A feeling that the air was heavier was noticeable with the arrival of the figure to the throne, Sekire felt the ground beneath her feet as if she were sinking into an ocean, a strange power emanating from the girl before her, suffocating any impulse to look up. Feitan, on the other hand, would be calm in the presence of the one in front of him, remaining neutral and bowing only cordially. "Get up." The voice sounded surprisingly soft, loaded with a natural authority, but also in a childish tone. Sekire, even with the pressure on her body, managed to get up after the order, slowly looking up at the throne and seeing who she thought was the queen. On the throne, there was a girl apparently 6 years older than Sekire, who exuded enormous arrogance as if she could move even kingdoms of place. The girl was dressed in a peculiar way, with an outfit that combined the sophistication of a member of royalty. A deep blue cloak, as dark as the sky of a moonless night, fell in cascades of silk around her. The silver embroidery formed constellations, winding across the fabric. Under the cloak, a tight, black and shiny dress seemed to capture and consume the light around her. Her silver hair flowed like strands of moonlight, and her eyes, a bright pink, sparkled as if they had stolen the brightness of a star. The earrings that hung from her ears tinkled softly with her movement, while the bandana on her left arm marked an eccentricity that only increased her imposing air.
"Fei Fei!" the girl exclaimed, completely ignoring Sekire for a moment. "Finally! I thought you had died on the way or turned into an ice statue."
Feitan just stood up calmly and then said, bowing slowly.
The journey was long, but I'm still in one piece. — Her voice was calm, almost disinterested, as if the young princess's exasperation was something routine.
Sekire looked at the girl, confused. After all, how could someone so young have the position of queen?
"It's a pleasure to meet you, your majesty," Sekire said, bowing awkwardly. "I... I didn't know the queen was so...
The girl laughed, interrupting Sekire before she could finish her sentence. Feitan crossed his arms, watching everything as if he had already foreseen this confusion.
"Queen? Me?" The girl threw herself on the throne as if it were a sofa, crossing her legs and resting her chin on her hand. "No, dear, I'm much more fun than that. And honestly, queen sounds so old-fashioned. You can call me Mabel. I'm the princess of Axoland."
Sekire was completely confused. She looked at Feitan for confirmation, but he just spoke with his usual calm:
— Yes, she is the princess, not the queen. And yes, she rules here even though she hasn't officially taken over. However, don't let her appearance fool you, Sekire.
Mabel made an exaggerated gesture, as if she was flattered.
— Look, Fei Fei, always so direct. That's what I like about you. Without unnecessary words like Kallavan and Atlas. It's a shame that makes you so boring sometimes.
Sekire was speechless. This girl was the princess? And on top of that, superior to Feitan?
— Are you telling me that she... — Sekire pointed at Mabel, still in disbelief.
Mabel laughed again, stretching out her arm as if she wanted to pat Sekire on the shoulder, but from a distance.
— It seems that someone here can't hide their shock. — She stood up, walking towards Sekire with light and carefree steps. — I know I'm impressive. Twelve years old and already moving pieces on the board of entire kingdoms. I think I can say I'm in my best shape! And don't underestimate me just because I haven't reached Fei Fei's height here yet. — She winked at Feitan, ignoring the cold look he gave her back.
Feitan sighed.
— Fei Fei? — Sekire was even more shocked to see someone so serious with a nickname like that.
— Yes! It's my affectionate nickname for him. — Mabel replied, laughing as if she was telling the funniest joke in the world. — Did you know that he gets even more serious when I call him that? It seems like he carries the weight of being the biggest bore in the world. Relax, Fei Fei, the world won't end because of a cute nickname.
Feitan sighed deeply, ignoring the provocation.
— Mabel, we have more important things to discuss.
The princess smiled even wider.
— Of course, of course. But first, girl, welcome to Axoland. I am Mabel Abyciss, temporary ruler, unwanted prodigy, and, according to many, an "existential threat in the form of a child." Anyway, before you ask about this girl, I need you to tell me about your mission, Feitan.
Feitan would change the tone of the conversation only when he started talking about Kitsumi's situation, and ironically, the princess would simply take on the serious posture of a ruler instantly.
— The situation in Kitsumi is worse than we expected. The capital, rich and full of ostentation, continues to be a symbol of luxury,
laugh, while the rest of the kingdom is succumbing to hunger and despair. The people suffer, but the nobles play their games, as always. It seems that they are testing natural selection, and most are already doomed to death. Mabel's starry pink eyes showed a posture of indignation, and the atmosphere around her seemed heavy. Now she finally looked like a real monarch. "This is a nightmare," she said, but with a calmness that contrasted with the indignation she clearly felt. "People are dying and no one does anything? The elites lining their pockets while the people sink? My parents may be controlling behind the scenes, but this is unacceptable." "I found Sekire in the midst of this misery. Her village was possibly attacked by a general or a magical creature, since she is 6 years old it is somewhat uncertain to say anything, however, she survived amidst hunger, torture and even extreme cold." She clearly has potential and would be a valuable piece, that's why I brought her with me — Feitan said, expressing a certain anger and contempt for the Kitsumi aristocrats.
— Your name is Sekire, right? — Mabel turned her gaze to the young woman, her expression as if she were analyzing a piece that she still didn't know where to fit. — What do we have here... Well, tell me why I should care about you?
Sekire felt the weight of the question, but didn't know what to answer. She looked at Feitan, but he didn't give her any clue as to what to expect.
— I... am nothing more than a survivor. — Sekire said with a trembling voice, feeling the pressure intensify. — Feitan brought me... I don't know what to do here.
Mabel leaned forward on the throne, observing Sekire with a look that seemed to pierce every inch of her soul.
— Oh yes, a survivor? You want me to feel sorry for you? How pathetic. Do you think you'll be spared just because you were lucky enough not to die in Kitsumi? — Mabel stood up and walked slowly towards Sekire, her steps heavy, as if each word she said was a sentence. The pressure exerted would make Sekire fall to the ground again, but Mabel holds her face and doesn't allow her to fall — You're here because Feitan thought you'd be useful. Useful to whom, exactly? To me? To Axoland? Or just another ghost trying to hide in the shadows?
— I won't be kind. There's no room for kindness in Axoland. — Mabel said, staring at her like a predator.
— What do you want? — Mabel spoke and a silence took over the place.
Sekire looked at Feitan once more, but he didn't seem willing to intervene. So she closed her eyes, thus emptying her mind and being at peace with her subconscious, thus finding the strength to answer Mabel.
— I... I want to live. — Sekire said, bursting into tears as she struggled to stay on her feet due to Mabel's pressure.
Upon hearing Sekire's answer, Mabel quickly smiled with happiness and joy. She knew exactly what she was doing, and the pressure she was putting on Sekire was not just a test of endurance, but a way to see how far she would go to prove that she had something to offer. When Sekire finally spoke, Mabel couldn't help but smile with a mix of satisfaction and genuine empathy.
Sekire was still bursting into tears, trying to compose herself, but failing.
— Hahaha! You really are a character! — Mabel laughed, the pressure she had imposed instantly disappearing. — You know, I really like you. I thought I was going to see you crumble, but you... you really want to live, don't you? Those are the kind of people I like! I don't know if you have much skill, or if you have some grand plan, but you have the will, even though you're younger than me.
"I was pushing you, Sekire. A test of will. I just wanted to see how far your will would go. And, you passed." Mabel said with a wide smile. "Congratulations, you have what it takes to live, at least here. The rest... well, the rest is up to you."
"I was pushing you, Sekire. A test of will. I just wanted to see how far your will would go. And, you passed." Mabel said with a wide smile. "Congratulations, you have what it takes to live, at least here. The rest... well, the rest is up to you."
"So, look, I'm not going to kill you or anything like that, and much less let you rot in some hole. I, Mabel Abyciss, princess of Axoland, have decided that you will live. I'm going to send you to the Netherheart family. They are diplomats and some warriors, like the poisonous butterfly: Lizbeth, anyway, they know how to play the cards, and, well... they can teach you a little about how to succeed in Axoland. It's not that you'll become a great warrior, but who knows? If you learn from them and do your best, who knows, maybe your willpower won't take you to a higher place? They tend to be super welcoming. They'll give you everything you need to... you know, have the freedom to be whoever you want.
Sekire was still a little stunned by what was happening. She couldn't understand
I wonder if she was being manipulated or if there really was something behind this sudden change in the princess's behavior. Mabel noticed Sekire's confusion and laughed lightly, throwing herself on the throne again with a mischievous smile.
"Oh, and before I forget, Sekire, let me tell you something about the future, in case you want to become someone really powerful." Mabel paused dramatically, seeing Sekire's attentive gaze. "In Axoland, there is a very special group, the Rokusei. They are the 9 great leaders of the divisions of our kingdom. If you really have what it takes, you can steal their positions." Mabel chuckled, leaving the mystery in the air.
"The names?" Well, we have the Lord of the Moonlight: Atlas, the Warrior of Dawn: Kallavan, the one you already know, the infamous God of Destruction Feitan, the Wise and most powerful: Mark O'malley, the muscle lord: Makro, the Bloody Calm: Cloud, the calculating Ehara, the newly arrived Kirizo and, of course, one of the most respected: Beto. They are all powerful, and if you try hard, learn, who knows, maybe one day you can compete with them. I'm not saying it will be easy, but if you don't try, you'll never know.
Mabel stood up again, the smile still on her lips.
"So, that's it. Go to the Netherheart, you will learn, you will grow. And who knows, in the future, you will become a great Axoland player. If you're lucky, maybe even a Rokusei." She winked at Sekire. — Now, go out there and show what you're worth, go on!
Feitan, who had been silent until then, just watched the scene with his calculating eyes. He knew that Mabel was making a bet with Sekire, and somehow he knew that she would do well. She wasn't the kind of girl who would give in easily. Mabel looked at Feitan, and he just gave her a thumbs up, as if to say: "Let's see what she can do".
— Welcome to my game, Sekire. Let's see how you play the cards. — Mabel smiled again, once again leaning back on the throne and saying in a relaxed tone.
At the end of everything, Feitan would then begin to leave the place, after all his mission was already complete. Then he bowed to Mabel, and headed for the exit, stopping next to Sekire.
— Just don't disappoint me. See you around — He said in his usual apathetic tone.
— Thank you... for everything. — She looked at him gratefully, the words almost coming out in a sigh. Feitan only gave a half smile, something rare for him, before taking a step back. His eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke, his tone impersonal and disinterested. — I just found you useful. Don't expect more than that. — He concluded, before turning around, heading towards the door. Without another word, he left the room, leaving Sekire alone with Mabel, who watched the scene with an amused smile, but also satisfied with the way things were unfolding. — Now, here's what we'll do, Sekire. — Mabel said, getting up from the throne. — Since you'll be here for a while, I'll get you a room. Nothing fancy, but at least you'll have a place to sleep without worrying about being thrown out on the street. I'll assign a maid to take care of you, and then I'll talk to Clemearl, the head of the Netherheart family, about your stay and servant training. It's going to be a little intense, but you might be surprised.
Hours later, Sekire was in her new room, reflecting on the last few days of her life. She had survived, but the uncertainty of the future left her feeling sick and anxious. How could her life get better? Or worse?
She took a shower, feeling the warmth of the water mixed with the feeling of relief that could only come after going through something so intense. As she dried herself and got ready to lie down on the bed, a strange feeling enveloped her. She was at peace, but she also knew that something inside her was still incomplete. Something about her past, something she needed to figure out.
Finally, Sekire lay down on the bed in the room Mabel had assigned her. She stared at the ceiling, her eyes wandering around this new and strange environment. All she knew was that for now, peace was something she had never experienced before. But at the same time, a desire to understand more about who she really was was forming in her mind.
As sleep enveloped her, thoughts began to mix. She needed to find out more about her past life. What had happened to her before all this? Who she really was? But for now, she didn't want to lose herself in those thoughts. For a moment, she wanted to enjoy the temporary peace that had been granted to her.
And so, lying in bed, Sekire couldn't help the feeling of happiness that invaded her. She had the chance to live. Something she never imagined she would have again. She let the tears run silently down her face, but this time, they were tears of happiness.
"I can live..." she murmured to herself, as sleep took her a, and the image of a 6-year-old girl, lying in bed, crying with happiness for having a chance to start over.