Tsubasa stepped into the throne room, her friends trailing closely behind her. The grandiosity of the space, with its high ceiling, marble floors, and soft golden light, only intensified the sense of gravity in the air. Every corner of the room seemed to echo with centuries of history and power—an unspoken reminder of what awaited them.

As the doors closed behind them, the group moved forward, their footsteps reverberating off the polished stone. At the far end of the room, seated on a throne of dark, gleaming stone, was Vazeth, Tsubasa’s mother. She was as regal and formidable as ever, her eyes sharp and calculating as they fixed on her daughter. Beside her, three other women sat—each exuding the same imposing presence. Tsubasa couldn’t help but notice the familiarity in the air, sensing that these were not strangers, but mothers of her closest friends.

Standing next to them, on a raised platform, was the King of Vasheen—the man whose existence loomed over her entire life, yet whom she had never truly known. He was a figure of undeniable authority, his posture straight and his gaze piercing as he surveyed the room. His features were stern, yet there was something in his eyes that suggested a depth beyond what his regal exterior let on. It was clear that this was the first time they were truly meeting face-to-face.

Tsubasa felt her heart race in her chest as her gaze met her father’s. His presence, though silent, was overwhelming. She had heard much about him—the powerful, distant ruler who commanded respect with just a glance—but seeing him in person made it all the more real.

"We’ve been waiting," Vazeth’s voice broke through the silence, smooth and commanding. She nodded towards the large, ornate chairs before them. "Take your seats, all of you."

Tsubasa exchanged a glance with her friends, and they moved as one, sitting in the chairs before the throne. The room seemed to grow even more intimidating in their collective silence. The only sound was the distant rustle of the tapestries hanging on the walls, their stories of past kings and queens unfolding in the shadows.

"Well then," the King’s deep voice rumbled, breaking the silence. He surveyed the group, his eyes resting on Tsubasa for a moment longer than the others. "You’ve proven yourselves in battle.therefore I see no reason to look at you all as just my children but true warriors of this house. You have proven worthy and thus won my audience. For you test of valor I award you anything within my power to share.

The King's words hung in the air, their weight sinking into the group as they processed the gravity of the offer. His piercing gaze swept over each of them, lingering on Tsubasa with an intensity that made her feel both honored and scrutinized.

"Anything?" Kemo’s ears perked up, her tail wagging slightly despite the tension in the room. "Like... anything?"

The King’s lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Anything within my power," he clarified. "A weapon, knowledge, a boon of magic—whatever you choose, if it is within my reach, it shall be yours."

Tsubasa exchanged glances with her friends, their expressions ranging from cautious optimism to wide-eyed curiosity. She could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her. This was no ordinary reward. The King was offering them something invaluable—a gift that could shape their futures.

“A pair of spinning axes…with CHAINS on them” Kemo yelled happily, her tail wagging.

“HAHAAAH THAT’SS MY DAUGHTER!” Yelled the peach colored Gnoll who seemed two bulky for her chair.

“You got guns? I want a pair of guns” Solomon said sleepily

Her mom seemed to shake her head disappointedly

“I'd like something that helps soothe my anger tendencies” Constantia said

“Her mother was waving her head approvingly.

"I..." Tsubasa hesitated, her mind racing. She glanced at her mother, Vazeth, who gave her a slight nod of encouragement. Straightening her back, Tsubasa spoke with confidence. "I request an audience with the King more often now”

They all looked at each other with confusion

“Why act so surprised? You show up out of nowhere on the first meeting and then you offer us gifts like we’re some pet that did a good trick, you reward us then fade back into obscurity?” My rage boiled up, “Do you even know how to be a real father to your daughters?

The room fell into a tense silence. Even the faint rustling of the tapestries seemed to stop as Tsubasa’s words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Her friends exchanged wide-eyed glances, unsure whether to intervene or let her continue.

Vazeth’s expression remained composed, but her sharp eyes flicked between Tsubasa and the King, gauging his reaction. The other mothers were less restrained; Kemo’s mother let out a low, impressed whistle, while Solomon’s mother folded her arms, her face unreadable but clearly intrigued. Constantia’s mother merely raised an eyebrow, her approval evident in the small smile playing on her lips.

The King sat frozen for a moment, his imposing figure uncharacteristically still. His eyes locked onto Tsubasa’s, and for a fleeting second, something—shock, perhaps?—flickered across his face. Then his expression hardened again, though not with anger.

"You dare to question me?" His voice was low, carrying an edge of challenge, but it lacked the venom they all expected. Instead, there was something else in his tone—curiosity.

"I do," Tsubasa replied, her voice unwavering. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, but her gaze remained steady. "Because this is not enough. These gifts, these trials—they don’t make up for the years of silence, the years we’ve spent wondering who you really are. If you want us to respect you, to fight for this family, then you need to be more than a distant figure on a throne."

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The King leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the arms of his throne. His gaze bore into Tsubasa’s, but she didn’t flinch. "And what would you have me do?" he asked, his voice softer now, almost contemplative. "Abandon my duties as King to play house with my children?"

"No," Tsubasa said firmly. "I would have you find a balance. You have power, influence—use it to guide us, to be present, even if it’s not every day. Show us that we matter beyond our roles as candidates for the Demon Lord title."

The room remained silent, every eye fixed on the King. He leaned back, his expression unreadable as he considered her words. Finally, he let out a deep sigh.

"You are bold, Tsubasa," he said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Perhaps too bold for your own good. But you speak truth." He looked at the others, his gaze softer now. "I have been... distant. My duties demand much of me, and I have always believed that strength comes from independence. Perhaps I was wrong to expect that of my children without giving them the foundation to stand on their own."

Tsubasa’s heart skipped a beat at his admission. It wasn’t a complete apology, but it was more than she’d expected.

"Very well," the King said, his voice firm once more. "I will make an effort to be more present, to know each of you as more than mere candidates. But understand this: my time is not limitless, and my duties as King must always come first."

"That’s all I ask," Tsubasa said, her voice steady but softer now.

The King nodded, then turned his attention to the rest of the group. "And what of you? Do you share her sentiments?"

Kemo, her spinning axes momentarily forgotten, shrugged. "I mean, yeah, it’d be cool if you showed up more. But if you don’t, we’ve got each other, so..." She grinned, her tail wagging. "No biggie."

Solomon yawned, stretching lazily. "Eh, I’m with Tsubasa. Wouldn’t hurt to see you more often."

Constantia’s feathers ruffled slightly as she nodded. "I agree with her. Presence matters, especially from someone with your influence."

Gwendoline, who had remained silent until now, cleared her throat. "We are strong because we’ve relied on each other, but she’s right. It would mean a great deal to us if you were more involved, Father."

The King studied them for a long moment before inclining his head. "Then it is settled. I will take your words to heart. You have my word that I will strive to be more than a distant ruler to you."

The tension in the room began to ease as a collective sense of relief washed over the group. Tsubasa felt a weight lift from her shoulders, though she knew there was still much work to be done.

Gwendoline stepped forward, her expression thoughtful yet composed. She nodded slowly, folding her hands in front of her as she addressed the King.

"Yes, Father," she began, her voice steady. "As we exited the dungeon after our battle with the boss, we encountered a human adventuring party. It was clear they had been making their way toward the boss chamber. They seemed... surprised to see us, particularly since we had already claimed the victory."

The King’s eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable. "And what was the nature of their reaction? Did they seem hostile, curious, or indifferent?"

"They weren’t hostile," Gwendoline clarified, glancing briefly at her companions. "At least, not outwardly. But their leader made it clear they were frustrated. He accused us of ‘stealing their glory’ and mentioned that they had been tracking that dungeon boss for months."

Kemo rolled her eyes at the memory. "Yeah, like it was their dungeon or something. We were there first. Not our fault they’re slow."

"Exactly," Solomon muttered, rubbing her eyes. "They should’ve gotten better intel if they wanted the prize so bad."

The King raised a hand to silence the chatter, his gaze still fixed on Gwendoline. "Did you explain to them the dangers of attempting to re-enter the boss chamber after its defeat? The destabilization of the dungeon’s core, and the risk it posed?"

“No father, we had no idea that dungeons destabilized after the boss’ defeat. I assume they know such information.”

“Are you for certain, Gwendoline” The King urged.

“Well in fact, father, the dungeon didn’t destabilize after we defeated the boss…you don’t think that what they said was true do you?”

“Afraid so, and I have no doubt that if the dungeon didn’t destabilize then there really was a more powerful foe lurking inwards. Perhaps the culprit for why the fallen hero turned into a monster.” The King sighed, rubbing his temple, “No doubt it’s already been cleared by the adventurers and the loot returning back to their kingdom.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the King’s words sinking in. Tsubasa was the first to speak, her voice hesitant yet determined. "If that's true, Father, then we failed to fully secure the dungeon. We left behind a potential threat—and worse, let the humans claim it without contest."

The King looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Do not be too hard on yourselves. Your mission was to defeat the fallen hero, which you accomplished admirably. But this revelation highlights a critical lesson: a dungeon's secrets often run deeper than they appear."

"Still," Vazeth interjected, her sharp tone cutting through the room, "if the humans now possess something of great value or power from that dungeon, it could shift the balance between our realms. That cannot be ignored."

"Agreed," the King said, his voice firm. He turned to his advisor, who stood ready by his side. "Double the efforts of our scouts. I want a detailed report on this human party, including what they might have extracted from the dungeon. If their prize is of significant power, we will need to plan accordingly."

The advisor nodded sharply. "It will be done, Your Majesty."

Constantia frowned, her feathers ruffling in frustration. "Father, should we just stand by and let them get away with this? What if they use what they found against us?"

The King regarded her calmly. "Do not mistake caution for inaction, my child. We will act, but not without understanding the full scope of the situation. Rushing into conflict without knowledge is a fool’s errand."

Kemo, her tail still swishing in agitation, crossed her arms. "So what do we do in the meantime? Just wait?"

"No," Vazeth said, her voice cool and commanding. "You prepare. Train harder, grow stronger, and deepen your understanding of the forces at play. If there is a greater foe lurking in the shadows, it will not wait idly. Neither should you."

Tsubasa nodded, her resolve hardening. "We’ll do whatever it takes. If there’s a chance to reclaim what was lost—or confront this greater threat—we’ll be ready."

The King’s expression softened, and for a moment, the stern ruler was replaced by something almost paternal. "Good. That is the spirit I wish to see in all of you. You are not just my children; you are heirs to our legacy. Prove to me that you are worthy of it."

Gwendoline bowed her head. "We won’t let you down, Father."

The King rose from his throne, his presence filling the room like a thunderstorm about to break. "Then go. Prepare yourselves for what is to come. And remember: vigilance is your greatest weapon. Trust each other, and trust your instincts."

As the group left the throne room, their footsteps echoing through the grand hallways, a new sense of purpose burned in their hearts. They had proven themselves once, but the journey ahead promised challenges far greater than they had ever faced…