Chapter 121: Do not fail
The air stank of rot and decay, heavy and musky, the type of smell that stained you. Such a smell would be attributed to someone of a dirty class, but it was not so, rather, it belonged to Ophelia.
Ophelia sat at the top of a bone-made throne underground. The throne stood at almost twenty feet tall, with bones upon bones of many different races of beings stacked all the way to where the main seat was and where Ophelia sat.
The only source of light was the light blue crystals that clung to the cave ceiling and allowed for limited but manageable vision.
She had her legs crossed as she sat there, her back leaned against the throne, oozing the confidence of someone that had won it all, a queen in all rights.
Her eyes trailed down to the very bottom where her small spiders rushed around like the critters they were, and a figure stood there as well, dressed in his usual suit. Clean, proper. It was none other than William, the spirit king.
He dropped to both knees, not caring about how it would hurt. He looked up at the throne and then bowed his head until his forehead hit the floor.
"My queen, you called for me," he spoke with more reverence than any of the other forest lords had ever used when it came to her. They all feared her due to her power, but what he showcased was downright worship.
She looked at him for a few seconds, allowing the oppressive quiet to cling to him. She watched him as if seeing his head to the ground was some sort of amusing sight. After what seemed like a minute, she finally spoke.
"The test run was a success, my children did what they were meant to. The plan has taken off quite well," she said and then went silent for a bit. He looked up, curious as to why she paused.
"But this was only phase one, only the start. Now comes the next part, the part where I need you, William, to help me.
Remember the deal you made with me all those years ago, when you so desperately needed it."
He dropped his head once again. "Yes, my queen, I remember what I promised. To help you with all my resources when the time came, to ensure that your endeavors prospered."
"Good, I will begin phase two of the plan, to infiltrate every single part of this kingdom with my spiders and ensure that they are ready for phase three.
What I need you to do is simple, create the mana network that will link all my children to me and ensure that the plan can work as purely as it can.
Very soon, all will belong to the mother," she said.
"All will belong to the mother."
He replied without hesitation.
She smiled and rose to her feet. "All will belong to the mother!" she said louder as she spread her hands. She looked down at him.
"There is one issue though," she said.
"What is it, my queen? Tell me and I’ll handle it."
"The dragon, he is onto me. I knew that dragon was no good the moment that he arrived. You cannot allow him to continue to live in this forest.
You must find a way to take him out of the picture. He might be the only one that can hinder the plan as it stands, and I cannot have anyone stop what a hundred years have prepared.
I made countermeasures for all the forest lords and every monster that I might see, but never a dragon of his nature, and that’s why you must be the one to take care of it."
William looked up. "You want me to kill the dragon?" he asked.
"Yes, but I understand that you do not want to get the spirits involved, and so you, along with an army of my children, should be enough.
Do not underestimate the dragon, and ensure that you use all I have given you to take the dragon down for good."
"I understand. As long as the spirits are safe at the end of all this, I am willing to do all that is needed."
"You have my word," she stated.
"What about the others, will you take them down as well?" he asked, worried about Tempest and Aris.
She smiled and then shook her head. "Not yet, their lives have meaning to me for now. They are useful.
You know what? You just gave me an idea," she said and waved her hand as a spider the size of a fist appeared on her palm.
"This is the most powerful of all my children. Take it and make sure you get it into the dragon. That way I can control him, and with a dragon by my side, I will be able to complete the plan many times faster."
"You want to take control of the dragon?" William asked in disbelief.
"Do you have a problem with that?" she asked him.
"No, no, I’ll do as you have instructed."
She dropped the spider down, and William caught it. It seemed to be in a sleeping state as of now. He held it in both hands and then bowed to her again. Then he got on his feet and turned to leave. He had made it halfway to the end of the cave when she called out to him.
"William, you know what happens if you fail me, right?" she asked.
William paused, a shiver running down his spine. He knew what she was driving at, and it made him scared beyond normal. He swallowed hard as sweat trickled down his face.
"I’ll not fail you." He left soon after as if in a rush.
After he was gone, she sat back down on her throne, staring into the distance as if waiting for something. It lasted longer than a minute, and then finally she spoke.
"The mother is above all."