Interstellar Age

Erich was in disbelief as he stared at Daelia, and the peculiar expression on her pretty face. He had long since heard the prophecy of the sages, and honestly did not think much of it. But the more he struggled in this life, the more he came closer to fulfilling it.

There was just one problem: who was this bloody bride that was prophecised to aid him in his wars of conquest that would ultimately light the galaxy aflame? For a while, he had thought it would be Lunaria.

After all, the woman helped facilitate the rise of the Germanic Star-Empire as a sovereign nation, and as a major galactic power. But there were few things that woman could do now if she had a bigger role to play.

There were of course other women in Erich's life who could very well fulfill this role, but he had never expected Daelia of all women to be the bloody bride, and because of this he was quick to ask why she would even help him do such a thing.

"I don't understand.... For a million years, you have contended with your sister to become the primary power in the galaxy. Why? Why would you help me when you know what my goals are?"

Daelia scoffed at Erich's remarks before bopping him on the nose with her index finger. Once she had done this, she began to lecture him as if he were a small and errant child.

"You really don't understand it, do you? The time of the Elves as the Galaxy's greatest power has come to an end. Hell, it ended when my sister and I fought for the throne... But you, destiny has great things in store for you.

And if I can help guarantee my people's status in this galaxy, by having them pledge themselves to you when the time comes. Then so be it! Lunaria, on the other hand, she is too proud to the bend the knee.

You might have thought you could get her to truly submit to you, out of the affection she has for you. But in the face of her pride as a monarch, as the sovereign of all elves, like she proclaims herself to be. She will never willingly kneel before you.

No, you will have to break her, and tear down everything she has worked so hard for over the eons if you really want her to do so. Something you won't truly be capable of doing without my aid. After all, nobody knows my bitch of a sister better than I do!

I am the one. When the time comes, who will allow you to rise to the position you need to rise to? After all, without the strength of your armies acting as the bulwark against a Naraku invasion, the Milky Way will never truly be safe.

I believe this is why I was chosen by fate to assist you. And I will more than happily do so when the time finally comes. First, however... We need to defeat the first wave of Naraku. It will be difficult, but once the galaxy has been ravaged by the bugs, you and I will have our chance to rise to the top!"

If Erich was being honest with himself, he was having a hard time believing whether or not Daelia was telling him the truth. But the look in her eyes most certainly led him to believe she was not lying to him. Because of this, he laid back in the bed, while the ancient dark elven beauty rested on top of his chest, ultimately deciding to let fate take its course.

---

Lunaria was sitting on her throne with a rather perturbed expression on her otherwise pretty face. Her favorite daughter was nearby to hear her complaints. Which the ancient Elven Empress was more than happy to express with a certain degree of discontent.

"Why isn't he answering my calls!?! Erich always answers my calls! Celestia, what should I do?"

Before the Elven princess could assure her mother that Erich was probably busy with something important, a message appeared within the throne's built in holoterminal. Displaying a holographic projection of an image that caused Lunaria to throw a fit.

"God fucking dammit! That little conniving bitch!"

The image was none other than that of Erich and Daelia, lying naked in each other's arms after they had just made love on the world of Svartalfheim. Naturally, Lunaria knew it was an image that had just been taken now, because Daelia appeared in her natural state, with her skin as black as ink.

A state she would not appear in on any world other than Svartalfheim. And until now, there had never been any evidence that Erich visited such a dark and depraved world. Of course, there wasn't much Lunaria could do about this situation.

For starters, while unofficially united towards the same purpose. The Alfheim Dominion and Svartaflheim federation were still in a state of transition towards trade and unity. Lunaria simply could not just arrive within Svartalfhiem space without causing a serious international incident.

And Daelia had sent her this message of provocation while being completely and utterly aware of this fact. Because of this, Lunaria couldn't help but lose her shit at the idea that Zane had gone off to visit her little sister without first giving her notice. It was truly an act of betrayal that she could not tolerate.

It was while Lunaria was losing her mind that Celestia posed a question which caused the panicked Elven Empress to become even more anxious.

"This doesn't make much sense. Erich has chosen not to visit either of our worlds to keep the peace between you two. So then why would he suddenly visit Svartalfheim and Daelia? What could she have said that was so important to inspire such a visit, despite knowing the strain it would put on your already fragile relationship?"

When Lunaria heard this, she looked over at the image once more and stared at it for a long and silent pause. She realized with the way Daelia was posed in bed next to Erich that it resembled an ancient painting that was famous during the ancient Elven Empire.

This painting was based on a legend that was infamous among the Elven people. One that originated during the time from before the Elves ever stepped foot outside their home world and ventured into the greater galaxy.

The myth told the story of a king who was seduced by a demon in pursuit of forbidden knowledge. Knowledge that would ultimately lead to his demise, and that of his kingdom. When Lunaria recognized the uncanny resemblance between this photo and the ancient painting, she realized that Daelia was sending her a hidden message.

And when Lunaria understood this, her expression paled, while she spoke in an almost ghostly whisper of what plagued her mind.

"He knows…"