The next day, we set out again, leaving Nala to oversee Solaris. Our journey through the desert continued. After a few more days, the distinct silhouette of another kingdom, Pyralis, appeared on the horizon.
When we reached a suitable distance, I sent an envoy forward. A while later, the gates of Pyralis swung open. The envoy returned, followed by thousands of warriors. As they drew closer, I stepped out from the carriage and stood before my forces.
Their leader, a stern-faced warrior, dismounted. "Greetings, conqueror," he boomed. "Pyralis is a kingdom of warriors. We do not surrender lightly. The only way to take our land is to defeat me in the Trial of Combat."
I agreed. A wide circle quickly formed. He drew a formidable, glinting curved blade and waited. I stood still, my hands empty.
He frowned. "Where is your weapon?" he asked.
I paused, then answered, "Though I am well-versed in weaponry, my fists are stronger."
His eyes widened, then a hearty laugh erupted from him, echoing across the sands.
His laugh boomed, but it quickly died as I moved. Such a simple challenge, I thought, but effective for their pride. I didn't waste time. My foot shot out, a blur of motion, aiming for his knee. He barely reacted, his eyes still wide from my words, before my kick connected with a sickening crack. The warrior stumbled, a cry of pain escaping him.
He recovered quickly, his pride overriding the shock. Roaring, he swung his curved blade in a wide, sweeping arc. I ducked under it, the air whistling past where my head had been. My fist, hard as stone, shot upwards, slamming into his jaw. His head snapped back, his body reeling.
He stumbled, regaining balance, fury contorting his face. He lunged, thrusting his blade forward. I sidestepped, a whisper of movement. His momentum carried him past me. As he turned, I delivered a powerful blow to his midsection, feeling ribs crack beneath my knuckles. He doubled over, gasping, dropping his weapon with a clatter.
He fell to his knees, struggling for breath, defeated. The crowd of Pyralis warriors watched in stunned silence, their cheers gone, replaced by shock. My own soldiers stood stoic, their expressions unchanging.
He slowly stood, staring at me, then sighed. "I am no match for you. I surrender."
It was easier than I thought. He gave a short, mirthless laugh, then kneeled, and the thousands of Pyralis warriors followed suit, swearing their loyalty.
After the surrender, we entered the city of Pyralis. It was exactly as their leader had claimed, a kingdom of warriors. The city wasn't decorated with tapestries or flowers, but with weapons everywhere. Hundreds of different types, from gleaming swords to heavy axes and intricate bows, adorned every wall and public space.
Children, barely taller than the weapons themselves, were seen training in courtyards, mimicking the stances of their elders. Adults, with calloused hands and muscled frames, were actively teaching the younger generation, their voices sharp with instruction. Even the women moved with a powerful grace, effortlessly lifting large weapons that would strain lesser individuals.
This isn't bad, I thought, observing their raw strength and martial culture. They can join my army already, with how strong they are. Though, I mused, watching their somewhat brutal and unrefined methods, they would need to learn more. Their training was effective for strength, but lacked the refined tactics and discipline my forces possessed.
As Moon watched the citizens of Pyralis train, her eyes brightened, reflecting the glint of the myriad weapons. "Daddy, weapon! Give me a weapon too!" she demanded, her voice full of childish excitement.
Baltor, the leader of Pyralis, who stood nearby, let out a hearty laugh. "She has the warrior spirit, My Lord!" he boomed, clearly amused.
Moon, hearing this, smirked, puffing out her chest. She even gave a small, confident "Hohoho!"
I couldn't help but smirk at her antics. From my inventory, I took out a large sword, one crafted to be utterly menacing. It was impossibly heavy, designed for intimidation as much as combat. I dropped it with a clang onto the dusty ground before Moon, then simply looked at her.
She understood. With a determined glint in her eye, she scampered towards the colossal blade and wrapped her small hands around its hilt. Everyone around us paused, watching the spectacle unfold. Their amusement quickly turned to shock as Moon, with unexpected strength, began to swing the massive sword around.
The air filled with the terrifying whoosh of the blade. The warriors, who had been watching with curiosity, suddenly scattered, yelling in alarm as Moon's uncontrolled swings carved through anything in her path. Wooden training dummies exploded into splinters, weapon racks crumpled, and even parts of the stone ground cracked under the sheer force of her erratic movements. She was a tiny, adorable, and utterly destructive whirlwind, giggling as she inadvertently laid waste to the training yard.
I left Moon to her new toy and returned to my generals. "We move out for the next kingdom immediately," I stated. "I don't need to leave any troops here. Pyralis's own warriors are strong enough to maintain order, especially with Baltor leading them."
The Pyralis palace served as my temporary command center. I called my generals to a meeting, their faces grimly set. Baltor, the defeated Pyralis leader, stood among them.
"Pyralis has proven its strength," I began. "We won't be leaving any of our own soldiers behind here. Baltor, you will command your people, integrating them into our forces."
Baltor nodded, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "They are eager to learn, My Lord."
I then turned to my core generals. "Our next destination is Agrabah." I paused. "Diastasi has confirmed its strategic significance. This campaign will be different." My gaze swept over them, landing on Elsa. "Agrabah possesses unique magical properties and resources that will be vital to our overall dominion."
A ripple of murmurs went through the generals. Even Elsa's composure seemed to shift, her eyes widening slightly.
"We will approach with caution," I continued, my voice low and focused. "But with the clear objective of securing everything of value. Prepare your forces. We leave at dawn."
The room was silent. The challenge of Pyralis was over. The true prize awaited us in Agrabah.
After the meeting, we set out. Moon, initially grumpy about not getting to explore Pyralis further, quickly brightened when I produced her favorite bread and honey. Her good mood secured, I settled into the carriage.
As we rode, Elsa and I began to converse. Our talk drifted to various topics, surprisingly often to food. We discussed likes and dislikes, the different cuisines of the kingdoms I'd conquered or passed through, and even preferred methods of preparation. I had only ever seen her show genuine, unmasked emotion towards Anna and Moon. When she spoke to me, she consistently tried to keep her distance, maintaining that cool, serene facade. I didn't press her about it; I didn't particularly care.
As we traveled, I unconsciously released my aura. It was a subtle, pervasive pressure. Suddenly, my head snapped left. I felt someone watching, but the feeling vanished.
I noticed Moon squirming and Elsa stiffening. Realizing my aura was the cause, I reined it in. The tension in the carriage eased.
"I apologize," I said.
"You must find the diamond in the rough," the Cave of Wonders stated, turning to stone.
What is this diamond in the rough? Treasury? I thought, my mind already racing with possibilities as I headed back to Agrabah.
I walked through the castle, searching for the King. I found him in his office, looking as bewildered as usual. I entered with a bright smile, forcing a cheerful demeanor. He saw me and, ever the eager participant in his own misery, came forward.
"Oh, Jafar, my closest advisor, I need your help on some matters," he said sadly, wringing his hands.
"Oh, what might that be, my Lord?" I asked, feigning concern, grinning internally at his predictable distress.
"My daughter," he replied, sighing dramatically. "She refuses to marry, and I have not the slightest idea what to do."
"Ah, Princess Jasmine," I began, my voice smooth as silk. "The law demands she marry soon. Arrange a grand parade of eligible princes. If that fails, a stricter hand, My Lord. Remind her of her royal obligation. For Agrabah's good, of course." I let the suggestion hang in the air, allowing doubt to fester.
He faltered for a moment, his already confused mind reeling. In that moment of weakness, I seized control.
"Please look here," I said, extending my staff.
The King, still lost in his thoughts, slowly moved his eyes towards the mesmerizing gaze of my snake staff. His eyes locked onto the glowing rubies, and slowly, they began to swirl, his gaze becoming vacant as he froze.
"You will give me the key to the treasury," I stated, my voice calm, authoritative.
He slowly removed the ornate ring from his finger and, like a puppet, handed it to me. I smirked, grabbing the ring before turning and heading directly for the treasury.
As I entered the dimly lit treasury, my steps were purposeful. I moved towards a secret chamber hidden behind a false wall. Inside, two snake statues stared, close to each other. Between them was a precise indentation where I could place the ring. An hourglass stood nearby, its sand steadily falling. I walked forward and, with a triumphant grin, placed the ring between the statues.
"Show me the one that can enter the cave," I commanded, my voice echoing in the confined space.
A swirling mist formed, then coalesced into a hazy silhouette. My smile widened. "Yes! Yes!" I exclaimed, my excitement bubbling over.
Then the vision abruptly changed. Suddenly, a huge army came into view, filling the sands. My eyes widened in genuine surprise. There were multiple lizard-like creatures that could fly, soaring above legions of armored soldiers. Slowly, the vision started to zoom in, heading directly towards a large, ornate carriage. Inside, I could discern three figures: a child, a woman, and a man.
I stared at them, trying to identify the 'diamond in the rough,' but before I could pinpoint anyone, the man's eyes, within the vision, seemed to turn directly towards me. It was as if he was staring straight into my soul, across countless miles. Then, he released an aura so overwhelmingly powerful that I could feel its immense pressure even from here, a raw, terrifying force that shook the very foundations of my chamber.
At that exact moment, the hourglass shattered, exploding into a shower of sand and glass.
My face grew pale, my triumphant smirk replaced by a chilling dread. Whoever that was, I thought, a cold sweat breaking out on my brow, it was better not to make him my enemy.
I left the secret chamber, my earlier triumph utterly forgotten, and headed in a different direction. The first figure the hourglass showed me, the one before the terrifying vision of the army and that man, was still fair game. I remembered what he looked like before the vision abruptly changed.
Soon, I spotted the Captain of the Royal Guards, a burly, loyal fool. I called him over and commanded him to find someone. From a hidden pocket, I drew out a hastily sketched picture of the 'diamond in the rough's' appearance as I handed it to him.
I smirked, a forced, unsettling twist of my lips. The man in the vision had a truly terrifying aura. But if I could manage to find the Genie and acquire its power before I had the misfortune of encountering him, it would be a different story entirely.
Jafar POV end
That was weird. I felt someone watching me, a sharp, unsettling probe across the vast desert. My head had snapped to the side, instinctively searching for the source, but the feeling vanished as quickly as it came.
I turned back to the carriage, noticing Moon squirming and Elsa's subtle discomfort. My aura, I realized, cursing my unconscious release. "My apologies," I said to them, the words a bit stiff, "for my sudden outburst."
Moon, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. "Soda, or I'm not talking to you!" she declared, her eyes wide with mock seriousness.
I could only sigh. Another negotiation tactic mastered. Given her previous tantrums, and the ease of access, I simply retrieved a soda from my inventory and handed it over. Moon instantly beamed, happily taking a long gulp. Across from me, Elsa's mouth twitched, a fleeting expression I barely caught, betraying her amusement at how quickly I caved to Moon's demands.
Note: this chapter is called pyralis. i had put the previous title for pyralis instead of solaris. i fixed it. i hoped you enjoyed.