Chapter 891 Sit It Out!
The throne room within the Cosmic Imperial Palace was massive with a design completely dedicated to making a statement about the worship of Hal as the Cosmic Emperor as well as the Sapphirine Prince.
By Hal's desire, the throne room was a collation of all the awe-inspiring worship he received from every single being in the Nexus World.
Just being in the Throne room would have anyone instantly faced with Hal's magnificence as Sovereign ruler and the effect was not lost on his children.
Faced with the uncertainty of what their Father would say to them upon his arrival, Sylvie, Thereze, Nellie, Appoline, and Loretta were even more pressured by the grandness Hal represented.
"Raise your heads"
Hearing the familiar mellifluous voice that could only belong to the greatest being they ever knew and would ever get the opportunity to know, the sisters raised their heads to behold their father seating comfortably on his Majestic throne. His perfect cheek rested against his fist while his Elbow was resting on the armrest of the throne.
By his side, with her hands hidden in the long sleeves of her Imperial robes, was Melinda Dane, his Empress, and his outspoken favorite.
Sassy also vanished to reappear in his lap as a serpent that Hal started to pet almost absentmindedly.
"Welcome back. How was it? How was your encounter with God-King Harold?
Did he entertain you well?
Did he give you the respect you require as my daughters and emissaries?
Did a battle break out to eventually cause the destruction of yet another world in Nirvana?
Come on, speak, and leave out no details."
All through Hal's speech, his tone was calm and remained level. He also sounded genuinely curious which was to be expected being the Master of lies that he was.
The sisters shared a look.
This was the first time their Father would sound so passive-aggressive.
Usually, after a mission, he would waste no time listing out all they had done wrong before telling them they had failed whatever grade he was supposed to give them.
Nothing was hidden from the sight of the Cosmic Emperor. Especially when it involved his daughters.
For him to ask them to give a report, the Sisters knew he was just giving them a pseudo-chance to embellish their stories.
'But what's the point?' Sylvie thought. 'He sees all and knows all so what would be the point to embellish our stories
As Eldest and representative of the collective efforts of her and her sisters, Sylvie stepped forward.
"Father, we failed."
"You did?" Hal asked with his eyebrows raised.
'Again, why are you looking so surprised? You know everything!' Sylvie thought while staring up into her Father's face.
She was doing her very best to resist the urge to stamp her foot in frustration.
'Oh, of course, you SEE everything.'
Sylvie sighed.
"Correction, I failed."
"Sylvie!" Her sisters called to her but Sylvie raised a hand to calm them.
"It's the truth. I had the chance to put an end to it before things escalated. If only I was strong enough..." she said.
Loretta cut her off.
"It was not your fault.
Your Majesty, we were all at fault. The enemy proved more difficult than we expected."
"Yeah," Nellie interjected. "Syl tried her best. We all did!"
"We just need one more chance. This was just the right mission to let us know where and what we are lacking. We will adjust and will be ready when the war against the Primevals begins." Appoline said earnestly and Nellie nodded along to her words.
A few seconds of silence passed and then Hal looked over at Thereze.
"You've been quiet. Tell us what's on your mind."
The eyes of the sisters turned to Thereze who took a deep breath.
"Appoline is wrong. We won't be ready in time for the war. It's not even about strength. We have that in spades and have the potential to grow even more in the coming days all thanks to the fact that we are your daughters.
That said, we lack the proper mindset."
Nellie gasped audibly and Appoline looked shocked at the words coming out of her sister's lips.
Thereze was the last person anyone in the Throne room would have expected to give a defeated speech.
"You do lack the proper mindset" The one who spoke was not Hal but rather the White-eyed goddess by his side.
Melinda had her arms folded beneath her breasts as she eyed the girls.
"You will only be liabilities in the battles to come. It would be best if you stay here, at home. Hold down the fort while the forces are away."
"That's so unfair!" Nellie said and she stepped forward.
Melinda shrugged.
"How is it unfair?"
"You-you're benching us for one error."
"Not because of one error but rather because you are immature. All five of you" Melinda said but her eyes were mostly on Sylvie.
Nellie looked as though she had just been slapped in the face.
"Immature? You were not much younger than we are now when you and Father started on this path of domination.
You can't use age to discredit us."
Melinda looked surprised.
"Age? No, your age has nothing to do with this. Being immature has nothing to do with age. You are not ready. I don't think you'll ever be" she said.
"Mother" Sylvie said sounding stunned by the words that left Melinda's lips.
Silently and instantaneously, Melinda was no longer by Hal's side and was now in front of Sylvie and smiling at her dotingly. Standing many inches taller than her daughter.
"It's not your fault that you are the way you are." she said and pointed back at Hal on his throne,
"It's all his fault. He cuddled you all"
Hal sighed and then shrugged.
"If I did, can you blame me? They are all my Princesses"
Melinda rolled her eyes at him but she addressed the girls with her words.
"Had he taught you from early on that you couldn't always have what you want, this would have been an easier pill to swallow"
Appoline opened her mouth to speak but she was interrupted by Hal who was still seated on his throne but had now adjusted so his cheek was no longer resting on his fist. He was leaving into the high back of the throne now.
"This is to protect you. As long as you are here, you'll be safe"
Hal had long tied his existence with the Nexus world to ensure that it would be safe for as long as he lived. The only way the Nexus world could ever get attacked or destroyed was if the entire concept of Infinity was destroyed and that was only a possible outcome if Hal lost the battle of concepts with Chaos and Order.
Appoline rolled her eyes so aggressively, it was almost audible.
"Oh please! Safe from what? Death? Even if we died, you could just bring us back to life."
Hal's brows furrowed and there was an instant change of atmosphere in the throne room.
When he spoke, every word was deliberate but backed by his authority without any bit of the leniency of a doting father.
"I can indeed bring you back to life should you die, however, Death is the best outcome you can hope for.
Battle against the Primevals is only to prepare the field for the true battle against Order and Chaos.
As Natural enemies of the Concept of Infinity that you all, as my daughters, are imbued with, should you be completely corrupted by either of the two, there won't be a 'you' to bring back to life.
That would be the end.
There will be no do-overs.
The fact that you think losing your life only for me to bring you back on a whim is a convincing argument to let you join the war is enough proof of your immaturity."
Appoline looked reproached as she bowed.
"I'm sorry, Father"
The atmosphere went back to normal and Hal sighed.
"Maybe I HAVE cuddled you too much."
"You have" Melinda answered immediately. "But it's not a completely bad thing."
As Melinda spoke, she put a hand on Sylvie's head and pat her lovingly before stroking her face.
"We are at the last stretch now after which an eternity of merriment and cuddling will stretch out in front of you all.
You don't have to suffer as your Father and your Mothers have.
This battle is a necessity and not for pleasure.
Sit it out!"
Sylvie sighed and closed her eyes.
"Alright Mother"
"Alright, Your Majesty!" her sisters chorused.
Melinda nodded.
"Good. Dismissed" she said and took her hand off Sylvie's head only for all Five ladies instantly vanish from the throne room.
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