Hachisuka had stood in
the throne room of Light Castle hundreds of times before: a place of grandeur
and power, for Giotto Sansta had turned that hall into her temple. But now, she
gazed at the empty throne with longing. Her mother would never sit upon that
seat again, nor any other, for she had been murdered before Hachisuka’s very
eyes by none other than Gill Lapis, just twenty-four hours ago.
—I miss her too —the voice came from Wu Xiaohu, who stood at her knees. The werebeast was still wearing the attire her mother had imposed on him, as if bound by some unbreakable oath. For reasons Hachisuka did not fully understand, Wu Xiaohu had sworn eternal loyalty to her.
Hachisuka nodded in
silence. Tears blurred her vision, and she had no desire to speak. That was why
Hugh’s arrival did nothing to ease her sorrow.
—Your Majesty, it is
time—the general’s voice was firm. He had yet to recover from his wounds, but
the old warrior refused to abandon his duty.
—Her Majesty, Queen
Hachisuka, is in no condition to… —Wu Xiaohu began.
—The queen can speak
for herself, jester —another voice, deeper and sharper, cut through the
tension. It was Moonglow, who had entered alongside Hugh without announcing
himself, despite being just as worthy of the throne as Hachisuka herself.
—Thank you, Moonglow —Hachisuka
said—. You’re right. You both are. I don’t want to go. My mother’s funeral is
something I am not ready for, least of all knowing that it precedes my
coronation. But the people are waiting. The entire kingdom is watching us now.
More than that, Protopaterpolis itself is holding its breath, waiting for our
next move. And we must rise to meet it.
One by one, they
nodded. And one by one, starting with Hugh, they knelt before her. It was a
symbolic act, one they had done before, but a gesture of respect nonetheless.
All three, Hugh, Wu Xiaohu, and Moonglow, had been present at the reading of
Giotto Sansta’s will, alongside Hachisuka and Alex.
In it, Giotto Sansta
entrusted her daughters with the secret that had driven Gill Lapis to conquer
Protopaterpolis alongside her: in this world, there were two portals to the
realms of the High Gods of Valhalla, worlds that Gill Lapis had yet to access.
The portal to the world of Millennia lay hidden deep within the Aradia Forest,
the source of the witches’ power. But the portal to the world of Sandora was
sealed within the royal family’s tomb, a palace-like structure annexed to Light
Castle itself.
With access to Light
Castle’s secret records, Hachisuka had uncovered a buried history: the world of
Sandora had attempted to invade Protopaterpolis countless times in the past.
However, the power of the witch Helen had ensured that all those uninvolved in
the conflicts would forget them. In the last of these invasions, Moonglow’s
family had fought against Thoth, the High God Emperor of Sandora, ultimately
forcing them back through the portal. But in their weakened state, the Sansta
family had usurped the throne, and with it, the crown.
After speaking with
Hugh, Hachisuka had come to understand her mother’s reasoning for forging an
alliance with the Conqueror. Yet, Giotto had also prepared for the possibility
of betrayal, she had gambled everything. And now, it was up to her daughters to
clean up the disaster left by their mother’s fatal mistake.
The first thing
Hachisuka had done was send her sister, Alex, and Rucheel to rally the support
of the other kingdoms and nations surrounding the Sacred Ruins. If Hachisuka
was right, and the figure she had seen on the other side of the portal was
indeed Helen, they wouldn’t take weeks to return. They might already be
preparing their arrival. They needed to unite all armies under a single banner
if they had any hope of victory.
—Your Majesty? —Hugh’s
voice broke through her thoughts as he cleared his throat.
Hachisuka had drifted
away in her mind again, as she often did.
—I’m ready —she said. And with that, she stepped out of the throne room, ready to return as the rightful queen.
The funeral was solemn
and brief. The palace where Queen Giotto’s empty coffin was laid to rest was
overflowing with people. The entire kingdom had gathered to bid farewell to
their queen and witness the coronation of the new sovereign of Light Castle. A
group of automatons from the HANADA faction broadcasted the event across
Protopaterpolis. But beyond their borders, no one had come. None of the other
kingdoms had sent dignitaries or ambassadors, no one had sided with Giotto
Sansta. However, communication with Alex Sansta and Hachisuka herself was
expected to be more favorable, as neither was seen as a continuation of their
mother.
The ceremony was
brief: golems carried the coffin to the royal tomb, followed in solemn
procession by Hachisuka herself. The army surrounded both the tomb and the
bridge leading to it, as Hugh had deployed the kingdom’s military forces to
honor the late queen’s memory.
The coffin was placed
inside the tomb, where it would rest for eternity among the many sarcophagi of
the royal family. Hachisuka stepped inside for only the second time in her life,
the first had been for her father’s funeral. And at the far end of the
mausoleum, she saw it: a massive, sealed archway, adorned with symbols
identical to those found in the Sacred Ruins. The portal to Sandora. She
shuddered at the sight.
Flanked by her
retinue, Hachisuka stood at the entrance of the tomb, waiting for the priests
to cross the bridge carrying the crown. Her heart pounded in her chest. This
was a pivotal moment.
Yet when it happened,
it didn’t feel as monumental as she had expected. The priests placed the crown
upon her head, she raised her arms before her new subjects, and the crowd
erupted into cheers. It was official. She was now the Queen of Light Castle.
—My beloved citizens!
I, Hachisuka Sansta…! —she began.
A tremor suddenly
shook the entire mausoleum, bridge included. The people gasped, clutching their
heads and crouching in fear. Hugh and the royal guard immediately formed a
defensive line around Hachisuka.
—What was that?! —Hugh
said—. I want every inch of this tomb checked: find out what caused it!
Hachisuka placed a
hand on his arm and stepped deeper into the mausoleum, her gaze distant. The
royal guard followed, weapons at the ready. Moonglow caught up to her with
heavy, determined steps.
—What do you think it
was, Hachisuka? —he asked.
—Something terrible —she
replied, pointing toward the portal to Sandora.
A massive crack had
appeared in the stone wall sealing the gateway.
—They’re trying to
break through from the other side —Moonglow muttered.
—This can’t be a
coincidence —Hachisuka said, stretching out her hand toward the soldiers
carrying her mother’s spear. Grasping it filled her with a renewed sense of
strength.
—Your orders, Your
Majesty? —Hugh asked.
—Our priority is to
get as many citizens to safety as possible. Evacuate the castle! Only the army
stays behind! If they break through, we will drive them back! —Hachisuka
commanded.
A second tremor rocked
the mausoleum. From outside, panicked screams filled the air. But Hachisuka’s
orders had already taken effect—the evacuation was underway.
—Prepare yourselves.
They’re coming —Hugh warned.
A third impact shattered the stone barrier from top to bottom. A stream of sand burst from the widening fissure, grinding away at the weakened stone until it finally collapsed, sending debris flying in every direction. The royal guard raised their shields in a protective wall before Hachisuka, who stared, stunned, at the now-exposed portal.
A towering figure
stepped through. It had four arms, each wielding a weapon: scimitars, a massive
spear, and a set of scales. But the most chilling detail was its death mask.
Whatever this thing was, it was already dead.
—Open fire! —Hugh
bellowed.
A hail of bullets
streaked through the air, only to be deflected by an almost invisible shield of
swirling sand.
—Fire again! —the
general ordered.
It was useless. And as
if a single unstoppable entity wasn’t terrifying enough, a procession of
mummies armed with scimitars began pouring through the portal. Beyond them, the
interior of the gateway became clearer, revealing an entire army—sand-forged creatures,
more mummies, and monstrous figures akin to the first invader, all waiting on
the other side.
And leading them, a towering, muscular figure with the head of a bird and a radiant orb floating above him.
—KNEEL BEFORE YOUR
TRUE EMPEROR, PROTOPATERPOLIS! —the being’s voice thundered.
Most of the soldiers,
whether fighting or not, dropped to their knees instantly, their expressions
filled with shock. Even Wu Xiaohu, standing beside Hachisuka, obeyed. The only
ones who resisted were the royal guard, Hugh, Moonglow, and Hachisuka herself.
—What… what kind of
power is this? —Wu Xiaohu stammered, springing back to his feet.
—The power of a god —Hachisuka
murmured.
It was Thoth, the High
God Emperor of Sandora.
—It doesn’t matter who
he is! We’ll take him down! —Moonglow roared.
—No! Retreat! —Hachisuka
commanded.
—Your Majesty? —Hugh
called out, cutting down a mummy with two swift strikes.
—Can we beat a god? —Hachisuka asked. Silence followed—. That’s what I thought! Fall back! We need someone who can fight magic with magic! Abandon the castle!
And so they did. The
very first act of Queen Hachisuka had been to lose Light Castle. As they
retreated, they watched Thoth summon creatures made of sand to reinforce his
army of mummies. Any soldier left behind, whether by choice or by misfortune,
perished before their eyes. Just outside the castle gates, Hachisuka spotted
the group of automatons from HANADA, still broadcasting the events in real
time.
—To everyone watching,
Light Castle has fallen! But keep the hope alive! Mother... for those who
trusted us... I swear to defend all the weak and the lost! —Hachisuka declared,
staring directly into the camera—. Anyone who can walk or has a vehicle, head
to Academy City! We will regroup there! The entire world is at war! Prepare
yourselves, Protopaterpolis!
She turned to look back one last time. Her mother’s palace, her throne, her city… all lost in a single day. But she did not despair. They would reclaim Light Castle. That, she vowed as queen.
The following morning,
Hachisuka stood in the conservatory of Academy City, surrounded by most of her
displaced people. They were now war refugees. She clenched her fists.
Representatives from
all factions of Protopaterpolis had gathered there, though for privacy, they
moved to one of the building’s secluded chambers. Among those present were
Goliath HANADA, Robo Maeda, and Wu Xiaohu from the HANADA group. Zacky and Mi
Sung represented Academy City. Moonglow and Hachisuka herself stood for Light
Castle and the mountain bandits. Unexpectedly, they had three additional
guests: Lucie, Lyka, and Wang Sia, all of them, witches.
—I’ve never fought a
god before, but it sounds fun! —Lyka said.
—You lack tact, dear —Wang
Sia murmured, glancing at Hachisuka.
The queen simply
shrugged.
—Why are we here
instead of a proper meeting room? —Goliath asked.
—I want to be close to
my people. If they are here, so am I —Hachisuka replied.
—But we don’t even
have a table —Goliath grumbled.
—Then we will talk
standing! —Hachisuka snapped, irritated.
A fuchsia mist began
swirling around their feet, carrying a sweet scent, like freshly brewed tea.
—If a table is what
you need, I shall provide one —a woman’s voice echoed.
A luxurious circular
table materialized in the center of the room, surrounded by twelve ornate
chairs.
—Fit for a king. Or a
queen —the voice continued.
From within a purple
blaze, two women emerged. One wore an animal skull as a mask. The other held a
fan, dressed in an elegant evening gown. Her hair floated as if alive, and a
crack ran down her face, imperfectly concealed by makeup.
—Gandennia? Utsunes?
—Lucie muttered.
—You know them?
—Hachisuka asked, running her fingers over the table. It was no illusion.
—They’re also witches,
Your Majesty. I personally killed one of them —Wu Xiaohu said.
—Well, you didn’t do a
very good job, kitty —Lyka teased, sticking out her tongue.
—Killing me isn’t so
easy. But making an enemy of me? That is —Gandennia said, pointing her fan at
Wu Xiaohu.
—I’ll kill you as many
times as it takes! —Wu Xiaohu shouted, leaping onto the table.
—Enough! —Hachisuka
commanded.
Silence fell. Every
eye turned to the queen. Though the shortest human in the room, in that moment,
she commanded the greatest presence.
—Is this what we’re going to do? Fight amongst ourselves? We are facing forces beyond our comprehension! Gill Lapis, the interdimensional conqueror! Thoth, a High God from another world! And Helen, the Calamity, the most powerful witch of them all! —Hachisuka took a breath and sat at the table—. Help me win this war. Help me, or we all lose.
Zacky was the first to
sit. The others followed suit, though some, like Mi Sung and Moonglow, remained
standing out of pride. Among the witches, only Lucie and Lyka took their seats.
Gandennia shot Wu Xiaohu a murderous glare before stepping back, followed by
Utsunes and Wang Sia.
—Where is your sister,
Your Majesty? —Zacky asked.
—Princess Alex is
gathering more allies. The Underworld kingdoms and the Skulk will join us, if
we present them with a battle worth fighting —Hachisuka answered.
—We will. As long as
you lead us, Your Majesty —Zacky affirmed.
—Agreed. The HANADA
group will provide all the firepower we have —Goliath added—. It’s also a good
time to dig up all of Yokosima’s research, don’t you think, Robo Maeda?
—The master must have
left clues in his Imaginarium and secret lab. I’ll scour the archives and
locate both before the war begins. How much time do we have, young Queen
Sansta? —Robo Maeda asked.
—Less than a week.
Maybe just a few days. I don’t know how long it will take them to reopen the
portal —Hachisuka admitted.
—I can buy us at least
twenty-four hours —Gandennia said.
—With my help, we will
be forty-eight. We shall go to the Forest of Aradia. There, our magic is
stronger. We can create a barrier that will prevent access to this world, at
least temporarily —said Utsunes.
—Can you really do
that? —asked Lucie.
—Leave temporal magic
to me, girl —Utsunes said, waving a hand. The flesh on her arm withered away,
revealing bare bone, only to regenerate at an unnatural speed, restoring her
limb in full, fingers and skin included.
—That was spectacular —said
Zacky, suddenly intrigued.
—Looks like parlor
tricks to me —muttered Lyka.
—That’s quite
offensive, dear —Gandennia chided.
—And how will that
help against Helen? Do you even know what she’s capable of? —Lyka demanded.
Gandennia’s expression
hardened as she nodded. Utsunes summoned an animal skull that floated around
her head. Wang Sia stepped forward, swaying with a graceful confidence.
—That woman... she is
the devil incarnate. It wouldn’t surprise me if she had made a pact with a
demon, or several, if she could! —Wang Sia declared—. Nothing we do will
prepare us for her.
—There has to be
something that we can do —said Zacky firmly.
—Primordial magic
might —mused Gandennia.
—What is that?
—Hachisuka asked.
Gandennia conjured a vision over the table. The Forest of Aradia appeared, and within it, a humanoid figure with the head of a bull, eagle wings, and a long, thick mane of red hair. The being held in its fingers a cluster of glowing spheres: yellow, red, and blue.
—That creature is the
Horned God of Aradia. It is the manifestation of the absolute power hidden
within the forest—a beast capable of either destroying Protopaterpolis or
saving it. No one has ever seen it. But legend says it is reborn into this
world every eight thousand one hundred and twenty-eight years, in one of the
sacred places —Gandennia continued—. If we could find it, we might have a
chance against Helen.
—I know it was one of
the mysteries Helen sought in the Sacred Ruins. She called it... what was
it...? —Wang Sia mused.
—The Perfect Number —Lyka
whispered, eyes wide.
—That’s it! The
Perfect Number! —Wang Sia exclaimed.
—Lyka... —Lucie said,
taking her hand.
—I think it’s me. I
think I am the incarnation of that creature —Lyka said.
—We can confirm it
with a ritual —Wang Sia said—. But I promise you, it won’t be like Helen’s. We
will unite our magic to uncover your true power.
—Show me that ritual —Lyka
said.
Silence fell upon
them. Gandennia dismissed the vision. Lucie rose and pulled Lyka to her feet.
The five witches left the room, determined to perform the ritual. Hachisuka
cleared her throat.
—Anyone else want to
make a dramatic revelation that might help us beat Thoth? — Hachisuka quipped.
—I don’t think we’ll
be that lucky —Moonglow replied—. But it won’t matter. My family defeated Thoth
once. We will do it again.
—How did they do it?
—Zacky asked.
—There are records of
how the last Sandora’s Invasion ended, but none detailing how Moonglow’s family
defeated Thoth —Hachisuka said—. I scoured every archive in the Light Palace.
Nothing.
—Think hitting him
with a barrage of missiles will work? —Goliath asked.
—If it doesn’t,
nothing will, so I hope it does —Moonglow said.
—Then count on the
HANADA Group! Hahaha! —Goliath bellowed.
—That leaves us with
only one problem: Gill Lapis —Zacky said.
—I will face him —Hachisuka
declared—. And I’m sure my sister will want to kill him too.
—Your Majesty, I would
strongly advise against such a plan, but if you insist, I will stand by your
side against that bastard —Wu Xiaohu said, leaping onto the table.
—I will end him myself
with my mother’s spear —Hachisuka said—. And I will avenge her.
—Is it realistic to
think you could take him on in a duel? —Zacky asked.
—No. That’s why I
won’t be alone, and it won’t be a fair fight. I will use everything in my power
to end him —Hachisuka vowed.
—There exists a potion, young Queen Sansta, that nullifies magic. My Master Yokoshima created it. I have the recipe; it is simple to make. Coat your spear with it, and your chances of avenging your mother may increase by seventy percent —Robo Maeda offered.
—Thank you. All of
you. We are facing a cataclysmic event. This may be the end of everything. So,
though I have said it before: for those who trusted us —Hachisuka said,
extending a hand to Moonglow— I swear to defend all the weak and the lost.
—I saw your speech on
television. I'm not that patriotic, but I have my own personal ideals, and they
are… aligned: For all the unsolved mysteries, I swear to find every answer
—said Zacky—. And if that means going to war, then I’ll be there.
—For the Heroic
Sacrifice of Queen Sansta and for each other that is at this table, we swear to
honor her memory and our memory! —said Goliath.
—Exactly! For the
Memory of the Queen! I swear to obey whoever sits on the throne! —said Wu
Xiaohu.
—I speak on behalf of
the entire coalition when I say that for those who need a home, WE swear to
never abandon them. That is the mantra of the Makoto Cloth Corps —said Mi Sung,
slamming a fist on the table.
—Watch it, brute!
—said Gandennia, entering through the door. She was the only witch returning,
and she did so with a smile on her face—. I come bearing good news, but it
seems vows are being made.
—More like oaths —said
Hachisuka.
—Then allow me to join
in: for those who crawl in darkness, the witches swear to take a grim revenge!
—said Gandennia, waving her fan.
—That was quite
sinister —said Zacky.
—But sincere, dear.
And sincerity is a witch’s most powerful weapon: if I say someone will die, it
will happen, for I will see to it myself. And if Helen thinks she can return to
this world to kill more of my sisters, she will have to deal with me —said Gandennia.
—I hope these oaths do
not fall on deaf ears and that more will be made, for we will need all the help
we can get —said Hachisuka, looking at her lunar communication device. She was
expecting a call from her sister, but so far, no news had come.
—Perhaps we should
leave it for now, Your Majesty —said Zacky.
—I would like to plan
how we are going to organize our forces —said Hachisuka.
—We can do that
between the two of us. Let’s establish a certain number of troops in every
place that might be of interest or vulnerability: the Forest of Aradia, Academy
City, the Sacred Ruins, and even the Light Castle, both in the city and the
castle itself —said Zacky—. We will reclaim what was lost, Your Majesty.
—Call me Hachisuka,
Miss Zacky —said Hachisuka.
—No. You are the Queen. There will be time for familiarity when this is over, Your Majesty —said Zacky, winking.
Days passed.
Reinforcements arrived. Thousands of Sharkfolk and Treefolk, led by Rucheel and
Yggssei, joined forces with the hundreds of Makoto Cloth monks and the Skulk
motorcyclists leaded by Kimihe, all united by Alex Sansta. The Light Castle's
army regrouped, tanks included. Even Academy City’s Defense Forces joined the
Coalition. Bandits from the mountains, underground mercenaries, automatons, and
even golems flocked to the war effort.
Zacky deployed troops and
leaders to every location she had anticipated would be attacked, including the
city of the Light Castle, though they only besieged it.
They were ready, or so
they believed. That is why, when Hachisuka was tending to her subjects in
Academy City’s Conservatory, Wang Sia’s sudden appearance startled her.
—Are you all right?
—Hachisuka asked, rising to her feet.
—I can feel her magic
—Wang Sia said, her voice trembling—. I would recognize it anywhere. The
Calamity has opened a portal to this world. Helen... the witch, is back.
—Then it’s time —Hachisuka
said, marching toward the door. There, she found Hugh waiting.
—Your Majesty —the
general greeted her.
—Let’s end this —Hachisuka
declared, gripping her mother’s spear.
Alarms blared across
Academy City. They were at war.
