2. Destruction of a King

When they stepped out of the Inn, they found out they did not have to do anything about it anyways. A commotion of heavy boots stormed near the gate closest to the inn and a large group of armored soldiers seemed to be gathered there. The emblems on their coats were quite worn out, but there were no green crests or yellow flags on their armor. Rustaze's soldiers were simply unremarkable, Madoka noted. Some of them had Tier 2 weapons and their armor seemed comparable to the guards posted around the city. It seemed like having a lot of them nearby could help operate the ballistae easier, but against a force that preys on the thoughts of people that covered the entire sky gave her a grim feeling.

"Well," Audrey noticed the army. "At least they're not after us. For once."

Madoka could only shrug after that remark. She was not wrong. A shining hand tugged her sleeve, cold and metallic to the touch. They hurried along in the opposite direction of the army to the Adventurer Guild, before she could even wonder who the King of Rustaze was. This day was particularly overcast, as if the ones of sunlight prior to now disappeared. The gathering took place in front of the Guild's building, so Madoka and Audrey stood at the outer edge and waited for somebody to do something. A familiar figure approached them from the side.

"Yo," Eraziror greeted Madoka and bowed slightly to Audrey. The princess ignored him.

"Eraziror, where have you been?" Madoka looked behind him. A familiar Narm wearing bone armor and an orange haired Mage stood where he came from. Upon sensing Madoka's gaze, the mage Rin quickly hid herself by merging into the crowd before Audrey noticed her. It was too late. The princess immediately chased after her and Madoka did not feel like stopping her. Eraziror and her just watched silently as Rin was instantly cornered by her.

"I should be asking you that," he shrugged. "You practically disappeared over the last two days."

"I was in the forge," Madoka shrugged. At the mention of the Artisan Guild's Forge, he shuddered.

"B-Boss," he muttered. The two froze when they looked at each other, then laughed. "That bastard earned a few songs on my lyre, I say."

"You teamed up with Juujee?" Madoka asked. The bone armored man now had a Silver tag and must have been working hard during his time here in Gladeban.

"Yes, for the moment," Eraziror confirmed. Madoka thought guiltily over Eena and her talk about him, but decided to not bring it up. "I'll be working with him until we head to the capital after the Cel'Row are hunted. Summer festival, and all that. Our big fellow will be waiting there. I'll see if he's still up for chasing the River Goêt with me."

"Summer's coming soon, huh?" She mused, not knowing what the River Goêt was. Nor was she particularly interested in the festival or whatever. The sky was grey still, with no signs of letting up and not wanting to reveal the secret above its clouds. Eraziror suddenly let out a sigh.

"If I could make it day forever here, we wouldn't have the many problems we got here right now," ye moaned. "Our God King is finally looking this way, though."

He nodded towards the rows of soldiers gathered near the gate outside. She scoffed. They could be mistaken for poor adventurers and perhaps they were.

"Hey now, don't be so grouchy," Eraziror chuckled bitterly. "It is how He shows consideration around here, that God King."

"Who… or what is a God King?" Madoka finally decided to ask.

"Ceghinort, the kind god of Adventuring, is the God King of the country of Rustaze. Didn't you know that already?" Eraziror laughed, but realized the maid actually did not. How could he use reverent phrases of praise to Ceghinort and criticize how he rules at the same time? The Adventuring God seemed quite busy to her, after all. Ruling a country of weaklings seemed like an afterthought or an unpleasant chore.

"Why is he a skeleton, then?" She muttered. Unfortunately for her, the Sovos heard her but did not seem surprised by her comment.

"Death for Sovos is merely one side of the Horn," he said, but realized something after a moment of reflection. "That wasn't as profound as I thought. When a Sovos dies, they carry their adventures in the afterlife. All flow down the River, his Blood and Body are waiting there. The death rituals, something you might have seen, might have not yet, are for finding out the dead's memories — and passing them to their original souls to aid them in their journey. When they do find each other… Their body, memory and soul combine and become a dragon."

"I have seen the death ritual," she remembered those skeletons in the water vats, then flinched when a vision of the bodies in the human lab's Processing Bay flickered in her mind. So they do eventually turn into dragons, she mused.

"It isn't as depressing as it seems, Madoka," Eraziror mistook her uneased face as her being disturbed over the spectacle of the death ritual.

"Hai," she nodded. She decided she would ask Ceghinort what the death ritual was all about if she met him again. A familiar presence was approaching her, but she did not recognize the person at first because of the armor she wore. Eraziror apparently did and swiftly left back to Juujee's people. The blonde hair poking beneath the person's cloak and helmet gave it away. "Lady Eena, you're coming with us?"

"Yes," she said softly. A heavy blade rested on her hip, while Madoka felt the Noble's eyes rest on her through the visor. "There are some things those goblins are guarding. Things that I want to get myself."

"You needn't—" Madoka paused. She knew that the Noble wanted to get stronger herself, so she sighed. "You might not get the opportunity to crush goblins with this large amount of people around. My Master is quite powerful on her own… And quite troublesome."

Both of them glanced at Audrey, who had thoroughly wiped out the mage Rin's resistance despite the others trying to pull her away.

"Madoka," Eena stood tall, switching the subject. "Why don't you have any armor on?"

Madoka looked at herself, almost instinctively calling her Boss Eena. She did not really know herself other than it would weigh her down. The padded roughspun cloak of hers and the traveler's clothes she had were made by Lady Saze, serving her well this whole time. Sure, they got torn recently, but she had been loaded with many of them due to the shopkeeper's insistence. And, more importantly, they hid the maid uniform underneath it and kept it from getting too dirty. Madoka realized that she did not even bother visiting the shops in this city once with Audrey.

"I don't want to be weighed down," Madoka guessed. The Cherish martial arts she was trained by relied on being light on her feet. "I'm no soldier and rely on moving fast, after all."

Lady Eena sighed, opening her mouth to speak, but closed it before she did. Madoka noted that she indeed looked imposing with armor, quite different than her usual demure appearance.

"I promise I won't slow you down. I will stand tall like the Nobles of Old," she spoke with determination. Madoka recognized the blade she held. It was the one she forged yesterday. "I have traveled here over mountains and through bandits. I have trained under Balthgor in magic and sword. It was the only good thing that bastard has ever given me when he was around."

Madoka could only feel a little embarrassed over what she said. Though it was not her Lady Eena should be asking. She did not know who was actually in charge to give a Noble like her orders.

"I know how capable you are," Madoka said in a comforting manner. "You defeated some of those creatures in the Uracksheegal and saved me, after all."

Eena was about to say something to Madoka, when the air around them grew colder. Surprisingly, Madoka noticed that Audrey did not have that wary expression she wore around the Noble woman despite her cold aura. Did that mean she was confident in Madoka's loyalty? Or was she hiding under a mask? The questions rolled inside her mind until the girl opened her mouth and spoke.

"Who's this?" Audrey asked her nonchalantly, making Madoka nearly slap her forehead. She did not even recognize Eena under all the armor.

"Lady Dalion," Eena greeted her. Unlike before, her voice was quite confident. It was if the woman was challenging Audrey to some sort of game, but Madoka did not really understand what she was playing. "How have you been?"

"Oh! It's Lady Eena," Audrey suddenly became slightly agitated. She turned to Madoka with a questioning look. "Why's she here?"

"I am here upon my own initiative, Lady Dalion," Eena spoke directly. Madoka could only stand behind Audrey quietly at this point, a habit brought on from her old Palace days when she was not allowed to speak around Nobles at all. The crowd of adventurers began to mobilize, so the three followed suit. "I have need of a few gemstones stolen by the goblins."

"Huh, so they like those shiny things?" Audrey plucked a couple of Knotting strands in the air with her Golden Hand and formed another blood red gemstone the size of her palm. The alteration from the magic caused the air to shimmer with heat and the ruby wore a steamy cloak around it like a mirage.

"The stones goblins covet contain wild magic. Such gems are used for jewelry and catalysts," Eena confirmed, though her eyes fell upon the rock Audrey held with a bit of shock. Madoka noticed Rin's gaze on the three, her staff glinting with a new red spherical gemstone on its end. The mage withdrew her eyes immediately as if she was afraid Her Annoyingness would catch her and bother her again. Perhaps, she would have if Eena was not with Madoka. "I have need for it, so I am joining the Guild for now."

"Well, then," Audrey sighed, tossing the ruby she made to Madoka. "Suit yourself."

The gemstone jolted her hands and was hot to the touch. Madoka closed her hand around it, reinforcing the Knotting strands that bonded it together into a true gemstone. She did not realize it at first, but the ruby was now brilliantly shining even in the grey daylight. A gasp came from both Audrey and Eena. The Sovos Noble reached for it, but stopped when she realized what she was doing.

"Apologies," Eena backed her hand away. The gemstone glowed fearlessly. Its red luminosity still pulsed with Madoka's magic like a living, breathing object. The gold Knotting strands trimming along its lattices were pleasing to the eye, like feeling a freshly cleaned embroidered handkerchief from the Palace. "May I inspect it?"

"Ahem!" Audrey swiftly snatched the gem from Madoka's palm and summoned the storage portal with her Golden Hand. An anxious look filled her eyes when her hand hovered over the talisman, as if the Noblewoman would steal it back. Then, she dropped the stone directly into the portal and glared at the presumptuous lady. "My shiny!"

Madoka looked at Lady Eena's dejected face apologetically.

"Apologies. It's her shiny, milady," she repeated dryly. She only felt slightly embarrassed over Her Impulsiveness's behavior and has gotten used to it by now. Madoka felt the Storage talisman, seeing the magic stone remain in there without degrading. To her surprise, she realized she could sense the bonds of Knotting magic within it and see that they were unwavering. Did she always have the ability to tell? Or was it because Audrey created it?

She stopped and scooped up some dirt. It is true that somehow the ability to control these Strands, or the Way, Madoka had heard of has been slowly improving. Even now, letting the dirt slip through her fingers like sand in an hourglass, she realized she could control the Knotting magic dancing along with the dust specks fall. Be metal, she thought, recalling how Lady Eena conjured a long metal staff to tear those pesky humans apart.

And just like that, Madoka now had a humming metal walking stick of her own. No movements or gestures required and it was quite sturdy. Not a single strand changed or fought against her will. Even other adventurer parties gawked at her use of magic at that point, but she shrugged. She was quite pleased to have such a convenient thing to summon on hand. Audrey attempted to replicate her walking stick, but only created a smaller rod of metal instead which crumpled in an instant.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Huh, guess it's not entirely calibrated," Audrey checked her Golden Hand, which thrummed in a jagged rhythm as if it was out of breath itself.

"D-Don't push yourself," Madoka paused to inspect the girl's hand. It was warm to the touch. Eena looked ahead. The maid and her princess realized that the group was moving more cautiously.

"We're now out of Gladeban's territory," Eena remarked. "We have to be careful."

Madoka sensed that the usual animal thoughts around then died down and the adventurer parties have drawn their weapons and talismans. That serious, huh? Way ahead, she discovered that Drezgor was leading them. The situation was indeed much worse than she thought if he was involved here. She saw his white scaled hand raise in warning and the march stopped. She noticed that the soldiers were also nearby, pointing at something hanging on the trees.

Ears.

Madoka groaned. The ears hung like wet clothes on a rope, dangling in the wind. Their clicking cartilage could be heard all the way over to her before she noticed that the entire row of trees in front of them were covered in these strings like cobwebs. Why must goblins be so meticulous about their cruelty? If she was a goblin under that Witch's influences, she would probably cut her own ears off if the voices annoyed or told her what to do all the time as well. Someone was getting close to the strings. A foolish Iron ranked adventurer got too close. Madoka shouted for him to get back, but it was too late.

An intent suddenly rose as the ears rattled noisily and hisses of released bowstrings twanged in the distance. Madoka shoved the idiot back, pulling the Crystal out of her chest. The barrier was enough to shield some of the bewildered crowd, while the more seasoned adventurers managed to cover their party members with whatever protection they had available. Arrows clattered against her barrier; the shafts snapped and fell in pieces to the grass. Her barrier hummed as the arrows' metal tips became absorbed.

"Idiot," she rebuked the fallen iron adventurer again aloud, while his friends took up a defensive position. A sharp breathing came up from behind her and she felt the air once again grow cold. Madoka did not realize until now that she cleared quite a distance to rescue the team behind her. Drezgor was shouting swear words in between commands, while she noticed shadows quickly shifting and disturbing the branches in front of them.

Killing intent and thoughts of ears rushed inside the forest. Bodies began to move into a combat frenzy as goblin's horns began to sound. As she felt Audrey's magic begin to stir the air Madoka growled, drawing the gleaming Captain's axe and ditching the walking staff she had. Several more arrows pierced through some unfortunate parties further to her left, the screams of pain interwoven with the battle cries.

"A lot of them," Madoka warned Audrey. "Much more than the last time."

"R-Right," Audrey prepared something devastating. Just as she said that, several of the green fiends leapt from the woods, crude blade extended out directly at her head.

Too slow! Madoka's blade intercepted the closest one as if it barely acknowledged it as an enemy. The halves let out a gross pink ear grabbers which also did not make it from her axe's wrath, dripping out like seeds from a crushed fruit. It was already headed into the legs of another one. Audrey's spells sent heat surging behind her. It was subtle, but the subtle change in the atmosphere around Madoka from the usual chilly air was especially noticeable. She ducked instinctively and the forest ahead of her instantly became vaporized. Everything on the ground, both goblins and trees, became mist after the distortion in the air cleared.

She could not afford to question Her Destructiveness and stormed over the new crater, on the hunt for new victims. The more her axe found enemies, the less intrusive thoughts of stealing ears she had to listen to. Soon enough, a trail of devastation for the goblins was left in her wake and to her side she was surprised that more of the forest landscape was destroyed, cleaved by Audrey's new dangerous magic. Witnessing the aftermath, she could not even begin to guess what phenomena the princess employed in her magic this time.

Similarly, she stood briefly as she caught the way her own might still was ready to go without any trouble and the fact that her breathing remained steady despite the death she caused. This was still quite difficult to take in, but also, somehow a break from everything they have gone through thus far. Only one training session with Her Highness has started this all. Did the princess understand this transformation would happen all along?

"You two, House Dalion!" Drezgor shouted. Madoka groaned. Their party's name had spread across Gladeban quickly, no thanks to those researchers. "Ceghinort has seen your work. Get to the plains, just up ahead. There is no time to waste!"

Just like that, Madoka's thoughts carried swiftly along with her feet. Upon nearing an opening in the forest, a faint yet familiar purple mist began to permeate the area. Its cloud covered the Petal's plains, coming from a large goblin settlement occupying the middle of the field. Audrey was right behind her, stopping as Madoka paused briefly to assess the situation in the plains just outside past the trees they were next to. She scolded herself for not checking in on the girl. As she turned, she found that Audrey was looking back at her.

"Are you okay, Audrey?" Madoka asked. She shifted her gaze slightly downward. Madoka followed her eyes to the girl's hands, which trembled a bit under the pressure from the magic she used.

"I'm…" The princess's normally bright blue eyes flickered with a deep and cold azure glint as she caught her breath. Madoka could detect power, amazement and even a hint of malice behind them. She realized that Audrey was not scared at all— she was reveling in her power. "I'm amazing!"

Before she could say anything more, a terrible presence suddenly shook the ground beneath the both of them. Madoka felt a bad sense of dread. A familiar darkness was emerging from the distant goblin camp straight towards them. It held a strange scent of wet earth and pungency, Madoka instinctively felt her nose scrunch in protest. It was the same smell as the tonsil stone in the Gladeban Mines. Additionally, she realized that the smell was present way back when they first encountered the King Wolf. The remains of those researchers were covering one of the malformed stones. Therefore, whatever terrible presence approaching them must have been infected by a tonsil stone nearby.

"Get back!" Drezgor shouted. His career as a powerful Adventurer was clearly not wasted, since he immediately recognized the dangers ahead and how they will affect the mind. "The Sky is attacking!"

It was too late. The howling and wails of every Narm and Sovos around her immediately took over the air. Many of the weak minded parties were already writhing on the ground in agony. Madoka quickly shielded Audrey with her Crystal's barrier, but the magical force of whatever new threat the Uracksheegal and the Witch was bringing still forced her to her knees. Her mind screamed in pain, but her eyes were forced to keep looking forward. The golden translucent barrier she conjured was chipping at the edges like fragile pottery, threatening to be undone. She realized everyone's eyes were also forced to look onward while frozen against their will. The psychic attack was far greater than anything she had encountered.

Then she saw the rows of goblins, each full of malicious grins, filing before them in a strangely organized manner. A procession? Several adventurers ahead of her were not so lucky, as the unruly goblins sliced their ears off before finishing them off. Whatever lingering regret she had felt when defeating these creatures vanished as they cackled gleefully, stab after stab. The purple mist gave way to a massive goblin, easily twice as tall as the trolls Audrey defeated, wearing a crown of ears and scooping up fallen adventurers with his hands. Madoka could only watch in horror as he dangled a few of the helpless and paralyzed people above his gaping maw, before inevitably swallowing them and crunching down. The breaking of bones haunted the place, while muffled sobs and terror murmured through the crowd.

The air and mist suddenly darkened to a murky blob between them and the massive crowned goblin. The shadowy form was a face with red eyes. The Witch! Madoka gritted her teeth as it fully manifested. As usual, her crimson gaze focused only upon her. All of the goblins, big guy included, fell silent as they seemingly held the Witch in utmost reverence.

"I see you have learned nothing, you foolish Child!" The Witch screamed. Thought-shards pelted her waning barrier, sapping Madoka's energy. "Even with her by your side, Tomorrow shall never reach you. Oh, my loyal servant Goblin King. Eat her, feast on her eyes so that you may see Tomorrow!"

With that, the shadow of the Witch vanished as the Goblin King became active again. Madoka's knee buckled again, the barrier fully shattering. The goblins' chitters and jeering gradually grew chaotic as the big Goblin King's steps drew ever closer. He was further away, but closing the distance between them with each heavy stomp. A cheap shot, she would growl if she was not so burdened by her own addled mind and the Witch's magic. Desperation clawed its way into her every step the big fiend took.

Thud.

Madoka's hearing became deafened by the cacophony of goblin screeching. Someone roared from behind her. How could someone resist this oppressive aura? A flash of white scales suddenly burst forth from behind her. No! She could not stop him!

Two thuds and a quake brought on by a massive club suddenly lifting off the ground in a full swing.

Drezgor was sent flying through several thick trees, straight over the open space carved out by Audrey's magic. Madoka saw his body become embedded into the thick root of one of them far away, seemingly his final resting place. Then, Knotting magic strands that were not her own formed a pathetic shield around her. Eena stood there, shaking uncontrollably as she resisted the Witch as well. Madoka fell into more despair rather than the impressive feat.

Three thuds.

Sharp whistling noises hissed right by her. Poison darts! Madoka heard Eena's panicked scream and yet another person's agonized screams. Eraziror? In the reflection of the frail shield's last moments, she saw Eraziror's body collapse on the ground at Eena's feet. Because he managed to guard the initial volley, she was hit twice. Despite the apparent rescue, she dropped to the ground as well. Madoka could not even call out to her, noticing green liquid from the dart draining through the hole in her armor. Then she heard the Witch's evil cackling in her head, mocking her attempt to defend.

The fourth thud did not come just yet. Instead, she heard the Witch's taunting voice boom above her from somewhere.

"Your friends, Child of the Stars, have failed protecting you," the Witch laughed maniacally. "And you failed them. Rest assured, the Goblin King will send them off to see how glorious Tomorrows are."

"Gloating, huh?" Madoka stood up, using her willpower to brute force her way out of the Witch's magic. A hand tugged at her sleeve. Audrey? Why did she doubt Her Highness also could resist the Witch's strange powers. The only problem was that she had no idea what the princess was planning. The hand tugged her sleeve again, as if to reassure her. Then it let go as Madoka took a step forward, her Crystal core glowing into an auric blaze as she stared at the Goblin King defiantly. "How dare you think you have the right to force people to bend to your will?"

The Crystal was already beginning to work in her chest. Madoka calculated that it would take some effort to move under the Witch's spell, but she had enough power to destroy the Goblin King ahead of her. As for the rest of the fallen Adventurers, she was not sure if anyone could do anything at the moment.

"You are going to fall into Yesterday. Forever forgotten by Him," the Witch's disembodied voice hissed. The mist and the thought-needles shattered like glassc but Madoka stood tall against the visions of her thousands of eyes. The Witch screamed, and the Goblin King began to move.

"Sheesh, you'd think she'd shut up for once and stop taking all the attention from me," Audrey muttered behind her.

"Eh?" Madoka could barely utter before noticing the princess's hand withdrew from gripping her wrist.

"Sorry Madoka, gonna cause some trouble," Audrey blurted. That was her line, Madoka gritted her teeth but suddenly the familiar awful light of energy filling Her Highness's body drenched her in dread.

"I thought you said—"

The princess's body exploded as she teleported. Sure enough, black particles directly behind the Goblin King much quicker than the first time Madoka saw Her Recklessness use that magic. Her eyes were a little unfocused, but soon returned with that violent malicious shade of blue again as she remembered where she was. Audrey looked incredibly furious with her Core's ominous light stunning the previously wailing Adventurers who were conscious into choked gasps of shock, raising her Golden Hand. It was with that green Wind Magic of hers. Before the Goblin King could react, Audrey's voice came above even the Witch's disbelieving screams.

「 Hashi, kudasai! 」

What…? Madoka heard Audrey let out a growl. Her voice was grave, but the burst of green magic enveloped the Goblin King's body, instantly causing it to explode with nothing left but its boulder sized head launching skyward. The other goblins, attempted to attack the fallen adventurers but Madoka immediately let her magic lose control. The Crystal immediately released as a metallic wall to stop them with a terrifying thrumming roar of its own. Their fists and bodies pounding against the wall uselessly soon turned to desperate screams, more twisted than the adventurers' own wails before. As the gruesome sounds of slaughter continued behind it and their cries were swiftly curtailed, she could assume that Audrey was easily destroying them.

As Madoka released the wall, the head of the Goblin King landed at her feet. It no longer exuded the Witch's influence or magic as it rolled slightly towards her lifelessly. Suddenly, a floating Golden Hand flew upward from behind it and reattached to the princess, who was running up to her with an urgent look on her face.

"Put it into the portal," she shouted as she ran past Madoka, who stood there bewildered. "I gotta heal the meat shields, I mean the adventurers!"

Madoka inspected the lifeless severed head of the so-called King with detachment. It certainly towered over her, but that trait appeared to be the only thing that separated it from the other gross green goblins. It was in essence, just a bigger version of them. Its club was nowhere to be seen. A shining blue gem necklace was embedded into the crown of ears. She noticed that more of the stones were twinkling inside the wood and guessed she did not see them due to the purple mist's interference. Could it be the stone that Lady Eena wanted? She plucked it out of the gross thing and pocketed it. Then she watched it sink silently into the storage talisman's portal as she watched an emerald web of Substance magic illuminate the trees and fallen bodies.

She checked herself over and only found that her clothes were a little ripped. Madoka sighed, a strange jittery feeling and confusion fighting for dominance on her face. The adrenaline was quickly diminishing the pounding in her head. Everything seemed to close in on her, shadowing her vision. Doubts about the past, the violence she just inflicted, all of the emotions towards the recovering Eena and Eraziror. Eventually, she shook her head out of it, put on a blank face and rushed over to Audrey. Surprisingly, the girl was quite fast when she worked and Madoka stopped next to the metal rod she made hours before this goblin encounter. It still stood tall as a silent witness to the carnage she caused, without any change or degradation in the Knotting magic infused into it.

Madoka sighed. She did not get to cause trouble at all this time.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.