The Eternal Imperium

Chapter 5: The Inquisitor's Reign

Xanthe Rumpole, the current headmistress of Shade Academy, sits inside an Eternal Imperium prison cell. She was currently bound in a straight jacket, which prevented her from using her semblance. She had deduced that she had been taken to Atlas and would be tortured for her information on the location of the Relic of Destruction.

She was in the middle of mentally preparing herself for what most likely would be a very long torture session. Hearing the door open, she wasn't surprised to see that Winter Schnee stepped into the room. But Xanthe was most astonished by who came in after her.

Kreel: "A pleasure to see you, Xanthe. How long has it been?"

Kreel casually spoke as he entered the cell. He wore a stark white uniform with black trimmings and slight blue accents. The colors indicating his supreme rank of Emperor. He takes a seat in a chair across from Xanthe.

Xanthe: "Not long enough." Her voice practically dipped with venom.

Kreel: "Now. Now. I understand you're feelings regarding my Imperium's recent actions. But you must understand, times are changing. The world does not need Huntsmen and separate kingdoms anymore. If we continued to hold malice against each other, then the only force that would benefit would be the Grimm."

Xanthe: "Save your speeches for those who are too blind to see past your lies."

Kreel: "*sigh* Miss Rumpole, I am a man to which I have been given many descriptors. Cruel, Ruthless, Treacherous, and at times Ambitious. But I have also been called Compassionate, Understanding, but most of all. I have been known to be very Calm and Reasonable. At our first meeting at the Peace Summit 3 years ago, following the union of the Atlas Kingdom and my Eternal Imperium, I had gotten the understanding that you, too, were a Calm and Reasonable person. Are you still a Calm and Reasonable person?"

Xanthe: "When the moment calls for, Calm and Reasonable."

Kreel: "I'd say this is one of those moments. You see, unfortunately, my daughter here took a nasty habit from her biological father. That being her less-than-indefinite patience. If this 'discussion' took too long, she may become irritated. And we both don't want her to do anything rash when she's irritated."

Xanthe: "You call her that, knowing she isn't. None of them are. Theodore and I know the type of man you are. You don't care for your 'family'; they're just a means to an end for you. If the moment came, you would throw every one of their lives away just to save their own. Even your, oh so majestic Willow—"

Xanthe is cut off as she is lifted off the ground and floats in the air. Her windpipe was slowly being crushed, and she could do nothing about it. Meanwhile, Kreel merely sat in the chair that had been provided for him—a look of contempt across his face.

Kreel: "Miss Rumpole, I have no care for the words of those who pose little threat to me. I find them childishly adorable at times. But speaking of my wife or my children again in such a manner and, I will personally flay you alive in your own city."

Xanthe is then dropped to the floor as air returns to her lungs, and she can breathe. She looked up the two Schnee to see that neither had moved. Winter seemed to want to do something, but having witnessed her father handle the situation, she relented. Meanwhile, Kreel sat in the chair with a look of mild contemplation before rolling his eyes in annoyance and standing up.

Kreel: "In light of your very hostile behavior during this 'discussion,' I have decided that simply asking you for the information we seek is beyond my patience. I shall simply take it."

Winter: "Father?" Both she and Xanthe seemed confused by how Kreel would go about doing such a thing.

Kreel didn't answer as he merely held his hand forward., Xanthe then felt a tremendous stabbing pain in her head, like she was being operated on while still awake. Kreel kept calm as he delved into Xanthe Rumpole's mind. He didn't have to use such a technique, but being so close to achieving his final goal, he was more than willing to do what was necessary to reach his goal.

Xanthe writhed in pain on the ground as she held her head and screamed out in agony. Winter had no clue what was going on. Weiss had told her that Kreel could do things that seemed otherworldly, but she dismissed it as hearsay. But getting a glimpse of what Kreel could do was frightening, to say the least. She watched as her father was seemingly torturing a person with little to no care at all while not even touching them. Then, turning back to Xanthe, she looked in abject horror as blood began to leak from her eyes and nose soon, though Xanthe would stop moving as she lay on the floor, still breathing but practically dead.

Kreel: "There we have it. Inform Weiss that she is to look for a man named Red, the Desert Pirate, and the Red Beast. He should have a journal in his possession leading to the location of the Relic of Destruction. Have Miss Rumpole here disposed of in an orderly fashion." Kreel merely turned around and began to exit the cell, with Winter hurriedly following behind him.

Winter: "Father?! What was that? What did you just do to her?"

Kreel stopped in the middle of the detention hallway as his two Royal Guards now flanked him. He nodded to them as they took a few steps away to allow him to speak to Winter in private.

Kreel: "Look, Winter, I understand that I am a very different man than Jacques. I have a variety of abilities that some have come to call 'divine' or 'godly,' but I want you to know that what I do. The cruelty and pain that I cause I do to protect our family. Ensure that you, Weiss, Whitely, and Willow can have a future free from worry and hardship. You understand that, don't you?"

Winter: "I...I do. I apologize for questioning you, Father."

Kreel: "Do not apologize. You merely have the compassionate nature that you and your mother both share. I greatly appreciate that even with the duty that you have been given, you do not let it define you and instead keep to what makes you human."

Winter: "Thank you, Father. I appreciate that you hold me to such high praise. Are you off back to the manor?"

Kreel: "Yes, I am. You know how your mother gets when I am gone for too long. I Best return before she comes here and drags me back."

Kreel and Winter share a laugh before Kreel begins to head back down the hallway, followed by his guards. Leaving Winter with both a sense of pride in her Father but also a great deal to think about.