Sweat seemed to just pour from Chelsea's brow, nervousness and fear spread through her body. Tension took over and she felt like the next time she lost focus might be the last ever time she would do that. She couldn't believe it, sure, like everyone else, she had watched the ridiculous things the Matriarch did through the tablet, but how could someone feel so oppressive surrounded by four great warriors?

“You know, you all did the right choice by stopping the car shortly after I showed up. For a moment there, I thought you might try to get cute and try to run me over or something, which I guarantee wouldn't have ended very well for you. But now you're aggressively surrounding me? If you want to buy time, trying to talk to me will probably get you much farther than fighting me.”

The confident smirk the Matriarch wore went perfectly with her dismissive tone. It as as if she was talking with pitiable creatures, too low for her to even truly acknowledge as minimally important.

“How did you find us so fast?”

Thomas, Alexander's Sword, shouted the words, probably trying to bury his fear with them. The Matriarch made a sad face.

“Aww, such a boring question! I'll let this one pass because I'm in a really good mood today... I thought I made it quite clear when I arrived: Everything my community sees and knows, I see and know. Now, keep boring me and I might as well just destroy the four of you and go get the poor prince and princess you're desperately buying time for.”

Don't bore her? How ridiculous could the situation be? She was actually supposed to think of something interesting to say rather than fight? But then again, she had such a bad feeling. How long would they even last against her? Chelsea found herself desperately thinking of something to say.

“These clothes!” No! Chelsea internally screamed at Franz. How could he talk about such trivial things? The Matriarch smiled. “How can they be so ridiculously resistant. Putting aside the fact that you and your Heir Maidens are the only ones well dressed in your so-called community. A building just fell on you and there's not so much as a rip in your dress, how?”

The Matriarch narrowed her eyes.

“Heir Maiden... Where did you learn that word?” Chelsea felt a chill. That was bad. But the Matriarch's demeanor quickly changed. “Putting that aside for now. Those were part of a trade deal I made with one of the Great Nobles of the Wildlands, the Duke Prelestia. These were for a year of unrestricted pilgrimage access to a Pool of Reorigination that is located in my territory. He refused to give me any details on how they are made besides saying that the silk came from some very rare Mutants.”

That was actually quite shocking. Not the answer, of course, Chelsea had already known before that Prelestia had some kind of deal with the Matriarch. But the fact that she answered clearly and seemingly honestly was actually sort of unsettling. Almost like Chelsea herself one day randomly stopped to earnestly talk with a dog about serious topics. The men let out a nervous laugh.

“Now that's surprising. You did actually indulge in my question.”

The Matriarch chuckled.

“That might come as a surprise to you, but I really do enjoy talking to people.” She let an awkward pause happen. “Not as much as making people miserable though. You know, do you think this was enough time for that princess to think she has some hope of escaping?” The four of them held their breaths and tensed up. Would she attack? “You, what do you think?”

She pointed at Frederick. He snarled.

“Fuck you! Don't think we're just going to roll over and die!”

He charged at her. Chelsea, Thomas and Franz followed his lead. Four attacks, from four different directions. There was no way anyone should be able to block such an assault. However, in the blink of an eye, there were only three attackers left. Then, she deftly deflected Thomas' attack, grabbed him and blocked Franz's slash with his body. A kick Chelsea could barely see sent her flying.

“You know, that's a funny thing. Even though I'm this powerful, nobody has ever straight given up and submitted to me. Maybe it's because they, like you, figure that since it's just useless, they might as well just struggle anyway? In the end, you're already all mine either way.”

Chelsea stood up and spit some blood out. When was the last time that happened? The Heir Maiden might have been the first time Chelsea ever found out an opponent better than her, but an opponent that seriously wounded her was something that went much further back. She was really scared, but still had enough will for a false bravado.

“Yours? Fuck that. I don't remember having an ugly name like Wu written in my body. How am I yours in any way again?”

The Matriarch smiled again, but this time it showed a lot of teeth. An aggressive and malevolent smile. Maybe she was angry?

“You don't understand, do you? Every extra moment of consciousness you have is but given as a whim by me! I could, right now, turn all of you into corpses or servants, but I haven't yet. Even if I simply decide, out of magnanimity, to let you live, anything that you do, to the end of your wretched lives, belongs to me, because it will have been my mercy of letting you go that made it come to pass. In your heart, you know it to be true.”

That might be the case, but damned if Chelsea would ever admit that. She was herself, and she had her own will. She owed it to Lia. Lia gave her an opportunity to rise above the rigid and oppressive social structure of the Empire. Chelsea might serve, but she did so at her own will. There might be outside influence, but she made the decisions in her life. She was nobody's.

“We'll see about that.”

She charged. The other three, even though they were injured, followed her. Now that she had a better idea of the Matriarch's speed, she was able to bock an attack, but the weight of it was still felt, and even though it seemed like the other three had an opportunity, every one of the following attacks were blocked by the Matriarch.

“Good try, not good enough though.”

Before Chelsea could attack again, she had to block a punch. Then came another, much faster than before. Soon enough, Chelsea was hitting the ground again. How could it be? It wasn't just that she was facing a superior opponent. As she saw her three companions desperately trying to land a blow on the Matriarch she remembered where she saw something like this before: It was like when Charles' and his men fought Prelestia. However, back then it didn't feel nearly as bad, since Preslestia wasn't an enemy.

“The Flame burn and damn you! Are you playing with us bitch?”

It was just a moment, almost lost in time, lasting maybe a thousandth of a second, but Chelsea saw the face of the Matriarch contort in real anger. Frederick really made a big mistake. After that moment passed, blood was spraying from his neck and the Matriarch's face showed a calm expression.

“Yes, I am playing with you, well, was at any rate. Nobody calls me bitch.” She tilted her head, showing a brief expression of deep thought. “Oh, right, I didn't want to simply kill you.” With two more, equally fast, attacks, she had Franz and Thomas on the ground. She then spit on her hand and grabbed Frederick's neck. “You're literally mine now, fool, welcome to hell.”

Chelsea struggled to stand, she was quite sure that there were at least a few cracks in some of the augmentations she had. In the past, she thought such a thing would be utterly ludicrous, but she had to admit it: The Matriarch's capabilities defied reality. In front of her, Frederick stood, but he was no longer the man who resented having the same name as the genius Swordsman Prince, The man in front of her had the same empty, suffering and hungry eyes as all the other Infected she had seen before. Seeing was believing, people didn't become Infected that fast. They were truly facing the Matriarch.

“I... Will stop you.”

Such empty words. But they had to be said. She couldn't give up. Franz and Thomas were struggling to stand up, the newly infected Frederick turned towards them. The Matriarch looked at her once more.

“Annoying. It's time for me to go see the little princess. Defend yourself, if you can.”

She couldn't. The attack was even more savage than those before. Once more, Chelsea found herself in pain on the floor. This time though, she couldn't feel all of her limbs. She wanted to scream, but somehow she couldn't. Something happened with her lungs, she couldn't breathe. Was she going to die? She didn't want to There was so much else... So much to look forward to.

“Chelsea! No!”

Franz. She still didn't spend nearly enough time with him, would he die too? She didn't want it, this wasn't supposed to happen, they were supposed to escape the city. They were supposed to win. Lia would be Empress, then Chelsea would have a happy, peaceful life with Franz. How could this come to pass if they died right then and there?

“I... don't want... to die... Franz...”

Those were the words she weakly said before losing consciousness. Watching Franz and Thomas fight against the Infected that shortly before had been Frederick.

“Well, well, fancy meeting you two again! Where are you going in such a hurry? Won't you take it slow and appreciate the view?”

Terror gripped Lia's heart. She did not expect the Matriarch to catch up to them so fast. What happened to Chelsea and Franz? Were they already dead, or worse, infected? Was this the end of the line for her? Never before did Lia feel so helpless and so powerless. What could she do in front of such an overwhelming opponent? Alexander tried some bravado.

“Move away, monster!”

He brandished his sword in her direction, as futile as it was. Alexander was barely passable as a swordsman, what could he hope to accomplish against the Matriarch? She was clearly displeased by his words.

“Monster? Monster? Must you offend me with such a word? I am in a completely different plane of existence compared to any old boogeyman your mind may think of! Would you debase your precious Holy Flame with such a word? Have you no respect for such a monumental existence?”

She spoke loudly and vehemently. She seemed deeply disturbed by the word. Alexander may have thought he got a hold of an unexpected weakness. He kept pushing it.

“Who would ever treat a monster such as you with-”

However, he could not finish his sentence. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the Matriarch had approached them, followed by the loud sound of a backhanded slap that sent Alexander flying, his back crashing against a building, producing a loud cracking sound. His body fell to the ground motionless, dead, perhaps?

“I am no monster, you bug! Learn some respect! I am a scourge, sent by this abandoned world to punish the gods in heaven! So many Saviors! So many Prophets! My mere existence offends every god the human mind has ever conceived of, and yet, here I stand. If a god has truly created this world, then he has abandoned it, and there is no bigger proof of that than I! Behold! Look around you, what I have wrought!” Lia couldn't resist those words. She looked around, at the flaming wreckage of Trestia. Shouts here and there could be heard. Someone taken by the Infected? Killed by a soldier following their last order? It didn't matter. It was undeniable that the will of Wu, the Matriarch had brought Trestia to ruins. The same Matriarch stretched her hands toward Lia. “I had wished for a whole collection. Every participant of this stupid race that proves humanity's stupidity. How humorous it would be, but now that the idea is ruined, the men are useless to me. But you, I can see some promise in you. I just happen to have an opening, would you not like to be one of my Heir Maidens? Perhaps one day you might be the Matriarch.”

What? Confusion was the most apt descriptor of Lia's reaction to that offer. Lia had never thought of herself as a particularly willful or rebellious person. Yet thinking back on it, she had always done as she wished and sabotaged things if she felt she was having her choices taken away. It had always been in front of her, the answer. Why she had truly entered the race. It wasn't that she simply wanted to be free, nor was it that she wanted to be the best possible ruler for the Empire's people. It was something much baser and, in a way, much more selfish than that: Lia liked things going her way. She wanted the throne because that would be the ultimate in imposing her will upon the world. So, what other reaction could she have for this huge existence that threatened to shatter her very sense of self?

“Never!”

And she ran. In panic, in fear, in hope, she ran. Alas, what chance did she have? Even with all the augments in the world, no human could ever hope to outpace a Matriarch, so it didn't take too long for Wu to catch up. Suddenly, Lia found herself on the ground. It was weird, she tried to push herself up, but she couldn't, there was something, a foot? Something kept her pinned to the ground.

“My, did that come out sounding like an actual offer that you could refuse? I am so, so sorry, I didn't mean to give you any illusions. So, do you have any last words of your own will, little girl?”

Lia gasped for air, it was difficult to breathe pinned as she was to the ground. She flailed around, uselessly trying something, anything to get free. No thoughts really went through her mind, only a deep and penetrating terror. She was overtaken by the overriding need to try to free herself. She needed to get away, far away, from everything, but most of all, she needed to get away from that thing. Words tumbled out of her mouth without any real thought behind them, only desperation.

“Please... Don't, do this to me, I beg you. Please... If you do... I will do anything for you... Please! I beg you... Please! Please!”

They seemed to have some effect. The foot was lifted from her back, but before she could even try to stand up by herself, a hand grabbed her hair and pulled her to a kneeling position. The Matriarch whispered into her ear.

“You know, you are far from the first or last person to ever beg me for their lives. But you know what? You might just be the one person to ever be able to strike a bargain. So, tell me, what do you think you can offer me that will convince me to let you go?”

Lia's heart pounded furiously, she took in air from shallow gasps. She needed something, but couldn't think straight. She had a feeling she didn't have long. She thought...

“The Throne!”

“Hmm? I have no interest in such a...”

“No, I mean, you wanted a collection, right?”

“Well, you ruined it by shooting your own brother.”

“That was to... Uhm, sort of, humiliate the Empire, right?”

“You're not entirely wrong. It would have been gloriously cruel to have all candidates turned into my puppets, to use them to taunt the old fart that stepped down. Maybe it would be enough to bring divine retribution on me.”

“So, how about an Empress instead?”

“Go on.”

it sounded mad, but in that moment, Lia didn't care, her fear was completely in control of her. There was nothing she could do.

“I will be Empress if you let me go here. And I promise you that the moment my reign ends, I will give you any one woman of the Empire that you desire, even myself. You could make an Empress, governing in her own name, sacrifice one of her own people in utter submission, or you could even make her one of her own, as easily as you can in this very moment. Except right now, that would-be Empress is but a lowly Princess, of little value.”

The Matriarch's eyes now shone with a new glint, a smile showed itself on her face.

“That's such a tempting offer, but how shall I guarantee that you will be true to your word? Oh, I know! Delilah will be my guarantee.”