3 Story Prelude :: Act ø - Vertirion The City of Earth [PT.2] -

There was a moment of silence, as they were all basked in the red light of the crystal, one could see soldiers' dead skin falling off their faces but still were able to grout and smirk at Baron. They were already intimidated by his frame.

The queen however was not, and she only looked at him like he was just another type of trash, a vial vermin that dared stand on the roof of their homes.

So then, Lady Titan finally spoke.

"Speak! For I shall only hear your plea once. I've already recognized those imperious uniforms, and I know who you are, the crystal might have given you the chance of precluding your teleportation spell from vanishing into the void queue. However, I shall not, as thee stand on our sacred lands, and methinks it shall not be so. Now pray tell, who are thee and why are thy here?"

Queen Titan spoke with such intensity, she was almost as hard as a rock.

Un-moving and unwavering.

Of course, made through metal and grind as the dwarves had sided under her. And had thought her of their ways, even accepting her arts of necro, at least the dwarves didn't have to do any of the fighting. She would conjure the dead, easily found within the caverns of the city.

Those were the ones who fought for her, spirits and nothing but pirates. You could say they had taken a liking to her.

Baron was a gasp for words, such a big man, put under a spell by a tall yet slim woman.

"Mine own queen, mine own partn'r, he's did injure," Baron spoke through gasps and hyperventilation. Still using a heavy pirate accent. Ti's only how all Sorceresses of the Wind spoke.

"SPEAK FORMALLY, I hate pirate tell," she barked.

"My Queen, my partner, he's injured," Winsor seemed to blanch almost at the change in accent Baron had to force himself to do.

"I see'th that, with my own eyes," the queen looked at Baron as she declared a bit of pity for the man, she couldn't help but be moved by a soul in need. She might raise the dead, but she was nowhere near the places where she would help the living join them. She had known darkness for far too long, why spread it now?

She sighed as she knew diplomacy was out of the question.

Baron started bawling, and Winsor almost tried to shush him. The soldiers all looked at the queen and shrugged their shoulders. They felt pity for the man as well, a grown man, a big muscled man, bawling in front of them, how could they not feel for him as well? Although admittedly Baron was giving a sort of sorry state for other people.

The Queen gave an eye roll and the soldiers took stance behind her, breaking the circle they'd formed around Baron.

"Now quit yer yappin," she declared. Baron managed to calm down.

"Let's just say I did hav' some Auto Art I could give to ya," she said with a little bit of sarcasm in her tone.

"And let's just say I would give it ya…" she looked Baron dead in the eye. "What ya got to barter for it? An Auto Art's expensive, ya know, I can't just willy-nilly start giving to those that just come catching a wrong turn on the Crystal-Net, or don't know how to properly program spells, those bugs be nasty sometimes!" she exclaimed.

Baron thought for a moment.

"I'd give anything," he exclaimed without a second thought.

The queen raised an eyebrow. The room got darker all of a sudden, her dress turned into a mist and it carried her forward, her legs disappeared as she was floating. Suddenly her appearance changed too, her face turned twisted and evil, and the red mist emanating from the crystal, inside the room was almost suffocating, Baron could see the fear in the eyes of the dead men.

As if her words slivered out of her; she said.

"I just so happen to like hearts, you see," she said lamenting her words. "Hearts of pirates who travel the sea and whisper to fairies, unicorns, or mermaids alike," There was a chill in the air.

"Would you be willing to give thy heart ... for this ... man!?" she said hissing at Baron, using her long nails to scrap at his skin. Touching the base of his neck.

With fear in his voice, Baron finally spoke.

"What do you mean my heart?" Baron spoke queasily.

"Ooh, exactly that, your heart, the one beating in your chest right now, I want it…" she almost resembled a hyena now, latching at her prey.

"Would I die?" Baron asked plainly.

"Not at all, not at least your life has ended, until fate decides it's time. Until Lucerna is ready to offer her embrace, or perhaps Tënebra is more your speak? Any-road, I'll keep your heart safe and sound, locked tight in an room with a box. And hide away the key." The queen took a pause.

"You are curious one, your magic is, interesting to say the least, I could use that kind of power," she said plainly.

"I don't have any kind of magic, ma'm," Baron said, confused. The Queen looked at Baron perplexed.

"Ha! Not you, but him..." she said grasping at Winsor with both hands, Baron could have sworn the Queen was almost carrying a specter out of Winsor. However the spirit wouldn't let go, and returned to his body like a whiplash.

"It's curious," she said grasping at the middle of the air, through her hands magic flowed from Winsor into Baron. "He shares his magic with you," Baron arched his face as she would get close.

Baron swallowed spit.

"And when I die, you'll have me heart, forever, so that's true?" Baron spoke, asking a question or saying a statement the queen was not sure.

She has just explained verbatim.

"Keep on the uptake, child," Queen Titan exclaimed, frustrated.

"Ma'am, what are you going to do with my body, I mean,"

Time almost seemed to stop for both of them, including for Winsor, his breathing was even more shallow than before.

"Need to know basis Baron, and you, don't need to know," she said coldly.

"He's soon to die," said Queen Titan "Make your choice now!"

Winsor realized this was true as well.

After some deliberating, Baron said.

"Fine, I'll give you my heart, and I'll be yours from the moment I die forth," said Baron. "Just save him, please,"

"With pleasure. You've made the right choice my boy," she growled.

Queen Titan placed herself on Baron's back, her form was even more creepy now, her eyes wide open, and a smile so intense, it could only be called mad. All the beauty and elegance she had before was gone. With her right hand, she touched Baron on the left side of his chest. It didn't hurt, but he started hyperventilating, it was a weird feeling as his heart was being taken out of his chest through a white shining light on his skin. His chest tightened up, and his nervous system felt like it was about to explode.

But then, just like that, Queen Titan had Baron's heart, beating in her hand. He was left in shock.

His life had not yet ended.

Queen Titan then swirled around Baron once, Winsor disappear from his arms, then she passed through her soldiers and picked them up as well, she snickered like a snake floating in the air in a black mist.

She headed back to the portal at the end of the room and passed through it, making her way back to the city, the portal closed behind her.

There was a beat.

Baron stood up.

He looked around confused, still taking it all in.

The crystal turned from red to blue in the flick of a switch, making Baron jump in the process.

There was a weird silence, only filled with the sounds of the desert outside.

Baron relaxed, taking a deep breath, he knew at least Winsor was going to be safe now, if anyone could install an Auto Art, it would be Queen Titan. There was no time, and this was their only option, if only their teleportation spell had worked correctly, Baron would have kept his heart.

Suddenly, apples fell on him from a tree connected to the roots of the crystal. Like the crystal was trying to give him something to eat.