If you notice any errors, please feel free to give me constructive feedback. English is not my first language, so if you notice any mistakes, please mention them in the comment section at the end of the chapter. I do not own Overlord. All property rights belong to their respective creators. Let's begin the story!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter-47
Hall of the Divine Throne;
Divine Throne, Seventh Floor,
The Eternal Flying Castle of Utopia – Avalon;
New World,
Overlord Verse;
In the Hall of the Divine Throne of the Seventh Floor, its area guardians remained in their positions as they waited for Güliedistodiez to continue.
Güliedistodiez stood with a gloomy expression, worry etched across his face. He let out a sigh before speaking. "While the Supreme One, the Supreme Lord Mors' presence is reassuring, to say the least…" he uttered, before pausing. With another heavy sigh, he glanced around his surroundings before continuing. "I still yearn for our Creator and Master, Lady Evernight Candidum, to return." Without stopping to hear his fellow area guardians' opinions on the matter, he laid it all bare, all that he had endured for the past couple weeks, since they had set foot in this world. "I still long for the day our Master returns to her rightful place…" he uttered, gazing longingly at the Golden Divine Throne placed on the highest pedestal, directly before the Divine Sun.
"I am oblivious to what other guardians have to say on the matter, whether it is the same for their floors. Do they also wish for their Masters to return?" he spoke aloud, his chest heaving as he tried to calm his emotions. "That, I don't know…" he added quietly, his voice lacking the usual vigour.
Hearing his outburst, the area guardians were at a loss, drowned in guilt and emotion. The guilt of not making any effort to reunite with their Master, to sacrifice their pitiful lives for her sake. The sheer emotions coursing through them at that very moment made them hang their heads in shame and powerlessness.
"You didn't?" exclaimed Quinella, breaking the silence. "Tell me you did not bring it up in front of the Supreme One," she uttered with her voice shaking as her body trembled.
Quinella's sudden outburst startled the area guardians, who turned to face her. Their expressions showed puzzlement at her words. Their gazes drilled into her with intensity as they kept shifting their focus between Güliedistodiez and Quinella.
Tiamat, who had remained quiet for most of the conversation, turned her head toward Güliedistodiez. "Güliedistodiez, what is it that Quinella is worried about?"
All the while, Ishtar and Ereshkigal watched from the sidelines. Though they were just as clueless, they chose to remain quiet, stifling their curiosity as they sensed the severity of the discussion.
Now, with all eyes focused on him, Güliedistodiez let out a defeated sigh. "Lady Tiamat and Quinella," he called out to them in a weak voice.
"There is nothing to worry about, Quinella. I did not bring it up in front of the Supreme One. And Lady Tiamat, Quinella is worried about upsetting the Supreme One," Güliedistodiez uttered with a weary sigh.
Sighing in relief, Quinella spoke to Güliedistodiez. "That's a relief."
With Güliedistodiez turning silent, everyone turned to Quinella, demanding answers.
"Quinella, what is this about?" questioned Tiamat.
"In the previous meeting, Güliedistodiez and I discussed it with the Children of Yggdrasil and the others, and brought it up with the Supreme One," she uttered, pausing before continuing. "But the Supreme One refused to answer us. Not only did the Supreme One dismiss our question, it also spoiled his mood for reasons unknown." She paused again before laying it all out.
"So, it was deduced that something had happened that caused the Supreme Ones to part ways. And it was the Supreme Lord Mors who decided to stay with us, until the end, or so it was said. We are not aware of the details, as the full truth is being concealed by the Children of Yggdrasil," Quinella uttered. "Hence, it was decided at the guardians' summit to end the discussion on the topic and to never bring it up again, lest we end up upsetting the Supreme Lord and risk him abandoning us just like the rest of the Supreme Ones," Quinella muttered quietly.
"I am not betraying the Supreme Lord by wishing to bring back my master, even if I have to work on it behind the Supreme One's back," Güliedistodiez suddenly exclaimed, throwing everyone off balance.
"Are you an idiot? Even discussing it is forbidden! Why are you so brute brained." screamed Quinella, visibly panicking.
Tiamat gazed worriedly at Güliedistodiez and sighed. "I am sure that you hold no malice toward the Supreme Lord and mean no harm. But Güliedistodiez, you should be aware of your surroundings," she spoke, before strange patterns glowed upon her horn as she let out a roar.
Responding to her call, the Divine Sun unleashed its divine, fiery flames outside the Divine Platform housing the Divine Throne, burning everything in its path as the very space of the floor distorted under its heat. The area guardians of the Seventh Floor looked aghast as they turned toward Tiamat, silently begging for an explanation for her actions.
Meanwhile, Tiamat calmly gazed upward, her eyes looking past the flames and into the void created by the distorted space, her gaze meeting the ghastly outline of a face.
Seated upon a long wooden throne, the being calmly gazed at them, sitting cross-legged. His face was a ghastly, ever-shifting cloud of darkness. Within the cloud were tendrils of shadow rising, with no sign of eyes or other facial features. Despite their absence, the area guardians of the Divine Throne could clearly feel his gaze upon them, sending a chill down their spines.
Though Güliedistodiez and Quinella had already met this Floor Guardian, their bodies still refused to move under the pressure. Güliedistodiez, being on the same level as the being, had severely underestimated the Floor Guardian of the Key of Light.
"Laplace, Güliedistodiez was hasty and foolish in his actions. But I hope you can forgive him this once," uttered Tiamat, before continuing. "I am sure you can understand what it means for us guardians to be abandoned by the Supreme Ones."
Tiamat stood silent, hoping to resolve the issue. No words were spoken aloud, as the area guardians of the Divine Throne silently awaited Lord Laplace and Lady Tiamat to communicate.
While they stood frozen, shocked by the revelation of the prowess of the Floor Guardian of the Key of Light, they watched as Tiamat and Laplace communicated telepathically. Just when they were beginning to worry, the cloud of darkness and the shadowy tendrils rising and falling within it tilted. Though they were not certain, it felt to them as if the Floor Guardian of the Key of Light had nodded toward Tiamat. In response, they watched Tiamat bow her head toward Laplace Demon.
Just as Laplace Demon nodded, the space that had been contracting and expanding came to a halt. The fiery flames of the Divine Sun receded.
The Area Guardians of the Seventh Floor relaxed their bodies as they let out soft sighs, feeling the oppressive gaze upon them disappear. Laplace Demon had retracted his gaze from the floor. Tiamat heaved a sigh of relief at the resolution, when her eyes suddenly shot forward.
Hovering in the air, in place of Laplace Demon, amid the restoring floor, was a young golden-blonde woman clad in a white dress with blue, red, and golden embroidery. Her blue eyes gazed calmly at her, and she smiled.
******
"Now, we can't even wish for our master to return, nor can we try to summon her," uttered Ereshkigal, her face downcast at the news.
"Master…" Ishtar uttered as she clenched her fist.
"I am sure the Supreme Lord will break his silence one day, so there is no need to be upset," Quinella spoke, trying to lift her fellow area guardians' spirits.
"We can only hope," uttered Güliedistodiez, as he looked toward Tiamat, seeking reassurance. "Lady Tiamat…" he muttered, before following her gaze and freezing in place.
Their ordeal with the Floor Guardian of the Eighth Floor had just ended, and now they found themselves facing yet another presence. Noticing the rooted figures of Güliedistodiez and Tiamat, Quinella, Ereshkigal, and Ishtar soon looked up to see their new visitor.
After the Floor Guardian of the Eighth Floor, Laplace Demon, they were now hosting the Floor Guardian of the Fifth Floor, Arcueid Brunestud.
"Hello," Arcueid greeted as she softly landed on the platform upon which the Area Guardians of the Divine Throne had gathered. After landing, she calmly walked up to the group.
Raising both her hands in surrender, half in jest, she spoke. "Do not worry, I am not here to cause any trouble." She paused before continuing. "Not after, I waited until that black cloud was done with you all before coming. So please, don't make this any more difficult."
"Black cloud…" Ishtar muttered, before realizing it herself. "Oh!" she exclaimed in understanding.
"Lady Arcueid, I and the Seventh Floor will never betray the Supreme Lord," Güliedistodiez spoke. The fear of disappointing his Master, the Supreme Lord, crept up on him. His mind wandered as it pondered his Master's reaction, as well as the Supreme Lord's response to his actions today, the heavy reality of everything that had transpired settling in.
"Don't worry, we are on the same side," Arcueid spoke, taking a look around before turning back to Tiamat. "Anyway, greetings, Tiamat."
"I wish to say the same, but why are you here, Arcueid?" Tiamat responded, still standing beside the throne her Master sat upon.
"Right," Arcueid agreed, glancing at everyone's faces before speaking. "Well, I meant it when I said that we are on the same team. And I too wish to summon my Master."
"You wish to betray the Supreme Lord?" exclaimed Quinella, doubting the decisions of her fellow guardians of Avalon.
"Lady Arcueid…" Güliedistodiez muttered, looking at her in shock.
"Right," Arcueid continued calmly. "There is no need to worry, Güliedistodiez. I too share the same goal as you. And the Supreme Lord has not forbidden us from trying. So, aren't we allowed to do so, Quinella?"
Her question hung in the air as the area guardians each contemplated it.
"While the Supreme Lord has not forbidden it, nor spoken against it, wouldn't it go against our very existence to do anything that might displease the Supreme Lord?" muttered Ereshkigal.
"I am sure the Supreme Lord wouldn't mind, and I know what I am doing, little goddess," Arcueid replied, acknowledging her logic with a nod. "Don't worry, it will be alright. Right, Tiamat?" she added, smiling as she turned to her.
Hearing no response from Tiamat, Arcueid simply shook her head. She let out a sigh before addressing her. "Tiamat, I have been wondering. Why haven't you come to any of the meetings? Despite being the Area Guardian of this floor in an official capacity, you are still the second-in-command of this floor in the Supreme One, Lady Evernight Candidum's absence. Is that not disrespectful to the Supreme Lord?" she sighed.
"I am very much loyal to the Supreme Lord and to Vanitas Regnum Anta," Tiamat spoke aloud, the intensity of her gaze increasing as she stared into Arcueid's eyes, meeting her gaze head-on. "I would appreciate it if you would not question my loyalty to the Supreme Ones, Arcueid," she bellowed.
The aura around Tiamat intensified, vibrating the very air around her as her mana surged outward aggressively. Likewise, from Arcueid's body, crimson-dyed mana surged outward. Their intense clash of mana pressured the others, nearly pushing them off the platform. Güliedistodiez, despite being Level 100, the same as Arcueid and Tiamat, was brought to his knees by the pressure they gave off.
Despite taking the initiative, Tiamat remained rooted in her spot. The sight bewildered Arcueid. As they both remained in a deadlock, and just when Arcueid was planning to make a move, Tiamat broke off their eye contact.
Taking a look around at the struggling guardians of her floor, Tiamat released the pressure she was emitting. The violently surging mana around her cooled down. Following her lead, Arcueid also backed off.
******
'How much of a power difference lies between us?' questioned Güliedistodiez, as he remained on his knees. 'Was it my wishful thinking to hope to accomplish it on my own? Could I have taken care of all obstacles in our path?' he mused, crestfallen. As despair crept up on him, he looked around at Tiamat, whose figure blurred in his vision, while Arcueid remained standing in her spot. Looking behind him, he saw the twins blown away by their clash. From his and their perspective, it was a clash of titans.
Having never stepped foot outside the floor before the New World, Güliedistodiez remained oblivious to the capabilities of the Floor Guardians, and being on the weaker side among the guardians, who were all Level 100. He failed to grasp the capabilities of his master, the rest of the Supreme Ones, and the Floor Guardians. 'Is it truly my wishful thinking to hope to reunite with my Master with this pitiful strength…' he mused. Looking at the twins, he let out a sigh. 'I could have truly endangered them. Though it is the duty of the guardians to sacrifice our lives for the Supreme Ones, I could have disappointed both the Supreme Lord and my Master by my actions.'
"So," Arcueid uttered oblivious to the inner struggle of Güliedistodiez, bringing him out of his contemplation. "You're still rooted to that place, Tiamat," she spoke. "I wonder, how special that spot must be for you."
Upon hearing her words, Tiamat let out a soft sigh. "Arcueid, we are all loyal to the Supreme Ones. Their commands are of utmost importance and must be carried out, even in death," she muttered. Looking up at the golden sky, she smiled before continuing. "Lady Evernight Candidum, before leaving, patted my head." She smiled as she recounted her story, warmth spreading across her face as she remembered every minute detail of the day; she last met her Master.
******
"It was the same as every day, as the end of Yggdrasil crept near," she spoke. "The Supreme Ones had all but left the Eternal Flying Garden of Avalon, except for the Supreme Lord and Lady Evernight," she muttered.
"It was then that the Supreme Lord, along with Lady Evernight, paid this floor a visit. While the Supreme Lord took a look around the floor, he was beaming with happiness, and so was Lady Evernight. Yet, I could feel somberness from Lady Evernight," she muttered in a dejected tone before continuing. "She was stifling her emotions as she roamed around with the Supreme Lord, while I stood here, helpless as to what disturbed her peace. It was feeble of me to think I could ease her worries."
"Yet, she petted my head right at this spot as she took in the sight of the whole floor. Soon, it was time for them to depart. The Supreme Lord stood there at the centre of the hall, waiting for her, and Lady Evernight took one last look around the floor before stepping forward to go to his side," Tiamat spoke, her voice brimming with emotion, as the other Area Guardians of the Divine Throne wore similar expressions.
Arcueid listened to her story intently. Her laid-back expression was nowhere to be seen; her face lost all emotion as her eyes remained focused on Tiamat. Her gaze stayed hollow throughout.
Oblivious to the thoughts running through Arcueid's mind, Tiamat continued. "Right before she stepped down from the Throne, before departing, she asked me to stand here—to wait for her here."
******
-----------------------------------------------------------
**The End**
Drop a comment and leave a review. Be it negative or positive but make sure to give constructive criticism. Also if you think you can add anything of value to the fic, then you are more than welcome to comment. Any thoughts or questions, ask them in the comment section. I'll try to answer them as soon as I can.