Roderic's letter for reinforcements to deal with the anomalous creatures surfacing was met with Callista's presence, further military personnels would be sent at a later date. "However we mustn't overlook her. I'm sure that Atherion has a reason to send someone like her." Serah Dallin, the second princess finally spoke.
The only one that had remained silent this entire time was the third prince, Aldred Draemier. Though quiet he wasn't an individual meant to be underestimated, often working in silence and his brilliance shining through his efforts.
"She'll be sent to the fifth center, that's where the the weakest line of defense is. She'll be accompanied by Thallan." Roderic spoke making the others pause. Thallan was the strongest out of all the siblings and adding another monster like Callista felt too generous to the eldest sibling. "Father, what about the rumored Hollow Saint adventurer? She doesn't belong to any political faction?"
Aldred finally bothered to raise his points. It wasn't just him but the rest were equally baffled hearing that a Hollow Saint adventurer was present in their kingdom. Usually such a rank was impossible to achieve as even Roderic had yet to see such a vague league. "She could prove useful in the lines however who knows what her intent is."
Thallan added making Aldred fall into thought, as a pragmatic man, he preferred to gauge every possibility before making a move. He might have lagged behind in terms of sheer strength but his intellect was an edge the others couldn't ignore. "I agree, for Atherion to send Callista then she's not weak in any regard."
Selindra mused as she recalled the looming war that hang on the balance. Othare had fallen and their kingdom was next. So naturally Reuthar would be forced into helping as Redfall was their battle net should things go awry. "Didn't Reuthar have two of them? Where's the one called Jarren?"
Maelion said making the others wonder. "Maybe he's busy with other matters. Father, I think that it would be necessary to halt out recruitment of the earthlings for now and focus on military defense. With a war on the cusp, we'll need all the strength that we can get." Thallan's statement made the rest wonder.
Similar to the rest of Arcania, they were interested with technology and invested a great amount of resources into taking in high profile individuals from earth. However with the recent attacks, such plans would have to be put on hold.
"I agree, not to mention with all the recent advancements we've made, those anomalies shouldn't stand that much of a chance." Maelion chimed in, pleased with their progress. "It's getting late so it would be best that we end it here." Roderic mused, rising to his feet and taking his leave.
The siblings looked at each other, the masks of co-operation they wore instantly shattered. "So brother, what do you have planned in taking over the throne?" Maelion was the first to speak. "I'm not a power hungry buffoon like you." Thallan snarled with his hands cusped falling into thought.
"Really? Then I hope that you won't mind if you were to withdraw from the competition then." The two ladies chuckled making Thallan brush it off. "I'm not going to bother myself with your trivial game Maelion. I wish the best of luck with your endeavors." And with that Thallan took his leave.
Serah and Aldred followed suit leaving Selindra and Maelion alone in the throne room. "I could see your lecherous gaze on Callista Vaewlyn brother. It really shows." Selindra chuckled as she watched the three brothers play their game. She was nothing more than a spectator and she didn't mind it at all.
"Don't make false accusations that may lead with your execution." Maelion posed as he rose to his feet. "False? It would be wise for your to avoid that Hollow Saint adventurer. After all we all know what kind of man you are. It's still baffling that father hasn't removed you from being a candidate for the throne."
Maelion's eyes narrowed as he looked at Selindra, his body tensing before finally letting go. "...Watch your mouth elder sister, after all in a state of chaos who knows what might happen." He took his leave before Selindra finally took hers.
...
'So it's like that, huh?' Callista mused as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as she conversed with Jarren in her mind. 'I guess I'll play, perhaps it'll be worthy to watch them turn on each other while the threat draws closer.' She chuckled in her room, lavish though heavy in the pre-modern age of technology.
The game the three princes would be participating would involve a concept she herself had toyed with with back in Horshaw. She glanced to the side to see the letter she got. It's contents spoke about making their way to one of the ruined towns under constant ambush from the anomalies.
'It would seem that Roderic dotes his eldest brother, it would be a complete shame if he were to meet his end.' Callista mused however sleep didn't claim her, not yet at least.
*Four Hours Later*
Her door creaked open and an individual inched in. "Finally, it's a shame that this is the way that we'll have to meet again Callista." The individual mused as he cast a nullify glyph broadcasting it through the entire room. Resting his hands on the sheets, the man slowly pulled them back however what greeted them was a severance of their head.
The man fell dead before he realized that his head had been lopped off. 'Maelion, it's a shame that you had to die so soon before the game even began.' The head rolled towards the window revealing the man's shock, his eyes lifeless as they blankly stared at Callista.
***
"Where's brother?" Selindra asked, her face filled with worry as time dragged on. In the main hall, all the siblings were present save for Maelion. Roderic finally made his appearance, his face grim making the rest worry. "Maelion's dead." His words quick making the rest wonder whether they had heard it correctly.
"His head was cleanly cut off his neck, clearly the work of a skilled assassin." He went on however Callista and Isolde made her appearance. "I feel sorry for you. It's a shame that he had to die pitifully even before the fight began." Callista chuckled as she made her way to the hall.
The rest cast skeptical glances, wondering whether she was the one. "Do you think that a person like me would be bothered with a leech like him? If so then I would have killed him long ago." Her words carefree as if she was in her own kingdom. Roderic was done with her ignorance, ready to cut her down to her size.
"That's enough Callista, any more outbursts from you will result in your death." His words cold, his eyes narrowing on Callista's figure. "You're willing to throw your life away to due a pitiful death like your son. I guess idiocracy really does run kill in the Malvern family."
It was those words that made finally paused Roderic over the edge. Isolde was sent flying before she could think of defending Callista, the one targeted remained unaffected by Roderic's aura.
*Boom*
The other siblings sighed in discomfort as Roderic increased his pressure. As a Bloodwright, he was one of the few individuals who could walk around without a care, the sight of Callista's figure gritting her teeth and writhing under his pressure never came to be. But rather a cold laugh rang through.
"Roderic, would you really make the same mistake as your son? After all how do you think he died?" It wasn't just Roderic but the other siblings cursed inwardly, the way Callista dominated the halls as if hers was an insult to their pride. Serah and Aldred were the first to give way, the eldest prince and princess kept holding their own.
However even they couldn't hold out forever as they took fell to their knees. "Roderic, it's a shame that Redfall will have to lose it's king over something so trivial." Callista flickered her fingers, the overwhelming aura instantly dissipating followed with a faint thud.
Thallan saw a head roll to his place, filled with shock before it finally dawned on who it was. "You..." The words were absent in his mouth, shocked with how easily his father died. "Father!" Selindra cried out as she cast hateful glares at Callista who wore a dangerous smile.
She didn't bother with an apology but rather a ridiculing muse. "If Redfall's king would be so easy to kill then it's shocking that he had managed to stay alive for so long." And with that she took her leave, the siblings considering her departure as a sign of a break.
"..." The air was heavy, most still stunned with what had happened. "I- There's no way that she easily killed him." Selindra muttered, her composure lost as she still tried to process what she had just witnessed. The man she had deemed invincible was discarded at a flick of Callista's hands.
It wasn't just her but the rest wondered what she was capable of. The only people that managed to maintain their composure was Thallan and Aldred. The former aware of the responsibility while the latter tried to gauge the true extent of Callista. With Roderic gone, all of his responsibilities would fall onto his.
He would be forced to lead the army against the anomaly. "It's best that we take this loss and try to make her an ally of the kingdom. With her on our side, we should be able to make a turn to the tide of the anomalous tide." Aldred's words though grim made the rest fall into thought.
"...As much as I hate to say it, he's right." Serah spat as she clenched her fists. "Come on brother , do you really think that we can take her down when father couldn't be able to last an attack with her? You would be no smarter than Maelion." She went on with her rant making the elder siblings let out a helpless sigh.
"What about the Hollow Saint adventurer? We could use her to help deal with Callista." Selindra said, her mind already picturing the fight to come. "With the looming war, it would be a massive drain to our resources. Father had spent a lot of malcore shards into the army."
Aldred said hoping to deliver some sense into the elder siblings. They knew that a person of such a status would have her own level of pride, and with the death of Roderic, the chance of an ursuption only grew. "Sooner or later this kingdom will fall to the hands of others, possibly Reuthar with Callista present so avenging our father would be the best alternative before we all meet our end."
Selindra despite her tone laced with disbelief knew that this was the only way they had as a means to avenge their father. It wouldn't be at their hands but it would be better than letting her walk with no consequence. Thallan hadn't chipped in, his gaze still lingering on Roderic's severed head.
With their mother dead birthing Aldred and their father now dead at the hands of the killer who roamed the halls as if hers, he had nothing left to lose. 'Callista Vaewlyn, I'll make sure that you regret ever stepping foot in this kingdom!' He swore in his heart as he finally rose to his feet. His brows furrowed, his face darkening as he knew that he would have to reorganize the plan they had laid out.
Aldred unlike Maelion was more reserved as he took his leave, with the hopes of recruiting Guinevere. Selindra and Thallan left for the cities facing destruction while Serah chose to keep a close eye on Callista, the feelings were mutual with a single goal in mind. 'Kill Callista Vaewlyn.'
***
"Do you know what you've done?!" Isolde shouted, her face pale as she pinched herself to make sure that she wasn't dreaming. "Yes, taken down Roderic, Atherion can try to take over this kingdom if he so wishes. I don't care." Isolde however knew that the matter was far from simple.
"The siblings will try to avenge their father one way or the other. It would be best that we flee this kingdom and retreat back to Reuthar!" Her face was dripping with sweat as she could already see the assassination attempts set out for the two.
"The siblings aren't stupid, a direct confrontation wouldn't be fruitful at the slightest so they'll have to send someone who can rival me, a Hollow Saint adventurer." Isolde's face contorted in shock. "A Hollow Saint adventurer?"