Ascension of the Monster Queen

"You want to go with me, Riki?" She asked and he smiled.

"Yes, I'd like to accompany you; is that a problem? Can I?" He inquired, and she sighed, before turning to face the others.

"Why do you want to go, Riki?" She asked.

"Because I want to, it's as simple as that, not more to it," He responded and Nessa sighed as he looked at her, awaiting an answer.

"He is more stubborn than the rest of us, lady Nessa but you already knew that, he won't take no as an answer," Dalia said and Nessa smiled then patted Dalia on the shoulder.

"Fine, if you really want to tag along, then no problem, we will go," She replied.

"Really?" Riki asked.

"Yeah, if you don't like being in the cold, I recommend you get a jacket from the tailor; we'll be there by tonight if we leave now." He grinned as she responded.

"I will don't need a jacket my lady, the cold doesn't bother me," He said and she chuckled.

"If you say so, we shall," Nessa said. "Guys, we will be leaving now, take care of this place, we won't be long."

"You can count on us lady Nessa, we will give it your best shot," Zeitaz replied and she smiled then patted him on the shoulder and he smiled.

"Don't you want Akio or Isamu to tag along?" Liya asked as they approached her and she looked at them.

"It would be nice, but I have Riki with me, you guys stay here and help take care of your home, got it?" She asked as they exchanged glances.

"We will do our best," They responded as they bowed their heads, and she patted both of them.

"Be careful," Akio said and she glanced at him.

"We will be, don't worry," She replied and he exhaled deeply before stretching.

"Should we leave now?" Riki inquired.

"Would you like one of us to accompany you just in case?" Dalia inquired.

"No, you guys stay here, it's my turn," Riki replied, and Dalia laughed.

"Damn you, Riki," Dalia said, "if she comes back with a scratch, I'll deal with you myself."

"I'd like to see you try, sweetheart, you can't even harm a hair on my head, let alone deal with me," He replied and a smirk appeared on her face as she looked at him.

"We will see about that when you guys get back, wait Liya went to get snacks and drink," Dalia said and Riki sighed.

Liya returned a few minutes later with a small bag of items, which she handed to Riki, who collected it with a smile.

"Don't let anything happen to her no matter what, I will deal with you alter if you do bro," She said and he scoffed.

"I would like to see you try as well sis, I will send you flying into space," He replied and the others burst out laughing.

"You guys are hilarious, I can watch this all day long, but unfortunately right now we have somewhere we need to be," Nessa said.

"Stop enjoying this lady Nessa," Riki replied with a shady smile and she patted him on the shoulder.

"Relax, I won't let them do anything to you either way," She said and he exhaled deeply.

"You girls are literally impossible, we are going to be late, let's go," Riki replied as he walked away, and Nessa waved at them before leaving with Riki, and they exchanged glances.

"Do you think those two will be fine?" Liya asked as she looked at Dalia, who smiled.

"They will be just fine, you know your brother will never let anything happen to her, no matter what, besides, they won't be long, most might be a day," Dalia responded and Liya sighed.

"You are right, well, we can't be wasting time here, we have work to do, we delayed enough for the day, let's get back to work," Liya said.

"You are correct, our work has been delayed long enough, we are wasting too much time, come on guys, let's get back to work now," Youthim replied, and his brothers smiled before returning to work because there was still a lot to do and they had wasted enough time for one day.

Nessa heard voices while walking through the forest and looked at Riki, who sighed and looked at the trees.

"Who or what are those voices?" She inquired.

"I really have no idea, but don't worry, just stay close, we'll get to that mountain by night," He replied.

"I hope so, because these voices are creeping me out," She said and he chuckled.

"It's fine," he replied, "I don't think they mean any harm."

"Let's hope you're correct; I don't mind hurting the whisperers." He patted her on the shoulder, and she looked at him, and he smiled.

"Lady Nessa, what if the stronger nations don't want us here?" Riki asked and she smiled.

"Do you care about what they want?" She asked.

"No, I don't care about what they want, I will only do what's good for the ones around me, the ones I care about," He responded.

"Exactly, as will I; I will not let anyone walk over us, Riki; if they even consider attacking here, I will make them pay by destroying their very foundation," She said, and his eyes widened as he came to a halt and stared at her as she continued walking, only to realize he had stopped then she turned around to look at him.

"What's the matter, Riki?" She asked.

"Even if they're a powerful empire led by humans and magical beings?" He asked.

"I don't care how powerful they are, they have no right over this place, I will give them a fight if that's what they want, I have a habit of not giving up on what I want, I want this place to stand and shine, it's not going to burn, even if it does, I will burn them back then take what's theirs, that's more than fair, I will get stronger to do so, a monster if need be," She responded as his eyes shook and she smiled at him then he looked up at the trees as the wind blew against them and a smile appeared on his face.