The Paragons

Chapter 61: Until The Lightning Strikes

—One Week Later—

In the Shimmering Plane, Raalmus was busy painting a new mural on the rear wall of the throne room. It depicted the full splendor and beauty of the dimension as it was before Malcorchus's rule had nearly brought it to ruin. Had it not been for The Viper's selfless intervention, their kind would have most certainly been wiped out for good.

As he finished coloring in one picture, Nic'qura walked into the chamber and took a knee before Raalmus. "My King....." she greeted. "It is good to have things back to the way they were before."

Raalmus turned around and smiled. "Indeed. My son's reign was one of darkness, of peril, and of pain. Of acting without thinking. Now, at long last, we can finally begin to forge a new path for our world.....free from his influence. After all, we have no need to worry about our dimension's health anymore.....we can focus on other things." He then paused briefly. "I understand that one among you.....'Sin'lazo', I believe.....has done questionable things to The Viper in the past.....?"

"Yes, Your Majesty.....but rest assured, he shall not trouble her—or the rest of us—anymore."

The new king raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? What did you have planned?"

"Sin'lazo did not kill The Viper.....he simply violated and humiliated her. So.....it is only fitting that the rest of my team and I do the same. You'll be happy to know that he will be spending the rest of his years.....as our eternal test subject."

As if on cue, Raalmus could hear the sounds of loud electric blasts and pained screaming coming from the next room over, and he grinned with delight. "Very good, Chief Scientist.....feel free to use him however you wish. Show him no mercy.....for he surely did not show The Viper any."

Nic'qura nodded affirmatively, and was about to depart when the Soothsayer also walked through the entryway into the throne room.

"Soothsayer....." Nic'qura mused. "I have not seen you since Malcorchus was a child.....how are things?"

The old woman chuckled. "Well, I disappeared from existence for several hours, so it could be better," she snarked. "I hear that The Viper is responsible for the Plane's renewal?"

"She is," Raalmus confirmed. "No more searching out other planets.....no more endangering other innocent species.....those days are behind us."

The Soothsayer approached the new king remorsefully. "Sire.....I sincerely apologize for providing Malcorchus with aid in the past.....it was I who convinced him to launch his full-scale attack on Earth. If you would have me punished.....then so be it."

Raalmus, however, shook his head and placed a warm hand on the elder's shoulder. "Everything Malcorchus did was his own fault.....absolve yourself of any wrongdoing," he urged. "If anything.....it is I who should be apologizing to you. In Malcorchus's youth, you sacrificed your time and energy to take care of him whenever I was away.....only for all of it to have been for nothing. I made you waste so much of your life.....and for that, I am sorry."

"Understood. All is forgiven, my King. Let us forge onward together, yes?"

"Of course. We must look to the future, and that future is us," Nic'qura agreed. "I highly doubt things will ever completely return to the way they were before Malcorchus took the throne, but with us around, and with a new king at the helm.....I think everything is going to be just fine."

Raalmus snapped his fingers. "Oh, that reminds me! There's someone else who was returned to life as a result of The Viper's wish! He was a huge fan of mine in his early years, and faithfully served Malcorchus for many more; I have no doubt he will be loyal to me as well."