Clea Episode 7

Trigger warnings

Mentions of death, bad words

Kle’ora took in a long deep breath. She had never been to the capital before, nor had either of her parents. It was completely new territory for her, and she knew she would never fit in among them here. The people within the capital were all gifted or unaffected individuals. The few that had mutations like hers were hidden and lived within the outer circle. There was distaste for people like her, she knew that well, and in the capital it was worse than any other place. Mutants like her were never truly loved here, nor were they ever in any higher position than the working class. The worse the mutation, the worse the treatment. And hers would be considered horrific, because there is more than just one.

“Are you alright, Kle’ora?” Konra asked from her side. While he adjusted the hood of his cloak to hide his upper eyes. He was concealed almost completely from head to toe, his central eyes hidden behind purple tinted round glasses to conceal their odd shape and colour. While a turklet rested around his neck in case he wanted to hide his face.

“Just nervous,” she responded while she turned her attention to him, looking away from the massive gates ahead of them. “I haven’t been among this many people since… ever.”

“Well, that’s what happens when everyone in the dimension are invited to watch. It’s going to be crammed,” he explained with a chuckle.

“Yeah… but as long as we stick to the plan, I won’t have to deal with that many people.” she countered with a grin. Watching the gathering crowds around.

“That’s true. We are a bit more lucky on that part.” he responded while he looked back ahead. Adjusting the glasses that had slid down his nose just enough to be annoying.

Kle’ora would adjust her hood as they got closer to the gates. Ensuring her third arm was tucked tightly behind her back alongside her bow and arrows. Which she had dipped in poison for this special occasion. She knew Gleo’zir and the Ancient One’s groups were already inside. As they needed to be far closer to the main stage. The other leaders were inside too, and the rest would be entering through other gates. It was all incredibly nerve wrecking. Making her rub her hands together anxiously as her, Konra and their group approached the gates. The guards that stood there barely seemed to be paying attention to the people that ed them. They just stood, and would occasionally gesture inside the walls as people walked by.

After a bit more of steadily walking with the slow flow of the crowd Kle’ora would find herself staring straight up at this guard. They barely seemed to look her way, and even when they did look down she swore she could see a disgusted expression through the helmet. Had they not been so intimidatingly tall she would’ve been ready to strike them both down. But for now she just lowered her head and walked through the door alongside Konra. Raising her right hand to tuck up her mask over her nose. Concealing as much of her as she could, all the while she felt Konra’s hand brush along her back. At first it felt like a silent comfort; then she realised he was guiding her because she couldn’t actually see. Her dipped head rendered her basically blind as all she saw was her feet. Watching her dust coated boots stepping rhythmically against the stone paved ground. Something that she hadn’t walked over in ages. Rendering every step a painful strike against her heels.

“You might want to look up soon, Ora,” Konra spoke with a snarky tone. His hand practically smacking her back in response. Leaving him shaking it afterwards with a small hiss.

“You really never ,” Kle’ora said, feeling her lips uncontrollably tug into a smile.

“ what? That you are a walking brick??? No, I that.” he grumbled while he rubbed his palm.

“You never seem to show that,” she responded while she looked over. Her eye squinting as she smirked beneath her mask. “With how often you almost break your wrist hitting my back.”

“Yeah yeah yeah, shut up. We’re meant to be focused,” he continued to grumble instead of speaking. Had her hearing not been this good she would not have heard anything.

“Not yet, no. You forgot which team you signed up for already, Konra.”

“Yeah yeah we don’t have to stress yet, but you still need to focus enough to not bump into people.”

“Don’t be such a celebration stupor.” Kle’ora laughed before her head snapped in another direction. “OH! I smell good food this way!”

Before Konra could protest, Kle’ora had grabbed such a solid hold of his wrist that he winced in pain. A pause that gave her just enough time to literally drag him across the ground to the nearest food stall. She stopped in front of it with an excited skip, her yellow eyes immediately glaring down at the food on display. Finding her stomach almost growling at the sight. She had never seen fresher dosidicus tentacles before. She could’ve sworn she still saw some twitch even if they were cooked to a crisp with a purple crumbling outside and traces of pink dotted spices all around it.

“Ah!” the person behind the stall chirped, pulling away from his work station where he had been working away on another dosidicus. The giant tentacles were being cut down; and the dead pieces shrunk in response to the use of spices and heat in later processing. Something that visibly happened with his assistance behind him; who was ensuring the pieces were cooked perfectly over the open flame.

“I see that you have taken a liking to our dosidicus pieces! We have more than just the tendrils sticks available. There are also pieces of the head cooked into a delicious soup. Where we have used different herbs that are in season with the use of different cepa and our homemade spiced sauce to dip. A sauce you may get with the tendril sticks as well mind you.” As he explained it all Kle’ora had turned her head towards Konra. Who already had a small bit of a frown present on his face.

“Please?” Kle’ora pleaded from behind the concealing mask. Her eyes widening slightly as though to do puppy eyes; but she didn’t even reach it before Konra groaned and rolled his eyes. Pushing his glasses up afterwards while his right hand dug around in his bag. Grunting something beneath his breath.

“My, he is certainly a grumpy one,” the stall worker chimed with a grin.

“He always is,” Kle’ora responded with a giggle, yet instinctively took a step back as the man caught sight of the unnatural skin colouring around her eyes. His eyes had slightly widened to prompt her sudden move, even if the rest of his face remained friendly.

“Oh dear, don’t you worry about that.” he immediately spoke before crossing his arms. “I may be a gifted one, but even mutants are welcome to enjoy my food. Especially one who took such an eager approach to my little stall.”

“... thank you, sir.” Kle’ora quietly uttered, looking up just enough for her yellow eyes to come into view.

“Of course. Anyone can enjoy food, especially the food that I have made.” he proudly explained with a laugh.

“Finally found it-” Konra blurted out suddenly as he pulled some money out of his pouch. “I don’t even know how it kept- why are you two staring at me?”

“No reason,” the stall owner commented with a grin as Kle’ora laughed. “Now, what’ll it be for you two?”

“We’ll have two dosidicus sticks and one sauce.” Konra explained before he looked over at Kle’ora. “Or more specifically she will.”

“Thank you!” she chirped, before watching as Konra handed the money over. Then turned to eagerly grab the food that she was handed afterwards. Thanking the owner profusely before her and Konra continued walking down the market.

Along the way Kle’ora ate away on the dosidicus sticks. Though as they walked she did struggle to keep herself from asking for more. The closer they got to the platform they would be staying on; the more food was around. It was clear that they stocked up closer to the celebrations to make the most money from the celebrations.

“No.” Konra had muttered the word over and over again each time Kle’ora had looked at a stall. He truly had no control over the barbarian; but today she had decided to listen. The slower flow as they got closer and closer left them walking past it all for two hours. Her heels screamed in protest with every step by now, because the closer they got the bigger the stone steps became. She should’ve definitely taken Konra up on the offer to get new shoes for this mission.

By the time they had reached the platform her mind was distracted by all the food she would be stealing when people would start running. She was definitely going to grab one of those fresh pyrus she had seen, and a full basket of fagaria too. She knew that here those were the most common of foods, but where she grew up they were far past luxury. She assumed they’d never miss something so simple… if not then she had no plan to return here anyways. Unless Clea would invite her later down the line, then she’d maybe consider it.

“Uh… Kle’ora?” Konra snapped his fingers in front of his face.

“HM?!” Her head snapped towards him while she fought the urge to bite his hand off.

“You need to keep your eyes peeled. It's soon time, and you are still meant to start it.” he expressed with a deep sigh, pushing her side to nudge her over towards their section of the platform.

“Yeah yeah yeah, annoying prick.”

“Why did I decide to be your babysitter…”

The next hour between the two was silent. Even if Konra did try to talk, Kle’ora was far too busy just staring. The main plaza as well as the castle were better than any temple she had ever seen. It stretched so high she could barely tell where it grazed the colliding skies above. She knew on top of it was the device that they used to tell time across the dimension for whenever storms rattled and disturbed the skies above. She wondered what it looked like; but it isn’t visible at this time. They only used it when the storms ravaged after all. Besides, she got to distract herself by staring across the castle walls. Guards were practically everywhere, and she knew that the statues along the paths would act as soldiers if the king demanded it. A perfect magical stronghold… with so many cute little blind spots that were so clearly on display. Dormammu had obviously kept all of them after he took over just as a show of power. She could’ve sworn she even saw two new entrances that weren’t on the schematics. Practically making her barf.

Her eyes had shifted to study the plaza by the time she heard loud cheering taking place. Her attention briefly moved onto Konra. Catching just a small nod before the man would slither across the edge of the platform. She would just sigh in response to it, shaking her head briefly then glared back across the plaza. She just had to wait a bit longer, and had to tolerate the sight of the flame head for a bit. So, for now, she looked across the Mhuruuks when they entered. Not paying any attention towards the direction Dorammu was meant to exit. They were led by Umar, the strongest within the Dimension beneath Dormammu. She was dressed beautifully in a deep emerald green dress, a black veil trailing down her back. It was clearly designed to conceal her face too, but the woman showed little care for the rules she was meant to follow. Clea had once mentioned that Umar would side with them, but seeing that display just made Kle’ora scrunch her nose. She swore she could smell the foul stench of “rich prick” from here.

She scoffed beneath her breath, then leaned over the railing. Dropping the sticks she had eaten off of down below before returning her gaze to the small trail of soon to be Mhuruuks. It was weird that they all carried veils, but the ceremony is not usually public so that was probably a part of it. She counted them, curious about how many new ones they’ll have. There were three dressed completely in white. Two in dresses and one in something comparable to a suit. Then the fourth was in all purple. Circles danced along the edges of her dress in a bright magenta, pulling all the way up to her waist. Her veil was longer than the others, and had far more intricate symbols along it. Its edges flowing like pure magic.

“So that’s the niece Clea mentioned…” Kle’ora mumbled for herself before she looked over the other four that followed. Three in the suits, though they were all different, and the last one in a dress. The only one of them that held her hands along her back; and as Kle’ora stared at her she saw the small symbols she did with her fingers. Making her squint her eyes so she could see it clearly even from this distance. Catching the simple message she was given with a wide smile.

“Voids above… she really thought I would forget our deal.”

Kle’ora grumbled, propping her chin up in her palm as she stared at their little walk up towards the stage. Only for her whole face to retract back as she felt her stomach almost push her food right back up. Dormammu had stepped out once the Mhuruuk’s had lined up and Umar was knelt in front of the throne. The man himself would have granted this response from her alone. But seeing that he made his own sister kneel for him like that disgusted her. Because Umar was the first one to do so, then the Mhuruuks and the people that stood closest did. The people that stood past the inner circle of viewers didn’t kneel nor bow, instead they screamed and cheered him on. Even the ones standing on the platform with her did, though they were far more quiet. They mostly shared a toast and a few words, nothing as loud as the people below. Leaving her without the headache she knew it would have given her.

Dormammu had a speech… at least that is what she thought it was. She couldn’t figure out anything of what he was saying. She never knew that seething anger for someone truly meant that you paid no attention to anything they said. She was lucky that the people on the platform with her did not care that she was quiet and still. It did not help that a few feet from her right was a person leaning very similarly; but with nothing else than iration in their eyes. Luckily her face was hidden enough. And the conversation behind her did get a little loud, so she heard a sentence here and there.

“His words are as wonderful as ever,” “Empty you mean,” “Shhh the walls have ears, ?” “Look, even mutants from the slums are here.” “Smart of them to hide their face, poor thing. The mutations must’ve rendered them hideous.”

… maybe listening to Dormammu’s speech would’ve been better.

Luckily when she tuned back in it was Umar who was speaking. Unsurprisingly everyone was paying attention when she was speaking. Clearly there was more love for her, which made Kle’ora believe Clea’s words even more.

“I am so glad that you are all here to celebrate another year of our king’s rule,” Umar started, almost repeating Dormammu’s words. Yet hers didn’t fall on deaf ears as his hand; and was swarming with love for everyone that heard her words.

“Now, we are all more than aware that this was not planned yet for another few weeks. Hence, he isn’t quite there on the cusp of his new year yet,” Umar spoke with a snarked tone as she looked over her shoulder at Dormammu. The burning man’s sudden expression change showed he was displeased with it, but the odd following cackle made countless release the breath they had held. Including Kle’ora.

“That is because our gracious king has granted me my wish.” Umar explained, turning with a gleam towards the people; her arms raised. “My own daughter becomes a Mhuruuk today. Among her fellow students that I got to teach under his care and rules. He has granted me the wish to make my daughter’s step towards her time as a Mhuruuk of our realm a giant celebration. By sharing his day with her, and inviting you from all around to in as well! My daughter, and her fellow students, will today vow to serve you with all the power they possess. To bring our dimension to a prosperous new age!”

There was a pause in her speech, and unlike when Dormammu had one; everyone was screaming and cheering within her little pause. She even let them keep going for a little longer than he had, something that Kle’ora could see from this distance bugged the king to great lengths.

“And today, she will start off your festivities with a display of her power!” Umar exclaimed with joy as the one dressed in purple stepped forwards. Her movements graceful yet quick. It seemed that even she had wanted this all to end quickly, and Kle’ora couldn’t agree more. For as everyone was moving up to the railing she slid her bow slowly out from behind herself. Her eyes glaring at the Mhuruuk as she moved forwards onto the stage. Creating the perfect opening for Kle’ora as the spell rings formed within her hands. Kle’ora stung her bow with the strongest of arrows among her quiver. A grin spread across her face steadily as she slid a leg over the edge and sat up on the railing. Pulling the strength of her impossible bow back as she took in a long deep breath. Then, as the fireworks coloured the sky in countless sparks and shapes; she let go.

“We’re under attack!” a guard shouted loudly as the one that stood beside him dropped dead. Moments before the one who shouted dropped too. Both with arrows perfectly situated into their eye socket. Dormammu’s head snapped around in response before he glared up at Kle’ora. Who ripped her mask and hood off with a giant grin. Standing with one foot hooked in the railing as she saluted him. Moments before she leapt off the edge as a loud war horn rang out across the entire plaza. Just as more arrows came raining down across the guards and the throne. The Mhuruuk’s had easily lifted their hands to create shields. Which gave Dormammu, Umar and her daughter time to run away from it all. While Kle’ora just laughed loudly.

“DOWN WITH THE TYRANT KING!!!”

#Writing