For the next three days, I tinkered with the heart stones in our chests using my Archmage Aspect.
Seriously, the Archmage was probably my favorite of the two...
Not only did it have basically limitless practical use, but it was also very fun to use.
I still planned to modify the output of the stones more in the future, but for now, I would simply have to be patient.
Carlos had been working closely with Vakra and Leiso to perfect the device. Although he believed further tinkering would be necessary after implementation.
This was due to subtle differences between the energy signatures of the legendary stones, themselves, as well as what I have personally done to the ones in our chest.
That is, transferring our souls to them.
Vakra was impressed with Carlos' thinking and already considered him a valuable colleague.
Meanwhile, Rune and Jallah were standing guard outside of the lab to prevent interference from anyone. Directly under the Supreme Admiral's orders.
While all of this was going on, we were approached by a beautiful elven woman wearing one of the fine robes we had on as well.
"E-excuse me...are you two...M-mizik and Isabella...?" She asked.
She seemed somewhat timid and I could see bruises on her face.
She had a black eye and her hands had dried blood on them.
She had long green-colored hair tied in a ponytail with orange eyes.
"Yes...we are. Are you okay?" Isabella asked her as she looked at the woman.
"Who...m-me!? I'm...I'm okay. I-imperial Advisor Jarbold wishes to s-see you... Please come quickly..."
"Hold on a moment. Who are you? And why should we go see him right now?" I asked.
She recoiled at my tone and flinched. Holding her head between her hands.
"I'm so sorry! Please don't be angry with me! I'm...one of Jarb- I-I mean... Imperial...Lord Imperial Advisor Jarbold's servants... If you don't come with me, that's okay... But...I'm scared to go back...b-by myself..." She said.
Just looking at this poor girl makes me despise Jarbold even more... What a sick bastard...
"Here, let me heal your wounds," Isabella said as she held out her hand.
"Noooo!!" The woman shouted as she protected herself.
"Umm...you don't want to be healed...?" Isabella asked.
The elven woman looked around fearfully before answering in a whisper.
"If...if you heal me, he'll just hurt me more... Please...have mercy. The time I get to heal...it's my only break from...him..."
Suddenly I could see Isabella grit her teeth in anger. This seemed to startle The elven woman, but Isabella wasn't even looking at her.
"Fine...we'll go have a talk with Jarbold..." Isabella said.
"Th-thank you! Right this way!" The woman said.
* * *
Vakra wasn't happy at all to learn that we were going to speak with Jarbold, so he sent a drone to follow us and monitor the situation.
Not only for our safety, but to make sure we didn't suddenly come to the conclusion that we'd had enough of that bastard and kill him.
Our bodies were still degrading, but we were in fairly good form at the moment.
If anything, we were likely to still be close to our previous strength. If Jarbold tried anything, Isabella would protect me. Cassandra mentioned doing the same.
Honestly, I felt the same for both her and Isabella.
At this point, I considered Cassandra a valuable ally and a close friend...
Which was never something I believed I would feel for her. It was funny how things worked out.
As we walked with the woman, we tried talking to her.
"Could you tell us your name?" I asked.
She looked away. She seemed frightened.
"It's alright. We won't hurt you. Actually, we'd like to help, if possible."
"S-stella...my name is Stella... I am not worthy to tell anyone my name. Please...don't speak of it to...Lord...Imperial Advisor Jarbold..." She said timidly.
Just looking at her made me angry.
What had that monster done to her?
Regardless...I tried to be as nice as I could to the poor girl.
"We won't speak of it. And you don't have to be scared of us. Okay, Stella?"
She glanced back at me.
Her eyes seemed to beg for help. Still, she said nothing.
Eventually, we arrived at Jarbold's office and Stella knocked on the door.
"Come in..." Said a familiar and husky voice on the other side.
Stella opened the doors and walked timidly into the room. She stopped next to Jarbold's desk and looked away from us.
When the two of us stepped in after her, Jarbold gave us a wide and sinister smile...which quickly turned into mild frustration as he saw Vakra's drone hovering between us.
"You called for us?" I asked.
"Yes...please have a seat. Would you like a drink?" Jarbold said.
In front of him on his desk that had a pitcher of water and two glasses on it. There were two chairs for us.
I quickly scanned the water with Enemy Detection and found it to be poisoned. Interestngly enough, Jarbold was also highlighted as an enemy. I contacted Isabella and Cassandra.
"Decline to drink. The water is poisoned. Don't sit down either. He may intend to do us harm. Do not kill unless I give the word. Sabatoging the situation could prevent the completion of the heart containment devices. That would mean our deaths."
Without a word to me, Isabella spoke to Jarbold with a tone and look of mild annoyance.
"We'll pass, thank you."
Jarbold seemed somewhat upset by her words, but moved on.
"Suit yourself. Now then, Isabella...since you'll be working for me soon, tell me about yourself," Jarbold said.
Immediately, Isabella sighed and fixed her posture. It was that of a gracefully elegant Queen
"My name is Isabella Iratus, I am married to Mizik Iratus and I love my husband very much. There is nothing else that should be important for you to know, sir," Isabella said calmly and politely.
I recognized her tone of voice very quickly.
She had adopted the persona of what I had come to refer to as 'The Ice Queen'.
I'd seen it a few times in the past, but the most memorable was a situation where she had to negotiate with the head of Iris Academy to allow us to share a dorm. He also tried and failed to get Isabella to use hair dye remover.
Isabella was normally very polite and sweet. But when she dealt with people in such a way, she became as cold as ice. A truly fearsome negotiator and a terrifyingly intelligent adversary.
"Such an interesting tone...but I digress. What I wish to know is...something more personal..." Jarbold said.
Before I could open my mouth, Isabella held up her hand and smiled gently at me.
I simply nodded.
This was going to get interesting.
"Ask your questions and I will tell you whether or not I can dignify them with answers," she said.
"Well...it is a bit awkward to ask these questions if Mizik is here. Would you kindly ask him to leave? I can deal with him after."
"No. I do not think I will. Mizik goes where I go. I was a Princess in Avernia and he was my Prince. He is my Prince."
"Suit yourself. Tell me about that lewd body of yours, Isabella. What sorts of things has Mizik done to you? Any particular activities you enjoy more than others?"
I can't wait to tear you apart.
"Nothing that I care to speak of. My relationship with Mizik is no one's business but ours. Now I will ask you a question. An eye for an eye. But before we engage in diplomacy, I will ask if these terms are acceptable."
"Hm...very well. Ask me anything you want. Perhaps you're curious about what sorts of work I have planned for you?"
"Not in the slightest. I have no intention of doing anything more than protecting you. Even if you would prefer to change the definition of protecting to suit your perverse fantasies, I will only fulfil my definition of the role. What I wish to ask, is why you are attempting to use mind control magic on me?" Isabella said coldly.
It was about that time that I noticed it, too. It was so faint that I could scarcely detect it through Jarbold's own magical aura...and it was familiar. It was the same type of magic I saw for a split second with the Emperor.
I was curious as to how Isabella noticed it when I wasn't even aware of its presence.
Jarbold's eyes went wide in utter shock.
"H...how did...?"
"That is another question. That means I get one more after this. Those were the accepted terms, after all. Now, I expect an answer. Afterwards, I will answer your question as to how I know what you are doing."
"Grr...this is ridiculous! Do you not know who I am!?"
"That is yet another question. I am still waiting on your response."
"You bitch... I'll make you pay for this... I'll make you scream and beg for mercy!" Jarbold growled angrily.
Isabella yawned.
"Forgive me, but I have not had a decent negotiations opponent in a long time, Advisor Jarbold. I had hoped that you would be more of a challenge... Though, I suppose I was wrong. If all you do is ask me perverted questions and get angry with me for petty reasons, then I have no further desire to speak with you. Not that I had any desire to speak with you in the first place."
"Fine! I was...merely testing you. If you could be easily controlled, then it stands to reason that someone could use you against me... Yes..."
"You are not very good at lying. But I digress... I am aware of your magic because of my unique situation in regards to my sister."
"You have a sister? Can you tell me about her?!" Jarbold said with a wide smile.
"That is another question."
"Damn you to hell! Fine! If that's how you wish to play it, then so be it! Mizik, let us speak about your role in the future," Jarbold said.
Before I could respond, I suddenly felt a dark haze over my mind...
And I found myself standing in complete darkness...
No matter how hard I looked, I saw nothing.
In my ears, I could hear a strange ringing...and with it came a command.
OBEY JARBOLD.
I felt my body move on its own...as if it were about to do just as the command said.
I tried to will the magic to disperse, but I was no longer in control.
Panic began to set in.
Then...I felt something else.
Something akin to a gentle embrace upon my mind. The haze faded and with it, a calmness washed over me.
A moment later, I opened me eyes. I was on the floor of the meeting room with my head on Cassandra's lap. She was leaning over me with a gentle and loving smile.
"There there, darling... Everything is fine. Cassandra is here. No need to worry about mental attacks with me around! I protected you~! My precious darling Mizik is safe and sound thanks to my Illusionist Aspect~!" Cassandra cooed sweetly.
She gently stroked my hair as I tried to compose myself and figure out what just happened.
I blinked several times.
My mind still felt foggy, but I could feel a power coming from Cassandra making my head more clear.
"What...what manner of sorcery is this!? What happened!?" Jarbold shouted angrily.
My head feels weird... So that was mind control magic...? I'll need to build a defense against that in the future...
Suddenly, Cassandra helped me sit up straight and gently kissed my cheek. Then she slowly stood up and stayed extremely close with her hand on my shoulder.
I could still feel her power embracing my mind...for lack of a better word...
At the same time...I saw Stella longingly gazing at the two of us.
She kept stealing glances at me and looked at Cassandra.
Then, Cassandra pulled the hairpin out of her hair and it fell to her shoulders.
"I never liked hairpins...ahem. Jarbold, my name is Second Princess Cassandra Iratus. Unofficial Enforcer seat 6. The Blade Witch. I am the sister of Isabella Iratus, as well as the personal slave of Mizik Iratus...formerly General Kyriel of The Dark Army."
"I...I don't understand... Your eyes changed! How!? What did you do!?" Jarbold said.
"Well...I wanted to wait a bit longer before I announced myself, but you went and attacked my darling Mizik with your filthy mind control magic. You've made a terrible mistake, you vile and disgusting animal," Cassandra said.
She narrowed her eyes and smiled sinisterly.
Then the world around us changed to resemble an outdoor graveyard.
I was...really impressed. Seriously beyond impressed. I had never come close to imagining her to be this useful.
Everything about this illusion was exceptionally lifelike. Right down to the temperature, smell, and feel of the outside air.
I wasn't worried at all, but Jarbold seemed to be panicking.
Especially when zombies and skeletons began rising our of their graves.
Stella looked absolutely terrified. She ducked low and covered her head in fear.
"Wh-wh-what!? N-necromancy!? How... How did we get here!? Where are we!?!?" Jarbold stammered.
"Whatever could you mean, you diseased pig? I'm not using necromancy. We haven't left the meeting room either. Is there a problem?" Cassandra said.
Her expression grew even more sinister. As I looked up at her, I was once again reminded of how utterly terrifying she was.
And by the gods...I was so thankful that I would never be subjected to her wrath ever again.
Then the world changed to something that startled me.
It looked like a Corrupted landscape.
I could see the environment writhing and twisting with the dark substance as Jadbold's fearful expression turned to one of pure horror.
"This is called Corruption. And this is what awaits your world if we cannot stop it from spreading. It will consume and destroy everything without exception... Even you and your puny, disgusting mind control magic... Ugh...I can't believe you seriously tried to hurt my Mizik... You were going to use him as leverage to force us to be your toy, weren't you?"
"I...l-look... I'm sorry! Please just make it stop!" Jarbold said fearfully.
Then something surprising happened...
Suddenly the Corruption in the illusion shifted and one of the giant seven-headed dragons appeared.
I also had a feeling of mild impending doom... It faded in and out.
Her illusions were so potent that my blessing passive actually couldn't tell whether or not it was real.
Jarbold looked at the dragon fearfully as it leaned one of its heads over him.
It breathed heavily and sniffed at him before letting out a low growl.
Corruption dripped from its mouth.
"This is a Corrupted dragon. One of the many forms of nearly unkillable abominations spawned by The Dark Army."
"H-hold on... Wait...you said you were... Does that mean you're..."
"Formerly, yes. I was one of the Generals tasked with controlling and spreading it. But my soul was cleansed by transferring it to my sister's body. Now I serve only Mizik. He is my beloved darling Mizik...my one and only Master...my only source of joy and happiness...and I am his possession. If you try to hurt him again, I'll kill you and make it look like a suicide. Better yet, I'll use mind control to make you commit suicide! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!" Cassandra said.
While laughing, she cradled her head in one of her hands.
It sort of...spooked me.
Trauma and all that... But damn, I was proud of her for what she did here.
I saw Stella look up at Cassandra and me after that.
"Possession...? Mas...ter...?" She mumbled quietly.
Then Jarbold glared at Cassandra and she dispersed the illusion.
She responded with an expression of utter disdain.
"This is your only warning. If you try to touch us while we work under you, you'll regret it. And if you harm Mizik in any way...I'll make you wish you were never born. Do you understand, worm? Or shall I be forced to repeat myself? You only continue to live because of my darling Mizik's mercy. Do not forget that."
Jarbold just continued glaring at her.
Moments later, the door opened and Vakra entered wearing his usual attire.
"Jarbold. So you were capable of using such a vile form of magic. I'm both shocked and impressed. Since she has given you a warning already, I will also give you a warning. Do not impede us any further. You will not live to regret it," Vakra said.
"Vakra! Is this your doing, you damn madman!?" Jarbold said angrily.
"Kekeke...not in the slightest. Although I expect their powers to grow exponentially once I'm finished with them. I would watch my step if I were you... Unless you want to die, that is. Cassandra is mentally unstable and has an unhealthy obsession with Mizik. She will kill anyone who seeks to do him harm. Honestly, it's a miracle that you even survived. I'll be taking these two back now."
"I'll make her suffer for humiliating me... Just you wait..." Jarbold growled.
"Then his Majesty will be quite sad to hear what happens to you..." Vakra said in a low tone.
Vakra paused for a moment as his skin disappeared and he returned to his black skeletal appearance.
"Dammit. I hate this curse..." Vakra mumbled.
Then we followed him out of the room as Cassandra clung to my arm lovingly.
* * *
"You didn't have to kiss him, Cassandra..." Isabella said angrily.
"But I wanted to! I couldn't resist! He's so cute and handsome!" Cassandra said.
She started squirming and squealing like a teenage girl as she looked at me.
"Stop acting so immature! I-"
"I'm not immature! Besides, we should get along for Mizik. You know how he dislikes our arguing..." Cassandra said.
I also dislike being the subject of another woman's fantasies. But no matter what I say, it doesn't get through to you!
"Fine...only because of Mizik, though..." Isabella said.
"Isabella, I think you did an excellent job handling him. Your negotiating skills are amazing. And Cassandra...thank you for saving me back there. You've truly done me a great service and I think you're...pretty great, actually," I said.
"It was my pleasure. He wasn't as difficult to deal with as I thought he would be. More immature than anything," Isabella said.
Suddenly her eyes changed and she started breathing heavily.
"I...I'm not worthy of such praise! My Mizik...thanked me... I did good! Haaah... I'm so happy it's overwhelming me!!! My darling complimented me! Thank you so much, darling! Thank you for allowing me to serve!" Cassandra said.
"He only thanked and paid you a mild compliment! Stop getting so aroused! That affects me too!" Isabella said angrily.
"Haaaaah...! I can't help it! It's a natural response!" Cassandra said.
It never ends, does it?
"Perhaps...you should all rest. I'll handle things from here on out," Vakra said.
With a nod, we returned to our room and laid down to sleep.
That night, I felt a lot more comfortable knowing that Cassandra was just as dependable as Isabella.