Physalis Alkekengi and Wandi walked slowly among the danovuses, the woman always one step ahead, who showed the way to the younger danovus. Although most of the danovuses present did not know who Alekekengi was, the woman's aura made the danovuses, who were mostly babies compared to her, stay as far away from her as if the ground she walked on was cursed.
So it was no wonder that they were only followed from such a distance that they looked as if they were shepherds leading the sheep after them. Normally, when someone goes to an audience with the elders of the danovuses, someone leads them to the palace. But now, no one dared to go so close to them. It was fortunate that Alkekengi was perfectly aware of where she had to go.
Let's just say she wasn't exactly the happiest about having to go this way, but since the situation demanded it, she couldn't do anything else but swallow her bad feelings and pretend that she had nothing wrong with being here. Of course, it was all she needed for the idiots to know what she was thinking. It wasn't in vain that she left the place so many years ago and hasn't come back since.
So she wasn't the least bit happy that she had to walk here among the mountains now. Szelevu itself is like the danovuses - centuries have passed since she was here, but nothing has changed about it since then. Everything is where it used to be, the river flows in the same bed as before, the trees and bushes, even the flowers are where they were back then. Maybe this would have reassured someone that everything was so familiar, but Alkekengi only felt a chill down her spine at the sight of it all.
She was somehow uneasy about this world stuck in the past. Only then did she realize, seeing her old home, how accustomed she had become to the fact that the world around her changed with each of her awakenings. Here she felt again as she had when she left the island, again the young danovus she had been then. She might have been completely lost in this world of feelings if she hadn't felt the pull in her soul that was slowly getting further and further away from her.
Thanks to this, it was a little easier for her to stay in the present. When she was last in Szelevu, she was alone in the big world, nothing was important to her, but now there was someone who meant the world to her, even if she wasn't willing to admit it for the world. However, she would rather endure the distance between them than take him to the danovus elders. There is no spirit for whose sake Alkekengi would give the elders a chance to find a grip on her.
"Who are you and what do you want from the elders?" A guard stopped the two eastern danuvuses at a gate carved into the mountain.
"It has nothing to do with you, little one." The danuvus woman announced, rolling her eyes.
"No one is allowed to enter the palace of the elders!" The guard insisted, but all he achieved was to make the woman narrow her eyes.
"I didn't ask if you would let us in?" She said in a serious voice and took a step forward, which resulted in the guard holding his spear to her pelvis.
"Don't move! I don't want to hurt you!" The guard continued in a cold voice.
"I wouldn't try to act tough, kid." Alkekengi looked deeply into the guard's eyes, then pulled out her nails. This was what made the man standing in their way stand out of the gate with a pale face. "Thank you very much." The woman chirped. "Come, little danovus." She waved and put away her weapons to continue to the palace.
The danovus palace cannot really be called a palace, but rather a huge hall, with giant columns and several levels connected by stairs. At the highest and furthest point of the cave hall, there is a small building separated by ornately woven materials, from which a room opens. In front of the small building, but still on the same level, is where the elders always gather.
Usually, no one can go up to this level, in fact, only the lowest two levels could be approached by the average danovuses. However, Alkekengit had always been indifferent to what was proper among the elderls, so now, without any further thought, she simply stumbled up to the top level with Wandi following her with confident steps.
"Good morning!" She said with a broad smile and put her hands on her waist.
"Physalis. What do we owe you for coming back to us?" One of the older danovuses asked in a slow, measured voice.
"Peace negotiations. I represent the Ghost King. So we'd better get this over with quickly. I'd like to get back to my usual routine. The Ghost King wants the war to end today." Alkekengi said flatly.
'So you want peace and what about compensation for our lost brothers?" Another voice came from one of the other elders.
"Listen! I don't care what troubles you have. The Ghost King cares even less. So answer my question. Will you accept the peace offer?" The woman repeated the offer.
"Until we receive compensation for the damage we have suffered, there is no offer we will agree to." She received the angry answer from the elder who spoke first.
Perhaps, if another danovus, or even another person, had been standing here before the elders, the conversation would have lasted longer and they would have even brought up arguments, or they would have started a debate about why it would be the most advantageous thing for both parties if they could agree and no more blood would have to be shed. If someone else had been here, then perhaps the outcome of the negotiation would have been lucky and the result would have been a success story.
But it was none other than Physalis Alkekengi who stood here. And the danovus lady had never been known for being a good diplomat, and even her persuasive skills were not the best. Her persuasion strategy was a simple, one-step plan; beat the person until they accepted that Alkekengi was right. That is why when her offer was met with opposition, she did not hesitate.
"Well, then there will be war." She shrugged and turned her back on the elders without further ado, which according to the danovuses' customs amounted to spitting in the face. "Come on, little danovus, let's go back to the others." The lady noted as she headed towards the exit, but Wandi didn't move after her, just stood with arms folded behind his back and stared at the structure covered with woven materials. A faint smile slowly took hold of his lips, and then he spoke in a calm voice.
"There won't be any war here. Isn't that right, little Virvir?" He asked the question that made the entire room look at him in confusion.