The Duke's Unwanted Wife

Even in the spirit world, where nothing was solid, the ground began to shake. The coffins that surrounded Nataroth opened of their own accord and a thick miasma formed on top of it. The bodies in the coffins rose, slowly climbing out of the coffins. Maowry watched this all unfold with fear in their heart.    

    

“You can still stop this, Maowry. They are still vulnerable.”    

    

“Even if I can, why should I, Uriel?”    

    

“You’ll regret this!”    

    

“I am regretting this but I want to see how far this can go.”    

    

“MAOWRY!”    

    

They ignored her, looking at the bodies slowly coming closer to her. They walked like the undead, unstable and unstoppable. In a way, they were undead but with the large spell, not for long. They could recognize the magic being used and the obvious bending of world order. However, there was something they didn’t recognize, something that transcended both magic and world order. It was the reason why the spell was working in the first place and there was only one god that could use it; Nataroth.    

    

The fight between Madaline and Non came to a screeching halt when they felt an ancient presence. Madaline only had four sets of wings left so she was down to her last legs but she wasn’t able to scratch Non. He wasn’t able to get past her barriers as well so in a way, they were evenly matched.    

    

“Is that why you wanted to keep me here? You naughty girl.”    

    

“Don’t do anything reckless, Non.”    

    

He appeared beside her, sneaking a hand around her waist. Since his intent was not to hurt her, her barriers didn’t repel him.    

    

“I won’t this time. Come on, let’s go.”    

    

They teleported in a puff of black smoke. Below, Sebastian almost cried out in exasperation. They still hadn’t found a way out and the only one who could take them out had been taken away. He expressed his frustrations on a nearby pillar. Fredrich tried to calm him from a distance while Marvis was focused on the patterns on the ground.    

    

“What are you looking at?” Denitra asks, putting a hand around his shoulder.    

    

“The patterns are familiar. I can recognize the characters for round, teleport and protect. I’m trying to see if there’s one that can lead us to where we can at least find safety and replenish our strength.”    

    

“Hmm, that is a good idea. I didn’t expect you to be the most level headed one here. You’re impressive, for a werewolf.”    

    

“I would appreciate your compliment if we weren’t stuck here.”    

    

“Stuck in a dungeon she made, you mean. Don’t try to absolve her of guilt. She’s the reason why we’re here. She took me away from my home…”    

    

“Isn’t that because you tried to kill her on multiple occasions? I’m surprised you’re even still alive.”    

    

“You support her actions?”    

    

“I try to understand them. She doesn’t do things without a reason. She makes rational decisions with the best possible outcomes. Sometimes, these best possible outcomes are not exactly the choices I would’ve made but I recognize the fact that she knows exactly what she’s doing.”    

    

“So, leaving the man she loves, her brother and her friend to die is the best possible outcome?”    

    

“If she really intended for us to die here, she wouldn’t have left you here. You live with her long enough, you start to realize how she thinks. It is insane how far ahead she knows how to plan but she has never failed once. That’s scary but admirable. It’s just one of the reasons I love her.”    

    

“Is it because of what she has to give? I can give you more.”    

    

“I’ll admit it. If it was you, instead of her, who saved my people, I would’ve followed your every command. But would you have saved my people? Would you have gone against te empire all by yourself just to save a group of traitors? You are someone who cares so much about her kingdom. Would you have done it, your highness?”    

    

“My kingdom would’ve offered your people refuge.”    

    

“Is that so? Why haven’t they done it since we were declared traitors as a race by the empire? Or you would’ve done it since you found me to be someone you desired? Would I have had to endure being treated badly by your people because I loved you? The truth is, you only have your eyes on me because you have a desire to be better than Natalia. I understand. There isn’t a single person who has met her who hasn’t wanted to be better than her in one thing. You’ll only hurt yourself trying to do that. There are so many reasons that I love her wholeheartedly even though she seemingly abandoned me. Aside from the fact that she saved my people, she gave us the safest place to live and I grew up peacefully. I used to annoy her a lot whenever she came to my hollow but instead of ignoring me, she would indulge me. Because of her, I have an amazing set of friends who care for me and one another despite their background, all brought together by one person who cares for them deeper than they could imagine. Tell me, can you beat that?”    

    

Sebastian stopped raging after hearing his words. Marvis had always been the most soft spoken and rational one among them. Even though he was a werewolf, he was calm. One could say it was Natalia’s influence. If they were all arguing their heads off, Marvis was the one to bring them back to earth.    

    

“Marvis is right. You can’t really beat that,” Fredrich says, chuckling.    

    

“You’re saying you can overlook her trying to destroy the world because of that?! You’re all insane!”    

    

“You keep saying she’s trying to destroy the world but I have seen otherwise. Did you know about the darkness eating away at our world?”    

    

“Yes, I did. But my patron goddess was going to solve it after…”    

    

“After what, your highness?”    

    

“I don’t have to tell you anything!”    

    

“That’s unfair, your highness. I have answered everyone of your questions. We’re in a life and death situation together. You could at least indulge me.”    

    

Sebastian and Fredrich were curious but knew how stubborn certain women could be. But it was Marvis speaking to her. The man knew how to sweet talk women, even if he didn’t realize it himself.    

    

“We…were planning to take over the other kingdoms. It was a good plan because I believed we were saving the world from destruction. If we could just get rid of Natalia Adamantine, there would be no one to destroy the world and Uriel, who would become the sole god of this world, would repair the darkness by sacrificing Thiton. The elves would rule the world once again.”    

    

They stared at her, mouth agape. Even Natalia’s plan was less dramatic than theirs. The rule of the elves was not anything good and it was the only reason the Empire existed in the first place. If the elves came to control the world again, the world might as well be destroyed by vengeful original gods.    

    

“The rule of the elves is the end of the world. You’re calling us crazy when you wish for the revival of a bloodthirsty, savage race?!” Sebastian exlcaimed.    

    

“Do not insult my bloodline! You humans are simply jealous of our potential!”    

    

“The cruelty of the elves is well documented in history, history that Berinda loves to teach. The rest of the world would rather die than let the elves come back to life. Little wonder Natalia didn’t waste any time neutralizing you. I’d advice you to just give up that idea. There are some things that are better left in the sands of time, buried permanently.”    

    

“You should say that to the woman you love!”    

    

Non and Madaline appeared beside Maowry. He spotted the original gods, walking like the undead. He pursed his lips, looking annoyed.    

    

“I don’t like being copied,” he finally said. His siblings looked at him like he grew an additional head. They just shook their heads, knowing he had always been very eccentric.    

    

“So she’s truly the one, huh? But why can’t I feel her presence any longer?” Non stared at Nataroth. The presence of the mortal that was around the dungeon he had gotten used to was completely erased even though he could see it was her body on that platform.    

    

“What do you mean you can’t feel her presence?! You should be able to sense her soul, right?!”    

    

“What are you talking about, sister? I haven’t been able to sense her soul for a while. Have you?”    

    

Madaline felt horror. She hadn’t truly been able to sense Natalia’s soul but she chucked it up to it being a part of the ritual. The person on the platform was no longer Natalia but Nataroth.    

    

“No…this can’t be. She definitely…”    

    

“I don’t know what’s happening but the spell is reaching the next stages. Look at our siblings. They’re finally regaining their consciousness. I have to admit, I didn’t think it would work but I’m impressed.”    

    

The original gods stopped walking like the undead and their eyes opened.    

    

“What now?” Maowry asked. At the same time, all of them turned their gaze to the three gods floating above them.