Arpious of the Planes

In a mesmerizing display of skill, I sent a guard's sword spiraling through the air with a spinning strike, disarming him in an instant. Another guard fell victim to a well-placed kick to the chest, the sound of his armor clanging against the marble floor echoing through the hall.

As the battle raged on, my movements became even more fluid, my attacks more precise. It was as if I could predict their every move before they even conceived it. With each adversary I incapacitated, my confidence swelled, and my resolve deepened.

The once-coordinated group of guards descended into chaos, their attacks growing erratic and desperate. Some attempted to regroup, but I was relentless, striking down any who dared to challenge me.

Finally, with a final, graceful flourish of my longsword, I incapacitated the last guard. He fell to his knees in surrender, and the royal hall fell silent, the echoes of battle dissipating into the opulent surroundings. I stood victorious amidst the fallen guards, my chest heaving with exertion, a testament to my unmatched combat prowess, and a beacon of courage and defiance for those who believed in my cause.

"Huff… huff… huff… huh?" I muttered as I saw the elven king spurt a mouthful of blood. The elven queen beside him smiled. It was a devious and horrifying grin that sent shivers down everybody's spine. 

…

(Arpious POV)

As I entered the cozy living room, the first thing that caught my eye was her. She sat in a plush, oversized sofa chair positioned next to a crackling fireplace, wrapped in the warm embrace of the softest throw blanket. The room itself exuded an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility, but it was her presence that truly made it feel like a haven.

Her posture was relaxed, and she looked entirely at ease as if the outside world held no sway over her at this moment. The flickering flames from the fireplace cast a gentle, golden glow across her features, accentuating the soft contours of her face. Her hair, a cascade of rich chestnut, spilled over her shoulders in gentle waves, seemingly untouched by the passage of time.

In her hands, she cradled a delicate porcelain teacup, and the tendrils of steam rising from its contents carried the fragrant aroma of herbal tea. The cup's delicate handle was held with grace as if she had done this countless times before. A golden teaspoon, clinking softly against the fine china, stirred the tea with a slow, rhythmic motion. Her eyes were fixed on the swirling currents of liquid within the cup as if lost in thought.

The room itself was a study in comfort and luxury. The fireplace crackled with a soothing cadence, radiating warmth that enveloped her in a cocoon of coziness. Above the mantle, an ornate mirror reflected the soft light and the flickering dance of the flames, creating an ambiance of understated elegance. Shelves lined with books and trinkets whispered of stories and memories accumulated over a lifetime.

Outside, the world might have been rushing by, but in this moment, everything was still. The woman in the sofa chair, with her tea and the comforting embrace of the room, seemed to be in perfect harmony with the universe. It was a scene of simple, timeless beauty — a moment of respite and serenity that felt like a refuge from the chaos of the world, a sanctuary where the worries of the day dissolved in the gentle swirls of tea and the warmth of the hearth.

"I'm sorry about earlier," I lightly chuckled, sitting down on another one of the sofa chairs next to her.

She didn't respond. Clearly, she was still pissed about earlier and as I thought about needing her support, I couldn't bring myself to dig any further. For now, I just needed to wait until her feelings blew over and I could once again interrogate more information out of her. 

"Just tell me what you need and get out."

A light smile swayed over my face before quickly disappearing as my lips cracked open. "Where exactly can I find the portal to the next plane? Or does this plane not have access to that function yet?" 

"*sigh*... why am I even surprised… of course, you're from a different plane. I would have heard about you if you had already existed here," Elara continued to stir her fragrant extract. "That information you asked of is incredibly dangerous to give away for free. I hope you don't mind paying me prior to me giving you what you want." 

"Hmmmmm…?" I dug my chin into my hand as our eyes met, her expression unwavering. "Depends what it is. If it sounds intriguing I might give it a shot, but if it's not… well, I don't mind tearing this plane apart to find what I need." 

"I need you to help me retake the Elven Kingdom now turned Queendom on this plane." 

…

(Elara POV)

In the realm of Eldoria, a kingdom nestled deep within an ancient and mystical forest, an elven queen named Seraphina emerged as a ruler with ambitions that would forever alter the course of history. Seraphina was a vision of ethereal beauty, with flowing silver hair that shimmered like moonlight and emerald eyes that held the secrets of the forest itself. She was wise, charismatic, and possessed a thirst for power that surpassed any monarch before her.

As the ruling monarch of Eldoria, Seraphina harbored dreams of expanding her kingdom beyond the boundaries of the enchanted forest. She believed that Eldoria deserved to flourish and prosper at the forefront of the world's civilizations. To achieve this goal, she devised a grand and audacious plan.

Seraphina began by harnessing the unparalleled knowledge of the elves in the ways of magic and nature. Under her guidance, Eldoria's forests bloomed with vitality, and the kingdom's prosperity grew exponentially. The once-hidden elven city expanded, reaching heights of grandeur unseen by any kingdom. The elves themselves flourished, living in opulent splendor.

However, Seraphina's ambitions extended far beyond the borders of Eldoria. She initiated a campaign of conquest that brought neighboring lands under her dominion. Her armies, composed of highly skilled elven warriors, advanced through the surrounding territories with a grace and precision that was unmatched. Other demi-human and human races living in those lands were subjugated, their freedom stripped away, and they were forced into servitude.

The once-proud civilizations that had flourished in harmony with nature were now shackled under the rule of the elven queen. Elves ruled with an iron fist, enforcing their superiority and subjugating those they deemed inferior. Seraphina, while claiming to seek unity among the races, established a rigid hierarchy that placed the elves at the top, with other races forced to labor for their benefit.

The lands surrounding Eldoria were plundered for resources, and the very forests that had once been a sanctuary for all living creatures were subjected to exploitation. The once-great civilizations of dwarves, humans, and other demi-human races found themselves toiling under the oppressive rule of the elven queen, their cultures and traditions fading into distant memories.

Seraphina's ascension to power was not without intrigue and manipulation. She subtly undermined potential rivals within her own court, using her charm and cunning to sway the nobility to her side. She was willing to use any means necessary to secure her position, even resorting to blackmail, deceit, and assassination when it suited her goals.

To consolidate her power, Seraphina delved into the forbidden arts of blood magic. She performed dark rituals that required sacrifices of innocent beings, further fueling the darkness that would come to define her reign. The very life force of the surrounding civilizations was drained to empower her spells and enchantments.

Seraphina's conquests were marked by ruthless subjugation. Entire communities of humans, dwarves, and other demi-human races were forcibly enslaved, and subjected to brutal labor and dehumanizing conditions. Those who resisted faced harsh punishments or execution, and their lands were stripped of resources.

As Seraphina sought to consolidate her dominion, she systematically eradicated the cultures, traditions, and languages of the conquered civilizations. Books and scrolls were burned, temples and monuments destroyed, and any form of resistance or dissent was brutally suppressed. This cultural erasure served to break the spirit of those she ruled over, leaving them disconnected from their heritage.

While Eldoria's forests appeared more vibrant than ever on the surface, they harbored a darker secret. Seraphina's use of dark magic tainted the land, twisting the once-benevolent flora and fauna into malevolent forms. These corrupted woods became a symbol of her reign, filled with eerie, sentient creatures that enforced her rule through fear and intimidation.

Seraphina's propaganda machine painted her as a benevolent ruler who brought prosperity and enlightenment to the world. However, this facade was maintained through fear and suppression of dissent. Anyone who dared to speak out against her or question her methods was swiftly silenced, and the spreading of dissenting ideas was met with brutal retaliation.

Queen Seraphina's thirst for power knew no bounds. She constantly sought new lands to conquer, leading to a ceaseless cycle of warfare and enslavement. The conquered territories were ruthlessly exploited for their resources, with little regard for the suffering inflicted upon their inhabitants.

As Queen Seraphina's rule continued, the kingdom of Eldoria grew ever more powerful and oppressive. Her dark reign cast a pall over the world, leaving scars that would endure for generations to come. The surrounding civilizations lived in perpetual fear, their once-thriving cultures reduced to a shadow of their former glory. The rise of the elven queen had plunged the world into a dark age from which it may never fully recover.