--------///----Losine's POV----\\\--------

The capital to Ulderria's empire seemed beyond what i had ever seen. There were buildings made from steel and glass that seemed beyond what i've ever known. The streets, despite being completly full as people had turned towards the array and noticed us, seemed to be fully clean and seemed to be self cleaning. The buildings themselves varied from size depending on how close they were, the buildings closest to the the array were mostly a single floor yet the further away they went the more floors and more sophisticated they became. This empire seemed to be beyond it's time and i couldn't help but be mystified at all the unfamiliar sights i saw.

Ulderria saw my expression and seemed to be filled with even more pride. That and her tail seemed to be so wagging fast that i wouldn't have been surprised if it would create it's own tornado. The little ones and even Martiq seemed to be sharing my mystification as they looked around at the surroundings with the same look i did. The sights weren't the only things that i could observe, the smells, the air, even the texture of the platform and ground we were standing on all felt different.

(Ulderria) " Are you surprised Mistress? "

(Losine) " Very. Despite my travels i've never seen a scene quite like this. "

(Martiq) " Me neither, and i've travelled all over the place... Not all over the place in the literal sense but still. This is amazing. "

(Ulderria) " It makes me happy to have my empire be the first you see of these developments. But let's not just stand around, theres more to see then just the plaza. But first. "

Ulderria suddenly turned towards the crowd of people before us yet turned towards Martiq and the little ones for a quick moment.

(Ulderria) " Do any of you have the air element by any chance? "

(Martiq) " I've got you covered. Go ahead. "

(Ulderria) " Thank you. "

Ulderria tapped her foot onto the array and i could feel a few elements activating and stringing together. I could recognize air, blood, light, and lightning forming together as those elements glowed up on the array. She then turned back towards the crowd and begun by clearing her throat.

(Ulderria) " *AHEM* To everyone here and in the capital, my message and the sudden shockwaves all happened without much room for warning. For that i'm sorry. To anyone who suffered any damages due to the shockwaves or the noise itself then please send a complaint to the nearest station and i'll look into reimbursement. However i know you can all see the family behind me and the answer to the question you may have is yes. "

She turned towards me and held a hand out towards me.

(Ulderria) " I know that many of you have read on the history of the empire and who i say is responsible for all that you see here today. And today she is here with us. I couldn't allow the very reason this empire exists to not see with her own eyes all that she is responsible for! I couldn't allow the one responsible for me to be the person i am today to not see this empire in the best way possible! "

The crowd had been listening to Ulderria's speech with rapt attention and faces shown how dedicated they were to making sure they didn't miss a word. The scene also had the affect of making me even prouder of her then i previously had. From when i knew Ulderria she had already been a leader her species had needed, and now, she became the leader they deserved and more so. The crowd looked up to Ulderria as she had me, just seeing this made me happy i ran through the savanah all those years ago.

However Ulderria then did something that i was not expecting. She turned to me and kneeled.

(Ulderria) " Mistress, would you be so kind to say a few words? "

Ulderria had caught me off guard with that but thinking about it, it wasn't a completly unexpected request. I had to think about what to say but it didn't take me long to formulate a response.

(Losine) " *Ahem* First of all, i wish to thank you all for being the winds beneath Ulderrias' feet. I wish to thank you all for making her dream become a reality that is far past any expectation. At the beginning Ulderria was your strength and your shield, she began the first steps of her dream that many of you may not have been there for. Yet those steps turned into a stride, that stride became a sprint toards the goal that is what we see today. All of you have my gratitude for making her dream a reality. "

When i had finished speaking the silence lasted for far longer then i had expected. At first i thought nothing of it, yet the longer it grew the more concerned i became. I looked over to Ulderria and saw she had been tearing up. I looked over to Martiq and he seemed to be sporting a proud smile. The little ones were just sitting there with confused looks on their faces as they looked over the crowd and Ulderria. 

(Losine) " Did i... Say something wrong? "

Ulderria began to wipe the tears away from her eyes and stood up.

(Ulderria) " Quite the opposite Mistress. For me, it was quite personal, especially coming from you. For them i believe it's the shock of not only experiencing a beast talking but also for seeing the books were true. "

(Losine) " I see... Yet... Now what?  "

(Ulderria) " Don't worry Mistress. however please cover your ears. "

Ulderria walked up to the edge of the platform and created her earthen gauntlets. She seemed to be compressing the air around her gauntlets as the air was being sucked into them. Suddenly when they were full she spread her arms out and then brought her fists together. At that moment, she must've released the compressed air within her gauntlets as the force of the clash ruffled my fur and did some damage to Martiqs air coverings.

(Ulderria) " IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SHOW FOR MISTRESSES SPEECH? LET US HEAR YOU SHOUT! "

That seemed to break the crowd out of their stupor as one after another, the shouts of the people filled our ears as they became a deafening roar. Ulderria snorted at that and smiled at us. However we were at a sort of impass. There was a massive crowd that spanned for what must've seemed like miles and the palace was even further beyond them.

(Ulderria) " Now that's more like it! However, as it pains me to say, we'll have to cut this short. In the next coming days perhaps weeks, the warforged shall be docking port and we will be making an address when he does. However for now we will be making our way towards the palace. Remember everyone, if you, your homes or your business sustained any damages from my earlier movements then please contact the nearest station and reimbursement shall be provided. "

I was going to bring up to Ulderria about how we would make it to her palace, yet Ulderria tapped the array again and the lights from before changed as they were joined with blue and brown while the blood red dimmed to the fiery red i was accustomed to. Before we said anything we all found ourselves within a spacious marble room that had a massive clear window that spanned the walls. The window overlooked the massive buildings that reached over the clouds whose floors went past the amount that i could accurately count. However my focus returned to the array we were standing on.

~ This array is highly intruiging. I'll have to ask Ulderria about this another time... This presence however... Is this who i think it is? ~

(Morrius) " Whoa! We're so high up, look mama look! "

I looked over to Morrius and saw the massive smile that had grown on it. He seemed to genuinly enjoy this. Lily on the other hand seemed somewhat terrified as her ears and tail were down. Martiq ended up walking over to her and comforted her. I smiled at him yet i still wanted to ask Ulderria about what i was sensing, however Martiq stole the stage once again.

(Martiq) " This is definetly awesome but i wanted to make a speech! I was so patient too! Ugggh. "

(Morrius) " I wanted to try one too... It was cool... Mama was cool... "

(Lily) " Yea! Mama was cool!.. But i don't think i could give a speech... That seems hard. "

(Martiq) " Normally i would agree there but your mother didn't seem to have any issues with coming up with a speech of her own. "

(Ulderria) " Mistress is just that amazing. There was no doubt in my mind that Mistress would come up with something marvelous. And i wasn't wrong. "

(Losine) " Wait... Ulderria, you did that on purpose? "

Ulderria seemed to have an innocent look on her face and just blinked at me.

(Ulderria) " Of course. Why wouldn't i want Mistress to be heard? "

(Losine) " I-... "

~ Logic... My logic, it seems it doesn't work with Ulderria around. ~

(Martiq) " You did it again. Whoa. "

(Losine) " Martiq. "

(Martiq) " I'll stop now. "

(Losine) " Good. Now then. Ulderria, i sense a familiar presence. Is it who i think it is? "

Ulderria seemed to be confused for a moment before she seemed to understand who i was talking about.

(Ulderria) " Oh! Mistress must be referring to Rixicyn... I forgot to tell him why i left. Oops. "

(Martiq) " Who's Rixicyn? What's a Rixicyn? "

(Rixicyn) " I can answer that. And welcome Mistress. "

Despite sensing his presence i hadn't been able to pinpoint where he exactly was. My answer came when i turned to see the figure of a manticore flying outside of the window. Despite the centuries that had passed the only major differences seemed to be his full maturity and the addition of wings. From outside the window i could note a scar over his eye and a scar going all the way down along his stinger. As i was observing him he did the same to me. Yet it seems even Morrius was analyzing Rixicyn.

As we analyzed each other Ulderria began shaping the marble roof and creating a hole for Rixicyn. He flew over the window and into the room we were in. As he landed he retracted his wings and bowed down to me so we were at eye level. His outward colorations didn't change yet it felt like he had gained a new element. Manticores were born with poison so the purple tips on his silver feathers was not a surprise. His claws and stinger had retained the purple colorations of his youth, his eyes still had the silver look that i had seen before. However his fur had gone to a deeper shade of brown however that was most likely just an affect of his maturation.

I was unsure of the new element he had gained, yet from what my senses were telling me then it had to be either fire or darkness. I was more lenient towards the thought he had gained darkness if he had spent the majority of his life with Ulderria. Now that he was infront of us, Morrius seemed to inspect him more in depth aswell, and Rixicyn had noticed this.

(Rixicyn) " I greet the mistress and her family. And hello... "

(Morrius) " Morrius!.. You're strong... Not stronger then mama but strong... But what are you? "

(Lily) " Yea! What are you? You Have bird wings but your not a bird, you have a lion face and maine but your not a lion, and you have a scorpion tail but your not a scorpion... What are you? "

The little ones had both walked up to Rixicyn and examined him for different reasons. Morrius had examined him to gauge his strength however Lily was curious to his nature. Despite most likely having some form of knowledge about a manticore seeing one, especially a mature one was different.

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(Rixicyn) " You're correct, i'm not as strong as your mother and i doubt i ever will be. And for your question... "

(Lily) " My names Lily, hi! "

(Rixicyn) " Thank you Lily. For your question i am a manticore. Manticores are species who prefer the dry desert climates. However different sub species and varients of manticore have their own preffered climates. For me i prrefer staying high above the clouds but i settle for what Ulderria has made for me. "

(Losine) " I've also noticed you've gained another element. Was it darkness? "

Rixicyn looked over to me and nodded. Ulderria seemed to also nod however more entusiastically then Rixicyn.

(Rixicyn) " You're correct Mistress. Having spent my childhood years and adult life with Ulderria i had slowly begun becoming accustomed to darkness. However the birth of her children and becoming their guardian became what pushed my body into accepting darkness as a new element. At first i was rather... Clumsy with it. I had gotten accustomed to only having three elemtents and the sudden imbalence caused by my darkness had left me feeling inept with my other elements. " 

(Martiq) " Well that sounds obvious. It's sort of like getting another arm. At first your all wobbly and don't know where to put it so it doesn't get in the way of walking. But the longer you've got it for the more accustomed you get to it. Then sooner or later you get the hang of it. "

(Rixicyn) " A... Oddly specific example... But it's correct. At first i had begun training in my control, afterwards when i was confident in it, i begun working on adapting my mindset to remember darkness attacks and defensive measures were now open to me. After a century of the same thought process, changing it was the most problamatic issue for me. " 

Listening to Rixicyn i had to admit i could relate to the issue of changing ones mindset. Becoming a mother had to be the most applicable example.

(Losine) " True. Changing ones mindset is the most difficult issue when it comes to any kind of change. And you don't have to keep bowing to me Rixicyn. You are free to stand. "

(Rixicyn) " Thank you mistress. However why have you all come now of all times? Ulderria had told me of a "Rift" yet i'm not exactly sure what that means. "

(Losine) " That's expected. You had yet to be born afterall. However i'll wait until Valderin arrives. The information may be time sensitive however it isn't immediately detrimentle to hear. "

(Rixicyn) " I understand Mistress. However what will you all do now? "

He did have a point. I had expected Valderin to be here by now, yet now that he isn't i had no idea what we should do for now.

(Martiq) " I mean... We're somewhere new. Why not look around and explore- "

(Ulderria) " YES! *Ahem* I mean, excellent suggestion. There are a multitude of areas i believe you would enjoy. "

(Martiq) " Alriiight. Could have done without the interruption but let's try it out. But first. Where should we eat at? "

As if on que, Martiqs stomach rumbled which was followed by the little one's and then mines. Ulderria seemed shocked and begun to scramble.

(Ulderria) " I didn't even think about providing any food! Ah the chefs! WHERE ARE THE CHEFS!? "

Ulderria had almost run out of the room, and she would have, had it not been for Rixicyn wrapping his tail around her. 

(Rixicyn) " You have yet to ask the Mistress what she would want to eat. You have yet to ask if they would want to eat cooked or hunted by them. "

Ulderria stood stiff as she understood what Rixicyn had said. She turned around to look to us and i could see the question in her eyes.

(Losine) " Is there a place to hunt in your empire? "

(Ulderria) " Yes there is! Give me a moment Mistress. "

Ulderria ran back over to the array and put her hands on it. She had pricked her finger prior to pressing her hands against it so a trickle of blood touched the array. The entire array seemed to change as Ulderria focused on it. Suddenly it felt as if it was different.

(Ulderria) " Now it should be connected to our hunting grounds... But why does it feel like i'm forgetting something? "

(Rixicyn) " Haaah. You were scheduled to have a council with your inner cabinet before you shot yourself out. I've had to not only calm your cabinet but also the children. Yulia almost tore out my fur when i had to tell her you suddenly disappeared. She took over some of your duties, and still is since i flew over. "

Ulderria began blinking in rapid succession at Rixicyn due to what he said. 

(Losine) " Yulia? "

(Ulderria) " My eldest daughter. She'll be twenty three by the end of the month. She ended up being a genius. Unbiased answer of course. When it comes to economics she matches me. Which in itself is amazing since i literally oversaw its creation and development. " 

(Lily) " What's an economy? "

(Martiq) " Good question Lily... I don't know. Sile, what's an economy? "

(Losine) " Haaah. An economy is what determines the financial situation of the kingdom or empire. However that's all i know. I've never taken a key interest in the money aspect of bipeds. "

(Martiq) " Money's boring and weird so i'm not surprised about that. "

(Rixicyn) " I can agree with that sentament. i've never understood the inner intracacies of money or an economy. To me it seems more of a headach then what should be. "

(Ulderria) " ... It definetly is a headach... For many different reasons. Anyway. Shall we go hunting now or later? "

(Losine) " What about your daughter? "

Ulderria looked over to Rixicyn who just sighed.

(Rixicyn) " I'll go inform her... I expect a fresh silver tail when you return. "

Ulderria smiled and shifted the roof to allow for Rixicyn to fly out. However he seemed to have a defeated look on his face as he did. As soon as he was outside the room he dove straight down until he was passed the clouds. The little ones just stared staring as he left. 

(Morrius) " I wanna fly... "

(Martiq) " Lots of us want to fly Morrius. Maybe you'll get to experience it one day. "

Morrius just whined a bit but didn't say much else. Ulderria seemed as if she was about to say something but seemed to have remembered something as she slapped her head.

(Ulderria) " I need to give all of you something before we enter the hunting grounds. Mistress i'll have to ask you to let Morrius and Lily come with me for a moment. "

(Losine) " Go right ahead. I trust you Ulderria, there's no need for you to ask so politly. "

Ulderria's face seemed to go from happiness to tears and then to embarassment all in a matter of seconds.

(Ulderria) " I-i-i- I could never... I-i'll be back Mistress! "

Just like that she ran away and out of the room.

(Lily) " Umm... Mama? Do we follow her now? "

(losine) " Yes Lily. "

(Morrius) " First one to catch up to her wins! "

Morrius said that and immediatley ran towards the door Ulderria had run out of.

(Lily) " No fair! Cheater! CHEATER! "

Lily immediatley ran out after him as fast as she could.

(Martiq) " Huh... Who do you think is gonna win? "

(Losine) " Morrius. He did run out first after all. "

(Martiq) " Hmm? Then i'll bet on Lily. "

(Losine) " Bet? What would we be betting? " 

(Martiq) " Hmmm... Loser has to hunt the winners food? "

(Losine) " Hoh? Very well then. I'll be expecting the finest meat in the hunting grounds. "

(Martiq) " Sure, whatever you say. Don't be surprised when Lily wins though. "

(Losine) " And what makes you say that? "

(Martiq) " When we were hunting Lily ran awfully fast. Even while we were running on our way here, she was able to go really fast. Morrius is more of the bulky type. "

(Losine) " ... Interesting. Then lets se- "

Before i could finish my sentance i felt a feeling similar to me establishing a connection, yet far stronger. It seems Martiq felt this connection aswell as he looked serious for once. Suddenly the image of a small beast began to shimmer into existence right behind us. I felt some kind of familiarity towards the image. That feeling only kept growing the more the image developed. 

Soon it was complete and before us was a small... Fox creature? Yet i knew foxes had never been capable of developing elements...

~ So what was this creature i saw? The multiple tails, which all held a different color in the center didn't make the question any simpler. The black fur and red eyes brought an idea to my mind yet it couldn't be... ~

However when the creature was as clear as if it were here i soon found my answer.

(Eclina) " Mama! "

The creature ran right through me as she said that. When i turned around to see her again i saw a look of embarassment on her face yet soon it was covered by two of her tails. Yet that voice... I would recognize it anywhere.

(Losine) " Eclina?! What happened to you? "

As i said that, i saw a smile form through the gaps between her tails. I was about to say something more but Martiq interrupted me.

(Martiq) " Hey! what about my charge? "

His question made me involuntarily smack him as quick as possible as his question was too ridiculous. Yet looking at her form i was still in disbelief. However she began to explain herself, yet in a rather rapid fire way.

(Eclina) " Ummm. I connected to my elements and then i started to grow my tails, then when i connected to my air i got smaller and changed into this. Mr.Fenrir said i turned into a fox but then he said that somethings missing. Other then that i haven't done anything but train and eat all day. It's boooring. What about mama? Lily and Morrius? What has everyone else done? Tell me tell me! "

She had just gone through her changes as if they weren't that drastic. I couldn't keep myself from looking all over the changes in her form.

(Martiq) " What about me? Not gonna ask about me? Your little old father? "

Martiq seemed to be trying to keep the mood light, yet considering what was going on infront of my eyes that was going to be difficult. I just had to look over to him and from the corner of my eye i could see Eclina had done the same thing. Seeing that i couldn't help but smile at her.

(Losine) " They've been doing well. They've both hunted multiple beasts on multiple occasions. If you don't take your training seriously they'll surpass even you, you know. "

She seemed to have gone completly stiff at that. Even her tail, which had been slowly wagging, stopped completly. It seemed like she was afraid of being surpassed by her siblings.

(Eclina) " Nooo. I'll hunt way more then they can! I'll be the best big sister hunter in the world! "

(Martiq) " I don't think that's the best way to say it but we get what you mean. "

Suddenly the door behind us began to open and turning around behind us showed it was Ulderria and the little ones.

(Ulderria) " Mistress i br... Who is that? "

I was about to say who it was yet the little ones interrupted me.

(Lily and Morrius) " Mama! Papa!.. "

(Morrius) " Is that? "

(Lily) " Big sis! "

Lily and Morrius seemed to understand who Eclina was despite the drastic changes to her form. However Eclina didn't seem to be following where they were and only where she heard them from.

(Eclina) " Fufufufu. Yep it's me! The best big sister ever! "

(Lily) " What happened? Why are you smaller? Why do you have alot of tails? "

(Eclina) " This is normal for your big sister. I'm super strong and super cool now! "

(Morrius) " Does that mean sis fought strong stuff? Have you, have you? "

When Morrius asked her that question she seemed to flinch for a moment.

(Eclina) " Yep! I've fought so many strong things that you'll never catch up to me! Muahahaha. "

(Morrius & Lily) " Whoa. "

(Lily) " Big sis is amazing! "

(Morrius) " I'll catch up to you! I'll hunt way stronger things! "

They had been going away from a major point and killed valuable time yet i let them go on for as long as they have since they haven't talked to each other in a while. Yet now i had to interrupt them. I knew who made this possible so i had to ask Garris how much time he had left. 

(Losine) " Calm down now all of you, Garris, I'm assuming there's not much time left to be talking like this? "

(Garris) " I can keep this stable for another ten minutes at the least. You can keep talking and i'll notify you when the time's running out. "

(Losine) " Thank you Garris. Now then, i'm sure you heard the voice that came in before. "

I turned around and noticed that for some reason, Ulderria was just standing in the corner.

(Losine) " You're allowed to come and introduce yourself Ulderria, you don't have to just stand in the corner. "

(Ulderria) " A-are you sure Mistress? "

(Losine) " Ulderria. "

(Ulderria) " Yes mistress! "

She walked over to us and stood next to me and directly infront of Eclina. However Eclina seemed to freeze for a moment.

(Eclina) " Why can i see her? "

Lily and Morrius seemed to catch on and questioned her on what she meant by that immediatly. I got a smile out of her blunder yet Martiq was laughing.

(Martiq) " Looks like the cats out of the bag now Eclina. "

(Losine) " However you managed to do well from keeping them from noticing. So, nicely done Eclina. " 

(Eclina) " Wha- y-you knew? "

(Losine) " Of course we did. We have some knowledge on the capabilities of our elder... Correction. I do. It seems your father doesn't pay attention to the knowledge he has. "

Mid sentance i noticed Martiq flinched as i mentioned Garris. He turned his head away and tried to act nonchalant yet i knew what that meant.

(Losine) " What Garris is doing is projecting our images to each other. However he is only projecting me, Martiq, and Eclina. He can't project Lily or Morrius because he hasn't met them. That's the main requirement for what he is doing. and to answer your question, Eclina, you can see her because she is someone that has earned my trust and has been bestowed a emblem that makes her family. And yes i'm being vague yet that's all i can tell you. "

(Eclina) " Awww. Ok mama. "

(Ulderria) " Cute. "

(Losine) " Huh? "

(Ulderria) " Huh? "

Ulderria seemed to have blurted it out without thinking about it and seemed to have gotten embarassed because of it.

(Losine) " ... "

(Ulderria) " ... "

(Martiq) " Are you two going to just keep looking at each other like that? "

Martiq had gotten us out of our stupor yet i would still remember to remind him about the information he has later.

(Garris) " You have three minutes at most. "

Ulderria looked panicked while Lily and Morrius looked sad. Knowing our time had begun to run short had made me somewhat sad. I could tell Martiq felt the same but he cheered up.

(Martiq) " I'll be running through to check up on you myself soon. So don't be sad Eclina. "

That seemed to raise her spirits as she smiled a happy and bright smile.

(Morrius) " Papa that's no fair! " 

(Lily) " Yea, papa's unfair! We wanna play with sis too! "

(Martiq) " Hey! I won't just be playing. "

(Losine) " Hoh, so you admitted you would be playing huh. "

(Martiq) " I-i mean i won't be playing! Yep! That's what i meant! "

(Losine) " Mhm. " 

Suddenly she started to slowly fade out and we all noticed.

(Garris) " Less then a minute. "

(Losine) " Then it looks like it's time for us to say goodbye. Make sure you treat your training seriously and make sure you stay safe, ok my Little One? "

(Eclina) " I'll do my best mama! I'll make you proud. "

Her enthusiam was infectious as her smile made its way onto both me and Martiq's face.

(Losine) " I know you will Eclina. Get stronger and make sure you don't lose out to your siblings ok. "

(Eclina) " I'll be way better then them! "

(Lily) " Hey! That's what i was going to say! "

(Morrius) " Well i'll be the one to actually be better! "

(Eclina) " No, i will! "

The image of Eclina began to fully fade and within moments she was gone. As soon as she was gone i couldn't help but turm to Ulderria.

(Losine) " What did you need to get us? "

Ulderria smiled at me and began to take somethings out of the pockets in her dress. They seemed to be some kinds of emblems. Which oddly enough resembled ours. Looking to them, Lily and Morrius seemed to have smaller versions of them on their sides. Ulderria put them on us and mentioned they would tell us where the array was no matter how far we went. When she was done she knelt.

(Losine) " If everythings ready how about we all go hunt. I don't want to get left behind by my daughter. "

(Ulderria) " Understood Mistress! "