A black skulled centipede watched as the dark-armored girl slowly vanished, leaving the tall lightning elf alone on the ruined expanse.
Already, the radiation was starting to eat at the powerful creature, but it persevered, watching the elf disappear into the distance in a streak of red lightning.
Once its goal was complete, the centipede finally crumbled, its body no longer able to resist the poison from the area. It turned to dust, leaving behind a green sigil on the ground.
---
"How is this possible?" A dark-haired woman wondered aloud, her green eyes shifting to a light purple as she observed the results from her subordinates eyes.
Her office was expansive, with rows of terrariums stacked in one section of the room. Each contained various species of spiders and insects, all thriving under her careful observation.
She moved her laptop closer, fingers clicking swiftly as she typed in a few words. "Let's see... unusual gates in the last three days..."
She blinked when the results appeared. "Japan? Multiple A-rank gates in one region? None of the other Monarchs have started moving yet, so... the Rulers, perhaps? What are they planning now?"
Leaning back in her chair, she pondered the situation. "So she's in Japan, huh? How did she manage to reach the Chaos World?"
Knock! Knock!
The door to her office opened after two knocks, and a blonde-haired woman in a purple suit stepped inside.
"Dr. Nisha, you have a guest here to see you," the blonde-haired woman, Lisa, said, her tone polite but with a hint of uncertainty.
Nisha glanced up from her laptop, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in the interruption. "Do they have an appointment?" she asked, her voice cool and measured.
Lisa shook her head, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. "No, Ma'am."
"Then why, Lisa, are you telling me about them? If they don't have an appointment, they should make one before coming to see me," Nisha said with a sharp, irritated tone, her fingers tightening on the edges of the papers she had been organizing on her desk.
Lisa took a step back, visibly taken aback by the reprimand. "Well..." she hesitated, clearly unsure of how to proceed. "It's your mother."
Nisha froze, her eyes flickering with a subtle emotion of disgust that quickly vanished as she took a deep breath. The irritation faded, replaced by a quiet sigh. "Thank you, Lisa. Let her in."
Lisa bowed slightly, her movements quick and respectful, before she stepped back out of the room.
Nisha sat back in her chair, a brief moment of irritation crossing her face as she exhaled slowly. She quickly rearranged some folders on her desk, ensuring everything was in order before the door opened once again.
This time, an older woman entered the room. Her silver hair was neatly styled. She was unmistakably Nisha's mother, though there was a marked difference in their appearance, Nisha's eyes were purple, while her mother's were brown.
"Hello, Mother. I wasn't aware you were visiting today. Is something the matter?" Nisha asked, folding her hands neatly in front of her.
Her mother settled into the seat across from her, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Ah, Guddu, must I have a reason to visit my own daughter? Why so formal with your Maa, hmm?"
Nisha sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Mother, did you travel all the way from Oxford just to see me?"
Her mother gasped dramatically, placing a hand on her chest.
"Just to see you? Guddu, how could you say that? Seeing you is reason enough!"
Her mother's dramatics earned a faint, practiced smile from Nisha. "You could have called ahead."
"And ruin the surprise? I wanted to see your face when you realized your mother could still travel halfway across the world without a cane." Her mother chuckled, clearly pleased with herself. She leaned back in the chair and gave the room a slow, curious glance. "You've really made a name for yourself here, haven't you? Dr. Nisha Rai, Senior Biogeneticist. My little Guddu."
Nisha inclined her head in a quiet acknowledgment but said nothing more.
Her mother's gaze drifted to the terrariums along the wall. "Still keeping your creepy crawlies, I see. I remember when you brought home that box of stick insects in school, your father almost fell off his chair."
Nisha's lips twitched faintly at the memory, though the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "That was a long time ago."
"Not to me," her mother said with a fond sigh. "You were always strange, even back then. So quiet. So serious. But smart, sharp as a blade. I used to tell the other aunties, 'My Guddu doesn't need to shout to be heard.' And look at you now."
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small, neatly wrapped box. "I brought you some laddoos. Fresh from that shop you used to love in Oxford. Still your favorite, right?"
Nisha hesitated only a second before accepting the box with both hands. "Thank you."
Her mother watched her closely, a flicker of something unspoken in her expression. "You look tired. Are they overworking you?"
"No," Nisha said automatically. "Just... focused. There's always more to do."
Her mother made a soft hum of disapproval but didn't push further. "Well, at least tell me you're eating properly. Sleeping? Making time for friends?"
Nisha gave her the smallest nod. "Of course."
Her mother leaned in with a gentle smile. "You don't have to lie to me, Guddu. But I know you won't tell me even if you were crumbling, so I won't press. I just wanted to see your face. That's all."
There was a pause. Nisha said nothing, but she didn't look away either. Her hands rested lightly on the box of sweets, as if unsure what to do with the gesture.
Her mother rose a few minutes later, smoothing her shawl. "I won't stay long. I know you're busy. I will wait for you at home." She touched Nisha's shoulder gently. "Take care of yourself, hmm?"
"Maa," Nisha offered, already standing.
"No need," her mother said, waving her off. "I remember the way. Besides, I have a cab waiting. Let your old mother have the last word for once."
Nisha walked around the desk, the box of laddoos still in her hand, and stood beside her mother. For a moment, she said nothing, just watched her mother quietly as if seeing her for the first time in a long time.
"No, it's just... I think you're right," Nisha said at last, her voice softer than before. "We don't spend as much time together as we used to."
Her mother looked surprised but pleasantly so. She tilted her head, curious. "Are you feeling alright, Guddu?"
"I'm fine," Nisha replied, a faint smile flickering across her lips. "But I've been thinking. Maybe it's time we took a break."
Her mother's brows lifted in amused disbelief. "You? Take a break? I should call the BBC, this is breaking news."
Nisha rolled her eyes gently. "I'm serious, Maa. You've come all the way from Oxford. You rarely get to leave with the companies under your care, and I'm always… here." She gestured vaguely at the lab equipment, the insects, the quiet hum of controlled science behind closed doors. "So why not go somewhere? Together."
Her mother's expression softened, warmth spilling into her eyes. "You mean like a vacation?"
Nisha nodded. "Yes. I've been looking into something… unofficially. There's been an unusual series of events in Japan, and I was thinking of visiting. Nothing formal, just a trip. You could come with me. We could stay a few days, relax. You deserve it."
There was a brief silence as her mother studied her. "Japan, hmm? That's quite far."
"You crossed the Atlantic to visit me unannounced," Nisha pointed out dryly.
"True," her mother chuckled, then her smile turned wistful. "You know your father always wanted us to visit Japan together. He said the culture there was both chaotic and elegant, just like you." She gave a soft laugh. "And now here you are, inviting me."
Nisha hesitated. "Would you be able to leave Oxford for a week or two?"
Her mother waved a dismissive hand. "I still run your father's companies, yes, but the board knows not to panic when I'm away for personal matters. They owe me that much. Besides..." She reached over and gently touched Nisha's arm. "I'd be happy to go anywhere, so long as it's with you."
"Then I'll make the arrangements. We'll fly out by the end of the week."
Her mother beamed. "Wonderful. Just give me time to pack something silk, and something warm. I hear the nights in Tokyo can be chilly."
"I'll handle the details," Nisha said, turning back toward her laptop. "And Maa… thank you. For visiting today."
Her mother paused by the door, one hand resting lightly on the frame. "Always, Guddu. No matter how far, I'll always find you."
Once the door closed behind her, Nisha's face hardened again, the warmth in her eyes fading. She returned to her chair, but didn't open the laptop right away.
She placed a hand flat on the desk, and from the shadows beneath it, a large glowing centipede emerged. Its chitin shimmered with iridescent hues, segments pulsing softly with green bioluminescence as it slithered up her arm with practiced ease. Nisha raised the creature to eye level, her expression calm, almost reverent. Its delicate antennae brushed against her cheek, sensing her intent.
"Humans are such fascinating creatures, aren't they?" she murmured, her voice almost affectionate, as if speaking to an old friend.
She lowered the centipede onto her shoulder, and it quickly curled around her neck like a living scarf, its legs anchoring lightly to the collar of her coat. With the motion smooth and deliberate, Nisha reopened her laptop, her eyes scanning the streams of data with renewed focus.
"A family trip it is," she said under her breath, fingers flying across the keys. "It should be enough time to confront this hunter... and discover how she managed to breach the veil into the Chaos World from here."
Her lips curved into a slow, thoughtful smile.
"With her... I may finally have the key to bring my true army to Earth." She glanced at the centipede, whose eyes gleamed faintly in response.
"How delightful." She grinned, and for a brief, unsettling moment, the expression stretched far beyond the natural limits of a human smile, curving unnaturally past her cheeks, nearly reaching her eyes.
The insects in the terrariums stirred at once, their chittering and clacking rising in a chorus of anticipation. Mandibles snapped, wings fluttered, and tiny legs scraped against glass as if responding to an unspoken signal. They could sense it, the subtle shift in the air, the tremor of power leaking from her.
For she was no ordinary human.
She was Querehsha, the Monarch of Plagues.