Aurelia wakes up and sees Alatar sitting on the peak against a wall. She gets up and winches. Holding her head, She feels her frozen blood. "You're awake," Alatar says, looking at her. Aurelia gets up quickly, causing her to be dizzy. "You won't be able to fight for a while now; you're drained and barely have enough energy to stand; besides, I came here to talk." He gets up and walks towards her. She backs away from every single step he makes. "No, stay away. I won't let you make me into a slave! I won't work for your kind ever again." Alatar doesn't stop as he advances towards her. She feels herself touching the edge of the mountain. Turning, she sees the jagged crystals waiting below. She closes her eyes, knowing that at her current strength, she will die from this fall, but it's better than living a slave.
As she stepped off, she felt her wrist grabbed by Alatar. She looks at him with fear. "No, please...I couldn't go on to be used again." Alatar stares into her eyes. "What do you see?" he asks Aurelia. "What?" She questions as she looks away. "Look into my eyes and tell me if I would do such a thing." Aurelia looks into her eyes; they are dark, tired, and hateful—hate that isn't targeted at her but toward those that he has sworn vengeance on. "I harbor no ill will towards you. I only ask, as someone who shares the same hate, the same anger towards Demons, to join me. We can't do this alone but can succeed by working together." She stares at him momentarily, conflicted about whether this is the right choice. "What's your name?" She asks as she grabs his wrist. "Alatar, Alatar Saliton." He responds while pulling her back. He lets go, but she doesn't. "The other one...the one that smiles with life in his eyes. What is his name?"
She sees a flash of anger in his eyes at the mention and lets go quickly in response. "His name is Vorgrimm. He is an Old Demon Lord." She tilts her head in confusion as she ponders what he said. "Demon Lord? How did a Demon Lord get into your body?" She questions him further. Alatar walks to the edge, looking over the land. "I'll tell you everything on our way back to the castle if you want to join me." He asks, turning towards Aurelia. She looks at him and nods in response.
Alatar carries her down to the castle, and they begin to discuss everything about Alatar's past. Aurelia notices that his movements are quiet, unlike Vorgrimm's loud and manic moves he made during their encounter. They land in front of the castle's doors. "You poor soul." She says, feeling awful for him. "It is what it is now. I use what happened to me as fuel for those that couldn't save themselves." He lets her down gently as he walks to the door. "Will you join me, Aurelia?" She hesitates for a second, then follows him slowly inside. Alatar closes the door as the harsh winds subside.
Mira peeks her head from down the hallway. "Alatar?" She smiles, seeing him as she rushes towards him, stopping and seeing Aurelia behind him. "Who is that naked woman?!" She says, blushing. "And why did you bring her with you?!" Alatar goes to turn and introduce Aurelia, but Mira lunges at him and covers his eyes. "I'm so sorry you have to be looked at like that! He doesn't even care about seeing women like this! Not that I would know! He uhh n-never seen me like this! At all! heh.." She says as her face gets redder. Aurelia smiles at the two, giving her a warmth she hasn't seen in a long time. "My scales cover most of my parts!" She says, doing a twirl to show herself off. Mira looks in shock. She covers her eyes and then slaps her tail over Alatar's eyes. "Ow," Alatar says as Aurelia starts chuckling.
Ishan walks over and looks confused for a moment. "Your Majesty...is everything alright?" Mira gets off Alatar. "Yes!" She says, looking away from Aurelia. Alatar gets up and says, "This is the dragon on the top of the mountain. She'll be joining us!" Ishan and Mira look at each other. "Your Majesty told me about that...to think you convinced her to join us."
Alatar looks at him, confused. "Us?" Mira looks at the two men staring at each other. "Ooookay~! Alatar! The Bronze Kingdom has decided to join us against the Iron Kingdom. We will head down to their castle and help them with their Beast!" Alatar looks at Mira and then at Ishan again as he shrugs his shoulders. "Fine with me...you're ready to eat Princess." She smiles. "Yes! I found the place where they stored the food!" Alatar walks past her as she quickly follows behind. "I already knew where it was!" He says, causing Mira to huff in frustration. "And you didn't tell me?!" Ishan and Aurelia stand there flabbergasted. "That's because you can't cook!" Alatar says to Mira. "Can too!"
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
They follow behind as Alatar makes food for everyone. Mira, Ishan, and even Aurelia eventually get along as they are in high spirits from the warm food in their bellies. They begin to laugh and tell jokes. Alatar watches them as he remembers the promise he made to everyone. Looking out the window, he ponders exactly what Xeriah plans and with whom.
They finish eating as Mira & Aurelia wash the dishes. "Alatar, is it?" Ishan asks Alatar, staring at him. "Come be merry with us! Enjoy the night you've been successful on your mission with the Beas-Aurelia!" he says with a nervous smile as he catches Aurelia side-eyeing him. Mira nudges her as they whisper and giggle over something private.
"No need, I'm not here to be merry." He says, turning from the window. He looks at Ishan. "Then what are you here for besides protecting the princess?" Ishan asks interested. "My mission is to kill every single Demon." Ishan laughs. "A high dream! I've felt your Mana Pressure, and you're strong, but not nearly strong enough to take them all on yourself." Alatar pulls out his broken blade. "I'm well aware of that. That's why I'm finding like-minded individuals to help me."
"And who is that?" Ishan asks, looking at Mira. "I hope you aren't bringing the Princess into this." He uses the reflection of his blade to look at Mira. "No, that's not the promise I made to her." Mira continues talking to Aurelia, not hearing Alatar's words. Ishan looks at Alatar. "You're a damn good Shadow, that much I can say. I'm just excited to be on your side." Alatar doesn't respond.
Mira goes upstairs to help Aurelia find some clothes. At the same time, Ishan heads down to the quarters Mira gave him for the night, waiting for everyone to go to bed.
Alatar heads to the top of the castle. The wind has become a soft breeze as He sits on the ground, and the freezing cold becomes numb around him. "The cold will help me concentrate." The world darkens around him, and the snow beneath his feet disappears, replaced by ashen stone. He stands as he looks up, seeing Vorgrimm sitting on his throne. "Kid...nice job bringing yourself back. I had fun being the one with the reins for once." Alatar looks at him. "It's not going to happen again. I came here for one thing." Vorgrimm leans forward in his seat. "Oh? Do tell." He says with a sly grin. "How can I obtain Mana Liberation?"
Meanwhile, Mira looked through the closet for different outfits for Aurelia. "Aurelia, I cannot seem to find anything in your size! You're rather tall!" She says while muttering under her breath. "And busty, too.." Aurelia walks around Mira's room, looking at the bed. "Princess Mira." Hearing those words makes Mira jump as she turns around. "Y-Yes?!"
"Why did you accept me so quickly? I was something you were supposed to destroy. How could you trust letting me in your castle, knowing I have you here? All alone...?" Aurelia says while running her sharp nails across the bedside table. She looks at Mira with a wondering gaze. Mira looks at her, then at her nails. "It's simple! it's because Alatar trusts you." She smiles as this takes Aurelia aback. Mira turned around as she continued to talk to her. "If Alatar didn't, he wouldn't let you near me, and I'm sorry..." She looked at the clothes with a hint of sadness in her voice. "I'm sorry for hurting your children if I've known that they were," Aurelia cuts her off. "No, no, you were only protecting yourself. Most of these baby dragons result from what the Demons have done to me, so I resent them." She says, slowly scratching her nails into the wood. "My family is all gone, Princess...these are just cheap imitations made to mock and dishearten me."
Mira walks over to her, grabbing her hand. "My family has tossed me away to Demons. Do you know who saved me?" Aurelia's eyes widened as she thought of Alatar and the moments of their battle, especially the end. "Alatar..." Mira gave her a big smile. "Exactly! So, I want you to know that if Alatar brought you here, you are welcome. You're a part of the family."
"You accept Alatar know what he has?" Aurelia says in surprise. "What do you mean?" Mira asks in response. "A Demon. He has a Demon inside of him." Her smile fades away. "I do."