Chapter 452: Big Sibling Energy

"Sorry about that," Mac said with an awkward laugh after a few minutes of lifelessness. He stood up and brushed himself off, before rubbing the back of his head and gave Belladonna a sheepish smile.

"I had to go talk to my sister. She wasn’t listening over texts."

"Your sister? Everything is okay, I hope."

"Yeah, It is. It’s not anything bad but... she’s insisting that its her turn with the crown. I told her that I was still using it and in the middle of something, but she’s making me log out so she can play. Something about it being super important, or something."

He visibly pouted, his hands rubbing against his legs as if he was trying to put them in pockets that didn’t exist, as he kicked at the dirt.

"She wouldn’t listen when I tried telling her what I was doing... And How can what she’s doing be more important than this? I mean it’s not every day you get to play with a famous person!"

"Ha, I’m really not that famous." Belladonna insisted, although the smile on her face was anything but humble.

"But I’m assuming this is an older sister?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, I have an older brother, so I know exactly the pain you are going through."

"You do?!"

"I do. Which is also why I know that when she says she is doing something important, even if you don’t know what it is, it probably is important.

You’d be surprised how much the older siblings do to take care of us, and don’t even ask for a thanks or anything for it. Well, if they are a good one, that is.

So why don’t you give your sister a break, and let her have her turn. It’s only fair." Belladonna said with a maternal smile, stretching up to pat Mac on the shoulder.

"Besides, we’re friends right? We’ll get another chance to play together. I promise."

He glanced between her and his feet, before giving a heavy groaning sigh.

"Fiiine. Alright, I’ll do it. But only because you promised."

"Come on then big guy, let’s get you back to your green family so you can see your not-green family."

She joked, making them both laugh as they headed back to the Orcish camp.

It seemed that the camp had been expecting their return, and had been waiting with baited breath.

Belladonna switched her outfit back to the regal dress, and resumed her haughty attitude, as she approached the gate. This time, the guards did not move to stop her ’escort’ nor her. They didn’t even raise their weapons.

Instead they stabbed them into the ground, and bowed their heads deep with their hands clasped behind their back.

There was also considerably more of them, as not only the Elder she had previously met as well as the Witch came out to greet her, but nearly half of the village.

It was rather embarrassing that despite this respectful procession and greeting, that Belladonna was barely a head taller than some of the children that were staring slack-jawed at her, and whom had larger muscles than her despite being children.

But she chose not to think about it for reasons purely related to her own ego.

"Why Elder, you finally learned how to properly greet a guest. I commend your efforts." Belladonna said with a restrained smile.

"Yes Dark Lady. They call us savages, but we understand respect, and it is only right that we show it to one as powerful as yourself."

The Elder, whom Belladonna surprisingly remembered was called Jeskal, said with a bow of the head.

When he raised his head once again, he froze when his eyes landed on the young Orc beside her. His wide, unblinking gaze fixed onto the Glyph carved into Mac’s chest, as his body visibly shuddered, before he regained his composure once again.

The same could not be said for the Witch, who was bouncing beside him with excitement as she cackled wickedly.

"She has returned! She has returned! And she has blessed one of our own with the mark of the Ancestors. Does this mean you have chosen to keep us, Oh Dark Lady?"

Elder Jeskal’s face twitched, and he made a few subtle attempts to quieten down the Witch, that she proceeded to completely ignore and simply dance with even more enthusiasm. She was quite spry for an old woman.

Belladonna couldn’t help but laugh at her antics, as well as the obvious intentions that she had exposed. It was rather adorable that the Elder had done all of this with some intent of negotiating with her about his Clans position under her rule, only for the Witch to expose all of his ’hidden’ intentions and completely collapse his hand all in one dance.

It was also incredibly useful for Belladonna.

She had hoped that Mac would help her get closer to the Orcs, and would help convince them to stay as the first people in the city when they took over. But here they were, practically begging to be ’kept’.

If only all negotiations were this easy.

"Yes, I think I will." Belladonna nodded, as she patted Mac’s shoulder again. "This one has shown me the promise that your people hold, and has told me how dearly he holds you in his heart.

It moved me.

However, I do disagree with your wording. ’Keep you’ sounds like you will be pets, and that will simply not be the case here."

Once we take rule of this city, which will be by days end, then we will allow the Orcs to stay here as our citizens."

"That soon? You are sure you can secure the city in such little time?" The Elder asked, trying to mask his amazement behind a mask of caution and suspicion.

"Of course we can." Belladonna grinned, dipping her hand into the sleeve of her dress and pulling a skull from the darkness.

She held it high, for everyone to see, before tossing it at the feet of the Elder.

"My young friend and I have already eliminated the Devouring Black, and devoured him in turn. I was told that trophies are a staple for your people, so I hope this will be enough to prove this young warrior’s deeds."