ㅤㅤ"I know they hate me now or whatever," Neo said cautiously. "But are you sure you don't want me to go with? What if they get upset about you asking questions?"
ㅤㅤ"I'll be there!" Daileth called as he flew between the queen and her bodyguard. They were standing in front of the staircase to the Nameless's sanctuary. "If anything happens, I'll come get you, and then I'll get his highness!"
ㅤㅤ"It will be fine," Quilliene gave a small smile at Neo's show of concern. "Daileth is enough. I would rather they get angry with me for being so inquisitive than get upset that you are there. It's alright to sit this one out. Besides!" She shoved the yellow folder into his chest. "I need you to look this over and connect some dots, alright?"
ㅤㅤNeo glanced down at the file before gingerly taking it, looking at the cover. EXO-347, and a hasty signature was on the front. "Right," He mumbled, stepping back from the stairwell down to the Nameless. "I'll go to my room, then. Don't hesitate to come get me, okay?"
ㅤㅤ"We won't!" She gave him a small wave and an awkward smile as he disappeared around the corner.
ㅤㅤ"Whew!" Daileth huffed. "Talk about protective, amiright, your majesty?" Daileth elbowed the air in her direction with a wild grin.
ㅤㅤQuilliene rolled her eyes. "How ever would I manage without you two rascals?"
ㅤㅤ"You wouldn't - you would be too bored." He snorted, sweeping the air with his arms to the staircase. "After you, your majesty. Would you like me to be visible or invisible for our little adventure into the depths of this mansion?"
ㅤㅤ"Visible," She straightened herself. "You could say I need moral support."
ㅤㅤQuilliene's face settled. Her smile wavered. Her expression tightened just a bit to show her serious demeanour. As she followed down those spiralling stairs and illuminated corridors, she felt her heart in her throat. She was anxious, or nervous, or both. She couldn't tell. The pixie flew in after her, keeping a valiant watch. She gave him one last smile, pleased to have him by her side... but she felt herself desiring something more as she entered the chambers of the Nameless.
ㅤㅤThe beasts seemed excited enough to see her. Well, as excited as any of them ever got. She greeted them as the Divine Beasts of the Unknown and humbly requested an audience, bowing deeply at each cell where they all returned the gesture that she and Daileth portrayed. However, as she reached the last cell door, the beast remained in the shadows.
ㅤㅤYou cannot fool me, queen of this realm, The creature spoke in her mind, eyes blinking in the murky void. You carry his scent. Simply because he does not accompany you, does not mean we cannot smell that devilish presence from afar.
ㅤㅤShe straightened herself from her bow. "So you know of it. That thing attached to him. I understand your lack of respect for it, but please at least show respect for him." She turned to face all the cells. "As for why I am here, I have many questions, and am in dire need of answers."
ㅤㅤThen ask, your majesty, An antelope-stag with a horn amid their forehead came closer to their bars, set in a cage opposite the one who seemed upset by her presence. Do not mind the One Who Bares Their Tusks. They have been foul since your companion's latest visit to our chambers.
ㅤㅤ"Thank you, One Who Bows With Grace." She moved towards them, appreciating the company of someone who wasn't so outwardly hateful of Neo. "I hope that you can answer these questions for me, and if not, that is alright... but my father." The white antelope-stag twitched. "I know that both during and after neighbouring wars, he had done some horrible things, and I can only assume he did not do it without you, my friends. Is that true?"
ㅤㅤThe giant creature reeled back with a huff as she finished speaking, ruffled as they paced. The others seemed to react the same, words seeping into her head. Vile, They said. Humiliating. Torturous! Every single one was in a fuss now, antsy and roaming their cells, baying, crowing, howling. Daileth looked to Quilliene in worry before the antelope-stag jumped back to the front of the bars, leaning down for their beady black eyes to see into the queen.
ㅤㅤYou know! They spoke past the others. How dare he... He cast a spell so we could not speak of it, how dare he!
ㅤㅤQuilliene looked around, processing their reac-tions and cries of anxiety and rage. It felt so familiar to the way Fyra seemed to react during their conversation about her father and those experiments, but upon tenfold. Hearing that he had cast an incantation, forcing them into silence, she grit her teeth in pure frustration.
ㅤㅤ"Dammit! Damn it all!" Almost losing her temper, she forced herself to calm again. "I suppose we'll have to spare the details, then. I will ask you a question, and you will answer with a yes or no. You will not be directly telling me, and I will get the information I need to."
ㅤㅤThe One Who Bows With Grace stood up straight, huffing through their nose. The others started to calm as well, though some still paced - flaring their nostrils, lashing their tails, or puffing out their feathers. Most called out in agreement to the decision, though the One Who Bares Their Tusks remained still and silent.
ㅤㅤVery well, One Who Bows With Grace answered. We will do as we can. Whether it succeeds, whether it fails, we will see as time allows.
ㅤㅤQuilliene took a deep breath, nodding as she sifted through her questions carefully. "For the... well, we'll call them appointments, to fit the spells requirements. I am assuming he used your blood and magick for those appointments, correct?"
ㅤㅤSome of them answered yes, while a few grumbled a bit in the uncomfortable situation. The antelope stag hopped up on their back legs before coming down again on all fours. Not just, The creature moaned, baying as they wrung their head. Not only, They tried to explain, turning their head to poke at their spine.
ㅤㅤIt took a moment for Quilliene to understand. Their bones. In complete and utter shock, she held a hand to her mouth. To be raised by the Nameless and to think of them as divine beings that they protected in return to be blessed with gifts, only to find out their serenity and passive natures were used against them... it was monstrous. Simply horrible for them to be torn apart and used.
ㅤㅤShe took a deep breath before she lowered her hand to speak once more. "Were you all also his patients? Meaning, if I look through those files, I would see all of you."
ㅤㅤYes! They responded heatedly, but she took note that One Who Bares Their Tusks was silent.
ㅤㅤ"Can you sense any other of those patients?" She asked, growing almost excited that the answers were so close. "Are there any at all that are left? Aside from the one I recently ran into?"
ㅤㅤWhen they seemed ready to answer, a chorus of their anxiety and fear ringing into her skull so hard that it almost hurt, a fraction of it made through before they were interrupted. The shadowed creature stomped towards their cell entrance, revealing themselves to Quilliene as a large bear-like beast, and they roared with a mighty bellow. Every single Nameless fell silent and still, the black eyes of the white bear glaring into Quilliene as they spoke one simple word.
ㅤㅤNo.
ㅤㅤShe winced, gritting her teeth at how harsh the creature's answer had been. They stared into her, almost challenging her to say they were lying, but she didn't. She knew it was a lie, yes, but she wasn't about to anger a Nameless. She glanced at the others from the corners of her eyes, seeing their shifting, and decided to perhaps that was the last of her questions... for that matter.
ㅤㅤ"Alright then," She nodded, and the bear turned and stalked back to their corner. "If that is the end of that, I have another question about something else. Don't worry, this should have nothing to do with that. It may be less agitating, or... far worse, depending on your own personal opinions."
ㅤㅤShe hesitated, but only for a moment. "It's about Neo. I talked with Fyra, asked her what to do about that devil, and... I didn't have any luck. Do any of you perhaps have anything - anything at all - pertaining to removing that thing without killing him?"
ㅤㅤWhile others seemed agitated, One Who Bows With Grace answered. We are not so sure of how to cure this Neo of his affliction, They said carefully, tail whipping back and forth. A devil of the such is hard to take from its host. None of us, in our current states and status of peace, have any power to wield against it. Your demonic servants, including Mistress Fyra, neither have a chance against a devil of her power. I am afraid, something more is required.
ㅤㅤ"What do you mean?" Quilliene asked, but had known the answer the moment she first had the question. To trade such power, and demonic energy, one would have to replace it with something of equal value. "Are you saying that I would have to sacrifice a life to ensure that Neo keeps his?"
ㅤㅤUnfortunately, my queen, that is correct, They bayed in response, bowing their head solemnly. An equal life, just as powerful as that devil which lives within, must be sacrificed and replace that creature.
ㅤㅤQuilliene looked away, eyes directed to the ground as she hugged her chest and fingernails dug into her arms. That could not be her only option. It couldn't. The chances of her finding a demon, a devil, or something else that powerful that wasn't sinister was close to impossible. The only one she knew of... was herself.
ㅤㅤ"Thank you for your help, The Ones Who Hold No Names, we appreciate it!" She heard Daileth say, and looked up to find him bowing to the cells before smiling at Quilliene. "Come on, your majesty, we should go check on Neo now! Maybe he found something with those documents you gave him!" His expression was reassuring, and it was obvious he knew she didn't want to show weakness.
ㅤㅤShe cleared her throat. "Right," She nodded, but looked around. "Though, there was one other thing I
wanted to do down here." She traced her fingers along the bars thoughtfully. "...I've had enough of these wretched things."
ㅤㅤWith that, she pressed her hand against them, and she whispered in Latin - but her voice boomed farther than the expected distance. Each bar of the cages hummed and shook until every cell glowed bright red, then white. Quilliene removed her hand as they melted and burned away, as if they were never even there to begin with.
ㅤㅤThe Nameless seem surprised, one of them stepping forward. The giant white leopard with purple spots pawed at the ground as if they couldn't believe their eyes. Then, the crow-jay hopped out, fluttering their wide wings into the hall. After that, they all burst forth, excited for their freedom. Even One Who Bares Their Tusks raised their head from their cell.
ㅤㅤDaileth danced in the air before Quilliene. "I can bring the pixies down to help grow vegetation as well, your majesty!" He shouted with glee as he whirled his hands and a flooring of moss spread under their feet.
ㅤㅤQuilliene smiled, looking around at the braying and squawking and bleating beasts of pure excitement and joy. She figured, if she deserved her freedom, so did they. After all, they were the source of her powers. Who was she to keep them in cages, painted as if they were protected by them? No. This era was new, and she would bring happiness to those who deserved it... and perhaps a bit of pain to those who didn't.