Dungeon of Niflheim-Chapter 790: Shivali’s requests (2)
With the first request accepted the air around Shivali shifted, becoming more serious and conflicted.
"Originally I would have asked but one favour of you Frost, a request that I had come to terms with the moment I asked to you come here in person." As long as Frost met muster he was happy to leave his adventurous daughter in his capable hands.
The second request however only came about due to a report he received after Frost left the throne room, when he invited the realm's officials in to carry out their regular duties.
"But unfortunately I must ask for your aid once again." Shivali spoke with a mixture of reluctance, irritation and…despair. Clearly the supposed problem weighed heavily on his mind.
The Primordial Ice King was silent for a few seconds, trying to figure how to begin his explanation. "….Frost have you heard of a monster race known as the Lunar Maidens?" He asked.
"…Lunar Maidens?" Frost searched through his knowledge base trying to find any information on these creatures. "Yes, they're an ice borne race, beautiful enchantresses that can feed on lust and sexual essence, similar to the succubae if I'm not mistaken." He had read a summary about them in one of the monster encyclopaedias he owned. A race known well for their beauty, appetite and their unique trait of giving birth only to females.
"Rather crude summary but yes they are a race very similar to succubae but what you probably don't know is that they're one of the races I personally created." In the early years when the Gods found Nova lacking in life and diversity they starting to play around with their divinities, forming new life such as monsters, sapients and spirits. Dark and Light were at the forefront of such developments, but the Primordials weren't all that far behind.
In the beginning they started with powerful species, ones that could endure for a long period of time, alter the land and perhaps even ascend to the same level as themselves. Giants, Dragons, spirit kings, Fenrirs, nine tailed foxes to name but a few.
It was after this first round of legendary beasts that the Primordial Ice King created the Lunar Maidens. He had seen the potential of Dark's succubae, their innate beauty and compatibility with pretty much every race imaginable and thought to put his own spin on it.
Thus the Lunar Maidens were born, a beautiful ice borne race that could help ease the tensions amongst the old and new races of Nova. And although strength was not their primary focus the first of their ancestors was born at the S-rank. A woman with unparalleled beauty, a natural leader, charismatic, caring and confident.
Shivali soon found himself enamoured with his greatest creation and in less than a few decades the two were wed, partnered for life. Such times were truly blissful, his fellow Gods would often compare notes and compete in creativity. His beautiful wife blessed him with love, affection and multiple no less charming daughters.
Unfortunately the of achieving Godhood and escaping the throes of mortality was no easy task even amongst the most talented. Shivali had to watch as his first wife slowly fell victim to her age while he remained pristine as though not a single day had passed.
Her death shook him greatly, he became depressed and nearly succumbed to madness as not only his charming daughters but also his granddaughters soon followed in her wake. He learned the true meaning of despair and loneliness during that time and if it wasn't for Dark and his fellow Primordials he had no idea what may have become of him.
So as to not remind him of his pain the Lunar Maidens which had been treated like royalty by him and who were now led by the 4th and 5th generations left his side. They explored Nova and set out to live alongside the creations of the other Gods rather than remain by his side.
During the first few millennia they would occasionally visit and pay their respects but eventually contact between Shivali and the Lunar Maidens was lost completely. They chose to blaze their own trail and unfortunately without the capabilities of the first ancestor their tribe weakened over time, losing their place among the many beasts of legend.
Shivali always regretted how things turned out, so he occasionally had people look in on their development from afar and chose to leave a special keepsake amongst the main lineage. If things ever became truly dire they could use this keepsake to contact him and request aid and perhaps even sanctuary.
Now in the current era the Lunar Maidens had become completely fractured, spread far and wide across the land with but a paltry few dozen remaining of the main lineage. It was at this point that they finally used their cherished keepsake to call for help.
"Although the bonds between them and I are practically non-existent by this point I have never forgotten them. There is a debt that I owe them, one in which I can finally repay." Not a day goes by that he doesn't remember the beauty of his first wife nor that of his eldest daughters. The Lunar Maidens had finally asked for his help after all this time.
Frost quietly listened to Shivali's description about this race and his connection to them, but he failed to see a problem. If they called for help then couldn't he simply do it himself or ask a few of his subordinates to help them why delegate it to him.
"Where do I fit in this problem of yours uncle." If you want to know simply ask.
"Haaaaa unfortunately I'm unable to help the Lunar Maidens personally, our rules prevent the Gods from interacting too much with Nova." Again the restrictions between the Gods was brought up, an ancient pact to ensure that mortals to deal with mortal problems.
"Can't you simply send some of your subordinates to help them." There were many A-rank soldiers within the realm of Niflheim surely they could go to the Lunar Maidens aid, do away with what threatens them before safely guiding them back to Niflheim.
"That wouldn't solve the issue they have, not completely." Shivali shook his head before continuing. "The Lunar Maidens after thousands of years of weakening have lost their ancestral home multiple times. In the early stages they lived comfortably in the deepest of the core regions, later they moved to the outside belt, then the inner regions and now after suffering a butchering by their enemies they can't even remain there. Only a couple dozen remain of the ancient tribe, and they no longer have a place they can call home." A look of guilt and perhaps shame marred Shivali's face as he spoke, truly regretting the current situation amongst his far removed descendants.
Because of their damn pride and traditions they foolishly closed themselves off, isolated themselves from healthy gene pools and refused to lower themselves to the level of lesser species. They were directly descended from Shivali for God's sake, why should they be forced out of ancestral territory time and time again.
Strangely it was the tribes that chose to splinter off from the main branch and moved into nearby kingdoms, enclaves and large monster tribes through their own voliation that thrived, finding both safety, sustenance and quality of life.
Whereas the main branch with their arrogance and dogged traditional values found themselves attacked from multiple sides, their people kidnapped and forced to relieve the frustrations of their aggressors.
Without strength and or backing they were nothing more than highly desirable sitting ducks.
Soldiers could help defend them but for how long, unless they reached a place which could guarantee their protection and allowed them to grow and regain some of their lost strength the same thing would happen again.
Upon hearing this Frost immediately thought that the Realm of Niflheim would be able to solve such a problem. The soldiers could guide them here to a place that was safe from outside forces, protected by one of the strongest Gods in existence. They'd be safe here, free from harm and perhaps back where they truly belonged but Shivali would have surely thought of this.
"You can't bring them to Niflheim can you?"
"No, they have weakened too much. The environment would quickly kill them just like it would your battle mount if he didn't wear that crystal necklace." This meant the Lunar Maidens formerly a high ranking species now had no one in the B-rank or higher and therefore they could not be given sanctuary here in Niflheim.
Of course Shivali was a Primordial and the creator of Niflheim he could probably do something about it but then again it may be seen as too much interference and favouritism on his part. Thankfully a very useful son in law was available for him to take advantage of.
"….You want me to save from their current enemies and then protect them in my territory." If Shivali couldn't provide them safety then perhaps he could.
To be honest on paper this wasn't such a bad deal. If successful Frost would get his hands on a couple dozen intelligent monsters that were likely comparable to Kiba in strength but more than that they could solve a growing problem in his territory.
Adventurers had a lot of frustrations, alcohol, good food and warm beds weren't always enough. Multiple times before leaving on his current journey he was approached by several residents asking for permission to establish a few brothels. A necessary business and one he was very happy to move forward with but unfortunately he lacked the monsters to run his own.
Having the Lunar Maidens under his command would solve that issue.
