hannah: yeah, that's true. when I read that line I was thinking "this is definitely neil. Must be." :p
Mew-Star-Mew: umm yeah, they did it. Right after their first kiss. Then again, Allen is going on a fast track that night. ^^" and good luck for NOT getting rival events! Which one are you playing now?
Chris Shino: Now that you said it... yeah, Reine looks like Merida in previous chapter hahahaha and I can totally imagine Rod being "Anna" while Neil is the cold "Elsa" in that scene .. As for Reine's victory over Xerxes, there are several reasons:
1. Reine IS getting stronger (refer to Gwen's different impression on Reine's aura),
2. Xerxes was severely underestimating her, so his grip on her wasn't too firm, especially since the count down has begun (you know, some people drop their guard down when they think victory is already at hand while actually it hasn't... he is that kind of guy, or dragon for that matter),
3. Reine's aura is empowered by the heat produced by the lightning. In this case, the lightning sort of acts as a subtitute for the sun as heat provider. On another note, we can also see it that Reine's motivation is born anew after she saw the lightning... so adrenaline rush of some sort.
Hope this explains it ^^
"In my custom, this binds forever."
Those words echoed yet again in Allen's head, and every time he closed his eyes, he found her deep blue round, pure eyes staring back at him.
Nothing could describe the pain in his heart when he saw her pure white skin turning to crystalline blue, and when he saw her wings on her back. She was a dragon; it was no longer a mere accusation. It was a fact.
He still remembered the towering black figure over the dead bodies of his parents. And the fire. It, too, was a fact.
Yet, he knew that there was this part of him who longed to spend his forever with her, still.
It wasn't like he tried to move on. In fact, he tried so hard to forget her by going to parties and be acquainted to the young human women of his age. He even went out for some time with some of them, but it never felt right. There was something amiss—there always was.
He tried to move on as if she had never entered his life, but the more he tried to forget, the stronger her presence made itself known in his being.
He knew Neil was right: he couldn't choose whom he loved. He knew, and he felt it even after two years had passed since their last encounter: his raw love for her, even if it meant crime.
With the thoughts of her sinking into his head as he sat down in his office, he didn't realize that his Vicelord and cousin, Neil, had knocked on the door several times and eventually excused himself in. Allen only noticed his presence when the blond stood before him, "Oh, hey."
"I received a report from Elviaros."
Neil passed a piece of letter to Allen who promptly read it. Now, Rod was the only Dragon Hunter stationed in that town and this was the first time he had submitted a formal letter.
"Seems like dragon attacks in areas surrounding Elviaros is increasing," he pondered.
"It might be too much for him to handle alone…"
Allen noted the tone of worry in Neil's words. Although now Neil as a person had become less grumpy and more pensive, it seemed that his protectiveness ran in his veins so there's nothing changing it.
Lord Leicestria folded the letter and faced the Vicelord. "Why don't we go there?" he suggested with a smile.
Neil, not expecting such a suggestion from Allen, was taken aback. Allen gazed at Neil's badge that was placed on his left chest, right above his heart. The badge was a metallic version of the red baby rose headdress he had intended to—but never been able to—give to Reine while the original one was tucked safely inside his pocket.
That, coupled with Neil's coldness, was an effective woman repellent. For the whole duration of two years he had been serving as the Vicelord, he had coldly turned down at least ten betrothal arrangements much to the irk of the clan elders.
Neil averted his eyes, gazing at the distance. Allen took the letter and was about to put it inside his breast pocket when something slipped off from the pocket and fell to the desk, creating a small thumping sound. Neil turned and saw the blue rose pendant lying on plain sight.
Allen sighed before he smiled in defeat. "You're not the only one, Neil."
Neil, however, didn't seem to be surprised at all. Instead, he gave his cousin a gentle smile Allen had never seen for so long. "I know," he simply said.
Allen chuckled, "If you go all sentimental with me any longer than this, I might shed a tear of happiness, you know?"
Neil shrugged and soon the gentle smile was wiped clean from his face, turning back to his serious mode. "So, both of us?"
Allen nodded. "We'll be departing after dinner."
"Your Majesty,"
The Queen turned and nodded in acknowledgement towards Grand General Concordius. "Please take a seat," she said as she motioned towards the empty seat before her.
"What can I help you with?"
Reine pointed at the tapestry on the wall of the study. More accurately, she pointed at the image of the late king's younger brother. "Him." She began, "I want to ask you why neither me nor my sister had ever heard about him."
Colour began to drain from the senior dragon.
"You are Mother's brother, yet we know you."
"That is… different, Your Majesty."
"Tell me, then… what's the difference?"
Grand General Concordius braved himself to look at his niece, who had inherited the gentle looks of her mother and the air of regality of her father, combining into a much dignified gracefulness, although her fiery temper had moulded her gentleness into an intimidating passion when she willed to be.
He took a deep breath, "One night, one week after you were born, he sneaked into your room and tried to burn you, together with Gwen."
For a moment, he let himself to be her uncle, not her subject, a change noticed by the Queen and which she was very grateful for.
"Luckily your mother, my sister, came and rescued the two of you. After that, he was banished from the Court."
"He is a fire dragon, correct?"
"Yes. And he holds an especially powerful fire. An inextinguishable fire… Black Fire."
There was a knock on the door, interrupting their conversation. "If you may excuse me," the Queen said politely. "Thank you, Grand General. I appreciate it."
"The honour is mine, Your Majesty," he replied as he bowed respectfully towards his liege. They walked together towards the door and the general opened the door, only to find his son, Will, was standing on the other side.
Will bowed to both of them. "I received a message of more unauthorized attacks to the region of Elviaros and Valshell this morning."
The Queen nodded slightly. These past few weeks, after the Court passed a new law on regulating dragons' attacks on human settlements in an attempt to curb the number of deaths in the hands of trained Dragon Hunters, the opponent of this new law rebelled by committing unauthorized, large-scale attacks, and due to their location towns such as Valshell and Elviaros often became the targets.
"They don't understand that it is for their own good…" she murmured.
"Re—I mean, Your Majesty,"
The Queen turned and found her twin, "Yes?"
"I heard another group of rebel of five is heading for Elviaros as we speak."
There was an obvious worry in her voice, and while it might be interpreted that she was concerned about her subject—the Younger Princess was well-known for her benevolence and the gentleness much alike to the late Queen Consort her mother—there was no need to tell to whom the concern was actually directed, since none of the dragons were aware of Allen and Neil's moving to Aeronsburgh.
"Prepare yourselves, Gwen, Will. And take two guards—one of Lightning and one of Earth element."
The Grand General, being a master strategist himself, realized the Queen's plan, although he saw a small flaw in it. "Who will provide the flame?" he asked.
She turned to him, "I will," she replied. "I shall deal with this personally."
The Grand General was taken aback by her declaration. It was rare for a Monarch to go out from the Court and settle matters personally. Then again, he knew that the current queen had an independent streak in her so he should've expected it.
"We will be departing in one hour."
After two years... both parties head back to Elviaros!
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
Thanks for reading and don't forget to review! ^^
