Chapter 64
The rest of the journey to the throne room was silent. It was clear that the cats accompanying us were extremely dissatisfied, but they still sincerely believed in the power of their queen, so they noticeably cheered up as they passed through the gates opened by the guards.
- Welcome to my palace, travelers from the land of the earth. I am glad to meet you in person. - the white cat greeted us right away, who, due to her multi-layered dress with large frills on her shoulders, looked larger than her fellows, and although this is not entirely correct, it seems to me that in human form she would look stunning.
- Hello... Mom. - Charlie stepped forward, followed by her sister.
- ... I ... You've grown so much. - Just two words were enough for the mask of the queen of the Ixides to fly off Shagotta, and tears began to well up in her eyes. - I didn't think I'd ever see you again.
- We know. We saw. - the second Charlie spoke.
"So you inherited my gift," the cat smiled warmly.
- Yes, and we know that this country is doomed, and we were sent to the earthly edge with the hope that at least someone from our race will remain alive.
- What nonsense are you talking about! - immediately there were dissatisfied cries from the Exceeds in the throne room, who were most likely advisors.
- Calm down! - Shagotta ordered.
- But your majesty! Her words are an open provocation, how can anything threaten our great race? - the young Exceed addressed the queen.
- Unfortunately, what she said is true. In fact, we are very weak and if we had not managed to deceive and intimidate the people below, we would have already been destroyed. For the same reason, no one is allowed to go down.
- No. No-no-no-no! Please tell me you were joking, Your Majesty! - Ichiya, who had come with us, shouted incredulously.
- Sorry Ichiya, but it's true.
- No! How can this be! I gave my child away thinking that a great mission awaited him! And if people are not as weak as we thought, then… - a cry came from the crowd, quickly turning into tears.
- You will still be able to find your children, - Charlie intervened in the scandal that was starting to flare up. - We came to offer the opportunity to leave this world and settle in the earthly extreme, where they will not try to destroy you. And we will also deprive the local people of the ability to invade our world, so that people who understand the truth will not be able to threaten you.
"Is this really possible?" Shagotta asked hopefully.
- Yes. As the master of the Fairy Tail guild, I promise that I will help you settle in Magnolia, and then help you find your loved ones. - Makarov stepped forward.
"Can a decrepit old man help us with anything?" one of the cats said, causing a wave of approving whispers.
- Who is this decrepit old man, huh? - Makarov was indignant, and then, to add weight to his words, he used the magic of a giant, becoming so huge that the top of his head reached the very ceiling of the huge hall.
- Meow? - What happened was so shocking for the speaking cat that he fell on his butt with a funny meow.
- I hope you will forgive Nyanta, his behavior and words are only a consequence of our many years of deception. - Shagotta hastened to say, jumping up.
- Ha-ha-ha. Don't worry, girl, I just showed that I'm not as weak as I look at first glance. - Makarov laughed, returning to his normal form. - And my offer to help with settling in is still valid.
- Thank you, we will need some time to get ready, but I can already assure you that I agree with your proposal. - said Shagotta.
- But your majesty, why all this? Why not continue living as we do now? - asked Nyanta, who had come to his senses, and although his question did not elicit approval from the others, their interested glances converged on the queen.
- Because the human king has already come up with a plan to destroy us, and if it weren't for our guests, we would most likely be gone by tomorrow. - Despite the casual tone in which these words were spoken, their meaning was radically different, instantly causing panic among the Ixids present.
- Calm down! - the queen ordered and, after waiting for silence, continued. - As I said, thanks to our guests, we have escaped this fate. And now we have a chance to start all over again in a new place, where we will not have to resort to deception for the sake of simple survival.
- Go and gather all my subjects in front of the castle, in an hour, I will tell everyone the truth, and we will begin preparing for the great exodus, but for now leave me alone with my daughters and their friends.
- It will be done, your majesty. - the representatives of the court bowed and left the throne room.