The Calm Before The Storm

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'Grucaelum' is such a wonderful and peaceful empire. Lovely people, a kind, beautiful Queen… This is what an outsider would expect, but only the residents of said empire know the truth. It was noon when a massive army comprising of fifty thousand soldiers of the 'Grucaelum' empire marched north. They were heading to the newly conquered 'Zenith' empire. There they would wait till the queen said otherwise.

Aurora was also travelling with her army, leading it in the front with her two heroes, Emiya and Emily. She left Dillon to look after the empire, why, with no other royal court members to see to it. Dillon was not happy about leaving him behind, but one look at the Queen's glare made him shiver in fear, not bringing up any more arguments. He still had nightmares of what the queen did that night. The way she laughed while doing it only added to his nightmares.

When the former King and Queen were murdered the princess changed, it was slow changes at first but not long after she changed completely. She started acting different, more ruthless, more dangerous, but her power was the scariest of them all. Her strength went from being weak to being the strongest in her empire, maybe even the whole central region, overnight. He couldn't quite put his sword on it, but it scared the shit out of him, even the other heroes were the same.

Power, wealth, who wouldn't want such things. There are only a few yet none of them resided in 'Grucaelum'. Aurora, at the tender age of just six, was heir to a level 6 empire. Many saw this as a weakness, they tried to grasp the golden opportunity they have been given to take the empire for themselves. Nobles, Duke's and even commoners had such evil schemes. But try as they might, none survived to see the light of day…

She had a goal, and to achieve that goal, she gladly made sacrifices. Killing every single royal court member, nobles, and dukes, even the ones who helped raise her, who were like second parents to her were killed by her hands in a single night at the age of just ten. She ripped out their hearts laughing maniacally while doing so with no shed of remorse in her eyes all while the heroes stood there and watched not daring to interfere. While most of the heroes were either puking or turned around, Dillon could have sworn he saw her devour a heart whole. Once done, she turned towards him, eyes red as a demon, mouth grinning from ear to ear showing her sharpen teeth while blood dripped down her chin.

She was something else, something else entirely. From that day on, no one ever questioned her or dared to scheme behind her back. She was their Queen and that was all, but he like most wondered the million-dollar question, HOW… Yes, how indeed did a weak, powerless girl turn into such a thing? And in time you too shall know the reason to this question…!

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Travelling to the Zenith empire took two weeks and any who saw such a mighty army would stare at it in awe, who wouldn't. Strong, bulky soldiers dawning magic armour, they marched forward without a word. They were the elites among the elite, the best of the best. Everyone knew who they were and where they came from. A word about the 'Grucaelum' empire's Queen forming an alliance with the zenith empire has been passed around for some time now, so it wasn't a surprise to see such military forces, but it was seeing the famous 'demon legion'. Everyone's heard of them, they fought off against the cruel demons in the south, and the west even successfully defeating them, annihilating them from the face of the planet with only a handful of casualties. From that day forth, this legion got the fame and glory it deserved.

Even though many empires are comprised of various legions which is more or less than tree hundred legions, the 'demon legion' rank among the top ten legions. 'Grucaelum' has over four legions, and for them to have a legion strong enough to make to the top ten was a different pleasure on its own.

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Once arrived at the zenith empire, Aurora, and her army were met with a warm welcome from the later empire. Leaving the army at the temporary military campsite, Aurora and the two heroes left to meet the king. Upon arrival in the throne room, the king, and Queen met face to face.

"Everyone but the Queen and the heroes leave my site."

The hero king said with a demanding tone,

"But fa____"

"I won't repeat myself again, Phillip."

The king said to his firstborn,

Without another word all the guards, nobles, and his children left closing the massive double doors, leaving only the king, Queen, and the heroes.

Once everyone was out of sight, the king single kneeled and gestured towards the Queen,

"My Queen,"

"Erick, I see you've made yourself comfortable. Tell me, has anyone suspected anything?"

With a smug look on his face Erick, the hero of creation dismissed the 'true illusion" skill.

Short brown hair, with an average height, basically a normal-looking teenager. The only special thing about his experience would be his violet colored eyes.

"No, my Queen, they didn't suspect a thing. I have successfully copied the former king's every action and memories using the secret treasure you gave me, your highness."

Erick said while standing up, looking at his Queen with such devotion that none of the other heroes has. Normally, a hero is summoned from another world, making them other worlders, but Erick was different. It's a very rare occasion, but every so often the hero is summoned from the same world the summoner resides in. Yes, Erick is not from another world like the other heroes, he was born and raised in the empire of 'Grucaelum'. Which brought a lot of attention from the Queen, making her kind of motherly figure to Erick even though they are no more than a year or two apart in age. Hence, the undying devotion towards her,

"Good, excellent, you have done well Erick. I'm really proud of you."

Aurora said with a rare smile.

"Thank you, my Queen, I live to please you."

Erick said making a small bow,

"Haha haha… The time has finally come, haha haha… You can't hide from me forever, I know you're hiding in the northern region somewhere. Haha haha… I'm coming for you, please… Please — wait for me… I'm going to enjoy ripping out your heart, ... He-he…"

The Queen laughed maniacally while mumbling to herself making the surrounding hero's spines shiver from such dark menacing aura.

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"Zoe, what's the matter, my love."

Zeles said while caressing Zoe's smooth cheeks. She was in her bed with Elizabeth and Zoe.

Zoe looked up at her soon-to-be wife and smiled reassuringly,

"Nothing, love. Just had a bad feeling, that's all."

"Hmm? Love, you don't look so good, come here."

Worried about her lover, Zeles pulled Zoe towards her massive bosom whilst stocking her hair, comforting her while Elizabeth spooned Zeles from behind subconsciously in her sleep.

"Good night, my love,"

"Good night, Zeles."