Returning to the University of Benber the Pilot, Bahamut’s golden eyes widened as she looked up to the skies. The incomprehensible truth in her grasp, she turned around to see the Elves had all stayed bowing even though it was already the afternoon. “Stand up and open those elevator doors!” The Curator immediately stood up and extended his arm outward, using his magic to pull the lever as he followed her into the elevator.
“Goddess, what did you see?”
“A Pact is made. As much as I want to make these Gods choke on their halos, there are those I love that I must protect.”
Another Automatron, this one having a more feminine build walks to the glass doors and slides them close and the elevator starts going up. “Heaven is in glee with me and Mars, but I will not allow them to play with us any longer after this. Do you know the highest mountain in this land?” Ulmig nods. “Its three regions on the Southeast of the capital. Why do you ask, Goddess?” The Dragon then looks at her hands and closes it into a fist. “And the dead?”
This made the Elf raise an eyebrow as the elevator arrived back on the ground floor. There, the Navy Officers were present, saluting with their fists on their chests as the Goddess walked through the crowded lobby. “What about the dead, Goddess? It is better to leave them be. It is blasphemy to awaken them.” she just shrugs her head and stops. Looking at the city of Oceanowa. “Here alone, I sense a few hundred thousand bodies that can be revived. But my question lies in the usefulness of their corpses.”
“G-Goddess, I cannot speak on this as it is against Forrus and her teaching. The dead must be left alone. Return to the soil and be at peace.” Bahamut then sways her hand aggressively. “Even in death, the Dragons fight to conquer. It is not the end of a Dragon if they die. It just means they will return one day, stronger and better. Our souls aren’t as meek as Humans or Elves.”
“I-Impressive, truly. I’ve never seen such a species that has such a fiery passion to live and become powerful.”
“It is but the duty of our kind. What I saw there, what was told to me and the pact made. It burns the fire within me brighter than the flames of the Gods and Demigods that I’ve eaten.”
“It is my dream to one day be able to fully test the magic of a Dragon. Your blood, from the samples I’ve gotten. It sparks Mana even at the molecular level, the veins that run through your body, to even your wings have properties that spark a childish gid to me.”
“Long ear, our affinity with magic comes from the very make up of our biology. The secret lies not within the blood, though you are close. The Dragons of Threa share a very much similar make up, but their aptitude in teleportation and spatial gravity magic is not the same as ours.” She then lifts her hand up her sharp chin and slowly rubs it. “I believe this is due to there ancient history, we Dragons of Tur had to learn it to make ourselves faster and more agile without the more susceptible wind magic, but the ones here have a different idea.”
Through the elaborate hallways, Elves rush to the teleporter room as they prepare it for another run. This left Bahamut to look out the massive arching window that shows the Elven city of Oceanowa once again and the ships leaving the mouth of the port through the giant statue.
The city itself does not only limit itself from the steep hillside, but also to the ocean. With a honeycombed shape blocks all connected to one another as a seawall blocked the stronger tides where the colossus stood. The water there was calm now and so was the floating section of the metropolis and in the horizon, she noticed just peeking from the tips of the hill were massive guns. “Goddess, if I may ask again, just what did our creator specifically say? Did you meet with her Goddess?” she shrugs. “Something far beyond what was asked. I know it now, and what must be done shall be done as Master so loved this world, I will do what he’d wish for me.”
One of the Elves then walks up to them and bows. “It is ready, Goddess.'' She immediately turns around and returns back to Elvennur. Her unceremonious departure made Curator Magices Ulmig to just bow and pray in silence. “Oh Forrus, may we live through the End and see the other side.”
Inside the Capitol once again, with the Elves bowing in her arrival back. She could hear the voices of a thousand or so Elves, making her point her finger at one of the Centurions. “What’s with the commotion?” This made the Elf confused, looking around and hearing nothing as they were in a protected underground section. “I- I believe it should be the meeting, Goddess.” She took to opening her wings as she flew to the exit from the underground complex.
Outside, the players guarding the surface level of the Dome are surprised at the sudden breakout of a winged Humanoid. She had four shadows coming out of her as she emitted a bright aura, making them put their goggles on.
Whilst inside, a heated debate was already ongoing. As the Pope himself was present alongside the United Nations and the Elven Emperor and Empress with the Grand Imperial Prince in full view of the whole debacle.
“I am not saying that the Elves are devious. But what my point is that some of you are. Seiness is but a little girl. She does not deserve an untimely death from the hands of my people and you! Where is the civility in sending a Dark Brotherhood against a little girl?!” He points his holy staff at the Elven Senators sitting far on the other side. This made many of them stand up as the ones sitting down made a ruckus by tapping their shoes on the shiny floor. “Hearsay! Hearsay! Remove those filthy accusations from us! We are High Elves! Do not put us down to the level of your immature methods! You shall respect this Court as does anyone else, Human Pontiff! Do not make me raise my voice again. Emperor!”
The Pope then opens his hand as a scroll is given to him. “Yet I have here a copy of a secret text that was being sent from the agreed upon non weaponized Roc Courier to one of my Holy Universities. I commend a certain Captain who is not only distinguished by her faith, but also her great swordsmanship." The High Elves went silent as the Emperor turned his head to his wife and then the UN representatives who were in there robotically ironed and suited selfs. Jackson, having made to stand up with the civilian diplomat with him, looked stoic and confident this time.
Being called, the Emperor sighs as he shrugs his head. “Our stance on this is as clear as I made it to be when I first came here. Drop this now and focus on the disaster that is about to come. We are burning time having this debate.” Though his voice was still as calm and respectful as ever, even the players couldn’t help but feel a slight fright in his tone.
The Pope nods to him with much glee. “Exactly! Chosen Emperor by her Goddess Forrus, Kelvin Dydares. Restrain your Lords so that we may carry on with our plans! Man and Elf cannot fail now. Not at such a crucial time.” The Cardinals with the Pope then tapped their scepters and holy staffs into the floor with the Emperor having made no more extra comments.
“Preposterous. Utterly. You and your devious plans against us are in full sight. We know you Humans still have a hatred for us. Your actions may seem good, but yet you put restraints on supplies and logistics. You place troops at the borders and spy on us with the tariffs we have to pay for our quality goods being higher than that of the Dwarves whose quality are either equal or even better than ours.” the Pope shrugs his head. Lifting his hand and showing a border between the Empire and Gareth. With a calmer tone, battling that of the Elves utter respect and elegance, he recomposes himself. His Warrior Bishops in their Knightly Plate Armor ironing his vestments.
“And yet you have Outposts scattered right outside of your agreed upon lines? How is King Gareth supposed to act then? You have Outposts that not only capture local Orc and Ogre populations to create chaos and to spread their already farce population on backward communities that would kill them on sight, but you also scatter them beyond the Human towns.” another High Elf in the far flung opposing side of the half circle stands then raises his hand. Making the first Elf in his lavish veil and toga to sit down.
“I have no qualms with Man.” He spoke with an even higher respectful and elegant tone. But the Humans on the other hand didn’t feel any sort of relief from it and only demeaning weight. “This plan you have conjured. It is beyond what was agreed upon. Even in ancient history, the alliance between Man and Elf had not reached such symbiote. What makes us assure that teaming with a lesser species will bring out the best when even our most mediocre of weapons are some of the best you can give to your Holy Knights, Pontiff?”
“What was agreed upon is that we will have a limited run with allowing Non Humans to enter the Church. Including of which are Elves, so that we may bridge a connection! With what is nigh, we cannot afford to be divided. You should know this better than we do!” The Pope then bangs his Staff into the floor. “In which we could someday trial a full baptismal to them! Unite all of us so that if the Cosmic Demonic Gods dare touch our paradise once again, we may unite without all of these obstacles!” he bangs it again, this time louder and more fierce. “This is what was agreed upon!” as he points his finger at the High Elf in a red and purple robe.
“That was verbal. What is written down by the agreed upon text is that this is a limited thing. It won’t go to a full fledged allowance of Non Humans to enter the Holy See. I am sure you know what this means to us Elves.” This made the Pope wipe his face. His wrinkled, yet his intensity was as sharp as any young and enthusiastic teen. “Do not cut it! After that, we specifically say that another term must be opened in which the full Baptismal of Non Humans are to be added! A term that you and your kindred had constantly sidetracked with all these Scientific endeavors that I fruitfully agreed to!” the Cardinals with him all nodded. In their Purple and Blue vestments.
The Emperor then turns to the UN once again. This time, Angelica was the one to speak up on behalf of the Earthlings. “As General Jackson stated before. What we wish is for the sides to end this. We are here to not mediate but to plan for the future. A future of which cannot be achieved if both sides were to keep rattling about things that do not give fruit to the upcoming disaster.” Making a light nod, the Emperor turns to his Senators who were all silent, the Board of Vetus and the Elven Kings all just eagerly watching the debate.
This made the Emperor sneak a stare at one of his closest aides, the Senator standing up and calming the room. “We have a sense of respect for you Outworlders for your service in keeping the oceans clean of those barbaric pirates. But I do wish that you acclimate yourself to the history of this land. The Holy See banding together an army of this size could easily endanger everything we’ve built. That is what the Private Sector is afraid of, since they’ve been the one to rebuild and refund everything if our Empire were to get attacked once again.”
Being quick, the stoic and pretty Angelica stands up. “But Senator. We have no indications nor intelligence that the Holy See is planning anything of that size nor to endanger and attack the Empire.”
“Yet what happens if they suddenly think of doing so? We are no longer the Empire that stood before. If back then, we already fell. What more now?”
“Senator. I humbly apologize on behalf of us all. But please, you must know that we Humans aren’t that volatile. We will not do such a thing.”
“Really? Yet your people, from that planet called Earth tell me of your species going through not one devastating World War, but three. Imagine a World War. I could only imagine the casualties of one, but three? Who are you in authority to speak of your volatility?” This made the Elves grasp. But Jackson just had a confused expression on his face. “Huh? This isn’t a kept secret though…” He then lightly grabs Angelica’s wrist and pulls her down as he sighs and takes her place. “Senator, I will not have you say such a thing about Earth and its Humans.” he then fixed his stance and then stood like a proper soldier.
“Yes, we’ve had three world wars. But you must know that this only happened due to the failures of the system that was put before. We do not wish to bring a World War here. We only want to return to our world, to our loved ones.” The Elves all leaned forward, curious of the Earthling Vampire. “We are in heart, a chaotic people. But war is something that only happens when many factors fail. We had to prepare for years before we sparked the Third World War with the invasion of Taiwan. Even at its weakest point, the United States fought a combination of over two billion people and made us run around the world undoing all of their work.”
Brushing his shoulders, he looked at the Emperor and Empress. “But after that, we forgive one another. I myself was assigned as a Peacekeeper in the United States after the war. We rebuilt, helped, and acclimated them to the Eastern Culture of things. We found out about each other, our differences and similarities not under the barrel of a gun but a conversation on the street. Yes, we may be dangerous but we can also be peaceful.” This then made everyone whisper as the Pope stood up.
“Though I do not like talking to a blasphemous creature such as a Vampire. Do tell.”
“Yes, your Holiness?”
“On Earth. Has Man reached the stars?”
“We have. We’ve actually terraformed a small section of a planet called Mars into a liveable space now and the first ever recorded space battle occurred between a Chinese and American Outpost on the Moon.”
“And will you share the knowledge you’ve accumulated with your allies? To the Humans of this world, of Threa?”
“Errrr… Your Holiness. We do not have a set ally in this world. Only mutuals.”
“Yet our Elven friends here had said that they feel betrayed by the Vampires. As your people had given them knowledge about some things.”
“That is only for the benefit of a treaty. The things we gave them are not weapons, they're actually ancient steam technology that the Vampires aren’t really far from already inventing. Though the Elves had already gone far beyond this, even above us in some aspects.” The Elves were smiling openly at hearing this. “Of course! Our pursuit of Science is not for ourselves, but for Forrus. Her order to us is to explore, find about the world and learn. It is not selfish nor for the sake of greed. Elves perform Science for the world, the environment and other Elves.”
“Then maybe you can do the same here. Humans perform Science for the exact reason, though more susceptible to greed and hunger for power. I believe both sides wish for something out of this. We already found something similar don’t we?” The High Elf on the other side of the benches then turned to the UN. “I believe I can work with this. Give us something that will stop whatever the Humans may throw at us and I am willing to not only stand down but also commit to aiding-” Sensing the chance, one of the Elfs, a distinguished Admiral sitting closer to the middle then lifts his hand.
This made Emperor Dydares to widen his eyes as the Elf who was doing this got joined with an Elven General. He only had to nod for the man to stand up. “On behalf of the Elven Military. From the Army Air Corps. To the Navy and the Army and the other sub departments under oath to the Lady in White Toga. We wish to also side with the United Nations. Bar none any aid.” Thydis then stood up, smiling at the Emperor. “I support this. I’ve been with General Jackson for the last few days and in my deepest part I believe in their cause for peace.” Jackson looked at Thydis and gave him a smile and the Admiral returned it with a gesture of his fist on his chest.
“They are not here for anything else but for peace between us, and our conversations have led me to believe the Humans of Gareth, the Elite and the Holy See. though imperfect in how they view us, are not of any danger. I actually think of them as good friends and any friend of mine is a friend of the Armada.”
The High Elves on the other side then start to slap their counters. “OBJECTION! OBJECTION!” After the sudden outburst, the Elves properly straightened their togas and fixed their composure. Just giving stares at the representatives from the Air Corps, mainly the Combat Wing of their Corps. With this, Thydis just gave them a smile as he elegantly lifted his hands to the Emperor and looked to the other Officers next to him, this one having lesser decorations in his Toga than the Admiral.
“We, of the Army Air Corps, from her mighty Great Birds to the Blimps and Airships that have flown to the corners of this globe. We side with the Army Legions in this matter. They speak true of our ideals. We wish to set aside each other’s differences and aid one another, beneficial or not in stopping a Calamity that no one would wish upon their worst enemy.” With this, more of the Air Corps stood up in support of the Outworlders side for peace between the two sides. Thydis then raised his chin to the Emperor, his hands as if to present those in favor.
“As you may know, I am Air Admiral Thydis Trenthaus the Third. In Command of the entire Air Corps of the Empire. I wish to second the General and my Rear Admiral’s statements.” Another High Elf from the leftmost stands rises to the occasion. “I object. You military heads are once again jumping the Roc. THINK! Do you wish to add another humiliation to your already long list of events in our history?” The Generals and Admirals turn to the Elf and he is met with stares that could pacify a Dragon.
“I second Senator Uhm-Belrig’s statement! We mustn’t jump the Roc. It will only alert it and before we know it, our chance of freedom is gone. We must sensibly avoid another defeat of our beloved military by the hands of untrained Human and Beast peasants.”
“By the Light of Deus Vrax, do you not know how long ago that was?!”
“Silence heathen Cardinal! Your short insignificant lives-” The Emperor stands up and taps his Scepter into the balcony tiles. “Silence, Ulric-Ban-Durr. I will not have such insults thrown in this glorious and righteous dome. Do you wish to be executed? I know of your troubles and this is why I am here. I know of your fright of what the Humans may do afterwards with such a following. But do not push your entitlement. When you enter the premise of this dome, you are to leave all of your personal grudges under oath to the Goddess. Do not make me repeat.” This made Senator Durr to immediately grovel and keep his head down. His forehead kissing the tile.
“I will humbly pay for this ill-behavior with my entire lineage’s life if you wish so, Emperor. I only wish that you let my far flung cousins be left alone.” The Emperor nods as the Elf briefly stood up and walked out of the Dome without making a single sound.
Jackson swallows his saliva as Duchess Morgana stands up.
“As the representative of his Holy King of Vampires, King Harold Timothy The Sixth. We do not align ourselves with the Outworlders. We only had a term to agree upon that we will not touch their troops around our borders and let them do as they see fit in exchange of anything.”
Emperor Dydares leaned forward as he sat back down on his throne. “Continue, Lady Tempest.” rubbing his chin, his eyes squint. “As you may all know. We Vampires have a kindred likeness to Man. We are after all born after the God of Emotion tampering with the God of Man’s creation. But that is as far as it comes. Our relationship with them is not deep, it is merely transactional.” The Emperor then leans back on his throne and then to the Empress who snuck an eye point to the blonde Vampire with the Outworlders.
This made the Emperor point his Grand Scepter at Countess Alana and Elizabeth.
“Yet your famed winemaker family, the Minuit’s very treasured daughter is in bed with an Outworlder.” Duchess Morgana then proceeded to bow lightly. “Yes, but that is her choice. The Vampire Kingdom has no ill will to Humans to have proven themselves to be stronger than us. This is tradition for a defeated Vampire. For them to learn that their immortality is no excuse for hubris. This is a contract made by the ancient Queen. To prevent us from getting too ahead of ourselves, with our eternal beauty and power.”
The Emperor proceeds to tilt his head and then rests his cheek on his knuckles. “And yet for a species that has as much pride in their lineage and blood as us Elves. Countess Minuit here did not dare to run or scheme of a plan to overtake her Human master?”
Morgana then lifted her head. “That is not what King Charles and Queen Elizabeth planned for this tradition. Coming from a modified curse, this is meant to teach us Vampires a lesson in our strength and capabilities. For a Noble Vampire to not do this as per instructed is not only disgraceful but also a taint to our history. A show that your lineage and blood is weak, unable to accept its mistake.”
He then nods as he rests his Scepter on its special stand. “And when the day comes, we survive the Calamity and Humanity with its new found army decides to attack us. Will the Vampires capitalize on this?” She immediately shrugs her head. “Of course not, Emperor Dydares. King Timothy has no such ambitions.” This made him sigh loudly as he crossed his legs. “Ambitions are born out of a chance. There is no ambition for there is no chance right now and you Vampires are the type to take even a slight show of weakness as a chance.”
“Emperor, I know the Elves are afraid that it might get invaded from all sides, the Humans, Dwarves, Beastmen, the Vampires and even the Dragons. But we assure you, we do not have any plans at all nor any future ideas of such a thing. We only wish to continue to live in peace.” Looking at the Duchess' crimson eyes as her long shiny silver hair swayed lightly by the gust of wind circulating around the dome, he gestures for her to sit down.
“My Senators of Private and Civil Affairs. You now have your best answers here. Though we may never know. The best we can do now is to accept this.”
They all then started to bang their counters. “We object, Emperor. Though this alliance may be fruitful, multiple species working together in the long term and on such a grand scale usually never ends peacefully. Small things like Scientific aid and Universities are of no source of problem, but something of this scale has only been done once.”
“I know, but at the same time. We do not have any better options. The Scientific endeavors bore fruit, both species learned from things we both benefit from and the Outworlders have shown to even my old mentor that they are capable people. Are none of it is enough for what is to come?”
“Emperor… you are aware of what will happen afterwards, do you not?”
“I do. The era of the Elves has come to an untimely end as we speak. But this is the future we must accept if we wish to live peacefully and continue to exist.”
“Many say an Age of Man will lead to our destruction. It will lead to them poisoning our culture, our tradition and society. Even now, you are no longer wearing the Toga of the Emperor but instead that uniform. Emperor, please. Forrus herself would be tearing at the sight of her most beloved creation.”
“We do not know that, Senator. Forrus does not love one but all that walks on top and crawls below the surface. We are merely her most prized. But not most loved. She loves all. Do not forget that, Senator… and the fact that letter exists…” Looking at the Pope, he couldn’t help but sigh a bit as his Empress comforted him. Patting his shoulder. “Have we not already stoop as low as man by this point?”
“Of course, Emperor. But even then. The Humans have this capacity to destroy, consume, and take. You have seen their machines and the toll it takes to keep such machines running. What will happen if this proliferates and it reaches Mother Tree? Will she even accept such tainted air?”
With this, he turned to the Board of Vetus, the Elven Kings just looked back at him, as if also in the fence still. In the end, he turned to his wife. “This is why I married you.”
Up above, the sound of thunder reign like the crescendo of angels clapping together and blowing their trumpets at the arrival of a Divine creature.
Coming from the hole in the middle of the Dome, Bahamut arrives. In her ghastly funeral gown as her armored black wings were in full spread. The Elves all looked in shock as one by one, they collapsed to bow. The Dragon God didn’t land, she instead opened her wings as the Emperor grasps to see the Mother Tree materialize before them and transform from its thick holy bark to an Elven form before them. The Empress shed a mere tear from the sight.
Donning a simple and inelegant toga with golden bands around her arm and wrists and a wreath of golden leafs. She stands before the circular podium that sat between the half circle benches and the elevated balcony for the Emperor. Her ears, long and sharp, pale in her complexion and sparkly green eyes. The golden hair she had was braided and would sparkle when natural light would hit it. The Grand Prince couldn’t believe his own eyes, blushing at the sight of the Mother Tree herself.
Jackson couldn’t grasp her looks, nor could the Pope and his entourage. She was an entity that no mere mortal head could grasp and with each step she took. The eyes of man followed. The Elves on the other hand only kept bowing. Able to only peer the tinge of her brightness as they stared down to the ground.
“Ah, so this is what has become of her Goddess’ creation. Created by her own image to protect all life on Lunaris. What magnificence, what greatness. You have created great structures, I commend thee.” She turns around, looking at the Emperor and Empress. Bowing respectfully. Dydares swallowed his saliva and a tear of sweat fell from his forehead as he stood up and groveled before Mother Tree’s Elven form while Bannah stood up and performed a heavy bow. “Oh beautiful Mother. We apologize for this presentation. As Emperor and leader of the Elves, I take full responsibility for our display. We have not been notified of your arrival.” she waves her hand freely as she inspected the people around the benches.
“Man, Outer Man, Vampire, and Elves of Soil and Gold… yet where are the Elves of Silver? I can still feel their presence in Lunaris.” the Emperor stands up and floats. He slowly hovers down to the podium where he once again bows before her. “The Dark Elves are now disconnected from us. They have refused thousands of years of attempts to rekindle. Thus, the Elves are now limited to what you see before you, Mother.”
“Bittida en morgon innan solem uppram, innan fåglarna började sjunga did the first Elves rise to Lunaris. The Golden Elves, tasked in defending and uniting all of Elvenkind. How could you have failed in this?”
“Times have changed, Mother. Our Kin has also lessened. Our cousins of the Sea, of the Wings, and Winter had all but perished. Only the High, Wood, and Dark remain.”
“And has Man grown from its ignorance?” She turns to the Pope and his entourage of Cardinals and some high ranking Nobles. “Hm. Very good. And the visitors the Gods called upon from another world?” The Mother Tree looks to the UN representatives. In their modern ensemble of suits and uniforms and the livestream flatscreen TVs showing high ranking Guild officials just in absolute shock of what they were seeing. They did not only look out of place, but their entire presence seems like a smear on a perfect painting. “How has your stay been on our great planet? I apologize on behalf of Forrus for this unruly call. But the Gods have long called upon people of your world when the time arises.”
Angelica proceeds to stand and grovel as the Emperor with his family and the Elven Elite did. “It is of no problem, Mother Tree. We’ve accommodated ourselves to your world's customs and traditions. Though it was a rocky start, we’ve grown to stay at our business and not defile the world.” She nods and turns back to the Emperor as she gestured for the Pope to come close.
The Pontiff of the Holy See immediately turns into a flock of golden doves that collects itself on the podium. Turning back into his human form. With the Emperor and the Pope so close to one another, the weight of each molecule in the room felt as if it was a ton and a half.
With the Outworlders on the verge of sweating bullets while the Duchess of the Vampires had her legs crossed, watching as if she was viewing the play of the centuries.
“I speak on behalf of her greatness, Forrus. Convene with Mankind, Beastkind, Elvenkind, Dwarfkin even and the Alien Men that were called upon to this world. Work with them. The Goddess made this tree for all the sentient species in Lunaris. The Calamity, the world ending typhoon the foreign Gods have mustered is upon us all. Leave your differences aside for a better future, one where you may bicker again but not under such stressful circumstances.” The Pontiff wanted to laugh while the Emperor couldn’t believe the humor of the Mother Tree.
“Mother Tree, I speak on behalf of the Holy See and of Deus Vrax. May I ask when this time comes? Our predictions had said we still have two months at least.”
“That is correct. But then something changed.” The Emperor and Pope snuck stares into each other as they then turned to the girl. “The Foreign Gods have tasted the strength of the Guests we bought.” The two powerful men then turn to the UN. Jackson’s throat instantly felt dry, his lips as sucked as the deserts of Western Schon. “We have accelerated the movement of their creation that lives in a world much like ours but missing the care and love. They now aim for a few weeks. The Foreign Dragon God knows the exact time it will happen as she is now connected to the divine. She will feel it come a day before.”
Bahamut who had kept hovering didn’t utter a single word. Her wings suspended as she was static midair. “Mother, may I ask what you mean by that the Outworlders had hastened the Demons to action?” She points her finger at the General with a name tag above his ribbon rack of “Gen. Jackson P.” The Emperor and Pope both gestured for him to come up to the podium.
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Alana quickly stood up with him but Elizabeth grabbed her wrist and shrugged her head as he went around to the aisle and climbed a short staircase to the runway that leads to the main podium.
“General. Explain yourself.” The Emperor didn’t even make him reach within arms length as he was questioned. The weight of everyone’s stare crushing the lone Human in his Vampire form. Though he wasn’t fully a Man anymore, his souls’ more primal side came to take over his eternal one. Making him sweat as if he was but a normal person. “The Portal Gates to Hell opened in one of our cities.” Instantly, chatter began alongside screams of anger. But the Emperor raised his hand, giving back silence to the Dome. “Proceed.”
“We won. We fought off the forces of Hell. It took a lot of effort, but in the end. They went back after the help of the Heroes and of Bahamut and Mars’ power.” The Pope tilts his head. “Who is this Mars? Another Foreign Dragon God?” he nods. “Yes. She only got her Divinity back when Bahamut released her titles back to her… this entire thing was our fault and we kept it hidden.”
“And? What happened? Had any of the Omniscient and Eldritch Forces of the Unknown appear before this city of yours?” he once again nods. “Y-Yes. Two of my companions have anecdotes of Demon Generals in the city.” Chatter once again flares up but the Emperor only lifted his scepter and everyone could only stare in absolute intensity as this information was dropped before them. “We also ended with Bahamut defeating a Cosmic Worm of sorts. Translucent in its skin, it destroyed most of Downtown.”
“And why have not been notified of this? Have any of you Outworlders ever thought that this information could lead to the prevention of the death of billions? Pontiff Alexenderious. Have the Outworlders ever given you such crucial information?”
“Sadly they have not. This is the first time I am hearing of this.”
“Outworlder, do you think you will be persecuted just because your kind did this?”
“It’s that and… we simply wanted to clean this mess up ourselves. Twice we almost ended everything. Once with the Machines and another, with this Portal. We have chased down those responsible and we assure you they are dead.”
“We do not care. What we care about is that their plans succeeded. How shortsighted are you Outworlders? You possess weapons and technology that could seem like Ancient Magic to us yet you fail to grasp the basic decency of telling the truth?”
“I myself am a victim of this. That is why I am here now. Those above me had not disclosed everything which forced me to perform a small coup just to get here. The system we are copying is uhhhh… corrupt and manmade. So it's not perfect. Even I was alerted at the last moment of what was gonna happen in Zavalda.” The Emperor shrugs and turns his head away from the Outworlder. “This is such a waste of time. I thought you Outworlders would be better than your counterparts here in Threa as you should be more aware, smarter, and hold more wisdom. Yet you seem worse than the entitled Nobles of Man.”
“I apologize. I truly do. But there is simply nothing that can be done.”
“And General Jackson, I believe you yourself control a large portion of the UN forces, correct?”
“Yes, Emperor.”
“How then, is that the information limited to you? For someone as high ranked as you, all and everything, even the movement of a single squirrel in a forest, should be aware of your prying eyes.”
“That is due to the Supreme General of the Joint Forces wishing to keep me in line. He had other plans for me and my people and I simply stopped this with force.”
“By Forrus everlasting life. How can you Humans spend time on this useless fighting when such calamitous forces are upon us?”
“... We often say our worst enemies are ourselves and even today and in this world. It rings true.”
“It does. It truly does.” Mother Tree then yawns as she looks up to the hole on the middle of the dome ceiling. “Ahhhh… the Daystar’s embrace is so invigorating in this form.” She then looks to the UN representatives. All of them in Elven form except the lone Diplomat Angelica. “Had our Guests ever thought of the vast space that is beyond the skies? Your wars, fighting, and disagreements all are pointless. With the evolving and revolving world, you may kill each other to no end. But you will all be forgotten and life goes on.”
The Generals and Suits all scratched the back of their heads as the camera crew way in the back who was livestreaming this to the main headquarters in Iron Mountain had sighed in unison. “I hope you may use your intellect, your ingenuity for something else than the destruction of one another.” she wisp her hands up, showing an accurate portrayal of planet Earth.
A fire then spreads in Southeast Asia which soon engulfed Central Asia till it reached Europe. “You know, even the Gods were amazed at the destruction and violence Humanity of Earth demonstrated in that small few years of war you had.'' The Natives of Threa were all frightened by the sight as fighting from World War 3 was shown to them.
The fires of Mumbai from the point of view of one of the Destroyers of the US Pacific Armada, to the massive armored assaults of the Asian Alliance on the open deserts of Central Asia. Passing through husks of what was once a complex amalgamation of metal, composites and circuitry, and the firebombing of the entire Metropolis and the horrific aftermath as the armies continued the march forward.
Leaving within it a wake of unmitigated and pure devastation only a Calamity could compare to. Such destructive forces that ate up entire swathes of lands and spit out nothing but husks of dead corpses, equipment, and vehicles.
“Such primal violence could only be done by a Demonic force of monsters. Guests, you now know why you’ve been bought here. The Gods are well aware of your plans to return home, but may I warn you now. You have a role to play here. No matter how much you try, it will activate when the acceptable moment has arrived.”
Inside Iron Mountain, the Guild Leaders all just stared at the High Definition image of her through the livestream. The leader of Eldwood, Hassan himself quickly shifts into his skeleton form. The fires of his eyes burning brighter than ever as his buffs were all going haywire from the barrage of magic through the screen.
“Ah, so thine worst of fears have cometh light.” The Leaders all turn to him, in their fancy suits and uniforms. All of them stare with tense and fear as Hassan leaned in, his hands together as his chin rested on top of it. “Angelica, talk to Mother Tree if thy could still go home. Not everyone should fight.”
“We will allow it.” The players all jumped in their big leather seats, seeing her reply so quickly as she turned to the camera. “You’ve already done a portion of your job. We will not hinder your attempt to restart that rudimentary portal. The fates of your people have already been set forward. You may run, but it's already written down.”
As shivers ran up the spines of the Guild Leaders, back in Elvennur. Jackson was as still as a soldier standing before his sergeant.
“General, go back to your seat. Thank you for your time.” He salutes and turns around, marching back to the middle of the half circle where the Emperor, the Pope and Mother Tree remained standing.
“Now, both of you. Elf and Man must once again join hands as it did in ancient times, there is no time to be wasted. For the ruinous times have come upon us once again.”
“I’ve come here to exactly pave the way for such an event. Yet the Elves are more keen to attempt to assassinate a little girl!”
“Pontiff. May I correct you. I did not order such a thing. As if I’d go down to such depravity.” The Emperor then turns to the entire dome, looking from right to left. “Elves of the Business Guilds! Rise!” The Elves in elegant togas then stood up. “Elves of the Military Guilds! Rise!” and then followed the ones in their uniforms. “Tell me, since you two hold the last unvoted power in this court. The Elves of the Order of Forrus, and the Board of Vetus had already said they will support whichever conclusion I go to. Let me hear for one last time. Will you stand with Man? Will you allow the Church of Man to do as it pleases even if it endangers our sovereignty?”
On its own stand, right next to the balcony of the Emperor, the Board of Vetus lay in silence as they leaned over to the Senatorium. The entirety of the Curiate Assembly could feel the weight of the olden Elves. Donning Togas and golden crowns as others wore robes of Forrus and one of them, donning a wreath made from the Mother Tree’s leafs. “King Pio-Unth. Do you believe the foreign Men are of substance?”
With wrinkles to his face, the King looked to the other. “King Yunthe. I only know of one Man. No foreign nor local. They are one species as even in their blasted planet where only there rule. They act no different from the beasts that grow to walk with two feet like us.” the Kings on the Board of Vetus then turn to the ones in Robes. They did not speak nor look anywhere.
The Holy Wood Elves just stared down at the Emperor himself. Their wooden scepters made from divine bark gleaming in gold aura as they anticipated who would rise first in the stands.
Immediately, an Elf in a Toga raises his hand but the Emperor instead turns to a High Admiral who had also raised his hand. “Thydis, what is it? Do you have something you may recommend or say?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” as the Admiral stands up, he looks over to Jackson and then back to the Emperor. “I, Commander and Supreme Regent of the Air and Navy Corps of the Elves. Hereby declare.”
Even though Jackson was no longer Human, he felt an unease come up from his stomach. Making him lift his hand up to the center of his chest.
“We will side with the Pontiff’s wishes on the side of the Outworlders. As Elves of the Military, we see their reason and their logic. Even if they were to endanger us in the future, that is up to me and my subordinates to prepare and meet such conflict with vainful and watchful eyes. Your Majesty, the King-Emperor of the Elves. I’d like to call upon the Legio Legatus Caul of the Army to stand with me, the Military fully stands with the Outworlders and in favor of the Pontiff’s wishes.”
Standing up, he scoffs at the Elves of the Business Guild sector as he brushes his crimson cape over there direction. “I, Legio of the Twentieth, also as supreme Legate of the Legions of her truly, the Goddess Forrus support the Air and Navy Corps. Our priority right now should be uniting with one another as her Mother Tree has said and I wish to do this by allowing the Humans to do as they see fit. In behalf of the disgusting actions of the Business Guilds and its Associations, I will personally have it that my Legio will be in service of Man when the Calamity comes.” Thydis then raised his hand. “And I will personally send a fleet of my Airships and my flagship, Her Lady Green and the biggest Blimp we’ve employed so far to the helms of Man as an apology. As a High Elf, it is only natural to ask for forgiveness and give something ten times the worth in return.”
With this, Thydis looked at the Elves at the right of the Dome then back to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, I believe you should read what the Pope has to say. The Elves of the Private Guilds Sector had gone about their own business, in their loyalty to you, they had inadvertently caused distress to the stability of our Nation.”
“Is that so, Thydis. Very well. Now knowing the Military won’t be scornful. I shall look into this, right now and here.”
The Emperor then returns to looking at the Pontiff. “May I see the evidence that was raised upon the first meeting? Now without the harshness and rudeness to intrude between you and me?” One of the Cardinals quickly came and gave the Emperor the evidence Jackson and Julieanne got from Janishaire.
Within a few minutes, the Emperor scoffed and laughed. “I see. I truly see.” he then rolls it back into a scroll as he breathes a long sigh. “Very well. Elves of the Economic Associations, and the Guilds under it. I want you to give a charitous donation of fifteen percent of all your profit for the next ten cycles to the Church of the Holy See.”
The Elves in extravagant Togas all stood up as they heard the unsheathing of swords from their neighbors, the Elves of the Military. Jackson could clearly see many of them wanted to speak up, but the Legios and Admirals staring them down made them rethink their choice.
The Emperor then snuck a stare at the Board of Vetus and the Robed Elf with a wrinkled face only made a single nod as his wreath made from the leaves of the Mother Tree had a green shimmer to them. “And I will not only give the Holy See of Deus Vrax my approval to their new mission of accepting Beastfolk into their ranks, but also my utmost support to this cause. I will double the Elite Legios that will be sent to Man with my personal Guards. The Elves will not only help fund and build facilities, but as a form of apology. We will also allow members of our Nobility to enter your Church alongside full exceptions in our trade tariffs for the next two cycles.”
He then breathes a long hard sigh. “And… as my deepest form of apology, on behalf of me and my wife, the Queen-Empress. I shall offer my very own Son. The Lone Heir of the Elven Empire to go with the Grand Prince, James Sigured of Dragovh in his voyage against the forces of Vitas and join the Heroes Party. Once again, like the Second Age with the great Deus Vrax who united all of the sentient species under him including us, the Elvish folks of the East. The Elves will stand once again with Man, not as opposites but as equals and friends.”
The Pope of the Holy See couldn’t have a bigger smile on his face. He was absolutely livid upon hearing the Emperor announce such a thing, alongside the Cardinals who will now be getting money from the Elves. He couldn’t help but shed a tear at the victory as Jackson felt like the biggest weight on his shoulders had just been lifted.
Even in his current immortal form, the man couldn’t help but deflate and sit back down. Elizabeth was shocked to feel the sudden release of life of her man as she checked on him quickly just to see he was just shocked beyond belief. “My Lord! Don’t scare me like that! No Vampire would ever be as excited as you.” he didn’t reply, the man just having a smile to his face as he seemed as if he had made it to nirvana.
“Duchess Tempest of House Voltaire, representing the Vampires, may I have some guarantee that King Timothy his Greatness won’t get in the way?”
Morgana quickly teleports to the circular stage and kneels before the Emperor. “I, Duchess Morgana Tempest Voltaire, Lady of House Voltaire solemnly assure you. My King has instructed me to support whatever the Outworlders were supporting. As a form of gratitude from the actions a Lord from their faction had done for us.” This made the Emperor tilt his head. “Hm? A Lord from the Outworlders has aided the Vampires? You Vampires and your secrets and half truths. Never have I seen such a species I have such a hard time trusting.”
“More than once Your Majesty. The second one only being a week ago, where he stopped what could’ve been… a truly disastrous event for our Immortal Kingdom. This Human had even forsaken his Mortal soul just to be here.” She then snuck a peek at Jackson, who was being cradled by Elizabeth and Alana. Both of the Vampires are confused as they’ve never seen another of their kind react in such a way before.
The Emperor notices this and looks to the center where Jackson was. Bahamut was just sitting with her arms and legs crossed. “Ah, of course.” he shrugged his head at the scene, just sighing. “Humans are just something. Truly.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Even I cannot help but think the same thing.”
“Very well. I call this meeting and the ordeal, Elves versus Holy See as finished. The Elves will unconditionally help the Holy See, Mankind itself and pay a charitable amount to their cause as payment for the multiple attempts made at this Seiness girl and the tension it caused between the two species.” He then looked to the Pontiff and the two bowed at each other the same time as they turned around and walked their own path.
Jackson on the other hand could just be heard saying. “It’s finally done. Oh my God, it's finally done.” over and over again like a broken record as clapping could be heard from the stands, everyone except the Elves of the Private Sector was celebrating.
Soon, everyone began to get up as the Empress and the Mother Tree was left on the corner of the podium talking to one another and a long line of people were behind them, many wanting to get things blessed by the personification of the Mother Tree while Bahamut lands.
Upon the click of her heel on the ground, Jackson hugged her. Throwing kisses all over her cheek, making the Dragon blush extremely red while the two Vampires hugged her and patted her. “Ohhhh…! Good Job Bahamut! That’s my Dragon companion! Makes me wanna kiss you on the lips!” The Dragon then pushed Jackson and rested her arms on his shoulders, turning him Human again out of nowhere. “Why not?”
The two Vampires immediately panicked but the Elves were all too concerned with the Mother Tree to even bat them an eye whilst the players did not really care as they were all having an intense conversation, with the livestreams all going offline one by one, showing the High Ups of the UN engaged in an extremely busy talk. Their eyes all have the feel of intense emotion hiding behind.
As the two shared a kiss, Jackson and Bahamut both exited out of the main court where in the grand lobby, General Martinez arrived with a bunch of soldiers carrying a large screen that has the style of a painting frame.
“Oh. Sir!”
“Martinez! What a monumental day.”
“Yes sir, congratulations sir. You and Angelica did pretty well in there.”
“Of course. But Miss Angelica was no slouch either. She put up a good fight against the Business Guilds of the Empire.”
“I do hope she’s not knocked out somewhere from all that stress.” As the two spoke, the soldiers bought next to them the large screen. “Ah, sir. Permission to present this to the Emperor.” This made the General tilt his head. “Why me? I didn’t even know our higher ups did something like this.”
As he looked at the screen that's evidently enchanted beyond belief to preserve it and somehow have power without being connected to an electric grid. “It shows a three hour movie of Human history. Our major battles and wars, achievements, and people.” As the screen changes to the Space Race, showing now unclassified footage from both sides of the failures of their rockets and to the victories, Jackson couldn’t help but shed a smile on his face.
“Where is this going?” turning around, Jackson opens his arms wide as Thydis had his fist already on his chest but the Vampire General still went for the hug. The Elf left just standing confused at the very physical action. “Oh… Uh, I guess this is how it's done on Earth?” He then lightly pats the General’s back as he then shows the TV painting. “Look Thydis, it's the Space Race between the West and East.”
Seeing the footage of the rockets of the American Apollo Program to then, the Soviet Roscosmos and Soyuz rockets. The Admiral’s eyes flared with sparks of magnificence as the other Elites of the Empire gathered to watch the footage of Mankind’s race to space.
They’d whisper and talk amongst one another, but many were just silent as Earth’s humanity touched the very stars outside. Then showed HD 4K footage from the late 2030s the first Man to reach Mars and in the midst of the 2040s, the first Human settlement in the red planet as terraforming was done by former enemies, East and West were both together, though still apart in there Martian Towns, the centers was where they’d gather as one people and a CGI of the length of travel with the new Fission Rockets was shortened from a Decade to only a month whilst space mining projects had began on the various rocks floating about all loaded with automated android crews.
And then came the panning shot of Earth from outer space. Jackson and Martinez both just stood frozen, unable to say a word at the view of their home. The bountiful ocean, the continents, the clouds and the familiar shapes of the terrain.
He then turns around and takes Bahamut and Alana with Elizabeth by the hand. Lifting his finger, he points at Southeast Asia as he rests his palm on his heart. “Home.” A hand of a woman then appears and points at the United States. “That’s mine.” Martinez then smiles as he points down south of the country in Mexico. “I hope they're fine.” an Elf wearing an armor of gold then bows and turns to the Generals. “The Emperor wishes to meet you at its place in the collection. Please follow me.”
They were then taken to another section of the Dome, walking through its lavish halls, it took them a good ten minutes of walking till they reached the entire section that’s akin to a museum. Relics of the old artifacts of the Gods were openly displayed there and in the second floor was an art section. Paintings of various sizes and types litter it and in a corner, the Emperor, Empress, and Imperial Prince were there.
General Jackson was the first to meet with them, bowing with the girls but the Emperor quickly stopped Bahamut from copying them. “Please Goddess, I should be the one bowing.” the Imperial family then returns the gesture and bows to her. Kneeling with their fists on their chest as the Royal Soldier instructs the UN soldiers to put it on the wall.
Looking at it, the Emperor smiles at the moving pictures. The grand display of Earth’s achievements right in front of him. “Wonderful. I now know why the Gods chose you to come and aid us. To think Humanity could achieve such marvels." The showcase of technology then ends and begins the many battles mankind fought.
Jackson and Martinez seemingly turned their faces away as one by one, the screen showed the disagreements Man had with himself through the ages and the aftermaths that came after.
The Emperor looked at the two generals and just gave them a warm smile. “Why are you ashamed? War is part of life, it's in everything. You should just be happy that it's over. Even we Elves came to such days, when we fought against one another as we disagreed on how to fulfill our duty as the horrific creations of the Cosmos were becoming far too heavy even with the aid of the Dragons.” it then shows the World Wars, slowing down on the third as a subtitle appears.
“We hope this will be the last.”
It then shows the start of the war, the stock market crash that wiped trillions in the market and the emergence of the East in the manufacturing and services sector. Though even with a horrific scar, the West kept on fighting for its dominance while on the back, the leaders of Asia and the Middle East had started to lay their plot. Back then, more innocent moves for self reliance and stockpiling of Gold became evident; it was all for preparation.
Soon then, ASEAN and BRICS+ joined under one banner. The flatscreen TV showed the grand 500 million dollar parade that consisted of 30+ armies marching in the streets of Dubai under one banner, the crimson flag that held the logo of the main nations. Hexagonal in its shape, a massive rearmament began, using technology from East and West.
Entire armadas were laid while in the private sector as a few years later, in the beginning of 2026, the “Five Days to Hell began.”
Ships from ASEAN and BRICS surrounded Taiwan and Japan as a diplomatic disaster was sparked and calls to the UN began and envoys were sent.
Bahamut with the two Vampires were looking at Jackson, even though he was a Vampire, they couldn’t help it but stare at the man as he watched the news that he had long forgotten to play once again.
One after one meeting failed, every UN session would end with shouting matches and shoes being thrown between Europeans and Asians while in their respective nations, a combined army had begun to awaken from the ashes of the East and a text once again showed on the screen. “The Devil Wears a Suit and A Tie.” with the background being the majority of the leaders in the United Nations donning such clothing.
A fade to black then came and out on the other side was a Streamer in a huge apartment. As he played World of Warcraft, a streak of bright light was reflected on the windows of the skyscrapers and the livestream was cut.
”Götterdämmerung”
It said on the screen as bright flashes began on US Posts in Asia, from the Indian Ocean all the way to Japan, the Philippines, and Hawaii and as if a crescendo of chaos had began to play, troops wearing the same hue of camo, with one difference being the flag under the symbol of the Asian Alliances was the only thing to say which nation they came from started to march.
But even at its worst, the United States with its Allies scourged up what they could, Cold War stockpiles of Leopard 1s and M60s to the newest Leopard 2 and Abrams models pumping out in mass numbers as everything under the sun was activated.
Martinez shed a tear at the sight while Jackson just kept a stoic expression. The Empress though was not amused by it all, while the Emperor and the Prince just looked in awe of the sheer magnitude of destruction that occurred at such a short amount of time.
It was only a day since then, and entire cities had been leveled by long range weapons, hundreds of thousands dead to hundreds of millions displaced whilst through it all, none of the leaders of both sides thought of stopping. Instead accelerating the war further as anger took root in each and everyone’s heart.
As if the world was burning right before them, the light of peace had all but gone from the corners of the globe as fathers and mothers weep the death of their sons and daughters while the marching feet and the threads of armored vehicles sweep through the rubble that was once their homes.
Videos shown weren’t from the glorious soldiers of NATO or of the Alliances in their heroic fight. Instead, of the civilians caught between the two juggernauts. The irritating sounds of the Drones to the brutality of street to street combat. In between every five videos, the video would showcase Before and Afters of cities and people, the toil it had taken, as if a wave of death came and gone.
Then came the first videos from the two sides. Showing only the backs of Men as their Officers talked to them about their duties and when the camera pans to show their faces, they were all 16 to 18 year old men. Donning equipment that costs as much as a sedan or a pick up truck, some driving tanks that could feed a person till his last breath.
There was no glory shown, just the faces of young men given to them a duty that many should never be given. Weighing on their shoulders, an entire nation roars in support and weeps at the same time as God looks down from above with a disheartening stare and all Man could do as push forward against its enemies.
Push forward it did as the videos showed the absolute monstrosity of the war that happened. Entire columns getting erased by guided munitions as squad after squad was wiped by Sucide Drones carrying Napalm or High Explosive warheads. Often then, the aftermath of these extremely well equipped and armed boys laying as burnt lifeless husks next to their cutting edge vehicles.
“My tanks will support you from the start, and they will only stop when YOU say it’s enough. Ankara is going to be Hell and armor is going to be with you every step of the way.” The video, that of an Asian soldier briefing his unified troops in their duty inside a dilapidated and mostly destroyed building in a desert made Martinez turn to Jackson who was as frozen as ever as the video showed the T-95 Black Eagles of the Alliances rolling forward into a Turkish town.
They were so fast and violent that cars were still driving on the road and stores and stalls were still open as the tanks rolled on the main street, their 125mm Smoothbore main gun nearly nailing a passing tourist bus as they engaged NATO troops on the other side as videos came from both sides, there gathering areas constantly being shelled and shot by rockets. There only safety being the armored vehicles though some would be directly hit by suicide drones.
And soon came the photos, many consisting of burning forests with military vehicles to burning cities with corpses littering the streets and then came the end of the war. 2033 - Moscow Peace Pact began, with Russia being the neutral country, both sides came to a resolution in the Kremlin, in the country that sat between the two sides of the planet and the rebuilding began as the number of deaths was counted.
In 2040, the official number rested at between 120-127,000,000 people dead with more still being found to this very day. The statistics showed the majority came from China, Indonesia, India, Germany, France, Canada, the United States while nations like South Africa, Mexico, Serbia, and such all only contributed a small force to the sides they chose to fight with still had significant losses from the famine and disease as world trade stopped for 7 long years.
“General…” Jackson looks at the Prince, who had spoken for the first time. “What made Man not think of stopping? Our Empire only has Fifty Million Elves and it's rapidly declining…” The Imperial Prince then turns his face to the General, with heavy eyes. “What made Man so angry at each other that they’d go to war, killing twice the number of all the High Elves in Threa?”
Jackson just looked at the Prince with a smile as Martinez who was now watching the rebuilding of Earth’s many cities sighs. “One side was weaker and the stronger side saw it was time to take their place and become the one on top.” the Elven General crossed his arms. “The brave and Heroic died first, leaving behind the cowards. It was a miracle the Human Society bounced back from that mess. Modern medical technology prevented that One hundred million from becoming three.” he puffed and shrugged his head. “Three percent of the world's population, gone in six years of nothing but absolute total war. The Alliances did not want a stagnant war, they wanted it gone fast but it was anything but.”
“You still haven't answered my question, General.”
“Because I don’t really have a proper answer, Your Highness.”
The Emperor then looked at Jackson. “I believe this is why the hordes of Hell returned after facing you in that city. Can you show the same ferocity again?” the Vampiric General just had a slight grin to his face, making Elizabeth and Alana shake a bit at the sight of him having such a reaction whilst Bahamut was just slightly surprised.
With a nod, the Emperor looked at the screen and went back to watching as Jackson started to walk away.
He glistens past a huge artwork of a pale blonde woman with long braided hair with a castle in the back. Her stature being taller than the people all raising their hands as if to praise her immaculate beauty. This made him look but the man was far too occupied with where was going to stay as Elizabeth and Alana kept a close eye on him. Leaving Bahamut to see the piece of art all for herself.
“It is one of the last relics left by the Vampires. The Ancient Queen planned to make Elvennur her personal castle.” The Empress stops next to Bahamut, looking up at the faceless teenage girl in a blue gown. “This was drawn by an Elf who tried to capture the look of a Princess long ago. I personally allowed him to do so as I found it hard to believe a Human could look as good as she did.”
Though the painting was done with bright colors and an upbeat tone, the Dragon couldn’t help but feel differently. With the peasants and even the Nobles and the Church all bowing to this wonderful blonde girl. Her size being bigger than the rest as the painting depicts her as a giant woman that loomed over the rest, her shadow encompassing even the castle walls.
Her pale skin was unblemished, the thin waist yet plump chest and rear, and the golden long hair. The plaque under it just said “Beauty” in Common. “Nobody knew what happened to her when the plague came for their Kingdom… but I do hold some ideas.” The Empress looked at Jackson and then at Bahamut who just gave her a grin. “I need to go, Master might get himself into another problem.”
Leaving the Empress be, the Dragon follows closely behind Jackson as they return back to the Main Lobby where most of the Elves were. With the avatar of the Mother Tree still getting constantly bogged by gifts and presents while the UN delegation was just calmly sitting on the sidelines. Angelica had a ice pack on her forehead as she sat on the bench, clenching her hands tightly as the General approached him.
“You seem tired.”
“The pressure on my shoulders today was more than I hoped for… I don’t think anytime in my life in the future will I get more stress than this in a day.”
“But you did well under the eyes of the Elven Guilds on the left. Be happy that it's all over now.”
“Hm. I might request to be stationed at an Embassy somewhere else like James.”
“Oh yeah, I recommend it. It's a beautiful country, the capital city is a gem too.”
As Jackson was about to sit next to her, the two Vampires behind him quickly bowed and lowered their heads. The sensation he was feeling was a familiar one and looking back, a long silver hair pierces his eyesight.
Dashing as always, with her fluorescent gown that seemingly shines the night sky and its many stars to her pale skin that glows in the golden halls of the Elven dome. The Duchess was and is a perfect doll through and through, the magnum opus of the Angels themselves cursed with immortality and bloodlust. She held reserve in the way she walked and even breathed.
Catching not only the eyes of the UN delegation, but also even the Elves who were much impressed by her looks and elegance.
“My, Lady Tempest. How may I be of service to you? I am shocked to know you took the time to talk to me.”
“Are you that Human named Jackson that I onced shared a dance with? I can smell his scent off you but faintly.”
“That is indeed me… I apologize for my form but it had to be done.”
“I am surprised to see you leave your mortality for your duty.” This made her take her fan out and unfurled it full, lifting it up to her mouth as her eyes squinted, the make up on her eyelashes made her crimson eyes stand out and was even more accentuated by the fan that had the design of the blue moon and its orbit. “How has your immortality been?”
“It's been… an interesting time. But I will return to being a Human soon as the potion I’ve used is nearly out.”
“Very well. Time is of the essence.” The Duchess then laid her hands on his shoulders, the fingers of the woman as tall as he is thanks to her heels. “I’d like to properly congratulate you. For not only saving our Kingdom from one of your own, but as a Lady. Would you perhaps entertain me for a night?” This made Jackson instantly shrug his head at her offer. “I apolo-” but was then stopped by Alana as she dragged his head back to her. “M’Lord, you better not say no.” This made him squint his eyes as Elizabeth then took his head towards her, dragging the Vampire man around.
“My Lord, you are a Vampire Lord. This is something you need to do as that means you are seen as the superior person. You must do your duty and… Make sure she is satisfied. This is a privilege only the most known Vampires get to do.” He squints his eyes even more as Alana then takes his attention. “Also, M’Lord. Demand that she hands me a plot of farmland. Her region is next to the country of Vitas and on the edge of their ashen lands is some of the most fertile land in the Kingdom.” he then nods and immediately returns back to the Duchess.
“Ahem, I apologize for that. But I will accept this in exchange for some plot in your fertile lands. Preferably one near the country of Vitas.” This made the Duchess look at the Countess instantly and crossed her arms. “Alright, but I will demand a twenty percen-” this was then interrupted by Alana coughing. “Ten.”
“TEN Percent… of the profits.” This made Jackson turn his head at the Countess who nodded. “I currently reside in the manor of Admiral Thydis, Lady Tempest.” This made her nod as she nonchalantly turned around and with a flick of her fingers, multiple Vampire Knights accompanied her out of the Senatorium but this made the General turn to the two Vampires.
“You know this goes against my morals. You're lucky I am a Vampire right now and it's scary how easy I can discard it.”
“M’Lord, this is how it works in our society. But what you did here will help my House for a very long time. Even I dare say that it will usher in a new age of profits for my Region.”
“But is this truly how relationships between Vampire Nobles worked?”
“Not only Vampires. Even to Elven and Human Nobles, this is how it is. We cannot hold our personal lust and needs in front unless we can afford it. M’Lord, I need to put my people and subjects above everything, it's my duty.”
“Even then…” this made the Countess smile as she lifted her hand up Jackson’s cheeks. “Maybe one day, M’Lord. If you ever return here, you will surely become a Lord. It is only natural with someone who has accomplished much.” Elizabeth then came in from the other direction, seductively twirling as she rested her cheeks into his shoulder.
“A good Queen thinks of her King and people before she rests, thinks twice and thrice and more before she makes request. Thou wilt unto you the duty of a Noble, be the splendor and grandeur giveth to thou is from the people. Thy people hold thee worthy of such luxuries, but whence came is thine heavy crown that held the Nation in its shine.”
She once again twirls, stopping right in front of Jackson. “My Lord, what you did there was a transaction. May I remind you in our Kingdom, the purity of one's blood is as important as one's achievements in battle, economy, and diplomacy. A Vampire woman would do that if she wants the lust you can offer, something dearly beloved and held to great heights in our society. The satisfaction you can provide is worth more to her than that plot of land.” The General though just shrugs his shoulders at the answer.
“I really don’t get it but I guess this is just one of the many caveats to being a Noble.”
“It really is. Isn’t that right, Countess?”
“Indeed. We must always set aside our personal needs and wants. If you said no there, M’Lord. It might’ve sent the Duchess to go against the Minuits. It's a known fact that the Ladies under a Lord would become possessive. I probably would’ve been the same if it weren’t from our unique relationship.”
“That was a problem that was dodged. Nonetheless, Our Lord gets to bed a wonderful Duchess. Of the Voltaires too. That is some exquisite blood from a brood that dates back even before I came to rule over the Vampires of this planet. My Lord, just do your task. You already have much experience with a Vampire’s body and you are a Human at that time. With your new form, you should be able to apply what you learned from us both and turn in a good result… right?”
“R-Right. Of course.” Though this made Jackson lift his hand up his forehead, massaging it. “Even in this form, I still get confused about your cultures and traditions.” the Queen just taps his shoulder as the Admiral was gesturing for them to follow him.
He leads them out of the Senatorium and to the park in front of it. The Mother Tree was surrounded by the Board of Vetus, the 12 Kings all proudly showcasing her the many memorials erected from the many wars and great feats Elves had made. “I’d like to go and talk to the Mother Tree but what am I even going to ask the Avatar of something that predates us, Elves?”
Soon, the Imperial family arrives. The Emperor, Empress, Imperial Prince and some of their Uncles and Aunts as they presented the Avatar a great gift that was a relic from the ages. But before Jackson could get a good look at it, Bahamut had grabbed him by the collar, stopping him from hitting the side of the carriage and putting him in with them as the Admiral ordered the driver to take them home.