Voyage Of The Villainess

"I'm honestly impressed," Elred remarked, a grin on his face. "It appears that the individuals who are with Lady Malaya are not really regular people," he said calmly, despite the fact that a spear was aimed at him.

"You're not going to question why I know your identity?" Iris said. She was scrutinizing every bit of Elred's expression.

"Of course, Lady Iris, I want to ask, but I'm guessing you won't say that easily."

"Ah, You have a point," Iris said. "But you should definitely ask. However, since I'm a gracious woman at heart. The reason why I know your identity is..."

Elred waited for Iris' next words. 

"It's because I'm the god and creator of this wonderful and magical world. Hahaha." Her laughter was laced with haughtiness.

There was a brief moment of silence in the air. "If you say so, Lady Iris," Elred said simply at the end.

Iris just frowned at his response. "Hah. It sounds like you don't believe me don't you?"

"Of course I don't." Elred maintained his smile.

"And I make myself look like some crazy woman in front of you, right?"

"Indeed. You do." Elred answered once again.

"And you're now making fun of me in your mind." 

"No. I'm not." Elred answered, his sunny smile didn't leave his lips. 

"Hah," Iris exclaimed in disbelief at Elred's quick response to all of her queries. She withdrew the spear that was aimed towards Elred and proceeded to stride towards the railings

"What does the emperor want with us?" She just simply and calmly asked, looking at the island.

"Turning your back like that, are you not afraid that I will run away or kill you?" 

"No," Iris said simply as her eyes wandered beyond the misty horizons. "If you want to hurt us, whatever the emperor instructs you to do, with your power and true identity, even we will not be able to do to you if you want to kill us."

Elred's eyes no longer showed amusement and had turned absolutely icy.

"My real identity? What are you talking about?" He slowly put his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Before Rabeza became the fourth dukedom of the Hacien, there was an Elven tribe located in the northern portion of the Rabeza; however, now that the emperor has conquered that territory, I'm curious what happened to the elves that lived there?"

*Clank!*

Iris turned to face Elred with a grin on her lips. Her spear collided with his sword. Rage could be seen in Elred's clear blue eyes. "You seem to know a lot, Lady Iris."

"Of course, as I've stated, I'm the god of this world," Iris declared. "Of course, in this world, I'm an omniscient being, hahaha!"

'Elred Graceblood, the Last of the Rabeza Northern Elves' royalty. You and you're people were once a proud and powerful elven race. The emperor would not be able to subjugate your people if it weren't for the present duchess of Rabeza, who betrayed your tribe. That was the character set I gave you. Even Malaya and Gina were unaware of these details. And, if you think about it, it might be partly my responsibility that you live like this, Elred. If you know about this, you'll probably murder me.'

Iris continued to scrutinize Elred. "Look at your face Eldred! Why are you so mad right now?" Iris smirked. "I don't know that the elven race, particularly their prince, could also be easily angered like this." 

"Lady Iris!" Visible lavender lights were now surging out of Elred. Both of his fists had sparks of wind and fire surging.

The waves were roaring wild as lighting and thunder roared within the skies.

'Whoah! This pressure! What a ridiculous power huh. So this is the actual magic of elves. Pretty scary. But...'

All of the sudden, Elred couldn't move anymore as if he was paralyzed. Now, everything around them started to return to its calm nature now.

"Too bad, but no matter how strong and powerful you are, you can't easily defeat me either." Iris paused when something came to her mind. 

'Ah well, I guess, I'm quite contradicting my words earlier, that if he wants he can easily kill us. I guess it won't happen really easily since we will still fight. And thank goodness he is one of the characters I wrote.'

"What did you do to me?" Elred exclaimed angrily as he struggled to move. But no matter what he did, he couldn't move his body.

"Elred, since my moths are likely to reach Rein and Dorris soon, I'll make everything quick now," Iris said, disregarding his fury. "Though not my style, but to that annoying captain who is still lost in Wonderland. Tsk." Iris halted to calm herself as she recalled she still needed to find Malaya.

"I will help you and your subjects in obtaining freedom from the emperor."

Elred looked up at Iris, his rage was still visible on his face.

"Free? Stop talking nonsense, Lady Iris. Tell me how can you do that? The emperor's strength is not a joke to laugh for. Are you planning to overtake the emperor?"

"Come on, of course not!" Iris shook her head and raised both her hands in defense. "That's a crazy and stupid idea!" She laughed nervously. 

"And even if I do that, the captain of ours might kill me," Iris grumbled, though Elred could still hear her.

"Listen, there is a way for you and your tribe to escape even if you don't attack the emperor," Iris said. "The Duchess of Rabeza," she named.

"What does it do with her?" 

"I know you know what I'm talking about. The holy branch that belongs to your tribe," Iris grinned as she noticed Elred's countenance change to seriousness. "I know where the duchess hid it, but there's a price," Iris stated as she moved closer to Eldred. "If you only help me, I'll tell you where it is."

'The sacred branch. I have looked for it so many times. But how can this woman, a former slave who I've just met on this ship, know this?'

"I know you just want the best for your people, Elred," Iris said, touching the metal collar around her neck. "And I did tell you that I was once a slave, right? I know what it's like to have no freedom; if you help me, I'll help you and your people obtain the freedom you long deserve," Iris remarked this time with sincerity.

Elred fell in silence as he scrutinized Iris who looked at him with great sincerity and seriousness. Though he was still wary, he thought if what she said was right, then his people... would be finally free. And even if not, he could just simply proceed with his plan and bring Malaya back to the Emperor without pretenses now.

"What did you need my help with?" Elred finally spoke after a moment of contemplation.

"You must also sense the great concentration of dark magic here." Iris narrowed her gaze as if she was troubled by something. "Whatever happens to this island, and until we leave this island, please protect Malaya when we find her."

"Why only her that I need to protect? And even if I don't do that, for sure Sir Rein and even Dorris will protect her as well."

Iris clenched her fist. In the Fate of the Stars, there was an alternate version she wrote that no one knew about as well. That other version. Malaya's ending was not only banishment there. 

{Hyun Jae, set her conquest to defeat the demon lord. And during one of her journeys, in a certain place that was not specified. They found the banished ex-fiance of the crown prince and the cold, rotting dead body of Malaya.}

When Iris wrote it, she realized it made no sense why she needed to include that scene in the story. As a result, she just removed it. But, ever since they came on this island and encountered Hyun Jae, she has been filled with worry as she recalls those deleted scenes.

Then she returned her gaze to the cloaked individuals they had just tied. When Iris saw the mark of the demon cult on their hands, it just added to her fear.

"Please," Iris said as she clutched her chest. "Please promise me that no matter what happens, you'll protect her."

Elred scrutinized Iris's expression. He could sense that she was greatly afraid of something.

"Yes." Elred finally answered. "You have my word to protect her in exchange for the freedom of my people."

Relief filled Iris' expression. "Then seal this contract with the goddess of light."

'With this, there would be many people protecting her. That deleted scene, it should not happen now right?' But since Iris was still not able to find Malaya, she couldn't still feel the very least complacent in the situation.

---⚓⚓⚓---

Meanwhile back at Malaya. She clenched her fist to calm down herself from the things she had just heard from that mysterious woman. 

Because there was Oliver, her best ally and their terrifying tactician, on every phase of their battle. And now that terrifying tactician has become the demon lord?' Malaya felt a flash of fear within her.

"Malaya, are you alright?"

Malaya turned behind when she heard Hyun Jae's worried voice.

"Hyun Jae..." Malaya's lips curved back into her usual calm smile, concealing her distress. Her clenched right fist was hidden behind her back.. "Let's figure out how we're going to save those people in that village now."