With the morning leaving and the afternoon’s fiery color painted the sky. The party was still ongoing. The food had changed from winter themed to summer themed. With most being crackers, apples, berries and even some cold drinks.
Some of the Elven servants had also changed their uniforms. The female ones no longer wear long sleeves and skirts, instead opting for shorter lengths and their hats being smaller and less laces on their uniforms while the coats of the male servants had now become more open, being allowed to unbutton it and having more slices in the sides and the back for ventilation.
Heavy was the air yet the moment Jackson caught a glimpse of the expressions of these high birth people, the lighter it all felt. His chest, no longer puffed as much nor did he put his chin up too much and his entire body, having a more normal posture as he took Alana to the heart of the flock.
As they joined the crowd, some of the Nobles approached Jackson and he stopped to talk to them. “Oh wow, nice Greatsword.” The Nobleman with his pampered wig looks at the scabbard floating next to his shoulders and then to him. “My good man, that is a Longsword.” Baffled with the reply, the Outworlder leaned into it and scratched his head as he held wine on his other hand. “Eh?”
Alana on the other hand had some of the women approach her. “My… Lady Minuit, what mascara are you using? Could we be able to buy some?” She first bows, her arm still intertwined with Jackson. “I apologize. But our makeup is not available anywhere else, I believe. You might need to import these products if you wish to use them.” sad expressions then fill the women as Jackson gets another person to talk to.
A younger Noble with a floating quill and paper. With open arms, he smiles at the foreigner and with a calm and quant tone, in a yellow and orange ensemble talks to him. “Lord Jackson, I’ve heard from rumors that you are an Outworlder. Do you belong to the United Nations perhaps?” He looks around and then stares at the brown eyes of the man. “I am Lord Gravel Bon Verstandnis. My family involves itself in the making of enchanted paper and in the production and research of magic. Pleased to meet you.”
For a few seconds, Jackson noticed the shot of Mana that’s exuding from the pupils of the man and he nodded, and the quill immediately started writing on the floating piece of paper. “Then, what is the interest of the United Nations to us?” Before he answers, the General gets close to him and leans forward. “D-did you hear this from Sir Bannir?” with a silent reply, the Knight already knew what the answer was and facepalms. “Of course.” sighing, the man stood straight up and looked him in the eyes. “So? It's not like I am hiding it anyways.”
“I’d like to know what rank you hold. You seem to not be a mere grunt or a commoner.” Jackson’s hand then swishes forward, grabbing the floating quill. “General. Knight-General.” letting go of the feather, he retreats his hand.
“May I ask though. With the rank you hold within the United Nations. Could you permit the transfer of technology? We are Humans, though from another world not yours. I am sure you know how much this will help us against the Elves whose technology is fifty to even hundreds of years in front of us.”
“Everywhere I go, everyone seems to ask about our technology and machines. Understandable. But at least do it nicely like the Cardinal and the Financier.” the young noble in his yellow outfit just staggers and reclaims his footing. “Of course, I do know about holding myself. But you must know, to learn that Humanity could reach the skies without the need of magic. That is no normal feat.”
“I understand, but please know. We are trying to not destroy the learning process. We could hand you over a pair of F-Fifteens and after that, what then? The logistics, production of parts and electronics, training of pilots and the degree level knowledge they need to operate one.” he lightly coughs and catches his breath. “We are trying to find a balance here. If we could be just Knights and Calvary. We would. But the weapons we wield, the edge they give us is just far too good to be left alone. Please understand, this is our final and only stance in terms of technology.”
Sighing, the quill starts writing on the paper once again. “Sad. Well, thank you for the answer, Lord Jackson. I bid you and your beautiful wife a good day. I do think you should try the Buknade. The Duke loves that peasant food and I myself can’t help but be pleasured by its taste.”
He smiles and nods. “Of course. I’ll be sure to try it then.” As the man leaves, he looks down on his jacket and could see the glaring golden eyes of Bahamut peering from a small slit. “Master, can we try it now?” he immediately shrugs his head. “Bahamut, how is the scan going? Is there a tunnel under the Castle that leads to the Ancient Elven Fortress?” the Dragon proceeded to roll around inside his uniform. Making an odd bulge appear on his cloth.
“Bahamut!” The Dragon was just rolling and rolling around. “Awwwwww… Please, Master? Buknade… that sounds very tasty.” he facepalms, slouching forward whilst Alana kept herself busy chatting with the nobles. “We’ve already tried it. It's the Beef Pottage we’ve been eating in taverns since the day we started traveling together." She then proceeded to make a bigger ruckus inside his uniform. Prompting him to cover it with his hand. “Masterrrr… It might be made of Bison or something this time!”
He just deflates as a quick sigh gushes past his nose. “I hope Elizabeth is at least doing something.” He looks up to see the crimson vampire bat was nowhere to be found as a voice comes to him from his right.
“Lord Jackson, may I help you?” He immediately stands straight up as if lightning struck him and the Dragon inside his jacket. Hard as iron, he shifts his head to the person talking to him and is met with another young lad. With a crimson hair and ponytail, snowy white breeches, a coat full of laces and intricate embroidery with heeled boots that has a gold button and straps on it, he lifts his wine glass. Tipping it to him. “O-Oh! Ah, No need for help. I do feel fine.”
With a light laugh, the man then stood next to him. “Do you need help with the straps of your coat? I saw you trying to fiddle with something on your stomach.” He immediately rejected the man as he awkwardly giggled. “N-no! No. Just… was just busy with something. Yes. How may I help you?”
The young noble then proceeded to bow. “Names Lord Vou Weite Ebenen. I believe you are a foreigner, correct?” Jackson then faced him and nodded. His head slightly tilted down and on the left as the man spoke with a more fearsome and energetic voice. “Of course. I came from the Ebenen family. We are the main opponent of the Rentsoss. We involve ourselves in the making of steel, magical and alloy and in the production of glass and research of food magic. I am pleased to meet an Outworlder properly.”
“Of course I am just as pleased to meet you, Lord Ebenen. I am Lord Paul Jackson of the Minuit House. As an Outworlder, I do have a connection with the organization that names itself as the United Nations.” he then lifted his wine glass and smiled. “I mostly contend myself in helping my wife in her affairs of wine production and such.”
“What a lucky woman. I guess you’ve told her of more modern methods than in making wine?”
“Ah, that is sadly not my area of expertise… and I believe little has changed in the method. I think even back on Earth, the planet I live in. Wine is still stored in wooden barrels.”
“Hm? Really?” With a confused gesture, the young man took a sip of the wine. “Impossible. So this is really the edge of the perfection mankind could reach with its wine?”
“I think? As I said, that is not my area of expertise. I am more involved in the transportation of things and also militarily. Modern militaries.” Jackson then swirls his wine and proceeds to smell it. He held himself to such a high esteem that Ebenen followed through with his own inspection of his wine. “May I ask, you something, Sir Ebenen.” the young man then bowed. “Of course.”
“Do you have any stories of the Heroes? As you are not from here where it's more isolated, correct?”
“Ah, the Heroes. Well, it's actually been comedic as most news that comes to us is them helping random commoners and peasants.” He then scoffs and crosses his arms. “Do you believe the best known story of that gallant and mighty Grand Prince from Dragovh was that he helped a merchant caravan to recover its lost goods?”
The young man then shrugged and rested his face on his palm. “I do not know. Even the story of the Sword Saint is her helping around a town near the Royal Capital. Doing menial tasks a servant could do. She helped farm. Do you believe this? With armor as expensive as a castle, a sword whose make is indistinguishable from what the Gods make, yet she wastes it all on these. Do not even get me started with the other ones, like the Elf Hero whose background of lesser birth prompts him to help clear sewers.”
A light laugh then comes off the older man. The Knight just looks at the marble tile below him as a smile gushes his face. “I do think that’s what makes them a Hero. From participating in massive wars to helping a Grandma deliver her cookies to her nephew in the next town.” He then takes a light sip from his wine. “Lord Ebenen, they are true heroes.” the man once again scoffs and takes a long sip of his wine. “Yet all the universities from here to the Empire are rustling their nogs in finding out the date for the calamity. Pfft.”
Sighing, Ebenen then looks at Alana, who was still busy talking to people. He then notices how her right arm is intertwined with his, Lord Jackson not even budging as she elegantly swayed her body from left and right to entertain the questions that’s being thrown at her.
“Lord Jackson, if I may.”
“Of course.”
“How long have you and Lady Minuit have been together?”
“Errrrr… a year and two months? Something along those lines. May I ask why you questioned me about this?”
“Hm. I just find it amazing how you could be with a Vampire. Lady Minuit is not some mere Immortal Noble. Her Wine is the most sought after in the lands. It’s so good that even the Holy Men of the Holy See forgot about the crimes that were done to them.” he looked around and then bowed to Jackson. "I am sure you are aware of the treatment of Vampires to Humans in bed. How they'd continue even to the point of exhaustion and death. I mean no offense by this, I am merely speaking from my mind."
He then swirls his wine, intently looking at Jackson with such a serious face that the man had to start looking around as he instinctively dogged his stare.
"Ah.... well..." after a bit of time formulating his thoughts he looks back at him. "I think it’s more of the two not knowing the limits of one another." He then sighs and takes a sip of his wine. "Even at first it was like that. But after some talks and exhaustion. They learned how to handle a Human's body."
"Hm? They?"
"Ah, I spend time with another Vampire. An older one. Believe me, they are willing to tell you what they do in bed like it's an open diary."
"Eh? By the Gods how do you survive a night?"
"As I said. It's not every night. It's once a week and both of them don't only focus on me only as they know I'll tap out quicker."
"Hmmm... how oddly kind of them."
"Yeah, and hey. What man doesn't like seeing two hot girls kissing and fingering one another."
"I've never had the pleasure of seeing such a sight. I am already married, you see. A young girl. Twelve years old." To Jackson's surprise, the Noble didn't seem offended nor angered. It was quite the opposite, he seemed to be a student attentively learning about how Vampires work and operate. "Ahh.... and how old are you exactly Lord?"
"I am twenty. Turning twenty one this year of the Gods."
"Huh. I hope you take good care of your wife then."
"Of course. But I can't help but feel that I am taking care of a little sister rather than a wife." Swirling his wine glass, the man also takes a sip. "Though seeing her mother. Her chest could be as large as a pair of small melons and her body, as thin as a plank yet curving like the River of Spitze." Nodding, Jackson also takes another sip of his wine glass. "Heh. Hope the both of you have a long and healthy marriage life then."
Jackson then turns to the Holy See, all grouped together in their little world as they all fawn over the Cardinal. “I… can see that.” looking down on his wine, he then returned to Ebenen.
“Though do tell, how is it like to share a bed with a Vampire? Do they drink your blood at night?” This made him giggle as he shrugged. “No. Ah, no. Not all. I believe my wife here has not once drank blood straight from my body. Not even in moments of intimacy. She never moved her fangs to my neck or shoulders, nor showed any hint of that desire.” this made the young noble nod. “I cannot believe it. Amazing, you actually bed her and survive?”
Spitting his wine a bit, he wipes his chin and nods. “Did I just blurt that out? I… Yes, I do survive. Every week, I am still alive and kicking now am I not?” Jackson couldn’t stop smiling at seeing Ebenen. Whose expression is in absolute disbelief at what he is hearing. “Or… could you, Lord Jackson, be an Undead? Are you sure your blood hasn’t been drained long ago and you are merely a Vampire’s Slave?” he once again shrugs. “N-no. I assure you I am as alive as you are.”
This made the young Lord turn his face away, thinking heavily and then looking back at Jackson. ”Ehhhhh… Of course at first, it was slow and sensual. But more than anything, it feels like I am giving Drug addicts their fix. It's not really how I imagined it but it does feel good and my wife absolutely looks beautiful so, I let it be. We’ve agreed to do it at the very least, once a week on the weekends so as to not hinder activities.”
“My Gods… no wonder you are where you are. Lord Jackson, I tip my head to you.”
“Lord Ebenen, it's not like I am waging war or fighting an enemy. She’s a good woman and someone whom I respect and tout alot for her knowledge in business and politics.”
“Of course, of course. But as a Human of Threa, Lord Jackson. You must know. What you are doing is akin to a Demon showering itself in Holy Blessed Water. Or sleeping with a statue of the Gods. Even as a Human from Gareth, whose amplitude with Magic and the Cold is unmatched compared to those from the lower lands or even Dragovh. This is still baffling and yet, romantic in a way.”
“Thank you? I guess? I do understand your concern, but I won’t die. And of all things, while having… bedding… with my Vampire wife.”
He just shrugs as he pats Jackson’s shoulders. “I’ll go and talk to your wife now. I must really ask about her wine bottle production. Thank you for your time, Lord Jackson. It’s been… a learning experience.” The two men then nodded at each other and exchanged bows as he walked to the small line of five people who wanted to talk to Alana.
In the midst of the party, the parents of Bannir had come to talk to Jackson as he and Alana both started going around the place just chattering about while Bahamut had started to scan their surroundings for anything odd whilst also eyeing the Buknade near the Duke’s throne. He tried his best Noble expression. Elegantly bowing and a smile good enough but not wide to show his teeth. The two adult nobles return the expression.
“Ah finally, we may talk more sincerely. I’ve heard alot from my son about you, Sir Jackson… I was not sure with what he had told first, but seeing you are married to the much lionized Lady Minuit, my doubts have all but washed away. Please, do teach my son well.”
“O-Of course. It won’t be much though. He already dodged my attack for the first time. I don’t know if I could teach him much. I’ve heard Humans from these regions are more resilient due to the climate and have more of an amplitude to Magic.”
“Oh, someone of your stature could. I haven’t held him in high regards as I am far too busy with my wife in dealing with the affairs of the state and our business. As you know what comes to this continent on the horizon.” he then swirls his glass and nods. “And yes, centuries of breeding with Snow Elves left a tinge of their amazing prowess of the Magical in our bloods. Though it's slowly fading away as generations come and go, it's still a prominent part of every Garethenian.”
“I do and I wish you all the luck. I saw the long Wagon trail when I was coming into the city. You are all stockpiling for the long run so it seems.”
“We must. Though, the Capital would say that we’re overdoing it, but our fears aren’t only the Demon Hordes of the Calamitous End Times. But also what happens afterwards, it will take some time before trade routes could be reestablished… and uhhhh, our neighboring country that is ten times the size of Gareth herself.”
“May I presume this is about the Elves?”
“Yes, Sir Jackson. Exactly, them. Though the Bishops and the Holy See have been sounding off that their Emperor isn’t as extreme as their lower Senatorium members, I still need to see it for myself as not even their Nobles dare see us eye to eye.'' He lifts his wife’s hand and lets her step forward. “We’ve invited them many times now, but they wouldn’t even entertain nor reply to us. My Husband and I have long wished to meet the Elven-kin and there togas.” the pretty woman for her age just scoffs as she gently rested her head on her hand.
“As my wife said, it’d be great to meet them at least. Sad… though I do say it's interesting that it's the Vampires of all the people on this planet that actually took upon the invitation. Lady Minuit, I hope when the next year comes, many more of your kind could visit Janishaire. It’s a wonderful city and I believe your kin will treasure the sights that surround it.”
Alana nodded as her hands were on Jackson’s arm. “Of course, I believe I know of some family friends who’d wish to visit the Human Kingdoms. I’ll be sure to tell the others of the wonders of this place.” Jackson on the other hand had a more keen expression, than the relaxed three. “Hm. Though it seems that many of you are aware of what they might have cooked up.”
“It's no secret that they are still hurt by what happened so long ago. The Elves can forget, but their pride usually becomes a detriment to their overall performance.”
“Well… I know this isn’t my place to speak. But being with a Vampire and a Dragon made me see them in a far different light. To us, an eternity must’ve passed and it's all water under the bridge, but to them and how they see time, it must only have been a few years at best.”
“Oh, I am very well aware of that knowing the delays I face with the Elven Empire. They relax to the point that their advancement becomes disputable in terms of actually affecting the tide of battle.”
Jackson then remembers saving Ogres from an Empire camp and sips a bit of his wine. “Yeah, I uhhhh… get that to a degree.” he sips lightly once again, his eyes peering over his head and into the side to look at Alana who had called for a servant to refill her wine glass. “But in what I’ve seen of them so far, their Blimps are pretty amazing. I don’t even know how you can armor up something that’s supposed to be lighter than air.”
After a moment of silence, the General then once again looks at Sir Retphil. “Though, how do you know that the Emperor is not as extreme as the members of his senate? If their point of view of themselves is that high up, how come there'd be an Emperor like that in power?” The youthful middle aged man just shrugs. “If I knew, I’d be visiting the flying capital. But I do not.”
“This doesn’t add up then… Or is he just complacent to the actions of his senators?” lowering his head, the man’s eyes get into a deep train of thought. “Hm? What do you mean by this, Lord Jackson?” Bannir, who comes out of the crowd, lifts his wine glass and nods to Jackson.
“Ah! Lord Jackson, it seems that my parents have grown fond of you. If only my nine other brothers could meet you right now.”
“NINE?!” Some of the heads around him turn around; Jackson, who has felt the stare of the Nobles, quickly fixes his coat and Alana just smiles at him as the young lad reaches them.
“Bannir, no running. I’ve told you that before.”
“Ah! I apologize, father. But Lord Jackson is truly an interesting Knight!”
“Indeed, I know what you mean by that my child. Love, what do you think?”
“I believe you will learn alot from him. Lord Jackson, what style do you use?”
He then tugs on Alana who looked at them first. Completely silent then to Jackson. “What was it again, M’Lord? I was talking to the Kiste family.” he then leans his head to her. “What style do I exactly have?” She then looked at the Vitavill family, who was waiting for a proper answer and her eyes widened. “Ah, My husband’s style is a mixture of multiple different things.”
“But Lady Minuit, it's more Vampire-like, isn’t it? I’ve noticed he prefers to thrust his sword and puncture vital organs than wide slashes.” Jackson then scratches the area below his right eye as he laughs in the end. “Ahhhhh… let’s just say it's a mess. But it works!”
The two Vitavills then looked at one another then let out a laugh as they held their wine glasses. Not even making the liquid inside it to move. “Of course! For a man capable of marrying a Vampire Noble of all things! I couldn’t expect less from your skills, Lord Jackson!”
“Hah… hah… Lord Vitavill, you might be overselling my skills a bit there.”
“Oh, worry not. Look at your wife, she’s truly something!” Alana then giggles. Her expressions as if she was not even a Vampire. Just another Human but with sharper ears and more beauty than the most attractive woman alive. “Thank you for such compliments, Sir Vitavill. But my husband himself is no slouch, please believe that.” He and his wife then laugh. “Oh! I can only imagine! Bahahaha!”
The laugh of the two Nobles was light in its tone yet you know they're trying to hold back their actual feeling as to not make a ruckus in the solemn atmosphere of the polished room. Alana’s shoulder then gets tapped by a person and she once again has to look away. Her arms still with his as the Knight continued his line of questioning.
“Though, Lord Vitavill. Do you think the Elves could maybe just forget since the literal End of the World is coming?”
“That’s a very good joke, Lord Jackson. But with how smart these Elves are, don’t you think they must at least know that to us Humans, it's been almost a thousand years now and the passing of another Calamitous End Time? If they wanted to forgive us, they would’ve already done it already.”
“That’s the thing though…” Jackson swirls the wine on his glass as he sees a reflection of a small girl wearing a purple gown and wearing a golden tiara. Immediately, he hears Countess Yue Vitavill’s sweet and motherly voice. “Oh my! What a beautiful little girl! Heellloo~! Who might you be?”
“Shush Human. I have no dealings with your kind. Where is the man named Jackson?” She then leans to the side and notices him, their eyes meet and she crosses her arms and then proceeds to tug Jackson’s coat. “Father, I need your attention for a brief moment.” The mother of Bannir then claps her hand, blushing at the sight of the girl. “Oh my, Lord Jackson, you have a daughter?! Then, she must be-”
“U-Uhhhhmmm…” he just stares at Elizabeth who is in her little girl form. Her height only reached above his belt, with a big forehead, and the eyes of a girl who will get what she wants and won’t say no as an answer. She had a blank expression on her face as her eyes just stared into his soul. “She-she’s my daughter, yes. Ahahahahah… uh oh.” not having a chance to say goodbye, the blonde youngin’ pulls him into the back of the pillars. Making him let go of Alana who had to look at the sudden escape of her Lord.
With such a short stature, it took the Countess some time to find out who it was but after seeing the sway of a golden blonde hair and a purple lace gown, she returned to her discussions with the Nobles, after which, she apologized to the Vitavills.
“My Lord, I think I found them.” He shifts his head left and right. His eyes suddenly steeled. “The Crusaders?” she nods. “Yes, My Lord.” the man smiles, raising his fist in victory. “Hah! Good work Elizabeth!” He then started to pat her head aggressively, making the little girl cross her arms and smile. “Ha-ha-ha! Praise me more! I demand rougher headpats!”
With a minute long of patting her head. The two return to the main floor. The little blonde girl holding Jackson’s large manly hands. “My Lord, seeing the reaction of that woman. It seems that none of them know Vampires can now reproduce through normal bedding. I beli-” suddenly, a servant passes by them holding a chalice full of candies making her stop at her feet.
The Knight on the other hand felt as if a ton heavy concrete brick was just on his hand as he started going backward. His shoes make an annoying noise as it scratches the tiles. The little girl was determined to get the candies, the sight of the Countess furthering away; he turned around and wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her up.
Promptly sitting on his arm, she crosses her arms and pouts. “C’mon. We have things to do.” she merely replies with a gnash. “Hmph!” her cheek all puffed up. “Haaaah… I can’t believe your personality changes with the age you take form of.”
As they approached where Alana was. She is still busy surrounded by a bunch of Nobles. With all of them waiting for a chance as Sir Bernald was about to finish his thing. Asking the Vampire of the tariffs and taxation of their Kingdom. While the Noble women were collected and gathered right behind her where she couldn’t see their snares and devilish expressions.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Coming from behind her, Jackson pushes through the crowd of women as he was carrying little Elizabeth in his arms. “Uhhh… what now, My Lord?” He then gently lowers her and pats her head. “E-EH?! My Lord! Not here!” he had the biggest smile on his head, as he slowly stroked her soft hair. In return, she just pouted and crossed her arms once again. Letting him do his thing. “Elizabeth… were you this of a brat when you were young?”
“I do not remember. That time was even before the Holy See and their maniacal spread into the Continents of Man. But I got what I demanded, no matter how ridiculous it may be.” She didn’t even look at him as she just stared at Alana with an angry face. “I-I see… ahahaha. Stay here then, alright?”
He then walks to her and his hands latch onto the slender shoulders of the woman. Leaning his head forward.. This caught the Countess off guard who blushed as she felt his hot breath hit her long exposed neck. “Ohhhhhh…!” the Noble men all unanimously let out upon seeing her cheeks flushed.
Bernald on the other hand remained stoic, Alana’s lifted hand prevented him from continuing to speak.
“My… that Jackson man is such a bad boy himself isn’t he? Such a vulgar presentation in front of everyone. He knows how to mark what’s his. Arrrrr…”
“I’ve actually heard he also owns a Dragon! That young Bannir had told stories that he met him when he was preparing his Dragon mount a few days before we came!”
“Oh my… then he must be better than Lushu?”
Elizabeth being a small girl was ignored by the teenage and middle aged women around her, whispering amongst themselves rumors and hearsay.
“I actually heard from a Church Servant that Jackson man is in possession of a Black Dragon! Imagine a Man of that caliber making a Pact with such a creature!”
“And look at him acting so brazen and out of control… awww, I feel that I am in love.”
Then one of the girls got peeks from behind them. “I also heard he helped train a Priest from the Holy See! The Bishops and Priests were talking about him and his recent exploits!”
“Ah! Though he is built like a mountain man, he is Holy and has a Pact with a Dragon? I feel jealous of Lady Minuit”
“Indeed Lady Yuneh! How come the Vampires of all the species get to take one of the best men around? Don’t they have already turned enough in the past?”
As the women cheered and jeered. “Tsk.” They heard the voice of a young woman making such a rude noise. Looking around, they ended up seeing the beautiful small blonde girl wearing a golden tiara in the midst of their crowd. She had her arms crossed and kept her eyes on the two, chatting amongst each other. The tip of her sharp ears beet red. “E-Excuse, who might you be?”
“No of your business harlot.”
“Excuse me?! Who taught you to be so rude? Yet you wear a gown befit of a Noble?”
“Your youthful attractions hit my ears like poison arrows. Silence, before I say more.”
The girls then all started to cross their arms and some even put their heels forward, with Elizabeth ignoring their attempts.
“Let me guess, you are also in love with Sir Lushu Rentsoss? Of course even a Vampire will fall for his beautiful looks. I’m sure you are thinking of turning him into your slave to deprave and mount day and night!” As they laughed at one another, the young Queen just shrugged her head. Rentsoss, though not in the line, had taken an obvious liking to Minuit.
With him sneaking stares at her whilst talking to the older Nobles who had already finished their turn talking to her. The women on the other hand, seeing the no reaction of the little Vampire loudly scoffs at her. “Hmph. Look at you already scheming. You Vampires and your dastardly thoughts. The beautiful-”
“Hah. I have no care for renegades that give no respect to Noble traditions. He is more of a crude soldier than someone who should hold riches.”
Her voice and usage of words was so sharp even for her higher pitch tone that even the Noblemen heard her.
“And who says Lord Jackson isn’t attractive? I much prefer the broad shoulders of a warrior than the slender ones of a Nobleman who had not touched dirt since his birth.”
She didn’t look back to face them, her eyes still looking forward as Jackson helped Alana in answering questions for her, speeding up the process.
“Pfft. What is a child like you going to know anyways.”
“I might look like this right now, but I must say. The tastes of you women disgust me. No wonder your Husbands are looking out for the Countess. Not only does she take care of herself and present herself way better than yourselves, but her heart also cares for what matters in a man.”
“Hah? And that is?”
She then turns around and looks up, meeting the eyes of the young lady with a lime green gown and white frills. “A man's ability to know when it's time to be a gorilla.” silence then befalls the gathering of people, with Jackson having to stop whispering as he breathed a long sigh.
“A-Are you kidding me? AHAHAHAHA!”
“Haaaaa… maybe one day, you will learn that some Men just aren’t fit to be husbands. While some are perfect, they just need a bit of encouragement.” She eyes Jackson who has turned around and picked her up gently.
Alana, who was finally free from the endless queries, joined them while in the eyes of the Bishop Cardinal and the Finance Minister, they both smiled at the sight of the peculiar family running into the back of the room and out the hallway.
“You know, Your Holiness.”
“Hm?”
“I thought such a family would be more chaotic but I guessed wrong.”
“It looks fun doesn't it?”
“Hah, indeed it does.”
“Have you gotten information? I believe the Pope should have arrived in Elvennur by now. He needs the information from Doctor Ugr.”
“I have, Your Holiness. Looks like the program between the Universities of the Empire and ours has come to great results.”
“And we must thank the Emperor for that. Though the detractors are of power, they have no will over him.”
“Indeed. Though… the sheet given to me does not look well.”
“Worry not. I will have it sent to the Pope immediately. I must just check it first since I am the closest one.”
“Hah. The Church and its systems frightens me sometimes.”
Within the crowd of affluent men and women, Jackson, who was walking to the otherside of the room to reach the garden, notices a familiar green hue. With Alana in his arms and Elizabeth on the other, he takes the two for a stroll to the other side of the large room and where he was what was three players in their green dress uniforms. Exchanging drinks and wine with the Nobles.
Seeing himself, he smiles which made Elizabeth facepalm as she rested her small elbow on his shoulder. “Really, My Lord?” He nods and approaches the trio. The men, seeing a Native Noble with a Vampire family, quickly bowed and smiled. "Good Afternoon sir. How may I help you?" one of them notices the child sitting on her arms, her ears sharp as the Countess with him. “Yo, Sarge. Vampires can have kids here?” The black haired private looks at the more rougher looking soldier and is met with a shrug.
Looking at their uniforms, he sees that they are all somewhat decorated, and wore proper medals and ribbons of a soldier who had time in the front. But one of them, the young blonde lad in the middle that held the rank of Specialist with a fade, is missing one of the ribbons the others had. This made Jackson tilt his head and reach out his arms to touch his ribbon rack. "Ah, these small rectangles are called Ribbons sir. The one you are touching is the Merit of Schon. Given to soldiers who had participated in the day one beach landings." he then goes to the others and notices they have the red ribbon with the golden outline.
"How come you don't have the red one?"
"Oh, I wasn't there when it was given."
"Hm? What is the red ribbon supposed to be?" The Sergeant then steps forward. Looking like he just got off the plane and arrived recently. "It's an award given to the unit for their service in the battle for the three rivers city." This made him tilt his head and look at the Specialist. "Then kid, why aren't you wearing it?"
"Uh, sir. I wasn't there."
"It's a unit citation. You have a right to wear it. At this moment, your uniform is out of regulation."
The three players then looked at one another and then to him. "S-Sir, regulations? How do you know that?" Jackson then facepalms. Just patting the shoulders of the blonde man. "Just be sure to get a new ribbon rack and add it in. I'm not in uniform myself but that'd call for a time with your unit officer. Go. Don't do anything stupid and look proper." The one standing leftmost of them, the Private then leans in. Covering his mouth as he talked to the Sergeant. "Sir, could you be the General we've been notified that would be here?" He nods and before they could stand at ease to properly greet the high ranking officer with a salute.
Jackson immediately lets go of Alana and gently sets Elizabeth down where she puts her hands on her hips, making another “Hmph!” and wraps his arms around the soldiers. "Look, I know, I know. But no need for that. I just came here to check on you three since you nitwits look like you got shit out of a porta potty and then told you to go to a bar and drink. Act natural, stand straight up and no shit talking or any dumb conversations you'd have. Got it?"
The three soldiers then nodded and Jackson let go of them and held Alana's right hand. "Good, go. Don't show your faces to me again." As they were about to leave, the General lifted his wine. "And you, goldie. Get that ribbon on your chest. If anyone says you don't deserve it, they're shit out of luck. Dead, Alive and not yet in your unit are to wear that till they hit the civies. Got it?" he nods and the soldiers walk towards the crowd.
Jackson just shrugged his head as he put his hands on his hips like Elizabeth. “Gah. I can’t believe they're sending goons to shit like this. Just shows how much we actually care with the Humans of this planet. Tsk.”
Alana then walks up to him and holds his hand once again. "M'Lord, you really care for your soldiers, don't you?" He smiles at her as he picks up Elizabeth once again. "Well, those boys have seen war. It's the least I can do for them."
This made the Countess giggle lightly. Her hands lifted to her mouth as she held a merry attitude. "What a leader. Come on, M'Lord. The garden should be over there."
Walking outside after closing some of the curtains meant to block out the rays of light from coming in from the large balcony doors, Alana’s purple and crimson gown seemed to shine more as the marble tiles which were in perfect shape made her radiant beauty leak out like a faucet that’s been opened fully. Her necklace of diamond and platinum was ever so more extravagant, gleaming openly without the need of magic at all.
Looking out the balcony which overlooks the garden, he scans the area and notices nothing out of the ordinary. Some Nobles were also there, mostly spending the time to talk business or to solidify alliances. “Here Elizabeth?” the little girl nods. “Yes, My Lord. I detected an odd person in all black walking towards the end of the garden. “Your Majesty, exactly where is this?”
“I was merely going around seeing if I could gather an expose hearing that conversation with the Bishop.” She then stood up and stepped into the ledge. Making Jackson panic, she promptly jumps over as his hands automatically went to hold her feet. “Something caught my attention, My Lord. A man of sorts wearing dark robes that absorbs light. I almost didn’t notice him if it weren’t from my senses.”
“ELIZABETH! GET BACK HERE!” She just facepalms and returns to his arms. “Good. Now where was this person last seen?”
“On the edge of the garden as I said, My Lord.”
“Bahamut.” creeping out of his jacket, the Black Dragon just nods and flies away. Heading straight into the garden. “Alana, can you stay at the party?” She nods. “Of course, M’Lord. But please, do be careful.” She then gave the man a quick kiss on the cheek which made him blush and smile like a moron. “Heh. Heh. Heh. Thanks.”
The Countess just laughs as the Queen taps his forehead. “Ah! Oh yeah! Elizabeth, lead the way. Bahamut’s already scouting.” the Countess elegantly bowed as the two hopped over the thick marble railing and away from her sight. She just sighs and goes back into the fray.
Entering the lower terrace that overlooks the open backyard of the Castle, the garden was a vast maze of hedgehogs and small rivers. With statues littering each entrance to the flowers, rare trees and the fountains.
“Which direction?” the Queen, still in her child form points Eastward, making him enter the garden proper. Many of the Nobles there were so busy with themselves that they just ignored the two and for the first time, Jackson saw the soldiers and Knights of the Kingdom.
They were patrolling on the edges of the place, whilst Mages were on standby. Sitting on makeshift chairs while Grunts did most of the footwork around the gravel pathways. Though some of the soldiers would take a Lavender or Lily. Those adept at magic, collecting the petals that have fallen on the ground.
Strolling through the busy garden where the hedges were perfectly shaved both vertically and horizontally, to checking out the fountains that had the image of the God of Man, the buff and bearded old man in a white toga that held the planet on his arms as the statues around the edge of the square area were that of the God of the Dragons and that of the Elves, Forrus herself.
The wooden gates to certain parts of it were closed and guarded by two grunts. Some were on the verge of dozing off. Others, just randomly touching things and observing the beautifully done and artistically improved arches.
Elizabeth then taps the top of his head and points to one of the branches, where a small Black Dragon was sitting on top. “My Lord, Bahamut has already found them so it seems.” turning to it, Bahamut then crawls down the tree and halfway through. Jumps and starts flapping her wings. But due to the patrols, she had to be careful. Often just jumping if she could, and would only flap once when in flight. Letting the glide do the rest.
But seeing the patrols, he had to start crouching down as Knights in White armor started to appear. Elizabeth then makes a thumbs up as she runs towards them. Passing by an intersection. “Hey! There’s a child here! Little Lady! This area is off limits as per the Cardinal’s order!” As they ran to catch her, this made an opening for Jackson to start weaving through the pathways where he soon reached the most eastern part of the garden.
It was the end of the place and where the thickest numbers of soldiers were. Though the Knights were few, the Grunts covered every inch of the place. “Hey, My Lord.” Hearing Elizabeth suddenly in his ear, he almost fell on his feet as she turned to the end of the garden. It is also where the large pond and an icon of Humanus rests. “Ehhhhhh… isn’t that a bit too obvious?”
“Where is Bahamut, Elizabeth?” She points at the corner of the garden, where the small river leads to a large pool with a fountain in the middle. There, Bahamut was flying high above, orbiting a section of it. “Really?” he starts looking around the place. Most of the arches had already been overtaken by vines though artistically. He continues to look around where he then sees a small empty boat that’s held by a rope that’s supposed to tour people around the garden.
Jogging down to it, closely hugging the hedges/ Elizabeth immediately stops and drags him into cover. An Elven gardener does his thing in peace, clipping any excess while pulling a cart full of fertilizer whilst a Knight led a group of twenty grunts through the place.
“Jesus, what are the Demented Crusaders even transporting to and fro to give reason for this much fuckwits?”
“I believe it's letters between the Cardinal and the Pope, My Lord. The Cardinal was talking about current affairs as if he had been getting information constantly.”
“Really? How do you know this?”
“My Lord, I’ve fought the Holy See before. They are not one to slack when it comes to information. The Cardinal getting fed the latest information on a secret pipeline is very characteristic of them.”
“Agh. But what do you think? Could they be involved? Heck, they could even be the ones that told the Elven assassins about the teleporter here?”
“We have yet to prove that, My Lord. It's best we check now and make our reasons later. As much as I’d love for it to be true, there might also be other parties involved here.”
“Hm. Though…” with only the gardener left, he then turns to Elizabeth. “Wanna?”
He pops out of cover, the Elf immediately noticing the Noble and bowing. “Ah! M’Lord. Please return to the main area of the party, this place is off limits sadly.” he nods and smiles. “Oh, I just wanted directions.” he tilts his head and the gardener approaches the man to suddenly get touched by something. “Vampire Sleep!”
He then drops on the ground, loudly snoring. “Vampire sleep?” The little girl put her hands on her hips and made a valiant pose. “What? Would you prefer I used Vampire Kick, My Lord?” he just shrugged his head as he checked the boat. “Heh-heh-heh. Elizabeth, give me some of your mana.”
Returning to the fountain where they have a view of the end of the garden, the two looked at the river’s concrete mouth where the small boat floats its way into their field of view. Quick on his feet, one of the Knights went to check on it and picked up something.
A cylindrical shaped object that's no larger than one's hand was then taken to the main area. The Knight scratched his head at the odd looking thing. “Ready, Elizabeth?” She nods and he looks up to Bahamut and says “Bang!” with his mouth. Way into the pool, the pin on the M84 Stun grenade suddenly gets pulled out of thin air.
Jackson immediately smiles as Elizabeth controls the noise of the explosion whilst stunning the large group of people, in the moment it took, everyone drops on the ground disabled. “AH HAH! IT WORKED!” He then pops out of cover to have a chance to look around and sees that the guards were not only Garethenian. But also Holy See. With the ones from the Church looking more well armed and equipped.
Seeing this, he looks at the white glistening armor of the Holy Knights and notes how it's multilayered with a chainmail and heavy padding inside while Elizabeth opens her bat wings, as it unfurled, she goes to the statue and starts observing it.
Dropping down to their level, the Dragon hovered around the area. Sniffing around it lowers itself more and turns back into a Human form where she helps Elizabeth who had already found something odd with the statue.
Specifically, on the toga of Humanus was a section of it that could be pressed. Doing so, a sewer duct opens on the corner of the pool. “Did I have this built?” Elizabeth then walks next to the Duct where a secret door was actually unlocked.
Bahamut had already flown to the ground where Jackson was, the man busy picking up the swords and checking their weapons. He didn’t protest as she helding him via his armpits and carried him to the edge of the pool where the duct was.
“Eh? We’re going in that?” He looks at his clean uniform and well combed hair and sighs. “Alright. Let’s go.”
Bahamut soon dives and lands just next to it. The Dragon swipes her tail to reveal a fake wall. “Well hot damn, will you look at that?” with Elizabeth already inside, back in her adult form. In it is a tight well lit tunnel where the Queen takes the lead, with her constantly looking down on where they're going while Jackson and Bahamut check their backs.
They could occasionally hear Elizabeth’s hands moving in a fast motion as she’d touch his shoulder briefly to mind him of pressure plates on the ground. “How do you know this?” She smiles and looks at the architecture of the tunnel. It was more elaborate and gothic with its style, having the rose on the edge of the ceiling. “Ohhhh… damn. Just how paranoid were you back then?”
“If you hold so much power at the time, one must be ready for the worst. Though, My Lord. I never did use this path. I was already outside the city when it was taken over once again.” Before long, they reach a meeting room underneath the city. The walls spoke of the old Ancient Elves that used to build everything with concrete and composite metal. Gone was the architecture of the Vampires and now, the alloys and concrete of the Elves met them.
On the table were ten chairs and some knicknacks which Jackson tried to fit on his pockets but to no avail. “What now, My Lord?” as he checked the metal mugs there, clean and polished, he looked at her as he then inspected the objects there. “Did you atleast see what they were wearing?”
“The one I detected was wearing a Butler’s ensemble which then changed to a black outfit.”
Jackson looks back at the tunnel they came from and he puts his fingers up his chin.
“An Elf then? None of the staff there were Humans.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“That is odd… are you sure these are the Demented Crusaders?”
“I am sure of it, My Lord. But if it was the Empire, they would’ve done something far more elaborate than something this straightforward. This might be someone else who wishes to pin it on them. But as I said, there is no credible proof, My Lord.”
“I see… Bahamut?”
The black lady who has just finished sniffing and smelling the area just shrugs. She then shifts into her Dragon form and flies back to his shoulders, Bahamut then sits down. “Master, These people are elusive. The clothes they wear don’t even leave a mark at all and from the looks of it, they're carrying letters as I could smell it in the air.” She then glides to a dusty metal shelf and swipes it with her tail. Showing an outline shaped like a paper. “I believe they stack them here.”
Seeing this, he turns to look around. What caught his eye more than the functional heating of the underground tunnel was the lights. It looked like the same he’d see back on Earth. Perfectly illuminating the entire room.
Walking to the plastoid like door, it opens automatically and it reveals a well lit hallway that goes both ways. Unlike the Underground Fortress that he has been on, this one seemed as if it was left untouched. Even the grills in the middle of the hardened concrete floor and the tubes inside it were all perfectly polished still and not a hint of the cold weather outside was seeping in.
With the two in tail, he leads them through the halls of the underground complex. Following the open areas and ignoring the ones that are locked. He soon finds a ladder on a dead end and climbs it. Opening the grill that serves as its hatch, he peeks out a bit and it leads straight to another garden. Looking around, he notices a bunch of teenagers wearing matching clothing. Black ensembles with slacks and shiny leather shoes. One of the young men he sees even has a cape that goes over his entire shoulders.
“My Lord, get up already.” Hearing Elizabeth’s youthful voice, he furthers his head up and checks the perimeter, it's completely surrounded by bushes. Hiding it and the entrance is covered by a rusty sewer grill. Hopping out, he kept his body crouched down as the young Queen popped out and looked around. “Looks like this might be it.” as he peers over the bushes, he notices he is surrounded by buildings with the people wearing the same outfits holding books.
“Eh…?” Looking at the garden itself, it was just small and is connected to a large open area where students were practicing magic and eating on the grass. “Eh. It’s just a useless University.” he turns around and looks to his shoulder. “Bahamut, can you go back down and check around the area?” she nods. “Yes, Master.”
The Dragon then glides back into the tunnel. Flying away into the puzzling Fortress under the city with its many pathways and halls. “Dragons are truly quite useful aren’t they, My Lord?”
“Hm. That’s why for any Solo Adventurer, a Dragon could mean a hard time to an easy one. Not only do they serve as a powerful close air support but also as reconnaissance.”
“Then what now? If this is the only tunnel that it leads out of, what should we do, My Lord?” He then waits for a few seconds, rubbing his chin. “Ah. I know. For now, we go back to the party. And change back to an adult form, will you?”
“Eh. I wanna enjoy being youthful once again! I can feel my energy is thrice of what it once was! Since this form is smaller, my energy is more concentrated, My Lord!”
“Suit yourself. But report back to me if you find any of those Crusaders. I’d like to see one for myself. But for now, I gotta return to Alana. She’s really getting grilled by everyone.”
He then returns back down the ladder. His steps come further and further away as Elizabeth smells the air with her hands valiantly on her hips. “Ahhhh, the smell of youth! My Lord! That Bannir child will be here, correct?” She then realizes something. “Ah. I get it. Smart one you are, My Lord. Devious too. You’ve been learning from me haven’t you?” She opens her bat wings, though not as large and imposing as it was before but still of considerable width.
She does a backflip, flying head down into the tunnel where Jackson was already on the floor and walking back to the Castle. “I was planning on visiting that place anyways. But man, will you look at that!”
Returning back to the party, Alana was busy at the buffet. Tasting every one of the dishes there with a small spoon. Those she liked, she immediately put into her plate while she dangled another one behind her wrists, mostly containing poultry and beef. “I’m back. What did I miss?”
With a smile on her face, she takes the extra plate and hands it to him. He smells the hot food and a bit of drool comes out of his mouth. “M’Lord, taste this.” She then puts her fork into her mouth, cleaning it with her tongue and lips and then makes a thin slice of the braised pork on his plate. Not protesting, Jackson closed his eyes and opened his mouth.
The oily and perfectly cooked pork and veil then enters his taste bud and the man starts nodding with Alana’s fork still inside his mouth. “Approved?” he makes a thumbs up and the Countess smiles. “Hm. I shall order some of these tomorrow.” She then pulls the fork out, completely cleaning off the meat that was on it before.
“Though Alana, about what we found.” She then places her index finger on his mouth. “M’Lord, we shall talk about that later in the table. For now, why not eat?” he nods and swallows his food. “Though, man. The beef part was amazing though.”
She then tilts her head and winks at the man who is blushing as he takes another one. Giggling, the woman then proceeds to pick the steak, its brownish color was amazing and the inside, crimson red. With Jackson swallowing the pork, she then slices the steak and feeds it to him. His eyes lit up and once again nodded, but this time, doing it multiple times with the pupils of the man seemingly shining from what his taste buds was given. “That’s Spitzen Cow Meat. Good isn’t it, M’Lord? Even the Vampires of Rose dine with this.”
After picking up everything that caught their eyes, the two go to an already reserved table for the both of them only. With Jackson having three plates in total and Alana only having two. He merely claps his hands and closes his eyes and proceeds to go down on the monumental amount of food he has.
“M’Lord, don’t over do it now. You might choke.”
“Haaaa… I don’t care. I need more sustenance.”
“It’s already been a week and a half since our little fun in Iron Mountain, M’Lord. No need to go this far.”
“As if! If I were to go to a Doctor, my Protein must still be low! I couldn’t walk or even speak! Ah! That was a nightmare!”
On one of the opened stained windows, Bahamut flies in. The jet black dragon caught everyone’s eye, even the Cardinal Bishop who was in the middle of eating with the other Nobles. He didn’t even need to look anywhere, as if the old man could completely track Bahamut instantly and his view of her didn’t waver. The Finance Minister next to him was intrigued by it. “Did it… have six limbs?” The Holiness then stood up. “I believe so.”
Following where it started to descend, he sees it was on the table of the Minuits. The two couples happily feed the Dragon a bunch of meat from a plate, specifically at the Buknade where she started preparing herself for a swim. With Sir Minuit only having two plates to himself now. He chuckles and smiles. “Amazing. Truly.” He just stood far away watching them with his hands together. The Duke of Janishaire also came along to watch.
“So that’s all? One leads to the University, and another to the empty gun platform, M’Lord?”
“Hm. Though that platform might easily be turned into a landing pad. It's already afternoon so it must be empty now.”
“Yes Master. Looks like this could’ve also been the way those Elven Intruders came in from. It's perfect. But any teleporters?”
“Nada. Could be, but the place was locked left and right and from what I heard about the Crusaders, I think it's better to not tamper with anything.” As he starts eating, he couldn’t help but react upon the touch of the meat to his taste buds. “But tomorrow, I plan on going to the University and investigate it. What do you think?”
“Hmmm… M’Lord, tomorrow when you go to the University, I suggest me and Carmilla go and check around also, with Seiness could be better. I believe the University of Saint Berthal is the one you’ve been to.” She then leans forward and wipes some gravy of his lips. “From what I’ve been told by the people here, it also holds Elven professors in it.”
“Oh yeah, Julianne and Seiness mentioned that. The Holy See’s teachers there also often butt heads with them. But what could their connection be?”
“M’Lord, Universities are a very powerful and strong institution. Maybe in the modern world it's not as much, but here, they hold just as good power as any other department in a Monarch.”
“Ahhhhh… looks like it’ll get busy then.”
Already, Bahamut has her plate all cleaned up. Not one hint of Buknade was left In its reflection, Jackson could see a crimson Vampire bat sitting upside down on one of the chandeliers. Sleeping soundly as its wings completely covered its body and face.
“Yeah. Looks like this is as bad as it gets.”
“Mhm. I believe M’Lord that your kind will have to make a move?”
“I think so.” He eats a slice of steak and munches on it. Swallowing, he looks up to the painted ceiling, on their section, it depicts a King standing on top of a snowy mountain with thousands of humans behind him. He then lowers his chin, the man's index finger rubbing it. “Something like this… yeah, if I can confirm the involvement of the Elven Empire. I will have to make a call to the UN.”
Alana then stands up. “How many plates would you require, Bahamut? You really like the traditional Buknade of Gareth don’t you?” The Dragon just lifts its front leg and puts up its five claws. The Countess slowly nods and goes back to the buffet.
“Master, that annoying human is returning.”
“Which one?”
“The noisy one in black.”
“Ah.” He quickly eats another bite and swallows it. He then proceeded to clean his mouth like a royal and turned around to see Lushu Rentsoss with a wine glass in hand come to him. “If it's about the Dragon, good luck. She won’t talk to anyone except those she trusts.”
“I thought it was mere hearsay.” His long flowing silver hair coupled with his light makeup and mascara made him seem more intimidating when one on one. “I guess you are someone… to a degree. To make a Pact with a Dragon. Impressive.”
“It wasn’t easy and if you want tutorials, don’t. I’m not in the business of teaching.”
“No. I just wanted to see a four legged Dragon personally. Such kinds are long, far and few.”
“Look all you want. But don’t touch. I think my wife only knows how to heal up to the third degree burn.” Bahamut proceeded to ignore Count Rentsoss. Gunning it for Jackson’s second plate which his hands automatically moved away from her jaws. The Dragon makes a scary snare as it tries to bite at least a small portion of the meat. “C’mon! You already emptied a place full of Meat pottage!”
The Count just looked baffled as even though Sir Minuit was looking at him, he was moving the plate without even having to see that the Dragon was making its move.
“Where did you find this Dragon? Let alone one that’s willing to make a Pact with a Human?”
“A scary mountain.” Jackson had to then lift the plate up which Bahamut takes as a challenge and jumps to it. He just sighs as she goes to town with his second plate.
“I see, and I guess this is where you fought her?”
“Long story short, I offered a huge scale. She accepted it and I got myself a new companion.”
“What a mysterious origin you two have. Though it may seem your slow presentation has given fruit.” Lushu looked to the corner of the room and the women had gathered around and the men on another, whispering to one another. “Ohhhh…” Returning back to their table was the Countess with an Elf bringing a push cart to them.
Eight plates, all full of Spitzen Steaks and three mugs full of gravy while on top of the cart is a bucket of the beef stew. The Dragon visibly drools from her mouth. Just as she was about to dive into the cart, Jackson catches her tail and proceeds to forcefully land the Dragon to the clean white sheet. “Stay.” The Elf then brings an extra table over and puts all of the plates on it.
Jackson kept patting and stroking Bahamut’s head as the Dragon tried its best to patiently wait. After two minutes, everything was placed and the two looked at one another with big grins on their faces. “Bahamut! Let’s go to town!”
As the two ate to their heart's content, the Cardinal Bishop with the Finance Minister came closer to their table. Rentsoss even bowed to him and kissed the ring on his index finger while kneeling to the Minister.
“What a wonderful creature. A truly blessed reptile. Four legs even. Beautiful.”
“This is the rare Ancient Dragon type, right?”
“Yes. This is one that’s fully living and breathing right in front of us. Oddly, the text translated from the Dragon Kingdom usually states that they do not have long horns in such an infantile form.”
POOF! A small smoke was emitted and coming out of it is Bahamut in her Human form. She removes her veil, revealing her beautiful triangular pale face, catching the attention of the Noble men. With a spoon and fork, she was ruthless in eating the meat.
The Cardinal and Finance Minister were both taken aback by her. The two then walked around to see her front and her golden eyes caught the Holiness. The perimeters on it and the pupils seemingly contain stars inside it. “No Master! That’s mine!” she then rudely takes a plate that Jackson was planning on taking. Prompting him instead to take his bowl and fill it up with the more extravagant beef stew, having more ingredients than the usual one he’d see.
All the while, the Countess was resting her cheek on her palm, having the biggest smile on her face as she watched the two eat to their heart's content. The Vampire shows as if she has reached absolute nirvana. In a perfect state of mind and health.
Soon after, Bahamut was done with Jackson giggling devilishly. Having the remaining two plates all to himself.
Turning around to yawn, Bahamut’s expression changes upon seeing the Holiness and the Finance Minister. They were even more smitten than before, seeing her doll-like face up close.
Cardinal Blast immediately lifted his robe as he removed his shoes and placed them next to him. He then kneels and then bows his head to the floor. Finance Minister Tauciter on the other hand kneeled and just lowered his head enough to be looking straight at the marble tiles below him.
Seeing this, the rest of the Nobles inside the room gathered around the Dragon and bowed their heads. In stark contrast to their far colder impression to the Vampire when they first met her.
“Oh Ancient Dragon, may I ask for thee’s name?” The Cardinal spoke with a lower and more respectful tone, minding his words and taking his time to form his sentence.
“Bahamut. Dragon God of the Void.”
“Ah, Goddess Bahamut. I’ve heard of your religion and its vast expanse. May I ask for what you think of the Holy See?”
“It’s Human.”
“Hm?”
“Just like any Human institution. It has its ups and downs, is corrupt but also does its best to help others. Militaristic yet it hopes for peace and quiet. It’s Human.”
“Ah… I see. Then, are you willing to give blessing to the Holy See? To what impedes us in our holy journey to ascend like our Savior?”
“I give blessings to those who are worth it. Fight and I will give it to you. Now, Master, can I get more steak later?”
Jackson, with his mouth stuffed with steak slowly turns to look at Bahamut. “I dunnoh.” he then returns to munching on his food without regard. With Alana having to occasionally clean his mouth from the oil. “My wife, do you know how to cook ChaoFan rice?”
She then looks up to the ceiling and then down to him. “I believe I do, My lovely husband.” he then rests a single hand on her shoulder. “If you cook that. Believe me, it will take for King Arthur to pull me away from you." This made her blush and nod. “I… I will check my cookbooks tonight. I should be able to make some.” All the while, the Cardinal steps in between the two.
“Did she just call you Master? Sir Minuit, have you tamed such a Dragon?” Everyone then looked at the man in a white noble attire, blindingly eating all the meat he could get his hands on. Sensing the numerous stares that have gripped him. He turns to them.
“... More like in a mutual agreement.”