Tag: Black Author

Severance

Alëxios sent the lead physician to treat Malaykah with medicine to help her rest comfortably, though he was unsure how well the antidote had taken effect. His severe headache made it clear that he was no longer privy to her thoughts. It would be impossible to know whether Malaykah made that choice on her own or if it was due to the pregnancy. Two things he knew for sure; she was in excruciating pain and terrified of something at the same time.

AlĂ«xios demanded a conference with The Jade Rabbit and Lady RĂŒvym to get to the bottom of it all. He was enraged and worried for Malaykah’s safety. When the two entered his study, AlĂ«xios verbally pounced on ‘YĂč tĂč.’

“I demand you tell me the meaning behind Malaykah’s condition at once! Has she been ruthlessly sabotaged by The Moon? I believe she was set up and impregnated with an evil demon,” he said.

‘YĂč tĂč’ became indignantly offended by the accusations hurled at him.

“How dare you speak of such vile things regarding the pure intentions of The Moon and her innocent children! We may have your ancestor, Lord Chiyou, to thank for the queen’s present state. All who knew of him declared him a monster, and it is written in the Sacred Scrolls as well. However, let us not forget; it is your seed that was merely fertilized with The Moon’s essence,” he replied.

Alëxios raised his voice loud enough to shake the entire palace.

“All that I am sure of is that I refuse to rear a motherless child! Malaykah had better be revived back to health promptly!” he exclaimed

The Jade Rabbit bounced high in the air, then on a long desk.

“Or else, what?” he asked defiantly.

By then, Lady RĂŒvym had enough of the shouting match.

“Stop this madness, this instance! Both of you shall put aside your enormous egos in favor of reason. Queen Malaykah is half-human. In truth, we all were concerned whether she would even successfully conceive, let alone carry AlĂ«xios’s offspring to full term. Couple that with the essence of The Moon. Her children are the most powerful elements to be manifested within the realm. Malaykah’s divinity has never been questioned here, but her humanity is what is at odds. Her human traits have been dormant all the while, but now it appears the matter must be reconciled as she prepares for the birth of a triple-divine heir,” she explained.

‘YĂč tĂč’ gasped, “Ah, now that made perfect sense!”

Alëxios sat in his chair with his head buried in his hands.

“I do not understand. The Moon specifically chose her for this surrogacy. Why would she do so with the awareness that it might harm Malaykah.”

“The Moon saw this plan as a perfect solution. She would not have made the demand if she thought it would not succeed. Malaykah is stronger than you give her credit. We watched from afar while she was in the Tri-cities. Her displayed divinity, compassion, and tenacity (be it a human trait or not) made her the most admirable and desired creature in the realm to The Moon,” ‘YĂč tĂč’ chimed.

“Unfortunately, we shall all have to wait this out and pray Malaykah can survive this daunting task,” Lady RĂŒvym replied.

~Ch. 31, The Realm Beyond the Stars and Sea~

Birthright of Divinity

The naked pair gazed at each other with a mood relief and satisfaction, which abruptly diminished the moment Malaykah stepped out of the water. Though her face returned to the youthful maiden, everything else about her transformation startled Alëxios. Her hair was now colored mahogany and hung low to her feet in four parted long braids. Her body caused the most alarm, with a voluptuous bosom and swollen belly. Nevertheless, she had the appearance of a healthy young woman in her ninth month of pregnancy.

The revelation of Malaykah’s condition was a complete surprise to them both. She frowned in disappointment at AlĂ«xios as he remained in the lake speechless. They had not mentioned their agreement with The Moon during their entire stay in the human realm. The cherished moments of their blissful marriage, coupled with her ongoing illnesses, kept the conversation far removed from either of their thoughts.

As Malaykah stood in the moonlight, a shooting star passed overhead. Alëxios snapped out of his trance, only to realize his wife was displeased with his demeanor. He climbed out of the lake and stood beside her. There was no breeze, so they felt no need to cover themselves. He caressed her cheek but still did not speak. Malaykah read his mind to find the source of his soured expression.

“I know this is scary, but we’re in this together,” she said.

Alëxios did not want to reveal his emotions to The Moon, so he relayed his thoughts to Malaykah.

“In truth, I have never felt fearful of the unknown. I have no way to determine how well things will turn out. I never imagined myself as a father; it did not seem possible for me. The life I have led is not exactly the best role model for anyone’s offspring.”

Malaykah took him by the arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.

“It’s natural for anyone to be anxious about becoming a parent. Truthfully, the fears never really go away. The trick is to learn how to manage your anxieties. Given your specific circumstances, it’s no wonder you’re terrified. First, your father was assassinated before you were born, and you watched your mother commit suicide. Then, your grand-uncle abducted, rejected, and abused you. Not to mention, you were exploited by the PhĂ«lĂ€niciĂ€n Sea Pirates. You experienced all of that at a tender young age, and it shaped your perception of the world. I see all of your wounds but also all your strengths. Having been with you for a good portion of my life, I can honestly say it has been the best portion of my life. You protect your loved ones, you’re open-handed, and most importantly, you have integrity,” she thought back to him.

AlĂ«xios was moved to tears by Malaykah’s compliments.

“I learned how to use all those powers because of you. Your abundant acceptance of me was the jolt I needed to change my ways. I wanted to earn the right to be by your side. Though I still have a long way to go, I am pleased to continue this journey with you,” he said aloud.

Malaykah grinned and replied, “See, there. Now I know our children will grow up just fine.”

Suddenly, Byakko and Meikko flew down on the lake with KĂŒnsey. They brought golden robes for the king and queen to wear. Before they returned to the palace, Meikko was instructed to use caution during flight. KĂŒnsey insisted on riding with Malaykah, as AlĂ«xios and Byakko flew on either side to protect the pregnant queen.

The PhĂ«lĂ€niciĂ€ns organized an extravagant celebration to commemorate the special occasion. Malaykah’s ladies waited alongside Lady RĂŒvym and her guards. Once the party landed, everyone stood in awe of Queen Malaykah. She looked every bit of her ancestor, the goddess Oshun. Her face radiated a light that made The Moon pale in comparison. There were no murmurs or whispers from the crowd, as they feared wrath from AlĂ«xios.

Lady RĂŒvym gushed at her grandchildren and took the opportunity to fawn over Malaykah’s round belly.

“Tonight is a joyous event for the kingdom of PhĂ«lĂ€niciĂ€, which will be inscribed in the Sacred Scrolls. Queen Malaykah has returned to us as the fertile mother of a divine nation. This evening shall mark the countdown for the birth of their heir to the throne. Our kind shall forever be known as the dominant race within the realm. Challenge as our sworn enemies may, King AlĂ«xios will cut them down to defend his family and legacy,” Lady RĂŒvym boasted.

AlĂ«xios clasped her hand in his, and they walked to the dining room. When they made their grand entrance, the entire room erupted in applause. Lady RĂŒvym led the way to their table. No one was surprised to see The Jade Rabbit, ‘YĂč tĂč,’ seated at the end of the row. The shooting star from earlier could not have been anything other than another deity.

“Greetings, Mighty King AlĂ«xios and Beautiful Queen Malaykah. I have come to bring good tidings from The Moon. She declared to me that motherhood suits the daughter of Oshun,” ‘YĂč tĂč’ said with a tilted wine vial.

Everyone in the dining room saluted Malaykah with a toast.

AlĂ«xios glared at ‘YĂč tĂč’ with suspicion.

“I take it The Moon was aware that Malaykah would return to the realm on this very night,” he said.

The Jade Rabbit slightly choked on his slurp of wine.

“Indeed. This was all planned by The Ultimate Creator, ChrĂ«st. It was the will of the realm creator to make Malaykah stay here long enough to hear The Moon’s proposal. Then she was purposefully kept away from the realm until the appointed time of childbirth, which is nearly upon us,’ he answered.

“I don’t understand. Why was I kept out of the realm until now?” Malaykah asked.

“It was done for your protection and to ensure my nemesis would not terminate your pregnancy,” AlĂ«xios interjected painfully.

~Ch. 30, The Realm Beyond the Stars and Sea~

Between Realms

Malaykah decided to take a walk outside to clear her head. A light rain shower began during her stroll, which made her glad that she thought to bring an umbrella. The rain soothed her mind but often made her joints ache.

“You always looked divine in the rain,” a familiar voice said behind her.

Malaykah tilted her head back to see Alëxios.

“I hope you’re not expecting an Orisha dance,” she chimed.

“You captivated me with your dance,” he replied with sincerity.

Malaykah laughed and said, “I haven’t danced in years.” Her face sobered, and she stopped walking. “The doctors told me I have a weak heart. Apparently, there’s some kind of unknown enzyme attacking my entire body from inside.”

Alëxios turned her around to face him. He was drenched from the rain, so she lifted her umbrella over his head.

“Their diagnosis is all wrong. You have the strongest heart of anyone I have ever met. Unfortunately, though, it appears your onset of suffering stems from your time within the realm. Think of it as an adverse effect on your humanity.” He affectionately ran his fingers through the coils of her all-white tresses, then said, “I stand before you now, and your eyes are just as vibrant as the night we met in your garden.

Malaykah gushed at his flattering praises, then glanced away to look at a flickering street light.

“I’m not the same as when we met, and certainly not how I was in the realm,” she replied.

Alëxios tilted her face back to him. His eyes glowed, as hers did in response.

“Do not mistake me for any human men who are merely attracted to fleeting appearances. On the contrary, I am a deity who continuously requires your soul next to mine. I cannot rule my kingdom if you are not seated on the throne at my side,” he said.

“I haven’t been to the realm in over nine years. At this point, I don’t believe it’s even possible for me to return,” she answered in distrusted confusion.

AlĂ«xios grinned slyly, then said, “Have no fear. KĂŒnsey and I will dwell with you here in the human realm. I consulted with The Moon to have the goddess Isis create him an amulet that would allow him to enter this realm without any harm to come. As you have seen, he is well able to manage our affairs.”

“Well, I suppose you have it all figured out then. You came here with no disadvantages. I love how the two of you arrived as successful businessmen,” Malaykah chuckled.

AlĂ«xios caressed her bottom lip with his index finger, then said, “The only realm that I would be at a disadvantage in is the one where you refuse to be by my side.”

She kissed the tip of his finger and replied, “There is no such place.”

AlĂ«xios proposed that they marry right away, but Malaykah postponed the event in favor of allowing her family to get to know him. J’aime and her children were instantly taken in by his charm. They marveled at how he doted on Malaykah and treated her like a queen. His generosity as a philanthropist made him a sensation everywhere. After six months passed, AlĂ«xios and Malaykah married and retired to a quiet life.

Fourteen years later, Malaykah’s health began to rapidly decline. AlĂ«xios spared no expense and sent KĂŒnsey to search for a cure. Their efforts were to no avail. She became unable to speak, though she could communicate through her thoughts. AlĂ«xios feared she would soon perish, so he persuaded her they should return to the realm.

KĂŒnsey was fortunate enough to find a soothing oil to help her sleep peacefully. One night, after AlĂ«xios applied the oil with a light massage, they both drifted off to a night of deep sleep. When they awoke, they found themselves neck-deep inside a lake. They smiled knowingly at each other. For they both knew they had finally returned to the borderlands of PhĂ«lĂ€niciĂ€.

~Ch. 29, The Realm Beyond the Stars and Sea~

Grace Renewed

As the party approached The Moon, Malaykah dismounted Meikko and clung to Alëxios as he carried her the rest of the way. She could hear his heart pound faster and read his thoughts that he wished to whisk her away from the realm. Malaykah kissed Alëxios on the neck, which managed to soothe him, even if only in the slightest instance.

When they landed on The Moon’s surface, a mighty gush of wind washed over them. Then, the pair were swept underneath the leaves of a giant ivory weeping willow tree. This tree wept with millions of tiny leaves that fell and swirled to the ground. AlĂ«xios pulled Malaykah into his arms to keep her from being swept away from the powerful current of the wind. They read each other’s thoughts and were both consumed with fear.

Suddenly, the Jade Rabbit’ YĂč tĂč’, appeared before them. The Jade Rabbit was known within the realm as the High Priest to The Moon.

Suddenly, the harsh winds and weeping willow ceased. The three entities glared at each other in awkwardness.

“Greetings, visitors; Mighty God of War, King AlĂ«xios and Divine Queen Malaykah. I am ‘YĂč tĂč,’ and I speak to you on behalf of The Moon. She called this trial into session to determine the best measures to move forward from the latest upset of events within the realm. Both she and The Ultimate Creator, ChrĂ«st, shall also preside over these proceedings. My role is to serve as a mediator.

AlĂ«xios wasted no time to plead on Malaykah’s behalf. He took one step towards The Jade Rabbit and began to plead his case.

“Let me state for the record; this entire disaster was mostly of my doing. I brought Malaykah to the realm. Therefore, any offense made since her arrival was not done of her own volition,” he argued.

‘YĂč tĂč’ sized up AlĂ«xios and scoffed indignantly, “We are not here to question your chosen queen’s right to dwell within this realm. As far as we are concerned, she came here with desires and her free will. The Moon’s children at the matter at hand. That is what is at stake in this very moment.”

AlĂ«xios quickly clasped his right fist and bowed on one knee with his left hand. His act of humility was something never seen before within the realm, which took both ‘YĂč tĂč’ and Malaykah by surprise.

“Being so as it may, Malaykah was a victim of circumstances. She was brutally accosted and kidnapped by the treasonous eunuch BĂ€ssĂ€m. He took advantage of her divinity and called upon the oracle to direct the location of the Ɛrb. No other creature within the realm would take such an appalling risk,” AlĂ«xios continued.

‘YĂč tĂč’ leered at AlĂ«xios in an unimpressed manner, and mocked, “The eunuch, BĂ€ssĂ€m, received his just comeuppance for every one of his crimes.” He then turned his gaze to Malaykah. “The Moon would like to hear from you. Tell us of your intentions since you arrived in the realm.”

Malaykah gulped and bowed next to Alëxios. Her mind spun for a moment as she tried to calm her nerves.

“Initially, I had no definitive intentions.” She locked eyes with AlĂ«xios as she spoke. “I suppose curiosity got the best of me. I wanted to learn more about AlĂ«xios, and when I came to PhĂ«lĂ€niciĂ€, I fell in love with everything about him. When the castle was attacked, I just wanted to help everyone,” she answered.

AlĂ«xios and the other entities listened intently as Malaykah’s voice became more poised. Her eyes glowed in the amber hue, which indicated she was possessed by the goddess within. She clenched her chest as if a deep-rooted pain gnawed at her heart.

“When I was kidnapped, all I could think to do was buy time. I did not know what could happen. So I chose to protect AlĂ«xios and the realm. I had hoped that MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h would curse us before we found the Ɛrb. I wanted to kill him, myself, so that he could not hurt The Moon’s children. My only sorrow is that I did not find enough strength to fight him as I did on Captain Mi’yĂ€mĂ«’s ship.”

‘YĂč tĂč’ smiled with satisfaction and said, “Rise, Daughter of Oshun. Know this; all have heard your testimony and also searched the contents of your spirit. We know you have spoken in truth. You fought well, Divine Queen. The Moon was profoundly moved by your open display of empathy and compassion for her children. Not one single creature inside this realm has ever looked at The Moon as a being to be pitied.” Finally, he nodded for AlĂ«xios to stand. “The entire realm shall eternally owe you a debt of gratitude. Had you not blocked your husband’s intervention, the renowned war god most assuredly would have demolished everything in the wake of his understandable wrath.”

Malaykah curtsied and smiled back at the Jade Rabbit. Then she laced her fingers inside AlĂ«xios’s fingers. He kissed her hand to acknowledge that he was proud of all she had accomplished.

‘YĂč tĂč’ curiously tilted his head and stared at Malaykah.

“Tell me, child; do you not place any value upon your own well-being?” he asked.

Malaykah’s eyes returned to normal, but her goddess’s voice remained for her answer.

“I place more value on my ability to help others. There would be no need for AlĂ«xios to rescue me if my predicament were only to cause him the kind of outrage that would destroy the realm. I couldn’t live with myself if I were the cause for him to be sentenced to eternal damnation.”

Her confession wounded Alëxios. It occurred to him that she would never allow him to help her, which was devastating. Nevertheless, he still felt the need to defend her from the Jade Rabbit.

“Malaykah’s self-sacrifice goes above and beyond what is expected of any being in the realm. Her natural tenacity has served to save us all,” she stated.

“Indeed. Which is what brought us to the current proceedings,” the Jade Rabbit quipped.

Alëxios and Malaykah glanced at each other. They both trembled and could not conceal their urgent sense of panic.

“The Moon proposed that the daughter of Oshun serve as a surrogate mother to her children. Therefore, the Ultimate Creator, ChrĂ«st, is indebted to The Moon for her continuous illumination of this realm. It shall be so, under the condition that the war god, King AlĂ«xios, will also contribute to this effort. In other words, both his seed and her womb shall be anointed with the essence of The Moon’s children. Henceforth, the 3rd Season of Judgement shall be rendered. This proclamation shall place all of PhĂ«lĂ€niciĂ€ as the dominant race within the realm,” ‘YĂč tĂč’ proclaimed.

~Ch. 27, The Realm Beyond the Stars and Sea~

Disposition of Grace (p. 3)

The PhëlÀniciÀns took flight once more to head to the Tri-cities. Alëxios quelled his wrath so that he could find Malaykah in one piece. The battalion did not stop to take any breaks or rest from the cove. Time was of the essence, and no one wanted Malaykah to suffer another moment. It was then the longest journeying the fleet had taken together.

They landed on the outskirts early one morning. Daybreak could not come bustling through the giant trees and overgrown grass of the Tri-cities. Alëxios sliced through the paths with a saber, as he did not want to overuse the Excalibur sword for remedial tasks. The hordes of cherubs stampeded through the area until they stumbled upon Alëxios.

They all bowed down to him reverently, then carried on their way to roam about. It became clear that the mindless cherubs would not have been able to help Malaykah, even if they recognized her divinity. The battalion followed a small gaggle within the second cave since Alëxios read the engraved markings that indicated to do so. Before long, they hit the bottom of the cavern. Alëxios sensed a powerful aura nearby, which caused him to become anxious.

Around the corner, they found Malaykah lying lifelessly on the ground. Her face was hidden behind her long braids. In her hands, the Ɛrb globe clutched tightly to her chest. Suddenly, the Ɛrb dissolved. Then a forcefield of twinkling silver and blue stars stretched over her body. At first glance, she appeared not to be breathing.

“Malaykah,” AlĂ«xios called to her in an unevenly shaken tone.

She stirred only a little and moaned weakly.

“Malaykah, I am here. I have come to help you,” AlĂ«xios called again with more confidence.

He knelt down beside her, then tried to touch her hair. The powerful aura of the forcefield knocked him back, at least eight feet. Alëxios used cat-like agility to land on his feet. He sighed heavily and covered his hands over his face.

“This is the aura from The Moon’s children. Apparently, they are protecting Malaykah. This is quite the mystery, considering The Moon has ill will against her for an obviously misunderstood trespass,” he said.

He walked back to Malaykah and called her name three times more. Finally, she let out a long sigh and turned her head. She was blinded by a thousand tiny bright lights when she opened her eyes. Her ears rang, her head ached, and her throat felt raw. She tried to sit up but was dizzied by all of her ailments. Then, through the lights, she saw two piercing green eyes. She came fully to her senses, and all her conditions ceased at once.

Malaykah was surprised to still be in the realm. She was certained that she prayed to return home before she black-out. The shield evaporated soon after, which allowed Alëxios to finally embrace her. She looked out at the dragon fleet and spotted Meikko among the others. The young dragon appeared to weep. Without awareness, Malaykah unleashed the veil to her thoughts. Alëxios gasped in horror at the entire revelation of her ordeal with BÀssÀm.

He hugged her tighter to his chest and cried, “My love, why did you not call for me to be by your side? How could you hide away your thoughts from me when you were in danger?”

Malaykah pulled away from Alëxios and looked him in the eyes.

“I only wanted to protect you. I knew you would lose control if you found out what BĂ€ssĂ€m

did to me. I couldn’t save KĂ€nĂ«brĂ€l, but I had to save the rest of the realm.”

Alëxios sat with a brief silence. He was unnerved that Malaykah sacrificed herself to save him from destroying the realm. No one could have, or even ever, offered to put him before themselves. He knew that none of his consorts in the harem would have made the same choice. It was unfathomable to him why The Moon was angry with her.

Malaykah stood and leaned against the cavern wall.

“We have to go now. We have to go to The Moon,” she said.

Alëxios stood and grabbed her shoulders.

“How do you know of this?” he demanded.

A single tear slid down Malaykah’s face. She looked at AlĂ«xios fearfully and said, “The Ultimate Creator, ChrĂ«st, just told me.”

~Ch. 26, The Realm Beyond the Stars and Sea~

Disposition of Grace (p. 2)

AlĂ«xios quickly wiped away his tears and regained complete composure. He turned to his counterparts and declared, “Know this; I continue to hold both of you in the highest esteem. Mighty Byakko will always be remembered as my 2nd self on the battlefield. We could not be any closer, even if we were actually brothers. In the monastery temples, we became each other’s lifelines. I watched a fierce battalion leader become a doting father to young Meikko and raise her up to be my queen’s personal guard. I would never allow any harm to come to either of you on behalf of my own errored ways.”

Byakko nodded in agreement.

“What do you plan to do, AlĂ«xios?” He asked.

Alëxios did not answer right away. He sat on the ground cross-legged and began to meditate. They all waited in silence for several moments as Alëxios summoned the legendary Excalibur sword from the Divine Plains. The sky showered golden raindrops and released the blade into his hands.

AlĂ«xios stood in a cavalier fashion and said, “I shall exact revenge on all those who harmed and took advantage of my queen.”

With that, he leaped off the cliff and ascended to the sky. Byakko commanded the entire dragon battalion to follow soon after.

The PhëlÀniciÀns turned the nine-day route taken by BÀssÀm and Malaykah into an overnight trip by flight. They arrived at the cove and dove right to the bottom of the sea. With Alëxios being a deity, there was no need to seek the Ferry Man for a coin to unlock the portal of the whirlpool. Once they reached their destination, Alëxios unsheathed the Excalibur sword and tapped it against the cave wall.

“Come to me, evil sea witch! You must atone for your sins,” he shouted as he unleashed an enormous portion of his chaos.

The sediment rocks within the cave began to crumble, but AlĂ«xios and the dragons held steady in their footing. Then, suddenly fluorescent light from MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h’s aura illuminated the space.

“I am the great and powerful MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h. Who dares—” she spoke but was interrupted by AlĂ«xios when he slammed her against the wall and held the Excalibur sword to her throat.

“It is I who shall ask all the questions,” he said with a malicious smirk.

MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h’s cold dead eyes locked in with his piercing green eyes and shrieked upon realizing precisely who he was. She trembled and waited for his inquiry.

“Within the last fortnight, you were visited by two individuals. Were you not?” he asked.

MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h cackled with a sigh.

“Divine King AlĂ«xios, it is well within your knowledge that I am visited by a barrage of individuals on a never-ceasing basis. They come here at all times to disturb my sentenced slumber. It is entirely too impossible to keep track of them all,” she replied.

Byakko and the other dragons began a low growl that echoed throughout the space of the cave. Then AlĂ«xios unleashed more of his chaos, which caused MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h’s aura to dim and the room turned pitch-black. The sediments in the cave floor and walls gave way, and water enveloped everywhere.

MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h shrieked again in terror.

“Beg forgiveness, My Lord! I misspoke. I know of whom you speak on,” she said nervously.

“A raunchy eunuch and a maiden, to be exact,” AlĂ«xios replied,

“Ah, yes! They were here many nights ago,” she answered.

AlĂ«xios receded some of his chaos and removed the Excalibur sword from MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h’s throat.

“Tell me everything. What did the eunuch want?” he asked.

MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h cackled again, this time from amusement.

“He wanted what everyone wants; to obtain the Ɛrb, for realm domination. So I gave him the coordinates, just as I have always done.”

AlĂ«xios grabbed MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h’s forehead and slammed the back of her head into the wall, which made the entire cave shake, and more water seeped through the weakened walls.

“So, you boldly confess that you purposefully lead the Queen of PhĂ«lĂ€niciĂ€ to ruin!” he exclaimed.

MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h gasped for air as the water rose above her head. AlĂ«xios lifted her by the neck so that the water rested at her chin level.

“My Lord, I beg you to hear me! I did no such thing,” she cried. He squeezed his hand on her throat as she continued.

“I was aware then, just as I am aware now, that I was in the presence of a deity. A mere lowly titan like me would gain no fortune from deceit. I swear to you, I gave no false account to the Daughter of Oshun.”

Alëxios released his hand from her throat, then quickly used the Excalibur sword to stab her in the heart.

“You have been a menace within the realm for far too long. Even if you spoke in truth, I cannot in good faith allow your continued havoc to reign,” he replied.

MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h let out a long wheeze when he removed the sword from her heart.

“You have done me a great service, Mighty King AlĂ«xios. In the beginning, I taunted fortune seekers for my own amusement. After the 1st Season of Judgement, I hoped my sentenced slumber would finally put an end to the vicious cycle. Twenty centuries later, I realized my eternal damnation was to continuously repeat my trickery and deceit and never receive any rest. There is no amusement in my existence. As a god, you have rightfully ended the fixed situation. Now, I am finally free,” she weakly cackled before she turned to dust.

Meikko stood next to her father in astonishment.

“Father, why did King AlĂ«xios kill the banshee after the knowledge that she did not lead our queen astray?’ she asked.

“In truth, he did so as an act of mercy and in hopes that Captain Mi’yĂ€mĂ«’ shall be freed to die in peace,” he answered with admiration for his kin and king.

~Ch. 26, The Realm Beyond the Stars and Sea~

Disposition of Grace

Alëxios approached them anxiously. He looked exhausted and was covered in Faerie blood. His eyes reflected a deep sadness. The battle weighed heavy on him, considering he had to execute those of his kin who also rejected him. It could not have been an easy task. Byakko and Meikko were well aware of the gravity of the situation.

He looked at Meikko and asked, “What news have you? Where is Malaykah?”

At first, Meikko did not respond. She could not look him in the eyes and began to tremble in anticipation of his wrath, especially after her father’s rebuking.

Byakko nudged her briskly with his tail and said, “Hold your head up and address the king at once, soldier.”

Meikko did not stall this time and did as she was commanded.

“Lord Alexios, I humbly beseech your mercy. Queen Malaykah insisted upon assisting with the cannons. The Faeries that did not perish on their naval ship took to flight and quickly discovered the source of where our ammunition flowed. We had no choice but to engage in combat. It was then that I lost sight of the queen. When I realized that she was no longer among us on deck, I searched for her immediately. Captain Mi’yĂ€mĂ« sent his mate to help me. We put on an aggressive investigation, but the Faerie army was relentless in their attack. It was not until after we defeated our foes that we learned of her whereabouts. Regrettably, Captain Mi’yĂ€mĂ« fetched his dying mate from the sea. With his last breath, TrĂ«gÓ§ĂŒrnĂ« recounted how the eunuch roughhoused the queen and kidnapped her. Captain Mi’yĂ€mĂ« determined that the eunuch must be in search of the Ɛrb because we found your She-wolf maiden dead from a slit throat.”

Alexios remained silent to mentally and physically absorb all of the information delivered. Fortunately, his temperament was not initially swayed into fury. Instead, he paced about composedly, which was a surprise to both Byakko and Meikko. However, his silence kept them in suspense, so Byakko abruptly interjected.

“BĂ€ssĂ€m has gone rogue. I knew we could no longer put our confidence in him once he became emboldened by SÓ§litha to verbally assault Queen Malaykah at the palace. He did not express an ounce of gratitude at her leniency or her request to help guide the maidens back to their homelands. We played right into his scheme when we decided KĂ€nĂ«brĂ€l’s home would be the last stint of our tour. She lived not far from the Tri-cities region. I am certain Captain Mi’yĂ€mĂ« also wanted to stop off there, to search for the Ɛrb.”

Suddenly, all the color drained entirely from AlĂ«xios’s face. His look of contained alarm shifted to anguish, and tears swelled in his eyes. Byakko and Meikko glanced nervously at each other, not knowing what to make of his drastic mood change.

“My Lord, have you taken ill?’ Byakko asked.

Alexios pursed his lips together, then let out a heavy sigh. He chose his words carefully as if he did not want to relay what he had experienced.

“In truth, I have listened to your reports and concurrently communicated with The Ultimate Creator, ChrĂ«st. I am quite disturbed by both messages delivered to me. A shocking revelation has come about.” He walked up to the highest point of a cliff and stared blankly out at the canyon below. Byakko and Meikko curiously joined him.

AlĂ«xios continued to speak, “Meikko reported Malaykah was forcefully hauled off Captain Mi’yĂ€mĂ«’s vessel by the eunuch, BĂ€ssĂ€m. I was just informed they then traveled to the cove of deep waters, where he sought out the oracle. From there, BĂ€ssĂ€m entreated MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h’s support to locate the Ɛrb. The Moon witnessed those events and has demanded a trial be held. ChrĂ«st agreed to her demand. Therefore, I must journey to the Tri-cities to retrieve Malaykah and bring her to The Moon.” A steady stream of tears drifted down his face, and the canyon quaked with a low tremble. “The 3rd Season of Judgement will be rendered at the trial,” he said.

“What will become of our queen?” Meikko gasped.

AlĂ«xios answered in a distant tone, “I can only conclude MĂ€ĂŒdrĂ€h’s trickery caused catastrophe to befall my bride. The Moon’s offense will not decipher between an innocent victim and delinquent crooks. If Malaykah is to be punished for BĂ€ssĂ€m’s attempt to steal the Ɛrb, I am certain no mercy will be shown to her, given she is a foreigner to this realm. The eunuch’s fate is of no consequence. My only concern is for Malaykah. I failed to protect her in every dire moment of her time here. Even after the siege, my performance did not improve. Not once did I imagine she would fall into the clutches of such immoral creatures. This fiasco is entirely my fault because I did not make her my priority, and now she must suffer.”

Since his arrival in PhĂ«lĂ€niciĂ€, King AlĂ«xios did not shed a single tear. After his rescue from captivity, he vowed to keep his injured feelings locked away from the rest of the world. However, Captain Mi’yĂ€mĂ«’ and the rest of the Sea Pirates persuaded him to use his wrath as a tool to weaponize their cause with the powers of a god. Aside from his grandmother, Malaykah was the only living being he felt comfortable enough to show his vulnerable side with. In this instance, he allowed himself to share his grief with Byakko and Meikko because he could not contain his sorrow.

~Ch. 26, The Realm Beyond the Stars and Sea~