Starting From Scratch Ch.3
"On the matter of your wellness, no price is too great. I believe that beings as corrupt as these humans should rejoice when faced with the opportunity to serve you." Answered Adelia without the slightest hesitation in her voice.
"Oh? Then do you even know the name of the person you've sworn your life to? Though I did offer you my blessing and have accepted you under my wing, I do not approve of those who blindly follow orders doing whatever it is without question! If I required that from you, I would have simply turned you into a thrall like the ones behind you. Am I understand Adelia?" Even though a question these words felt more like a direct order to those who heard them.
"Y- yes of course! I will take her majesty's words to heart. Since this is the case may this humble servant know what you wished to be referred to as?" Fear practically dripped from every word that came tumbling out from the depths of her throat. Even though Adelia was technically much stronger at this moment, she couldn't seem to shake off the overwhelming sense of dread that would evople her whenever she merely carried the thought of resisting the person before her.
A radiant smile blossomed on the face of the Empress as her cold piercing gaze locked on to the kneeling figures before her.
"You three... hear the name of the being you call master, Aletheia Azathoth ( The names of two outer gods put together if you're curious search them up ) otherwise known as the Immortal Empress!" These words rumbled throughout the entire mine bringing with them an unmistakable sense of dread and despair. The entire Abyss shook and at the time it seemed as if the entire mine would cave in on itself with the slightest nudge.
Aletheia watched in satisfaction as the very life drained from the eyes of her new servants before sparking back into existence in a never ending cycle.
It wasn't until the echo of her name finally died out that things began to return to normal and Adelia could breathe again. Cold sweat drenched the back of her neck as pure, unbridled terror filled her heart. She did not dare to meet the eyes of her new ruler for she feared offering any form of disrespect towards the great being before her.
'She only just woke up and shouldn't have any of the strength she once had... Yet who knew that simply speaking her own name would...' She did not continue down this train of thought. No! She did not dare to! For now she was simply that she had made the, although hasty, decision to serve this woman.
"Now... down to business" Aletheia spoke after filling her lungs with a short heavy breath. "Currently I am too weak to reveal myself to the Abyssal realm and return to my throne... I'd like to imagine after being gone so long some would not be too pleased to hear about some ancient god coming seemingly from nowhere to rule over them."
As much as Adelia wished to refute this she wasn't in the position to do so, and besides that despite all those who still worshiped Aletheia there were the same amount of demons who simply cared for nothing other than power. To make matters worse the current hierarchy of the Abyssal realm was in complete shambles with all the nobles and Abyssals competing for power. As long as one had the strength any position of power was currently up for grabs.
"We'll start from scratch and build up our strength in the mortal realm. In my tomb are many useful treasures, take whatever the three of you can carry and meet me outside."
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"So... Here I am once again...." Exhaling a deep, depressive sigh Aletheia opened her bright, amber-gold to peer over the frozen horizon.
"After living for practically an eternity is a break too much to ask for? If you won't let me die then at least let me settle down away from all this..." She practically growled under her breath, but unfortunately she was not graced with an answer from whoever she spoke to.
"Her ma-"
"Mistress... Mistress Theia..." Aletheia interrupted before Adelia could speak. Picking up what she meant quite easily, Adelia, immediately changed her form of address.
"Mistress Theia, We have gathered the more important items and await for departure. But if I may be so bold.... How do you plan on leaving the Abyss? You may not know but after striking a treaty between the Mortal realm and the Abyssal every entrance and exit between the two were quickly sealed off."
"Simple.. We will just use the same method those filthy creatures used to get here. Besides I'm rather peeved about them trying to raid my resting place, the least they can do is provide some compensation" Aletheia spoke in a manner that seemed to imply she hadn't ordered the deaths of everyone working the mine.
"By 'filthy creatures' do you mean the humans?" Even if she felt the question to be rather stupid she still felt the need to ask.
"If not them then who? I've always held a rather strong distaste for them. if I'm honest. During my rule I remember them being rather... Unreasonable to say the least. Always spouting some nonsense about some false god!" The more she spoke about the matter the more she could feel a headache building.
"Enough chatter now we best get moving." And with a short wave of her hand, indicating the end of the conversation, they began to declined the mountain.