The team made it to the shore. Landar turned to the yōkai. “Thank you, friends.”
“You have immense talent, Landar,” Nimbus said. He looked to Alessia.
But she looked angry. “We need to keep moving.” She turned to Ex Vis and Korr. “You two, guard this door.”
Ex Vis and Korr nodded.
“We have no idea what kind of demented, dark hell this will be,” she told Landar and Nimbus. “Keep your wits about you.”
She marched through the entrance.
Inside the crystal fortress, everything was soft white. Cushions lined the floor, and crystal windows cast angelic rainbow light, like the prism sheen on a soap bubble.
Alessia cocked her head. “This... isn’t what I was expecting.”
Nimbus said, “It’s a sheen. An illusion. His mind’s mirage of Heaven.”
They wandered the halls, rounding a corner to the bubble room.
The bubble room was made entirely of stained glass. Large cushions were arranged in a circle with a tea set in the middle. The Queen took a sip and noticed the team.
“Hello there,” she said. “Join me for tea?”
“You’re the Queen,” Landar said. “I saw your portrait.”
“Oh, I hate looking at myself. I’d much rather look into the eyes of guests and listen to mouths full of interesting conversation.”
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Alessia moved closer, apprehensive. “Where’s the King?”
“I’m sure he’s around here somewhere. Probably in some meeting discussing trade routes or some other boring such thing that’s actually quite important.” She patted the cushion next to her. “Come. Sit.”
Alessia moved closer. “What if instead you came with us. Outside.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s a lovely day, but I’m waiting on my husband, Indulf.”
Alessia glanced at Landar.
The Mad King entered.
The Queen looked at her husband and said, “Oh honey. We have guests.”
The Mad King’s face was inscrutable.
“Yes. I was expecting them. Excuse us a moment, dear, while we speak in private.”
The Mad King ushered the group into his private office. There was a desk and on top of the desk there was a bubble filled with light, like a crystal ball made of dreams. He looked at the bubble. Images of his wife were infinitely refracted in its sheen. Alessia, Landar, and Nimbus stood behind him.
“Who the hells are you, and what are you doing here?” he asked without looking up.
“Cleaning up your mess,” said Alessia.
The King scoffed. “You come from our realm. You want me to go back. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Alessia said without emotion, “We didn’t come to ask.”
Nimbus put a hand on Landar’s shoulder. “Why don’t you tell the King why we’re here.”
“I, erm. Well, first, I’d like to know why you’re here, your majesty,” the cleric said.
“Finally, someone with manners. Unlike this wench.”
Alessia stared at him with cold eyes but said nothing.
“How did this happen?” Landar asked. “How did you end up here?”
The Mad King looked around. He sighed heavily.
“We were eating dinner. A man came to me. Told me that if I let him, he could stop her soul from going to The Beyond. Grant us a little more time together. All he wanted in exchange was my kingdom. He told me that he would collect, but he hasn’t returned.” He looked at them sincerely. “I’m just getting a little bit more time with my wife.”
“You don’t know...” Landar said.
“Know what?”
“You’ve been gone a hundred years,” Alessia said.
“That can’t be...”
“It’s true,” Nimbus said. “That man that spoke to you was a demon named Minos. He used your pain—your wound—to create a bridge between hell and our realm. The world above has been corrupted by the hole you’ve created. Hell threatens to burst through, destroying everything.”
“That... That can’t be true. I’ve only just arrived...”
“You have to say goodbye,” Alessia said.
“I can’t. She’s going to think I’m a monster.”
“Only if you don’t fix this,” Landar said.