Welcome to Gaia! ::

“Yes.” The ruler Hel echoed. “An army.” She seemed to grow dreamy eyed at the thought of a large group of unique warriors with their own special traits. How delicious the thought was, and she was slowly working her way to it! “My dear Xiu, there is always a war brewing.” She uttered seriously. “One must be prepared for possibility of an attack at all times…and of course, one must be wholly prepared to take on the armies of future conquests.” Here Hel grinned with delight, squeezing Xiu’s shoulders once more. More realms, one was never enough!

Hel found Xiu’s modesty to be rather endearing, her rotting hand coming up to pat the Baku on top of the head. “Dearest Xiu, no need to be modest! When one has talent they should flaunt it, and besides, I only request the best for my army. I think the ability to dive into dreams and also eat dreams or nightmares would be a high effective tool to use against enemies…”

Hel didn’t seem to kind when Xiu addressed her by her name, but she certainly didn’t mind when she was addressed as her majesty either. She also didn’t bother to tell Xiu that she could call her Hel, and just chose to stick with being addressed as her majesty, because that was wonderful. She grinned down at the Baku, just simply pleased and delighted.

“Oh, you will be of the greatest assistance.” Here she draped an arm around the ghoul’s shoulders, and swept an arm out, gesturing at the grand hall they currently stood in. “One day, dearest Xiu, the masses will be singing your praise, your legend, your power, will be spoken and remembered for generations to come!” Here the reaper seemed to get starry eyed again, just imagining the legacy her and her army would leave behind after they accomplished many great things. “They will write poems about, depict you in many forms of art, write songs about you…” Here she trailed off before focusing on the Baku once more.

“Also, as a warrior of my army, if there are any other potential recruits you think of, please do tell. I trust your word and recommendation…”

Once again, Hel couldn’t help but find Xiu’s modesty endearing, even in a dream. The reaper laughed merrily, pressing the ghoul closer to her affectionately. “Still so modest, we will work you out of that!" Her free hand came around to pat Xiu’s cheek. “You will make a lovely wife one day.” She informed the Baku happily. “Only the finest, bravest, and strongest warrior should have the honor of your hand, and he will be a lucky boil indeed.” This was something Hel thought too, outside of the dream.

“Yes, recruits.” She reaffirmed with a nod. “Anywhere, honestly, dearest Xiu. In your travels and in your battles, I am sure you will come across more future allies.” Here she paused, and seemed thoughtful. “So far, I have you, a psychopomp, a cowboil…though he needs more work, I see the potential. A diamond in the rough.” She nodded her head firmly. “I also have been fortunate enough to come across a general for my army.” Here Hel grinned, obviously rather pleased with herself.

Hel just laughed as Xiu stuttered and blushed, and gave the ghoul another reassuring pat on the head. “One day, dear Xiu, one day.” Was all the reaper replied about the marriage topic before letting it go in favor of moving onto other things. “Ah yes, my general!” The realm ruler started excitedly. “Only the best and most capable of being in charge of such a talented gather of individuals. It has taken much scouting, but after a long search I have finally found—“

It would be here now, that the dream would fizzle away to black, because apparently Hel was done with her power nap, and wide awake. When the Baku came to, she’d find the reaper’s face inches away from her own (and thankfully, not decaying!), and her lips pulled back into a wide, excited grin, as her eyes also shone in delight. Xiu really could dream dive! That was amazing!

The reaper laughed at Xiu’s compliment, and leaned back now, resting against the tree once more. “Why thank you!” She replied, though her main focus still wasn’t her dream content, it was that what Xiu said was true. She could dream drive. Amazing. “I am in awe of your natural ability, friend!” The reaper further commented. “How often do you do that?”

She was just so, so fascinated by this! Dreams were such an elusive matter, but here was a student who could enter and interact with them. Her mind was nearly blown.

“Whenever you get a volunteer, huh?” Geeze, that seemed rough! How was Xiu supposed to get more practice if she had to wait for others to come forward? This didn’t sit well with the valkyrie. She wanted the Baku to become rather skilled at this…so…she would…need to be her training partner! Yes! Hel smacked a fist on a palm, and leaned towards the ghoul excitedly once more. “I will be your training partner!” Hel announced rather proudly. “You are welcome to dream dive with me, because one must hone their skills, yes?” The ghoul gave a firm nod of her head before blinking.

“Uh…yes? What is it, friend?”

Hel blinked and then stared at Xiu, long and hard. Oh…she was just…so….endearing. The reaper reached out, and grasped the ghoul’s chin between her fore finger and thumb and pinched gently. “You are just the kindest thing, you know that?” Hel cooed to her before releasing the Baku. “If I wasn’t certain, or I thought you were imposing, I wouldn’t offer!” She informed with a grin. “I think it’s very important to master your skills as a warrior, and I will help you anyway I can!” The reaper nodded, finalizing that little statement.

As of right now, she wasn’t worried about what Xiu would find in her dreams, because it was all…surface level concerns anyways.

“Oh!” Here Hel looked proud once more upon being questioned about her race and faction. “In my family, our natural ability is to lament.” She informed happily. “We can sing a song so full of sorrow, that it hinders our enemies in battle.”