Phala, the brown city part 3

Edward stood there, staring at the unconscious queen, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and frustration. He realized the gravity of his impulsive action, knowing that the consequences would be severe. His mind raced, desperately searching for a way to salvage the situation.

"I need to get out of here," Edward muttered to himself, glancing around the room for any means of escape. He spotted an open window across the chamber and quickly made his way toward it, hoping to slip out unnoticed.

As he approached the window, he heard footsteps approaching from outside the door. Panic gripped him, knowing that he had little time to act. With a surge of adrenaline, he leaped through the window, crashing through the glass and landing in a courtyard below.

Edward's landing was far from graceful. He winced in pain as shards of glass embedded themselves into his flesh, but he pushed through the discomfort, determined to escape the queen's palace. He limped away from the building, doing his best to keep a low profile.

The city of Phala was a maze of narrow streets and alleyways, bustling with activity even in the dead of night. Edward darted through the shadows, avoiding any encounters with the city guards or the queen's loyal subjects. He knew that if he were caught, his fate would be grim.

As he made his way over the walls and into the battlefield, he stumbled upon Doreen.

"What are you doing here?" Edward blurted out in surprise.

"What am I doing? What are you doing here!?" Doreen shot back, her tone laced with disbelief. "Weren't you supposed to be with the queen?"

"Yeah... about that," Edward began, his voice trailing off as he quickly relayed the shocking events that had just transpired.

Doreen listened with a mix of disbelief and concern etching her features. "You punched the queen? Knocked her out cold? Edward, you've really surpassed yourself this time," she exclaimed, her voice carrying a note of exasperation.

"I know, I know. It was a moment of sheer panic. I couldn't... I just couldn't," Edward replied, his face twisted in revulsion at the memory.

Doreen, unable to hear anymore, turned and walked away. Edward quickly fell into step beside her. As they continued, they encountered the massive armor of the silver shield warrior, slain in battle, a large stake driven through its chest.

Doreen approached the armor, determination in her steps. "What are you doing?" Edward asked, bewildered.

"Something that should have been done centuries ago," she responded.

She climbed onto the armor, her movements deft and purposeful, as she retrieved the soldier's skeletal remains from inside. With solemn care, she anointed the bones with oil she had taken from the city.

"You knew him?" Edward queried.

"Not this particular silver shield, but another from his ranks, long ago," Doreen answered.

"From where?"

"A silver shield once saved my life," she shared, her voice tinged with a distant melancholy. "But it wasn't in any world within the Olympus realm."

"It was on Aesis, years ago. From that moment, I understood what these warriors stood for. They were the embodiment of what a soldier should be—a true hero to the people," she continued, her voice steady as she carefully buried the remains in the dirt.

The armor was left standing, untouched in appearance, preserving the sanctity of the site. Doreen stepped back, her gaze lingering on the armor, now an empty vessel once more. She felt a sense of solace, having paid her respects to the silver shield, ensuring his memory was honored, if only in this small, private way.

"We should leave now," Doreen said, her voice tinged with a mixture of determination and sorrow. "There's nothing left for us here, and we have our quest."

As the sun was shining, it hit the glowing armor, creating a beautiful ray of light. But the moment was quickly cut short, as a figure came quickly flying towards them and like a large stone, hit the ground around them.

Edward took out his sword and Doreen summoned her shield and spear.

The figure slowly rose from the ground, revealing itself to be a towering warrior clad in heavy armor, with a greatsword strapped to his back. The warrior's armor was adorned with intricate engravings, symbols of ancient power and forgotten glory. Their face was obscured by a helm, leaving only their piercing eyes visible.

The warrior had immense divinity on par with both Doreen and Edward. Not far came the riders of the city.

"Oghuz! They have assaulted the queen! Kill her!" a minister yelled to the beastly warrior.

The crazed warrior took out his weapon and fiercely lashed out at Doreen and Edward, yelling like a wild animal. He moved fast, striking strong like a beast, but nimble as a monkey.

Edward took out his long sword and engaged the warrior, while Doreen summoned her divine weapons. His spear extended as she lunged with it, but the warrior just jumped many meters high up so fast, that the spear couldn't reach him.

As the warrior was coming down, Edward summoned more divinity and sent a cutting projectile from his sword, but the warrior simply just took it.

Edward thought he had dealt with it, but no, the warrior was hurt but unfazed.

The warrior let out a thunderous roar, fueling his rage. With renewed vigor, he charged at Edward, swinging his massive sword with incredible strength and speed. Edward barely managed to parry the blows, his arms straining under the immense force.

Doreen, seeing the danger her companion was in, shifted her focus from the warrior to the approaching riders. Doreen once more made her spear extend to an enormous length and used it to hit the legs of the kevahs that were carrying the riders, tripping them nearly all.

With most of the riders now incapacitated, Doreen quickly turned her attention back to the furious warrior, Oghuz, who was relentlessly attacking Edward. Edward was struggling to keep up with the warrior's ferocity, his movements becoming slower as exhaustion set in.

"Edward, hang in there!" Doreen shouted, her voice filled with concern. She raised her shield to deflect a powerful blow from Oghuz, creating an opening for Edward to counterattack.

Edward seized the opportunity, mustering all his strength and divinity to strike back. His sword glowed with intense energy as he aimed for the warrior's unprotected side. The blade found its mark, cutting through the warrior's armor and wounding him. Oghuz roared in pain but did not falter, his rage seemingly fuelling him even more.

Doreen, realizing that brute strength alone wouldn't be enough to bring down this formidable opponent, decided to switch tactics. "Edward, we need to outsmart him! Use your speed and agility!" she called out, dodging another of Oghuz's powerful swings.

Edward nodded, understanding that he couldn't outmuscle the warrior. He began to move more agilely, dodging and weaving through Oghuz's attacks while looking for an opening to strike. His divine energy flowed through him, enhancing his movements and sharpening his senses.

Doreen, on the other hand, focused on defense, using her shield to block Oghuz's attacks and protect Edward. She noticed a pattern in the warrior's movements, a brief moment of vulnerability after each swing of his massive sword.

She waited for the right moment, and as Oghuz launched another powerful attack, she shouted, "Now, Edward!"

Edward, ready and waiting, darted forward with incredible speed, dodging Oghuz's swing and striking at the warrior's exposed side. The blade cut deep, and Oghuz roared in agony. His movements became sluggish, the pain and exhaustion finally taking their toll.

Seeing that the warrior was weakened, Doreen and Edward pressed their advantage, attacking in tandem with precision and coordination. They moved like a well-oiled machine, their strikes synchronized and deadly.

Finally, with a powerful thrust from Doreen's spear and a swift slash from Edward's sword, they brought Oghuz down, his massive form collapsing onto the ground.

The battlefield fell silent, the remaining riders too shocked and demoralized to continue the fight. Doreen and Edward, exhausted but victorious, shared a brief moment of relief before turning their attention to the fallen warrior.

"Is he...?" Edward began, panting heavily.

"He's still alive, but barely," Doreen replied, her eyes scanning Oghuz's fallen form. "We need to decide what to do with him. And quickly, before any reinforcements arrive."

"HAAAAAAAAAALT!"

The queen came to the battlefield, being pulled by four kevahs on a golden chariot. His eye was black and had a hematoma on top of it. 

"Oh fuck..." Edward said.

"How hard did you punch her!? Doreen yelled, "Did you take your gauntlet off?!"

As the queen came there, she yelled, "STOP FIGHTING OVER ME!"

The ministers, with their guards. Doreen and Edward. Everyone from the kevahs to the single snake slithering on the ground. All were speechless and didn't know what to think. 

Edward stood there, mouth agape, his mind racing as he tried to process the situation. He couldn't believe the queen had arrived, and he was even more shocked to see her in such a state. He could feel Doreen's glare on him, but he couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze.

"The fuck you did....." Doreen said with her eyes.

"I don't know....honestly...." Edward said back.

She then shifted her attention to Oghuz, the fallen warrior. She dismounted her chariot and approached him, her steps measured and deliberate. As she reached him, she knelt and placed a hand on his strong chest.

"My little Ogu...." she said and lifted the beastly warrior. 

The ministers with their guards came closer. One asked, "My queen. We found you passed out in the bedroom, all battered."

"You fool. It's obvious Edward here ravished me so hard that even I forgot what had happened," she said angrily. 

"But your eye....?"

"Obviously as Ogu knows it. I like my men to take me rough....." she said, with saliva coming from her mouth. 

The ministers saw on Edward's face that this wasn't the case, but couldn't speak back. 

"And now here, my two lovers fighting one another for my affection. You mustn't. Not for me," she said.

"What of the Olympian woman?" one minister asked, pointing to how she had escaped. 

"Her...Take her to the arena's. What is she doing here anyway..." she said and completely didn't care. "Now, let us go back inside....."

The queen's voice resonated with a bizarre mix of authority and lasciviousness, sending shivers down Edward's spine. He felt like he had just stepped into a twisted version of reality, unable to comprehend the queen's sheer mindlessness and insanity.

As Roxetta turned, leading the beastly warrior away with her, Edward couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Oghuz. Despite his ferocious demeanor and ruthless attack, Edward saw a glimmer of confusion and pain in the warrior's eyes as he was carted away. 

~~

Morning came, and Doreen was back in the cell, this time her rings were taken once more, placed in a safe, and chained up to the wall. 

Edward found himself back in the luxurious chambers of the palace, but the opulence of the room did nothing to ease his tumultuous thoughts. He was trapped in a twisted palace with a host who was even more twisted and seemed to have lost all sense of reason and morality. Edward couldn't sleep as he feared Roxetta would try, to visit him in her sleep, but no. She had decided to spend the night with Oghuz and Edward was forced to listen to the horrible moaning of the queen. 

"Poor guy...."Edward thought to himself. 

~~

In the dark, damp cell, Doreen watched as Oghuz was thrown in and chained up beside her. His armor was gone, revealing a man battered and bruised, his breathing heavy and pained. She could see the toll that the night had taken on him, and for a moment, her warrior's heart ached for him.

"Rest you two, for tomorrow, you will fight in the arena, for the people's pleasure," the guard said. 

The door was shut behind them. Rat ate the molded bread that was left for them as their only food before the day's main event. 

Oghuz was barely conscious, his breath ragged, as he tried to comprehend his surroundings. His body was a map of bruises and scratches, a testament to the night's torturous events. Doreen, despite her circumstances, couldn't help but feel a surge of empathy for the fallen warrior. The arena was no place for someone in his condition, and she knew she had to act quickly.

"Hey," she whispered, her voice soft, trying to get Oghuz's attention. "Can you hear me?"

Oghuz groaned, lifting his head slightly. His eyes, clouded with pain, met hers. "Water..." he rasped, his throat parched.

She saw some water on a cup and used her legs to push it toward Oghuz, careful not to spill it. Oghuz then took it and drank water, feeling invigorated. 

"Feeling better?" Doreen asked.

"Better.....small....." he said, barely able to speak. 

His eyes fluttered shut, his body surrendering to the exhaustion. Doreen watched him for a moment, ensuring that he was truly asleep, before allowing herself to relax.