My mother...
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ugNZ69E0C
Xoara.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FKyVl1JUf
Our beautiful moon goddess.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwSO9yT9p2
Though beautiful, she is a complicated creature.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmFfOOOKcb
Especially for sending me after a man that hates my guts without ever having met me. There is no way I knew he'd never agree and she didn't. Xoara had done this on purpose, some sort of test.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXMlgPYQWT
I grow tired of them.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlNFG5hQk1
I'm over 600 years old and have worked as the kingmaker for the last 577 years.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zfcnpkxoT
Am I not allowed to feel tired? Or is it that I'm outgrowing my position in life?
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdoDE4aVhz
Chasing after future rulers, ensuring that I can save the countries, guiding other demi-gods to the temple of their godly ancestors, taking care of special babies whose destinies determined the way the world would be.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvxnb3Gl1r
I don't remember the last time I was able to be selfish. Or even had time to try it.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6XzkZRdR6
This job can be horrid on the soul and I can see why Cyhena had gone mad the way she had. Even though it was hundreds of years ago, I still remember the days she'd been sane. When she use to sneak into my room with mini chocolate cakes that had been confiscated by the priests. They had considered things like that tempting.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAec8VpnxnC
And anything that could seduce you into wanting more was not allowed in the temple.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ktt2YNA1a
Pets and candies included.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWqFLgjVkf
As if candy would make you a greedy person or the affection of an animal might have one seeking something else.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbga4nZ7EK4
Love that would ultimately prevent them from doing their job and being devoted to the temple.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMAFyIQ0SF
One of the very things they deprived Cyhena of... something they dare to even keep from me.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAoXc3IBip
There had been days Cyhena's mind wasn't broken. A time when I'd seen the world in bright colors and the beautiful possibilities in the darkest corners.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4u80AI0FB
Now all I can see are jaded souls just clawing around the world for survival. No longer can I see the mystical shine of beauty within the mysterious people that walk on these lands. I've not been naive for quite some time but my patience and compassion for these mortals are draining. It's as if it's sucking the life out of me every time I give to the world, only to be taken advantage of right after it.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO5zx7jVI3
"Kingmaker, they've found information on the man you were supposed to meet at the bar," A quiet knock sounded from the door, pushing me out of my clouded thoughts.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMHDzhWsyP
Blinking a few times, I focused on a pair of empty dark blue eyes with messy curls of white hair that fell down the ordinary face that belongs to me. If you were to ask me I'd have to say that I'm not the most gorgeous woman you'd find. Though I wouldn't call myself unattractive, I'm just not comfortable with my appearance.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQqpNXfWZL
I don't like that when I look in the mirror, though it feels familiar, the image I get back looks like a stranger.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib3YQDHi8C
"Of course..." I called out when I remembered someone was waiting on me.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPaFbsa4Xj
They don't need to tell me anything about the informant. I already the man had been killed on his way to the bar. Even though the wolf shifters hadn't found me, they'd found Enir, the man who had once been a skilled spy.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TOOcE0tEi
It was Volke's luck that Enir is a distant descendant from a god that couldn't give two shits about his children. The man is crossing lines others would avoid. To kill a demi-god without fear of consequences.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsySAykphC
Standing up with a sigh, I frowned when the air in the room began to shift. No longer was it easy to breathe but the air in my lungs felt as though it had been stolen from me. It took everything to hold up a few defenses against the energy flying around the room, looking for its designated target.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbafIyRcMDW
My eyes widened in surprise as I staggered to the side. In an attempt not to fall, my hand went to grab the edge of the table but it wasn't stable as it went crashing to the floor with the potted flower that had been on it. Trying to gasp for air, I furrowed my eyebrows as the forceful magic finally broke through my shields.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrenlUm0kz2
Pain ripped through my head like someone was hammering nails into my brain and it took everything not to scream.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U1nU52wto
I couldn't keep myself from falling to the floor and suddenly, with one lookup, I was no longer in the guest room Kremva had placed me in.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSid17QGJVf
Surrounding me were five dark green robes with thousands of trees all around.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmuS2qT3E8
Pain still echoed through my body after having my soul forcefully summoned by some of the most powerful demi-gods in the world.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUgnWe6RnN
The Elders.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ1S4JyQPO
"Nyota Nightwind... perhaps one of the greatest kingmakers to walk the grounds of Accurah... I don't see what everyone sees in you," Despite their faces being hidden, their hoods only cover everything above their nose. As one spoke, so did the others as one cannot speak without the other four.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uq2l4dyT2
I narrowed my eyes at them, still shocked that they had dared to use their magic on me like that.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89ADszB1Pc
"You summoned me... like I'm some sort of dog at your beck and call..." I spoke out in disbelief, looking around at them as my mood began to grow sour.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFXusPOqEJ
Who the fuck do they think they are?
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaBUyHARaI
"Do you believe yourself above the calling of the Elders because you're the kingmaker?" Even though they all spoke at the same time, I know exactly who was speaking. Their stupid little cloaks can't keep them hidden from me.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEHDc0bVxM
"I believe myself to be above those who are naturally my lesser, Cadva. Kingmaker or not, to disrespectfully call upon someone who could end your entire legacy is reason enough for me to show you exactly what I'm speaking of," I spoke firmly, doing my best to keep myself calm.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jgp3EakEs
There's no telling what any of them are planning.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQb7GYKTui
Especially Cadva, she's always tried to get in my way when it comes to my job as kingmaker. Never have they dared to do something like this though.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SzBQq1H8S
"We aren't your enemies, kingmaker. We've just grown concerned about your progress with the kingdom of Eshea. You've been ignoring our summons," The eldest of us all, Diione, spoke up in an attempt to reassure me this isn't an ambush.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0djoo7Cha
I would've thought him the smartest as Diione and Bivdona are the only ones who have held the seats of Elder longer than anyone here.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qEhsAQFij
"Summoned? I remember us having a partnership, not me acting like a dog waiting for you to call my name," My eyebrows furrowed at the disrespectful act, I'm not even sure how to handle this.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKKHQroKEV
It took everything in me to hold myself back.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0egJ4Mt6KO
Diione and Bivdona would be a problem but they wouldn't stop me from killing Cadva and the other useless two demi-gods.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1sHF95OKy
No... killing isn't my first option. It never has been and it never will be.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnmzYgXLri
"You are the kingmaker, therefore you are under our watch and rule. Every single thing that you do, reflects on us. Do you know how it looks that the kingmaker refuses to answer to the Elders?" They spoke again but Cadva dared to take control and say anything.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndkySMwXUW
She's only been an Elder for 150 years!
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWC4TYY1U4
"The Elders had nothing to do with why I'm kingmaker, Cadva, your inexperience is showing through the knowledge you're lacking. Now, let's backtrack. Who placed the title of kingmaker on me when I had only been 23 years old?" I spoke with a raised eyebrow as I looked toward Cadva's cloaked body, waiting for an answer.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt8kJicsmo
I was met with silence.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA4IIA5Pm1
"Open that smart mouth of yours, Cadva, who was it?" My voice was low but seething with anger.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwLe3JLSnu
Yes, we live in this world and are all devoted to its safety of it. That doesn't mean that I come from the same cloth as many of the people who walk Accurah. We might walk the same lands but if I'm being honest. I'm not like everyone else and the priests were correct to fear me when I'd been just a child.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dtR055KFJ
"Our glorious goddess of the moon... your mother, Xoara..." The words pressed through Cadva's clenched teeth, my magic settling into this realm more made it easier to hear just her voice separately.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCCZt5PQOG
I'd been born on the island of the gods, living there until the day that everything was snatched away from me. Halitawa had once welcomed me with open arms, it had been my home.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xA0QgSQsj
Then in an instant... it wasn't... and I was forced to be raised on Accurah. Which isn't bad once you begin to forget what home on Halitawa even looked like. It felt wrong, to let the Elders snatch my soul from my body without permission and not have any consequences.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tVHAZZHl0
My mother would've been extremely disappointed in them... my father would've sliced their heads off just to make an example.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVVS30Jl6o
"Now that we've established who has a higher rank of power and that I'm running out of time to save a kingdom, will you let me go?"
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYZtro8NPc
I looked at the five cloaked figures, clenching my fists at my sides in an attempt to keep myself from reacting violently.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkqxb7bXW9
"No... we cannot allow the world to be aware that the kingmaker is running around without a leash. After what happened to Cyhena, the idea of another kingmaker taking advantage of the people and no one being able to stop the chaos... unfathomable,"
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvGlT1PCR8
Excuses, it's all I'm hearing.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajqupP4A0u
As though the temple and Elders of that time hadn't caused the mental strain that broke Cyhena's mind. Or like they weren't just trying to get control of me because of the fear of someone like me roaming the world doing whatever I want isn't what's guiding their decisions.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjco9H0tgRn
I'm running out of time...
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHGKpKx7pe
And I don't know how to leave without breaking their minds in the process.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gHIIHysN9
If I do it, I'm a murderer... if I don't, an entire kingdom will fall.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQicrzq5Sw
Decisions... decisions...
ns18.117.106.206da2
