"Tilia, what did I say?" Claine looked at Tilia is expression was stern. He had specially told her to stay in the castle, but the little brat ran off again!
"Father, I think me going to the front lines was the best option, or we would have lost an entire continent. So I do not think I am wrong in this. To be honest, my merits this time should be pretty high since not only did my plan work, but it even made the enemy army retreat. On top of that, we now know there is a subterranean race of insectoids with highly advanced technology. So in the end, Father, are you going to punish me or reward me?" Tilia said all of this with a smile on her face. She knew her father would not punish her. After all, she had never done anything that she was not sure about completing. She was either going to keep as many of their people alive or push the enemy back. Luckily they won and did not lose.
"You!" Claine slammed his fist down onto his throne and let out a sigh. "You have really outdone yourself. I am truly proud that you are my daughter. But as someone who is now the crown princess and heir to the throne, We can not have you running head first into war."
Tilia suddenly blanked. She felt she heard some really strange words just now. "Father, can you repeat that? I am the what now?"
"Hehe. Little sister, us brothers, and sisters have all talked about it. With how much you love this kingdom and how much you do on a daily basis, it is only right for you to be the heir to the throne. It was voted on this morning during court. It was a unanimous vote from all sides. No one disagreed with this decision. I do hate to say it, though, that if you were still human, we would not have been able to push this through, but now that you are one hundred percent a beastkin, no one complained." A young man who looked to be in his low twenties explained.
"First bother! But that position was yours!" Tilia began to tear up. She never expected anything like this. She never thought her brothers and sisters thought so highly of her.
"This brat said it himself. In the time you have arrived through all these years, not only have you worked hard for this kingdom, but you have won the hearts of its people and now even the people of other nations. The Elves wish to give you an honorary title of High Priestess. You have really gone above and beyond." Claine finally smiled from ear to ear. He got up and walked down to Tilia, and knelt down in front of her. "You have really done well. I speak not as the king of this kingdom but as your father. I am very proud of you." Tilia's tears rained down as she pushed her face into Claine's chest, hugging him. Claine had a soft loving expression, and he petted the top of her head.
On the 10th day of the sixth month of the year 1204783, a new crown princess was crowned in the Rural Kingdom. Every leader around the world had come to the coronation. It was one of the biggest events of its time. Princess Tilia Tigeria, once human, now beastkin, was now the heir to the biggest kingdom in the entire world.
---
"I can't believe we were able to travel in this pitch black abyss just based on your senses." Mel was truly surprised. When Kana first said that she might be able to navigate through the abyss, Mel did not really think it was possible, but here they were in an ancient temple that was dimly lit. For some reason, the darklings outside did not dare come into this place, it was completely empty.
"What are these weird creatures on the walls?" Creige asked as he looked at the paintings.
Kana stared at them for a while but really did not know what to make of them. They seemed to be some kind of ancient beasts. "I am not sure."
"These… If I am not wrong, these are beasts that once roamed the lands of Hell when hell was fully intact. How many millions of years ago this was, I am not sure, but this may just be a temple that was built during that time." Mel replied.
"Whatever this place is, the thing that is calling out to me is here." Kana said as she walked into the middle of the circular room, she was in. As she did, a large magic circle formed under her feet, and before anyone could even react, she disappeared.
"Kana!" Creige yelled out. He waved his hand and ripped open time and space, trying to teleport to Kana, but all he ended up doing was coming out the other side in the same room. "Damn it! What happened!?"
"I think whatever was calling her has summoned her. It is best if we stay here for now. Either way, we will be stuck here. Now Handsome Husband, before Kana comes back, I wanted to ask..."
*Bang!*
The spot next to Mel suddenly exploded, causing Mel to jump in fright. "Hey! Can you let me finish before you try to blow me up!?"
In a dark room with only a dim blue light lighting the place, Kana stood there in the center of the light, frowning. "Who or what are you? And what about my friends?"
"They are safe. We have called you here to request your help..." A voice of a female ancient echoed throughout the room.
"You want my help? But why me?" Kana asked.
"Because of what you are." The voice replied. Then suddenly, an image appeared in the air above Kana. Kana's eyes widened when she saw what was being displayed on the screen. "You are not from this world. We brought you to the mortal realm and gave you a new life. We, the Zaitu, were the first beings ever created by it. We do not know our creator's name or what it was, we only know that it made us in order to rule over this place where those created after would fall upon death if they have lived a life full of sin. Our job was to make those souls repent by living out their lives full of despair. You see, the plane you are on and the plane you are originally from are not even connected. The place you are from is like an illusion. It is a test to see how things could be in certain scenarios. Although the lives of those people on that plane are all real. They will never be able to break free from the cycle of death. Once one dies there, they are dead. They have to rely on themselves in order to prolong their lives. But that can only go so far.
"We have been watching you since the day you were born. You were never supposed to be born on that world. You are an anomaly..."