Legend of the Holy Sentinels: Night Hunters

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE - the AFTERMATH

Zeba's rhythmic knock came only by a fraction of a second as she entered Prodea's solitary quarters which appeared quite smugly to Prodea. She's letting her know she doesn't fear her anymore by not waiting outside and doing what she wants to do for a change but that doesn't quite bode well for her as she witnessed inside a cheerful Prodea clasping her hands as if awaiting her arrival.

"Good evening, Zeba. Look! I have a surprise for you."

She pointed right in front and saw a new titan kneeling to Prodea. A man with a figure that is darkened by the black smoke engulfing him. As if the smoke akin to the black fumes of a bonfire smothers his appearance being blurred.

Zeba walked in curious to inspect and asked. "Isn't that the Earl, Eryk Caden?"

Prodea smiled still peeled at the kneeling titan with a bow. "I told him I always come through with my promises. Indeed, I honor my word more than anything, and when I say I'd do something, I always try and follow through with it."

The titan mumbled to find words and only managed to choke on a few letters.

"You have my permission to speak," Prodea ordered as if enjoying herself.

"This is not what we discussed," he said with a depressed tone, almost angry but shaking to soften every word to provide respect to his new master. "You said I will marry Lime..."

"Oh! Indeed this is what we've discussed," Prodea refuted. "I told you, you will marry someone within two months. If that doesn't happen, I make you a titan. And now here you are. A titan. Does this not please you?"

"You said I will marry Lime you witch!" he said almost crying. He managed to shout but was forced to bow his head lower than before for his impudence.

"Again? I thought you understood what my answer is days ago? I thought that searing pain has branded my answer on your thick skull."

"You betrayed me..."

"What I said is you'll marry. I didn't say to whom, nor specified it to be Lime. I already told you Lime will take time but no, you insisted you be married within two months and so here we are. If you took a step back to notice, it clearly is your fault. You shouldn't have forced me to take this path."

"You've cheated me."

"You think you feel cheated? What about me? Have you considered my feelings too? Clearly your transformation is virtually a waste of good slaves. You're of much use to me as a personal butler especially with that kind of power you obtained. Simply pathetic!"

Tears accumulated on her carpet for about half a minute till Prodea laughed again to mock him.

"You know who you should blame though?" She paused for a while letting go of her leash on the titan to make him look at her eyeing on Zeba. "Now, I don't want to play the blame game but I was legally dead for forty-one days and she's the one planning your marriage. I don't want to insinuate but I think you know where to point the finger."

"Me!?" scoffed Zeba. "I'm not the one who turned him into a black- s-shadowy- dark smoking man, or whatever it is that he is now!"

"Well you should own after your own mistakes Zeba. After all, Illyriah escaped because of your ill-planning. If the marriage took place weeks ago, he shouldn't have been like that and I would've gotten a better Titan. I mean look at him? Does that look like a titan that I can use when I battle out Kuya-Artemus? His skill is to disperse in the air for goodness sake! What the Yit'ard is that!? Sure he could dodge a punch but what then? What then!?"

"You should've thought of that before you made him titan!" Zeba proudly responded which made Prodea gasp being entertained in her streak of petulance. "Or better yet, you should've modified his skill to what you like, Isn't that the purpose of sacrificing slave lives? To give your titans power?"