his process with a sacred band for some reason. I'm trying to figure out that it just attempts to overload his mind. Even if I disable the self-defense feature, it still does it. But I will find a way to wrap a collar on that rebellious boy; he's too unpredictable and free-spirited to be allowed to walk unrestricted."
My face stiffened at her words. I couldn't let that happen yet. If he was enslaved, then my hope would be destroyed. I had an obligation to protect him now, which wouldn't change any time soon.
"I beg you to reconsider if he goes up against an opponent he can't handle. He'll die before he reaches that power you so wish to control."
"Artoria, did you speak these very words long ago? 'To reach the heights of one's incarnate power, you must face death a thousand times over. No matter the cost, even if you love someone, if you want them to survive, then you first must sever their heart.'"
"That's—"
My words were interrupted by Ickni silencing me by putting her finger up to her mouth, her eyes darkening slightly. My next words wouldn't have offered any support to Evernight anyway. I hadn't expected her to remember the words I regretted the most from six hundred years ago.
"Not the point? Even if he dies, he'll be revived by that very same incarnate power. I've read your report on that day, even though you slashed his lungs and heart. He still got up and continued to put on a formidable fight, nearly leveling this city."
"Tsk."
"I want to push him to the edge of despair. I want to see that odd weapon he summoned. I need to see it with my own eyes, not some report. Ah, don't give me that look, Artoria. I'm only following your advice after all, I just need to sever his heart 999 more times."
"There's a problem in your little plan."
"Huh?"
"Did you forget what Evernight is? He's a wingless even Devils will just kill him before he steps through the door, and he's been widely recognised as a Third String in the Servants of Order. They'll recognize him. Every person in Grandheart knows not to touch or even look at Evernight when he passes by; they all know his face, even if he wears that cloak."
"So? He's not going there for a friendly chat; he's going there to purge the infection. It's his decision what path he chooses; I'm not that much of a micromanager. If they all end up in a shallow grave, then I'll be satisfied."
"Fine, but if he dies and that thing awakens inside him, this city will end up as ruins by the end of the week. If that's the path you want, then I have no room to disagree."
"That you don't."
BOOM
A thunderous explosion, followed by an earth-shaking vibration, sliced right through the building, tension filling the throne room. Ickni jumped off her throne in surprise, completely taken off guard.
From the windows, a flurry of light spilled into the throne room, casting away the night sky looming above outside.
Ickni hurried to the windows, looking out in the direction of the explosion.
"That?! It's on the palace grounds! What is that!?"
"A towering cross made of light, casting away the darkness of night, a beacon of light."
A pillar of hope casting its divinity to every inch of Grandheart, a shining beacon in the dark.
"Urrrr. I can't sense any sacred bands over there, meaning it can only be two people."
Ickni's eyes were glowing crimson as she searched her vast network of sacred bands. She swiftly stomped off towards the arena, the first time she had ever left her room in over two hundred years.
Evernight had accomplished a most admirable feat; I had yet to even get close to succeeding with it.
I hurried behind her swiftly, catching up with the Dominion. She wasn't the most quick-footed due to her small stature, so it posed no issue.
"All First Strings assemble at the arena, the source of the explosion," ordered Ickni, grasping a sacred band she wore herself.
The command band, the one that held ultimate power over all the others. Whoever wore a control band would be unable to defy an order from the command band. If someone somehow achieved such a thing as defiance, then they would only meet the embrace of death.
We eventually reached the arena, well, I think we did. What should have been the arena was now just a pile of rubble, nothing left resembling the pristine arena it once was.
Oddly enough, there were shards and chunks of ice all over the ruins, and a sculptured ice head lay just short of the former entrance.
In the midst of the rubble was Evernight, clutching his side, a smile plastered on his face, and a man I knew all too well. Lucius von Snow, the Pale Moon. His injuries were much more severe than Evernight's own, but I doubted he would die after all the time I've known him; he wouldn't let himself die in some duel.
"Ugh! Why can't you just be good and stay in your room!? Why do you have to cause trouble? If he dies, I'm going to be furious! Stupid Moon!" shouted Ickni.
Ickni ran to Evernight's side, catching him as he fell unconscious. He sat in a sea of his own blood. His side was practically opened, allowing for everything in his body to slip out, but Ickni didn't allow that to happen. While she is a cruel dictator, she was once a doctor specializing in quick-acting healing.
"Edict of Order, Reversion."
Evernight's wound began to close up, and the sea of blood swiftly started to return to his body, almost like she was rewinding time and reverting him to his previous condition. Soon, Evernight was breathing steadily again, resting peacefully on the ground.
She repeated the process for Lucius as much as she didn't want to. She was obligated to take care of her guests even if they were unwanted. Lucius's condition was soon stabilized by Ickni's Edict.
A small group of First Strings had gathered behind us, waiting at full attention for Ickni or my orders.
"You! Lilia, First String, bring Evernight back to his room!"
"Yes!"
Lilia Heart, newly promoted First String for her feats in battle and the discovery of Evernight. I had personally recommended her for the position after she survived the full force of my bloodlust.
While she looked slightly confused at Ickni's order, most likely unsure who she was. But she wasn't so stupid as to question an order from someone carrying so much presence.
I personally carried Lucius back to his room from Ickni estimation, it would take around three days for them both to wake. Only then would the devils that are hiding under Ickni's nose be purged; there was no point in begging her to reconsider.
She wouldn't; her only goal now is to shatter the shackles on Evernight and elevate him to her most powerful pawn. None of us in the Order Dominion knew exactly what he was but from my experience dealing with him, he is no wingless.