บท 9: The Tsaritsa
"From this point, I can no longer follow you" Alina said to Joseph while pointed a grand door. Alina was ready to leave but she stopped for a moment "I will give you some last advice, keep your look at her eyes." She said before leaving.
Joseph stepped forward a little nervous and as if reacting to him, the doors opened widely, revealing the throne room.
Joseph could see that there were a total of 5 people, however, his gaze was instantly attracted to the one sitting over the throne. Pale flawless skin, long white hair braided into a twirl and a face that seemed to have been perfectly sculpted from marble with blue dead eyes that seemed to have lost all their color.
She was incredibly beautiful, the most beautiful woman that Joseph had ever seen, however, what overshadowed the other powerful and picturesque people from the room was the aura that emitted. Even for someone without any peculiar talent or strength, Joseph was certainly that she was special.
An emotionless, powerful aura surged from her demanding respect and submission, Joseph using all his willpower to barely stay standing and not prostrate to the ground. That plus a terrible cold aura that invaded his inside, freezing his blood, made difficult to last near her, even Joseph's heart forgiving to beat in her presence in fright of bothering her.
"You can step forward, Allen" That light words were like a warm breath of air, his body being released by the pressure and his heart beating again.
Joseph sighed relieved for himself 'So that's a final boss?'
He stepped forward, approaching the throne and finally realising the other people in there. Joseph could recognize Pantalone as the man that saved him just as he passed out and for his characteristics, he supposed that one of them was Il Dottore.
'Seeing one next to the Tsaritsa and the other calmly next at the side, they won't have a lower position than Pantalone, meaning that they are most likely other Harbingers or at least, very high ranking officers.'
"Allen, every new vision bearer has to immediately join the army, needing to directly present themselves over the administrative office. However, going against this law, you ignored your call order, opting to directly go towards the third wall, challenging the guardian there." The Tsaritsa stated coldly, without any emotion.
"This crime could have been ignored if your strength would have let you pass over the wall, but yours is clearly far lower, not having any opportunity. What is your reason?" Her glaze fell over him, the pressure erupting again.
Joseph kept looking at her eyes, even when all his body was screaming to lower his head, he persisted, opening his mouth to tell the truth that was kind of easy. Due to the Tsaritsa's gaze and aura, Joseph was unable to go against her words, his body forcing automatically to tell. It was to the point that if she were asked about him being a reincarnation, Joseph would explain all his previous life.
"I did it for my sister, Ellen" Joseph stated "She is very sick, terminally even. I knew that in her situation she needed immediate treatment and no good enough doctor to give it to her would be in the lower district, so I tried everything to cross over the wall."
"So you are saying that even for a tiny possibility to save a life, is it excusable to break the law?"
"It's not that is excusable, but I accepted the fate and cost of breaking the law, for me, being worth the risk for those possible gains."
"So it is that" The Tsaritsa closed her eyes.
"Cr!" The door opened again, this time entering a humanoid figure made of ice who was pushing a stretcher.
Joseph could hear someone approaching from behind, but his feet remained immobile, his gaze fixed over the Tsaritsa. It wasn't until it passed over him that he was able to see who was over the stretcher.
"Ellen!" Allen shouted seeing the little girl over the stretcher. She had a calmed face now, without any pain reflecting over her. But she was still with her eyes closed, seemingly to be deeply sleeping.
"Clank!" The Tsaritsa stood up from her throne, the sound of her heels resounding over the room with each step as she arrived next to Ellen, the humanoid figure disappearing without any trace.
"I am the queen of this nation. As such, I have the obligation to make the law be obeyed. You broke the law and your strength is far from enough to be forgiven for that, so punishment is pertinent, your life being a fair trade."
Joseph gulped nervously, fearing for his life to end here.
"However..." The Tsaritsa put her fair hand over Ellen's forehead "With your actions, you showed that this girl is important as your own life. So I will give you another option. You can instead sacrifice her. That would be your punishment."
The Tsaritsa's gaze fell strongly against Joseph, ice even starting forming over his feet "What would it be your option?"
Joseph's first thoughts were about the veracity of her statement. Giving away the dying Ellen, abandoning her and keeping his own life. It could sound like trial, testing his own resolve to protect Ellen, abandoning her, causing him to be killed. However, the Tsaritsa's aura was telling that the proposition was true.
The Tsaritsa was cold and emotionless, but it never gave the feeling of a tyrant or a tricky individual, being a being whom you could trust in his world, even to the point of being impossible for her to also lie. She was strict but fair. At the same time, if he chose his death, the Tsaritsa won't attack Ellen as she didn't break any law.
"Hm!" Joseph hummed, a smile appearing over his face "My life or Ellen? What an easy question" Joseph grinned, putting his right hand over his chest "You can take my life!"
Of course, Joseph would certainly prefer to live but he was aware of Allen's will. Allen had been ready to give his own life to save Ellen, not minding giving his body to a stranger if he was able to accomplish it. If Ellen died, Allen would reject him, meaning that he would also die with him.
On the other hand, if he chose his own death, Ellen gained an opportunity, she might even be taken pity by them and be healed. Between two deaths and one death, the option was clear. Joseph could be somewhat greedy and selfish but he was in no way such a bastard that would want to drag a little girl to death with him.
"As you want" The Tsaritsa nodded and lifted her hand, pointing at Joseph. Her pressure strengthened, ice started climbing all over Joseph's body, freezing it all, transforming him into an ice statue.
As the ice grew, Joseph's Vision started shining brightly, the cryo elemental energy from the Tsaritsa instantly charging it. Joseph could have unleashed his Elemental Burst but he opted against it, closing his eyes over his fate. He had already made up his decision and knew that it would be useless to try to attack someone at such a level and incur her wrath.
Just as the ice covered his neck and was about to engulf his head, it stopped "What do you hate, Allen? What do you want to change so much?"
Joseph opened his eyes, seeing the Tsaritsa's gaze fixed over his Vision.
Joseph opened his mouth, the words forcibly being spoken "This world" Yes, that was the truthful answer, the situation and fate that this world had brought to him. He could vively remember that feeling when he obtained his vision.
For the first time, the Tsaritsa lowered her face, then she turned around. She passed next to Ellen and touched Ellen's forehead, ice forming all over Ellen's body, completely freezing her into a sapphire-like cage.
"Ellen!" Joseph shouted angrily. If he could, he would have jumped over her "I had already made my choice, let her alone!"
The Tsaritsa remained imperturbable as she returned to her throne, sitting over it.
"She is not dead" The Tsaritsa stated "She is in a stasis state."
"Sp!" The Tsaritsa snapped her finger.
"Crack!" The ice that caged Joseph was all broken, realizing him completely unharmed, leaving him confused with a lot of questions over his mind.
"I will postpone this trial for 10 years" The Tsaritsa declared looking at Joseph "Until then, Allen would be under Pantalone's command, joining his ranks, while Ellen would remain safely frozen here, making sure that he will not run away. That is my decision!" The Tsaritsa commanded, a strong force surging from her.
"Yes!" "Yes!" "Yes!" Dottore, Pantalone and Arlecchino bowed and quickly prepared to leave the room, Pantalone gripping Joseph, dragging him away.
Once they were outside the throne room, the door instantly closed, the Tsaritsa disappearing from the view.
"So, I lost" Arlecchino lamented sighing. She had a great interest with Allen who had gained the Tsaritsa's interest and even whose death was postponed, wanting to join her forces, however, she knew better than to go against the Tsaritsa's decisions, him being now under Pantalone.
Arlecchino approached Allen, whispering in his ears "Be aware of Pantalone. Take care." She said before leaving.
"You better fail, boy" Dottore threatened Joseph before leaving grumbling "I won't like to lose such an interesting toy."
With only, Joseph and Pantalone, Joseph turned to Pantalone "What is the meaning of all of this?" Joseph not really comprehending all that happened in so little time.
"Do you not remember her Majesty's words about your crime?" Pantalone said a little exasperated "This crime could have been ignored if your strength would have let you pass over the wall, but yours is clearly far lower."
Joseph's eyes went wide, realizing what he needs to do as the Tsaritsa had clearly stated how the crime could be forgiven.
"Exactly. Her Majesty gave you time, time for you to grow strong enough to be forbidden" Pantalone stated "I am shocked as you for such opportunity, but do not think over for a second that a strength to defeat a guard would be nearly enough for her forgiveness. Do not let her have doubts, gain her interest becoming someone especially important for her."
"So you mean that I'll need to become a..."
"Yes. You should aspire to the top, to become one of the Eleven Harbingers."
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