Her words resonated deeply with all of them. The pressure in the vicinity skyrocketed to extreme levels. Esther remained unfazed, relishing in the strained attempts to maintain their cools. These were mere children. It was not very hard to push whatever buttons she had to push in order for them to slip up. She moved to speak, however, she was cut off when Yuki spoke up.

“Blood traitor? I’d very much appreciate it if you kept your comments to yourself,” Yuki said.

“Oh? Princess, forgive me but in what way am I speaking out of line?” Esther said in an arrogant tone.

“In what way? You’re as out of line as your entire country was when you lost to people who weren’t even dragons,” Yuki said. Her words were barbed and hit right where she wanted to hit.

Esther’s calm, smug facade faded and was replaced with a cold stare. The woman fought back the urge to snort at the Princess’s words and turned around. “Allow me to escort you to the Amber Palace. You and your entourage will stay there for the time being,” Esther said.

Embla stood there for a few seconds, watching everyone follow after them. She sighed and walked a short distance behind them. Her eyes scanned the halls of the palace. Unlike the warmth and homely buildings of Midgard, the interior of the Crystal Palace was cold and unwelcoming. It was dimly lit with multiple torches lighting the hallways with their crimson flames. Paintings of the various rulers of Muspelheim lined the walls and their gazes made her uncomfortable.

“Psst! Em! Don’t lag behind!” Pandora called.

Embla saw they were getting further and further while she had gotten distracted. She took off, walking faster and caught up to them. “Jeez, this place is…” Her words trailed off when she saw a side glance from one of the guards, “Is so nice. Yeah,” she said, elongating the “yeah”.

The guard returned his gaze forward. Embla let out a breath she never knew she was holding in and pressed her hand against her chest. “Haaah,” she sighed.

“You almost slipped up there,” Pandora said.

“This place is just very intense. It’s bad for my heart,” Embla replied.

“Me too,” Pandora said. “But we have to hold out for Yuki. We’re only here for two weeks…?”

“We’ll be here for as long as the negotiations require so two weeks is a bit of a stretch for negotiations. We might be here for longer than that. At least 4,” Red replied.

“Four? Four!?” Pandora hissed.

“At least we get to enjoy the coasts of Muspelheim,” Embla said.

“Ah yes, Muspelheim has one of the best rated coasts in the entire world. Ever since we opened up our borders, tourism has skyrocketed since. Frankly, most of our income comes from tourism. We have the fastest growing tourist economy of any nation on Yggdrasil,” Esther commented.

“I see. That’s nice to know,” Embla said. She wasn’t sure how to respond to such a comment. Yuki would have come up with a better retort. It was better to leave politics to the politicians after all.

“Indeed, and it’s all thanks to our late Prince Ishmel. He was the one who proposed opening the borders but unfortunately, extremists from the Sanguinare Terrorist Faction kidnapped him. We presume he’s dead,” Esther said, “And so the illustrious and majestic Solomon assumed the throne.”

“Solomon is who I will be speaking to later? The current Emperor of Muspelheim and the current Empress Regent?” Yuki asked.

“Yes, there was a change in plans and the Empress Dowager is not well enough to see you,” Esther said.

The group stopped outside a line of rooms going down the hall. Their guide gestured to the rooms with a flourish before opening her sickly sweet mouth. “Please, make yourselves at home. We of the Black Dragon Tribe possess enough decorum to make our guests comfortable for their stay here. Should you require assistance, we have placed a bell and allotted several loyal servants to this palace to call at your leisure,” Esther said.

“Who is the head maid of this palace?” Red asked, tracing his finger across the ever-so impeccable wallpaper.

“I am in charge of this Palace’s affairs. All staff including the maids and the cooking staff answer to me. If you have any queries or problems, please direct them to me,” Esther said.

Embla nodded and walked towards a door. “Wait…aren’t we bunking?” she asked.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“We are. Red and Yuki are staying together along with Kaguya. Each of the guards they brought have rooms surrounding them on both ends. We have the room at the end of the hall near the entrance,” Cal said.

“Oh… then this one isn’t ours,” Embla said.

“You three can go get situated and figure out who gets the bed. Yuki and I are going to unpack,” Red said.

“You did not just forget I existed,” Kaguya said, punching Red’s shoulder.

“Ow! Sorry, me, Yuki, and Kaguya,” Red said.

“Gotcha Vice Captain! So when do you want us to meet up?” Embla asked.

“Let’s meet on the veranda we passed by on the way over here in a few hours so we can discuss shifts,” Red said.

The three nodded and the group parted.

----------------------------------------

Esther’s heels clicked against the tile as she approached the central palace. The Obsidian House was the center of power within Muspelheim, located at the very base of Mount Surtr and its throne room resting at the very heart of it. The guards paid her no heed, allowing her to pass by. Her head held high and glasses placed firmly on the bridge of her nose, she walked down the halls of the Obsidian Palace.

Her eyes drifted to the portrait of late Prince Ishmel. She failed to suppress a laugh. “Oh how naive you were, Prince. Your ideals would never hold in this place.” Her heels clacked on the marble tile as she continued to stride forward.

After a few more steps, she stood before a massive pair of double doors. Etched into the doors was a golden symbol of a dragon with massive curved horns and a third eye located at the center of its forehead. The guards glanced at her before signalling to each other to open the door.

She curtsied and entered the room.

The Royal Throne Room was a majestic piece of scenery. Lights hung from the ceiling, lining the blood red carpet that led to the two thrones situated at the very end of the hall. Stained glass windows were arranged in a straight row at the top, each depicting a member of the Black Dragon Tribe that managed to ascend to the position of Abaddon. Her gaze dropped reverently as she stopped before two massive black thrones.

Prostrating herself, she touched her forehead to the floor and humbly greeted them in a tone that was far more respectful than what she had used with Memento Mori.

“This inferior one greets the Great Destroyer of the Seven,” Esther said in a soft submissive tone.

The man on the throne shifted a little, allowing the light to fall upon his girthy built body.

The man on the throne was a beast of a man. On his head was a crown of ten curved horns, with the two largest on the side curving backwards. His golden eyes were slitted and drank in the prostrated form of the manager of the Amber Palace. His arms were as wide and sturdy as oak and his legs were thick and strong like granite. A stocky, long tail with the firmness of steel and the flexibility of rubber swished lazily on the floor. Behind him were a pair of massive wings that were folded against his back. He had his hand resting lazily on his strong, defined jawline and motioned for her to speak.

“Go on with the report,” he said.

“Your Majesty, the entourage was placed at the Amber Palace. What should we do next?” Esther asked.

“Next? We let the negotiations go on as planned. However, you remember our utmost priority do you not?” the man said.

“Yes, King Solomon, I remember it completely,” Esther said. “But how should we deal with it if someone finds out and it’s from their entourage?”

“Kill them. Make it look like an accident and cover up your tracks,” Solomon said, stroking his chin.

“Understood. Oh and sir, there is a Crimson Dragon here,” Esther said.

“And?”

“Are we not going to…?”

“No, that would raise too many eyebrows. Risking our secrets now when we are under attack from a terrorist organization is not ideal, dear Esther. Not to mention if we harm that Dragon, the Princess of Alfheim would call upon Eschamali, Australis, and Scheat. I would rather not test our military’s luck fighting against three of the Twelve Sages,” Solomon said.

“My King has once again demonstrated a wise decision but forgive this ignorant one for asking, why are we afraid of the Sages of Alfheim?” Esther asked.

Solomon turned to look at her and stood from his throne. He descended from the steps and walked past her prostrated form.

“Do you know what the difference between me and my ancestor is?” Solomon asked.

“...”

“Common Sense.”

Esther looked up and gave her King a confused look.

“I know what to and what not to do. The man was foolish enough to challenge someone blessed with the Power of God. However, I am not. At least, not yet. To fight someone with an Arts is to challenge the Gods themselves, therefore, if we are to challenge the Gods, we must gain the power of the Gods,” Solomon said.

“And how do we-” Esther stopped talking. A cold chill similar to that of the frigid winters of Nifelheim crept down her spine every so slowly. Its cold spindly legs were like a spider’s, sneaking across a wall.

“Ah, my benefactor is here,” Solomon said.

Esther gingerly turned her head and saw a man in a cloak standing next to the throne. The man had slick, oily black hair and slight stubble on his chin. His face was chiseled and scarred with well sculpted features ruined by conflict. One of his eyes was cloudy while the other was blood red. The man’s figure was less stocky of the King’s yet radiated far greater power than his Majesty, not that she would ever say something like that. The man strode forward, darkening the room with every step. His gloved hands rested upon a cane that he clearly did not need and stopped before the two.

“Benefactor is a generous term. I am merely here to serve his majesty’s interests,” the man said in a low rumbling tone.

“Esther, meet Skoll. He is of the organization known as Fimbulvinter. He shall be the one to help me seek the path of God,” Solomon said.

“And… when you do reach it?” Esther asked.

“Why… we take back what is rightfully ours. To correct a wrong that is over 200 years,” Solomon said.