Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

A wave of relief washed the icy dread and all the tension that had kept him moving forward.

His shoulders slumped, his back bent, and his knees gave way as he collapsed to the unforgiving ground. Just learning about Karna's condition had that much impact, especially after all the worries and tough choices he had to consider on his way, not to mention the sacrifices.

'The only thing that matters is his safety.' His heart sang in delight as he took a long exhale. 'We'll soon return to the territory, teach. Just need to deal with the witch and her bizarre interest first.'

Behind him, Sylvie's spectral frame trembled within the fog. This voice! The terror it brought upon Elden! She would never forget it.

"Mortals do have such delightful ideas about order and death, don't they? To toy with it is to dance on a line so fine… quite charming, really."

An ominous chuckle, as icy as Jotunheim's coldest winds, had rocked the kingdom that day. Then, the voice echoed, probably as dark as the mythical Hel. In fact, they had all believed it was her at first... what an insult to the fair goddess of death.

Instead, the one they had awakened was cruel, manipulative, and commanded powers far surpassing Hel's outside of her domain. The queen of magic, she had called herself—a fitting yet dread-inspiring name regarding what she did.

Just remembering forced her teeth to sink into her lips and nails to scrap against the ground.

Winter, illusions, decay. They had all swarmed Elden, turning the country into a barren land of undead where nothing strived for the last three thousand years.

The few who survived the calamity claimed a small forest in the south, swearing to become nature's guardians. Yet, the damage was already done, and the realm was divided into a vibrant and dead half.

That's why Oikos never expanded east. There was just nothing worth the investment there. That is, until a month ago.

She shook her head, casting her thoughts aside to focus on Adam's rising figure.

Urgency and worry gnawing at her, she hovered before him and stuttered.

"Be careful, Adam. She'll try to manipulate you..." Her lips quivered, the hope that had shone so brightly a second ago fading again. "Or worse. Don't trust or agree to any of this mad-goddess' demands."

Meanwhile, Adam scrutinised the raw emotions almost bursting out of her silver eyes and smiled. Even if they just met, seeing her care warmed his chest as he nodded.

"Wait for me, Sylvie." He winked at her. "I'll return to free you in the blink of an eye."

Yet, a storm of doubts swirled beneath his fake confidence. And his steps reflected just that. Leaden and slow, lacking their usual determination. After all, he would meet a goddess who could crush him under her thumb before he knew what happened.

A few seconds later, he descended a spiral staircase untouched by the passing years. A natural scent and a pleasant chill accompanied him until lyres, pan flutes, and bodhrans buzzed in his ears.

The entrancing tune reverberated against his bones, almost forcing him to dance against his will as he emerged into a throne room.

Multicolored butterfly wings flapped and danced in the air, creating an enchanting spectacle he had never seen.

Yet, his eyes narrowed at their size. No taller than his thumb, they wielded various instruments and spread joy in the crypt's depth.

'Add rainbows to the fairies, a lot of pink, and a few unicorns, and we're in any teenager's dreamland.'

As he found a sliver of humor in his situation, two bright lights descended from the ceiling and landed on a 165cm fairy.

CLAP

Her detached, transparent sleeves fluttered as she clapped her hands and smiled at him.

Under the spotlight, her dark dress swirled, the exquisite embroideries coming to life. The leaves on her waist and chest rustled with her movements as her bright purple wings followed, releasing golden dust particles that added to the mystical and festive atmosphere.

In shock, he scrutinised her amethyst eyes, a large dark necklace adorned with a violet jewel, and exquisite earrings of the same hue. Then, her raven hair tied by ethereal butterflies forced a gasp of genuine admiration out of him. Her divine beauty, her flawless skin—it was almost blinding.

However, when everything painted her as the cruellest individual he would ever meet, she... she... what?

Pupils constricted and jaw dropping, he watched her spin and twirl in a blur of colors without care. Following the tune, her steps caressed the ground delicately before growing as fierce as a tiger's paws.

Despite the unexpected spectacle, his heart hastened with each passing second. Mesmerised, he even failed to muster a sarcastic thought until the music stopped.

Then, she curtsied with dream-like elegance and grinned mischievously.

"At ease, little Adam. The test is over, and you passed it."

She waved her hand, reality shattering into light particles. The fairies disappeared alongside the bright lights and instruments, returning the room to its icy calm.

She opened her arms in a grand gesture and chuckled.

"Welcome to the queen of magic's humble dwelling. But you might know me under another name."

With a snap of her finger, a colossal tree overlooking a lush forest weaved itself from illusions. Fairy scurried under the bright blue sky, eagerness painting their faces as she continued.

"The first fairy queen, the goddess of ice and death, the queen of magic and illusion. The biological mother of Oberon and the most whimsical creature to ever exist: Queen Mab."
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Adam inhaled sharply as the name echoed in his ears.

Queen Mab! He... didn't know her that much. Still, his breath quickened, and his pupils constricted.

'She's related to a famous man!' His blood boiled in his trembling fists. 'More than famous, everyone knows him! The enchanter, the shapeshifting druid, he who can see the future. So many titles and different legends, yet present in most games and stories.'

Before he could continue this line of thought, Mab chuckled, and her lips curled into a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"You already know about him. I guess that's what happens when you lose."

Her voice chilled, her narrowing eyes making him gulp and tense.

Then, he sighed when her welcoming smile returned as if nothing had happened.

'Note to myself: don't think too much before her...'