Chapter 34: Just an ordinary date.
The Capital City of Dragonia. Dragon Winged Street.
...
"So they already left, huh."
Wilmarina let out a disappointed sigh to see the empty place where the human vendors had been from the other day before, now it was empty. Monster shop owners had said they were there for temporary business for a few days and left off. On her surroundings and her beloved Elt, the monster shops around the market district were booming with business at last while the Minstrels around the bustling streets played their songs and the Tricoromelle restaurant is filled with customers after two days of almost not having anyone to buy their products. She and Elt went to the restaurant and a succubus maid greeted them with a friendly smile upon their entry.
"Welcome to Dragonia's Tricoromelle~! How may I serve you?"
"A table for two, please," Elt said while raising two fingers. The maid nods before turning to his lover with excitement. "Come, Mary, let's take a seat!"
Around thirty minutes later, Wilmarina was thrilled after taking her first taste of the Tricoromelle Parfait and it was the sweetest flavour that she has ever tasted in her life. Elt, too, was enjoying the treat. Shortly after dining in, the Dark Hero noticed a pair of familiar figures walking past the windows. She saw the same human merchants trotting down the alleyway while the Armoured Merchant held a sizeable duffle bag by his shoulders.
She almost choked the ice cream in her throat out of surprise before stomping out from the table. Elt was bewildered to see her rushing out for someone else outside of the restaurant.
"H-hey wait! Mary, where are you going!?"
Outside of the Tricoromelle Sweet Shop, Domhall is busy looking down the map to which places they could go to sell their products. Then he looks up at the Knight of Berenike.
"So, which place should we head for?" The Zenian Merchant asked while cupping his chin.
"Hmm... I think Gaul might be the best place." Valor guessed while pointing down at the map's landmark. "I heard this kingdom in the Federation is a perfect place for profitable businesses."
"Ah! Yes, to Gaul indeed!" Domhall spoke jovially while pointing up his index finger. "Rumours says distorted dungeons sprouted in that region. Therefore, chances to establish a permanent business will be in no time!"
"Hey! You two!" Domhall and Valor heard a familiar voice and then spun around to see a succubus who they met a day earlier. "You're the merchant we've met before! Do you still have something to sell for us?"
The Zenian Merchant and the Knight of Berenike shared their dumbfounded looks before staring back towards Wilmarina.
"I'm sorry, but our business here in Dragonia is done," Zena said, with an apologetic look behind his helmet. "We're heading for Gaul to establish our possibility of permanent business there and you might visit us there one day if you need to buy more unique items from us."
"I... see, then that's unfortunate," Wilmarina said in distraught while lowering her shoulders. She knew heading into the Federation was risky business. "But I have one question. From where did you get that armour? The souvenir we've bought before..."
"Oh? The Astoran Elite Knight Armor?... hmm, you can't find such set anywhere in these ordinary places." Domhall explained while clasping his hands together. "Although, you can find them in dungeons, yet they are very hard to find."
At that moment, Wilmarina raised her eyebrows in curiosity. "D-... Dungeons? Dragonia has a lot of them and they could be somewhere, right?"
"Well, if you're thinking about Dragonian dungeons. No." Domhall answered while tilting his head. "They are absolutely found in distorted places where otherworldly monsters lurk on every corner. Trust me, these dungeons are not of your ordinary beast and when you get inside to these places, then chances of deaths are very high."
Upon hearing his information, Wilmarina raised her eyebrow in concern. She has never heard of a dungeon having high death rates. The dark hero knew the monsters were beautiful maidens since the ascension of the current demon lord. However, she has small awareness of the arrival of new monsters and they were said to be out of the ordinary. Like what Sasha explained from a couple of weeks prior, she has never seen one of them yet.
Wilmarina remembers Druella mentions about the Royal Makai was having some conflict against the demons of Pimor, which she never heard of them. The Dark Hero also heard rumours circulating outside of Lescatie that in this region of Dragonia, citizens mention strange and otherworldly entities popped out of nowhere and they couldn't be explained or reasoned with upon encountering one of them.
"Exploring these dungeons isn't easy. We've been through there to collect any valuables. Then I see fools who would dare to underestimate those dungeon monsters." Valor spoke with a disappointed sigh and then made an amusing smile at the succubus. "Especially using armaments having Silverrealm won't save your life, either. So you'd better be equipped with something that can kill, not to convert."
The dark hero felt a sudden chill through her spine. She did not expect to feel the deadly truth in his voice as if he was saying is the real deal. Then does that mean trying to find those items in these unknown dungeons, which had connections to astora, is actually dangerous?
"Oh, and also for more advice, be wary of chests," Domhall said while straightening up, points his index finger upwards like a teacher. "Their sharp teeth might tear you apart, even if you're a former hero. Overconfidence in your own strength will be your last moments in life."
"I... I see..." Wilmarina felt a sweat bead roll down her face. Thus she knew that the emotions within this man were actually not lying either, even when her monster senses did not detect any truths and lies in his voice. Then that means he also witnessed heroes-turned-monsters getting killed in these places? "Th-Thank you. I didn't know such places exist."
"You're very welcome!" Domhall nods heartfully with a smile behind his helmet. "If you're heading to one of those places, then I would say... good luck!"
After they finished with their talks, the two merchants then left the place while the mamonos nearby set their curious and lustful eyes on the two humans. Thus she heard footsteps coming behind her and then spun around to see Elt was panting heavily as if he ran a mile.
"Oh? Elt, what's going on?"
"What's going on!? You just left!" Her lover raised his scolding voice before pulling up a bill. "Look, we need to pay for the food we just ordered, and the manager isn't happy!"
Wilmarina then turns her head to the side and saw a scornful dragon maid with her arms crossed. The dark hero succubus then flashed a nervous smile while apologetically waving her hands at her.
"S-sorry! I'll pay them back!" She apologised out loud before her mind came up with another plan. 'Then... going into one of these mysterious dungeons from which the merchant mentioned earlier might hold our only answers to exploit the Silver-Blue Knight's weakness.'
...
Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth.
...
"I wonder what's Olivier is doing right now?"
"Are you getting worried about her?"
"Yes, I am. But all that talk I messed up last night..." Sasha then exhaled deeply. "I'm not sure if she could ever forgive me..."
Ash then shrugged his shoulders before he opened the front door of their rented house. Upon entering, the children heard the two adults had just arrived before Lisia and Emiyu were overjoyed to see them again.
"Big sister is back!" Emiyu jumped up in joy. "How was your adventure, Sasha?"
"Yeah! Tell us some new stories, about monsters and treasures-!" As Lisia was about to finish her sentence, she noticed a bruise mark on Sasha's left cheek. "Sasha... your cheek has a bruise! Did you got hurt?"
"O-Oh, this? N-never mind about it!" Sasha made a nervous smile while rubbing her bruise. "A monster just got hit me in the face and I was careless."
Ash then sighed deeply after hearing her telling a lie in front of the children. That is not until he felt his senses caught the presence of another person who stood at their front door. He slowly turns around and raised his brows in surprise. He saw Olivier crossing her arms while her eyes still narrowed at Sasha. Thus, her gaze catches his attention.
"Good gracious... Sasha, now you're telling lies in front of the children, too, huh..." Olivier muttered while closing her eyes, which the priestess felt a chill through her spine. Sasha breathed in and out until she spun around to face the musketeer. "We... need to talk. Alone, not here and without your knight."
"Big sis, who is she?" Ralph questioned curiously.
"It's... a friend of mine," Sasha then sighed deeply while hushing the children away. "Go to your rooms, and Ash, please watch over the children."
Ash was about to protest until Sasha expressed her determination, knowing well that it was her responsibility. This is her second chance to reason with Olivier to atone for her past actions. Hopeful that the Knight of the Order would forgive her. He nods back at Sasha before the two lescatian heroes walked out of the house.
"Let's take a simple walk, shall we?" Olivier said and Sasha responds with a nod as they head down through the bustling alleyway.
...
Thirty minutes had passed, and a pair of lescatians reached the fountain in the centre of the town before they took their seats on a nearby bench. Sasha felt nervous while turning her gaze towards Olivier. The musketeer herself felt relaxed as she breathes calmly, but Olivier was facing down with a gloomy expression.
"So tell me Sasha... why would you come up to an agreement that you've sided with the Demon Lord?" Olivier asked in a neutral tone without batting an eye. "Just what were you thinking back there? Did the monsters seduced you... or did you gain sympathy?"
"... It was sympathy... Back then, I promise to hold up an oath to protect the smiles of people," Sasha answered, while her hands clasped tightly together. Her eyes narrowed while feeling anguished as she remembers her old duties as a hero. "Until I saw the monsters have families and children of their own... then I realise by taking away their smiles hurts me more than I could imagine."
"So... I took their children in and made a shelter for them... deep within the woods." Olivier kept listening to Sasha's explanation of her backstory. For the first time, the musketeer heard more of the private life of a veteran hero. "While I continue to work as a hero... I also save monsters from their scheduled executions... that is not until I come up with a stupid plan you've mentioned earlier."
Olivier nods silently. It was indeed foolish for Sasha to do that to their own kingdom. "Then... you've met with one of Druella's spies, am I correct?"
"... Yes, but they came to me in front of my church that night," Sasha answered. "They know how I grew sympathy with the monsters and they gave me an offer to change Lescatie from its corruption."
The musketeer didn't say another word and keeps on listening. Then Sasha felt a tear break up in her eyes. "... I thought their offer would absolve my sins, but my foolishness led me to believe them. Then I began to lie... in front of everyone who trusted me."
"But... what of the Chief God? Her voice would've reached you and abstaining from such acts." Olivier questioned. It was no mystery that Sasha is indeed a heroine who can hear the voice of God. "How did that happen?"
"The Fallen God has spoken to me why the Chief God had abandoned my fate to her hands," Sasha explained while looking down, and then her voice quivered. "All I did is to do an act against her teachings, harbouring sympathy and taking care of the monster orphans... that was it. But I ask myself how...? How did I commit such sin for sheltering innocent children?"
Then Olivier raised her brows that something came to her realisation. She knew one mamono who was a part of the Order and a member of the Ice Flower and that was Alameria Crescentria. She was arrested once the Order finds out her true nature, but she had been her friend for a year when they were knighted as the three musketeers, along with Paula Tronmail.
They had indeed faced monsters in their time, while Alameria was unaware of her true nature. But why did the Order allow her in? That was the most confusing thing which Olivier had in mind. The musketeers did care for Alameria despite her nature, and the dhampir did not act like any monsters. While trying to plan out an idea to prevent her execution from the conspiracies, the invasion of the lilim rolled in and Salvarision was overwhelmed.
The musketeer remembered she and Paula were locked up in prison before ending up facing Wilmarina, shortly before her transformation into a monster. But she never got a chance to save her friend, who was secretly a monster as a human being and then save the kingdom from corruption.
But being friends with a monster means she would've been a heretic by now. Then does it mean she would also count as one?
"I understood..." Oliver breathes out before admittingly telling it out loud. "It was all confusing... even among us, the three musketeers... we had a monster on our side."
"... Huh?" Sasha raised her brows in surprise. "There... was already a monster among us?"
"Indeed, it's Alameria... that dhampir who's currently working with Jennifer and Siegward. The Order found out she is a dhampir and we had been facing monsters together without even realising." Olivier said regrettably. "When I heard a word from the senate. I didn't believe it... until it was proven. I and Paula had been friends with a monster, but we cared for her despite for who she is... then that, too, maybe we are also counted to be as heretics."
Sasha couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew about the Three Musketeers of Lescatie and had seen the face of Alameria several times before she came to Gerth when Olivier was still a demon while they were spies working for the Lilim of the radical faction. She thought Alameria was a human prior to her transformation as a vampire due to the reveal of her sharp fangs and pointy ears, but her thoughts fooled her when she didn't notice her actual nature before the invasion.
"Wait, really...?" Sasha rose her eyebrows in surprise. "I didn't notice that..."
"Yeah, it's confusing, right? I bet the Order has more secrets than you would ever imagine." Olivier chuckled bitterly while crossing her arms and looking up, and her eyes stared straight into Sasha. "Look, you may have a goal to turn our kingdom back to its pre-transformation state. But I doubt our friends will ever forgive you... even if a reason was given."
The former priestess then made a deep sigh. "... I know, and you're right on that."
"Then you have to come up with something before they would hang you for treason." Olivier then scoffed while giving Sasha an irritated look. "But I'm still pissed at you for what you did to us. It's unforgivable... really."
"Then... does that mean you forgive me?" Sasha curiously questioned. Olivier gave the priestess a blank look for a moment until she punched Sasha on her right shoulder. "Ouch!"
"There, now you're forgiven." The musketeer said blatantly with an uncaring look. "You deserve that punch on the shoulder."
The priestess fell quiet for a while and couldn't help but rub her arm. She slowly agrees with a nod. "Yeah... I definitely deserved that..."
From a distance, Ash observed the two from around the corner in a nearby building. He was glad that their talks did not escalate into another quarrel as he heard Olivier have forgiven Sasha to give her a second chance. However, he felt his senses were picking up and caught a glimpse of a mysterious cloaked figure who was stalking the priestess and the musketeer until the cloaked figure noticed the knight caught the stranger's act and then suddenly disappears once the mysterious figure blends itself into the crowd of people.
"By the flames... I bet it's not one of them." Ash muttered under his helmet in caution. "The situation with the inquisitor is already giving me a migraine."
...
'I can't believe that bitch got my brother's approval for their date! WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FUCK?!'
Elen felt frustrated, so frustrated that her head felt like she was going to explode at any moment after hearing her brother's approval. Sure, her mother would approve without a second thought, but her father will decide in his opinion if that dhampir truly fits as a future wife for her brother. After she saw Daniella and Reginald part ways, the daughter of Farron followed her steps and marched her way into Horseback Inn while the nearby townsfolk were frightened by Elen's threatening aura and pave way for the angry dhampir. Then Elen slammed the door open, catching the waitresses and the guests off guard.
Thus she comes up to Sieglinde, who's expressing dismay and concern.
"Sieglinde... Where. is. she!?" Elen demanded the waitress with a dangerous growl. The daughter of the Onion Knight swore she felt an icy chill down her spine before the dhampir raised her voice. "Where is Daniella?!"
"I-In her room, upstairs!" Sieglinde pointed towards the nearest staircase leading to the next floor, out of fear. "Elen, what the hell happened to you?"
The dhampir ignored the waitress and stomped her feet going up the stairs. Sieglinde felt worried to see Elen pissed off like this would mean that someone had signed up for a death sentence. But she remembers how she had seen Elen's remarkable strength which she had once bodied down the meanest thug in town when she was just a young teenager back those days, the old days when the young Elen is still under the tutelage of her father to become a swordswoman.
From that day on, no one would ever piss her off like that until some member of the Radical Faction sets off her timer on the loose.
Inside a peculiar room, Daniella felt a grateful bliss after earning the approval of Reginald to go out for a date. She hasn't felt for a long time how happy she was and making out on a date with a man who claimed himself as the "son of a vampire", was like a dream come true.
"Hooray! I'm so proud of you~!" Alameria cheered when she heard the news of her comrade's upcoming date. "Now you'll show him your love, which he will not resist!"
"Are you going to have sex with him after that?" Jane guessed with an embarrassed blush. "Goodness me! You're growing up into a real woman!"
"W-Well... he wanted to have a normal date." Daniella felt embarrassed as she fidgets with her two fingers together. "I'm pretty sure he wanted how ordinary humans do it in their own way."
"Since you two are cheering for her... I'm not sure if his sister would agree with this." The three dhampirs then turned their attention to Sandra, who has a look of doubt on her face. "We know of Elen's nature as a dhampir, but her behaviour and personality trouble me a lot. She only cares a lot about her brother's well-being and doesn't seem to indulge in lust."
"Maybe she could be a rare case?" Jane guessed with a mumble. But Daniella tilts her head sideways. "Eh? Is she not like us?"
"No, she's different from the rest of us and both of them won't hesitate to kill mamono. I've seen what's inside Elen and she is a very serious mamono than I've ever come across... Like those other two such as that Orc of the Astora Family and the Demon from the Mirrah Order." The noble dhampir shivered at such thoughts to imagine them being serious while looking down with a deep sigh and showing anxiety. "After that day of the town's invasion... I... I believe I delved myself into a more... complicated matters."
Sandra then raised her brow in question. "What do you mean by complicated matters?"
"Reginald mentioned to me something which I don't really appreciate..." Daniella explained while remembering the day of Adrea's attack on Gerth. "Why killing them mattered more than attempts at reasoning."
The dhampirs were unsure of that, but such a statement gives them a troubled look. However, their thoughts were soon washed away once they heard three knocks at their door for a while, until several loud bangs were produced, which made the four jump up in surprise.
"I'll go get it~!" Jane answered while heading for the door and opened it. "Yes?"
Once she takes a good look at the person, her eyes dilate in fear once she sees the face of a shadowy person having a pair of glowing red eyes. Then the individual revealed itself to be Elen Farron. Jane gulped to see her face was indeed a scary sight to behold with those dangerous daggers glaring straight into her core.
"Is she here?" Jane froze herself like ice and swore she heard a demonic tone in Elen's voice. "I want to talk with that bitch who got my brother's approval."
Without a word, Jane slowly nods and steps to the side. Once Elen stepped into the room, the rest of the dhampirs caught a cold aura emitting from the daughter of Farron as if it were a cold blizzard blowing asunder. Sandra and Alameria did not make any single move while Daniella felt her knees tremble with terror once Elen caught sight of her.
Then the Daughter of Farron points her finger toward the member of the Demon Realm Agent, Daniella von Andrei.
"YOU." she spoke out loud with a cold growl. "Just what did you make my brother fall for you?"
Daniella gulped and felt her lips shaking out of fear. She has never felt this cold, threatening resentment coming from a person ever in her entire life. Especially, the person was none other than the dhampir sister of Reginald.
"I-I... I ju-just... wa-want to ask him out for a date!" Daniella meekly answered while cowering in front of an unamused Elen. "Th-that is all I've asked a-and he approved it!"
While Daniella closed her eyes and hoped that his sister won't hit her, Alameria hastily sprung into action to save her dear friend from the murderous dhampir... by grabbing a pair of her sizeable melons on her chest and fumbled them together to make her feel some insatiable pleasures while the demonic energy flows straight into Elen's body. But little did she know...
"Ufufufu~! Do you feel that?" Alameria whispered with a moan in Elen's left ear. "That is the power of happiness and it will make you find a man- wait... what are you...! KYAAAAAHHH!"
Alameria was overconfident to think that drowning Elen in a sea of pleasures would mean an easy victory and give no further trouble to come up with a plan to convert the Farron siblings, but she was straight wrong. Instead of hearing her lustful moans, her so-called "victim" grabbed her hands and twisted them. Thus it produced painful cracks coming out from her wrists, making Alameria scream in full of agony.
"Touching my tits without consent will make you go into my head-chopping list, you whore."
"ST-STOP! STOP! I'm sorry! I wouldn't do it again!" Alameria begged in pain, but she was met by her pair of eyes filled with rage. "HIIEEEK! Please, spare me! Let me go!"
Elen then released her wrists before Alameria dropped her knees on the ground and writhed out in pain. The daughter of Farron then turned to the other two dhampirs, Jane and Sandra, huddled each other in fear for a moment and then frowned while turning her gaze down on Daniella, who's now cowering at the corner of the room like a cornered puppy.
"Alright bitch, listen well; you'd be lucky if my mother were here to approve you and gain acceptance from my brother for your so-called "Date". But for me, it's unacceptable because I know full well that you're too horny for his dick and served for that ugly slut in Lescatie at the same time," Elen growled bitterly as she leans over her face close to Daniella. "I know my brother well, and he wouldn't want a hedonistic whore as his wife. So I am going to believe myself to expect something from you to bring up your full responsibility as his ordinary partner and not your everyday fuck buddy. If you don't and try to abduct him."
Then she unsheathed her moon-shaped dagger and brought it up close to Daniella's right cheek. "Then I will follow you, no matter where you go. Thus I shall BURY YOUR PITIFUL FAMILY ESTATE FROM EXISTENCE LIKE IF I GIVE A SHIT!... Do you now catch my drift?"
Daniella's eyes were blank as if joy was no longer present within. She listened and understood. The poor dhampir of the Demon Realm slowly nods until Elen gave out a frustrating sigh and then walks out of their room. Thus, Daniella felt her tears swell out and then trembled to the floor as she broke down with a sob. Outside, Sieglinde felt sorry for the dhampir of the demon realm, while turning to Elen.
"That's... way too harsh for her, Elen."
"I don't care... She'd better hold responsible for it," Elen responded coldly, while going downstairs without batting an eye. "If she does some unusual things with my brother... I wouldn't give a fuck when I drop her off into a nearby volcano."
Sieglinde was appalled when she heard her cold statement, which brought up goosebumps on her skin. The waitress didn't expect her childhood friend will go that far. While back inside the room, Sandra and Jane were comforting the traumatised Daniella. The dhampir wept as she wiped off her tears of sadness... until she pulls up a bracelet from her pocket.
"My dad said getting married is too early for us." Upon looking down at the object in her hand, she heard a voice of a young boy, a tone filled with optimism, which she hadn't heard for years. "He said if I were to become your husband and you as a wife, we need to be responsible with one another!"
"Then... we'll make a promise! I'm sure of it when we see each other again!"
Since that day, Daniella thought he would never reappear in her life again when she and her mother finished their visit with their relatives in Gaul until years passed by... where she met him again at the hilltops outside of the town. The place where he tests out his new sword to cut down an entire tree. At first, she couldn't believe it was him. After her treatment given by the hostility of the Farron siblings, she now remembers his familiar scent and the lack of his mana.
Daniella almost died on that day when they find out about her suspicious act as a spy to observe Ash Cyrus and Sasha Fullmoon.
"Reginald... since that day, you nearly killed me at our reunion before I realised it was you all along..." Daniella whispered as she clutched the bracelet tightly with both of her hands. "I will become your wife and I take whatever I hold responsible for it... I swore in our promise."
...
Unknown Buffer Region.
...
Alto-Eris woke up with a painful migraine swelled in her head until she looks up and saw the same room around her, thus her nose soon picked up an aromatic smell of roasted fish and felt her stomach growls for hunger
The young dragon knight slowly went out of her bed until she stopped. The dragon knew the son of the dragonslayer was still inside this very cabin and her face tensed when a question came into her mind... what the hell is she thinking? She hasn't recovered yet and wanted to take revenge on Artor before heading for Ornstein. Yet the dragon felt her instincts start to crawling into her senses of a sudden, but she ignored it.
'I need to better eat or else... I'd die in starvation .'
She slumped over to the door and opened it. Alto-Eris went to the dining room as she followed the scent of food. When she reached the place, she saw Artor was ready to serve the table with a big plate of roasted salmon, filled with fresh garnish, and tomatoes covered with olive dressings. Such a sight of that food made her mouth drool before her head snapped out abruptly from her stupor once she sees him smiling at her.
"Getting hungry, are ye? Don't worry, there's plenty."
Alto-Eris frowned while remaining silent as she cautiously went to the dining table and then took a seat. While her gaze towards Artor remained hostile and still doesn't trust this unusual man, her stomach churned, promptly begging for food. She slowly picks up a fork and takes her first bite of his dish... then her eyes dilate in awe as the taste of his roasted salmon was indeed overwhelming.
'This... this is actually good!'
The dragon dines in much to her joy. She hasn't tasted this food so good despite it was a cuisine meant for humans. Alto-Eris couldn't help how the mouth-watering flavour of the dressing on the garnish taste so good.
"Well, you seem to enjoy the food, huh?"
Then the dragon froze and turned her gaze at Artor, seeing him expressing his amusement. The Dragon Knight then blush red in embarrassment and turned her eyes away from him.
"H-how rude!... S-staring at a woman while eating is creepy!" She pouts her cheeks, scoffing at the young dragonslayer. "And your food is worse!"
"A nice lie you got there." Artor chuckled lightly, which caught Alto-Eris off-guard. "So, do you have any plans before you leave?"
Alto-Eris soon felt her face turned furious as she clenched her fists and then slammed it on top of the table, creating small cracks. Yet the Lord remains unfazed by her act.
"I. am. not. done. yet." she hissed sharply with daggers glaring at him. "Do you think I would leave you alone? After for what you did to my kin you've slain?"
"I know the point of what you're getting, but the dragons I've met earlier were too stubborn to listen." Artor then said in a tone, optimism replaced by seriousness. "I've met many dragons who seek vengeance against my father. But I couldn't help but slay them on where they stood... after all, Ornstein is my father and he isn't a man who you used to think of."
"But your father is a murderer! He killed my mother and you're saying I'm going to leave my goal what I've strived for!?" The Dragon Knight roared back in outrage. "You have the nerve to protect him as if you were his-"
"Enough. Your kin brought this on yourselves and waged a pitiful war on a single man due to your Queen's arrogance. In war, there are no such things as murderers." The young dragonslayer interrupts her with a fierce glare. Alto-Eris couldn't believe that this man silenced her with such a daring look that tore through her soul, even her nature, as a dragon. "Years ago, thou kind was warned and yet, thoust has never listened. Up until 'tis day, dragons seeking vengeance to return for their so-called Pride and Happiness... will only end up being dead."
"Then... why me?... Why am I spared?" Alto-Eris then asked as her voice quivered, which made Artor silent for a moment and the dragon knight faced down with sorrow and confusion. "Just tell me, Artor... why do you not claim my life?"
"... My father deserves the peaceful life he wanted... he no longer delves into this." Artor sighed. Unsure of his own answer, but regardless, he blankly replied. "You, too, shall move on from that... I am here to give you a second chance to live."
"I don't... I don't get it... I don't understand this at all!" Alto-Eris felt conflicted as tears rolled down. "Please! Don't take this as a joke! Leaving him alone will never give my happiness back!"
"Then what else will you do?" Artor raised his eyebrows in question. "There are a lot of purposes you can find in your homeland. Even if you get your revenge, it will only leave you empty."
"NO! I don't want that!" Alto-Eris cried back before breaking down into tears. "I don't want such thoughts in my head... I just wished to see my mother... to see her again and be happy. But your father robbed it away..."
Artor remained silent while Alto-Eris continued. "Now answer me this question, please... why am I spared...?"
"That is because... Well, what can I say? I do not know why I hesitate... Unlike the dragons I've met, you're far more pitiful than the rest." Then Artor paused for a while and then scratching the back of his head. "All of them were seeking vengeance or being foolish under their own arrogance and glory to restore the pride of your kingdom... and you... you wanted to avenge your mother to bring back your happiness. Yet... that could mean only nothing will be achieved from that."
The dragon knight grits her teeth while getting impatient. Once she was about to raise her claws to make him spit out his genuine answer, her mamono nature delved in, letting her very own soul waver and interfered with her act.
"Please, stop it! You have already fallen in love with him... forget all the hate you have in your mind, I beg you!" Alto-Eris felt her skin shiver as the inner voice of her desires spoke into her head. "He gave you his mercy... so please, award him your lust... then you can avenge your mother by making him your husband!"
"NO! STOP IT!" Alto-Eris cried out desperately until she smacked her fist against the side of her head. "Get out of my head!"
"If you don't accept his mercy and generosity, then I will do it myself."
Artor reeled back in surprise to see her behaviour changed of a sudden by harming herself until she curls into the floor. The dragon let out a squeamish cry and her claws clutched her head. Alto-Eris tried her best to resist the urges of her desires, but the emotions were gradually taking over her mind as her heart throbbed and heat spreads all across her body. Thus, her breathing became heavy until her lips quivered... letting out some moans.
"Hah... hah~! Ahhnn~! Artor~!" Artor scrunched his brows in bewilderment once the dragon mamono groggily stood up and noticed her eyes were staring straight into his own. Thus, he immediately noticed her sudden change. "Artor~! This is all your fault~!"
Alto-Eris was giving Artor a lustful gaze as drool escaped from her lips, and the young Lord saw the pinkish heart-shaped pupils in her eyes. This could mean one thing; that this dragon who's seeking revenge against his father soon turned subservient in front of him. Now he realised this dragon grew some feelings for him due to her mamono nature. His mother warned him about this when he was just a young squire, which is due to warrior-type mamonos seeking any worthy partners.
Then she was not suffering from her headache after all, but resisting her instincts controlled by the desire of finding a mate.
"You did this to me, and you made me love you! I... I hate this!" Alto-Eris cried out. She kept on struggling until her eyes grew bleary. Thus, her body moved on its own and felt her insides throbbing like crazy. "My desires are not holding back and I don't want this to happen! But... please... be-become... become my husband already!"
Once her desires took over, her instincts kicked in without mercy and Alto-Eris turned feral, like a growling beast. She lowered her head as she crouched down and the dragon knight was ready to pounce on the young Lord. Artor then prepared his stance and observed her movement until she leapt at neck-breaking speed. Artor immediately strafed to the left, yet he was amazed at the same time to witness how she was able to perform such a jump with force despite her body is in process of recovery.
The young dragon knight missed her target and hit the wall. She spun around to make a second move and her legs sprung forth once more. Yet Artor raised his hand to counter and perform a hard chop on top of her head, knocking her down unconsciously to the floor with a loud thud. This is the third time he's doing this and fortunately, despite the brief chaos that had been unleashed by the dragon, not a single piece of furniture was ever broken.
"That was close." Artor breathes out in relief. "Who knew the nature of mamono was this capricious?"
"I'd never expect you'd bring a dragon in your home, dear." Artor froze when he heard that familiar voice and then spun around. A valkyrie stood at the entrance of the dining room, and she has an amusing reaction on her face. "Are you trying to find a spouse for a new family, my dear Artor?"
"... You should've knocked on the door, mother," Artor said with a deadpan. "It's rude to get in without permission."
"I know, dear. But I heard the commotion even outside from your house." Alissa then placed her hands on her hips while looking down at the unconscious dragon knight. Thus tilting her head in disappointment. "I've heard some words from your Uncle Ledo... then what will your father think about this? Don't tell me you're sheltering a dragon who's seeking vengeance against my husband?"
"It's complicated, mother," Artor replied nervously while scratching the back of his head. "I just... wanted her to be spared from a deadly fate."
"Oh? So you care about this dragon, hmm~?" Alissa said with a smug while letting out a peal of small laughter, which Artor felt uneasy at this point while he knew his mother was teasing him at this point. "A dragonslayer and a dragon knight... what an unusual couple."
"Mother, I did not intend to search for a spouse." Artor breathed out to vent out his frustration before looking down on the unconscious Alto-Eris. "Nor will I make her as mine."
"Then you have some feelings with a dragon, huh." The Lord of the wooden cabin perked his head up in surprise and turns around. He saw an open window and another valkyrie leaning against the wall standing next to it. His sister crossed her arms while expressing delight. "Nice to see you again, older brother."
"Ciara, not you too." Artor felt his head fell down while doing a facepalm. "Could you at least not intrude your way into my house?"
"Why not? We're a family." His sister then chuckled before standing up. "Father was livid when he heard about your incident."
Artor paled for a while and then raised a question. "Then where... is he now?"
...
In the mountains, Ornstein is in deep thoughts while performing meditation. That is not until the sounds of clacking armour disrupted him from his serenity and noticed someone stepped in next to him.
"... Milord Ornstein..."
"I know... I've heard the current situation of my son," Ornstein said calmly while closing his eyes once more. "I am seeking guidance. Do not disturb me."
The older Silver Knight bowed to the dragonslayer in response. "As you wish, milord."
Ornstein only sees the darkness within and felt his own soul levitating itself from reality and entered into a dream world filled with clouds. He stood above the vapours and waited for an entity to come. Thus, his expectations were answered.
*SHRRRIIIIEEEEK!*
Ornstein turn his gaze into the skies and saw a massive feathered wyvern that soared through the mists and then landed in front of the dragonslayer, leaving a massive burst of wind brushing against his armour.
Then a tall figure jumped down from his giant steed and then faced the golden knight. Ornstein felt it was just yesterday, but it has been several millennia ago when that person, who turned his back against Lord Gywn. After knowing the inevitable fall of Lordran to the undead curse, he had been seeking for him for many centuries, until he saw the glimpse of his flying steed shortly before his transfer into an unknown world.
"My lord... it's been a long time..." Ornstein then kneeled to the giant lord. "Our time in the old world is no longer... Lordran has already fallen apart."
"I know... I stood corrected centuries ago and saw its fall." The Lord closed his eyes with a nod of sorrow. "It is indeed a long time since we've met, Ornstein."
"Likewise, firstborn of Gwyn," Ornstein replied and then asked for his guidance. "I... needed your advice."
"Hmm? An advice thou seek?" The firstborn raised his eyebrow in question. "For what cause?"
Ornstein remained quiet for a moment until he spoke the words. "It is my son, Artor."
"Your son?... hmm... Oh... Oh!" The Firstborn then raised his head and then formed a smile behind his bandana, laughing heartfully. "Hahahaha! You still remain serious after so many centuries. Now your only concern is about your son who fell for a mere dragon of this realm?"
"My ire of hatred on the dragons remains shackled since the War of the Flames," Ornstein spoke admittingly. "But what can I do for my son while the dragons in this new realm were nothing more but mere hedonists?"
"You're afraid that he might fall to their temptations of their Demon Lord." The Firstborn suggests while Ornstein remains silent. "From what I see... he wouldn't fall for it. But the future of your son with his chosen spouse beholds a miracle for the survival of our kin."
"...My son and his chosen spouse... hold the future?" Ornstein felt surprised by this and then lifted his head in bewilderment. "What do you mean?"
"Do not fret such thoughts, my former pupil. Rise and heed my words." The Firstborn replied, speaking in a calmer manner and Ornstein slowly got on his feet. "The "crossbreeds" of this realm will only breed more of their kind with the local men of this world. It is indeed troublesome. Fortunately, we, the children of the flames and those who are connected to it, do not abide by their rules... Thou hast married to Alissa the Valkyrie, hast thee nought?"
Ornstein remained silent and then nods. Then the nameless lord explained further. "Your wife would haveth given birth to more valkyries and not a son if thoust a native of this world. When thine son and his dragon consort blossom their firstborn child, it will be always a Lord."
"Then... are you saying a new lord will be born?" Then Ornstein widened his eyes in realisation. "Thus, the result of their union will ensure the survival of our kin?"
"That is correct, Ornstein. They will be the ones to open a new path for peace, a union between the Lords of the Old World and the Dragons of the New World." The Firstborn then continued. "Do not sway your path to follow the same disaster which has befallen on my father centuries ago, or else misfortune and despair will come for thee and thine family."
Ornstein remained silent until he slowly nods. "... Understood, Lord Faraam."
"Hmph, you still call me by my alias, but not my true name? I wonder why I remain unnamed." The Nameless King chuckled as he tilts his head and slammed the butt of his spear against the formless ground."Very well... I do hope thou hast heeded my words, Ornstein... Then may the flames guide thee."
When the firstborn lord made his farewell, the clouds surrounding the two dragonslayers whirled into a vortex and then vanished from the dream world. Back in reality, the dragonslayer opened his eyes and then looked up to the skies. The sun was already down and stood up from his sitting position before heading down to the path leading to his son's home on a distant mountain.
"Have ye' gain thine guidance?" Ledo asked while sitting on top of a boulder.
"Yes... we'll be heading north where my firstborn lives." Ornstein nodded and his eyes hardened into a glare. "Then I must meet this woman, which my son chooses as his future spouse."
...
Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth.
...
"Where is he...?"
Daniella was sitting on a bench near the fountain. The sun has already set while people around the plaza went back to their homes and closing their daytime shops. Lampposts were lightened up and stars slowly took over the night skies. The dhampir noble looks up to see how beautiful the stars were, glittering like diamonds from a distant sky. That's not until she heard footsteps and noticed someone approaching her.
"Sorry... I was a bit late."
Daniella saw Reginald approached her while wearing casual clothing. Then she blushed once she sees his real identity instead of seeing half of his face covered with his usual bandana. He has dark brown hair combed to the side. His light brown eyes were now visible, and she was used to seeing his eyes were obscured under the shadows of his headwear. Nevertheless, outside of his battle gear, he was indeed a handsome man to behold, like Ash Cyrus himself. Their true appearances alone can even make any Incubus jealous, despite they're just humans.
'While Sasha is lucky to have Ash.' Her mind spoke. 'Then I'm truly lucky to have this guy.'
But looking at his face reminds her of that boy she met years ago when she was just a young girl.
"It's a quiet night, isn't it?" He asked while nervously scratching the back of his head. "Well, this is my first time to go out with a woman. So then... shall we go?"
Daniella made a nervous gulp before stepping in and held Reginald by wrapping her hands on his arm. Thus, her innocent puppy eyes look up at him, which made him flustered.
'Huh.. she was cute after all.' Reginald's thoughts spoke in admittance
"Let's go to Horseback Inn. I made a reservation for us." He said with a smile until they began leaving the plaza. "I hope this night is something worth it."
Unbeknownst to the couple, Elen observed them from a distant rooftop using a pair of binoculars to see anything suspicious. That is not until she caught a group of dhampirs on the other rooftop. She narrowed her eyes, catching their suspicion while leaping off to another building.
...
"What the hell!?... Is that the man she chooses is going to be her husband!?" Alameria said it out loud in disbelief while dropping her jaw. "He's incredibly handsome!"
"Yeah! She never shows us any illustration about what he looks like!" Jane cried out in despair and regret. "This is the first time I see his face without a bandana, and it's not fair!"
"I must admit... I feel incredibly jealous when I see his face and her... hugging his arms." Sandra hissed while biting her thumb out of spite while glaring daggers at the couple. "Are the men of the Five Factions this handsome? Then why do they always cover their faces with helmets and masks!? I felt cheated!"
While the three spies were bickering as they observed the couple from a distance, Elen was hiding behind a big chimney and groaned in frustration. She couldn't believe what she was hearing from these stalkers of the Demon Realm.
"The hell? Not just only her... but them as well..." she muttered while gripping the handle of her dagger. "I'd better keep an eye on them."
"You know what... I feel bad if we snatch him away from her, but this is really unfair." Elen's ears perked up while hearing Alameria's statement. "Then why don't we share him?"
"Oh! That sounds like a great idea!" Jane chirped happily with a brightened expression. "We'll just form a harem for this guy!"
"Well... I'm not against that, but it sounds risky." Sandra added, with doubts on her face. "I mean... look, we just saw this guy's face, and we simply fell in love with him! Don't you find that odd?"
While hearing this, Elen felt her own blood boiled as anger grew in her head. She wouldn't let another woman making her brother into a toy for their depraving activities. While in the midst of their talks, Jane felt a cold sensation and then turns to the direction where the cold aura was coming from... it came from behind a chimney on the next roof.
Thus she saw someone peeked around the corner. It was Elen, who stared right into her soul with her foreboding, glowing red eyes.
"Umm... guys." Jane then spoke up in a worried tone, alarming the other dhampirs. "Guys! We have someone!"
But it was too late. Her warning alarmed their stalker before Elen dashed out from her hiding spot, thus immediately charging at the dhampirs of the demon realm at neck-breaking speed, without warning. Soon, screams of agony filled the air, yet their cries of despair remain unheard, even to the couple as they kept walking down to the path towards Horseback Inn.
"I wonder what do they have on their menu?" Reginald wondered while looking up. "I heard uncle Siegward made some special cuisine."
...
Chapter 34: Ends.
Author's note: Don't worry, Alameria, Jane and Sandra are still alive.
Secret Info: Unlocked.
The Blanks (Children of the Dark Soul):
Profile:
The Blank is an alias for a specific type of human and monster girl. The monster girls, who are born between a pure-blooded mamono mother and a human father with outworldly blood, were a unique breed of mamonos and commonly seen within the family societies of the Five Faction. They were the first of their kind to be born with outwordly bloodlines of foreign humans who came outside of our known world. Not even the Sabbath can figure out their souls and life energy, even the smartest minds such as Greilia and Runya-Runya mentioned how deeply distorted it was and couldn't be comprehended.
Blank Monster Girl Lifestyle:
Blank Monster Girls were raised like humans, thus living with the same mindsets of human common sense. Much was akin to a Dhampir. Although, their personalities varied, and they were not shackled by the ideals of the Demon Lord, who saw love, lust, and understanding as a priority in their lives. Their chief priority is living within a human-like society and abhors the lives of the previous Mamono generations because of their mothers, who told them their tales of pleasures.
They were often embarrassed by their monster mothers who try to convince their daughters to get a husband in front of their friends. Yet they surely ignore their advice.
One study indicates that Blank Monster Girls were born only as younger siblings while their older biological siblings were humans. Whether they be a brother or a sister, having an older human sibling is a sign of being a "Blank". However, they don't live long like their previous mamono generation and they have a human lifespan up to eighty to sometimes over a hundred years.
Capabilities:
The reason they were called the "Blanks" is that they lacked Demonic Energy and their own energy had no forms of connection to the Demon Lord... which is, of course, their life force seems literally "Blank" to the Heroes and Monsters-alike as if they were a "living vessel with no signs of life force or whatever fate that awaits them is unknown". A person who had an acute sense of detecting mana can easily know the difference between a monster girl and a Blank one. However, they are undetectable to the one who's even very sensible to mana. When I had an interview with a disguised Goddess of Wine, Bacchus, she tells that even Gods and their divine adherents couldn't detect them.
In our next study, their advantage is adaptation. They can inherit and learn specific attunements and spells from their parents and other special individuals. Including their blood-related siblings.
Their powers varied whether they be strength, intelligence, speed, agility, faith, etc from their father. In some cases, they can inherit the abilities of their pure-blooded monster mother due to some reason. The Blank Monster Girls can use their spells and powers to lethal levels. Surprisingly, even their human siblings can perform some powers by adapting the skills of their monster mothers as well.
When they are in a middle of a mamono realm; nothing changes their personality or mindset, no matter how strong the presence of demonic energy. They're in fact immune to the influence of the Demon Lord. The only thing they abhor was the smell and the taste of the realm that is filled with heavy concentrations of energy.
According to Elen's account, a daughter of a Farron Warrior describes this based on her experience:
"A place where you can smell nonstop sweat and bodily odours that'll make me puke for never-ending hours."
Therefore, their taste and smell differed from ordinary humans and mamono who find comfort within these monster realms.
Other Notes:
Human Blanks:
Human Blanks were much like their mamono siblings and they are rarely seen outside of their social communities of the Five Factions. They were the only humans who were born from their pure human parents or a monster couple, only one of which has outworldly blood or both, are immune to the influence of Demonic Energy and monsterization despite going through areas that are dense with monster energy by unknown means. But such immunity they were born with is natural with the rest of their blood-related mamono siblings. Such knowledge if it was brought into the human realms must've struck some envy to certain people within the Order.
Their existence was not widely known hence the Five Factions were a secretive group within the Federation. Despite the males who were capable to impregnate monster girls with ease and giving birth to human sons. The Demon Lord was aware of them, yet abhorred their existence because they did not fit her ideal plan and their human nature remained intact, so they couldn't become monsters. Not only just that, but they can also grant immortality to death, regardless if they hunt down a monster girl or marry one of them.
From a monster couple, when a Mamono gets pregnant with her first child, their realization is that their firstborn will be only human. As a result of conceiving a child, it came at the cost of immortality and their long lifespan was cut short into human years due to the fetus inside them that sucked out much of their mother's energy. Rendering their monster mothers to the same levels as a fragile human women. In order to prevent this, it requires nutrients from eating ordinary food instead of sex, so that their mana reserves wouldn't be depleted.
Although they can regain their powers after giving birth, not much could it reach back to their prime.
Monster Mothers who gave birth to blank children will age as their body weakens over time, but their youthful beauty and body remained well into their old years with slight changes such as wrinkles and some slight white strands of hair. It will remain until the cause of their natural deaths.
Historical Note:
Most of the Federation believed in the legends that Solaire of the Astora Family was the first person who blossomed his first human-mamono children with his wife, a Dragon named Catherine. Yet the first blank human child was born between a newly appointed human chieftain and an echidna mother that takes place in the Carthus Tribe of the Desert Regions around the year 996 ME. Four years prior to Solaire's arrival.
Also to add an additional note, the Blanks are made up of a very small minority within the entire world's population about 1.5% - 2%.