Part 117: Evil Elodie Moments - Part 7

Elodie faces a difficult choice after she wakes the kraken. Does she spend countless Novan resources to seal the kraken over a seven-year timespan, during which rumors circulate and her people distrust her? Or does she sacrifice herself and her chance of winning the game for the good of Nova? Fortunately, Evil Elodie has solved this dilemma through copious executions and weekends spent hunting!








Our fears have been realised. A kraken has risen.

A kraken?

An enormous tentacled sea monster which can dive and surface at will. It is fast, voracious, and apparently unkillable. Any ship that ventures into its range is at risk. This could destroy Nova's shipping.



(And ocean shipping is really important to our economy!)

What can we do? Do we just wait and hope it goes away?

No.

Quite unexpectedly, the priestess strides into the room.

What are you doing here?

I came to bring the records of the circle, so that you would know what you face. Left alone, the beast will feed until the seas run red, and only then will it sleep. It would cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

!

There are only two ways to end its threat. Lumen spellweaving can freeze a kraken in its tracks, holding it motionless - but only for a short time. If the spell is renewed every moon giving the beast no time between castings to move freely... It should eventually sleep.

How long would that take?

Approximately seven years.

(Years!)

But if at any point the spell cast is too weak, or is not renewed in time, it would break loose.

And the treasury would be drained keeping up such a routine. What is the other way?

It is well-known that eldritch beasts can be driven out by... sacrifice. The life-force of a Lumen or potential Lumen on the cusp of adulthood, would be the ideal choice.

No! You will not take my daughter! You see, Elodie! This is why I told you to reject them! They are all witches!

Even without her mother's crystal, she would still have been a potential Lumen. Keeping her ignorant would not have kept her safe.

(A potential Lumen... because I'm my mother's daughter... Which means Charlotte too.)

I will not allow this!

The choice belongs to the Queen.

(Me.)





I don't intend to die or to put my domain at risk. There is a better way. My cousin is also a potential Lumen.

Charlotte? But... you two were best friends!

Maybe when we were little babies, but who cares about that?

This is for the good of Nova.

So tie her up and throw her to the krakens if that's what it takes.

Your father still looks shocked, but fails to formulate a coherent protest.

I will take care of it.

As you walk out of the room, you pass one of the maids, who appears to be in some distress.

Your Highness... Your Majesty...

Is there a problem?

No, my lady... I am your loyal servant, always...

Good.







You call for your maid, and then freeze as you realise - you can't hear yourself speak. You can't hear anything.

The feeling of darkness grows...

... and then there is nothing.




Well, that did not go as planned. Let's see what happens when Charlotte's mother was killed at the ball...