The Dragon Empire. A very old Empire that had seen centuries pass by and never flinched. From the northern barbarians to the Pirates of the White Sea, and then, the vain attempt of the Eastern Republic, nothing had been able to scratch an inch of those strong borders. The long line of its rulers, always covered in the gold and Imperial purple, only ever feared their own progeny, for it seemed each heir was stronger than their fathers. Their only notable conflicts were internal wars between the fierce brothers, all hoping to claim the golden throne as theirs. However, for over two decades now, no man had been seated on the large, golden throne of the Emperor. This vast Empire was thriving, now more than ever, with an Empress as its head. The man had tried to study as much as he could to prepare himself. It was no easy task. His country had been at odds with the Dragon Empire for centuries, and their cultures were too different. He had tried to grab scraps of information, here and there, to get ready for this very special day. A day that would be recorded into history, perhaps. He took a deep breath, his eyes on the Imperial Palace as he stood in the long line of people wishing to be granted entrance. This Imperial Palace itself was as vast as a small city. For centuries, it had been the house of the Emperor and his large family. The Empress and their children, when there was one, but most importantly, all the concubines. The long line of the Dragon Emperors had mostly continued through the many children those Emperors had fathered. Those large families needed to be housed in the Imperial Palace; thus that place had only grown with time. As an Emperor thrived, he had his concubines, and his children often had their own concubines and children... Of course, it was also practically cleared out with each new Emperor taking over. No smart man kept his rivals close, and thus, the said siblings were usually all killed in a matter of days before the new Emperor sat on the throne, had his own children and concubines taken over, and that circle of life and death would start all over again. However, no concubines were residing in the Imperial Palace. The Empress did have male concubines, but none of them was allowed to live there. Within the year she had become the new ruler, she had declared that she wouldn't have any children to succeed, and instead, her nephew should be the new heir apparent. Strangely, he couldn't find why this decision had been welcomed. The said nephew was the son of the Empress' brother, the rumored War God. Yet, why would she allow her brother's son to inherit her throne, instead of having her own children? There had been no proof of the Empress being sterile, but according to the locals, she had actually taken medicine to prevent pregnancy for years before she even fought to rise to the position. ...Did she feel like she owed this to her brother, who had helped her rise? Then, why not let the War God himself become Emperor? Surely, this would have been much simpler than establishing a woman on the golden throne... This was a mystery he hadn't solved yet. "Next!" Yelled the Imperial Guard. He had to hand out his papers quickly, and explain the reason for his visit. The Guard raised an eyebrow. Surely, not many foreigners made it all the way there. Eventually, the man in silver armor scoffed and gave him his papers back. "Good luck with that!" He laughed. His papers shoved back into his hands, he nodded, and made his way inside. He knew he had come with no easy request, but it was of utmost importance he succeeded. The future of their Kingdom depended on the outcome of this audience with the Empress... Following the long line of people walking in, he was a bit lost inside those high walls, and long corridors. He had to ask his way twice to the Imperial Servants. Thankfully, he had studied enough to know the servants in this place traditionally wore green clothing. Although the Empress had abolished the centuries-old Imperial Decree behind a lot of the rules on the different casts' clothing, the Imperial Servants most likely wore green out of tradition. Some wore little accessories or pieces of clothing of different colors, but the green was still prominent. The man internally congratulated himself for having chosen a simple blue attire. This was the color of scholars, officials, and educated people in general. Everyone showed him respect, despite his poor appearance. The journey there had taken a toll on the old man. He had lived over half a century and seen many things, but this may have been the journey of his life. He had always dreamt of coming to this amazing country. Where he came from, many saw the Dragon Empire as a ruthless land, with barbarians preying on the weak, and monstrous mankiller beasts allowed to roam free. No foreigner had been allowed in for a long time. The only ones who could walk into these lands were travelers, people of tribes, or merchants who wouldn't be so foolish to get close to the Capital. Things have changed in recent years. The borders weren't as tightly closed as before. A lot of the Cities were now thriving, while before, it seemed everything was solely happening in the Capital. Since the death of the late emperor, his daughter had been making more and more changes every day... Now, the man was trying to brush some sand out of his hair and beard, and wipe off the dust from his clothes. Compared to the other people waiting to see the Empress, with the perfect attires and gold jewelry, he looked like a beggar... Strangely though, the line was getting shorter, fast. People who walked inside the throne room didn't seem to spend more than a few minutes before leaving. Strangely though, the people who came back were often in a curious state. He saw people coming out furious, in tears, or with a lot of joy on their faces. Some... didn't come out at all. He couldn't come up with any reasons as to why, though, as the main room seemed totally soundproof. They only heard something when the door would open, either to welcome the next guests, or for the Imperial Servants going in and out. As he was finally the next one in line, the man took a deep breath, preparing himself mentally. He couldn't be more prepared, but he was still very unsure about all this. His only piece of luggage was in his bag, and he was preciously carrying a little chest he had been protecting with his life throughout this journey. When the doors opened, the man stepped inside, as nervous as an old man like him could be. An imperial servant came to greet him. "Please follow me, and do not speak a word until the Empress has authorized you to. You shall not look at their Highnesses until they speak to you, either. No weapon is allowed inside the Throne Room, and you shall be killed immediately if you’ve brought one without informing us." The man nodded, but he couldn't remember having been searched, which had surprised him. The Imperial Guard had mentioned weapons were forbidden inside the Imperial Palace, but... that was it. The security seemed a little lax, in his opinion. He could have gotten this far with a sword, and no one would have stopped him. Still, that wasn't something he'd do. His query was way too important to risk any mistake like this... He walked slowly, hoping not to make any mistakes that would offend the Empress. He kept his eyes on the impressive white marble floor, but he could tell how impressive this hall was. Each sound resonated throughout, and there had to be large windows for it to be so sunny and warm, too. He could almost smell the sunshine coming from left, right, and above. There was a light scent of incense being burned, and fruits. The one thing that struck him, though, was the strange noises coming regularly. He had already heard some of it before, while he was waiting outside, but now, the man was getting more curious about those strange sounds. It was loud, like drums, something resonating inside a huge cave. It was... terrifying. He didn't dare look up, but the man could tell, he was walking right to whatever was making that scary noise. He was precedented and guided by an Imperial Servant, but even without that, he could have simply followed the simple path in a straight line that took him right to the throne. More precisely, he was asked to stand a few steps away from the first stair of a row of stairs that most likely led to the rumored golden throne. "Empress, this man claims to have come from the faraway Eastern Kingdom to request an audience with you." He heard a chuckle. "The Eastern Kingdom?" Said a feminine, imperious voice. "Does that mean those brats next door are finally done fighting?" The man nodded, but was he allowed to answer? He heard that arrogant chuckle again. "Interesting... You learn something new every day. How long has it been already?" "The new King rose to power five years ago, Empress," answered a male voice. "So it took him five years to get them all to sit down and stop shouting? Hmpf, the kid didn't lose his time... I don't really care for their stupid Republic, though. They were all pretending to be so smart and thought of us as some barbarians. I guess some fresh blood will do them some good... The one that boy didn't spill." The man took a deep breath. Did he have to endure while the Empress insulted his King? Nothing in her words was wrong, though... The former Eastern Republic had endured a cruel defeat against the Dragon Empire, twenty years ago. What was more aggravating was that they had started this war. Some of their leaders had been convinced by the Empire's second Prince, a cunning man with large ambitions, to agree to this nonsense attack. He had only failed to mention the third Prince and War God would stand in their army's way so fast... In the end, the Eastern Army had been sent home, its pride wrecked to pieces, and with a lot to deal in the aftermath; those who had agreed to this attack had to come up with some explanations. Those conflicts, added to their people's anger after so many deaths, poverty and famine had thrown the Eastern Republic into a long Civil War. After several attempts at reconstructing themselves, the rise of a new King was a hope he was willing to do anything to protect. "Fine. Let's hear it then. What does the brat have to say?" The man took a deep breath. Now was finally the time. He had to be very careful with his words... "Our King reigns alone and his Queen's seat is still empty, your Highness. Now, I have come forth with the hope to... find a suitable partner for him." "...What was that?" Said the Empress. "They want to establish a good relationship with our Empire through a wedding, your Highness," said the male voice. "Why do we need that?" Asked The Empress with a chuckle. "For good relationships with our neighbors, your Highness." The Empress stayed silent for a couple of seconds. He could hear her fingers tip-tapping on her golden throne. It was hard to keep his eyes on the floor when he was dying to look up. He finally heard her sigh. "Why do we need that for, again?" The Delegates were speechless. Was the Empress playing dumb on purpose? Was she mocking them? He heard the chuckles of two other women, but the man that was speaking like an advisor, or a close counselor, let out a long sigh. "Now that their situation is stable, we shall look to establish good relationships with our only neighbor nation, Empress. Good relationships with our neighbor mean cheaper prices on the imported and exported products, your Highness. Cheaper prices mean less taxes, and the less taxes we give to our people, the happier they get." The Empress brutally slammed her hand, making them all jump. "Oh, so this is why!" She said with a chuckle. "Less yapping from them. Alright, let's do it then. You. You can raise your head. I feel like I'm going to have to watch your n**k break if you keep standing like that." The man finally lifted his head with relief, his n**k indeed a bit stiff. He had gotten authorization to look at the Empress, but he certainly wasn't prepared for what he had to see. The golden throne was higher than he had imagined, and much, much more impressive. That mountain of gold destabilized and blinded him for a second, until... until he realized it was moving. The throne in itself was a very large seat, so large almost two people could have sat in there. It was filled with purple cushions as if to fill all that space. However, behind the large throne, was this mountain of... golden scales. The man swallowed his saliva, realizing this was the source of those terrifying sounds from earlier. It was one of them. One of their... Dragons. Of course, he had heard about the Dragon Empire's actual Dragons. Those magnificent, mythical creatures were no myth in this Empire. The Dragons were the mark of the nobility, and also why no mere mortal had ever been able to take an Emperor's seat. Their people only acknowledge the Dragon Masters, and Dragon Masters were only born in the Emperor's family. There was no real explanation as to why they had been blessed with such incredible companions. The only thing was that it was in their blood, and, until recently, all the male heirs of the Emperor were blessed with a Dragon alter ego, a companion for life. Those were no mere pets, though. He had heard terrible stories of manslaughter caused by a whim of one of those ferocious beasts, and now, as he witnessed the size of this thing, he sure believed. He didn't stare at the Dragon for long, though. Inside the throne sat another one of the most terrifying creatures of this Empire, the Empress herself. She was a tall woman, with dark skin, and the black hair and eyes typical of their people. The only thing that made it known that she was the Empress was the impressive amount of gold in her hair, clothes, and jewelry. Her dress was purple, but as the sides were slit to let her legs through and there were no sleeves, she looked like she wore more gold than the actual fabric. There was even gold embroidered in her dress. Still, her attire was strangely simple for an Empress of the wealthiest Nation known on this continent. If it wasn't for her sitting on the throne, he might have wondered which of her or the other woman dressed in purple was the Empress. There were actually two other women present, instead of one. They were both seated on the stairs below the throne, just a few steps away from him. The first one was obviously a close relative of the Empress. She was beautiful, with her very long black hair in hundreds of braids falling on her shoulders, and just like the Empress, she wore purple attire, and some gold jewelry. The other woman was probably a simple Imperial Servant, although she was allowed to sit there for some reason. She was simply embroidering some purple piece of clothing, and she didn't have the looks of someone who was even from that place. Her white skin shocked him for a second. Never had he seen someone with such light skin, like some white jade. She was looking at her work, so he couldn't tell, but from her chestnut hair and pink l**s, she was definitely a foreigner. Trying not to stare too long at either of the women, he looked up again, at the Empress. Next to her was an elderly man in blue clothing. He glared when their eyes met, so the poor Eastern man had to look elsewhere again. "...Did the King specify which Princess he was hoping to marry?" Suddenly asked the servant woman. "N-no, Your Highnesses..." "So cunning," hissed the Empress. "That brat sends only a servant, after all this time, and now he asks for one of my nieces to be sent to him? Isn't he quite cocky?" The man next to the Empress rolled his eyes at her language. "I-I have some gift for the Dragon Empire and... the Princess," quickly said the man. "They are not much, but... I hope this will be taken as a token of..." "Stop talking and open that chest," ordered the Empress. The man nodded and quickly opened his chest. The truth was, he was very aware of how little this treasure was. Any of the Empress’s bracelets she was wearing were probably a lot more valuable... He was completely at his wits' end, though. If the Empress laughed and sent him back, he had no idea what he'd do... To his surprise, the white-skinned woman put her embroidery aside and stood up, coming to take the crest. Had the Empress given an order he had missed? He didn't say a thing, though, as she took it. She looked through it, and, to his surprise, there was a slight smile on her l**s. "...There are some books in there," she said, taking the only two little books included. "Y-yes, Your Highness... Those are very ancient books of our Nation..." She smiled and turned to the Empress. She hadn't touched anything else in the chest. "What do you say?" She simply asked. The man was shocked. She was allowed to address the Empress so casually? However, the Empress shrugged. "It's your daughters this is about. You take responsibility for it." Her daughters... The man suddenly understood. He had been completely tricked by her outfit. This woman was no servant, and no foreigner. She was the one and only War God's wife, the Empress’ sister-in-law, the mother of the Crown Prince. The most adored woman in this Empire! Imperial Princess Cassandra, the Water Goddess.

"Do you like tea?" She softly asked. "Ah... Yes, please." The man was still stunned. The woman before him was a legend in this Empire. She was adored like a living deity, perhaps more venerated than the Empress herself. Yet, from where he stood, just a couple of steps away from her in this tiny kitchen, she seemed like any ordinary woman, simply pouring tea with a soft, serene smile on her l**s. She wasn't even especially beautiful. Her chestnut hair was held in a high and large ponytail, but still so long it fell down to her lower back. She wore no makeup, except perhaps some for her rose-tinted l**s, and was actually a bit skinny. Her green dress wasn't any better than any of the servants here, and she only wore a couple of gold jewelry items, too. Moreover, he just couldn't get used to how pale her skin was. He'd heard of tribes, in the south, with white-colored skin, but he had never witnessed it himself... "You look tired," she said, presenting him with а-'cup. "It must have been a long journey." "It was, Your Highness," said the old man, taking it. "It took me over a month to come here, Your Highness." "You may call me Cassandra," she chuckled. "Your Highness is a bit too ceremonial for me... What should I call you?" He stood a bit more upright, trying to forget how dirty he ought to look right now. He had no money to buy clean clothes and wore the same thing for days. Most people would have treated this old man like any beggar, with his messy beard and tired eyes. Yet, that woman didn't even show any sign of discomfort. "This old man's name is Yassim, my Lady. Yassim Hemelion, the Wise." "Well then, Yassim the Wise," she repeated with a gentle smile. "Please tell me about the Eastern Kingdom." The man's hands froze on the cup. He had followed Lady Cassandra, the Water Goddess, outside the Throne Room, a bit relieved to escape the arrogant Empress' gaze, but he was following her with no idea of their real destination, or why she was even listening to his demands. She had first stopped by this small kitchen to make the tea. Seeing this living deity pouring tea in a kitchen didn't seem to surprise anyone, as all the servants coming in and out acted as if this was a regular thing that happened, quickly bowing before moving on with their tasks. Now, his cup still in his hands, he kept following her a bit helplessly as Cassandra was walking out, back to one of the large corridors of the Palace. She was walking slowly, and clearly waiting to hear his answer... The man took a deep breath. "...Our King is still young, Lady Cassandra. He is a brave young man, but he didn't become our King easily. After so many wars and battles, our people were famished, angry, and lost." "It must have been hard." "Yes, my Lady," sighed the old man. "Very much so. The civil war left many cities in ruins, and our roads stained with blood. We are struggling to put all our systems back into a functioning, let alone flourishing state. Commerce, finance, education, everything has been shattered, and we hope to build something better out of what was previously destroyed. But it is hard. Even five years after our young King rose to power, bandits are still roaming free, terrorizing our already traumatized citizens..." "Isn't it a bit strange that a King would look for a Queen in a situation like this?" Despite Cassandra's gentle voice, the old man frowned. He knew this woman was probably too smart not to have understood already. "...We are hoping to confirm our young King's power with a strong lady by his side, my Lady." "A strong Lady from the Dragon Empire... A lady with a dragon," she whispered. The old man kept his head low. Of course, any sovereign would have been delighted to have the power of a legendary beast to assert their authority. The young King of the Eastern Kingdom, among all, was in dire need of such power. He was a bit more nervous now that the Lady clearly knew some of the intentions behind his arrival here. He hadn't intended to hide it, but he did hope this wouldn't come to light so soon. Now he was probably looking like a desperate and shabby old man with too big demands... He stopped, his hands tight on the little cup. "Forgive me, Your Highness. You must think I'm a shameless man to have come here without even a decent present for your daughter, and make such a demand." Honestly speaking, everything he had heard previously about the Dragon Empire had made him think he was lucky to have kept his head on his shoulders this long... Yet, to his surprise, Lady Cassandra chuckled, and he dared look up. She was looking at him with that gentle gaze of hers. There was something invisible yet incredible about that woman. How young was she? Perhaps fifteen or twenty years younger, at least? Yet, she was looking at him as if she had seen the whole world with those emerald eyes. Yassim had always considered himself a scholar and well educated man, but he felt like a child in front of this young woman. She gently put her hand on his dirty shoulder. "I think you're a very brave man," she said. "And someone who deeply loves his country." Those few words hit Yassim hard. For a second, the man felt his throat tighten a bit, as if he was about to cry. In a few words, she had said everything that made his trip worthwhile. Even more than that, he felt like he was somewhat acknowledged; all the hardships he had endured to come here felt like a faraway, painful but distant memory. He was an old man who had thought this trip might be his last, and now that he was at his destination, he could find a bit of relief in the words of a stranger... "Thank you, my Lady..." Cassandra smiled and turned around, resuming walking. Wasn't she going to tell him they would refuse, and send him home? Where were they going now? Yassim had the faint thought she might have simply indulged this exhausted visitor, but now, he was reminiscing about her discussion with the Empress. Would the Water Goddess really be willing to give away one of her daughters? Yassim knew she had many children, but all those he had interrogated also said the Imperial Family was closer than ever in this generation... "Did he mention which one?" She asked softly. "W-Which one?" "Which one of my daughters your King wanted to marry." Once again, he lost his confidence. What should he say? Should he lie, and try asking for any? Or should he simply pretend it was up for them to decide? If the Water Goddess knew the truth, she would probably not agree to this... Still, seeing how he was taking his time to answer, Cassandra let out a little sigh. "...I see." What did she see? Yassim was worried. Had he been exposed already? She was definitely a smart woman, how dare he lie to a living deity! Who was he to come all the way here and ask for a Princess to go back with him... Cassandra didn't add anything, but she kept walking in the same direction. She didn't even look offended in any way, but as calm as she was before she had asked the question. Yassim kept following her, still stunned a bit more each second by this woman. All the servants were politely bowing and greeting her, and she'd reply with a smile or a polite answer, very differently from the arrogance he had been prepared for from the Dragon Empire's people. They finally arrived in what seemed like a large garden. A very, very large garden within the Palace's walls. This Empire's Palace seemed as large as a small city from the outside, but Yassim had never imagined it would be so vast it could actually have such a grand garden, with even a lake! The place was lovely though, and the grass was very green despite the sun and heat. There were a few trees here and there, and under one of those, nearest to the lake, a group of young people were seated. Cassandra was walking towards the group, and Yassim immediately noticed the striking resemblance between her and... some of those children. There were only two young women, circled by several younger children on the grass. From what Yassim could see, only one of the two young women had the same green eyes as the Water Goddess. She was young, but already a true beauty, captivating the young ones as she read them a book. She had long hair, just a shade darker than her mother's, and a darker, tanned skin, so pretty, a bronze color, almost golden under the sunlight. The contrast with her green eyes was absolutely striking, and beautiful. Her back against the tree, she was reading the book she had in her hands to the rest of the group. She had a very pleasant voice, almost as if she was singing, and all of the other children were visibly deeply involved in her reading, sitting with their bodies leaning towards her, or on their stomachs. "...and the young man ventured for days alone in that desert. He was thirsty, and the scorching heat was terrible to bear, burning his skin. Yet, he kept putting one foot in front of the other, bravely. He knew he had to go through this trial if he hoped to save his family. He spent many, many days in the desert, and could only rest a few hours, once the sun set and the gentle moon rose. Each night, the beautiful moon reminded him of his lover's beautiful white hair, and gave him courage again for the next day. So, each morning at sunrise, he rose like the sun, and resumed his long, long journey through the desert." "...And on the fifteenth day," said Cassandra. "He found an oasis." All the children looked back, only noticing them now. "Mommy!" Shouted two of the boys in the group. They suddenly stood up and ran to their mother. Neither of them looked older than ten years old... The older one of the two arrived first, hugging his mom's legs, while the younger one grabbed her hand. "Mommy, Cessi was reading us a great story!" "I know, I love that story." Yassim was baffled. There were a dozen children there, and from what he could see, half of them had light-colored skin! Not as white as the Water Goddess' was, but definitely lighter than any other person's skin in the Dragon Empire. He was dying to ask if all six were her children, including the two young women. Aside from the older boy who had run to his mother, only one of the boys and one of the girls on the grass also had green eyes, all the other children's eyes were dark. But the fact that the one holding her hand had black eyes meant not all her children had inherited that feature... "Children, this is Yassim the Wise. He came from the Eastern Kingdom." All the children suddenly turned their eyes to him, and for a second, the old man felt a bit panicked. However, things didn't turn out at all like he had expected. Actually, the children with darker skin stood up and bowed politely before leaving the grounds. ...Were those children of servants? The ones with lighter skin that remained were obviously related to the Imperial Family, and they all wore purple or green clothing... "From the Eastern Kingdom?" Said the other young woman, sitting next to the one who was reading. "Really?" She bore a close resemblance to the girl next to her, but she had dark eyes, freckles on her nose, and her hair was cut at an unusual shoulder length. She exchanged a look with the young woman next to her. "Yes, my Lady," replied Yassim, bowing. "This young woman is Tessa, my niece," said Cassandra. "Next to her is my oldest daughter, Cessilia. Then, there's my third-born daughter, Sadara..." Sadara waved shyly at him, her big green eyes sparkling with interest. Next to her was a boy about the same age as her and, unlike his younger brothers, he hadn't moved and was frowning instead. "Mother, what does he want!" "This impolite child is my third son, Shenan. And those two are his little brothers, Kassein and Sepheus." Yassim kept nodding, wondering if it was important he remembered all those names. He was trying to do the math in his head, to understand how many children the Princess had. With five boys and three girls, it meant... at least eight children? "Where are Kiera and Raissa?" She asked the two young women. "Raissa is with mom", answered Tessa. "Kiera... was with us until an hour ago, I think?" Cassandra sighed. "She probably ran off somewhere again... Did she leave Kiki here?" The two girls exchanged a look. "I'm not sure..." Finally muttered Tessa. The Princess’ mother didn't look too happy with that answer. To Yassim's surprise, she turned her eyes towards the sky, and the walls of the garden, as if she was looking around for something. "Krai!" She suddenly called loudly. Yassim froze, hearing a sudden loud noise one second later. Like an earthquake, as well as a gust of wind. He could tell something big was moving on the other side of that wall, something very, very big. A fright chilled the old man's body, as a shadow suddenly grew in front of them. Something dark, and incredibly huge... "There you are," sighed Cassandra. The gigantic black dragon stood with all its might, grabbing the top of that wall with its claws as if to support its humongous weight with it. Yassim was struck both by the magnificence and scary size of that creature. Its scales were shining like onyx under the sunlight, and its big red eyes were like ruby jewels, both shiny and frightening. It moved its body with surprising grace considering its size, and its movements were akin to a snake, or a feline. Its front paws landed one after another in the grass, and Yassim couldn't help but take a step back, as this creature was now in the garden, headed in their direction. "Krai!" Exclaimed the two younger boys, running towards the beast. It was terrifying to see such young children run fearlessly towards the black dragon, but no one else seemed shocked. Instead, Cassandra crossed her arms, and the black dragon kept coming forward, its gigantic tail whipping the air around. Krai growled softly, a growl that echoed throughout the area and left Yassim wondering how big that mouth was... and those fangs. "You... You let Kiera leave again, didn't you?" Cassandra scolded the Dragon. "Did she feed you meat, Krai? You can't let the children trick you with treats each time!" The Black Dragon laid down in front of the human woman, its head between its paws, and growled again, a short one this time. The two boys immediately began climbing to play on its back. Yassim was astonished. A huge creature like that, with such sharp claws, was lying like a house dog in front of the Princess? No wonder that woman was considered a living deity! "You're supposed to watch all the children, you know," Cassandra added. "...Were you napping?" Krai turned its head to the side, visibly ignoring her scolding. Yassim was truly unable to believe his eyes. Was it only an impression, or had the Dragon purposely turned away to... pout? Cassandra sighed, putting a hand on her h*p. "Fine, I guess I can use the good old method then... Call the little ones, Krai, please." The Dragon rose its head, this time glancing towards the lake and let out a long, more high-pitched growl. Yassim had a hard time keeping his eyes off the majestic yet terrifying creature, but a myriad of little sounds coming from the lake convinced him to glance in that direction next. The water was moving, making small swirls at the surface. ...Fish? However, the little waves seemed too large to be the work of mere fish... "...You should step away from my aunt, Old man," Said Tessa. Realizing she was talking to him, Yassim carefully distanced himself from the Water Goddess, who was walking towards the lake. All of a sudden, something jumped out of the water at full speed, splattering the grass around, and began running in the Water Goddess' direction. For a second, Yassim mistook it for a gigantic snake, but it was way too fast. This thing obviously had limbs, four of them, and... a pair of wings. Another suddenly jumped out of the water, of a different color, and another one after that. In a few seconds time, no less than four little creatures with scales of various shiny colors were running on the grass at a scary speed to get to the Princess. Yassim couldn't believe his own eyes... Those little ones were all tiny Dragons! Baby Dragons!

The man was completely baffled. He knew the Dragon Empire had Dragons, but he didn't think he'd see so many of them at once, from so close, too! Just a few seconds later, the Princess was surrounded by those small creatures, all trying to climb over her, or making high-pitched sounds at her feet. They were moving around a lot, but thanks to their very different colors, Yassim counted four of them. The biggest was a black one, about as large as a big dog, or a snow leopard, but including the tail, it was the length of two of those. It was rubbing its body like a cat against the Princess's leg, and this Dragon was a lot like the large one she had called Krai, with a longer body, but smaller tail and wings. It was arching its body in Yassim's direction, with glowing sapphire eyes and some faint growling. Another one was next to it, also moving around the Princess, visibly trying to approach her without climbing over a light-green Dragon, just a bit smaller. The two smallest were the ones climbing all over the Princess, trying to get around her shoulders or in her arms. They were both still a bit too big to be there, and were flapping their wings and kept bickering to get more space, even growling at each other in annoyance. One was a bright orange-red, while the other was dark blue, and it was only thanks to the difference in color that Yassim could follow their bodies' bickering and flying around, until Cassandra clicked her tongue. "Enough, you two!" As soon as she did, both of the small ones jumped down on the grass, a bit quieter, but still rushed beneath their older peers to rub themselves against her ankles too, like angsty kittens. Then, a fifth Dragon came out of the water, more shyly than the others. This one was grey, and even bigger than the black and blue-eyed one. Yet, it looked like it was almost afraid of the Princess, and tried to slither away. "Kiki." The Dragon froze, and Krai suddenly growled at this little one too. As soon as the big Black Dragon had growled, all four of the little Dragons quickly scattered. The two small ones ran to the little boys, hiding behind them, while the other two went to the elder sister, Cessilia, curling up next to the folds of her purple dress, one on each side, and put their heads on her l*p. She chuckled and petted them, but they all had eyes on poor Kiki. Cassandra sighed and walked to the Gray Dragon. "Kiki, go find your owner. And you'd better stay with her this time!" she said. As soon as she was done talking, the Gray Dragon flapped its tiny wings, and, although it looked like they wouldn't be strong enough to carry its weight, the little one managed to get itself above the wall. Even after Kiki was gone, Yassim was still unable to process what had just happened, what he was seeing. Dragons! Baby Dragons everywhere! "Children, go see your aunt Phemera for a little while," Cassandra suddenly said, "I need to talk with your older sister." They all obeyed immediately without a complaint, apparently happy to go see ‘Auntie Mera’, their little Dragons following after them. Once those four and their Dragons were gone, only the two older girls and the huge Black Dragon were left in the garden. Calm befell in the garden, and Cassandra smiled at her daughter. "Cessilia, this man has something to ask you." Cessilia exchanged a look with her cousin. "...Is it alright if I stay, Auntie?" asked Tessa. Cassandra nodded gently, and the two young women stood up, Cessilia kept her book tight against her chest. Once she stood up, that young lady was obviously tall for her age... perhaps another family trait, from her father's side this time. Yassim had heard rumors about The War God being as tall as a giant... Although he had expected the rumor to be a bit of an exaggeration, Cessilia was definitely not a petite woman. She had her mother's slender figure though, but more defined muscles, which he could see from her exposed arms. Perhaps because she was a young woman, she wore a bit more jewelry, bracelets and earrings, and also a wide-band golden choker around her n**k, covering most of it. Tessa briefly glanced toward her aunt, before her dark eyes went to Yassim. Now that he was seeing her from a bit closer, his cousin also had a hint of green in her eyes, although it was very faint. "Cessilia is my eldest daughter, she's eighteen years old," said Cassandra. "She and Tessa were born in the same year, hence why they are so close." "...Auntie, what is this about?" asked Tessa, frowning. Yassim could see the defiance in her cousin's dark eyes; she was probably well aware of their Nations' bloody history together. She didn't bother to hide her frown, and acted somewhat cautious, with a hand on her h*p. Unlike most women he had seen in the Dragon Empire, Tessa was wearing pants and a cropped top that flattered her flat stomach and curvy figure better than a dress would have, and wore only green too. Although, she was also wearing several items of gold jewelry, even in her long braids. Yassim also noted how she stood slightly off profile, as if she was ready to step in at any moment between him and Cessilia. Unlike her though, Cessilia looked much more relaxed, just a bit curious and surprised. Cassandra glanced his way, so Yassim understood she was expecting him to explain himself alone. He nodded and bowed once more to the two young ladies. "Good morning, my Ladies. I am Yassim the Wise, a close advisor to his Highness, King Ashen the White." "...K-king Ashen?" repeated Cessilia. Yassim was a bit taken aback by the Princess's visible surprise, but he nodded, thinking she ought to be shocked by the reason for his visit after all. "Yes, my Lady. I have come to the Dragon Empire to extend my King's request that they provide him with a... possible future Queen for the Eastern Kingdom." "You want to send Cessilia as a prospective wife, Auntie?" asked Tessa, visibly shocked too. "Only if she wants to go," said Cassandra, very calm, her green eyes on her daughter. For a few seconds, mother and daughter exchanged a long look in silence. Some silent discussion seemed to be happening between them; between Lady Cassandra's calm and gentle expression, and that little spark in her daughter's eyes. Then, Cessilia turned to Yassim. "D-did the K-king r-really ask for... for me as his wife, S-sir Yas...Yassim?" Yassim was too shocked to answer her right away. This time, it couldn't be a surprise. Her way of speech... The Princess had read that book perfectly fine before, but just now... She was a stutterer? As a man called wise, Yassim quickly hid his surprise, and nodded politely. "My Lord still has no Queen by his side, Princess, and he is actively looking for one befitting the position. He sent me away to find for him a Princess of the Dragon Empire." Yassim knew he was in a dangerous position if he lied to the Princess or the Imperial Family, but the man was at his wits' end, and was now betting everything on this moment. He already considered himself quite lucky he had made it this far, and that the Princess looked interested in his query... "I s-see..." muttered Cessilia, looking down. "You're the only one of age, Cessilia," her mother gently said, "but this is your decision." "We don't have any obligation to comply with the King's demand, right Auntie?" asked Tessa, still frowning. "Of course not." Yassim kept his head down. No, they didn't have any. He was an old man and had come alone, to almost beg them to agree to send one of their precious daughters to a Kingdom they had been at war with for longer than they had been at peace. Moreover, there was no discussion to even be held in terms of difference in power. The Dragon Empire was extremely rich, prosperous, and had Dragons to defend it. Whereas their Kingdom was barely recovering from the wounds of the past civil wars, a broken system, and the loss of many of their own people. Even if they sent him back in little chunks with an insult tattooed on his forehead, there would be nothing that could be done in retaliation, nothing. Hence, Yassim the Wise was presently very happy to see that Princess Cessilia was seriously considering his demand. He had come with nothing else to give other than a little chest full of cheap treasures, and his good word. "D-did you ask Aunt Sh-Shareen?" asked Cessilia, turning to her mother again. "It's your decision, Cessi. Your decision only. Your aunt allowed this man to meet you, didn't she?" Cessilia's eyes went back to Yassim, and she gave him a faint smile. The old man was grateful but still surprised. Was the Princess seriously considering this? Going to a Kingdom she knew nothing of, to meet a complete stranger? As she remained silent a bit longer, he decided to take a little step forward, bowing again, and push his luck. "Our King is young, my Lady, but a very handsome and smart man. He is named Ashen the White King, and just three years older than you." "Ashen...?" "Yes, my Lady," said the man, bowing deeper. A silence followed, and Yassim wondered if he wasn't overstepping. Yet, none of the women said anything, until he raised his head, and saw the Princess's conflicted green eyes. "...Why is th-that his n-name? The White K-king?" asked Cessilia. "That is because our King's hair is white, my Lady, like the Great God in our Lore." "W-white?" she repeated, visibly surprised. "Yes." Cessilia sighed faintly. Her fingers were fidgeting against her book, and her eyes were looking vacantly at the grass. "Cessi?" called out her cousin, visibly worried. "...You want to go, don't you?" Cassandra's words surprised Yassim, but Cessilia's expression when she turned her green eyes back to her mother even more so. There was a strange feeling of... excitement in her eyes. She bit her lower l*p slightly. "Yes, b-but... Father..." "Are you scared of your father's reaction?" "I'm n-not scared of f-father, b-but... if he s-says no..." Cassandra let out a long sigh, and stood forward, suddenly hugging her daughter gently. Cessilia's eyes opened a bit wider in surprise, but she hugged her mother back with one arm. When she finally stepped back, Cassandra smiled gently at her, and caressed her long curls. "Cessilia, do you remember what I told Kiera last week?" "T-that we all have an adventure t-to live, but K-Kiera was t-too impatient for hers?" "That's right. I believe this is your adventure, Cessi. The one you had been waiting for, patiently. ....Not like your sister." Both women chuckled. Then, Cassandra gently grasped her daughter's chin with her hand. "You're too cautious, as always, and too scared. Don't be... You're much stronger than you think, Cessi; you're an amazing young woman and very smart too. I think it's time you learn to bloom on your own, my Love, away from the nest." When she let go, her daughter was visibly blushing, but smiling, looking a bit happier. Next to her, her cousin chuckled, crossing her arms. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm not letting you go anywhere without me, and I'm actually curious about that neighbor of ours." "Are you going too, Tessa?" asked Cassandra, raising an eyebrow. "Of course! I'm not letting Cessi go there on her own!" "I don't mind, but what will your mother say?" Tessa suddenly grimaced. "...Can't you come up with an ex-" "I am not lying to my own sister for your sake, Tessa." interrupted Cassandra. "But mom will never let me!" protested the young woman. "She's worse than a harpy and she will complain about me not helping at the shop! She doesn't care about me wandering around, but if she hears I'm going to the other side of the frontier, she will bring my b*tt back and lock me up! You know she's able to!" "You forget about your dad," chuckled Cassandra. "What about him? Anour will be worried sick if you disappear out of the blue..." Tessa stayed silent for a second, then her eyes lit up. "Alright, I'll send word to dad then. He'll be so much more terrified to tell mom the truth, it will give me at least a week before she picks up on something." "You're g-going to be in t-trouble..." "Don't worry Cess, my dad will probably take half of my mom's wrath first..." "Poor Anour..." sighed Cassandra. "Alright then, I will talk to your mother later... But you girls should go to the Onyx Castle first." "What ab-... about my b-brothers?" asked Cessilia, looking a bit worried. "If they k-know..." "Your father sent them both to train in the mountains, they aren't there at the moment. That's why you should go see him now, before they come back." Cassandra stepped forward to hug her daughter, and then her niece, and Yassim suddenly realized they were already saying goodbye. "M-my Ladies, I know it is a long journey to the Eastern Kingdom," he said. "But there really isn't such a hurry..." "Oh, we'd better get out of here before my mom knows," retorted Tessa. "It's alright," chuckled Cassandra. "If you fly there, it will only take a few hours. Cessilia can come back any time she wants, even tonight, if she doesn't like it. Moreover, she should leave before her younger siblings take notice too; otherwise you will have four more Dragons following you. I think even for his Majesty, that will be a bit too many guests at once..." Yassim was astonished. The Dragon Empire's people really thought differently! Not only was the Water Goddess fine with sending her daughter away, but she was sending her... right away? He glanced toward the majestic Black Dragon next to them. From what he had seen, all the children had their own Dragons, so it made sense that Princess Cessilia could indeed fly wherever she wanted, anytime she wanted... Still, Yassim was a bit worried. What if, once the Princess knew the truth, she prematurely decided to leave? He'd be losing his old head this time... "There." To Yassim's surprise, without him noticing, some servants had arrived, one holding the little chest he had brought with him. The others were bringing two satchels for the young women. Cassandra took the little chest and handed it to her daughter with a faint smile, glancing toward Yassim. "Sir Yassim came with these, as an offering for you." "R-really?" asked Cessilia. "Ah, yes, Princess," said the man, bowing. "All those are for you." The Princess opened the chest, visibly a bit excited. Yassim's heart was beating fast. Those were very small and humble treasures, but he had hoped the daughter would find something of worth in those, like her mother had... Next to her, Tessa was grimacing while staring at the content of the little chest, but she didn't say anything, even when Cessilia handed the chest to her as she took the books out. "I had b-been looking for those b-books!" she exclaimed, staring at the old books in awe. "Those are rare editions, my Lady," said Yassim, a bit flattered. "I know... They were m-mentioned once in another one I had b-been reading, and I was d-dying to find them... Even my b-brother tried to find them for me b-but c-couldn't... T-thank you, Sir Yassim." "I'm glad they make you happy, my Lady." Yassim noticed how she stuttered a bit less when she was happy. The Princess's emerald eyes were sparkling with happiness as she held the volumes and kept caressing their covers with her fingers, visibly thrilled. He smiled too, unable to hold it back as her smile was so beautiful. Princess Cessilia seemed a beautiful and intelligent young woman indeed. Yassim bowed again, praying loud in his heart that the Princess and her dazzling green eyes could warm the White King's ice-cold heart...

"Ask Nebora if you need anything else," said Cassandra as Tessa took the bags from the servants' hands. "I will. ...Are you s-sure this is f-fine, Mom?" Muttered Cessilia. Her mother smiled gently and caressed her hair a bit more. "I have a good feeling. Plus, you're going with Tessa. What should I worry about?" Behind Cessilia, Tessa gave her aunt a confident nod, and walked up to the Black Dragon, leaving the poor old Yassim in awe. It couldn't be... Those girls were preparing to ride this beast? With him! Cessilia gently hugged her mother, and walked up to Krai, gently patting its snout, while her cousin was already climbing on the dragon's back. Once on top, the young woman put down the two satchels, and held out her hand to help Cessilia join her. "Hurry up, Old man!" She suddenly shouted at Yassim. "M-my Ladies, you're not expecting me to... mount this deity creature!" "The deity creature will be twenty times faster than a horse," sighed Tessa. "And I promise he won't eat you unless we ask him to!" Yassim let his jaw down without thinking and turned to Lady Cassandra. "...The D-Dragons really eat humans?" "Don't worry," chuckled the Princess. "This one's been on a low-human diet for a few years now." Yassim needed a few seconds to process those words, wondering if she was simply toying with him. They wouldn't really have let a creature that could eat human beings near the Imperial children, right? Seeing the two young ladies ready to go and waiting for him, Yassim had no choice but to move, and he did so very, very carefully. The old man took a long detour around the mighty black Dragon, even though Krai visibly had no interest in him. Instead, it raised its head high for Cessilia to scratch behind its horns, making high-pitched sounds of satisfaction; Yassim had to gather all the courage he had left in his body to take Lady Tessa's help and set foot on the onyx scales. The height once on the Dragon's back was impressive, but he didn't have time to look down. He was seated right behind Tessa, who quickly explained to him where to hang on. "K-Krai, let's go," gently said Cessilia, patting its n**k. The Dragon turned its head to Cassandra, who gave it a gentle pat on the h*p before standing back. Yassim was terrified, but he thought he was a blessed mortal to ever be given a chance to climb on a Dragon's back and ride it! The large black wings spread far on the sides, showing off the Dragon's unexpected width, and Krai flapped it twice before suddenly taking off. The climb was so sudden, it felt like the Dragon had jumped up, and forgot to get down. Yassim gasped loudly, and held on, frozen by fear. He was riding a Dragon! "Close your mouth, Old Man," chuckled Tessa. "You won't like it if something flies in!" "Lord Yassim," said Cessilia. "We can make s-stops if you need. D-Dragon flying can be d-difficult for Elders..." "Our Grandmother hates flying now," nodded her cousin. "She always says she'd rather walk all the way from the Diamond Palace to the Imperial Palace if she has to, rather than mount a Dragon again!" "I am alright, my Ladies," lied Yassim with a grimace. "I am honored to be allowed to... fly this wonderful creature. D-do you mind if I ask a few questions, though? The old man I am still holds much curiosity for the wonders of the Dragon Empire, and now that I have seen this, I can't help but wonder..." "Ask away," nodded Tessa. "Most people in this Empire don't get to see the Dragons often either, to be honest." "Only my little s-sister goes out with hers." Yassim nodded. He had understood the young Lady Kiera was one to run away, but it looked like the younger siblings were usually watched by this adult Dragon. "M-may I ask about this... magnificent Dragon? I wonder about the size difference with... The younger ones from earlier..." "K-Krai is Father's D-Dragon," said Cessilia. "The Dragons you saw earlier were babies," explained Tessa. "Dragons don't grow like humans, they undergo major growth spurts when their master matures, around teenage years. We don't know much about the reasons behind the size differences from one Dragon to another, but the stronger their master, the bigger the Dragon. You saw auntie Shareen's Golden Dragon earlier right? It's Glahad, our grandfather's Dragon. He's getting smaller with the years because his owner passed..." "When I was a b-baby, Glahad was much b-bigger than Krai... K-Krai still grows, t-too." Perhaps because of hearing its name, the Black dragon let out a long growl, and Cessilia gently patted its n**k. Yassim was stunned. So this red-eyed Dragon was the War God's Dragon itself? Moreover, if the Golden Dragon from earlier used to be bigger, he couldn't even imagine that mountain of scales moving like a creature! It was worth ten armies! The old man took a few minutes to re-think everything he had ever learned on the Dragon Empire's Dragons, but he had just learned more in a few minutes than in years of study. Somewhere in his heart, the old Yassim felt incredibly grateful to have lived to this day. However, he couldn't just be stunned by the moment and forget his mission... As beautiful and impressive were the wonders of the Dragon Empire, his heart was solidly chained to the Eastern Kingdom’s fate. Those Dragons were a magnificent gift, but a much more important creature was riding it at the moment. He ought to be sure of who he was tying his fate, and perhaps his King's, to. "Lady Tessa... M-may I ask how come you're also... Speaking as one of the former Emperor's granddaughters...?" "My Father was one of his sons and auntie Shareen's half-brother," Tessa explained. "But like our other uncle and aunties, my dad abandoned his title as an Imperial Prince after auntie Shareen took the throne, to simplify the succession of Cessi' big brother. I have no title, I'm merely a relative of the Imperial Family and merchant's daughter, although Cessi and I are cousins from both our mothers’ and fathers' sides." The two girls smiled at each other, looking as close as sisters indeed. Yassim was impressed. All of his teaching about the Dragon Empire had shown centuries of bloody fighting between all the previous Emperors' many concubines and children for the succession. For each new Ruler, a long trail of blood had to be spilled for him to access the golden chair, his hands dirtied by many of his siblings' blood. It was no secret that most concubines weren't afraid to kill to protect their progeny, when the said progeny didn't kill their own siblings instead once they were old enough. Even Empress Shareen's generation had been the theater of an impressive war between her father's six sons. Yassim thought he had come prepared, knowing that Empress Shareen had been placed despite three out of her six brothers still being alive, but now, it turned out this was all in a peaceful agreement between the remaining siblings? His scenario of the War God scaring his two younger siblings into obedience was completely wrong! As it turned out, both had willingly forfeited their lineage for their nephew to become the heir apparent? This was truly an amazing Empire! "Isn't... his Highness, your Father retaining any desire to return to the Imperial Palace?" "My dad?" Scoffed Tessa. "He's better off away from it! He only goes once in a while to deliver our aunt her favorite alcohol from our Family Brewery my mother established, and that's it!" Yassim was speechless. A former Imperial Prince was now a family man and an alcohol merchant? How unbelievable! "Our turn to ask questions!" Exclaimed Tessa with a big smile, brushing her flying hair and little braids out of her face. "Tell us about your King that wants to marry Cessi. How is he? You said he's young, isn't he!" Yassim's expression fell before he could remember to control it, and he bowed instead, as he could while riding a flying mount, to hide his face. "Yes, my Lady. Our King Ashen the White is young, but an admirable young King. Our Kingdom has suffered many difficult years..." "Your Kingdom used to be a Republic, didn't it?" Scoffed Tessa. "We were taught about your civil wars too. You guys fell for one tyrant after another, and you called us barbaric because we are an Empire." "Tessa..." Muttered Cessilia, pulling her cousin's sleeve. "It's true, my Ladies," sighed Yassim. "Our system was failing long before we sought war with the Dragon Empire; that is the truth. The gap between our poor citizens and the rich elites brought the Goddess of War upon our nation... Our once wise leaders were then no better than an assembly of greedy people, seeking to put the blame for failure on each other, with only a handful daring to take responsibility and find better solutions. And those who did were quickly blamed for any new failure to bring back the equilibrium, and killed as an example, until no one dared to speak anymore." "...Was there n-no leader to m-make a d...decision?" Asked Cessilia. "There were leaders, my Lady, but most were too worried about protecting themselves from our angry people to dare to speak up and act! The issue with our former Republic Nation was that once a leader stood out, he didn't have enough power to carry his actions efficiently. Thus, all the good men who could have brought change found themselves powerless, and were considered as failures instead of given the support they needed!" "But you still managed to decide on the war with our Empire twenty years ago," said Tessa. "Yes, my Lady. A lot of those said leaders were... blinded by the promise of treasures, and better days. Many of our famished citizens enrolled in that war hoping to get money to send to their families." Yassim sighed, and shook his head. "Once we lost the war, and the army returned, utterly defeated, anger rose once again, and our Republic fell in the hands of the Goddess of Chaos. Our angered citizens attacked the noble houses to steal what they could, good citizens became bandits overnight, and no power was strong enough to stop the chaos. The... Goddess of Chaos kept her power over our lands for ten years, like this, whilst many tried to stop this madness." "Ten years..." Grumbled Tessa. "That's right, my Lady. For ten years, our Nation slowly fell into Chaos. The fights stopped at times, all trying to find what they could of a normal life, hoping a new leader would emerge soon to bring back the peace, but... For many, the anger was too strong. The nobles who tried to seize power were overthrown one after the other by citizens who couldn't stand to see their former masters yield the power again. Until, twelve years ago, a man who could finally lead us rose. He declared himself the new King, former General Ashtoran." "Ashtoran...?" "General Ashtoran was no noble like the previous men who had tried to conquer our land. He had once been one of the Noble's servants, and had risen through hard work and devotion to his position. Hence, our citizens liked this man much better than the previous nobles, and when he took over the power, no one tried to stop him." "To stop him?" Repeated Tessa, frowning. "You make it sound like this General wasn't such good news..." Yassim shook his head slowly. "...To this day, this old Servant still believes the cost for bringing back the peace was too highly paid. The General gathered many of those who had once been his men, and created a new army with his own colors." "You're saying he stopped the chaos through more violence, then." "...Yes, my Lady. The new King's rule was cruel, ruthless, and terrified our citizens into obedience. However, somehow, this new regime worked into stopping a lot of the bandits who were constantly harassing the defenseless, so, slowly, our people abided by it, fearing our new King as much as those he protected them from." Yassim glanced towards the green-eyed Princess. She was obviously listening with a hint of sadness in her eyes, but in silence. Was it because of her speech impairment, that this Princess was much quieter than her cousin? He could see in her eyes she was very captivated though, like listening to a fascinating story, her breathing a bit more intense... The old man resumed, his old heart still with the hope that this young woman could one day too, shift the fate of their Kingdom. "The... Harsh policies of King Ashtoran brought him to more and more extreme ends. The image our new King had was extremely conflicted. Some saw him as a tyrant... others as a hero. In the fear that civil wars and in-fighting would destroy our Nation from within again, the new King let absolutely no mistake slip through. Some were grateful for how efficient his policies were at cleaning our streets, but others... tried to plead that the King was far too merciless. Any crime resulted in a death sentence, even the smallest thefts. As one of his servants myself, I witnessed the long, long lines of people coming to be given their death sentence, every day. It didn't matter the age, gender, or wealth of the ones who had been said to be criminals. King Ashtoran's men were all judge, jury, and executioner, leaving no time for people to get back on their feet on their own. Many people only had the choice to starve or be killed as a thief..." "That's depressing," grumbled Tessa. "...Alright, we get the picture, but how does that go from the General to your present King? You said the new one rose to power only five years ago. Is he his son or something? We're certainly not going if he's another blood-thirsty tyrant." "King Ashen is the General's son indeed," Yassim slowly nodded. "But unlike what you think, our King didn't take his father's succession. A few years later in the General's reign, more and more people, seeing he couldn't be reasoned with, and had no intention to bring back the democracy or republic system, tried to murder him. It was said... That one of his sons, Prince Ashen, was one of the victims of those murder attempts." The two young women exchanged a glance. "Wait. You're saying your King... died? Is this a joke?" "No, my Lady. Rumor has it that Prince Ashen died seven years ago. After his death, the King got even more ruthless... And with more people protesting against him, new civil wars began, even worse than the first time. Our Nation was torn between the security provided by a tyrant leader, and our desire for peace and freedom. However, everything stopped five years ago, upon Prince Ashen's return." "He returned? From... the dead?" Said Tessa, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, my Lady. The Prince came back, out of nowhere, after two years. He was the General's mistress' son, and, if I'm allowed to say such a thing, the only one of the General's sons our people had sympathy for, or didn't care about at all. Yet, he returned from the dead, his hair white like the Goddess of Death, and killed the General, his own father." "He... did what?" Yassim took a deep breath. "That is the truth, my Lady. After many fights had happened already, at dawn, a White King rose, on the Castle's walls, holding the Tyrant's head, and threw it to the angry citizen's feet. That White King was the former Prince Ashen, as many recognized him easily. That morning, he spoke loudly, and said he had been sent to the Gods, but the Gods had only taken him to their realm for the sake of the Eastern Kingdom's people. The Gods themselves had trained him into becoming a worthy King for our Kingdom. As proof, the Gods had sent him back with his hair completely white, a legendary armor made of a Dragon's skin, and the strength of a God." The cousins exchanged a glance, both visibly surprised and doubtful. "...Well, congrats," scoffed Tessa. "It sounds like you guys traded a Tyrant for a Psycho."

Despite the young woman's harsh words, Yassim couldn't even answer anything to that. In a way, he knew his home nation had traded the worst possible outcome for another, not much brighter one. Better than anyone else perhaps, he knew how complicated and deep the situation was for the King of the East. The white-haired young man had returned, grown and much more mature than the child everyone had remembered, with a gigantic, dark hole in his heart, and that rage that wouldn't leave his eyes. The truth was, perhaps the new King would end up being worse than his father. In a desperate desire for another leader, a different outcome, perhaps they had sealed their fate... Yet, when Yassim looked ahead at the young green-eyed woman, a light of hope appeared in his old heart. He had come here on a crazy bet, a silly idea. As old as he was, Yassim wasn't scared to die, if not in vain or painfully. However, this old man would be able to lie peacefully if he couldn't try, one last time, to do something for his country. It was too soon to tell the truth to the Princess, and he knew he'd pay that price later. But, if by an incredible chance, his assumption turned out to be right, this old servant would be truly grateful he hadn't made this journey in vain... "What's your relationship to the King?" Asked Tessa. "He only sent one man to the Dragon Empire to fetch him a wife, isn't that too little?" Yassim bowed as he could while trying not to fall off. "His Highness charged this mission on this servant alone, my Lady. While the previous King was still alive, I was tasked with the education of the young Prince, and I taught him all I could, to the best of my abilities. I watched over this young man for many years, and I believe to be one of his closest aides. Our King is young, and due to the chaotic past of our Nation, he still has many, many enemies. I am sad to admit, the people our King can truly trust are too few." "A real nest of snakes, then... So, he sent you here almost on a secret mission, then?" "No one else knows I was sent here," admitted Yassim. It was important to him not to lie to their highnesses, at least to avoid it as much as he could. He was already incredibly lucky that the Princess had agreed to this insane request, and he was mentally prepared that the truth would be unveiled at any moment. He only hoped he'd get a chance to offer his apology... "Sounds like a lot of fun," chuckled Tessa, playing around with one of her braids. "Oh well, it will be entertaining at least..." It was impressive how those young ladies didn't seem to fear anything, not even going to a different land to face a King who had allegedly killed his own father. Yassim felt their countries, despite many similarities, were still two different worlds. He couldn't help but feel saddened as the gigantic Black Dragon flew effortlessly above the lands and villages, the citizens of the Dragon Empire appearing like tiny dots far below. Those forests were green, their lands full of growing crops, the houses full of happy families living their everyday life under a stable Empire. The Eastern Kingdom knew little about their neighbor because they had too much to figure on their own. How much would both countries have thrived together if there had been any room to learn from the other! As a wise man and scholar, Yassim could only feel saddened by all that knowledge that wasn't shared, how so much hatred and doubt had been fueled instead of trust... She had no idea yet, but this young Princess might be the one to bring an incredible change into both Nations' future. As the girls had mentioned, riding a Dragon was bound to bring them to their destination faster than any horse. After a while, the landscapes below and ahead slightly changed, mountains perking up right in front of them. The villages and human habitations were getting rarer as well, and the temperature was getting colder around them. They had been flying for a while, and Yassim was glad he had brought a cape, but he was not ready for the north of the Empire. Unlike their Kingdom, the Dragon Empire was more lengthy than wide, hence, its northern regions were much colder than the Capital, and most of their lands. From afar, he spotted the dark building. It wasn't just a black castle; the fortress was shining incredibly as the sun was getting lower in the sky. Was it getting late already? Yassim hadn't realized. He had arrived in the Capital in the morning, waited a long time to see the Empress and now, had spent even longer while on a Dragon's back. Neither the Dragon carrying them nor the young ladies seemed in need of a break. While Krai was only flapping its wings lazily from time to time, the girls ate meat-filled buns from their satchels, giving Yassim one, and enjoyed the ride quietly, obviously used to this. The wind was getting stronger, colder, and louder, hence why they couldn't speak much for now. When the dark Dragon started descending, the old man felt most grateful to finally catch a break. Although the ride was rather stable, it was very uncomfortable to sit on a scaled and not flat seat... What he hadn't expected, though, was the actual size of that castle. He had been impressed by the incredible size of the Imperial Palace in the Capital, but he hadn't expected there would be any other big structures in the Empire. Yet, this Castle was getting bigger and bigger, and they weren't close yet! He had been mistaken by the lack of other buildings or villages around to compare the size, but he really understood how he'd been fooled when he realized that what he had taken for a small statue was actually another full-sized Dragon! The best was growling loudly as they approached, and Yassim was once again impressed by the mighty creature. This one wasn't as big as the War God's Dragon, but it was certainly the closest he had seen so far. Unlike the not-so-small ones from earlier, this yellowish-brown one was at an adult size, just a bit smaller than Krai, large and long like five horses. Moreover, it had a long body that wouldn't stop moving around, and growled loudly as they landed. "Hi, Dran!" Exclaimed Tessa, jumping down as soon as Krai landed. "It's my second b-brother's D-Dragon..." Explained Cessilia, as she gently helped Yassim come down. "Oh... So this is what Lady Tessa meant about the Dragon's size earlier..." Yassim was once again genuinely impressed, but also terrified. This Dragon was an adult size, and visibly very unruly, growling and pulling on the chain around its n**k to try and get closer to the girls. Its laws had r*****d and labored all the soil around it. Yassim was surprised to see one of the Dragons chained. So they didn't leave those creatures completely free, after all? Behind them, Krai loudly growled after Dran the yellow Dragon, and both began exchanging deafening growls. "Oh, he's probably punished..." grimaced Tessa. "Don't get close to Dran, Old Man, he's a bit more dangerous, and he's stupid enough that he'd bite you without thinking. Dragon teenagehood." Yassim nodded helplessly, but even without Tessa's warning, he would have never been brave enough to approach the reckless Dragon of his own volition. This one was visibly younger than Krai, and much more agitated, growling and showing its fangs, its tail whipping the air and knocking against the wall behind it. If it hadn't been chained, what havoc such a creature could have caused! Yassim didn't even dare imagine. And this was only one of the many Dragons they had! Because he had been too captivated by the appearance of another one of those creatures, Yassim almost missed the man coming out of the Castle's gates. Not that he could be missed, though: he had never seen such an imposing man. This couldn't be anyone else but the War God himself. He was moving like a deity among mortals, his impressive body exuding an immeasurable strength and aura. His dark eyes were pinning the old man right where he stood, as if they mirrored storm and chaos, ready to unleash hll. The man was wearing a thick, black cape on his shoulders, confounding his long black hair. He had strong features, a straight jawline, and a presence that imposed respect right away. Not even the most brazen soldier would have dared step out of line. Yet, the young Princess smiled, and ran fearlessly to this man's arms. "Dad!" The War God opened his arms right before his daughter reached him, and hugged her back, a slight smile appearing on his l**s as the girl disappeared in his embrace. "Cessi." One word, but a voice as deep as a volcano. Yassim felt a strange emotion surge in him as he was given to meet this living legend, and the old man bent right away, very emotional. After the Empress, the War God himself was standing before him! The old man was shaking a bit, but being intimidated was expected. What he had not foreseen, however, was how incredibly gentle and fatherly the War God was towards his daughter. He hugged Cessilia for several seconds, and reluctantly stepped away from her to stare at her, as if he hadn't seen his daughter in a while. He even caressed her hair and kept a hand on her back. "Hi, Uncle!" Said Tessa, waving at him. "...Tessa," he nodded, greeting his niece before looking at his daughter again. "What are you guys doing here?" Cessilia briefly glanced back at Yassim, and suddenly, the old man felt the pressure of the War God's stare on him, and bowed again, worried sick. This man obviously loved his daughter. Would he be willing to let her go...? "This is Yassim the Wise, Father. He came from the Eastern Kingdom..." The War God didn't answer to that, adding to the poor Yassim's anxiety. He had come to take this man's daughter to another country, he wouldn't even dare cry if he was about to get his head cut off! "...Come inside." While neither of the girls seemed scared at all by the living god, the poor Yassim's legs were ready to give in at any minute, and if it wasn't for Dran's sudden growl behind him, perhaps he wouldn't have dared to get back up and follow inside! "Father, why is D-Dran chai... Chained...?" Asked Cessi, holding her father's arm as they walked inside. "He's punished." "That i***t destroyed a mountain!" Suddenly answered a feminine voice from the inside. "Auntie Nebbie!" A beautiful woman appeared, with long dark hair and pouty l**s. She was wearing a long green dress and a coat, and from the way she carried a pile of cleaning clothes, she was probably a servant here, but to Yassim's surprise, both girls greeted her like a family member. "What did that i***t do?" Laughed Tessa. "That pair of idiots decided it would be fun to play between the mountains, until they broke several rocks and provoked a landslide," sighed the dark-haired woman. "Darsan is not to come back until he puts it all back up, and Dran is not allowed to help him..." She sent a glare towards the yellow beast, who answered with a growl. Yassim was lost. It couldn't be that the War God had sent his son to put the mountain back with... his b**e hands only? What kind of young man could do such a thing! It would take months, even if it was possible! Those people had to be living in a different world, or holding some secret meaning he hadn't grasped... "What are you girls doing here?" Frowned the servant woman. "...Did Kiera run away again? She's not here." "We know," chuckled Tessa. "She probably ran to grandmother's or somewhere in the Capital with her friend." "...I need... t-to t-talk t-to father," muttered Cessilia. Yassim took note the young woman did seem nervous, and it reflected in her way of speech... The big, hopeful eyes she had on her father didn't match his kind expression while looking at her, which made the old man more nervous. Princess Cessilia expected her father to be reluctant to do this. Noticing the expression between these two, and her eyes gliding over the old man, aunt Nebbie frowned, but Tessa walked ahead, grabbing some of the towels. "Aunt Nebora, should we make some tea first? And I have a few things to ask you to help us with..." Grasping the cue, Nebora nodded, and the two women quietly left, both sending worried or curious glances toward the strange trio left behind. The poor Yassim was due for another dose of anxiety. Him, alone with the Princess to explain to her father he was about to take her to his King, a ruthless young man who had beheaded his own father and taken over the Kingdom by force? Even the bravest man in the Empire would have begged the Gods for mercy already! However, before the old man could lose the few white hairs he had left, Cessilia and her father walked to a room, a little salon on the side. There was the biggest chimney he had ever seen, with a large fire easily warming up the whole room, and several huge cushions on a large carpet underneath. There was only one large wooden seat, but neither Cessilia or her father sat. The War God removed his cape and threw it on the seat, and added wood to the fire with a dark expression. Cessilia was standing behind him, but after a while, she gently grabbed one of his hands with hers. "Father... I want t-to go t-to the East... Eastern K-Kingdom," she muttered. "Why?" His question had come right away, with something strong in his voice. It didn't sound like anger, just... determination. Yassim was surprised he hadn't even been asked anything yet, but for the War God, only his daughter seemed to be here. He turned to her, and it was truly moving to see such an imposing and strong man have such tender gestures toward the young woman. "...I r-...really want t-to go," simply said Cessilia. Although she had a tiny and hesitant voice, her green eyes were full of determination, and unafraid to hold her father's dark gaze, too. "K-King Ashen asked t-to see me," she resumed. "I... I want t-to go." "To see you?" This time, the War God's words were directed at Yassim, and so was his terrifying glare. The old man bowed quickly, his throat tight, but he ought to at least stay something. "P-Princess Cessilia is invited by... His Majesty, in hopes of... standing as his Queen." "...His Queen," repeated the War God. His voice was deep, and his emotions even harder to decipher. Yassim was silently praying to every god and goddess he knew, and hoping he'd be spared to see his plan succeed or fail. If only he could bring Princess Cessilia to his Majesty, then perhaps, there was hope... For now though, the mountain standing before him was no other than the War God, and a father who cherished his daughter deeply. Yassim was truly having a hard time understanding how those people were thinking, but he was already shocked to see the War God hadn't yet kicked him out or killed him. Instead, his eyes were still on Cessilia, perhaps conflicted. Was his daughter's hopeful gaze making him really consider this insane request? "...What did your mother say?" "M-mother said I c-could d-decide and live my own ad-dventure," quickly answered Cessilia. "She a...agreed. D-Dad, please..." The War God let out a long sigh, and it felt as if a gush of hot wind was running through the room to echo his frustration. Yassim wasn't cold anymore; he was sweating profusely. However, the War God raised his hand to gently c****s his daughter's cheek. Then, his fingers went down to her n**k covered by her golden choker, and he frowned even more. "...Don't do anything you don't want to," he suddenly said. "I know, D-Dad." "Don't let anyone t***h you, insult you or annoy you. If they do, punish them. Do not be scared, Cessi. Even if you kill him, it's fine. If you want to burn their whole country down, it's fine." Yassim was on the verge of passing out from hearing this, but Cessilia simply chuckled. "I und-derstand." "...Take Krai with you." "D-dad, is it alright? It's your D-Dragon..." Her father didn't answer, but a loud growl resonated outside. Yassim couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Black Dragon was not just going to take them there, it was going to stay with the Princess all along? The War God's legendary Dragon itself! Yassim suddenly met the War God's eyes, and the dark gaze immediately changed into a life-threatening glare. The old man froze in utter fear instead of bowing again. "...If anything happens to Cessi, you're all dead." He had said that with incredible calm, yet his ice-cold voice left no doubt. The Eastern Kingdom’s fate now entirely relied on the well-being and future of that one young woman. Yassim bowed and heard himself thank the War God, but in his heart, he knew he had sealed his own country's future. Either his plan succeeded, or they would now be doomed for real...