Chapter 517: The Naga Kingdom"s Nightmare
As Mira tells Lucien the story of the Naga Kingdom, they continue going from dome to dome, taking a tour around the city.
Everywhere, Lucien can see many Nagas working, training, or doing anything else, but either way, he doesn"t see any of them standing still.
Also, there is always one of Tyrion"s black guards near groups of other Naga who wear simple clothes like those servants from the house of Kamala.
"Slaves..." Mira comments in a sad tone when she notices Lucien looking at those Nagas. "My people have become slaves of Tyrion and his supporters."
She keeps telling that story. "In the beginning, it wasn"t like that... Tyrion"s father died to defend our people, and he took control of his family when he was still very young."
"He continued to spread his father"s ideas about our people becoming stronger at all costs." Mira"s eyes sparkle with admiration. "And he did an excellent job... Tyrion was so enthusiastic and pa.s.sionate."
Kamala always finds it strange when her mother tells stories of what her father was like as a young man because she only met the oppressive and cruel Naga King, not the gentle young man he once was.
Mira continues. "People wanted change, and that"s why everyone was supporting him... Even I was seduced by his revolutionary ideas."
She sighs. "But in the end, it was all about taking what those weaker than we had. And that"s what Tyrion and his supporters did; they stopped trying to fight the monsters for resources and went after the other aquatic races."
"At that time, everyone was just trying to survive, and no one had a barrier like ours, so all the other aquatic races were in a worse state than us... stealing from them was very easy and too cruel."
Mira pauses before continuing. "So much cruelty and brutality have awakened a dark side in many people, including Tyrion..."
"When he attacked a small village of an inferior aquatic race, he met that woman…" Mira"s tone turns annoyed. "The Siren; she was the one who taught him how to use evil rituals to steal other people"s power."
She continues. "Tyrion has absorbed the strength from all the people in that village until everyone is dead... Since that day, his thirst for power has become bigger and bigger, and he steals the strength even from the people closest to him."
"When we realized what was happening, my father tried to stop Tyrion, but he killed him and started a civil war among our people..."
Her look gets even sadder. "My people were dying, and I had to do something... The only solution was to give in to Tyrion, become his wife, and support him."
As soon as Mira finishes speaking, Kamala hugs her. "You did your best to protect our people! If you hadn"t done that, our race might not even exist today."
"It really sounds like a n.o.ble act..." Lucien comments.
But Mira shakes her head. "Yet, my people have been suffering while Tyrion continues to conquer more and more parts of the Blue Star... The Mermaids are his current targets, and soon they will be slaves just like most of the Nagas."
"Or someone will stop him…" l.u.s.t comments as he smiles at Lucien.
"Everyone who goes against him is severely punished." Mira comments with a sad expression. "Some years ago, a group of rebel Nagas tried to kill him, but he found out and started torturing those people"s families..."
"I tried to stop him from hurting so many innocent people, but…" She sighs. "He and that d.a.m.ned Siren set a trap for me and stole all my strength."
"Tyrion said it was a punishment, but the truth is he"s wanted my power for a long time." She explains. "Now he has my Bloodline ability, and I"m nothing anymore..."
"Mom..." Kamala is saddened by Mira"s situation. "You are still our Queen, an incredible woman and admired by everyone! You even reached the Immortal Realm again in such a short time."
She smiles and kisses Kamala"s forehead lovingly. "I love you so much, darling..."
Lucien can"t help but smile as he watches that warm scene between mother and daughter. He thinks there is no relations.h.i.+p purer than that kind.
But Mira quickly regains focus and leads them into a building in that dome. "Let"s go."
The place looks like an ordinary building with simple furniture, and there are some Naga servants inside, doing usual works.
"My Queen..." Those servants bow to Mira respectfully, and the group heads to the innermost part of the building before entering some sort of bas.e.m.e.nt.
"Interesting..." l.u.s.t senses various magical barriers around the place and also a large number of magical resources focused on a single point.
"A portal!" She quickly reports to Lucien mentally.
And as soon as she speaks, they reach the center of the bas.e.m.e.nt, where there are several circles on the floor, forming a magic portal.
"Mom??" Kamala asks, confused.
"We do not have time," Mira speaks in a concerned tone. Then she looks at Kamala with a sad expression. "You know your father will at some point steal your power just like he wants to do with Lucien right now... You have to flee!"
"You"re coming with me, right?" Kamala asks, but she can see the answer in her mother"s sad face.
Mira caresses her daughter"s face while her heart is breaking. "My parents gave their lives for our people, and I would be dishonoring their memory if I do less..."
"No!!" Kamala doesn"t mind acting selfishly if it"s to keep those she loves safe. "You"ve already sacrificed so much for our people, and no one would blame you-"
"It"s already decided!" Mira speaks in an authoritative tone. "I couldn"t send you away before because I was afraid something would happen to you out there in this dangerous universe."
Then she looks at Lucien with a pleading expression. "But now you have someone to protect you. I shouldn"t leave my daughter in the care of someone I just met, but leaving you here is much more dangerous..."
Kamala keeps trying to change her mother"s mind. "Mom..."
But Mira is determined as she talks to Lucien. "I wish I could give you the instant teleport gems my parents left me, but they"re all with Tyrion. He only gave two to Kamala because he had her bring a woman for him, but I can"t get them."
Then she points to the portal. "This was the best I could do in secret as that b.i.t.c.h keeps spies watching my every move. It"s not very good, but it"ll get you at least a hundred miles away from here."
Lucien is moved by Mira"s determination, especially because it"s evident that she would suffer so much under Tyrion"s wrath after helping them escape.
But l.u.s.t shakes her head, knowing how flawed that plan would be without Lucien"s abilities. "Only a hundred miles? The Siren could track our direction, and Tyrion would reach us in less than half an hour."
Mira makes a sorry expression. "This is the best I could do... Do you really want to stay here knowing what they"re planning for you? You"d be throwing your life away, and the only chance I have to get my daughter out of this h.e.l.l."
"You are wrong about that." Lucien comments.
"I can distract them long enough for you to get away." She quickly speaks. "This is really the best chance we have."
He smiles. "I can guarantee that there is a better way to solve all your problems."
Mira doesn"t doubt that Lucien is honest, but she doesn"t believe they have a better chance than that. "You don"t understand. Tyrion won"t stop unt-"
"..." She stops speaking when she notices a strange portal appear behind Lucien, and two women come out of it.
"What..." She gets really shocked.
Helena and Oya hug Lucien as he introduces them to Mira. "These are my beloved wives."
l.u.s.t smiles. "That Siren may know a few things about my and my sisters, but she doesn"t know the full extent of our abilities."
"It..." Mira has no idea what"s going on.
Then Lucien explains. "This portal leads to my soul realm, where I can live indefinitely with any woman who has a soul contract with me."
"Amazing..." Mira is impressed as Kamala looks at the tattoo on Oya"s belly.
"With this portal, I could keep you and Kamala safe," Lucien speaks. "Also, with it, we could easily escape from here..."
"But?" Mira asks.
"But…" Lucien pauses as he looks into her eyes with an expectant expression. "That wouldn"t be the best plan."
While she gets confused, Kamala quickly asks. "And what would be the best plan?"
He smiles at her. "Kill your father, of course."
Kamala shouldn"t like that plan, but she can"t like someone that made her mother suffer so much and wants to steal her power.
But Mira doesn"t have hopes. "Tyrion is much stronger than you think, and even if you could kill him, it would destroy my people... His supports would take over the Kingdom, and I wouldn"t have the strength to stop them. Without a strong leader, the people would try to fight, starting another civil war."
Lucien nods but still maintains a confident expression. "That"s why we need a strong new leader to take control of the Kingdom alongside the real Queen, who is still loved by the people."
"But..." Mira gets Lucien"s plan but can"t understand why an incredible high demon like him would want to help her people.
However, Kamala notices the way he looks at her mother, and despite not wanting to believe in that crazy idea, she can"t ignore what it looks like.
"Don"t you want to help your daughter and your people?" Lucien asks sarcastically. "I can help you fix all this s.h.i.+t and create a bright future for your family, people, and race; you just have to accept my help."
Mira can"t help wis.h.i.+ng things could be so simple, but she"s not a naive young girl. "And do you want to help us because you"re a great, generous, and benevolent man?"
"Of course not." He chuckles.
While Mira makes a confused and thoughtful expression, he speaks. "I"m definitely not a good person; in fact, I"m very selfish, and I only do things that benefit my family and me."
She can"t blame him for that, and Lucien keeps making his intentions clear. "However, I am very good at rewarding those who serve me properly..."
"So that"s it…" She can"t help but make an annoyed expression. "You demons only see races like us as possible servants."
Lucien shrugs. "I cannot speak for others, but I need soldiers to fight by my side in an indefinite future. But of course, I can guarantee that you and your people will not regret following me."
Mira sighs. "Do you understand how weird that sounds? You want me to make a pact with you, but I don"t know if I can even trust you. Now I don"t even know if I can trust my daughter"s safety to you..."
"You can trust me because I"m totally honest with you." He responds.
She makes a thoughtful expression. "So tell me what you really want from me. I can"t believe you want to help my people without knowing if we"re really going to follow you into battle in the future, as that doesn"t sound smart at all."
Lucien smiles. "You"re right; helping your people become stronger will only bring me long-term results, but I also need something from you right now."
"What is it?" She asks
"That you become my woman." He answers.
"WHAT?!?!" Mira and Kamala exclaim together, both shocked.