The brunch takes a steep turn into a fiercely driven interrogation once Zephyrine steps forth. She suddenly possesses a mission of being interested in everything surrounding their mother’s death. Countless questions come spinning with it starting at a medium rate with it then piling high in forming a cowering Afread. He manages a few answers that please his sister but then come towering accusations of ineptitude mixed with family treason.
In that fray of the increasing emotion, Kaikais joins in. She too feels like answers must happen. Hence, a browbeaten brother abides right there with neither female allowing a sufficient provision of answers. The entirety of it an unwarranted whiplash of a brother who without question worships his sisters.
In that allowing of very little explanation about the events surrounding the Queen Zeferina`s death Augusta to release the belt around her waist. She then snaps it midair before leaning down to wrap the end of it around Afread`s neck. In a mere breath, the belt comes to form a leather collar with a built-in leash. Tugging on it the Air Goddess sternly commands, “ Up! Follow! Mine! Back off everyone. ”
Then with a cold sweeping glance toward all others in the room, she declares, “ He will be back by nightfall. ”
That becomes factual after a few hours. It could be said that kidnapping to barricade them both in Queen Zeferina`s sepulchre takes place. But, Afread willingly joined her. In fact, at the end of a few hours of conversation, the prince begs to be allowed to not return to his sisters.
“ No, you gotta go back to stand up to those two sisters of yours. “
“ No, I can’t, no way. But, you could take me to where ever you go when you are not here. ” He happily says in hope of it happening.
“ I go to many places when I am not here.” She replies while understanding how he wants to not confront the bullying done by his siblings.
The apprehension of it due that she too possesses siblings that occasionally gang up on her too. Therefore Augusta knows that Afread must stand up to his sisters. He simply must even if he has been programmed to worship females.
“ Many places, Afread, And, having a constant travel companion can bring hardships. And, neither of them needs more of that. ” Solemnly convey Augusta in seeing the hope of salvation dying from the prince’s eyes.
It is that very event that brings the opportunity of the first steps of a plan. This belongs to an idea that forms during recent days. But, it requires some baiting of a ‘soon to be’ new personal assistant. Thus, after a momentary sad silence, Augusta sets things in motion.
“ You know, it’s odd that you all believe me to be the queen of this planet. ” Flows in ponderous tone before swiftly changing gears to invoke understanding. “ But, then it is not strange. Not when knowing that Air Elementals live here. I am the personification of Air and …” With sharing that she turns toward the sepulchre in saying, “ …possibly the parent of those…Uhm…Wind Gods. Mother of those males that messed with this civilization eons ago. So yeah, that makes me a momma to all of you too. Mother and queen to all Wind Elementals, yes, possibly I am your queen. ”
“ Then it owns no oddity, my Queen. It is natural. ” Adds Afread with following the flow of chat while thinking that opportunity of truly serving her lands at his feet.
“ Oh, you truly think so? “ Encouragingly queries Augusta as the bait caught the fish that might eventually be useful.
“ Yes, I do.” Enthusiastically affirms Afread with smiling as he sees that agreeing pleases her, “ As a male, I believe that the most powerful female must rule our planet’s societies. So yes, you are our rightful queen, the natural choice. ”
“ A natural choice, the right to be. ” ponderously arrives seriously smiled as Augusta pushes into the next steps. “ Thus, no queenly election required? ”
“ True, very true if you are queen in residence.” Flows from Afread within an enormous grin.
“ In residence, Uhm, interesting idea,” She conveys with knowing that it truly cannot exist due to owning duties to other realms.
So, Augusta momentarily stops, yet she holds the goal of implementing government systems similar to planet Titania. Thus, multilevelled systems, multi-branched and elected by the entire populace. With top consisting of a powerful council.
“ The Coronains, the Non-Elementals have a type of social democracy. Correct? ” Questions Augusta as her eyes stare in hoping to deeply hold focus with his.
It works too. That brings Afread`s attention to fully fixate upon her with the air around seeming to pump a spell into him as he replies, “ Yes, the system is a work of political art. However, their government works differently from our Knight Templar Congress. It is also not totalitarian, not like our monarchy. We, Elementals, must have a queen. ”
He grins at her as calmness slowly owns his senses. Those lungs fill with tranquil sweet-tasting particles of air as Augusta adoringly smiles with every word spoken. In that, the prince feels powerfully capable as he continues to explain. “ But, the Coronains only need an elected Prime Governor. She, the leader, is democratically chosen after each of the forty-four territories elect a representative to be a member of the Prime Council. ”
“ You have great political knowledge and so much more. ” Arrives in encouragement from Augusta as she further conveys, “ It shows in every moment in your presence. Everything about you declares that you are a highly capable politician, strategist and connection builder. ”
“ Yes, I have studied under mother since I was four. She commanded me to learn as much as possible. She taught her wisdom and said it is how I’m to serve females. She gave experiences that other males are denied. She said I’m groomed to lead, lead in serving. Her lead male. ”
That information allows Augusta to go full throttle into sharing suggestions. “ What if a peculiar thing happens? What if you help me do peculiar things? ”
“ What kind of things? ” Suspiciously asks Afread in listening to every word while reading her eyes as though he can surmise the thoughts.
” Well, what if Elementals participated in similar to the Coronains.” Flows as Augusta steps directly in front of Afread to be breathing his air as she queries, “ What if there exists no queen, none. What if Elementals elect a Prime? ”
“ A Prime? ” He questions in feeling pulled by her Neo aura, drown into wanting to experience the idea she purposes.
“ Yes, in many realms I am known as Prime, not a Creator but a powerful leader to be known as Prime.” She truthfully conveys in partial truth. Partial because there exists no time for any more details due to it’s now or never for this plan. Add to that she owns a couple more questions in concern to the gemstone theft. So, she must get busy with finishing phase one of getting rid of the needing to come to this planet every time a queen dies.
And, so she continues. “ If political power concentrates within one system of united social democracy then that elected leader would represent me. And, anyone who represents me posses the temporary title of Prime. A Prime on Corona would relate to holding global power. Elected from all the population, responsible to all and changing every few years. Just like the Prime Council. ”
“ That would be odd, ” Shoots from Afeard in breaking the spell that intoxicates his senses.
” Uhm, not really, it is very practical, ” She instantly counters with being ready for resistance. “ Not strange at all. But, do ya know what is truly odd? ”
At that moment Afread watches Augusta’s eyes focus on his mother’s engraved stone sarcophagus. He too looks at it, gauzes sadly as he replies, “ What is odd, my Goddess? ”
“ That your mother possibly intended to create such a system. It seems to be the type of progressive politics and advancements that she implements. Such is obvious due to many reasons. ” Shares Augusta in not losing focus on the coffin. “ However, your mother ran out of time with old age doing its duties. ”
More sadness fills him as she speaks but he listens. She can tell for he nods in agreement. He must agree for such truths exist as indisputable facts. And, of all the people in Queen Zeferina`s life, Afread knows his mother. So, with feeling comfy of progress Augusta continues.
“ Your mother also knew that your sisters wouldn’t be suited to such endeavours. The plays of political newness and setting up her dreams seem gifted to the most capable child. The one who holds her wisdom as sacred. The person that served best, that experienced all that possibly could be without anyone interfering. The groomed one, her lead male. ”
Silence slowly seeps into the room. They both stand in the underground tomb gazing at the coffin. The air becomes soft in heavy holiness that holds the scent of burning Metis Myrrh and Aloe Coronais incense.
“ You know her, you talk like you knew her. But, you don’t. It has me wonder if you are our creator. It does for mother often privately spoke of me marrying the next queen. That way her policies would live, live through me. ”
“ I kind of figured that out on the day that we set up the games. You greeted with a hello and no kneeling. Almost all others show some form of reverence. You didn’t do that until Kaikais mentioned the mistake in whispers as I left the room later during that day. ”
“ I am sorry, I truly am, ” Sheepishly pleads the prince in suddenly kneeling on the stone floor.
“ Afread, you apologized already. So please, no more and that action back then empowers my point. ” Arrives solidly spoken in pseudo chastising before explaining, “ The point of you being capable to carry on your mother’s work. You naturally claimed equality to then empower everyone with knowledge and the abilities to do the tasks. ”
“Maybe, but my disrespect toward you doesn’t make me capable, ” Claims Afread in not believing what he hears.
” Yes, you are capable and best suited. You daily prove that you can do anything political and socially to strengthen a government. You do it while serving and being the sample of male that your mother hoped to exist on this planet. ” Conveys Augusta in earnest admiration of his skills as she pushes truths about his family.
” We both know that Zephyrine sucks at leading anything with often being deceptive. So, electing her for such a duty makes terrifying results. ” Effortlessly join the chat as Augusta gestures him to rise.
With that mentioned Afread erupts into giggling, “ True, but Ze tries. She needs given grades for effort. She trips into things and requires a sober second back up, or something like that. ”
“ Yes, but it’s scary that she does what she does. Just imagine the political arena if she owned more power. ” Comes solemnly delivered before turning into snickering as Augusta states, “ Stealing horses is one thing. Political promises are not horses. Can you imagine the wars that she might create? ”
“ It would be fun to watch, oh yes it would. But yes, Ze stealing promises can’t happen. ” Comes as an agreement as he laughs more for it has too much truth to debunk. Thus, in that amusement, Afread suggests, ” There is Kaikais. She could do whatever you wish from our family. ”
“ No, not really, we both know that she only wants a private life. She desires a family with those three males that she is wild about. She also grows tired of court life. ” Inserts Augusta with understanding that he tries to not accept the truth.
“ True, ” Agreed the prince as quietness fills the room with both of them staring at each other.
Then in a few moments, Augusta chooses to continue the plan. “ The only one remaining to carry on your mother’s political wishes is you. Her only son, her lead guy. She believed that you are capable of it. It’s why you have equal status to those two females that you call siblings. ”
His reply to that is a since with gently nodding in agreement. As he takes deep breaths, with seeming to open up to the ideas she professes he walks toward the door.
” To do what I’m asking is a continuing to serve your mother, “ Claims Augusta in standing directly behind him with further chatting. “ She wanted to empower with possibilities. She gifted the opportunity to make all females equal in creating one system of government. You, Afread Aeon, you are the male to serve an entire planet of females. ”
He trembles with the idea. He does for it is an overwhelming thing for a male on a planet programmed with matriarchy as the rule of natural law. Hence, Afread barely breathes as that daydream comes into his mind to give an erection of much more than thoughts.
” No greater service could any male do. The duties come at my request. ” Solemnly sums up Augusta in hoping to finally ask the last of her questions about the theft.
“ Then you are now the queen of Corona Prime, “ He gestures in hoping to get back to his original wish.
“ Not yet, but eventually I should be. However, we already have a young unmarried new queen waiting to be crowned. ” Reminds Augusta before placing an irresistible temptation for Afread to swallow whole.
“ We do own an intoxicating queen, so commanding and erotic, ” Floats from Afread as his smile draws bold while his eyes dance into being spellbound.
“ Yes, and she needs a special minister, a Queen’s Court Minister, my advisor. The newly formed high ranking position opens all political and social avenues. It belongs to you, you will serve me. ”
“ Me! Me? ” comes in disbelief of hearing any of it with Afread becoming weak in his knees.
“ Yes, you know the idiosyncrasies of court and political life. You handle it better than any of the females belonging to your mother’s staff. Sir Steves told me that on the journey here, to Corona Prime. So the natural choice is you, you are my lead male. And, if all goes well then it invites Queen Sabana Breezstrum to become enchanted by your charms. And, if I am correct you will establish what your mother had planned for you and this planet. ”
He stares stunned, breathless in barely standing with dizziness drowning as the notion of it encompasses. “ Oh, oh…”
Augusta watches, she grins into smirking as she waits for a full understanding of it all to settle into him. “ Breathe Afread, breathe…or I might need to kiss you back to life. And, then you might pass out on me. ”
“ Breathe…yes breathe, ” he manages to say in full smiling with it spinning into, “ I could not breathe last night at the Ascension Gala when we danced. Queen Sabana demanded that I be her partner. It felt like heaven when she did. And, then we danced..we danced…she..oh she..her eyes…so dreamy, her dominant energy. ” and it smoothly flutters in sighing to have him lovestruck.
The mentioning brings giggling from Augusta as she realizes something lands in her lap as a prize. His feeling like that makes the installation of the plan easier than once thought. She could use the easiness of installing the plan of new rituals and government systems. All week it has been difficult to initiate. And she must do it for she refuses to tolerate any of this again.
None of it and especially if it happens every 50 to 100 years during an immortal lifetime. The worship from a massive populace bombards her aura energy. That alone slowly provided madness, a constant annoyance that she barely accepts as her life on Titania. So this of being regularly here for rituals most definitely needs to be dealt with.
“ That makes you her special guy. Her special one, and mine too. You now must be ‘my’ special guy that helps me to become the last queen of Corona Prime. Yes? ” Arrives whispered in his ear with a soft kiss to his facial cheek plays into seducing him into the plan.
“ I will, yes. And, I am overjoyed to be given this opportunity, ” He agrees with it turning into bigger smiles as he conveys, “ Hopefully, my sisters aren’t upset about me remaining at the palace. I can never be sure of what they might do. ”
“ They no longer are permitted to mistreat you. Not after the telling about what factually happened after your mother’s death. You mentioned they covered up several things. One is the light beam seen by one guard. ”
Augusta feels armed with much more information than anyone felt she needed to possess. The spending of several hours talking brought out many hidden things about aspects of Corona political and court life. Those included the rushed They burial, no investigation of the death, suppression of all information and parliament ceased by the Elementals. A power shift seemed to be the agenda with possibly dethroning the new queen and trouncing equality. Thus, such knowledge helped Augusta feel even more determined to place her power into counterbalancing those ideas. Thus, Afread does own a part of the coming Corona government definitely…he does.
“ Yes, four neon blue lightning bolts penetrated the palace’s outer wall outside of my mother’s bedroom. It came during the changing of the night guard. The unduly corporal saw it because he was late in turning to leave at the shift’s end. ”
“ Are you sure about the colour? ” She asks pushing aside any other thoughts while remembering the light beams at the Scorpio’s Bloodstone palace during the first theft.
“ Yes, Corporal Halmes said it looked alien eerie. He also mentioned that it felt like a spiritual force. Very strange…he also thought that the cloaks worn by the four humanoids gave that feeling of spirituality too. ” Comes as a reporting of facts.
“ Yes, you mentioned cloaks before.” Offers Augusta in hope that more info that spills from him the more she may uncover as leading to finding the villain.
“ Oh, okay I am sorry, for saying it many times. I guess that it is because they are sort of familiar cloaks. ” Innocently lands a new slice of details given by the prince.
“ Oh? Familiar, how?” shoots as questioning from Augusta as her head twists to directly look at him.
“ Yes, their cloaks were a deep black with dancing galaxies on them, “ He shares while continuing that thought. “ Kind of like what can be seen in the pictures of Sir Steve’s from centuries ago during ancient queening ceremonies. He dressed in similar ones many thousands of years ago. ”
“ Take me to see, ” Is abruptly commanded with enunciation the need. “ Take me these images. Show me them now, ” Orders Augusta in opening a travel portal to take them to the location.
It brings instant teleportation to the imperial palace’s library. The enormous room is decorated in extravagance. It also holds the picture albums, paintings and more that belong to every royal family. There seems to be a hoard of them extending going back several millennia. The ceiling is even covered in portraits, with her eventually discovering that the countless platinum bound books are photo albums.
But, they are fortunate enough to almost instantly find what they seek. It lays open on a pedestal podium in the middle of the room. This item exists as Queen Paeluna Spriling`s photo album. With spying it Afread passes it over to Augusta. Then after turning a few pages, she finds the images that he mentioned.
“ Ah yes, I recognize the cloak, it belonged to Time Clerics and Neo Army initiates eons ago, ” Comes spoken in wondering if the arch-nemesis could be a NeoImmortal.
“ It is not me, ” Crisply chimes Sir Steve’s as his voice emanates from a distant corner of the room.
“ I know that it’s not you. You serve as a personal cleric of Timus. My brother would never betray or harm me. He would not allow you to do that either. ” Sternly declares Augusta in eying Steves as he steps forward into view.
Then as he comes closer Augusta clarifies, “ But, Timus must keep secrets from me, from everyone. He holds many secrets. It is part of the curse of being the Time Immortal. Even he says it’s annoying at times and the event of stolen gemstones is one such thing. ”
“ Very true and I too must keep those same secrets. So, it possibly is time to return home. ” Announces Steve’s in setting boundaries from this point onward.
“ Yes, you must keep your secrets. However, this Air Goddess leaves when I wish to. That abides even if my investigation leaves me exactly where I was before coming to Corona Prime. ”
Steves nods of understanding as she defines the control of boundaries between them. And, with that Augusta feels sleepy, thus an arriving of dusk approaches. Hence, she swiftly needs to elsewhere and conveys, “ We make no progress. But, that is what it is. However, right now please accompany Afread to his room. I need to return to the sepulchre to burn my last incense for Queen Zeferina. There is much to be done during and after the final ceremonies of queening tomorrow. ”
“ Yes, there is, your Holiness. I do as you requested with the setting up of the new government positions, etc., ” Arrives as an acknowledgment that he stepped out of bounds and returns to the agenda planned before coming to Corona Prime.
“ So off you go.” She supplies in not being able to stop a deep yawn from materializing as she finalizes with, “ We depart at dusk tomorrow.”
And, near the moment of dusk during the following day, a small congregation of humanoids abides standing mid-center of a large circular marble platform. The location exists hidden on the property of the Imperial Palace. And it is a basic riser slab of marble with nothing but the Immortalis shield engraved on it to not what it is.
“ Farewell,” solemnly declares Zephyrine as her siblings and the Queen Sabana stand in front of Augusta and Steves.
“ Thank you, Zephyrine. You and the Aeon family are a credit to the Immortalis name. Just as Sabana will be. ” Convey Augusta in continuing what must be said.
“ Both Sabana and Afread need your support, the assistance of both you and Kaikias must help with the coming changes. I will return in a decade to peek at what my children have accomplished. So get busy. For now, another planet requires my attention.”
“ Yes, Goddess, it will be done.” Conveys Sabana to gesture for everyone to depart the marble circle and to kneel as Augusta stands with Steves.
Then in a blinking, the travel portal illuminates the area. Augusta and Steves step through it to suddenly appear on the Time Train. A mystical train zooming at high speed with it rushing along upon almost visible time-space energy threads.
“ Lassie, you are a magician at all of this, ” Cheerily conveys Steves with feeling pleased to be back on his home.
“ Maybe, but that magic is difficult to do,” Augusta says in weariness from almost experiencing another Corona Prime dusk. “ And, you could have mentioned the wild orgies and endless parties that I was expected to participate in.”
Steves instantly breaks into full roaring laughter. “ Oh, now, that would have been no fun. After all, your reaction is part of the reward that I deserve .”
She coldly stares at him, she does and in that she takes a deep breath with hoping that he will drop her off on Terra, Earth. That would be a perfect reward. She needs to be at her true home for a while.
WindWhisperer 