17.2
Knock, knock, knock.
…
Knock, knock, knock.
…
Knock, knock—
“Be gone…” a tired, empty voice spoke at the knocks on the door. “I need not for nourishments, Zondrac. Eternal slumber is all I—”
“Lady Evie? It’s Mizzy…” the little girl who was by the door calling out to Ephinelyth spoke in a soft tone. “Could you...p-please let me in? I just want to make sure you are fine.”
“…”
Ephinelyth remained silent.
She had not left the room she was taking quarters in ever since she accidentally injured Zondrac on her reckless attempts at purging the evil that dwelt in Dezarith Empire, the evil entity known as the Immortal Empress.
Disappointed that her own failure to uphold her promise to John and having broke his tender heart, she channeled her anger and used it in ways to ensure no one who bore ill will towards John have an inkling of his existence.
In her fit of anger, Ephinelyth went on a campaign to cleanse the evils that brought about the separation between her and John.
She attacked the Immortal Empress, usurped the evil woman’s plans of expanding her empire by wiping minds of important people and sensitive archival data as much as she could.
Not even the Immortal Empress realized what Ephinelyth the Elder Dragon had done—who could, when the strongest telepath to exist, wiped both memories and all evidence of what had transpired.
The only thing that Ephinelyth left for the accursed empress was the pain and horrors she felt when the Elder Dragon inflicted her torture on her. Endless, recurring horrors from the evil wretch’s mind will continue to haunt her for as long as she lived.
The only other person who was aware of what she did was Zondrac who accompanied her as she executed her will.
John told her to stay out of his life.
And that she did.
But it did not prevent her from making sure no harm would come his way.
She knew it was her fault for not returning to John and caused him to be drowned in doubt and his mistrust against her words.
But what choice did she have?
The more she sent Zondrac to investigate the Empire, the more schemes she uncovered that the Demon Lord of Ruin had in store for John.
It all started when on the very day the Ball of Paragons was held. In full anticipation of her dance with John later in the night, Evie had made a round of careful surveillance around the academy to ensure nothing would go awry that night.
That evening, she uncovered plans from the academy to teleport all students its to Meastes, to the outskirt regions where the vampires lived as a part of a plan to ‘promote learning’ in students.
Outraged, Ephinelyth in her anger slashed Moxnet’s teleportation device with her claws before and sent Zondrac to Registoria to uncover the Empire’s plans for such an unwarranted act.
The entire ordeal made her late for her dance with John.
During the investigation later on that night, Zondrac uncovered the Empire had just approved a 10 year plan that aimed to conquer the world, swallowing up lesser and greater nations alike in order to achieve the ultimate power.
It involved the desecration of the dragons, the ruin of the Eastern Continent, the control over the Osudre Ocean, enlistment of civilians, genocide of countries that opposed them…and of course, John.
In less than half a year, the empire would enforce such of their plans, and Moxnet Academy would only serve as their starting grounds.
There was too much to do.
As per her birth as an Elder Dragon, a being that transcends all living beings, she was taught and told to not involve herself explicitly in the lives of the mortals.
The last time the Elder Dragons were involved with the mortals, the Great Demon War happened.
She could ignore the plans that were hatched in the Empire and abide the no-interference policy of the Elder Dragons.
But politics is a pestilence that sought to infect everything even if left alone. Sooner or later, this infection would spread among dragon kind.
Therefore, she left John after the ball to further uncover and thwart the plans of the empire to the best of her ability—with minimal and subtle measures.
It was what held her up before she contacted John with the communication device. She had sent him letters informing him of the underlying dangers that were building up in the Empire, but as John made himself clear, none of those came to his possession.
She had no one to blame but herself.
Engulfed by her vision to make a perfect place for John to live whilst balancing the no-interference policy of Elder Dragons on the mortal realm, Ephinelyth neglected the very person she was trying to give her all to.
And now with Zondrac injured by her rampage against the Immortal Empress…
Out of shame and guilt for not living up to the no-interference policy of the Elder Dragons, and her duty towards John, Ephinelyth confined herself in this room before she made anything else worse.
Clack.
The door became undone.
Following the slight of the heavy door was the figure of a young girl toddling inwards with a great sense of urgency.
“Mizzy, I did not permit you to enter. You very well know it is rude to do so.”
She was adamant in her words, but at the sight of the little girl who was like her very own sister, even Evie, who had an aura of gloom, softened her expression.
“Lady Evie…”
Mizzy ran towards Evie who had been mulling to herself on an arm chair, stumbling onto the Elder Dragon’s lap as the little girl did her best to speak.
“Why hafen’t you gon out?!” Mizzy’s face was on the verge of breaking down, but in the presence of Ephinelyth, she, the child of a wyvern, dared not to bawl in respect for Evie. “I heard news...vehry...bahd...news…”
The little girl tried speaking, but like her age, her emotions were just as tender.
Evie, though curious and could peer into Mizzy’s mind as she pleased, she refrained.
She soothed the little girl by running her hand on Mizzy’s small back.
I was like her when I first developed the ability to other’s minds.
A bittersweet smile came across Evie’s face.
It was a long time ago, back when her parents were still alive.
“Mizzy! What are you doing in Lady Ephinelyth’s room!?”
“I do not particularly mind it, Petu—”
By instinct, Ephinelyth peered into Petunia’s mind to find the best words to calm the mother from berating the young girl who innocently barged into her room.
Yet, that split second, she discovered more than she wanted to know.
Her mind flashed, flashes of information that Petunia had stored in her mind flooded her mind. Information regarding a young man, of terrible news that had befell onto him, of the sadness that plagued him of the loss that he suffered.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
John!
Evie jumped to her feet, the sudden influx almost made her scream.
But with the little girl still clinging onto her, she contained her emotions and gently placed the child onto the armchair she had been on, “I’ll be fine, Mizzy.”
Casting a voice dampening bubble around the little girl, Evie moved to Petunia.
“Why have Zondrac not informed me of his findings?!”
Petunia gotten to one of her knees, startled, but a clear smile had appeared on her, “You gave strict orders for him to not involve himself with John Sarvod, Lady Ephinelyth.”
“And he omitted John’s family’s passing, TO ME!?” her powerful voice shuddered the chandelier above them.
Chairs vibrated, floors creaked but Petunia did not flinch the slightest.
“That is correct. However, I was the one who instigated him to watch over John and keep his lips sealed. I the responsibility lies on me.”
Evie’s fists clenched. She took a deep breath, then released the tension on her arm, a forlorn expression returned to the Elder Dragon.
Mother’s prediction...how could it have ended up in such a way?
Having controlled her outburst of anger, Evie spoke to Petunia, “You need not to apologize. The fault is mine. I willing locked myself in your residence. It is my responsibility for having failed to heed the words of my mother.”
Petunia simply nodded to her words, almost seemed like she was giggling despite the toil of emotions that were surfacing in Ephinelyth.
“However, Petunia. Remember this, I may be immature in many aspects, however, I am not oblivious to your actions for knowingly letting Mizzy have access to the keys to my room in your residence.”
“What are you saying, Lady Ephinelyth?”
“Save your feigned ignorance. Your thoughts are out in the open for me to read, even in the absence of telepathy.”
Petunia stayed silent, but the smile on her youthful face grew the more Evie spoke of what happened.
By telling Mizzy of what happened to the person who Ephinelyth cared most about, Petunia knew with certainty that her child would be overcome with sadness and ‘broke’ the rule of not entering Evie’s room.
Since Ephinelyth thought of Mizzy as a younger sister she never had, Petunia had seized the opportunity to convey what Zondrac discovered to Ephinelyth without breaking her orders not to disturb her with their presence.
No matter how strict Ephinelyth may have been with Petunia and Zondrac, the Elder Dragon had no power when it came down to the childish innocence of Mizzy.
“Tsk!” Evie clicked her tongue. “Where is Zondrac now? I need to know of—“
“Zondrac is on an excursion in Registoria. If you are asking for John Sarvod’s last known location, my husband informed me John was somewhere in Meastes—”
Woosh!!!
Ephinelyth disappeared in a gust of wind, leaving Petunia and a wide eyed Mizzy in the room.
“Lady Synthia, your daughter is amusing, isn’t she?” Petunia spoke to herself, referring to the deceased Elder Dragon as though she was watching over everything that transpired.
“Mama?”
“Mizzy!!! You did soooo well!!!” Petunia ran to her daughter, lifted Mizzy up high before nuzzling herself into the girl’s cheeks. “Mama is so proud of you!!!”
“Will Lady Evie...be okay?” the little girl asked, confused what just happened.
“Lady Ephinelyth is more than okay. She will now be forever be given what she had always wished for.”
Carrying her daughter in her two arms, Petunia looked outside of the crystal windows and directed her gaze into the skies high above where she stood.
“Isn’t that right, Lady Synthia?”
Raina arrived.
After long travel from A’vetheas with her two retainers and Lureena by her side.
“This is…” Lureena, who was by her side, gasped.
Before them, laid a rustic township made of brick and lime, of which strangely resembled traditional houses that Raina had seen in the historical archives of ancient Elven civilizations.
Though these structures were had the tall, imposing architecture of A’vetheas, their façade were much rougher and unpolished, almost resembling a more…uncultured race.
According to the historical archives, this place was no doubt, an elven settlement, albeit an underdeveloped one.
Raina could only stare as her eyes went from up, down, left, right, burning the scene before her into her retinas.
She was certain that her trial would take place in the ruins in one of the Elven settlements left from the Great War, but never had she expected it for it to be...
“Shi’komore. It’s still as she last told me,” Protheus whispered, his hand on Coraine’s shoulders.
“You never went in…”
“Grammy was sent away from here before things broke out for her own safety. Those were ancient times. These buildings are rebuilt, or so I’ve heard from her. I always wondered how it looked like, the people and the place, and now…”
“You are here for the different ‘women’?” Coraine poked at Protheus’ sides, teasing him with a nonsensical joke.
“Me? I could not when I already have you—”
“Gods, can we just enter already!?” Declan, who was almost forgotten by the others, stomped his feet. “There is no point waiting here!!!”
Protheus placed a finger in front of his own lips, “Shhh… We are no longer in A’vetheas, be mindful of your actions, we are merely guests. If not for Princess Raina, trespassing these grounds would lead us nowhere. Only those who’ve been inside of Shi’komore or Royal Elves are bound to the magic of this place. Be grateful—”
“Princess Raina will undergo her trial in this place!!! These lowly elves in Shi’komore should know their place. Where is the hospitality!? I am dead certain that Queen Veissa had informed them of our arrival!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Please don’t speak of them as such…” Lureena said in a low voice. “They may not be like us who live in A’vetheas. However, they are still, elves who were once our equals, their nobility far surpass ours despite what the consequences that befell on them.”
“Huh?” Declan dug his ear, mocking the court mage’s explanation. “Have you read a book? They were the reason we elves lost the only chance we have at becoming as holy as the angels! They betrayed their own kind, their own morals, for the sake of power! If not for these traitors, we would already be up in the heavens with the Gods of old!!!”
“Must be easy not seeing the irony,” Lureena pursed her lips and ignored Declan. “Why do I even bother… Let’s go wait there, Raina.”
“I…”
Raina, who had been staring intensely at the township before her, finally detracted her sights at Lureena’s prompt.
“Right… Lureena…” her head dizzy at the sight of Shi’komore. “Do you have something sweet? I’m losing my focus…” she rubbed her eyes, but the more she rubbed them, her vision further distorted.
“Protheus…” Coraine gave glanced at her husband, nudging him with an arm.
The Elven Princess had not been sleeping well for the past few days, though there was nothing wrong with her body, Coraine noticed that the closer they got closer to Shi’komore the less Raina was like her usual self.
“Let us set camp here. It’s getting dark. Our only option is to wait for them to drop their barrier magic.”
“Declan, when we see them later, do us a favor and refrain from speaking, will you?” Lureena commented. “None of us have sway over—”
“What do you know court mage!? Isn’t your job to make sure the Princess’ trial go smoothly!? Do you side with them instead of your own kind, like you sided with Sarvod?”
“!!!”
Lureena’s eyes jolted wide, even Coraine and Protheus who were disinterested in the squabbles of the younger elves—compared to them—looked towards Princess Raina in concern.
“That is enough Declan!!!” Protheus snapped, his fists balled. “You are here to observe and atone for your disobedience against Queen Veissa! None of us understood of what transpired during the age of the Elven Kingdom!”
“Stop…t-this…as Princess I…” amidst Declan’s words, the Elven Princess had her eyes squeezed shut with a palm on her forehead. Her face reddened as she tried controlling her breath. “…order you…to treat them w-with…courtesty.”
Raina’s weak whisper did not reach anyone, her vision spun as her stomach churned. Her body ached, her mind hazy, yet…the blood in her boiled, her mana roared to be released.
Was it because of Declan and his detestable character? Was it because she had grown weaker on her journey? Was it because of her connection to John? Or was it because the toll of her training finally caught up to her?
“I know for a fucking fact, that like John Sarvod, the damned dark elves are worshippers of demons!!!” Declan spat his words at Lureena, half-furious and half-agitated that the court mage humiliated him in front of Princess Raina that he had been trying to get in good graces with. “That’s why they have tainted complexions, don’t they!? It’s because they betrayed the Elven Kings and Queens’ decree, ended up offering themselves to the demons for power!!!”
The dark elves, who resigned themselves to Shi’komore after the Great War, had long cut ties with the elves of A’vetheas.
Though they sharing the same ancestors with elves in A’vetheas, their taboo had caused them to be cast off from the now Elven Tribe.
“That’s far fetched!!!”
“Is it, court mage!!!??? Is that what you think!? Is that why you spoke not a single word during the traitorous Sarvod’s trial? Is that why you attempted to pin me as a criminal after John Sarvod’s exile!? Demon sympathizer!?”
Propelled by a building rage, Declan chanted before anyone realized what he was trying to do.
“[Rush of Glory]”
The male elf’s fist glowed in brilliant gold as he ran towards Lureena in a fit of rage.
Boom!!!
A loud blast echoed.
The next moment, Declan’s had his shoulders crashed against the ground.
A figure as dark as the void, clad from an energy belonging to the monsters that he criticized not a second ago, the figure of a human that was once a denizen of the Elven Tribe before Declan aided Alwin Zinrelle in providing proof to facilitate his exile.
The hulking figure of John Sarvod, his dark hair, his broad shoulders, his large arms, had caught Declan in his grasp. He had no distinct facial features, nor even a proper skin complexion, all that was, was the body of a male conjured up by pure mana.
Even in this form manifested by a dark energy, Declan was sure, he was sure that the John before him was only an illusion…
Then, John’s figure raised an arm.
A dagger that appeared in his palm.
“You’re n-not r-real!!!” Declan denied as he desperately tried to scamper away from the John’s hold. “Y-you won’t—”
The blade plunged downwards.
Krack!
The weapon entered his right shoulder, splitting its way through Declan’s nerves and bones as the elf felt the sharp blade twisted where it lodged in his body.
“GAHHHHHH!!!”
Blood spurted from where the dark energy dagger had made its way, instantly severing the golden enhancement aura of [Rush of Glory] on Declan’s hands.
The pitch black figure of John Sarvod raised the dagger once more. This time, he aimed the tip of the dark blade at the declan’s forehead as his featureless face stared at Declan one last time.
“Confess your crimes.”
A gargled-up voice spoke, seeming to came from John’s figure.
The elf shivered, “N-no...no… P-please...I w-was not going to kill her, I was j-just…going to show her—”
“Wrong.”
The dagger plummeted.
Ding!
The dagger dug into the earthly ground as Declan was suddenly pulled away from where he was by Protheus, with the dagger missing the elf’s crotch by centimeters away because of Protheus’ quick action.
The manifestation of John Sarvod and his dagger faded the moment the weapon hit the ground.
“Raina!” Lureena’s voice rang throughout Reperane Woods as Raina’s knees buckled and her body fell to the ground, only to be caught by Coraine, who had dashed to her side.
“Easy…” Coraine assured Lureena as she gently laid Raina against a trunk. eyeing at Proteus, who was attending to Declan’s injuries, Coraine bit her lip before asking her husband in frustration. “How is he?”
“Traumatized. He arm needs treatment...fast. What about the princess?”
“Mana exhaustion...slight fever…” Coraine replied with one of her palm atop of Raina’s forehead, “That illusion magic of hers was quite something else…”
“That was Raina’s doing!?” Lureena exclaimed, referring to the dark figure of John Sarvod manifested in dark energy attacking Declan the moment he attempted to hurt Lureena.
“Partly…” patting along the various garments that Raina wore as her clothes, Coraine found the item of interest. “This, also, acted as a catalyst.”
Raising a piece of cloak made of a void like material that sucked all light that came into contact with it, the very piece of cloth that John had conjured to wrap Raina in place of her ruined clothes with his dark magic.
Lureena’s face darkened, “S-she’s becoming like him? As in...”
Coraine shook her head, “I am unsure, myself. That’s why Queen Veissa sent her here for her trial.”
“Her Princess trial is just one of many reasons Veissa sent her precious girl to us,” a voice from behind Coraine and Lureena spoke.
“!!!”
“How did—”
“Settle down,” hands found their way on the two women’s shoulders. “Bring her in for me, will you? The others will let you in now that they’ve seen her…devotion to him.”
A lady with the familiar features of an elf but with the complexion of dark caramel skin and bleached white hair spoke before moved towards where the injured Declan was.
The dark elf moved her hands before Declan’s injured shoulder, cast white energy sphere on where the gaping wound was on the elf.
“All that talk about betrayal and traitors, you are as low as the ones in the fallen kingdom,” the dark elf shook her head, then turned towards Protheus. “I’m afraid his injuries are well deserved. Our healers will help with the blood loss, but we won’t waste healing magic on the likes of him.”
“I— Y-yes. Any aid would be greatly appreciated,” startled at the dark elf, Protheus lowered his head.
“What devotion are you speaking about?” Lureena addressed the dark elf that came to them, “Who are you?”
“Me? An old acquaintance of Veissa’s. I am simply one of the humble dark elves that is tasked to watch over Shi’komore and its inhabitants. You may otherwise know me as Soleria Valindra Eridi.”