[IC] ..::Ascension::.. .2 (High-Casual)

[13org]

Lila Moriarty

---

^{@Rai @13org}

---

The knock on the door told Lila that it was time. Shortly after asking if she was ready, not even waiting for an answer, the servant opened the door. His voice was elegant and smooth, but it was incredibly... monotone. Almost as if he was being careful to not show much emotion. His manners were impeccable, even the way he walked was elegant. He was obviously used in walking around nobles.

“Ms. Moriarty. This way please. That is if you are ready.” He said, extending his hand towards her.
“I will guide you to the gathering.” he continued, patiently waiting for her.

Lila gently took his hands without saying a word. She still had many questions about her next mission, but she wouldn't question Mirror's orders, instead simply letting the servant lead her, without knowing what to expect. She had never been in a place like that... She was obviously amongst nobles, and not warriors... She wondered how Virias would react to all that.

“Do not worry about your friend dear. He has an important role only Mirror knows. And he will have a fun in my room of madness.” the servant said, almost like if he was reading her mind. How did he do that? He always seemed to know what and when to say... It was really impressive.

Lila had said to Virias to obey Mirror, so she wasn't that preoccupied with him. Mirror surely would take care of him... At least that what was she believed in. The part about the 'room of madness' scared her a little, but she trusted Mirror enough to believe he would take care of Virias.

Upon arriving at their destination, Lila got even more confused than she already was. If she was feeling out of place before, on the room with the fancy bed and bath, now that feeling was much, much worse. She was amongst noblemen and noblewomen, as it was evident by the way they talked. Lila didn't know what to do or say. She had never been amongst noble Nayu or even Nobles before. And she certainly wasn't used in being in a place where blood was consumed so... openly... It was almost intoxicating for Lila. The smell of blood filled the room, she could almost taste it on her tongue.

“My who does your attire? You're just like a doll. Oh dear if only you had your sight to see how beautiful you are.” a royal said, right after she entered.

Another person might even be offended by that commentary, but she was a Nayu, so being blind was... normal for her. She always was blind.
Lila herself didn't knew if that commentary was a good one, praising her dress, or if the royal was trying to provoke her by saying that she was blind. She didn't know very well how to act around nobles. She wasn't as elegant as the servant, neither she knew what and when to say things in such a perfect and impeccable manner as him, so after one of them asked her name, she was caught by surprise.
But again, the servant shown to have a perfect understanding and knowledge on how to read and react to all social situations, presenting her to the royals as a member of the Moriarty family.

“The Moriarty family? My word such a rich heritage.” one of them said, immediately after that Lila could hear their chatter, talking about the Moriarty family. Unlike other previous comments, that one had definitely caught Lila's interest, making her listen carefully to them. She didn't know anything about her family or her past. She was simply raised as a weapon, no one never said that she had a... 'rich heritage', as one of the royals said...

She knew she was there on a mission, but other opportunities like that one, to learn about her past and her family couldn't come that easily...

“It's a shame that they were nearly wiped out. No doubt this young one here is a cousin of the main branch.” an elderly Nayu royal said, amongst the chatter.

What did he mean by that? Wiped out? By who? And why? Was Lila only a cousin of the main branch? A thousand of questions flooded her mind at once. It was already hard to concentrate with the smell of blood, after she hear those words, it became even harder, making her completely distracted, lost in her own thoughts...

“I will keep an eye on you. Go. Await your call and try to enjoy being a Nayu for once.” the servant said, with an unusually positive tone on his voice, making her come back to the current situation.

"I don't know how to..." Lila started to say, interrupting herself, silently nodding in acquiescence. She would try her hardest to not do anything that could offend the nobles or anything. She wasn't really educated to be a 'lady'... Probably the best place for her to be was to just quietly sit on a table and wait for further orders.

Normally, Lila would sit on an empty table on the corner of the room, as far as possible from the Royals, but her curiosity about her family was too much, so instead, she simply sat down on an empty chair, nearby the other royals, trying her best to hear any other information about the Moriarty.

Right in front of her seat, on the table, there were several glasses of blood, that the royals simply took and drank without any ceremony. The smell was tempting, and even before she realized, she had already taken one on her hands, the cold glass gently touching her lips, the red, crimson blood almost touching them. She could feel its intoxicatingly sweet and alluring smell, calling for her.
With an incredible effort, she put down the glass. She wasn't used in drinking blood nearby so many people, she was raised being told that drinking blood was a taboo, that wasn't acceptable, so she tried her hardest to control her urges.

"Concentrate..." she thought, forcing herself to put down the glass of blood and pay attention to the Royals, what they were saying and trying to listen anything about the Moriarty.

All the royals were incredibly lively, chatting, drinking blood and talking about a multitude of things. Lila herself couldn't feel more out of place. She didn't knew anything about Nayu manners, or customs, so she refrained herself of even talking to anyone, not knowing what was appropriate and what wasn't...

Thinking a bit more... Should her have sat down there? Was it ok for her to sit nearby the nobility, to share a table with them? She simply sat down, not asking anyone if she could...

"I-I'm... sorry..." She said, in a low tone, getting up.
"I didn't ask if I could... sit down." She said, in the same low tone. Sharing a table with nobles and royals... What was she thinking when she simply sat down like that?!
Did the mere mention of her family impact her enough to make her forget about everything else?

[Demonic Angel]

Prometheus Vanguard

Rhagar Vanguard

Location: Farmland near Vrondi

_{collab between Holy and Demonic Angel}

Elise heard the commotion and felt her being moved by the Vrondi guard from Prometheus. Her heart raced a bit because of what is happening and she learned from her father that the Vrondi don’t take lightly of blood feeders. ”I-I h-have a-a c-contract m-my f-father m-made o-out f-for m-me,” Elise said, highly nervous when speaking. She searched for the contract, she had in her bag, she was carrying in there, because it's for emergencies for things like this. She pulled out the contract and it is exactly like the contracts for feeding on each other in Vrondi’s lands. ”H-Here’s t-the f-feeding c-contract,” Elise said, with a cute smile on her face.

Elise hoped it would work and help her new girlfriend out instead of do, any harm to her. Because she is happy to have met Prometheus.

Rhagar’s jaw dropped as Elise presented the necessary papers to the guards though what happened next seemed to have completely turned the tables around. At first he thought Prometheus would lose her cool but the honesty that laid in place was something which he would always remember. Her hands swifted as if to go for the knives, making the young man feel as if something bad was about to play out, only to reach for the pocket located inside the jacket. Had she really figure out that what she did was wrong?

“My brother is looking for these people sir. If they are around in the city please let them know what is going on. Elise has a contract on feed but in reality I don’t. I heard the stories of Vrondi not allowing us to feed in order to live but I did think an egotistic mother fucking asshole would be willing to allow teenager to die. Now it you’re done being whining little bitches I would like to continue on my way. My chest is beginning to hurt in your presence.” The girl asked with glowing eyes. Well it was worth hoping.

The young man sighed and walked towards his sister, hands moving into a semi embrace, which caused her guard to go down. Most of the time the young man didn’t mind her insanity but when it comes to getting into the gates without problems now wasn’t the time. A hand grasped the girl’s head forcing it upwards as his hand copied a swiping motion making the younger sister scream bloody murder. Insatanity everyone around her would see something very different. A frozen person, breathing as if the air around her was running out fast. ” We’re willing to go to jail quietly. I only ask that you allow our only remaining family to know. I’m sorry for my sister’s behavior due it’s not fully her fault. When our village was destroy Prometheus had a actual near death experience. Hence her insanity has increased in strength.”

Elise looked at Prometheus and the picture that she pulled out of her jacket pocket. She had a smile on her face. She heard what Prometheus had said and then Rhagar. She had a depressive look on her face but she looked down to try to hide it. ”T-That’s q-quite s-sad t-that h-happened t-to P-Prometheus a-and y-your f-family R-Rhagar,” Elise said, with a quite depressive tone in her voice. She always wondered why her father was constantly angry and wanted to bolster defenses so no more Nayu Blood was spilled, in the Kingdom of Nero’s lands.

” Right now she’s reliving it Elise. Every flame licking towards her face, every scream from those being murdered or burned alive, and that one single moment where she went to save our parents just as they were killed. A subtle swinging of that weapon which gleamed with their blood. I really didn’t want to do that. I hate forcing Prometheus into this memory but what choice do we have now. Elise please don’t hate my sister. Just forget you ever met us okay?” The man removed picking up his limp sibling from the ground. Her quivering form shifted into his body as what looked like tears fell from her eyes.

[Rai]

Blood Banquet

The banquet hall was cool and stagnant yet the perfumes of the Royals filled the air with sweet aromaz. Even the smell of the blood that was in large bowl containers around the area smelled alluring. Even to those who did not partake the smell was not like blood. Therosi members turned the bowls of blood with metal spoons keeping it fresh & Herb's sprinkled Within made it appear appealing. Napkins were stained with red. Newer fresher blood was being auctioned off like fresh cattle. All within these dark halls seemed well. Even as within the Therosi quarters screams of agony and pleads for mercy sang within the skulls of all those within.

"J-just... kill me.." Strung up on a wall was a former member or rather a spy within their ranks. Bore the winged symbol of their mortal enemy. Blood trickled down from cuts across his naked body. A long blade kept his hands together and attached to the wall several feet from the floor. Blood Stained the wall. Several Therosi stood below interrogating him. "You'll die soon enough. Shame your blood is not pure. It would save us some resources." Spoke the white eyed man with nearly golden flesh. He stood next to the elderly Therosi man whom humbly stood by keeping himself up with a cane. The man with the gold tint turned to his men who seemed to be awaiting his orders. "It is clear they are trying to infiltrate and disrupt our business here. A common mistake.." He chuckled.

He waved a hand and the other Therosi subordinates began to lash the bloodied body with a black whip coated in blood. "There are easier ways to extract information. More subtle and effective ways..but this is more fun." The screams continued even as the victims voice went horse and dry heeves were all that was left. "Be on guard. Continue as if all is well and prepare for battle at any moment... Our master seeks only one thing.." As he spoke the door creaked open and a Nero guard entered. He froze in place as if taking in like what is happening within this room. Silence was in the room as all the Therosi within stared him down. The guard made a gentle hand movement to his neck and pulled on the black skin tight attire the guards wore to reveal a tattoo of a red droplet. "I have news to report." The door behind him shut closed locking soon after.
------------------

Royals continued to enjoy their time around Lila. Even as she sat alone in silence. However as a new song began to play many found a partner and slow danced with each other. A hand slid across Lila's table and soon was followed by a gentle voice whose smile could be heard through his grin. A Nero royal man lowered himself before Lila. His clean smell was covered with a rare cologne few could afford.

"Excuse me. I can't help but notice your beauty within this crowd. You remind me of a rose growing within the dark. A rare sight indeed..Would you be kind enough to have me for a dance?" His voice was confident and smooth like any other royal but it had an air of youthfulness near Lila's age perhaps. His hand lowered to near Lila's. "I will guide you all the way."

@13org
---------

Within a private room in the guest hall was a red haired woman and a scaled dragonkin with white hair. He sat on the bed while she stood and poured a drink of red. On her back was a single black wing. "Would you like one?" She looked back with her crimson eyes to him and he shook his head. "I will not partake in any leisures while I'm on the job." He grunted. She giggled lightly and shook her head in response.

"So serious. I guess that's why you're ranked higher than me." She sighed, her black wide dress dancing as she stepped on her heels toward him. Like a waitress she gently held the glass to him and gave a sweet smile. "Let us at least toast to our cooperation. Partner." She winked. He sighed deeply and grasped the cup reluctantly. "Fine if you insist. Whatever gives you an excuse to take it easy huh..?" He chuckled with a sharp grin. She held a glass of her own to his for a quick clang before they both began drinking.

Her red lipstick stained the glass and she leaned against a dresser. "So any leads?" She asked placing her drink down. The dragonkin finished his drink in a single solid gulp before speaking. "Best chance is to find what they're looking for first and use it as bait for their leader." He said through his large reptilian jaws. Tue woman hummed with thought. "But that sounds so hard. Wouldn't it be easier to torture a Therosi to find out what they know?" The man chuckled. "And what makes you think they even know what their leader looks like. There's a thing called spies yknow." This comment made the woman smirk. "Yes.. indeed."

The glass in the mans hand fell to the ground and shattered. His eye lids dropped and he began to lean to the left. "You.. poisoned me?" He muttered before collapsing to the ground. His eyes barely open he watched her across the room. "W..why...?" He managed to say under a fading breathe. She sipped her glass before setting it down on the dresser. She turned from him to look into the mirror at herself. "The Therosi pay me well. With you out of the way there's little chance of anyone finding their leader. And whether the Therosi succeed or fail is entirely irrelevant to me, same goes for the Dolofon and guess what? Same goes for the Aion. Playing all sides will be very profitable. Wouldn't you agree..? Number four...and I need this place on lockdown to put all sides on hold." She stepped over his fallen body which seemed like a corpse. "I'd think you'd last longer.."

Suddenly he sprang up from below her with clawed hands eager to grab her neck. His nails nearly touched her flesh before a long rapier was planted inside his chest. He fell back down and let out a final breathe before his eyes went blank. "Oooh.. nearly.. got me.." She sighed with relief. She stood up and with a wave of her hand a blood red and black portal opened and she walked through it before it closed. She was now within another guest room. She walked from out of it and casually walked down. Nero guards watched her from down the hall ever vigilant. She nodded to them with a innocent smile "Is this place free? My room is too close to the music." She asked before opening the door.

"Aaaaahhhh!!" She shrieked. "Oh my god! Is that a dead body!?" Her voice could hardly be heard over the music within the main banquet hall. Yet the Nero guards she had nearby rushed forward and saw the body of the dragonkin who had a blade going through his chest. "It certainly is..." One said. "Alert the others..." One walked into the shadows and vanished. He emerged from the shadows within the Nero guard head quarters within the castle. "We have a murder." He spoke standing upright to his commander who was cast in a veil of shadow. Next to him was a hooded woman with a clear orb before her.

"No one leaves. No one enters. But continue as if nothing happened..." A deep slow voice spoke from the dark. "But sir this might continue if we don-" "I am well aware. It is not I who wishes this. But the King himself. Consider it a strategic manuever." The guard replied with a simple bow. "Then I will do as you say. But what if one wishes to leave what would you have us say?" A deep sigh was let out. "No one will leave. What we offer here is pure bliss beyond any Royals dream. But if they do press... do remind them of this being the Kings party. Word of their absence will be... noted down by him." Fingers could be heard tapping a desk this commander sat on. The Nero guard bowed once more before shadow enveloped him and he vanished.

"Do give word to our king... it has begun." Said The commander. The woman with the orb began to whisper to it. A mist began to form within it before it gave a green light within the dark.

[BlackPanther]

Paon

---

Paon kept his attention moving. Focus shifting from individual to individual as he tried to locate his target. He had to admit there was a strong possibility he was stalling. Drawing out the hunt, but perhaps he also wanted to ensure he did not make a mistake. It was hard to tell just how delusional he was being to himself at the moment.

Before he could actually decide fully on whether or not he really felt like moving toward the guy with the new slave a few of the Nayu clusters toward the rooms had a sudden surprised look. Paon raised his brow before setting down the cup and making his way to the groups. His steps were still fairly heavy and he merged with the crowds fairly easily. As he passed he heard conversations from the speaking royals. What was that? It sounded like a scream? Interesting. The much more hearing enhanced descendants had heard something and that something had been a scream or at least it had sounded like one.

As paon continued his movements between groups he generally heard the same thing. A sudden scream for an unknown reason. Though, he would need more information. Sadly for him, that meant actual interaction. He made his way to a smaller group of two and cleared his throat. "I am terribly sorry, but you sound worried...why would this be?" It sounded incredibly sincere and oddly apologetic. The two tilted their heads before one of them spoke up. There was a scream that came from the rooms...at least thats what direction it sounded like. The other gave a noise of confirmation assuming that paon was blind. Paon gave a head bow. "Thank you for the information...that is rather odd for a scream to break out. Anyway, I shall not disturb you any longer" With another head bow he was away from the group and passing between the larger ones to ensure he had any other information, but it seemed that was all he was getting.

Curiosity got the best of him and Paon found himself headed that way. His steps heavy as he walked. He was not certain if he could reach that destination, but he was extremely curious and who knew perhaps this would lead him to his target.

[13org]

Lila Moriarty

---

^{@Rai @13org}

---

Lila was still trying to hear something about her family, or even something about the reason behind her being there. With time, she got used to the overwhelming smell of blood. It was quite unusual for her, but after devouring the first glass of blood without even blinking, now she was acting much more like the nobles, giving small sips, drinking it little by little. The smell of blood wasn't that distracting anymore, but even alert as Lila was... She was only hearing the royals having fun and casually chatting, dancing and the music playing... There was nothing noteworthy going on as far as Lila could perceive. At least not until the moment where a Nero royal, perfumed with a rare cologne, came near her, sliding his hand across the table she was and speaking with her with a smooth, charming voice, a

"Excuse me. I can't help but notice your beauty within this crowd. You remind me of a rose growing within the dark. A rare sight indeed. Would you be kind enough to have me for a dance?" The royal said, with a smooth and confident voice. But unlike other royals his voice had a certain... Youthfulness to it.

"I will guide you all the way." He continued, lowering his hand near hers.

Lila didn't know how to react to that. She didn't know how to dance, and nobody never approached her like that. Why her? There were a lot of other royal women on the banquet who were much more accustomed with the royalty, who knew how to use their charm... Lila was nothing like them. She knew how to kill and assassinate, but not how to dance and please... She didn't have the other female royals' charms, their carefully chosen words...

"Amongst all the roses in this garden, why choose the least fragrant one?" she asked, hesitantly turning towards the royal.

"Why choose the only rose that has more thorns than petals? A rose that was created not to love and be loved, to please and be pleased, but only to hurt others with its thorns and then die...?" she asked. slowly getting up.

Lila was indeed curious about that royal... There were many other women there. All of them much more charming than her. What could have that man possibly seen in her that caught his attention?

"I've... never danced before. I... don't know what to do... I've never seen anyone dancing before, or even tried to dance myself..." She said, standing besides the royal, looking down awkwardly and grabbing her dress with the other hand, unsure on how to move and act.
Without her scythe and her weapons, she felt... strange. Almost like she wasn't herself.

"I'm... sorry. I know I shouldn't be here... I'm not as graceful as the other nobles, nor well dressed or wealthy... If you wish to search another pair..." She said, still unsure on what to do. The man's fragrance was so different from hers... He smelled like something precious, like something... beautiful. A smell that was so different from the one Lila was used to... So different from the smell of death...
Why was that man interested on her? She was already so uncomfortable with all that situation... Having that royal nearby her only made her even more uncomfortable.

"But if you aren't really mistaken... If you really wish to take this black rose, full of thorns and cold, stiff petals to dance..." She said, hesitantly allowing him to take her hand.

[Rai]

Vrondi Capital, Royal Banquet

"It seems as though all that time in the dark has made you much wiser Zargoth. To aid us now is the right choice. We will win." The voice of Vrondi did not meet the ears like any other creature made of flesh. Instead his vibrations were felt deep within ones soul. If not aware of ones own soul one would merely feel humbled under such a dominant aura. Vrondi watched with his piercing eyes the vines squirm about and flop until whirled around in a display of the Sol ability to manipulate nature. The calming fragrance that was rare even for royals of this world to inhale began to spill out through the window balconies. The pink mist spilled out until visible no more. The hands of wealthy men and women came together in rapid applause as Luxia concluded her show with a bow. The vines and plants visibly being shriveled as her aura began to rise. A glint of this aura was around her elegant figure and as she gently walked away a fading trail of light was what remained. She made her way to where the Vrondi royals were seated and gentle sat herself down with a polite smile.

A fine snow white gloved hand was raised as a Vrondi Royal whom sat near the King stood up. He stepped out before his fellow royals of Sol blood lowered his hand as the applause dimmed. It was a moment of silence as all royals were aware of social norms in such gatherings. Though a few still chatted under their breath. "It is an honor to have you all here this morning and it is a great pleasure and honor to present my King Vrondi to speak to you all!" He gestured with his hands as he spoke. Finishing with a gentle bow as he stepped aside and took his seat as Vrondi began to rise from his own. The King stepped to the front of the slightly elevated position. Though he was known to often make his way suspended in air.

He paused while in front of the small crowd of royals with the clusters of their kingdoms of origin being behind them closer in proximity to the walls and balconies. He turned his head to look at the entire groups of royals around the room before speaking. "It is my honor to have you all here as guests in my home. I thank the beautiful Luxia for her performance. I can tell you all are concerned with the recent events and take it with the upmost importance. As such I will delay our meeting no longer. I humbly ask that those who hold their title as rightful King or Queen of their respective Kingdoms to join me within the hall of ordinance." Vrondi turned his body and lifted his hand and a wide door opened as vines pulled on it. The opened door led to another room with a single long table with many seat.

"About time." Said Magnixx who began to walk in first with a single warrior by his side. A dragon knight with a large blade by his side and gauntlets seemingly forged by dragon scales. They entered the room and Magnixx took a seat close to the end of the table near the high chair at the end. Next was Queen Allo who walked elegantly to the room with a tall and sleek armored dragoon, spear in hand, walking next to her. She glanced at the other royals with a gentle smile. "I hope this goes well.." She said with a bit of a snicker as she looked over Magnixx and his sudden entry. She sat near the middle. Next was the Queen of Tearia, Tydra Nept. She had a hold up with her choice. Only one guardian could accompany them as they entered and her two choices were bickering. She laid a hand on their shoulders. "Sorry but Adrian seems more clear headed right now." She let out a playful tongue before strolling off swaying her dangling jewels and long dress frills with her hips with each step as Adrian walked near her. She sat closer but horizontal from Allo.

Last was Sleeth Mythue. He sluggishly walked his slender form across the stone white floors toward the room. Next to him was a veiled woman with a sphere in her hand. Many rumored her to be his sister. But few talked to or knew about the Mythue family. As the Nayu lord stepped into the room the lighting within the banquet hall grew brighter. Sleeth and his companion took a seat near the end of the table of the opposite side of everyone. King Vrondi stood and watched as they entered the hall and nodded with a pleased expression once the door was closed. "Now do not let our absence hinder your pleasures. There are many more shows to be had here and much more delicacies to try! Such as the golden mushroom! If only I still had a stomach..." The crowd let out a laugh as he did chuckling loudly. He then turned to Zargoth. "Sir Zargoth. I would appreciate your presence in this meeting. Please join me and your lovely daughter can come too." He smiled at Yioplya before he began to fade away.

Lights formed together in the seat at the end of the table within the hall of ordinance until it took the form of Vrondi and had a solid feeling. He looked at the kings and queens before him and with a serious expression began to speak. "Let us begin devising a way to destroy this enemy." As Zargoth entered the door behind him would close. As it closed the other kings and queens looked him over. Few were amused by seeing him or his daughter. Magnixx raised a brow as his nostrils inhaled deeply. "Why are we allowing a Dragon at this table?" He voiced openly. Vrondi had open arms for Zargoth. "Zargoth here will no doubt be instrumental in aiding us. When it comes to sheer power Dragons are unrivaled even you a dragon slayer can attest to this. You do not slay a dragon with might but by piercing the heart." Allo Niscent let out a slight interrupting cough before speaking on the matter. "One that slays dragons has little knowledge of their hearts. That is to say their true nature." Magnixx grunted. "A dragon lover would know." Vrondi gave Magnixx a look before continuing.

"There are many matters that need to be addressed here. But we have come for one goal and that must not be side tracked. Our kingdoms are being threatened by a very powerful force. One that takes all precedence over other issues at the time. We all have managed to successfully defend against their advances but night by night they have grown more creative." Magnixx spoke up with a confident voice. "My lines have held firm for these past two nights. Fire does the trick fairly well against these.. cultists." He smirked. Allo nodded to this and spoke up as well with her strong elegant voice gracing their ears. "My towns have suffered the most as I'm sure is true for the rest of you. As my kingdom is high above no mere cultist could even touch it. But my farms and the innocent people there are under constant threat each night. We hold strong but I fear a never ending assault would eventually break through." Her brows raised with concern in her eyes as she looked around the room and found Tydras accepting face. "As you know I have only one small town that is well protected by the Magoi and my kingdom is very safe as well. We have hardly seen a cultist but I do fear the burden of fending them off may be distributed mostly on you King Vrondi." She looked to Vrondi whom nodded to her with respect.

"Indeed it does seem my lines have taken the hardest hit." He then looked up going across the table and his gaze landed on Sleeth whom sat silently with his arms folded. Vrondi tilted his head in a curious expression before speaking. "And what is the case with you Lord Mythue. Rumor has it your people have yet to be attacked." Sleeth immediately let out a chuckle. "All this talk about how well protected your kingdoms are and you seem to forget how mine is entirely impenetrable." He gestured with confidence as he went on. "They haven't attacked because it would be entirely pointless. The reason I'm here is to see how my people can possibly benefit from aiding yours nothing more. We have no reason to fear these cultists like you all." His words rattled the others but before they could speak Vrondi rang out. "Yes what you say is true except for one thing. Last night I had encountered a foe who was able to push me further than I have ever gone in over 300 years.. While we battled I did not notice them taking my guardian. The Guardian. With it I assure you every kingdom is now under a high level of danger.. But I do have a way to return my guardian to its rightful owner." Vrondi turned to Zargoth. "I will need a powerful distraction. One formidable enough to grant me time to enact my plan."
@Landaus Five-One @Vesuvius00

Vrondi Nomad / Farm Lands

The Vrondi soldiers were not shocked to see Elise present one of them with papers. He gripped it in her hand and before he could read it the young Nayu girl began to speak. He listened carefully and found and lowered his head. He let the paper go and looked at Elise. His piercing orange eyes looking down at her with a twist of anger and frustration. "We do not appreciate being lied to young one. And we do not let illegal feedings take place in our territory. The only ones that don't like it are leeches like yourself." He pointed to the ground indicating something to her. "On the ground now." He demanded with a stern voice. The other soldier merely shook his head to Rhagar. "You're in no trouble from what I can tell. But your sister is likely going to spend a day in jail if that girl there can vouch for her." He said pointing to Elise. "Otherwise we may hold her for at least a month." He shrugged to Rhagar as his fellow soldier attempted to use vines from a distance to creep up the ground and wrap around Prometheus's arms and legs. He then would put a cloth around her mouth so she could not bite anyone. As he did this the other guard kept Rhagar and Elise at a distance despite the tears expressed by Prometheus.

The soldier that was insulted seemed happy to haul her off while the other seemed a bit sympathetic for their story. However he said. "The law is the way it is for Seraphim to remain unfed on by predators. This is how it has to be for now." After doing this the two soldiers would lift her by vines and carry her over the ground toward the Vrondi capital gates.
@Demonic Angel
-------------

[13org]

Sophia

Alexis

Vulcan

&

Maria Z. Tetra-Lira

---

^{@Rai @Vesuvius00 @Landaus Five-One @13org}

---

Sophia, the guardian of knowledge, the dragon sage and the master and mentor of Mindah Tarvitaan... But what most people didn't remember was that Sophia was still a woman and she had her hobbies. One of those were tending to Mindah Tarvitaan's gardens. Those gardens were in fact made by her after the monks made the temple. She cultivated the trees and the flowers , taking care of the garden by herself. Despite being told by the monks that she didn't have to do that alone, or that they could simply assign a few monks to do that for her, she never really let them do it, since she enjoyed spending some time there alone.
"Mistress Sophia..." A young monk approached her, unable to continue speaking after seeing her humanoid form.
That particular monk was relatively new on the monastery, and as such, he had never seen her in her humanoid form. Her appearance was certainly different, but not in a bad way... She looked almost like a fairy or a nymph from the story books, kneeling down on the grass, surrounded by beautiful white jasmines, her exotic, unique black and white skin contrasting perfectly against the white jasmines, the silver moon and the dark, starry sky.
"I'm sorry, I was a bit distracted with the flowers..." Sophia said, getting up and approaching the monk with a kind smile.
After staring at her for a few seconds, the monk shook his head, clearing his throat.
"M-mistress Sophia, sorry for interrupting you, but Vulcan still wants to talk to you. He has been waiting for you for a while." The young monk said, looking to the ground.
"I know, I know... Tell him that patience is a virtue. He will understand. Besides that, I still need to see how our other guest is." Sophia said, leaving the garden briefly after talking with the monk.
After a short walk, Sophia encountered herself on the part of the temple where the individual rooms were. Those were simple, but very comfortable rooms, fitting with the monks' way of life.
Gently knocking on the door of the room where Alexis was, Sophia waited for her to answer.
"Alexis, are you still awake? Are you feeling a bit better?" Sophia asked, genuinely preoccupied with the girl.
Alexis had been sitting on the edge of the bed in her room, awake for about an hour now and just staring into the space in front of her. She couldn’t remember why she was here. For the life of her she just could not remember. She woke up on this mountain just a day or two ago now… before that she knew she had been in Sunfire, and was planning to go home to Vrondi’s capitol. She squinted at the air, forcing herself through the fuzzy memories for what must have been the billionth time. Somewhere between the two places, she’d gotten put on this snow-covered mountain, all the way in Gaia. Somehow.
She felt like she was missing a lot of the story, as if an entire day of her memory was just gone- erased. That, combined with the fact that everything else was extremely fuzzy, really was starting to give her a headache. Everything was a question, even the parts she could remember almost clearly. There was a battle, and she’d fought in it along with bunch of Vrondi’s soldiers. Something had happened during that battle though, at the end… She couldn’t remember exactly what but it terrified her.
She jumped at the sudden knock on the door. It had been so silent, she’d been so focused… She walked over to the door, opening it after she heard Sophia speak. ”Good morning.” The Sol woman bowed her head slightly in greeting, it was starting to become a habit. ”I feel… Confused still, but overall I’m doing well. Thank you for letting me stay here and recover.”
Sophia smiled kindly after she heard that Alexis was better. Nobody knew how she ended up there, not even the monks knew. It was really a shock when they found her simply laying down on the snow, almost freezing to death.
Even after she recovered, things only got even more strange after she said that she was in Vrondi... But even with all those questions still unanswered, Sophia was fine with it all as long as the girl was ok. She had shown herself to be a very kind and pure girl, and as such, it was only natural for Sophia to want to protect her.
“Good morning to you too, Alexis. Although we are several hours early for that.” Sophia said with a kind smile, pointing towards the window, showing the night sky.
Alexis followed the gesture with her eyes and silently died a little inside as she realised that it really was Nighttime. Late night at that. ”Sorry, I kinda just woke up a little bit ago.. I never once even glanced at the window though.” It was strange that she would wake up in the middle of the night though. She rose with the sun so often that she had just assumed she had this time too.
"I'm really relieved to know that you are better! It was quite a surprise for me when the monks found you almost freezing to death, unconscious on the snow." Sophia said to the girl with a preoccupied expression.
"Did the monks treat you right? I hope the younger apprenticed didn't annoy you with too many questions... They are quite... energetic, aren't they?" Sophia said with a giggle as she remembered the small apprentices playing with her.
”I love talking to the monks, the younger ones too.” Alexis smiled as she remembered how all of them had made her feel better after she’d first woken up, so confused about everything. ”They actually managed to ask me a lot of things I hadn’t even thought to ask myself.”
"Would you mind accompanying me in a walk through the temple gardens?" Sophia said, smiling kindly to the girl and gently grabbing her hand.
”Uhh, in the middle of the night?”
"Come on, a bit of fresh air will be good both for your body and spirit. The gardens are the best place to gaze at the stars." She said, gently taking the girl outside.
"This mountain is completely secluded from the rest of the world, away from all of its problems, away from its conflicts and wars... Only those with pure hearts and with the purest intentions are allowed to enter the Great Library and remain on the temple." Sophia said to the girl as they walked through the temple, heading to the gardens.
"I don't know the story or the motivations behind the events that brought you here. And honestly, I don't need to know them. You are pure, Alexis. Your eyes and actions show that your heart is kind and pure. The Great Library and the temple are always open to those with pure hearts and intentions. That is the reason why we took care of you and allowed you to stay here for as long as you want." Sophia said just as they arrived on the garden.
Alexis let herself be pulled out into the chill night air as she listened to Sophia talk. Honestly, it was a very nice night out. such beauty almost distracted her from hearing what the dragon said, though. Her expression shifted as they entered the garden, and she spoke quietly to herself the words she truly believed. ”I’m not that pure. I can’t be” She listened quietly as Sophia continued to talk about the garden now.
"I planted all of them myself. I tend to them every night. It is a beautiful garden, isn't it?" She said as she showed the garden to the girl. The moon's pale, silver light illuminated the garden, giving it a mystical, almost otherworldly glow.
Immense trees stood around the garden, almost like silent guardians, making sure that no one would interfere on that tranquil place. Beautiful flowers of many varieties grew under the shadow of the huge trees. Those flowers weren't organized by color or anything, instead growing in a beautifully chaotic field of colors. In the very middle of the garden, towering over all other trees, a big tree stood over a big boulder. Its trunk and its branches were different from the others, its fibers were interwoven, almost like they were braided, creating a beautiful pattern. If one looked closely enough at such tree, it could perceive that those fibers were pulsating with a bluish glow. It was faint, but it was definitely there, the closer you got from the tree, the more intense that feeling was. If one touched its trunk, it would feel like it was alive, each fiber, each branch pulsating with a soothing, tranquil magic energy, flooding all the garden, making it possible so the flowers would grow so beautifully and keeping all that garden 'alive'.
"You are free to go whenever you want, Alexis. The monks took care of your wounds, and you are healthy enough to go home, if that is your wish." Sophia asked, guiding the girl towards the center of the garden, near the biggest tree, and sitting in one of the immense tree's roots.
"Our time was short, but as soon as I saw your eyes, I could feel your kindness... Of course... The younger monks also told me about you playing and talking with them!" Sophia continued laughing.
"I want to give you one thing before you go though." Sophia said, getting up giving a few steps forward and turning to her dragon form.
Sophia then carefully extended her hands, getting a single leaf from the central tree between her claws. The leaf was certainly unique and different from the other ones, it had a vivid green coloration, almost like if it was made of emerald. Its veins glowed and pulsated with pure, primal magic, just like the rest of the tree.
Turning back into her humanoid form, she approached Alexis once more, giving the leaf to her.
"This leaf is a part of this garden. As long as the central tree is alive, this leaf will never wither and die and will continue pulsating with the same primal magic energy that keeps this garden alive. It will help you to keep calm in stressful situations." Sophia said. The second you touched the leaf, you felt the same calmness and tranquility that the garden seemed to inspire.
”Thank you...” Alexis’ voice was quiet as she took the emerald leaf from Sophia, gently cupping it in her hands. She was suddenly taken by a wave of calm, and the confusions and worries that had been filling her mind began to fade into the background- not to be cared about right now. She glanced up at Sophia as the dragon continued, not sure what it was she had wanted to say to the kind woman only a minute before.
"It will also serve as a symbol. Anyone who knows my name will surely help you if you show them this leaf. Guard it well." Sophia said, holding her hands around the leaf, looking at her with a motherly smile.
Alexis closed her hands over the leaf at Sophia’s words, and moved them closer to her heart as she spoke next. ”I will, and thank you again. I don’t know what else to say other than thank you.” She returned the woman’s smile and felt a small tug at her heart as she did. Through the veil of calm holding the leaf gave her, an old memory resurfaced. A very similar scene to this, long ago, and that same smile on her own mother’s face…
”I think, I really should go home now..” She didn’t realize she was speaking until after she said it, a few small tears escaping from the corners of her eyes. Her hands shook slightly as she took one of the empty pouches from her belt and placed the Leaf inside. She didn’t really want to let go of it right now but she knew that if she didn’t she wouldn’t be able to act on the thought anymore soon.
Sophia listened as the girl spoke. She was truly kind and pure, not only her words and actions, but even her eyes shown that to Sophia.
"You don't need to thank me. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to tell me." Sophia said, looking at her with kind eyes.
"Remember, if you ever find yourself without anywhere to go, you will always be welcome here. I would also love to see you again. You should come visit us. I'm sure the kids will also miss you." Sophia said, giggling.
That moment of farewell, on that beautiful garden seemed to make Alexis remember something. Just after she said those words, and put the leaf in one of the pouches on her belt, tears slowly started escaping from the corner of her eyes.
Immediately after watching that, Sophia hugged Alexis, gently wiping away her tears with her hands.
"Cry if you need, my dear." Sophia said, hugging her tightly.
"Trying to ignore to such feelings for too long isn't good for anyone. It doesn't matter who you are, no one is made of stone. We have feelings. Don't try to hide or suppress them." Sophia said with a calming and soothing tone.
"Our time together may have been short, but it surely was sweet."
"Don't worry, farewells are never forever. We will meet again. I'm certain of it. And when we do, I will be looking forward to hearing to your stories and your adventures." Sophia said, still hugging her.
"You are a strong woman, Alexis. The world outside is cruel... Sometimes you might feel down, sometimes you might even want to give up on everything or wonder why you are still kind to others if no one ever is kind to you... But if you do, hold on to that leaf i gave you, and remember me. Remember the monks at the temple." She said, gently holding her shoulders and looking to her eyes.
"Always follow your heart and your mind, Alexis. They will never betray you. Out there, a simple smile, a small act of kindness can even change someone's life forever. Kindness and love are powerful things, Alexis. Never forget that. The world might be cruel, but you have the power to change that, Alexis." She said, giving a few steps back, walking to the tree's immense trunk and gently touching it with her hand.
As she touched the tree with her hand, waves of primal magic pulsated on the tree, almost like if it was reacting with her own energy. The tree's energy glowed visibly stronger. After a few seconds, the fibers on the trunk slowly opened, forming a portal.
"This portal will take you to Vrondi, right in the middle of the city." Sophia said, walking near Alexis and hugging her once more.
"The Great Library and Mindah Tarvitaan will always welcome you with open arms. Don't hesitate to come if you find yourself in a difficult situation." Sophia said again.
"I hope to see you again, Alexis." Sophia said, smiling to her as she let go of her.
Alexis was speechless as Sophia hugged her and opened a portal for her to go home. She hugged the Dragon back and for a second she felt like she was just a little child again. ”I hope I’ll see you again too. Thank you Sophia, for everything.” When the hug finally ended, the Sol stepped cautiously towards the portal, trying to see what lay on the other side for a moment before deciding to jump in.

---

Sophia would like to stay at the temple gardens a bit more, lay down on the grass, smell the flowers, feel the magic, her own magic, resonating with the garden itself... But sadly, something was very wrong inside the Great Library...
She was so distracted with the garden and speaking with Alexis that she didn't perceive that before... Two strange auras inside the library. One was... strange and colorful... It was a torrent of emotions. The other one, was dark and twisted... It didn't seem like one person, but a twisted abomination made of many souls... It was dark and twisted.
But worse than the intruders on her library, was when she felt that same dark and twisted energies defile one of her books. How could she be so careless? Did those many years of peace and tranquility made her naive?
The Great Library was her lair. She was the one who built that place. She wouldn't tolerate intruders, invading her library without her consent and defiling her books...
With a mighty roar, shaking the entire mountain and disrupting the tranquility of the garden she was in, she transformed into a dragon again, and with a powerful beat of her wings, flew like a bullet towards the library.
Opening the library doors with an audible noise, she flew right to the middle of the library, where the two intruders were.
One of them was just a girl, that laid unconscious on the ground. The girl was the source of the colorful and unique aura she felt. The other one was a twisted abomination made of pure dark energy... Its aura was just as abominable as the creature itself.
"Who dares to defile my library? Explain yourselves, or suffer my wrath!" Sophia said. The same person who was smiling to Alexis with such a warm and kind motherly smile was almost an entirely different person right now. Her voice was cold and cruel, her stare was blood chilling and the hostility on her voice, coupled with her oppressive aura, were enough to make someone paralyzed with fear. Sophia was kind, but she was still an incredibly powerful dragon. Those who were fool enough to face her, would soon learn that she could be incredibly ruthless.
"SPEAK!" Sophia yelled, with another roar, shaking the entire mountain once more.

The Spectre had a worried look on its face while staring at the Rainbow Princess. Even though it is blind from the power of the Rainbow Princess. It’s facial expression changed when it had heard the entrance of the Library open with a thud and many other loud noises. It heard the Dragon of Knowledge ask the question of who defiles her library and it smiled somewhat with a sickening grin growing on its face. ”We do dare to defile your lair, the Dragon of Knowledge. We have already touched two of your books within this library. We’ve been searching for forbidden knowledge for our master,” The Spectre said with arrogant sense of self. It did feel the aura from the Dragon of Knowledge but it has always been tasked for this type of thing.

The Spectre could still tell the Rainbow Princess is alive only because they are tied to the soul by powerful forbidden magics. It had a smile on its face though it slowly turned into realization it shouldn’t piss off the dragon of knowledge to much. ”The unconscious woman on the floor was searching for the truth of her existence. But she got the short end of the stick. I am highly worried about the Rainbow Princess,” The Spectre said. It had an elegant way of saying things even though they had a quite depressing concatenation of what happened to her. It could feel more senses surrounding but its eyesight wasn’t able to see anything but it can feel powerful energies nonetheless.

The Spectre sighed with a slight hint of fear coming from it because it was finally feeling the full brunt of the oppressive aura even though it had confidence before. ”We caused her untold pain and suffering, if we tried to go through the floor or ceiling and we cannot leave her in a 15 meter radius. If you tried to get rid of us the normal way you will kill the Rainbow Princess,” The Spectre said with an ounce of truth it was saying. It didn’t know how the Dragon of Knowledge would react to what it had said about the Rainbow Princess in question.

Maria heard her title from the Spectre, as well as all the other noises, which came from a dragon who was highly angry but had a feminine voice. She had slowly opened her eyes and looked around the Library and noticed the Spectre speaking to a beautiful looking dragon. Her entire body was shaking from fear of what happened to her before this dragon came into the Library. She felt fearful mostly because she was unhappy about being her unannounced. She slowly tried to stand, even though she couldn’t properly stare directly at the Spectre, which was in between her and the Dragon. Her aura stopped fluctuating and showed brightly again, and it was normalized as it was before the traumatic event. She couldn’t help but not to cry with everything. “I-I wanted to know something important about my existence… I was told this Library has that knowledge of ancient histories bygone. I’m sorry for coming here unannounced,”
Maria said, with tears going down her face. She couldn’t barely stand, she was shaking much from her experience being in this library alone with that monster, that is still being quite smug and arrogant. She slowly moved to keep her standing by leaning on the table, which had been corrupted by the book sitting on it.

Maria felt the oppressive aura coming from the Dragon in question, but didn’t know who it was but she always enjoying seeing new faces. She was startled by something, she couldn’t properly think of anything right now since she stared at the book and felt a bit uncomfortable around it. “I hate the monster that follows me around all the time… I wish it would go away and leave me be,” Maria said, mostly talking about the Spectre. Her entire body was undoubtedly shaking from reeling from what the Spectre’s alternative ego did to her. Her aura changed its color to show what she is definitely feeling at this moment and wanted to be protected by someone. “Zargy… I wish I hadn’t done all this… I miss you… adopted brother,” Maria thought to herself, with a slight realization of the truth should stayed buried if it hurts this much. She had a look in her eyes of tears, exhaustion, and outright feeling of giving up on what she shouldn’t. Her strong will had been on the breaking point ever since she learned certain things of truths about the deaths of all the other Pulsar Dragons. She couldn’t really bare it if Zargoth told her, the words he usually says to her of her most craziest ideas, which include nicknames.

Maria sighed with an ounce of regret in many things but she hopes it will get better and it feels from the aura in question, she’s pushing out it will be. She couldn’t help but think about what happened to her before she entered the Library of Knowledge. She gave herself a smile but it went back to a grimace when she saw the Spectre looking slightly at her. “S-Stop Monster… you are creeping me out,” Maria said with an ounce of courage in her voice. Her voice was highly strained because of her constant crying and couldn’t help but look down at the ground or directly at the dragon and ignore the fact the Spectre exists. Her heartbeat skipped a few beats every now and then when she stared directly at the Spectre. It became normalized when she looked at the Dragon of Knowledge even though she had no idea who it is.
The situation behind the unconscious girl was still a mystery for Sophia. Her aura was certainly different from the creature, it was much more innocent, but even though... She didn't know who she was yet.
As the creature spoke, it only made Sophia even more angry.
It had the gall to tell that he had defiled her library and corrupted two of her books, and eve said it was searching forbidden knowledge for its master, right in front of her with an arrogant tone on his voice.
The moment he said something about the rainbow princess, something clicked in the back of her mind... Zargoth... was that the name? She was sure a dragon named Zargoth said something about a certain rainbow princess... But what was it? Zargoth visited the Great Library a long time ago...
But before she could remember what Zargoth said, the creature's voice echoed through the library again. His mere presence was offensive to Sophia. Was he that foolish? Did he not know who Sophia was? Was that some kind of joke?
"I don't care who you or your master are... You and your beloved 'master' must be terribly foolish to invade my library, corrupt my books and disrespect me like that... Who do you think I am, your pitiful creature?!" Sophia said, looking at the creature. Her eyes seemed to pierce its very existence, the hostility on her voice and stare weren't a joke.
Each word that got out of the creature's mouth was even more irritating and full of arrogance... Sophia heard quietly as he explained that he was quite literally torturing the girl, and boasting that Sophia couldn't get rid of him without killing the girl as well...
His entire discourse, his arrogance, his irritating smile... It was simply too much for Sophia to handle.
"ENOUGH!" Sophia yelled, letting out an oppressive primal magic aura, directed towards the creature. It was so intense that even non magical creatures and those without any magical affinity could feel the pressure coming from her and feel the pain.
"You are messing with forces much beyond your own comprehension, creature. You and your master don't know what I'm capable of..." Sophia said, directing all her oppressive magic aura to the creature.
"You..." Sophia said, but was interrupted by a shaky voice, coming from the unconscious girl, that had finally woken up. She was crying and shaking, too weak and even had to lean on the table to stand.
After listening to that innocent girl and feeling her aura, there was no mistake. She was as pure as an innocent child. And that foul creature was the one responsible for how she was feeling right now. Even the words she used were so... pure and innocent... But instead of calming Sophia down, that had the exact opposite effect...
"My dear, please come closer to me, I won't let that creature harm you again." Sophia said, looking to the girl with a kind but preoccupied expression, completely changing her voice and stare. The anger she was feeling a moment before disappeared without any traces.
"Your intentions are pure, just like your heart, my child. There is nothing wrong with seeking knowledge. Knowing oneself is the first step to have a better understanding of the universe and the energies that surround you. But I do have to warn you that the path for fully understanding your own nature and your own existence is tougher and more dangerous than you might realize. There are certain aspects of our own existence that we should never know." Sophia said, extending her tail towards the girl and gently lifting her, putting her under her wings, in a protective gesture.
The second she stopped talking to the girl, her kind and motherly smile disappeared and the cold and cruel expression she had before returned.
"And you..." She said, looking towards the Spectre.
"It seems that the world forgot how powerful I am... It's really pitiful... You all are so easily blinded by power... So greedy and arrogant... You foolishly try to take and steal everything to yourselves..." Sophia said, with her primal magic aura growing stronger and stronger every second.
"It seems you need to remember what happened centuries ago... Why not even the most powerful monarchs dare to touch this mountain..." Sophia said, as her oppressive aura continued to grow stronger.
This time, there was no roar, or yell... It was almost as if the air itself was stagnant, suffocating. Your own heartbeat seemed to be so painfully loud... It was already hard to believe that a creature could contain primal magic in its own body without being torn apart by it... Such impossible amounts of primal magic coming from one single living being should be impossible... Even though all that magic was directed towards the Spectre, all the mountain could feel that pressure. The entire mountain simply stopped. Every sound was muffled, the air was stagnant and replete with primal magic, even the snow stopped to fall…
The Spectre felt the force from the anger and rage from Dragon of Knowledge and gained an understanding in what its master wanted from it all this time. It felt some relief in all the trials and tribulations of herding Rainbow Princess to the right spot was all right now worth it. ”How wonderful, your reaction is how my master foresaw it. Seems like all dragons are the same pitiful enraged beasts as ‘she’ sees them and needing to be tamed in someway… I feel complete in my mission. I know who you are, you don’t have to be a literal schopant,” The Spectre said. It wanted to willingly piss off the Dragon of Knowledge but it finally said the gender of its master to another even though this realization will quite literally make Maria have a literal panic attack because she saw, it’s master first hand. It didn’t realize there was a song playing in the background it was classified as the Song of Anguish.

Maria nodded to the Dragon of Knowledge’s idea of being away from the Spectre, the creepy bastard that just went on a tirade. She heard the song of Anguish and was a shaken mess afterwards. She couldn’t really tell where the Song of Anguish was emitanting from but it was louder near her than anything. She did hear one thing from the Spectre that made her go, how does he know this dragon’s name before her. That weighed heavily in her mind but she took a breath and calmed down a bit. “I so badly want to be rid of the Spectre, it has been following me ever since I was a child… This is the first time I have seen it, however,” Maria sobbed. She had no idea what to do with the Spectre, her aura going out of control was a unique experience for her but she wishes not to have another like that. She couldn’t really walk anywhere and hoped the dragon could help her. However, the Song of Anguish started to affect her differently than normal, she had a fearful response when she felt she heard her father tell her to run, coming from the book. “Daddy, why are you telling me to run?” Maria thought to herself, with a highly confused look on her face.

The Spectre felt the intensity of the oppressive aura surrounding it and it was highly primal in nature and it had shaken its entire form for a split second. It had anguish in its eyes for the once in its life it felt true fear and not what it was showing when Maria’s Rainbow Aura went out of control, even though it was highly angry that it lost its sight. It felt a strange otherworldly energy within the library and it wasn’t from Sophia, the Dragon of Knowledge. It stared in utter shock and horror when it looked towards the Forbidden Spellbook, which Maria carried with her at all times. A strange song started to play, it was different from the Song of Hope or the Song of Despair, it was the Song of Anguish. ”What… the… hell?” The Spectre questioned. It had a confused look at the book, as if it remembers the song that is playing.

Maria looked directly at the dragon, who’s name she found out from the Spectre, by the name of Sophia. She had a gentle smile but her tears were going down her face. She felt relief in what Sophia had said to her that it is better to not give up and look forward to the future. However, she heard the voice that caused her terrible pain and suffering before and it was laughing in her head and she held on to it. “T-Thank you… Sophia for helping me realize not to give up, like I was going to do but… My head hurts,” Maria said. She held her head while she was picked up by Sophia and brought closer to her. She felt compassion coming from another person and that picked up her spirits a bit. The song, however continued and around the Spellbook, started glowing the same sickly color of who took over the Spectre and a laughter filled the room, which was red.

The Spectre sighed when it heard the Rainbow Princess speak out loud and was laughing a bit at the pitiful sound coming from her voice. It could feel the tears and everything as if it was within the girl’s soul, which it was bound to. It started to creepily laugh when she told him to stop staring at her. ”The Rainbow Princess, you are so easily able to be controlled by the song of despair. It gives you headaches and torments you even more so than normal but this song that is playing is different,” The Spectre said. It looked directly at Maria with a evil grin and back to Sophia. It laughed and couldn’t stop itself it has officially gone mad even though it was always on the tip of madness. ”The Dragon of Knowledge, my master knows more than anything in this world is what she wants in this library, all the knowledge. But you are in her way, Sophia even the Rainbow Princess is in her way as well,” The Spectre said. It had enough of saying half-truths and wanted to outright say things it thought in its head.

A new voice entered the room, it echoed throughout and laughed. The voice was distorted to a point of insanity and it was piercing the veil of reality to see what was happening to the Spectre and it was enjoying the show. ”How wonderful… Sophia the Dragon of Knowledge is protecting the wayward Rainbow Princess. From what in reality is I, the one who completely had her on the ground unconscious by doing what I do best. Breaking her will, I was very effective at that when she was only six years old. The Last of her kind, the Pulsar Dragon’s Matriarch,” Coru distortly said. The female voice laughed loudly and the voice slowly dissipated until the song ended.

Maria heard the voice and instantly shaken in fear even more so than had been when she saw a great change in the Spectre. She hadn’t really felt this fear ever since she was put into a unconscious state on the floor. She was crying more than normal and could feel she could never run away from that monster, within the Spectre. She wanted her daddy more than anything, even what he did to her. She was hiding underneath Sophia’s wings. She couldn’t really hold herself up but was grateful for Sophia. She cried much and couldn’t really help it since she was terrified.

The Spectre was quiet through the tirade of what Sophia was saying because it wanted to show her the truth of what he was meaning about him and the Rainbow Princess are bound together and laughs again. It didn’t hear its master since that voice only reached Maria and Sophia only. ”Try your worst… I am ready for it,” The Spectre arrogantly said, with a grin on its face. It had a high and mighty foresight in all things but it loved the fear that could be coming from Maria. It relishes in that one thought and couldn’t hope to feel anything else but true fear as it wanted to fear in all its glory ever since it went to do this task.

The Spectre felt the full force of the magical pressure and laughed as well as screamed in endless torment from what it was feeling. It was amazed and highly likely to give it some ounce of last gasp of hatred towards the girl it hated all along. The poor child that was forced to read the forbidden spellbook to turn into a Dark Rainbow Dragon. It couldn’t really say anything because it was choking and could only give its enjoyable delightable grin while it was having all this happened, it was staring directly at Maria while all this was happening to it.

Maria felt a tearing sensation in her body, like it was being torned up by intense magical pressure. Her rainbow aura was fluctuating and she was screaming in pain because of what was happening to her. She wanted to pain to stop because it hurts, she had a lighter look to her. “S-Stop… I feel… what… is… happening… to… the Spectre…,” Maria said, softer than normal because she was in great pain. Her aura was fluctuating rapidly and felt as if she was being choked to death by the intense pressure in the room. However, she felt like, Sophia didn’t understand what the Spectre meant even though it was highly irritating. She realized in the few moments, the Spectre was tasked to force someone to kill it and her in the same process. She was terrified and scared her eyes went into the back of her head and she went unconscious for a few moments. She woke up with a force water flowing over her and coughed up some blood from what was happening. She couldn’t help but to cry even more so than normal.

If that creature was trying to make Sophia irritated, it was succeeding, her magical aura continued growing more and more, but a voice coming from under her wings made her stop and repress her aura again. It was the girl. She was crying in pain. Even though Sophia was directing her aura towards the creature. Her soft, shaky voice made Sophia realize what she was doing...
Sophia immediately repressed her aura, hugging the girl with her wings.
"I'm... Sorry... Please forgive-me... I didn't know..." Sophia said, completely enveloping the girl with her wings and hugging her protectively.
"You... creature, invade my library... Hurt this innocent girl… For what? Just to fulfill your master’s selfish, greedy and ridiculous desire for power?" Sophia said, still extremely angry.
"I had enough of chit chat. I had enough… You wanted to make me angry? Well… you succeeded. Now you will learn what I’m truly capable of.. And tell your master, that I will deal with her personally." Sophia said, still protecting the girl under her wings.
"Just a bit longer and the pain will stop... Forever. Hold on just a little more." Sophia said, as she stopped repressing her aura once more. Primal energy gathering around her as strong as it was before, the same effects came back, the air stagnant, suffocating, the sounds muffled and only one sound shattering all that silence.
Chains... The deafening sound of thousands of chains echoed through the mountains. Spectral chains suddenly appeared coming from the ground and going through the roof. They were everywhere. Small and thin ones and even colossally huge ones. Going through the roof, the chains all went to the same place. High up on the sky, hovering above the Great Library, a huge grimorium stood there, sealed by countless magic seals and shackled by all those spectral chains. Even with so many seals, the power that the book emanated was unbelievable. Emanating that forbidden, forgotten energy, the grimorium was a beacon of magic energy. Anyone sensitive enough to magic energies would be able to feel the impact that summoning the Grimorium Verum had on the natural flow of magic.
As the book appeared, the Spectre could feel its soul essence disappearing, being absorbed by the grimoire, the only thing that was keeping him alive was the spell that linked his and the girl's soul. The power of that book was undeniable.
"Pitiful... Reduced to just a whisper, a sorry excuse of a soul. You don't even have enough energy left to maintain your form…" Sophia said, looking to the remains of the creature.
"Disappear." Sophia said in a menacing way, as the chains broke. The energy emanating from the book grew stronger and more intense. It was almost possible to see the natural flow of magic warping and twisting near the book.
"How does it feel? Spending your last moments watching your own body being reduced to nothing? How does it feel, losing everything… Everything that you have, everything that you are and will ever be?" Sophia said to the creature with an incredibly cruel tone, as the creature experienced its last moments.
"I had enough of your pitiful existence. Be gone." Sophia said once more, turning back to the creature as the magical seals on the Grimorium Verum broke. The book slowly opened itself, releasing a wave of primal magic. Even though its effects were concentrated only on the creature, the unsealing of the Grimorium Verum was definitely something quite impactful. Such ancient magic energies shouldn’t exist, not in that concentration.
Looking back to the girl, Sophia hugged her once more, trying to calm her down.
"It's done, my child. You are safe now..." She said with a kind and warm smile.
"I'm sorry for everything, but you are safe now." Sophia said, completely enveloping her again under her wings.

---

---

“Mister Vulcan, please follow me.” One of the monks said as he entered the room where Vulcan was.
“I know you need to speak with Mistress Sophia, but she is currently busy. She asked me to send this message to you.” The monk said as he walked, taking Vulcan to a meditation room.
“She said ‘Patience is a virtue’. She said that you surely would understand what she meant by that.” The monk said, finally arriving at the room.
“Please, follow me. Leave your shoes outside.” The monk said, instructing Vulcan.
The room inside was made of brute stone, in an hexagonal shape. Inside, the room was very dim lit, replete with small rugs with intricate patterns, simple, but very comfortable pillows and right in the middle, there was a small, simple table with a very simple kettle and a teapot. To further contribute to the tranquil and calm atmosphere, herbal incenses filled the room with a calming smell.
“Sit here with me and meditate for a while.” The monk whispered to Vulcan, sitting near the table and pouring some of the herbal tea for him and for Vulcan.
“It’s a special blend of mountain herbs. It should help you to calm both your mind and body.” the monk said, whispering again.
‘If you don’t mind me asking, why have you came all the way to those mountains to ask for Mistress Sophia’s help? There are other powerful kings and kingdoms. Mindah Tarvitaan and the Great Library were always secluded from the rest of the world, never taking part in any conflicts.” The monk continued, still speaking in a low tone, while taking a small sip of tea..
“To do my part in shaping the future.” His deep but aged voice replied within the instant the monk finished speaking. Vulcan was sipping his tea after sitting with his legs crossed and his back erected up. His eyes were closed as he did this. “Cold..” He muttered after letting the liquid touch his tongue. The cup was piping with heat rising from its surface. He set the cup down gently. “The fortresses built by the dragon gods long ago, our kingdoms, they do hold up well. But the wars were never won by destroying these ancient structures. Instead taking control of it was the goal.” He opened his eyes and a fiery glow was upon their surface as he gave a serious stare to the Monk. “There are powers that even the likes of Mindah Tarvitaan will fear. Something akin to death personified. Yet whether it is an imposter or death itself… remains a mystery.”
The monk continued with his meditation, but even though, an preoccupied expression could be seen on his face.
“I… Yes… Some of the most experienced monks have been feeling a strange… thing in the air… A feeling like something is not quite right… But we made an oath, Vulcan. We are guardians, observers. We won't interfere with wars, disputes of power or anything like it. ” The monk said, looking to Vulcan with a preoccupied expression.
"I won't lie, this... feeling... that something's not quite right is very preoccupation. It doesn't feel like the power a descended should have. It doesn't even feel like a descended at all... But we are still bound by our oath. Only one person can decide if we should interfere or not, and that person is Mistress Sophia."
“Regarding this strange power you say... No power is absolute, Vulcan. This is something that our Mistress Sophia taught us. There is no such thing as unsurmountable power. This is just the way that the universe works.” The monk continued, with a serene expression.
“No power is absolute. Even death itself can’t escape this rule. Not even death is absolute.” The monk said, looking to the fotian man in front of him.
“Obviously, this rule also applies to Mindah Tarvitaan and even our Mistress Sophia herself. But there is only one exception to this rule: Knowledge. Power alone can only take you so far. Wisdom and knowledge, in the other hand are infinite. Knowledge allow us to grow and adapt. Only with knowledge we can surpass the limits imposed by the laws of the universe. Nothing is true, everything is permitted.” The monk completed.
“Indeed..’ Vulcan nodded as he reached a hand down to lift his tea and guide it to his lips. After a long sip his began. “But knowledge in this case is limited and thus our strength wanes… YOUR strength wanes..” He gave a grave expression before sitting down the warm cup next to one of the candles lit around them. He huffed in a deep sigh as his muscles expanded and retracted on his abdomen and chest. His meditative breathing seemed to affect the flames around him as they too grew bigger only to shrink as he exhaled.
“I came here with the hopes your knowledge and wisdom will provide an answer. Your leader, Sophia. I was seeking her vast knowledge of the fabrics of space and time. Perhaps I was too naive… To think the answers would be found so easily.” He grimaced but remained sitting still. “I will press on. For my people. For the innocent lost. For we lack knowledge. And so are weak…”
“We have answers, but they might not be the ones you are expecting.” The monk said with a serene expression.
“Every answer can be obtained by pursuing the path of knowledge and wisdom. It only depends on the capabilities of the one who is walking that path and its perseverance.” The monk said, getting up.
“Mistress Sophia is curre-” the monk tried to say, but was interrupted by a loud and mighty roar.
The roar caught the monk by surprise, there was only one person that could have a roar that powerful on that mountain, and that someone was Sophia herself. Her roar was simply terrifying.
“What was that?! Mistress S-Sophia?” The monk said, surprised.
They haven’t heard her roar in many, many years. Something surely must have happened for her to be roaring like that.
"Something is... wrong..." The monk said, still shivering a bit from her roar.
"Something happened on the library..." He said, getting up and running towards the door.
"Mister Vulcan, your help would be greatly appreciated." The monk said, looking at the man with a very serious expression as he opened the door.
The second he did so, an avalanche of sounds flooded the extremely silent room. The entire temple had heard her roar and was getting ready to go there to the library. Even the elder monks were running around, yelling orders for the other monks to fortify the temple as they prepared themselves to go to the library.
Even before they could get out of the room, they could feel a magical barrier being formed around the temple and the library and hear the chants and magical formulas, forming several types of magical protections around the library and the temple.
Standing near the big door, the monk looked at vulcan with a worried expression, waiting for his decision. Either he would follow him or he would wait for him right there.
Before the monk or Vulcan could said anything more, they heard another roar. But this time, it came together with an oppressive wave of primal magic, making the monk lean himself against the door to withstand the primal magic wave.
"W-what... is... this?" The monk said, struggling to speak.
"S-Sophia...?" The monk said to himself. After so many years of living peacefully with her, the monks appeared to have forgotten how powerful Sophia really was. It was different from a common dragon... That day, they were remembering how terrifyingly powerful Sophia really was.
"Vulcan... We need to go. Now. Otherwise I don't know what Mistress Sophia will do." the monk said, with fear in his voice. He wasn't preoccupied with what was happening anymore, but instead, he was worried about what Sophia would do if she got angry.

Vulcan had a serious expression on his face as the noise rang in his ears. The loud terrifying howls of a dragon was not a strange sound to him. Though it had been awhile since he has heard a wild one with such fury. Sophia indeed was a wild dragon, not tamed by descendants though she mimics their form. She was not reigned in by descendant kind but instead by the ancient power on this mountain. Vulcan stood firm before the sheer power. “Fotia is known for its dragon slayers. Fear not Monk my blood is refined to know no fear even before the most terrifying. I have seen your mistress and she is no beast. Let us simply see what is the matter.” With that Vulcan led the Monk down to where Sophia was.
As both Vulcan and the monk hastily walked through the narrow passage, getting up the mountain to where the library was, the fear on the monk's eyes was apparent.
He wasn't one of the elder monks, so he had never heard Sophia angry, in fact, he was one of the monks from the new generations, and so, had never saw an enraged dragon before. Only a handful of monks on the temple knew how powerful Sophia really was. The other ones saw her as just an incredibly kind, motherly figure, who was always with a smile on her face and worrying about everyone. In many things, that young monk could be very knowledgeable, but regarding to dragons, he was very inexperienced, and that, in the eyes of someone such as Vulcan, was very apparent.
Another wave of primal magic hit them, this time, much stronger, making the monk stumble, having to lean against the frozen rocks to not fall down. Vulcan was forced back a few steps as he acclimated himself to the force. “As to be expected from the one who protects this mountain. The Sureiya have never faced anything of this caliber.” Vulcan then pressed forward his fiery aura flaring up as the frost began to rapidly melt as he did so.
"We need to hurry. Sophia has more power than she realizes... The majority of monks here are incredibly sensitive to magic. Such heavy doses of primal magic energy..." The monk said, soon getting up and running again. “I see.” Vulcan followed with a heavy stride.
And indeed, just as the monk said, the primal energy in the air was hard to even believe... Even with the cold, chilling mountain winds, you could almost feel your skin burning due to that chaotic magical energy. Vulcan’s aura was being blown like a candle in the wind against the force. He had a sore expression on his face.
Finally arriving on the bridge that would take them to the library, they started to run, but soon after that, a strong, oppressive concentration of primal magic made the monk kneel down. Vulcan was able to keep standing but felt his aura flick out. He took a deep breathe and steeled himself.
At that moment, the monks would remember how dangerous primal magic was, and what Sophia was really capable of…
“I see the chaotic nature of a dragon is hard to get used to. Even devoting your lives to harmonize with it leads to such fate. I will go it alone then if I need to.” Vulcan began to move. This time the fire within him flared up once more this time even greater as he dug into the ground and sprinted leaving hot marks on the stone floor with each step.
"I just need some time to get myself up." The monk said, looking down. But as he raised his head, he realized that Vulcan was no long there. Instead, he was already running towards the library, his aura as bright and hot as before, so hot that its footsteps left hot footprint marks on the stone bridge for each step.
"He really is from Fotia..." the monk thought to himself. His aura raged like a wildfire. It wasn't subtle or delicate, but it was definitely strong and unwavering.
Upon reaching on the library, Vulcan would find the door open, leading straight to the main hall. Two other different auras, other than Sophia's were present on the library. A colorful and pure one and a dark, corrupted one. The scene that Vulcan would presenciate there was rather preoccupation, as air became heavy, the deafening sound of chains echoing through the mountains as many ethereal chains appeared...

---

---

The Spectre laughed as it’s soul essence was being drained from its entire being but it showed an ounce of creepy nature towards Maria. It couldn’t really speak anymore but it was happy that it was going to be freed from the curse that Maria was placed on her all this time. But it only laughed at what Sophia said about its master. It vanished as soon as Sophia said disappear. The non-stop laughter or endless darkness where the spectre was vanished as soon as he appeared in front of Maria.

The book’s music ended as soon as Sophia did her magic in the room and ended the soul bind on her and itself. The book was an ordinary book now and didn’t really have any power emanating from it, evil or otherwise. The forbidden spell book, look like a normal forbidden spell book now.

Maria underneath Sophia was crying still but could finally no longer hear the voice of the creepy spectre anymore or its laughter as it disappeared with Sophia’s powerful untapped magic. She was somewhat in awe at this fact. “I-I’m better now, Sophia… I’m a bit scared at its master’s threat to you because she creeps me out,” Maria said, with tears going down her face. She couldn’t stop crying at this whole ordeal terrified her to the core of her being and her rainbow aura normalized but she is still scared and crying. “I-I miss my older brother…,” Maria sobbed, while hugging Sophia. She outright wanted to say something to her brother all this time but never did. She slowly tried to stop crying but she couldn’t shake the fear of hearing the master’s voice again. She couldn’t really smile right now because of all that happened to her but she was grateful to Sophia for freeing her from being haunted. “T-Thank you for freeing me of being haunted Sophia,” Maria said, with her gratefulness towards Sophia. Her rainbow aura was showing all the things she’s thinking in a more real form since she’s a very emotional child, who has never really grown out of it. She yawned a bit from all the trauma that happened to her before Sophia arrived and after.

Sophia was still looking towards the place where the spectre stood a few minutes ago, her eyes were still filled with anger and she was breathing heavily. As the minutes went on, Sophia started to calm down, the chaotic outburst of magic coming from her calming down until it disappeared completely, and the ethereal chains and the grimoire, fading out of existence, leaving only Sophia and a crying Maria on the room...
Even though she looked like an adult, Maria was just like a child. Incredibly pure. Sophia couldn't help but envelop her on her wings, protectively, as she cried. She was afraid and anxious... She was really lost. Maria came to Sophia to find out not only about her past, but about herself. How could Sophia turn her back to such a pure individual?
"My dear, don't worry... Everything is fine now... Cry if you need." Sophia said, with a warm and gentle voice. The girl's aura was showing everything. It was almost like looking on a window directly towards Maria's soul. It was as clear as water, showing every emotion Maria felt in a chaotic, but beautiful display of colors.
Changing back to her humanoid form, still hugging Maria, Sophia continued, still with the same tone of voice.
"Rest now, my child. Sleep, for the path you choose to walk is a long and hard one..." Sophia said.
"You will have all the time in the world to tell me everything that happened. Don't worry. I promise I'll help you as much as I can." Sophia said, smiling towards her in her humanoid form. Even though it wasn't exactly... 'human' Sophia felt like it would be more adequate to talk to her like that... To calm her down and try to make her feel safe... After all, that girl had just saw with her own eyes Sophia's anger…

A fiery flame whirled down the hallway and entered the library with a slow and steady stride. It was this aura that warmed the rooms halls instantly with a wave of air that was infused with radiation. Vulcans mass stepped across the library floor without a single singe to its surface. The very bottom of his feet were embracing the cold, a sensation that calmed his fiery soul. There was no cold in Fotia. So Vulcan faced the dragons and strange spectres that stood in the library with a serious look.

"What is the matter here?"
As soon as Vulcan entered the Library, Sophia tensed up, but after she saw who was the responsible for that, she relaxed. Still hugging Maria, she turned to Vulcan, with a very, very serious expression.

"You were right, Vulcan... Dark forces are in motion... Not one, but several... The Great Library is safe for now... But the wind brings us bad news... Whatever it is... its growing in power..." Sophia said, looking right towards Vulcan's eyes.
Soon after Sophia said that, many monks, armed and ready to battle entered the library, ready to assist her in whatever it was that was happening.

"Stand down." Sophia said as soon as they entered.

"Start building our defenses. I want magic wards and shields around the mountain. Be in full alert. Until I say so, the Great Library is off limits... To everyone." Sophia said.

The thought of a place like the Great Library and Mindah Tarvitaan being in danger was simply... unthinkable, but Sophia's dead serious stare left no doubt of how serious she was. Something very, very bad was happening.

"Prepare yourselves... Dark times are coming. We may need to intervene in the following conflicts... What is to happen is bigger than any petty quarrel between kingdoms..." She continued, looking towards the monks behind Vulcan.

"I will start the preparations," She said, this time looking to Vulcan.

"A magic ward and shield around the mountain, and a powerful seal on the Library..." Sophia said to herself, thinking.

"I may be strong, but I'm afraid that we'll need the cooperation of the other kingdoms to prepare ourselves... Time is not something we have to spare..."

[Rai]

The Royal Banquet

Murder and betrayal within the castle halls. It was not as if the young seraphim was accused of the crime the guards were eager to cover up. It was that she was hysterical. Serious matter as it was the guards only motioned for her to return to her previous room. “It’s possible this was an accident ma’am please remain calm.” One guard remained with the woman in front of her door as another kept watch over the door where the body laid.

Soon a newcomer came into their sights and the guard attempting to coax the woman into the room did not notice until he was close. The woman was sobbing as she appeared to have been drinking. Her seraphim trait was visible through her black wings yet her attire was in line with the Nayu style. Black and red like a dark rose. She looked to the newcomer, Paon and so did the guard. “You there. There’s been an incident. Refrain from entering that room.” He pointed to the one closed off by a insignia of “Do not enter”.

“Please return to the party.”
@Blackpanther

----------

Within the banquet hall the three Therosi heads exited from their room and began to go through out the crowd. Their red contrasting the dark blues, orchids and blacks so elegantly worn by Nero’s elite breeds. It was a extravagant experience within and the laughter was contagious. Even so some found their way to the many bedrooms within the halls nearby.

One of those people was Aelithea. She was being courteously carried upstairs by a masked Nayu man and his elegantly dressed seraphim servant. She opened the door whilst he made his way into the spacious dwelling. The smell was light but fresh. Not a hint of web or dirt inside this spotless room. It was if each room was made for royalty. Aelithea’s weight sunk into silk sheets after being laid there by the gentleman in black.

It was after the door was closed, and a insignia for “do not disturb” placed on the opposite side, did Aelithea wake from her alcohol induced sleep. She flipped her legs over the bed and got to her feet. She stretched out with a yawn. “No time for sleep.” Aelithea thought to herself. She got up. Looked at the mirror and smiled at herself. “It’s time. Selene.” The young girl Aela spoke to was far beneath the dancing banquet hall members. She crawled within the shadows so light the guards began to suspect a rodent population was sprouting.

The young Nayu found herself before a massive door. The glimmer of light from within escaped as pure white. Selene squinted and then covered her eyes as she continued to walk forward. She was stopped however by a voice in her mind. It’s time. Selene. She looked up at the dark cavern like ceiling and replied with thoughts of her own. “I am ready.” Her small, young, tender voice was marked with a solid carry. A carry that was of a child whose seen and experienced sobering truths.

The door illuminated Selene’s pale white face and hair like dark lilac. Large blue quiet eyes and blue horns to match. Selene turned to her left and walked a few meters out of the blinding light. She sighed in and a red circle of light formed around her. Her body began to fade away and in her place Aelithea began to fade in. Within almost an instant Selene and Aelithea were switched in places.

Aelithea let out a sigh of pleasure after it was done. “Good work Selene baby. Now look in front of the mirror for your reward dear.” Selene scurried to the mirror. Her brown cloak flowing behind her. She looked up at the dresser where the mirror sat and saw a large silver cup. She reached on her toes and grabbed it. A bit spilled. Red droplets dripped on her cheek. She licked it up and brought the cup to her lips and began to fountain it down her throat. The red liquid streamed down her little neck from her mouth. She stopped to breathe and her lips, and the area around her lips, the tip of her nose too, was stained with crimson. “Ah.” She burped and a small smile was on her lips as she laid back on the bed and continued drinking from the cup until she was full. Then she slept.

-----------

A Rose Dance

“Your pedals appear ample enough for me.” His voice said in a whisper that could not avoid her ears. It was however not rushed and smoothly escaped his well tuned vocals. “I have a feeling you’ll be a great partner.” He took her hand in his and grasped it gently. He gave her light feet as they walked together with him in the lead. The crowd parted around them. His passage was met with words of awe at whom their fresh gazes met. Through the dim elegant lights the piercing glow of this Nayu royals eyes brimmed with icy stoic self-assurance.

Anui
a cousin of the King. He was young but well known for his demeanor in social gatherings, and his heritage. Part of his heritage are those eyes of his that are said to be the source of a rare ability. Who he passed his genetics onto was important for he was at the age to court another. His rare trait was only shared within the Mythue bloodline. So many were invested in his choices.

“I apologize for my rudeness. My name is Anui Mythue.” He paused with her first to speak. Having taken her other hand in a faux move of dancing. Though the music was gently paced and matched their desire to take it slow. “Your beauty is beyond any rose I've held... and I’ve nurtured the best..” He said with a hint of laughter. All whilst attuning himself to her by rocking left and right gently in unison. It was meant to be a simple display to warm her into it. He did not know why but he felt she was akin to a rose in need of gentle handling.

As the Nayu male got closer to her Lila could hear his smooth whispers, feel his gentle grasp, the way he touched her hands and led her through the hall... She could feel the crowd opening as they passed and hear their words of awe. All that atmosphere was certainly something that Lila had never seen or felt before. To someone like her, to be handled so gently was an entirely new experience... But Lila wasn't that naive... Even she knew better than believe in fairy tales. She knew what she was, the ones that trained and raised her were very clear regarding that... Even though... Lila was still a 19 years old girl... Inside her mind, a war between logic, hormones and feelings raged...

"I-I'm Lila... Lila Moriarty." Lila said after he introduced himself, stuttering out of nervousness, and regretting doing so immediately later. She didn't want to show any weakness to Anui. All that fairy tale situation was still suspicious to her.

His sweet, honeyed tongue was still making it even harder for Lila to think straight. Nobody had never shown interest or desire on her before. Her logical side was the only thing preventing her from melting on his hands. He was a stranger. She didn't know him. And as far as Lila was concerned, any stranger was a potential threat.

"This rose is unlike any other rose you might have... nurtured." Lila replied to him, letting her emotions flood her mind for a second, with a hint of dissatisfaction to that commentary.

"There are many other roses in this garden with softer petals, which would promptly let you handle them without resistance. But the one you chose... is the one with the most thorns... Your choice intrigues me, Anui." Lila said, looking right into his eyes as they danced. That was the first time she had looked right into his eyes, even being blind. Anui would feel that he just felt one of the thorns Lila mentioned about. Her blind eyes were fixed on his, almost like if she was trying to read his mind.

All those reactions, all those feelings... Lila herself didn't even know why she was speaking and thinking such things... Why was she dissatisfied with his commentary? Why has she shown such hostility after what he said? Her head was such a mess that she couldn’t think straight anymore. Trying to repress those wild feelings, Lila started to concentrate on the dance.

"I... I'm trying my hardest... I never danced before." Lila said, as she silently tried to put her thoughts in order and match Anui's gentle and careful movements. Even though he was handling her with utmost care, Lila was still very uncertain about all that, including her own nature, appearance, her place in the world and in the Nayu court... And it wasn't that hard for Anui to realize all that.

As Lila started to become a bit more comfortable with Anui's movements, she began to follow his steps with relative ease. As she did so though... Anui would realize something different on Lila... She wasn't 'soft' as the other noblewomen... Her body, although beautiful, resembled that of a predator. Her sweet looks and smooth white skin hid a carefully trained body. Not only her muscles, but her joints, the way she moved... Even as she danced, her movements had an martial feel to them, they weren't as soft and graceful as the other ladies.

While dancing with her, Anui would start to realize the type of rose he had chosen... Every step, every word needed to be said very carefully, for to be able to touch that rose and feel its fragrance was a dangerous and hard thing to do.

Anui’s face was ever vigilant in its stone cold structure. But it did wane a bit to the side to Lila’s formidable presence. Despite how shy and timid she appeared. His eyes ventured to meet hers. As they did he looked with only understanding. Their dance had only just begun and their rhythms were already dynamic. But only hands touched.

It was the rise of the tempo. Much like the musicians were watching from afar the music matched Anui and Lila’s desired balance. His right arm ventured beneath her left and a hand was gently placed flat in the midst of her upper back. This brought their chests closer together. The warmth from their faces and the fragrance was ever more present. “I can tell you’re no ordinary rose. You’ve been grown for much more than beauty.” He said this while staring into her naked eyes. His soft attire against hers let their honed forms touch through fabric. Never has two warriors, potential enemies, danced and touched one another's hardened form.

“Yet this is why I want to know who you really are.” He gently caught her phenomenal balance off guard. A testament to his skills as a warrior, Lila was given no warning. She fell in his arms briefly, entirely under his control and was brought back up in what felt like two motions. He looked briefly pleased at her expression.

Lila was still concentrated on the dance as their bodies moved along with the music's rhythm. Even though she didn't want to think too much about it, she wasn't able to ignore it... She could feel his firm hand, his experienced steps leading the dance. Every time Lila felt a bit more comfortable to match his steps, he went a bit further, a bit faster... He seemed to be so close, but the second Lila was almost matching him, he gently and gracefully raised the difficulty and speed.

Normally, Lila would never get caught off guard like that, but she was so lost on that dance, on his breath as he danced together with her, the way he led her carefully, but always inspiring her to continue... The second his hand touched her back, Anui could feel Lila's strong, but petite back arching back as she held her breath, surprised.

As Anui spoke, Lila's face got redder, and she wasn't able to hide that no matter how much she tried. She could feel his body on hers, his muscles, his firm arms enveloping her, his hair's delicate fragrance, the warmth coming from his body, his face only inches away from her...

Lila tried to resist as much as she could, but she was held hostage of that moment. The swirl of feelings, thoughts and smells were too much for her to handle. She was an assassin, a warrior, a predator, a tool, but she was still an inexperienced girl regarding love...

His words... Did he really meant that? Was he really interested on her by what she was? All those questions, all that was simply too much for Lila to take... As Anui got her on his arms, her body didn't even reacted. Even her fighting reflexes refused to work. That moment that she laid on his arms, she was completely vulnerable both as a girl and a warrior. Her eyes when she looked towards Anui weren't those that pierced him earlier...

"Ah..." Lila sighed, letting out an unexpectedly cute sound out of her mouth. Anui could feel her anxious breathing under her dress... Above everything else, Anui could see something that nobody had never seen before...

On Lila's eyes when she looked at him, he saw not a warrior or an assassin, but a girl. He had a glimpse of Lila's true feelings. How helpless, sad and alone she felt, how much she earned for such embrace, how long she waited for someone who held her like that...

As Anui brought her back up, their eyes met. Lila caught herself unable to look away for a few seconds...
She tried to open her mouth, but nothing came out of it. Lila didn't know what to do, she had never felt those things before...

Confused, Lila dashed through the hall as fast as she could, going to the place where she could feel the cold breeze coming from, the balcony, right next to the musicians…

In dramatic fashion she was fleeing, doing so swiftly enough to leave the boy speechless for a moment. He felt their alignments. A vibrancy in the way she gazed at him. Like a beast evading its predator she scurried off out of his embrace. Many who spectated began to wonder. But soon after he assuredly walked after her.

The air from the balcony waved a few of his black feathers decorating his overcoat into the air. He grasped one and soon after approaching her from behind he held it between his fingers. He remained a few meters away. Though his demeanor did not change from his broad stance he kept an air of caution even as he spoke. Even if he knew how she truly felt.

“... May I apologize. I think I’ve overstepped my boundaries with one so fair. A Mythue has always respected a relative to the Moriarty.” He bowed slowly in apology. “On my blood I swear to never discomfort you again.”

She thought the cold breeze would do good to her, but in reality it wasn't helping at all... Her body was still as hot as it was before, her cheeks were red as the roses on the garden below and her mind was still as confused as it was before... She felt someone approaching her from behind, but she already knew who it was. The fragrance, the way he walked... Everything about him was so imprinted on her memory...

Instead of doing anything else, even approaching her, or trying to take advantage of how vulnerable Lila was at that moment, instead Anui bowed down, apologizing himself... Why was he so gentle with her? Why did he choose her? Why was she so self conscious about herself at that moment? Her heart was beating so fast...
At that moment, Lila decided that fighting against her impulses would be the worst thing at that moment. Walking fast towards Anui, she grabbed his hands, putting it over her chest.

She didn't say a word, instead, Lila only stared intently at Anui, almost like if she was searching for some answer on that blank, expressionless face she saw as her heartbeat went up with his touch. It was exactly the same blank face as all the others in Lila's eyes, but why she felt that way only with him?

"I... Don't understand... Anything..." Lila said, looking down. In her voice, there was no trickery, no lie, no deceit, only honesty. She tried to open her mouth again, but no words came out of it. She didn't know how even to describe all that...

"All that I know is how to kill and hunt... I am nothing but a tool, a weapon... And yet... why am I feeling like this? Am I broken?" She said in a low tone, almost like if she was speaking to herself.

"Let me... at least see your face... Just this once..." Lila said in a low tone.

"I can't stand looking at another blank, expressionless face anymore..." she continued, looking to him.

Anui was gentle but stiff. Her hand taking his was a soft gesture of trust he did not fear, despite his lack of experience. This indeed felt like something more than the desire to have a fun night. Anui has seen many banquets, even as a child he has had his sight. He looked down at Lila as his hand merely remained planted over her beating heart. Her vitality was in his hand.

“Being a prey or predator isn’t a choice. We do what we must to survive, even as we dress ourselves as civilized beings. It is a shame you’ve yet been blessed with sight.” He brought his other hand over to caress her shoulder and smooth over to her thin soft neck. “I can show you everything the light hides. I can reveal it to you. All you have to do.. Is trust.”

Their eyes met in a almost hypnotic gaze within the balcony. The veils danced with the music briefly covering the two in shadow in intervals of seconds. The young mans eyes began to faintly glow when met with the concentrated sunlight from the massive cavern above the capital. A single red tear ran from his eyes to his cheeks. He closed his eyes and Lila.. could see.

She was vulnerable in front of that man and even being in such state, Anui never did anything. Never anyone embraced her like he did, never anyone made her feel like that, and above everything else, he came for her. When she ran, he went after her... Normally, Lila would trust no one. Never she would have let someone see her like that and live. But when he asked her to trust him, there wasn't other option but to silently nod and trust him. Even though they met each other in that same night, she could tell... Somehow she could tell that he wouldn't do anything to hurt her.

After a few moments, Lila's life would change forever.
Everything until now was like a dark, silent dream, and Lila had just woke up.
Colors, so many colors, so many details... Everything was so... real. And in front of her, a young Nayu male stood with his eyes closed. His long hair, with the same fragrance as Anui. The way he walked and even his breath were the same. But unlike before, Lila could now see...
She could see his beautiful, yet delicate face. His hair as black as the night... Words failed to describe the man in front of her.

Without saying a single word, Lila gently reached to his face, wiping the red tear that stained his beautiful face.
Slowly and carefully, she ran her fingers through his face, feeling every corner of it. From his thin, beautiful lips to his delicate nose and ears...
He was taller than she was. Lila already knew that, but now she could see it for herself. She almost had to look up.

Gently putting her hand on his cheek, she looked to him with the most honest, genuine smile on her face as tears ran down her face.
She wanted to feel that again. She wanted to be embraced, she wanted to feel his strong arms enveloping her once more. She wanted to stop being a ruthless assassin, she wanted to stop being the predator. Even if for one night only… She wanted to be just a girl.

----

Mirror and the seraphim were still within the storage room. They were at least ten strong. Mirror was no longer sleeping and now was decently rested. He went over the plan with the other seraphim. “We have to find the location of the vial. With Lila placed in the right location we can proceed with the next part of the plan. Infiltration.” As Mirror spoke up above in the banquets many halls a Nayu royal, with a mask that gave a eerie smile, walked down with a seraphim slave chained to his hands.

He came to the end of the hall where two Nero guards stood. “Excuse me but would either of you two gentlemen like to have your way with him? He’s been naughty and I need some help teaching him a lesson. If you don’t mind.” The two Nero guards merely looked at him with blank white eyes and masks and hoods of their own. “No you can handle that yourself.” One spoke up and said.

The young seraphim slave was fully dressed. He wore a white buttoned shirt with black pants and black silk shoes formed to his feet as if tailored made. His hair was stringy and clean and he hadn’t a mark on him. He stood with eyes closed as they spoke, moving as the chain tugged against his arms and neck. His entire body was clean, wings of pure white. The slave slowly brought his hands up and brought them together and bowed slowly. The Nayu royal continued. “Oh come now, we only want to have some.” As he went a space beneath the two guards began to grow rapidly. “Fun.” As he finished the space opened and the two guards began to fall down into a portal. A blade was tossed from out of the portal before it could close and it struck the mask off of the Nayu royal.

“Damn. That was close.” Muttered the man whose masked was knocked off. It was plain to see however he shared a resemblance to the slave he held. They indeed were twins, however one seemed Nayu and another Seraphim. “It went well. Lets not trifle over something so small. Besides I’m the one with the chains on here.” Spoke the seraphim who was sounding quite annoyed at being tugged at like a pet on a leash. The other chuckled and removed the the chains. Together they walked into the deeper darker halls of the castle.

“Link me to Lila.” A Sol with a wooden mask on and vegetation for attire began to glow with a dim light before Mirror’s mind was linked to Lila’s via the Sol man's ability. ”Lila.. It is almost time.”
@13org

[Rai]

Vrondi Gates

At the capital gates. The large white stone walls were decorated by wildly grown vegetation that pulsated with vibrant life. Insects of various sizes pollinated the fields around the wall and the wall itself. There was a protrusion that jutted from out of the wall. A small but long one that was heavily guarded. The wooden doors of this particular section was the gateway to Vrondi’s lower jail cells. Minor criminals or those found outside who are to reach further sentencing remained here. Some indefinitely.

The young Nayu girl was brought bound but not gagged to these barracks. Soldiers ate their meals and took their breaks all next door to criminals behind steel bars. The bars were circular in shape and left little space for ones fingers or hand to get through. Inside she was brought. Dropped on a cold stone floor before a group of soldiers within a dark room. A single candle was lit to allow sight. Her feet and hands were untied. But not by anyone’s touch. The metal door closed. She was now behind bars, two beds on both sides of the wall and a window.

The beds had straw piled up inside of leather for some form of comfort. A bucket laid on the side for undisclosed purposes. Though the smell from it was clear. Prometheus was in this dark cell, her binds finally withering to the ground as simple vines do. She could hear across the hall more people in their cells.

The girl’s lime green eyes slowly scanned the area, as if looking for a needle in a haystack, granted this was far from the truth. For once the young woman was feeling vulnerable without any short of familiar company within this city. A city that was nothing more but on edge. The worst fact was the these people would rather let Nayu’s starve to death than help make new laws. Then again she had only heard stories about this city from her father so the newly found experience was very unwelcomed. Go figure the girl's huge mouth would get herself in nothing but trouble.

Prometheus slowly shift in her spot, eyes now glancing at the criminals among her, as well as the guards. In a way this felt fitting. After all she had caused this on herself. But an unanswered question continued not linger in the air. How long must the young woman stay within this dark crypt.

”I must remember to properly apologize to those guards for my rudeness. As well as try to find a way to gain a feeding permit for me and Minko. If we are to look for our parents than we'll need them. Perhaps one for Rhanger as well so we could feed off him when needed. I think it's best if I ask the guards if there are places we can go for such a need. Hopefully there is.” She said quietly to herself.

A guard approached her cell. He tapped on it briefly with the hilt of his sheathed blade to get her attention. “Attention. It has been brought to the attention of Vrondi’s peace keepers that you’ve been illegally feeding on Vrondi lands. I understand your situation is complicated. So a fee has been made for you to pay within a months time. Consider this a warning.” His piercing yellow eyes beneath light brown curls showed his mature nature. He didn’t seem to judge her. He opened the cage with a few other guards at his back. He chucked inside next to Prometheus a rolled up paper with a red seal on it detailing inside the amount to pay.

“It may be against my colleagues interests to say this to a Nayu found feeding in this land…. But are you okay?”

”Honestly no. I watched my parents die right in front of my very eyes. My mental health is unstable beyond repair. I know I shouldn't have done this upon your land but I had no other choice. I've already died once in my life and much rather that never happens again. Not to add I'm unable to find a woman named Alexis Emaura, who is said to be my father's niece. I do apologize for causing those two problems. So if you could can you please pass my sincere apologies to them. I was not quite calm of mind when we first met and please apologize to the one I feed off of too.” She remarked in the up most respect.

The guard with his decorated light armors, leathers with sewn metals on the surface, looked down at the Nayu girl who seemed to be mourning. “There are many orphans scattered across these lands. Vrondi is a place of refuge for all who are threatened from living a peaceful life. Though you are not a citizen we can offer you a place to stay at the orphanage.” He looked at a map he unfolded and walked into the prison room she was in.

He knelt down close to her and placed the map and the rolled paper of her fine in her hands without fear. His fellow guards kept wary. “You mentioned someone with the name Emaura. This name rings familiar to me, a family of respected natives to this land. We will see if we can get in touch with this Alexis for you.” He turned to exit to see his fellow guards looking fairly calmed once Emaura was mentioned. “A niece of a Nayu, is a Sol?” He wondered with his facial expression and hushed voice.

Meanwhile, in the Square:
Alexis stepped out of the portal to see she was back in Vrondi, a wide smile coming over her face as she did. She hadn’t thought Sophia was lying, but there’s always some doubt until the truth is seen, right? The portal disappeared behind her, and she began walking down the street as if nothing was out of the ordinary, heading towards her home.

Alexis’s exit from the portal was noticed however by the busy people of Vrondi who were dressed for this days occasion. It was rare to have so many people not in their homes and the faces of people there were a bit more diverse than usual. People from all over the lands traveled here to be a part of the exotic festivities taking place. For this many refrained from using their powers that would disturb or draw too much unwanted attention. Portals opening and closing were more common in Vrondi due to the concentration of seraphim but was still noticeable

Confetti constantly rained on the town square on the people even those walking by like Alexis. Some looked at her attire with a scoff or thumbed nose. Did she not know what was taking place today? Many would wonder. She was soon met with a guard who greeted her kindly. She waved pleasantly but brought out a rolled up piece of paper and unraveled it. “Lets see. Today is marked with importance as all the Kings and Queens of the land are here. Though it is my regret to inform you that all transportation should be done with caution to the others. Portals included, you will be given a warning in form of a small fine.” Alexis was handed a small slip of paper with a seal on it. “Please pay within the due time.”

Alexis looked at the guard in slight confusion, but accepted the slip of paper as she spoke. ”I’m sorry, I didn’t know today was...” She trailed off, looking at the number on the paper. ”Can I just give the amount to you, or do I need to go somewhere?” She kept a smile and shook her head with half closed eyes. The feathers and flowers on his wooden helmet shaking with him. “No, sorry. You can contest the fee, take your time before deciding what you’ll do. The Vrondi courts are fair. Do you have a citizenship badge by the way?” She asked with a tilted head.

”I do.” Alexis pulled down the collar of her chainmail to reveal the badge pinned to her dress underneath, right over her left breast. ”My name is Alexis Emaura.”

“Ah I see. I do apologize Ms. Emaura but today must be perfect. Run along now. Find a pretty dress you like for today is a day of celebration!” As the guard finished the last sentence she turned to walk away back into the crowd.

Once Alexis returned home shortly after, she saw a soldier who was not decorated as if at a party as the earlier one. He was a more built man, also. He was at her door ready to knock when she approached the soft grass alerting him of her presence. He turned with sharp sunlight eyes. “This is the Emaura residence?”

”Uh, yes. It is. Are you looking for anyone in particular?” Alexis stopped short of the door, looking at the man quizzically as she continued. ”I'm not certain anyone is home right now, considering the festivities today. I only just got back to the city myself.” She walked past the guard then, knocking on the door herself and waiting a minute before turning back to the guard.

”It seems they are out… I may be able to help you though. My name is Alexis. What did you need?”

“Actually I am looking for you.” He took a look at the paper he had on his person and then back to her briefly. “Alexis Emaura. We have a prisoner in our custody that says they know you. They can be released but only in your care. Please Come with me once you are ready.” The man stood by the door with a stiff posture. He looked at Alexis with stern eyes.

At the mention of the word “Prisoner” Alexis just shook her head. Only one person she knew would be getting into trouble like this. ”I can go right now.” The guard nodded and began leading the way. “Follow me then please.” He went down the path opposite of the parades. Things grew quieter as they neared the edge of the kingdoms walls.

But as they walked the sight of a giant balloon machine, a gargantuan titanus dragon, a giant stadium that hummed like it brimmed with energy with Lassa escaping its bowl within giant floating spheres of water. These sights were near the open outskirts of the capital well spaced apart. Some homes were near these parts but those who lived there would welcome some a fascinating sight.

Walking into the jail, Alexis was surprised to find out that it wasn’t her brother Seven behind the bars this time. Rather, a young woman that she had met years before on her travels. ”Prometheus?”

” I wasn't expecting someone to come. Actually in all honesty I was hoping someone never to come. Only wanted someone to know that we were in town in case Minko was found. Rhagar is most likely on his way towards your home.” The young woman said slowly shifting in the corner. Her hand slowly shifted over the picture of Alexis. The Nayu’s eyes keeping towards the ground as if hiding a dark secret from the world. A simple tick the young woman had since childhood.

The guards kept watch even as the bars kept the two women seperated. The one that helped Prometheus by searching for Alexis took a key to the barrier, opening it. They all witnessed the obscurity of their relationship. A dark Nayu, pale skinned sitting in the dark whilst a sun kissed Sol woman approached her. The guards kept watch silently in the pale shade of the confinement hall. They all gave each other one thought to read.

She’s lucky she did not end up in our underground chambers.

--------------------

Vrondi Capital: Underground Prison

Fast movements. Flurries of footsteps on the stone walls gave a loud constant echo within the dungeon. Ziton’s feet were nearly blurring as they carried him across the cold hard wall. If not for the sheer momentum he was keeping up the descendant would fall into the abyss below. Surely to never return. His left hand kept a steady hold onto his head, his hat was dancing on the edges wildly. A threat to fly off.

His smile never faded though. Even as he moved so fast only a few prisoners could see him at a time. Behind him however was a menacing sight. The serpentine beast dragging itself along the side of the prison walls was snarling with dripping daggers snapping between its jaws. He gurgled with a loud roar. Flames immediately escaped its throat.

The fire streamed forward and washed over a cell within the higher walls. Igniting a prisoner into a howling banshee of chaos. Even more a reason for Ziton to make his steps lighter than air and swifter than gravity could hold down. Ziton’s right arm was holding his brilliant crystal blue and golden revolver.

Below Ziton standing in front of the doors that led to a center structure inside the vast prison room was Baqar. His miniscule size meant he was almost undetectable. He pushed on the door to no avail. Whilst he did this the chase continued. Ziton now was narrowly escaping the flames. One would imagine his coat, which swayed wild at his back, would be the first thing to light aflame.

“I’m sick of running from this thing. But it’s obviously a rare dragon, judging by its appearance its likely a rare venomous type. Tch. To think those books actually taught me something.” Soaring across the air Ziton aimed his weapon. His hair was wildly flowing and cutting through the wind. He aimed and fired. A strange purple mist piping from his barrel after.

The shell hurtled through the air to its target. Upon its contact with the lizard a red seal was made on its head. Ziton landed on the wall. With what little momentum he had he was able to stand up on the wall and mockingly grin at the beast. The flames came and seemed to wash over Ziton. But something was atop the beasts head at that moment.

“I’ve had enough of this.” Ziton’s left hand was gripping onto a spine on the dragon’s body. He used his right hand and aimed it at the beasts eye. “Die.” His finger pulled the trigger. That strange mist streamed like the blood from the beasts right eye. It writhed and turned, coiling its snake like body whilst clinging onto the wall. Ziton lost his grip and began to fall. He looked down as he did so and saw Baqar slowly opening the large doors, along with his hat that was falling near him.

“About damn time kid.” Ziton then flipped himself over. Falling feet first now. The flames of the dragon and its thick crimson blood spreading around in random locations. Ziton was steady holding his hat now and a portal opened beneath him and he fell into it. The portal then closes immediately.

Baqar managed to open the giant door just enough for his body to squeeze through. Once he fell inside he looked up at awe. It was a all white room pulsating with cyan auras. On top of this Ziton was already in front of him, closing a portal. Ziton looked up in awe as well. But not at the room itself. Up a flight of glass stairs was a white and silver bed. Ziton slowly approached the bed one loud clang of his metal soled shoes at a time.

He came to the edge of the bed and saw laying there so elegantly a sleeping woman with various glowing markings on her body along with white hair and white clothes. “This must be it.” As he spoke he walked along the side of the bed and looked down at the girl with a blank expression. He brought his arms down after holstering his weapon and lifting the girl out of the bed. She was limp. Just as he did this the glowing aura around the room faded and began to turn black. Darkness was creeping in.

The woman began to stir a bit in her sleep. Her glowing markings radiating on her body.

[Ciaran]

Today was a good day for Isaya Niscent. Only the previous night, attacks had taken place which had led to every king and every queen, except that of Nero, to meet at Vrondi's capital. People would be flocking there from all around, for one reason or another. Therefore, not only would she very easily be able to blend in, she would also have an opportunity to strike at one of her sworn enemies: the Queen of Gaia, Allo Niscent.

She'd been at Twilight when the attack happened. Nero had not been targeted, and so while she had been apart from the fighting, she was close enough to the remainder of Vrondi to find out what had happened relatively quickly, and set off to Vrondi's capital soon afterwards. The journey was unpleasant, as Isaya was not used to Vrondi's hotter climate, though she had passed through it multiple times in her travels, generally when moving between Gaia and Nero. At least food wasn't a concern, as there was plenty of fruit available while travelling.

When Isaya at last arrived at the capital's gates, she noticed something, rather, someone, on her way in. A lime-eyed girl, being taken away to a building attached the wall. Quaint. It struck Isaya as unusual that someone so young would have cause to be arrested, though she thought she could guess why, noticing the pale skin and dark hair that tended to give away those of similar heritage to her, even if Isaya's case was quite dilute, and therefore subtle. A genuine case, or prejudice? Perhaps time would tell.

In any case, Isaya didn't have that time; she had a job to do, and it wouldn't be easy. To get to her aunt, she would have to infiltrate the meeting, in Vrondi's castle. Infiltrating any castle is no easy task at the best of times, and surely, given the importance of the occasion and the number of people of import present, security would be heightened. Perhaps she could disguise herself as someone meant to be there, a servant, for example, but that would still necessitate entering the structure and finding a spare set of clothes, which left the question of entry still standing. Then, an idea came to her.

Isaya had already seen one prison on her way in, but it surely wasn't the primary dungeon for the city; it was simply too small. The girl Isaya had seen going in there must not have been dangerous enough to be worth putting in the main dungeon. However, if she could get herself arrested, and ensure it was significant enough to qualify for the main dungeon, she could then break herself out and strike at the Queen of Gaia from within the castle walls.

Breaking out would be hard, though. She'd need something to unlock her cell door, something she'd be able to hide on her person. Lockpicks would be the obvious choice, but Isaya had none. If she could steal the keys, that would defeat the point of having them in the first place... perhaps she could bribe a guard. She'd need to get a conversation with them, alone - she could pretend to be visiting a prisoner, but for that, she'd need a name. How could she get a name? Accessing the prison records would be difficult, and, again, self-defeating. If she asked to visit someone infamous, perhaps, it would work, but she knew of none. She could always ask someone, but that would seem suspicious. Again, the idea of a bribe seemed correct, but most people would find this strange. Perhaps a beggar, then - they would be too desperate and too cowardly to give anything away.

Isaya rubbed her head as she walked. This was getting complicated, so she ran through her plan, once more. First, she would ask a beggar the name of a prisoner being held within the main dungeon, using a payment to ensure their secrecy, then she would go to the dungeon and ask to visit the same prisoner. On the journey to the cell, she would attempt to bribe the guard to ensure her release later that evening. Next, Isaya would commit a crime to get herself arrested, and wait to be released by the bribed guard. From there, she would knock out a servant and disguise herself as them, find out which guest room Allo would be sleeping in, and enter, pretending to be dusting the room or somesuch. Lastly, she would find a place to hide, and wait there until Allo would come in, at which point Isaya would strangle her in her sleep.

Not a flawless plan, but its success seemed within the realm of reason, and Isaya could not see a way to improve it that was within her abilities, resources, and timescale. Satisfied, she set out to find a beggar.

[Rai]

The Great Library

Vulcan merely nodded to Sophia's words. His fiery aura settling to a calming warm. He knew what she was going through. To fear for your Kingdom's safety was not very different from a Dragon's horde of knowledge. Graciously sharing her wisdom with the Monks has opened his eyes to this. His soft white coated brows narrowed as he began to step back from the aura resonating from her as she continued speaking. It was no different from a Queen fortifying her walls. She now understood how serious it was.

With part of his mission complete he spoke up once she completed her reel. "Do not worry. The lords of every kingdom are set to gather at the king of Vrondi's castle. Every Queen and King will be there. I set out to find you once I heard of this. My intention is what we have now. That is to say.." He looked at the dark corridors within the large looming library. "I wanted you to accompany me as a guest to this gathering. You have been away for quite some time. Most do not know of you." He looked her in the eyes as he spoke.

"Regardless at least the Fotian nation will aid you. That I swear on my Tyro ancestor's blood." Fist meeting chest he bowed to emphasize his promise.

@13org
----------------------------------

Vrondi Capital

Vrondi's capital gates were open to all those with citizenship badges. Whether one came by sky or portal all would be checked for their badges. Unlike other nations Vrondi was strict and did not accept bribes. The Taxis were also involved in guarding the city as well as parts of the Aion. Angelic being floating above made the magical city even more majestic. Many of them dropping the petals of flowers as confetti. Raining multicolored fragrances on the guests and citizens below. Most rejoiced to this even those not used to the surface such as the Lassa who found their inability to breathe air not hindering their fascination with the visual spectacle of it all.

The beggars were pushed off the streets. Despite them being citizens fallen on hard times they were second class and were mostly traveling around the small cluster of homes by the river south east of the castle and the main events. This was to seclude them away from the royals of the different nations. There a beggar saw a woman approach. He was an older man who was partially drunk given his half empty glass bottle. The liquid inside was a crystal blue yet bubbled at the top.

It was not long until he was able to notice that this woman was not another beggar or a villager from Vrondi. She was clad in a dark aura unlike the pleasant people who came in for today's ongoing events. Few entered the low class block by the water. "What'd ya wunt?" He slurred a bit when speaking and took another sip of his drink. The barrel of hay below him kept him comfortable as he sat in the sunlight. He appeared to be a mix of Sol and something else. His clothes were torn but his long beard and chipped goat like horns were covered in moss and colorful mushrooms.

Some even on his barefoot toes.

@Ciaran

[13org]

Lila Moriarty

^@Rai@13org

It was impossible to put in words what Lila was feeling at that moment. To someone who lived its entire life in complete darkness, the gift of vision was nothing short of terrifying. The way Lila perceived the world, her world was plunged in a complete chaos. Her senses mixing up with one another... A completely new world overlapping and mixing with the one she already knew. All the colors, the smells and sounds. For a normal person, that would be already overwhelming, but for Lila, who was trained until her senses were delicate enough to smell her target's blood or hear its footsteps, it was way worse... Having your world changing before your eyes in such a chaotic way and speed...

Gently taking her hand away from Anui's face, Lila walked to the edge of the balcony and looked around, for the first time, Lila could see the night, starry sky and its beauty. She could see how really beautiful the garden and the flowers below the balcony truly were. All the colors, all the new details she never knew existed... It was all extremely beautiful, but at the same time overwhelming. She could feel her head becoming dizzy and her legs loosing their strength. All the sounds from the ball, her own heartbeats, Anui's respiration, the fragrance of the flowers below, all the sounds that composed her world mixing with the new colors and details her eyes were giving her...

But as she spun around, looking at the new world around her, she remembered that she was not alone. Not this time. All that chaos, all the confusing senses were nothing compared to Anui.

"Please, don't leave me." Lila said, running towards Anui and falling on his arms, with her eyes fixed on his as tears rolled down her face. Looking at every detail of his beautiful face. For the first time, Lila wasn't fighting against her feelings. She felt anxious, she felt happy, she felt fear, she felt joy... But above everything else, she wanted that moment to last for ever.

She was in love.

When she realized that, she felt a burning sensation on her chest. It wasn't just desire. Even though she was very inexperienced regarding those matters, she could feel that. It was hard to fight against, and even harder to describe.

"I..." Lila tried to say, but the words were stuck on her throat. It was so agonizing... So difficult to hold back that burning sensation... Her legs were weak, she felt like if she tried to walk she would fall... It was simple... Impossible to fight against that...

Throwing herself on Anui's arms and wrapping her arms on his neck, she kissed him passionately, holding him almost like if she feared that he would run away from her. That passionate kiss, filled with Lila's emotions, with her fears, her desires... Although she felt hard to put all that in words, that was the best she could do to show Anui how she felt right now.

The very second Mirror linked his mind with Lila's he felt the torrent of emotions and feelings invading his mind, together with the chaotic and overwhelming amount of information coming from Lila's senses. It was clear that it didn't matter how much he tried, he wouldn't be able to talk with Lila. And above everything else, it was clear that Lila was in no condition to fight at that moment. It was so bad that she wasn't even aware that Mirror was linked to her mind.

"Promise that you will never leave me... Promise that you won't abandon me... Please." Lila said, hugging Anui tightly, closing her eyes and delicately resting her head on his shoulder.

Slowly opening her eyes, she looked at Anui again. The world swirled and danced around Lila, vivid colors that she had never seen before mixing with sounds and smells she used to orientate herself in a maddening, chaotic dance. But Lila only had eyes for Anui.

"I don't understand fully what I am feeling... But I don't want to understand. I gave up trying to understand, Anui..." Lila continued with a smile on her face as tears continued rolling down her face.

"I don't care about the ball, I don't care about the Nayu nobles, I don't care about Mirror or the other Seraphim..." She continued. looking to his eyes.

"You came for me, Anui. Even though I ran, you came after me. You tried to understand me, even knowing how difficult it would be. You treated me not as a weapon, an assassin or a monster... You treated me like a normal girl..." Lila continued.

"I... I love you... Anui."

---

Sophia

^@Rai

For the first time in more than a century, The Great Library was fortifying its walls and sealing itself once again. Transforming to her dragon form again, powerful wards and magic seals were cast around the library by Sophia on a fast and continuous rate. Their pressure and power were astounding. One after another, layers and layers of spells covered the library, and soon after the temple beneath it.
Mindah Tarvitaan was also in a similar rhythm. Even all the way up in the library, if you paid enough attention, you could hear the monks training even harder than before, fortifying the temple walls or chanting spells with the most varied purposes, ranging from clairvoyance to magic traps around the mountain.

After finally finishing weaving her spells, Sophia transformed back to her humanoid form to hear Vulcan talking. If she tried to cast such powerful spells while in her 'broken' humanoid form... The results wouldn't be pretty. Sophia, more than anyone else, knew very well about her body and its limitations.

"Vrondi, right?" Sophia repeated after hearing that every king and lord would gather there. She didn't even remember the last time she got out of the mountain. She had been isolated for a very long time... While Sophia knew she needed to go there, she couldn't help but to wonder if people had changed the way they lived... What Vulcan said was right. She had been away for so long that most people knew her just as a legend or even didn't know her at all.

"Raise your head, Vulcan." Sophia said, walking towards Vulcan and looking directly at his eyes.

"The fact that you came here to warn me is enough proof that you trust and respect me and the temple." Sophia continued, making a signal with her hand for Vulcan to follow her outside.

After a brief walk, through the library's gigantic and dark corridors, they were finally at the front door. As soon as they opened it, they were greeted with the cold mountain air.

"Sophia said, before giving a few steps back and transforming herself on her dragon form with a powerful beat of her wings, making the white snow on the ground lift in the air, looking almost like a white veil.

"I could open a rift directly to Vrondi, but I'm feeling like stretching my wings a little bit... Don't worry, even if I fly calmly, without rushing myself, it will take only around 2 hours..." she said, as she stretched her wings. Even though Sophia wasn't planning in flying at her max speed, she was still much faster than a normal dragon, given her unique physiology, so what she said, even if rather absurd to get to Vrondi in only 2 hours flying without even breaking a sweat, it wasn't a lie.

"Regarding the fact that not many remember me... Don't worry. As soon as I get there, they will remember who I am. Believe me... They will." Sophia said with a serious expression.

"It was my choice to be forgotten. It was my choice to remain hidden from the world. But now that darkness rises and the world needs me again, I won't turn my back. Let all, kings, lords, thieves, assassins and beggars alike remember who I am. Let them know that those who dare to defy my will and threaten what I swore to protect will face my wrath." Sophia said, opening her wings in an imposing posture and letting out a mighty roar and stopping suppressing her aura. The sound of her roar alone was enough to shake the very spirit of those hearing to her, and her oppressive aura, enough to make even the wind stop blowing. For many people, that roar might sound intimidating, but for the monks on the temple below and those who knew her, it was inspiring, as it was made clear by the sound of the monks cheering her at the temple below them, that could be heard even from up there.

"Have you ever flown with a dragon before?" Sophia asked, looking to Vulcan.

"Even if you did, I assure you it will be completely different. I'm much faster." She said with a chuckle.

"I hope you don't have fear of heights or speed." Sophia said, with a rather mischievous smile, looking at Vulcan.