βMy Lord!β The High Priestess instantly fell to her knees, her staff clattering beside her. βI am honored to be graced by Your divine presence once more! For what reason have you blessed Your lowly servant with this gift?β
The priestess quickly scrambled to her feet before performing a deep bow. βJust a moment my Lord.β Minutes later, she returned, with six little girls trailing behind her. Each gazed up at Aku with expressions of awe and terror. Their mother bit back the urge to reprimand them. How dare you not kneel before your Lord Father! But she remembered Akuβs words, and instead fell to her knees herself, hoping her daughters would follow. They seemed to take the cue, and kneeled behind her.
βIn front,β she commanded simply. The girls scuttled on their knees in front of their mother. Only two had the bravery to gaze up at Aku. The rest cowered as they kneeled, their faces pressed to the floor.
βThese are your other six daughters my Lord: Ami, Aki, Avi, Ani, Ali, and Ari.β
βTHERE THEY ARE!β Aku couldnβt help but raise his hands with a few laughs of delight as his progeny appeared. Six more daughters to raise as his princess warriors of darkness. What a great and exciting joy! βFinally, I see before my eyes my other six daughters!βΒ
The demon lord knelt to have a better look at them and saw that several of them were trembling. He was a terrifying sight to behold, after all, but the two bravest daughters would see that, unlike the statue that stood behind him, the real Akuβs grimacing maw was upturned in an excited grin.
βGreetings,Β
Ami, Aki, Avi, Ani, Ali, and Ari,β he said, reciting each name before it completely slipped his mind. βIt is I, AKU, your father. I have come to see you and to show you where your sister, Ashi, has been.β
//Iβm sure someday Iβll find a use for these icons
Now Iβm picturing Aku hosting a gameshow where Jack is mounted like this on a giant wheel but instead of money and prizes, the wheel has different ways of dying written on it.