"The human mind truly is dangerous my dear, but straying away is worse"
As the early sunlight creeped into Xiaomao's cell, faint footsteps could be heard.
Drops of water falling from the vents that had growing algae on top.
The person stopped on the water, ending right infront of Xiaomao's room. He held the bars with both of his hands. With permission Ren went inside the cell where Xiaomao stayed.
It had been only 10 hours since what had happened but more than 3% of the population had been attacked. It would have been more but due to the Dreamless Azure defending the kingdom all was at bay.
Xiaomao stared at Ren as he sat next to her.
Whispering under his breath he said, "Make sure they can't hear me." Xiaomao didn't respond, looking back at Second Reality to muffle their voices into something else.
Ren looked back satisfied, "I'm not here for any silly business."
His face hardened into slate, his eyes furious. "I know you made this thing happened. Why did you- How did you do it? Explain."
"I have no idea what your talking about." She said, her expression was cold. Her lips were pursed and she fought the urge to cross her arms.
|Stoic Persona Lvl?? Activated|
Hey. Why didn't Reality Manipulation not work. Again??
"His ability has grown into a hybrid. The power of the orchid has fulfilled its purpose and grew to be greater." Second Reality said staring at Ren. He huffed and turned away from him.
"I know that's the biggest lie." He said calmly.
"It's the truth-"
Before she could finish, Ren's hand flew up and landed straight on her cheek, slapping her.
Her eyes widened as she fell back holding on to her cheek. Her mask hid the flush of red on her cheek, but it didn't hide the stinging of pain she had.
Ren stood there in silence, his hands trembling with fear and anxiety. He walked closer to her trying to console but froze.
His mind wandered to a memory he wanted to forget.
Seeing Xiaomao lying on the ground holding up her hand up to her face, he couldn't bear it.
He felt terrible. How Xiaomao looked as defenseless and vulnerable just like her.
He stepped back, his breathing now shallow. Out of instinct he turned back and ran.
He didn't stop to answer the guards at the front door, nor to any of the eunuchs in charge of the prison.
He just kept on running.
Finally he ran inside his house, going in through the back door, he ran straight to his mother.
His mother was sweeping the floor, noticing her son was in such a state she dropped her broom.
"Amma..." He said whispering as his mother embraced him. He layed his head on her shoulder as she consoled him.
"Shhh shh it's ok now Ren. Amma's got you." She said wiping his tears away.
"Amma I hurt her. I didn't- I didn't want to hurt her- I feel so terrible." He said continuing to bury his face on his mother's shoulder.
"It's ok Ren, you can say sorry. You are alright my son."
He held her hand firmly, making sure she couldn't leave. Just the way he held her when he was a child.
He sniffled quietly, not noticing someone opened the door.
"Eleonora? Is that you?" Maximillius said coming inside.
Ren and Eleoanora froze, seeing Maximillius come inside.
"What are you doing with my son Eleonora. Ren! Move from there at once!" Maximillius walked closer to them.
"Oh? What is this, are you crying Ren? Didn't I say to leave the crying for the women? You're a strong man Ren. Move from there I said!" Maximillius separated Ren from Elenora, making them both fall back.
"Amma!" Ren said going after his mother. "Don't touch her dad. I'm warning you." He threatened, he cradled his mother making his position to protect her.
"Dont make me laugh Ren. Dont tell me this woman is turning you soft." He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
He continued, "Why haven't you reported to the Army yet Ren. We need a strong man like you, an army can't survive without their general."
"Maximillius he already said he didn't want to lead-"
"Shut up woman! Stop talking for himself. He's 17 for goodness sake." Maximillius shouted, making Eleonora flinch.
"Dad... I don't want to lead this year. You've lead better-" Ren said firmly, his eyes widening as his father interrupted yet again.
"NO I said you lead the army this year. How dare you try to disobey your father. Are you this ungrateful? I bet you learnt this from that girl. I told you she was a bad influence." Maximillius raised Ren up and pointed to the door.
"No exceptions. I told the emperor you were to lead the army to fight the Titans. Go on with it."
Ren sighed and stared at his mother. Her eyes usually dull now stared at Ren with a shimmer of light. Giving him a subtle gesture to do it.
"No Dad. I will not lead the army." Ren began,
""What did you-" Maximillius said outraged.
Ren interjected, "I've told you this before. I've disliked working in the army all the time. I see why your this surprised. I will not lead the army. Do what you want, but I don't care."
Maximillius stood their frozen watching Ren walk away, Eleonora smiled faintly as Ren walked out.
"Quit smiling woman. I knew it, this was your plan wasn't it. You brainwashed him you witch!" Maximillius yelled, his brows were furrowed and his fists were balled.
"Oh? So your mother was brainwashed to living with your dad was well?" She said snipping the threads of Maximillius.
"Stop talking about my parents. You know nothing about them!" He yelled louder, looking around the objects near him.
"Atleast my family was happy instead of your fake one. All your siblings being married off to nobodies. Your mother living a roaches dream-" Eleonora said sharply, stopping when she saw a knife in his hands.
"Oh? and so what? As if killing me would do anything?" she yelled shielding her face with her hands.
"Eleonora you've done so much pain to me. Not only is the Emperor such a pain in the rear but so are you. I'm sick of you. I'm sick of him. I hope you both die together!" He roared bringing the knife closer.
Ren was outside the house taking some cherries off his tree when suddenly he could faintly hear something.
The sky grew dark, with loud vibrations accompanying their arrival.
Ren turned to eat another cherry when he froze.
A giant, no a Titan stared him back.
Her large eyes piercing his sanity, with the bridge of her nose being atleast 2 feet tall.
His eyes widened and and he yelled, dropping his cherries he ran to inside the house.
"Amma! Dad!! Run away!" He yelled as he tried to escape the Titan.
The lady Titan was around 15 meters tall, her skin being green like the forest. Vines and flowers grew on her covering her body like clothes.
The lady Titan chased him, every step causing a scorching inferno.
Maximillius stopped, looking back to see his son coming back inside.
Ren froze noticing the knife in his father's hand.
Eleonora reached her hand to Ren, helping her stand.
Slowly Ren got back to his senses when stared at the inferno circling him.
"Ren what's going on." Maximillius spoke, moving back to Eleonora and Ren. Surrounding them all was a tall wall of flames, growing each second as lady Titan commanded.
"Titan-" Ren began as his eyes widened.
The lady Titan had found them and smiled.
|Verity Pulse Lvl 2 : Activated|
"Hello... my prettiess. What a beautiful family I see..."
"Leave us a alone Titan! I'll let you know that I'm the Loyalist General Maximillius of the Flower Palace. His Imperial Majesty would seek revenge if anything happens to me or my family." Maximillius scorned, slowly making Eleonora and Ren go behind him. "How funny. Your Imperial Majesty wouldn't care if you saved the kingdom. He would still never think anything of you except as a General."
Maximillius bit his tongue knowing that was true. His Imperial Majesty wouldn't care about anything if it didn't affect his image. He wouldn't change for anything.
"But I don't care about that." She said slowly moving closer. She caused a shockwave, making the family into a disarray.
She grabbed Eleonora with two fingers, causing Ren to yell.
"Let my Mom down Titan, you can have me instead. Please let her-"
"Ren. It's ok, just be a good son. Live for yourself alright dear?" Eleonora smiled for the last time, before entering the Titan's mouth.
"AMMA!!" Ren screamed unable to run with Maximillius holding him back.
"Mmm she's soo tasty. Now... your turn." The lady Titan said with flushes on her cheek.
She grabbed Maximillius, "For you my friend, I have a better place for you than my stomach."
She squeezed Maximillius, popping his head and making his blood gush down like rain.
Maximillius yelled out in pain, "Run Ren! Get out of here! Hurry fast!"
He stopped yelling out in pain realizing it was effortless, instead he used all his energy to his last words.
"Be better than I ever was Ren. Serve to protect, not harm. I always did love you my son. I'm sorr-"
Ren looked up to see why his father didn't continue, his face dropped to disgust.
Ripping his limbs like a rag doll the lady Titan began to toy with Maximillius, but turned her head to Ren.
"Run along now boy. Before I get hungry again..." She whispered, grabbing Ren and launching him out of the burning building.
Ren couldn't even speak seeing all the flames cover the kingdom, a few seconds later he found himself land on a piece of wreckage made by the Titans. Just a moment later he lost consciousness dissolving to the Night Kingdom.
The many attractions of the Flower Palace now destroyed by the Titans did look like the end of the world.
However, it wasn't.
Yet.
~~~
On the other side of the Flora palace, Emperor Aranthor was pacing around the room.
"Rani! What's our status." His arms were crossed and behind his back, sweat trickled down his back as he continued to pace around the room.
"3 Titans sir, one of them including a S rank and two of them are common Titans." Rani answered.
Prepare the entire kingdom for evacuation. Knowing these Titans thought might take everything down."
"Yes sir!" Rani saluted, "Shall I prepare the horses?"
"No need. Inform the eunuchs to alert the people. They will leave under our supervision but they shall gather themselves." Emperor Aranthor said, making the eunuchs package all the important items.
Obviously if Emperor Aranthor chose to gather all the kingdom, things wouldn't go the way it should.
In the Flora Empire, there are 4 kingdoms. Shengyu, Corinth, Yusam, and Kagetsu.
So if he decided that the Shengyu Kingdom were to evacuate with him, the chances of living are going to be slim.
Now Aranthor has prepared for this invasion many years ago. His parents, and his ancestors all have prepared for this.
This was from the prophecy the Flora world recieved many many years ago.
So while the kingdom was ready to evacuate, Xiaomao was still stuck in a holding cell.
The whole time she's been in the holding cell has been an amazing time, doing absolutely nothing, and hearing random banter.
Xiaomao laid back, leaning on the wall. The amount of stories she's heard from these inmates were so interesting.
Suddenly before Inmate A could begin another story, they turned to guard.
He walked up to the security and placed his card on the platform.
All the gates in the prison became unlocked.
"Save yourself! The kingdom is under evacuation from the Titans. Everyone is heading to the Northern Kingdom Yusam."
Everyone opened their gates in a hurried state, shoving anything in their path.
But for some reason, Xiaomao's gate wouldn't budge.
She shoved and pushed as hard as she could, but it wouldn't move.
Now, she could certainly open the gates.
But honestly speaking, she'd rather stay right here.
Doing absolutely nothing.
Until someone decided to open h7er gate.
A child, no older than nine peeked his head out through the door.