- POV General -
"Never in my lifetime would I have thought to see a Queen dare to return to her city without having done her duty...what are you doing here, your Majesty ?"
At the other end of the room, the figure that had been standing in the shadows finally emerged while making his voice echo through the huge place. Despite his words, the Priest gave no hint of surprise advancing slowly towards the group still far from him near the doors. His black eyes stared at them more out of curiosity than fear as he felt no truly dangerous aura without knowing that was the point.
"You didn't come alone I see..."
"Magnus..."
"Your Majesty with all due respect, bringing outsiders here is against the laws of the Kingdom and it is not just one but a whole group. I hope you have a good reason because if not..."
Suddenly stopping cautiously, he scanned the group once more with his eyes over his glasses catching a glimpse in more detail of who he was dealing with. Jade who was in front said nothing knowing she had only one chance to convince him to listen. As Queen, even if she was fallen, she had the authority, but she did not deviate from the rules unless she could prove that it was an exception.
Behind her, Gaya listened silently, glancing discreetly at those behind her, especially at her children, ready to react at any moment. The others did the same except for Freya who had her eyes fixed on Priest Magnus almost hidden in the shadows. Moving slowly they had all stopped in the middle of the room only a few meters from the man as Jade got into the thick of things.
"Magnus, these people are from another country west of Vancesia, I guided them here so you could tell them our story. I have no idea if they are related to the mission but...I'm sure there's something else so I was hoping your knowledge would help me."
"A little girl, a little boy and two babies. Have you lost your mind ? I would judge that for myself, so who are they ?"
ραпdα Йᴏνê|(сòm) The Priest's voice had become more accusatory as he didn't understand why his Queen had returned and on top of that bringing tourists. For this traditionalist, what was happening was nonsense having decided from the beginning to be reluctant whatever her arguments were. Jade could feel it and so could everyone else in the room, but as she was about to introduce them, the man completely changed his behavior.
"I already introduce you Ga-..."
"I-...I know who she is...how...you..."
His black eyes had begun to glow intensely the moment he had set them on Gaya, who had taken a few steps forward out of respect. As if there was no one around, Magnus was almost paralyzed, his body trembling slightly for some as yet unknown reason. With a shocked face, after several seconds he finally continued where he had stopped just before, observing the dragoness from every possible and unimaginable angle.
"How can I not recognize the Mother of the earth dragons in person, Gaya the dragoness with the deadly roar, the one and only survivor of her clan. Hair as crimson as the setting sun and eyes as amber as the brightest of gems. There is no doubt about it..."
Under the spell of the speechless Queen, the vampire pulled his glasses up on top of his head now wearing a big smile. His skin was very white but it was almost as if he was blushing, his cheeks tinged with a very slight pink color that was difficult to perceive. The Priest was now a few steps away from Gaya when suddenly he remembered his manners approaching a little closer to her to formally introduce himself.
"But sorry what was I thinking, I present myself, Magnus Archibald Priest of the Vampire Realm and steward in the Queen's absence. Pleased to meet you~ But if I may ask, have you come to see your fellow dragons ?"
Magnus had dropped to his knees in front of Gaya and after grabbing her right hand had brought it gracefully to his mouth to kiss it with respect and delicacy. At that moment, Shiro and Angel behind had had the same reaction, sticking their tongues out in disgust not understanding why he was doing this. Kira and Kalaa had as for them thrown a discreet glance towards Freya who had still not said anything, observing in silence but not forgetting anything of his gestures.
The man had immediately spoken about the dragons because it was for him the principal reason of her presence, having completely occulted those who wondered what was happening. His attention was monopolized by the dragoness who was the most stunned by the situation unable to place a single sentence in front of his enthusiasm. However she tried to answer not without being cut once again by his ardour well moved.
"I, well..."
"Or perhaps you come because you have heard of our disagreements from her Majesty and wish to help ? So these people with you are your servants ? Aaah as expected from a woman as beautiful as she is strong ! However...I-...I don't see a man, are you...by any chance s-single ?"
"I-...I don't have a husband no but..."
"W-Would this be a dream ? You are...so gorgeous and your legend in the land of Vancesia precedes you, what an honor to see you before me...I-...have you ever thought of marriage ? Forgive me ahem in any case, I would be delighted to invite you to my quarters to tell you about our Realm and the many dragons that live within it~"
As the Priest finished his sentence he suddenly felt a wave of cold air invade the room without really knowing where it came from since they were underground. However he seemed far too full of illusions to care, busy courting away from propriety. For Jade it was too much, concerned about the reaction of the one all behind, finally interposed with fear, shock and disappointment regarding the man.
"Magnus what is wrong with you ?"
"Am I a fool to consider a good understanding between our races through a marriage with two powerful beings ?"
"It happens that her Majesty Gaya is..."
The ginger vampire didn't have time to answer as the dragoness had raised her gloved hand to cut her off finally ready to answer for herself past the shock of this request. Magnus had frowned intrigued by the words "her Majesty" pronounced by his Queen. Moving back slightly he waited for the continuation which did not delay to arrive from the mouth of the one to whom he had implicitly asked in marriage.
"Your flattery is very interesting but it happens that I am already married, I have no husband but I already share my life with someone else and in terms of power I am sure that she has nothing to envy you"
Gaya had spoken with a sure voice, soft but firm as usual, plunging in turn her amber eyes in those black of the vampire. She had also shown the ring she wore on her left hand, which he had not seen too excited by this chance encounter. Gaya the Mother of Dragons was married ? To whom ? As Magnus scanned the rest of the group more carefully, he saw no being capable of matching his own power.
"I see. So this person is not afraid of losing you since she sent you here alone without a really decent guard and even with children, how bold. My proposal doesn't change dear Gaya but I can't abuse more about it, please excuse my behaviour I will...wh-...!"
Frustrated by this sudden revelation sending his plans for a political marriage up in smoke, the vampire had knelt down again to kiss the hand of the dragoness. He who had not totally given up the idea to charm her was then suddenly stopped. He had not had time to finish his gesture that a hand had grabbed his from nowhere causing his surprise while he stepped back looking at the person who had appeared.
"H-How dare a bodyguard touch me ??? Get off me and back off !!"
"Just now you were talking about me, I couldn't help but intervene so here I am"
Freya had finally shown up not wanting to see this charade go on for a second longer feeling a sense of possessiveness growing with every second. So far she had held back so as not to create any problem but in the end she had not managed to last more than five minutes. At this moment Magnus outraged had almost fallen to the ground not understanding at all what she wanted to talk about and especially why she had interrupted him.
"Who are you ? How dare you interrupt me ?!"
"Me ? I'm the one who watched you try to seduce my wife for far too long"
"Y-Your wife ? Aren't you a...a bodyguard ?"
Having hidden her true power from the beginning, the Priest only took her for a person under Gaya's orders which explained his reaction. However, the Empress had intervened, placing herself between her wife and him, staring at the man intensely with her purple eyes. At this moment she was doing what she could to contain herself but the simple idea of knowing that he had even considered marrying her dragoness, made her very angry.
"I-I can't believe she was talking about you just now...stop these lies !"
Just as he finished his sentence, another more powerful gust of icy wind surged into the room but this time Magnus knew from where. In front of him, the hood of the one still holding his wrist had come off, revealing a face he never imagined would be so beautiful. Crossed with demonic tattoos as black as her hair, horns carved on either side of her forehead and wolf ears perched on top of her head.
Freya didn't smile, her violet eyes only glowing with a dangerous gleam as her hand unconsciously squeezed the wrist she was holding a little tighter. At that moment, disturbed by the beauty of the young woman and by her strength, the vampire unconsciously released his aura to make her move back. In another gust, a black veil came out of him while he jumped a few meters away with a satisfied and haughty smile.
However, contrary to what he had imagined, this did not make the she-wolf move back, raising an eyebrow barely shaken by this sudden power. In fact she replied immediately by releasing a little of her aura making a blood red one come out right in his direction while she was stepping forward. A second later, the lenses of the Priest's glasses cracked under the pressure making him once again recoil speechless.
"YOUR HIGHNESS !"
"FREYA !"
Jade and Gaya who had both been pushed back a little further by the impact of their clashing auras were trying to reason with the she-wolf but without success. As if nothing else existed, she continued to advance slowly towards the vampire who retaliated by releasing a little more of his aura. His smile had disappeared while without waiting she did the same, finally exploding the lenses of his glasses for good.
Her power had increased without warning, the walls of the room began to tremble, caught in a red tornado, icy, dense and unstoppable. Her aura seemed to growl, to roar, and behind Freya appeared as a blurred demonic face, smiling in a frightening way. The others could only watch this power struggle and hope that they would be able to stop before it really got out of hand.
"We agree on one thing, Magnus..."
Suddenly, Freya's voice sounded again as she moved closer to him, who was too stunned to understand how it had all gone so far so fast. Her tone was commanding, cold, authoritative making the vampire tremble the moment she had spoken his name. The Priest's heart was pounding, the feeling of oppression was intense almost taking his breath away as he waited for the next part completely paralyzed.
"This dragoness is the most gorgeous of all the women I have ever met in my life but..."
"..."
"...she. is. MY. wife."
The moment she had said those last words very slowly, the powerful red aura in the room instantly disappeared leaving Freya facing Magnus. While behind Gaya had begun to blush, the two remained motionless for long seconds. They watched each other as if trying to read each other's souls before finally the man looked down before looking up at Jade trying to hide the fact that he had been afraid for his life.
"I...ahem...they..."
"You are in the presence of Her Highness Freya Nightshade, Empress of the Elysium Empire located in the land of Zal, her wife Her Majesty Gaya Nightshade Queen of the Empire and their families."
"That..."
The fallen Queen's statement finished to make Magnus even more confused than he already was. Empress ? Queen ? Never had he imagined receiving such high ranking people, he would have been careful not to act as he had. The Elysium Empire didn't mean anything to him, but the she-wolf's power alone that he had just discovered and the known power of the dragoness were enough to convince him immediately.
Turning his head towards the back of the room, he was now looking more attentively at the rest even if his vision was a bit blurred after what he had experienced. The Priest then discovered with amazement the face of Kira, Kalaa, June and May with a smile in the corner far from having been afraid of his aura. It was at that moment that he understood that this group was hiding its power and that they should not be underestimated or made angry.
After all, they had come with Queen Jade who had trusted them enough to bring them here for a still unknown and mysterious reason. She had spoken of the mission that was passed down through generations of leaders, could they be related to the person they were looking for ? The vampire was thinking about so many things and his reason gradually beginning to return was not long in putting him back on the right path.
"I see. In that case...I apologize to all of you for such a disrespectful scene I showed you. I still don't know why you are here but if you can help us, I would be happy to share my knowledge with you."
After much thought, Magnus who always put the good of his people before his own discarded any resentment or anger. The power of this young woman was intriguing and if it was related to his race's quest then he would not hesitate to get down on his knees to apologize. The Empress had sensed this personality trait in him and that's why she had only wanted to warn him in a rather...direct way.
In spite of these very unpromising beginnings, the vampire and the she-wolf knew that they needed each other or at least that this sudden meeting could change something. The two needed no more words to put aside what had happened and focus on their goals. Faced with a willingness and respect worthy of the vampire he was, the Empress sketched a slight smile before speaking less coldly.
"Freya Nightshade, Empress of Elysium...pleased to meet you Priest Magnus~"
In an instant the atmosphere had changed which seemed impossible after that suicidal proposal and yet it had. Just like Jade long before him, the man had felt his blood boiling when Freya had conjured up her aura, there was definitely an explanation. It was as if she had triggered an old instinct buried deep inside him, he wanted to know, so...smiling in turn, bowed graciously before answering.
"It is a pleasure as well your Highness~"
[N/A : End of this arc]
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