Waking up after a long good sleep, the man was given a letter from Alana who had gently placed it over his head. “It’s from that Business lady we met, M’Lord. She wants to invite us to a formal party with the Emperor.” Already fully awakened, he takes the envelope and is surprised at the intricate design it had on its exterior. It was elaborate that he felt bad for opening it.
Taking a look at the invitation. It was written in both Common and International English, with the grammar and punctuation being on point, as if the person who wrote this has been taught the language since its birth or even had lived on Earth for a long long time.
“M’Lord, I believe this is the first time an Outworlder is invited to the Emperor’s Feast and the second time a Vampire is to be seen in such a festivity.”
“Eh?! Tonight though?!” Elizabeth was then heard laughing on the sofa. Throwing the remote to a pillow next to her, she turns to the man with a big wide smile. “My Lord! Do get used to it. The Elves are very spontaneous with their invitations. Even I was caught off guard by this fact. The very same thing happened to me long ago.” scratching his head, he walks off to their room and begins unpacking his uniform, all ironed out and still hot from the press. “Why though? Of all the things we read about the Elves, this is still a question to me.”
Leaning on the letter, the writing was immaculate. Concise, precise, and to the point. It bears the stamp of the Emperor himself. “The Emperor also wants Bahamut to be with us too.”
“I believe it's because the Elves have all the time in the world like we do. They prefer things to be riled up every now and then. We can delay a meeting for years and it might seem just a few days for you." Elizabeth then stands up, stretching her body as she picks a gown in her wide assortment. “The Emperor is akin to that of a Demigod, he probably smelled Bahamut’s power even with all her effort to hide it.”
As he takes out his uniform next to her, the doorbell rings and instantly, the Countess was there to look at the Intercom and notices that it's a soldier holding a clipboard. Holding down the talk button, she spoke with a more calm and normal tone. “How may we help you?” He then tips his field cap and looks to the intercom.
“Uhhhh good morning ma’am. We got a request for Bahamut to come to the Observatory. The Astrologists there found something interesting that they’d like for her to see.” She then turns around and Bahamut was already in her Human form. “Che. Sure. Master, I’ll be back then. Save some meat for me. Roc Meat tastes good and I want more.” Jackson then peeks from the door to the main bedroom as he buttons up his shirt. “Don’t be late!” He says as she exits out and into the hallway.
The soldier shivers at the sight of Bahamut. Though she’s wearing a more modern ensemble, her aura was still the same and her stare was enough to make him tremble in place. “F-Follow me, Goddess.”
She was then led to the underground motorpool where a convoy of black armored Cadillacs awaited her and she was taken to the most Eastern side of the floating city where a huge Observatory awaited them. The mammoth brass telescope being the size of a four storey building angled at ninety degrees was in full zoom as it was kept in place by a stabilizer.
On the entrance to it, which was an open air park. The Elven delegates were in their best Togas, all of them wearing metallic wreaths of Goddess Forrus holding a flask of water on both sides. Kneeling on both of their knees and holding their hands together, they closed their eyes as an aged Elven man with whitening blonde hair wearing an extravagantly laced purple toga came to her and went for his sleeves. Revealing on it a piece of cooked meat.
“This is a Meat of a Great Roc. Only a handful exist today. Please feast upon this Goddess.” On the sidelines, where Bahamut was scanning, were Players wearing proper shirts and slacks with lab coats on. They’d bow their heads as she looked at them while the outer perimeter was secured by soldiers of the UN. With only a handful of Elven grunts actually present outside.
Looking at the cooked bird meat, its succulence was obvious even from afar. Sliding from her pencil skirt was her armored tail. Grabbing the Great Roc meat, she eats it in one go and the Elven man gives her his most humbling smile. “Thank you for accepting my offering.”
He then neatly folded the silk cloth that kept the meat and slid it back into his sleeves. “My name is Crito-Ildem-Umus but you may call me Sir Crito. I am an Astronomer and one of the first to make a book about it next to a Human named Potomy. Though his short life didn’t help him whilst I continued even to this very day.” she nods and the Elven man then looks to the lab coated players. “Doctor Manilius, please.”
He quickly then stepped forward. But before continuing his walk. Would kneel on all fours, his head kissing the glistening tiles as he turns his head up to look at her. He’d do this three times before standing up fully and excusing himself in between the line of Elven scholars.
“Goddess Bahamut. I am Doctor Manilius. On Earth, I have a Doctorate in Space Science and Astronomy. Forgive me for how I act even though my Avatar is a young and up man. In life, I was but a seventy five year old professor who works part time at NASA… well before it got defunded to the point it no longer served anything.”
“Nonetheless, why was I called here? Though, thanks for the food.”
The two Elves, player and native then looked at one another then to her. “Please follow us. It's best if you see it for yourself.” The two then led her to the front door as behind them was an entourage of Scientists that all quietly and silently followed them into the main lobby of the research center.
Though it was small, the area for research was vast on the first floor. With most of the West side being for drawing up accurate locations of the stars while the East side was reserved for testing specimens retrieved from space.
Before long, she was brought up to the second floor where the main telescope was at. The huge stabilizers are constantly at work with floating gyros connected to huge servos and synchros which make the gigantic apparatus at a perfect stable state no matter the sway of the floating city.
The large dome would rotate through a set of wheels on the outside while the shutters were fully opened and the telescope in full zoom. The Dragon notices the more modern attachments added to it. Making it have a mix of a golden ancient and grayish modern look to it. Though the Elves had the windshields on as the gusts of wind were particularly harsh on that bright day, inside it. It was fully air conditioned.
Carpets were laid everywhere with plaques showing the departments under the main telescope. Walking next to her, Manilius goes for his lab coat and unravels a bunch of papers. It was so much that the moment he untucked them, it almost exploded in a confetti of paperwork. Though the Elven Doctor behind him was quick on his feet and used magic to stop it.
“It’s pretty impressive isn’t it, Goddess?” The Outworlder Scientists then picked up a clipboard showing a bunch of numbers and graphs. “Since the Elven’ Goddess told her creation to go and learn more about the world, the knowledge they could bring to Alioloc and inform the Gods of anything that they could’ve missed. They went beyond the call of duty and made something as great as this.”
He seemed as if he was in a world of dreams. Letting the Goddess bask in the creations of the Elves and in all of its flash.
“Eh. The Dragons already had something like this in part of our Human friends in Tur. Though, it's been long gone now, it was something like this but less on the flash and more on the function.” she’d then tilt her head a bit as she smiled. “I remember the chromatic Dragons bringing foreign rocks from space down to Tur for research.”
“But that’s the thing, as lavish and hotel-like this place seems, it's actually very well thought out and the devices they made from the Crystals and whatever Mana source they could have in large quantities is amazing. The space research of Tur pales in comparison to what the Elves had gathered! Their cosmos is far different to what was in Earth, mystical in all of its senses!”
“Mystical? How?”
As if she had flipped a switch on the player. A big smile pops on his face as he flips through the clipboard, showcasing the various photos they’ve taken. “Their constellations are an entirely different thing from Earth. It's like their Space is alive in its own way. Unlike ours, where Scientifically, it's just dead rocks and prehistoric cells. Here, it's so odd. There’s more planets with life than we could’ve ever expected and things move in a more visible way.” Bahamut just yawns as the Doctor keeps on yapping to her. “We even found traces of what might be Cosmic Creatures lingering in open space.”
This made her stop and then look at the Elf in his Toga. Clean shaved and with his long white gold hair, he nods to her. “What he says is true. There’s been stories long before me, before when the Elves were but one uniquely different but united people in Paradise of great huge creatures floating just outside beyond the clouds…" They soon climbed a short staircase which then led to the main telescope itself. “They say these creatures leave behind the resources needed to make new planets, which the Gods would use to create.”
Inside the huge dome, there were Scientific materials everywhere mixed in with modern ones that use computers. In one of them was a female Elf player. She bows her head as Manilius leads her to it and nods to her.
The screen then turns on and it shows what the telescope was seeing. It’s a vast collection of galaxies far far away. “Turn it to the left. Back to the increment we used on that special day.” She nods and the scope returns to an old record. It then zooms in for a good minute. “Turn on infrared mode.”
Bahamut’s head tilts at the screen as Sir Crito with a wand makes a circle on the screen. Pointing at two huge eyes in the vastness of space. “Miss Maria, Mid Infrared.” it then changes and this time, they could fully make out the shape of a four legged Dragon with four wings, around its huge armored head with six vertical horns was four Angels with massive feathered wings. Three of which were playing an instrument that seemed to be trumpets.
“Beautiful… isn’t it?”
“Indeed… just what have you found?”
“I don’t know. It just happened when you were in the Senate Meeting, Goddess. My theory is that since the Elves are so close to the Heavens, your presence must’ve been seen by not just the Gods.” Bahamut’s eyes squinted as her mouth frowned though everyone was smiling and giddy around her.
Everyone could see the eyes and head was moving alongside the wings of the angels around its head. “Each movement it makes is about eighty to ninety years old. So we’re basically seeing the far flung past right now.” but then, the eyes of the Cosmic Dragon locks into the screen, as if to directly look at the very telescope that’s looking at it galaxies away.
All the people inside the dome had their hair stand up at the sight while Bahamut just stayed standing still like a statue. Manilius then turned his head to look at her and the Dragon God's golden eyes were sparkling, inside her iris was something truly prehistoric, moving and acting in full.
Before long, she blinks, making him hold his breath. “W-woah… Dragons don’t blink unless they're caught off guard, right?” she then turns to him. “Close it. We’re done here.” The Cosmic Dragon then turns its head away as it returns to scanning the vastness of space.
She then starts walking back to the staircase as she begins to get hounded by the Astronomers.
“So what is its size? Sex? Type? Make? Species? How does it reproduce?” Manilius had his phone out and was ready to record everything with his paper and pen floating next to him. “Chosen One, Don’t you have a theory already?” he nods, looking at his collection of papers and showing it to her. It was a drizzling showcase of advanced mathematical equations paired with tables and graphs to prove the calculations he made. “We can easily say this creature is a hundred thousand kilometers long. The Angels among it being six to eight thousand kilometers tall. This is insane! It is something truly Godly! Majestic! Angelic!” she just lowers his collection of papers.
“Regardless, leave it alone. It is far beyond your understanding and will forever will be.” Everyone then stopped upon hearing this. “It’s merely observing. It poses no threat, nor does it want to get involved in anything. Leave it be as it just wants to watch.” Sir Crito then steps forward and raises his hand. “Exactly, what is it?”
“It is… a Dragon. One like Albion. Looking for the next place to spread our strength and power. Leave it be, it wishes to not be involved. The Cosmic Dragons are something of a myth to our culture, something one must never touch, call, or speak to.” She then turns around and looks at the large group of researchers, all vying to know more in their feet. “I’ve roamed the lands of Tur, I’ve seen the corpses of the Gods slain before. Their giant skeletons were wasting away in valleys and oceans to never be seen again. This is my first and last warning, I am sure the Elves here know what must be done.”
She then turns her face to the players. “But you… Chosen Ones. I know of what you truly are. Do not let your curiosity get the best of you. This is the folly of your species and don’t let it embrace you in such a poignant time. The fewer claws involved in this already messy era, the better.”
The Elf then gets one of his Scholars. “The Goddess has spoken! Bring any record of this to the Caven Library! Seal it at once and never let it be found!” The Players then block the Elves who were about to do it but Bahamut just crosses her hands, Jackson’s black leather overcoat seeming like a cloak as she walks to the entrance. “Chosen Ones…. Do you want me to have a repeat of what I do to your kin?”
Suddenly, the Boss OST of Bahamut starts playing and her health bar pops below their sights making the players all cower in fear almost immediately, letting the Elves pick up all research of the creature and promptly take it all away. “Good. Some things are better left unanswered. You may observe it but look no further.”
But before she could go out, one of the players stops her. “Goddess, can you at least tell us what those Angels are for? Why are they playing instruments? Is it meant to be something?” She scratches her head as she turns around to the collection of Native and Outworlder Elves all chatting amongst themselves as they look at each other's scientific papers that they’ve amassed concerning the Angelic figures with the Dragon.
Some of them looked at her and jogged to the Dragon. “Goddess! Is this correct?”, “Bahamut! Please tell me if my theory is correct!”, “Goddess, what’s the next move? Should we continue observing the Angels if it means nothing?”, “Bahamut, can you sign my paper?” she just sighs and raises her hand. It instantly made everyone calm and turned their heads to her.
“Those from Tur have the answers.” The Native Elves then turn to the Players. “That Dragons origin is near those stories of old. The origins of Albion and his travels from space. The Angels, it's best to look at those from Threa. I don't even know the full story of those creatures, but I believe they sing when a world is in peril… or about to be.” Sir Crito then walks to her and shows her a scroll which he teleports in. “Inside this… is the final prediction we have made. This will be sent to Oceanowa, the Sinking City for where the Professors there in works with Humanity will give out our last and final conclusion.”
He made direct eye contact with the Dragon, holding the heavy and big ornate scroll holder. “Please, tell us. What does this mean?” she rests her forehead on her fingertips whilst sighing. “Since you gave me good meat, I shall tell you my theory. I believe those are the Angels of Calamity. Each one of them sang a tune that I could see in those infrared frequencies. It speaks to me of death, genocide, and mass murder.” Everyone didn’t slack off and started writing on their papers, regardless if they had to do it on the wall, floor, or even on the back of their fellow Doctor.
“Watch when the last Angel plays her Trumpet. I believe that’s when calamity comes. In tandem when Vitas releases its armies to the world.” Manilius, on the other hand shows her a picture of the Angel, the last one still asleep as it lets its body float in space. “So… when this one awakens, that’s it?” she nods. “I believe so. The Dragon there has a name, but it didn’t want to tell me. That just means it does not want to get involved in what is about to happen." She then turns around and exits out of the Observatory.
On the road, the door was opened by an Agent who bows. “Goddess, General Jackson has made his way to Curatius Domus. It is the home of the Emperor and it is where the party is held. Should we get you there?” she nods quietly, hopping inside as the left opened door shows the Astronomers all talking amongst themselves as the Cadillac drives away.
Inside the Compound of the Emperor’s palace, standing on a terrace. Jackson looks at the Senate Pantheon, its huge size visible even from there. Behind him, hundreds of Elves in elegant Togas alongside the two Vampires in their own gowns were talking amongst themselves as the huge mansion loomed over its surroundings. Complete with towers on the corners of the compound, it was complete with a hot pool, garden, open air practice arena, and a yard just meant for the previous Emperors.
“Ahem.” He then turns around to see a familiar face. “Ah, Lady Destrau.” She smiles and approaches him. Her extravagant toga shows the seamless curves of her body and her makeup that accentuates the sharpness of her facial features as she looked at the Vampire with an intense stare. Making her seem more feminine than before. “I believe we’ve met before?” he nods. “Indeed we have. But I was still a Human.” she then giggles as she leans her elbow on the terrace railing. “I guess even Outworlders are suspect to the Vampires’ allure.”
“No comment on that.”
“Pfft. So, how do you find our civilization? The magnificent society the Elves had built? Where problems are so few we often spend the days in our batheums and parks.”
“It's… it's pretty impressive. I imagined how this would be the closest thing to a perfect society but… I don’t know. I find it extremely eerie.” Hearing this made the Elf tilt her head as she twirls around him and rests her elbow on the railing, letting her lean back. “Eerie? My, that is such a strong word now wouldn’t it be?”
“It’s just that… even in Vampire society, there were hints of chaos and depravity. Here, everything is seemingly just sparkling… I don’t know. I might be too used to the usual insanity of Human society.”
“But, is it better than the Human ones?”
“Can’t truly say that being one myself… well formerly as of right now. But it is without a doubt impressive. Extremely impressive. By all means, your society has perfect marks all around. But it's odd though, when outside of your Empire’s walls. Your attitude seems to change.” The Elf then turns around, properly looking out of the terrace alongside him. “It’s stress, I believe. Stress from the fact that we are in an unknown land with unknown cultures and traditions.”
Hearing this, Jackson turned his head to look at the Elf. With her white black hair coupled with the rich texture of her toga and the ribbons on her wrist that has a near translucent effect coming out of the light bouncing from the polished pillars around them, the Vampire General’s eyes widened at her seemingly ethereal form.
“We Elves are not known to stress. The worst we face is maybe an unexpected occurrence but many of us look out for that, a chance to test ourselves and what we’ve learned so far.”
“I’m guessing people outside of the Empire’s borders are more complex than you’d imagine.”
“Of course! Far more complex and… it just leaves me speechless at times with the things I am left to witness. But businesses need to be expanding, and it's a task I must take on. I apologize if I came off harsh to you.” This made the General nod as he looked out to the skies. Clearly making out the shapes of them, as if his eyes could filter out the glare they give out. “I wonder if you would have the same openness if you were to meet me today in my Human form.”
“I have nothing against Humans. But I believe just as my colleagues in the business sector of the Empire. We’re just fearful. Your unpredictability owes us great distraught as Mankind would usually jump headfirst into an unwinnable fight." This made the General chuckle enough that he leaned down and kept nodding.
Her eyes lit up at the sight of the side face of Jackson. She could clearly make out his sharp chiseled chin, and the sparkling wondrous eyes of a Vampire with a clear dream and a mission. Muscular and beautiful, she couldn’t help herself lean forward, closer to his face. “General, do you know how we Elves see Vampires?” He shrugs, drinking from the wine glass in his right hand. “We see them as one of the only creatures that can understand us and our eternal beauty. They can be ethereal just as us but share the animosity and lust for power that comes with Human emotions.” with silk cloth going over on top of her elbows, she swirls around, letting the loose end swing in harmony with her skirt.
“You know, running a business of materials used for cloth is one of the easiest yet dangerous things one could take on on this planet, General?” he smiles and turns away from her. Instead, looking at the two Vampires who were busy talking to Elves left and right. But his view was then blocked by her. “We often had to battle other companies looking for the dyes, or sources of silk and velvet. Though the Empire has sources of these, some are far too few for products to be sent out in mass." She then lays her hands on his broad shoulders. “I do wonder, what happens in the minds of you, Vampires, to go so far out to look for these snails.”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
“Ah yes, the snail that makes the purple dye, right?” She nods as she places one hand on his long flat shoulder. “You know, the first Queen of the Vampires had a gown made out of this extremely rare dye? She’d often wear it around as a daily gown to show off how rich and loose she can be with the Kingdom’s money.” The General didn’t even put up a rebuttal. Instead, touching the pocket where he usually puts his wallet on and just nods.
“That gown… made from pure silk velvet, dyed with hundreds of those endangered snails. I do wonder where it may be now. Though it's been so long it's probably rotted alongside her…” Jackson’s lisps just clasp as he turned away from her and coughed. “Ahem. I am surprised that even with magic, you find it hard to make dyes.”
This then made the Elf smile and shrug. “It’s the process of finding the animals and making sure its species is preserved. Though the Dragons wouldn’t really care nor would the Humans as they operate on the basis that all Species will come to an end some day and be replaced. We Elves have a duty given by the Goddess.” looking up to the great space above, the Elven woman just had a small smile to her face as she closed her eyes and breathed in the clean cold air.
“To preserve, take care, and learn more about this planet and its living species?”
“Yes, General. You’ve only been here for a handful of days yet you seem to be versed already in our religion.”
“It's still a shocker to me none of you have Churches or Temples for Forrus. But then again, this is your society. I am merely an Alien lingering around its inner sanctums trying to grasp the head of an Elf.”
Smiling, Jackson just looks behind her to the Countess. “Ahem.” Destrau immediately turns around and bows elegantly to her. “Lady Minuit, pleased to meet you once again.” Alana smiled and bowed back with double the amount of elegance. “Of course, but please do try to not tease the General. He has had a long day already.” she laughs, holding her hand up her mouth, exposing the five luxurious rings on it. “Lady Minuit, he’s no longer Human. It seems that you got used to his former body. Vampires, when driven to an objective won’t shake no matter how much one would try.” She shrugs and takes Jackson by the hand, taking him inside the main building.
“Thank you for your concern but I believe it's best we talk later. I must take him with me.” The Countess then wraps her hand around his and starts taking him away. The General gives the Elf a quick head tilt and smiles away as the Countess drags him into the party. “Well now, to find that rumored Dragon Goddess.”
Outside, a convoy of Black Cadillacs arrive and the Royal Guards open the gate of the compound. Being powered by magic, all they had to do was push a button and it’d instantly open.
Inside, the huge garden in front of the Emperor’s Guest House had various rare flowers and hedges on it. Alongside golden statues with diamonds and sapphires, it looked more like an art gallery meant for the ultra of society than an actual place to plant flowers on.
She opens the door on herself as the afternoon has draped the entire place with a hue of orange. One of the Secret Service members opened an umbrella as she walked. On one of the balconies, an Elf wearing an elegant toga with a button that holds wings, and a wreath of leafs on his head curiously looks at her.
One of the servants below bows as he notices her bright golden eyes sparkling under the shade of the umbrella. “Oh beautiful Great Tree…” and she is led to the second floor where music and laughter can be heard. The Elven man then turns around to the walkway to the main party room and arranges himself.
She opens the door, not letting the announcer speak. “Everyone!” As he spoke, the Dragon was already in the crowd, with everyone looking at her as she was the only one in modern clothing and sharp vertical metallic horns. It then slowly burns as it changes to her classic Gothic Funeral Gown with the veil and crown. The Elves all then bowed. From the Senators to the Military men. “A living God amongst us all, the one who walks with the mortals, whose religion is one of the fastest growing, Bahamut herself!” She then stopped and scanned around her.
Seeing Jackson in the back waving his hands, she approaches the now Vampire man and hugs him. “Woah! What is this about?” with him being taller, her face was planted directly on his stonewall of a chest where she’d wipe her face on. “Nothing. Just that you're wearing this uniform again. It smells like you.” he just shrugs, smiling. Patting her head, everyone then stood up and returned to what they were doing, but the eyes were on her.
One of the Elves, one whose age was showing but still young and healthy walks to him. With Jackson wearing his green general dress uniform, the Elven man was in a red and gold toga, with the Emblem of the Empire’s Army on a gold button that’s on his left shoulder, he bows wearing a wreath of golden oaks.
“General Jackson?”
“Indeed I am.” With Bahamut still hugging him, he exchanged hands with the Elf but the sudden contact made the person look at his hands and proceed to nod. “Hm. This is a very good gesture.”
“How may I help you?”
“Ah, nothing. I merely want to get to know a General of the Outworlder armies. Your military amazes me to no end.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course!” He opens his arms wide, smiling. “I’ve never seen a Human army as competent as yours. Human armies are fragile, they collapse easily, and consolidate. They make brash decisions rather than taking their time in war.” Jackson then looks up to the ceiling, remembering how the soldiers of Eldwood and Zavalda fought tooth and nail under him.
“Maybe with some. But my soldiers will never yield or buckle to the cruelty of the world of war. My soldiers only push forward. To victory.” This made the Elven General stop and Bahamut let go of her grip on him and walked towards the Countess who had a skewered piece of meat hanging. “I see… that could be true. You Humans could be considered different. Your soldiers, even the lowest of rank, are smarter than your average Human grunt. I believe Education is common amongst you all, regardless of social status, right?”
Jackson takes a seat and settles the wine glass on the clothed table. “It is. Everyone is given University or College level education." The Elven General sat opposite of him. “No wonder when you first came here, we couldn’t get a true measure of how cohesive your armies are. Do tell, has your time in the military been anything but tantalizing?”
Hearing this made the Vampire place his chin on his hands and his eyes squinted. “It can go both ways. Most of the time, it's tantalizingly boring. Another, you will be wishing you were back home." The Elf smiled at him as he lifted the lower part of his toga over his legs to get a better area of movement. “Interesting. So that must mean you’ve served long in the military?”
“I… Yes, a bit. I’ve been through it all, even had to exercise some S.T.E.A.L. on logistics.” shrugging his head, he drinks from the wine glass which was followed by a long hard sigh.
“S.T.E.A.L.?”
“Errrr… it means to Strategically Take Equipment to Another Location. Yes. That.”
“Ohhh! Interesting. I am still in amazement with the huge army of skeleton’s the UN had mustered. Of course, with such practices, no wonder you could field such an indispensably large military in no time!” Shrugging his head, the Elven General drank from his chalice and breathed in. “A year and a half to muster a force of that size… such bewildering logistics in the background must be at work.”
Coming from his side, the General takes his chalice and stands up. Bowing his head to the General. “No matter, but I believe a friend of mine wants to talk to you.” he tilts his head as another Elf comes to meet with him. “Who?”
The Elven General stands up and shows another person. “Admiral Thydis, you wanted to talk to him, correct?” The Admiral was in his blue and gold toga. Wreath of leaves and the button on it with the wings of a Roc on it, he had graying hair and stood way taller than Bahamut could ever be.
With a pale complexion and a toned chin, his hair lied about his age just as the rest of the aged Elves as he showed great youth and the aura of someone young yet aged in the soul. “I indeed have. General Jackson, I believe?” he then nods and has an expression as if he just hit the jackspot of a lifetime. “Of course! How may I help you, Admiral?”
The Elf then looks at the General, hugging him still as a woman with long black straight hair in modern clothing, her vertical horns overtaking his eyes and forehead. “General, may I have time to talk to you? Perhaps in the Balcony with just the two of us?” The Vampire man then nods as they both walk outside while three girls of his party are left at the main room.
Elizabeth’s eyes followed the two as she squinted and then got her attention taken away by a Military official. “Ah! Finally, I get to talk to a Vampire. I’ve heard you hold the rank of Duchess? I am General Herolg-Uhm-Turms of the Fifth Army Corps.” With an elegant reply, the Queen had a slow and low tone as she took her time talking to the man. “Indeed, you are correct, General Turms.” he then held his wine glass up and the woman bowed in reply. “May I ask then. As you should be part of the King’s inner circle back then and to this day, correct?” She just lets the man talk while she’d sneak one last look at the two.
Jackson had his head up a bit while the Admiral was talking to him. The Elf having his hand over above his elbow, as if the two were in a deep serious conversation. “To hold the rank of a Duchess in the Vampire Kingdom must mean you are older than some Elven towns, yes?” She then looks at him and gives a warm smile. “That is correct.” She then picks up her wine glass and sips an itsy bit from it.
“You must be alive when the Vampires once had dominion over the Empire then?”
“Indeed, I was.”
“Were you under the King or Queen’s court? From the history lessons I still remember, the Queen led her own section of the Vampire Kingdom as her hunger in power and control grew out of control.”
“Ahhhhh… I’ve always been under the King, General Turms. No matter the rank, everyone is under the King.”
“Yet in that time, it was more like the Queen was the one in charge. Nonetheless.” He then drinks from his chalice full of sapphires and jewelry. Puffing his chest out after a good chug. “How did you perfect the art of… moving people? Since the Vampire Kingdom now is a hundred and ninety percent larger than it was before. You moved the Beast people from out of your borders so quickly, I wonder how you managed to do it with such efficiently. Vampire Magic perhaps?”
It took her a few seconds to fully process it and she nodded. “Ah, it's easy, General Turms. No need for Magic. We simply moved them away with military might. Nothing fancy as the method you’ve mentioned.”
“Really? And none of them came back to retake their land?”
“Ohh… but every time they’d try, they’d just get slaughtered. Though some of the Nobles of the Council had proposed more extreme measures, it's not really recommended in the long run.”
“Extreme? I am guessing this goes around the method of… permanent removal…?”
“Indeed it was. But unless we can guarantee the opinions of the Beast people could be controlled, we’d have no proper way of keeping a lid on the aftermath that would happen. It was best to just move them and if any dare to come back. They get killed. Those who continue to do so, will have their town or village endangered. Vampire Mages are of another caliber, after all.”
General Herolg then lifted his chin to the skies, as if to declare something. “I’ve always thought you Vampires wouldn’t be afraid of these lowly creatures. Mutated, cursed, and damned by the first Demon King.” she then shrugs. “Oh, General. This is a fatal way to look at them. We’ve been neighbors with them far longer than most and they are far more cunning and dastardly than they make themselves out to be.”
This made the General’s eyes widen. “Is that so? So you just moved them and killed whoever tried to come back? Wouldn’t that be a waste of resources and threaten your future?” the Queen then shrugs. “Perhaps. But it was the only true solution. Maybe if we had the weapons and machines of the Outworlders would we have considered the more extreme measures, but at hand, it was the most viable aftermath as we waged wars often on the far shores.” she then sips from her wine glass, assured, and controlled.
“Interesting. This gives me a lot of needed insight. I do agree with that point though, if we Elves had the technology of these Outworlders, we could maybe attempt at making a more industrial process in removing these abominations.” The Queen just sighs as she hears this.
“I can’t believe you Elves are still stuck with wanting to free your kin.”
“Duchess, Elven souls are different from a Human. When the First King of Vitas mutated my kind, our souls didn’t just poof away like Humans. Trapped in those disgusting bodies are our ancestors. We have a solemn duty to see their passage to Alioloc as Heroes that have long needed their rest.” The grip of his chalice then tights as he loudly swallows his saliva. “It pains me to this day our Emperor would rather have just sat here. We long should’ve made contact wit the Dark Elves and have them explain themselves.”
With a long hard sigh, he then finishes it with a shrug and a quick drink. “I thank you for your time, Duchess. Much insight provided shall be helpful in the future.” With a proper bow, he then walks away as Elizabeth then turns to see another Elf had come to chat with her.
She just opened up with a good smile once again as she approached the female Elf.
Outside on the Balcony, Admiral Thydis and Jackson were both looking out to the city. With the Blimps flying as the night sky slowly showed itself and the lights started coming on, it was like a metropolis but filled with trees and complex castle-like architecture riddled with art and masonry. “I do thank you for allowing me to have a bit of your time, General.”
Jackson who has the biggest smile on his face, knowing what just came to be couldn’t help but show the giddy state of his soul. “Of course, Admiral! Now how may I help you?”
“I’ve come to notice of your party, General. It’s an oddity but it might as well be something akin to the books of old that speaks of such uniqueness banding together for a common goal.” The Admiral then took a quick glance inside the lobby and then to Jackson. Staring at his red eyes.
“Interesting. I’ve only talked to a Vampire twice in my lifetime and I’ve never seen one have such a look to them.” Looking at the eyes of the person before him, he couldn’t help but lift his fingers up his chin. “Anyone who has overcome their fear has the right to rule and lead. When did you overcome yours, General?”
As if he could think of many such cases, the Admiral draws a long hard breath. “No wonder you attracted a Dragon.” He then looks down on his Chalice and drinks from it. Looking out and about the vastness of the floating city. “I believe you also have a keen interest in Dragons seeing as you are with one?”
With a smile, the Admiral tilted his head to a degree and observed the wine on his Chalice that perfectly reflected the General’s face. “They seem to be majestic at first, but deep inside them. Holds a will to conquer and satiate a thirst for power. They spread their wings for both terror and beauty. A creature beyond all of us.”
Jackson nodded and the smile on his face changed to a more lenient grin.
“Funnily enough, Admiral. I find most things to be beyond of my control.” With a quick sip from his wine glass, he squinted as he sighed. “I often just pray that God will save my life in my head.” With a chuckle, he leans down on the railing, swirling the liquid. “Though I only do that when I am in trouble. What a believer I am.”
Taking a sip once again, he looked at the back. Bahamut was being fawned over by the Elves, many offering her gifts and food as he blinked and smiled. “Dragons for me are not only a tool like Breznick, Libertus, and even the Shine Guards treat them as. I see them as the thing beyond my control willing to work with me.”
“My love for Dragons goes deeper than the trenches that lay in the ocean. My respect, higher than the highest planes of existence. That Dragon God over there.” He then points his wine glass at Bahamut, making the Admiral look at her. “She’s the greatest thing that ever fell on my life. Before that, I was just someone working for more wealth. The endless grind for that paper.” Lifting his chin up, Jackson then crossed his arms whilst looking at the Dragon. “On Earth, the only way you can be truly happy is to have a family. A loving wife, and some kids. I have neither of those. My wealth? It will probably just go to my little brother and my nephews. I won’t bring that to Heaven or Hell, whichever I deserve.”
“I don’t even know if I will be remembered. This Empire I’ve built from my hard work, it can easily be wiped away. Just another major company that went under as it lived its life. My genes? They won’t go anywhere. My teachings and wisdom? It’ll all be left with me. But Bahamut… when she came to me on that fateful day on top of that cursed mountain.” The Admiral turned to Jackson, his face was not that of a Vampire at all. The expression on his face showed far more emotion, more unperfectness to his smile and eyes.
“I don’t know… I just felt like I gained a companion. At first, it was rocky but the more I talked to her, she opened up and soon, I was looking forward to my day ending so that I could go in and meet her.” A laugh then comes out of nowhere as tears start to well up on his eyes. “I’d go tell her how bad my day was, how this one client from this company gave me the biggest migraine of my life, or how the food I ate that day was bland and expensive. She was there, and she’d call me out if I was being a moron.”
The Admiral started to nod as he lifted his hand up his chest. The tip of his index finger touching the button of the Great Mother Tree.
“And when we came here, she didn’t change one bit. She was still that same Bahamut that I love so much. I was already interested in Dragons way before meeting her, but when I did. I became fully enamored by their species. In what break time I’d find myself with, I often spent reading guides on how to take care of a Dragon.”
“Ah, there must be so much hassles to it. We Elves respect the Dragons as they often bring the most natural force out into the physical world. You’ll never see us using them as weapons.”
“Good on you. Dragoncare is on a whole other level of headache. If it weren’t from the fact that Bahamut could turn into a tiny version of herself. I would’ve long been stuck in certain areas.”
“Oh, I believe so. I am myself utterly fascinated by these creatures. That ability to fly was something we Elves once had naturally. The Elves of the Skies, before they were wiped out, is part of my lineage. But as you can see, I am no different from a normal High Elf.” The Admiral then tightly grips the button of the Great Mother Tree on his toga, as if to nearly pull it.
“Dragons are the pinnacle of this art. The art of flight is a dance between the sciences and one’s nerves. Yet these creatures who transcend most logics of the physical realm could modify it to their will.”
“I often say to new players in Dark World. As huge and lumbering Dragons may look. No matter the species, they are surprisingly agile. The larger they are, the more agile you could imagine one to be.”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed. But most just don’t care about avoiding damage. As when you're that large, your scales could basically take on anything and not be scratched at all.”
“Amazing. I believe it is fate that led you here, General.” with a quick drink from his Chalice, Thydis looked to the Vampire man. “About… Bahamut.” This made Jackson instantly nod. “Hm? Hm? What about her?” His face had painted all over it like the prey he had long been waiting for finally walking into the trap. “She’s… a God, yes?” With a quickshot reply, he drops down to brass tacks. “She indeed, is.”
“Then, may I ask if her religion is open to Elves? I do not plan on leaving my faith on Forrus but I’d like to add another God to pray to.”
“Bahamut is open to everyone, regardless of Species. As long as you are willing to fight for what you believe in and die for it, she will bless you with her powers.” The Admiral then smiles and rests his left hand on his right shoulder. “Is that so? That is… that is amazing news.” He then lets go of the button on his toga. Breathing out as his shoulders relaxed.
Jackson just laughs and turns around to look at the party, with Bahamut eating up all the food on the buffet. “It’s pretty funny actually.” Thydis then looks at him and tilts his head. “Hm?” the General then removes his cap and places it under his armpits.
“The Dark World is full of creatures that are often prehistoric. But they always had some logical taxonomy with them. From the dinosaur-like armored Raptors to the Winged Killer Owls the size of small vans, the Dragons are the most fantastical of them all.” The Admiral then turns around to face Bahamut, in her Humanoid form. She seemed nothing more than another person, though strangely beholden to a beauty that’s out of this world, she acted quirky yet normal.
“There’s a rule in Dark World. The more normal European-esque looking a Dragon is, the more powerful it is.” he then turns back around to see the half star sinking in the horizon. “Many texts say that when fighting, Bahamut. You are fighting History itself and that’s true. She is one of the only living creatures in Dark World that has been there before in a world that’s covered in darkness, the Age of the Dragons. Where nothing but scary beasts roam the land that challenges them daily." He then goes into his empty pockets, his fingers as if to twiddle with something in it.
“Now, they're reduced to just being WMDs in all cases. A sad state for a species that once ruled the world. When you meet her, talk to her. You’ll see why they were unstoppable once.”
Scratching his cheeks like he could go on for hours, the Admiral with a smile on his face silently listened to him. “Her fight is also strangely unique. You’ve spent seventy to ninety levels fighting Draconic creatures with all sorts of special powers and some wizardry to their moves but with her, There’s no gimmick or anything of that sort. It’s a straight one on one fight, if you show her magic, she’ll return it with a magic ten times the power.”
He would then stammer in his words, a far cry from the well modulated and perfectly trained orator that is a Vampire. “Dark World is known for its realistic yet mythically strange creatures, but somehow, the Dragons are just that… Dragons. Same with the Wyverns, Drakes, Wyrms, Serpent Dragons. They are traditional, simplistic, yet unique.” he then goes to his jacket’s inner pocket and begins writing. “I wrote it in English just in case. But this is the step in becoming a Follower of the Bahamut Dragon Cult. If you need me, feel free to talk to me at the Embassy, Admiral.”
He turns around and starts walking away from the Admiral. “I… I’ll contact you then, General! Thank you! It's a marvel to meet another person who shares the same interest!” He waves as he returns to the party. With Bahamut quickly approaching him. “Master! What was that about?” he smiles at her and starts patting her head. “You might’ve gotten yourself another… friend.” he then walks off to the buffet and sees the selection of meat and vegetables. With a section having just traditional parfaits and Vampire sweets alongside Wine with blood.
“Master, are your troops ready though for the End Times?” he then looked around, seeing no one was within their vicinity except the servers, he sighs. “Of course, Bahamut. We’ve been stockpiling ammo since last year. The factories are working nonstop shifts to the point the skeletons working in them are breaking down. What’s gotten to you?” The Dragon then takes a plate and starts just pumping it full of porterhouses. “Good. Good. I hope the plan of your Generals, work, Master. I was just at the observatory and it does not look good.”
“Such is the duty of a soldier. We do the unthinkable. Don’t think too much about it.” He then turns to Elizabeth and Alana, both of them seemingly well at home chatting about business and geopolitics nonstop with the Elves who were more than able to keep up with their pace. “Well… it might be Politicians who make others do the unthinkable.” He then returns to their table and starts eating. “Why? Something you found out at the observatory?”
“Master, I think they’ll be giving you a report anyways but there’s an Ancient Dragon God watching this very planet right now.” He just nodded while eating the meat. “Is that so? How many wings?” Bahamut then raises her hand and lifts four fingers, making Jackson stop and swallow. “Holy Shit… and the horns?” She then lifts up her index fingers pointing upward to the ceiling as she makes her Dragonic horns appear. Both vertical. “W-Woah… don’t you think this might be why you have your powers here? That the Dragons of Dark World has some semblance of control and even relation to the Dragons of Threa?”
She just shrugs and begins devouring the meat on her table. “Hmmmm… that’s scary though.” a door then opens, and the Elves all go silent as a man wearing a more late medieval military styled uniform walks in. With braids going under his pits, golden epaulets and medals pinned on his lavish tunic. He had a saber on his hip which his left hand was on top of whilst wearing a Golden Crown of Branches. “Everyone, please continue as you will. If you wish to talk to me, just approach me casually. We have foreign guests here, we must be respectful and lenient.” Hearing such a soft, slow, and elegant manly tone. Jackson couldn’t believe a person could sound so kind and approachable.
The General turns his head to the direction of the door and notices it's the Elf himself. But his demeanor was completely different. Rather than the far, silent, and untouchable caricature he met at the Senate Dome, standing on his balcony looking down on everyone, this one was oddly normal and extremely polite.
Even though he held an ornate Saber, he seemed to be unable to hurt even a fly and his movement was slow and telepathic. Everything he did was soft and respectful alongside how he spoke. Leaving one with so much time to listen and decipher what he was saying.
With him was the Prince of the Empire, the heir to it all who kept the traditional toga of the country. “Father, far in the end, that’s the Dragon.” with the whisper of his son, the Emperor turned to the seat where Jackson was.
Lifting his left hand, the Elves that were about to approach him all backed off. Bowing their heads as he merely observed the God from afar. “Garrond, where is the Empress?” respectfully lowering his stare from him, the more vigorous Elf held his hand on his button. Tightly grasping the image of the Great Tree. “Mother is still thinking of what she was to wear. I think she wants you to be the first to see if Goddess Bahamut would react with more familiarity if it was a more in vogue clothing she’d wear.”
“Ah.”
“Father, don’t you and Mother both have the same love for Dragons?” He nods as the Knights come out of the room where they’ve been and collect something from the outside. “We do. Both our ancestors were saved by the Dragons. When the armies of Vitas reached the Mother Tree. It was those legendary four winged feathered Dragons that came and saved the day.” As his seat still wasn’t there, the Emperor then took some of the spares from the sides and sat on it with his son.
“Though it's still debated if the Dragons came for us or the Humans. It’s still a matter of a fact that without them, our lineage would’ve never existed.” One of the servants then comes to the Emperor, handing him his heavy chalice. “Thank you.” with a polite reply, he took it from the polished golden plate and slowly drank. Amazed at the appetite of the foreign Dragon. She had already piled five plates and the Vampiric man in a General uniform next to her was clearly staring at her with a warning.
Two more Vampires were present, the two women being busy chatting to the other Noble Elves in the room. Seemingly going from one person to another as they took one query after query.
“But, I’ve never seen Mother this excited before. She seemed as if she was gleaming a bright aura.”
“If so, then let her be. Garrond. I’ve only seen her like that twice.”
“When was those, father?”
“Once in our wedding, as the Goddess sent the Avatar of the Mother Tree to unite our souls and when you were born. I shall let her as.”
“Mother also said something about giving the foreign Dragon access to the research at Benber University. Father, I think Mother is putting too much faith into this Goddess.” Veering his attention from Bahamut, he looked his son straight in the eye with a calm demeanor. With a small smile, he breathes out slowly. “No. That just means the Mother Tree had talked to her and instructed her as such.”
“E-Eh? So that means, since she’s emitting a bright aura as of now… she’s?”
“Hm. We shall carry on with the party and greet the Goddess. Remember your manners, Gods are creatures far beyond any of us. Be sure to keep your composure when you are overwhelmed by their presence.” The son then turned to look at Bahamut. Apart from her horns, she seems like a normal Human by all means. Even the power she’s emitting is just that of a strong sorceress. “You should be able to see it, my son. Look into her eyes but only once.”
Doing as instructed, he turned to her golden iris and immediately, he felt as if he got winded by something from far beyond. “That’s my son. You share the same power as our great ancestors. This union between your Mother and I is something unheard of in ages.”
Standing up, he turned his attention to the Dragon, the blonde Vampire coming in from the sides and pinched her cheeks as she pointed at the towering amount of polished plates next to her. Jackson just facepalms as the other Vampire kept chatting to the Elven Nobles, often bringing the attention away from their table.
“You are by all means, a Demigod, my son… and as all Elven Demigods had done before. You will have to face the King of destruction, undoing, and all that is foreign to the continent of Schon. Enjoy this party. The Goddess’ arrival was an unexpected event, but one fated I believe seeing how restless Bannah has been for the last few months.”