A cloud formed above him. Lightning crackled within the storm.
At the sight of watching the King of Terror collapse and die, Di 'Vinci unsheathed his sword and set it aflame, lunging towards Soulserverance. It was a blur to Gwyn at first, but then the tiger suddenly stopped, mid-motion.
Time froze for everyone, but Gwyn.
The King of Terror stood up, towering over Gwynevere, nearly two feet taller than her. His armor was the definition of death. It was all she could think about, staring at him. His antlers glowed a soft blue, and vines twisted around them.
Gwyn looked at her companions. They seemed frozen. Both Artero and Elise drew their catalysts. Myria looked towards Teddy, who made a break for the exit. Their faces were a mix of concern, panic, and celebration.
"You understand the situation clearly, Chosen One?"
He leaned in close to Gwyn; she could feel his icy breath through the black helmet.
"I cannot die. Don't try anything on me." He reached a hand toward her. Gwyn flinched. But the King of Terror reached into her robe's pocket, pulled out the invisible ring, and crushed it in his hands. A flash of purple light sparked as he dropped the shattered pieces of the now visible, golden band.
"I w-w-won't."
Gwyn stuttered, terrified, unable to break eye contact with the invincible figure. The confident personality she had been discovering had now been forgotten in this time-frozen world.
"Good." He patted her head and slowly walked back to his throne, past her friends frozen in time. "What do you want to know about your father?"
What did I want to know? I didn't think I'd ever be here.
"Why is he in danger?"
A hesitation.
"I can't utter the words."
"Why?"
"I just can't."
What the fuck?
"Is he alive?"
"Yes."
"Can I go home?"
"Yes, it is possible."
"How do I do it?"
"The elves must die."
Gwyn's heart sank. She looked at everyone around her. They looked like statues.
"Why?"
"I cannot tell you."
Gwyn let out a deep sigh.
"Why not?"
"This conversation can go on forever, if you wish."
Gwyn felt frustrated.
"But my dad is alive?"
He nodded.
Time unfroze. Everyone, except Gwyn and Soulserverance, was sent to the floor. Unable to stand, they either knelt or pressed their bodies up against the ground.
Whisperer Soulserverance let out a hearty laugh.
"Good show, my King. I told you that would get them to understand."
"Good plan, as always, Soulseverance." The King of Terror acknowledged his lackey. A moment later, everyone was released from the gravity-crushing spell the King of Terror cast. "Now. Do not try anything, do not try to curse me. I've destroyed the ring you meant to slip on my finger. This is a fruitless effort. Let us make this quick and negotiate what I ask for."
The party struggled to their feet, Gwyn helping them up as best she could. But her body seemed to be moving in slow motion.
"W-what do you want?" Elise shouted, teeth chattering.
"What I desire is simple, but if you comply with my demand, I shall tell you how to discover the wishes." He said it plainly, but with his voice, it sounded like a threat.
"How do we know you won't betray us?" Artero shouted.
"Because if I wanted you dead, I would've done it by now." He gestured out to them. "Do you think I would not sacrifice Soulseverance? He is a pawn, and he knows it. That contract you formed was just to get you in the door."
The air felt heavy. It was difficult—even for the twenty-third—to breathe.
"On your first day, Gwynevere Grim, I attempted to have you disposed of, but Elise Sylvian had saved you."
Elise was suddenly floating in the air. She reached for her throat as if she were being choked.
"Let go of her!" Gwyn shouted.
"Don't worry, she doesn't feel pain. Yet."
He released the Sylvian, and she stumbled to the floor. Gwyn and Artero helped her stand.
Next, the King of Terror projected an image of Gwyn falling out of a window. The Chosen One stopped mere feet before reaching the ground.
"Gravity, lace her up and please, Pull her body up to me, Save her body from the fall By the gods, just hear my call!"
Elise dived, pointing her dagger, casting a gravity spell, and Gwyn slowly floated back up to the ledge.
"But the Bloody Princess stepped in and stopped you from having a death that would've appeared as a suicide."
A new projection appeared. He showed an alternate reality in which Gwyn had fallen and crumbled into a bloody mess on the stones below. Everyone just stared at Gwyn, wishing they had never come along in the first place.
"Next, I tried to have one of my followers obliterate you by obliterating himself. An immensely powerful spell that is hard to counter, but this one."
He pointed to Artero, who was dragged across the room and brought before the King of Terror.
"Artero!" Gwyn shouted, but she did not move.
"The Kosmairian Prince." He pointed to Artero. "Saved you with a reflective spell, shielding himself while also making sure the damage would have been minimal. This killed more people, but… he saved you."
He threw Artero across the room, sliding across the floor. Elise and Gwyn rushed up to him and helped him to his feet.
A projection of that day replayed.
"Reflect this spell, and save myself, don't spare a soul, and protect us both!"
A clear shield appeared in front of Artero, who was standing in front of Gwyn. A loud shing resonated through the projection. The elf exploded, and red reached Artero's spell, then reflected, decimating the other end of the café.
Everyone stared at Artero, wondering what he had done.
"Why didn't you use something else?" Elise asked.
"I panicked, there wasn't enough time," Artero said.
"Then the following day, a little bird told us about a new dungeon that was discovered."
A death raven flew from the top rafters and landed on his arm. It was a massive avian creature with salt-and-pepper feathers.
"Where was that dungeon, my King?" Soulserverance asked, redundantly.
"Ah, but for me to tell you that, Gwynevere has to agree to my terms."
The King of Terror looked unbothered. He sat boredly upon his throne.
Everyone looked at one another, fully realizing they were completely in over their heads. The propaganda on the King of Terror had fully desensitized them to how truly terrifying he was. All-powerful, all-knowing, thinking ten steps ahead.
How were the elves ever to defeat an enemy like this? How am I supposed to?
"Should we accept the terms?" Gwyn asked, trying to figure out how to just get themselves out of this mess.
"No!" Elise grabbed Gwyn tightly. "We can't enter a contract with this monster."
"I have to agree with her, Gwynevere," Artero said, his voice scared.
"What is your answer? Do you agree to my terms?"
Gwyn pushed herself free from the two royal elves.
"What are your terms, King of Terror?" Gwyn asked, but she regretted asking the second she did.
Gwyn could feel a smile forming on his face, although the helmet obscured it. He stood from his throne, looking like fear and death.
He leaned his head forward and removed the helmet. What was revealed was cream-colored skin, long dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and a jawline that made him appear flawless, as if he were divinely sculpted.
"Become my wife, Gwynevere Grim."