“Are you sure this is the right place? I mean, I get she would live in a castle and all, but does it have to be this…eerie?” One of them said, a Lizardman of the small group that had decided to go to this mysterious castle that Zerinia had told them about a while ago, slightly before attacking the human soldiers in that village. The group of Lizardfolk, Orcs, Humans and a Dark Elf, remained close together as they walked around the inside of the large place. They seemed so out of place, it was strange to anyone who saw them in that place at first glance.
“BLARGH!!!” A loud sound yelled from a dark door next to them. They all quickly turned to it, yet none of them yelled in fear. Looking at it, there was…nothing. Just a space where something that should be there was not. “Uhhh, down here?” Looking down they saw the source of the yell, a small hobgoblin in a butlers outfit, it’s Igior.
“What kind of joke is this?” Rango demanded, stepping forward with an annoyed look on his face while looking down at the hobgoblin. “Tell me now, where is the Lady of the castle or I’ll test many cuts it takes for a hobgoblin worm to squeal!”
“Hey! It was just a joke! Just a silly game, I promise!” The small creature begged, holding its hands up, palms facing his aggressor and hiding his face. “I’ll give you whatever answers you need; I’m a smart hobgoblin! I’ll probably know what you need!” He said while showing his face properly again, now with a pleading smile on his face.
“Now now, Deputy Igior, no need to make so much noise, we have guests here.” A new voice said, walking down the hallway. It was a young male with short black hair, red eyes and a similar outfit to Igior. “I do apologise for my subordinates…playful antics, it’s something that we have been unable to resolve, even after all this time. Now, onto more important things, perhaps I can introduce to you all something to rest with? A place to sit? Something to eat or quench your thirst?”
Before he could continue, Tharia raised her axe and pointed it to the man, starting to get annoyed by his words and calm nature. It felt as though he was taunting them or something. “Who, on this planet are you? Speak now or find your head detached from your shoulders.” Her tone was firm and deliberately serious. Clearly in no intent to allow this man to continue with his possibly mocking attitude.
“Hmm, cute weapon but inconsequential.” He said taking a few steps forward, using the back of his hand to move the weapon away from his face. “Now, I understand you wish to see the Lady of her esteemed home, and it would be a great pleasure to take you to see her. If I am to be honest…between all of us, no-one in this place is as devoted as myself, just don’t tell anyone.” He said with a small, playful smile at his own joke that he was very much serious about before continuing. “However, neither myself, Head Butler Octavian Bloodworth or my friend, Deputy Head Butler Igior, or as you referred to him as ‘Hobgoblin Worm’, can bring you to speak with her if you choose to attack us.” He said while holding a handout, trying to reason with allies that didn’t even realise they were aligned with.
“Sorry about our…hostility.” A dark elf said, taking a few steps forward while making direct eye contact with Octavian as a show of respect. “Your home is beautiful, both the inside and outside, you’re…clearly good at your job to have it look this good.” She stated nervously, desperate to calm down the tension between both sides of the situation before things turned out to be violent.
“Ah, your kindness is respectable, I see as to why you have been placed in charge of the rest of your group, Miss…?” Octavian responded, looking at her with a questioning look, waiting for her to answer his question about who she was.
“Maura…but I’m not in charge of anyone, I’m just not interested in harming the friend of my friend, you know?” She said, hoping to get that part of things out there before she got her head bitten off by Tharia or Rango.
“Friend of my friend…what a fascinating analysis, how could I have missed something as minor like this?! She shared some of her genius with you, didn’t she?! Zerinia gave you a taste of her endless knowledge, did she not?! Oh, this envy…I can only dream of having this intellect she has shared with you!” He cried, practically on his knees now. It voice breaking down before clearing his throat and standing up properly again. “Excuse me…I do apologise for my…enthusiasm about the subject of the Lady, I suppose we all have our flaws.”
To say all of them were freaked out by his outburst was an understatement. After all, in what was literal seconds, he went from calm and composed butler to a fanatical lunatic raving about this vampire lady. What made it even stranger was how he was supposed to be an ally of Zerinia, and now one of their own too. It could only make them all question what were all the others like, if this ‘Octavian’ was as insane as this, what were all the others like?
“Man, this is so embarrassing…why did I have to make his personality this over the top? I get loyalty, but I didn’t think it would go this far. I mean, it’s a big ego boost when I first came up with the idea for that in his personality...” Zerinia thought while standing from around the corner. “Ugh, I should step in before something gets out of hand, maybe I have some pride that I can preserve before Octavian makes it worse.”
At last, Zerinia turned the corner and walked down the hallway and towards the two different groups, a small smile on her face completely betraying her inner turmoil of embarrassment and awkwardness. “What’s all the commotion about? Ah, you came? How nice of you to come!” She said, getting closer and closer before finally arriving to where they all stood. “I’m guessing you all must be tired from such a journey, hm?” “Maybe I can get Octavian busy to avoid another outburst like that while getting the others to relax a bit.”
“Yeah, I guess we all are pretty tired.” A young human girl said, she was no older than 19 with dark brown eyes and long, light brown hair tied up into a bun at the back of her head with a dirty gown, one most commonly seen by farmers of some kind. “Sorry, you probably don’t remember me, I’m-“
“Heiliel…the young girl with a little brother, Narizan, I distinctly remember. I do hope you’ve been keeping well since the day of that attack?” Zerinia asked, eyebrow raised while looking directly at the girl in question. “You all must be tired from a long day like what you’ve had…Octavian, be a good help and prepare the hot springs, feel free for yourself and Igior to go too.”
“Such a fitting relaxing place for guests such as these, should I prepare one for yourself too?” Octavian asked, looking at her with a smile like he wanted her to say yes so he could do extra work so that she could rest just like the others, one of the many wonders of the fourth strongest of Zerinia’s subordinates.
“Me? Why would I…actually, now that I think about it, it’s been ages since I got to rest in that capacity, even in the entire month I’ve been in this world. Maybe some time in a hot spring could do me some good.” Zerinia thought before responding with a small smile. “You know what, that sounds good right around now…yes, I’ll be going too.”
“Excellent, just this way ladies and gentlemen.” He said walking away, the others following behind him while discussing amongst one another what a hot spring is. He was contempt with the idea of assisting his allies and the lady of the castle with a relaxing experience that most of them have never had the opportunity to enjoy.
“Phew, that could’ve been a lot worse. And hey, I get to go and reward myself with a relaxing hot spring! I guess things are working out pretty well after all. Maybe being Zerinia won’t be so difficult after all.” She thought to herself pleased with what she had managed to accomplish in just a few sentences, not to mention it was a good method to have her new subordinates to get used to the castle they would be spending much time in moving forward.
As Zerinia turned around, she saw Graveheart approaching with a small pillow on hand and an orb on it, a Seer Orb. Unlike the clear, transparent it usually is, it had black and red edges and in the centre a ghostly figure that was completely pale white, black holes for eyes and a serious tone on its face. “My Lady, this is Razam, Herald of Zallak. I have a message of great importance to speak with you about…”
It seems Zerinia can’t get a break after all.