Chapter 35: Now I remember.
City of Ansur... 14 years ago.
...
"...This place is boring..."
In the midst of a certain playground near the cathedral of the sunlight, a lonely girl sat on a swing. She moved her legs back and forth, creating eerie creaking sounds. However, there were no children to be seen anywhere since the place itself was completely empty. It was due to sundown, and the children were already home with their parents. The young girl felt dissatisfied that she was getting bored where there was no one to play with her. She thought visiting Gaul to meet her vampiric relatives with her mother would be enjoyable.
Yet her older vampire cousins didn't seem to be interested in playing with her and they were busy finding some worthy male candidates to be their husbands. As the sun across the horizon set itself from the skies, the young girl jumped off her swing and began leaving the place. That is not until she sensed something and spun around that she saw a ball that landed near her left side, which caught her off guard. She looked down at the object and her curious eyes were lifted as if anyone was there. Thus, her ears picked up footsteps and a young boy just came around from the corner of the playground's fences.
"Oh! There it is!" He ran to get his ball and thus noticed a young girl standing beside it. "Uhh, hey! Can you pass me that ball? Please?"
She raised her eyes startlingly before picking up the ball and then throwing it back at the young boy. The boy caught the ball without problems and then smiled at the girl.
"Thanks! That was a good throw!" He thanked her by waving his hands at her. Yet seeing that smile of his made her cheeks flushed red. "Huh... wait a sec, what are you doing here all alone in the playground?"
"O-Oh? Um... I was expecting to play with other children..." She fidgeted nervously. "But there was no one, so I tried to play alone for myself."
"That... sounds awful." The boy said while looking down at his ball, having an idea to cheer her up. "Why don't we play together? So you won't get bored today!"
The young girl felt surprised by his generosity and friendliness. Her gaze tries to shy away from him as her heart made faint throbs as warmth filled her bloodstream. The girl knew she didn't have any friends outside of her mother's home estate in the demon realm. Maybe making a friend with a human boy doesn't seem bad after all.
That is until her mind comes up with a thought if she would've made this boy a worthy partner as her husband in the future, her efforts will surely make her parents very proud and her cousins jealous of her so she got a lover early on. But something was amiss; her senses caught no signs of anything from him as if he was... a hollowed vessel.
"So you wanna play?" The girl wakes up from her thoughts and looks back at the boy. "You seem to daydream."
"Ah! No! I just wanna..." The girl then flustered while waving her hands in denial before pressing her fingers together with an embarrassed pout. "W-well... I don't mind."
...
Another hour passed by and the sun that had once illuminated the skies filled with orange, sets itself from the horizon and the dark skies slowly take over until the stars glittered brightly in the night skies. The two children were exhausted from playing. The young boy wipes out the sweat with a sleeve of his shirt as he looks back at the girl.
"You're good at playing ball!" The boy spoke in an over-friendly manner. "My little sister would like to have you as her new playmate."
"It was... fun." The girl smiled back with a blush on her cheeks. "You were the first friend I ever had."
"Oh... you don't have any friends?" He asked, thus the girl responds with a tilt of her head. "I see... oh wait, we haven't introduced our names!"
Then he raised his hand and introduced himself. "The name's Regi, but my parents called me Reginald. What are yours?"
"D-... Daniella. Daniella von Andrei." The girl, Daniella, meekly introduced her name to him. Yet she wouldn't tell more about her family due to them being a vampire family. She was warned if her words would reach the ears of the Order. But fortunately, this place no longer has witch hunts. "It's also nice playing with you and you're a very kind person. It's true that I don't have any friends... and you are the first."
The young dhampir felt red on her cheeks while small tears swelled from her eyelids. She never had this sort of happiness that swelled her heart with joy while Reginald grew confused about seeing her eyes tearing up.
"Are you crying?" He asked.
"Huh?... no, I'm actually happy!" Daniella then made a smile while wiping them off. "It would be great if you were to be my husband~!"
"Hus-band? Isn't that a name for a man during a wedding?" Reginald asked, dumbfounded. Yet Daniella's smile turned into a sly one and knew how innocent his mind was. "So... what about you then?"
"Then I'm going to be your wife~!" The young dhampir happily sang out loud. "If we're big enough in a few years, we'll get married~!"
"I'm not sure what you're getting at... but... my dad said getting married is too early for us," Reginald said and Daniella's smile fell. Her heart felt shattered upon hearing that. "He said if I were to become your husband and you as a wife, we need to be responsible with one another!"
The young dhampir was left confused by his statement; what does responsibility have to do with love? Yet her mind asked, what does it mean to have "responsibility"? Is it some sort of rite? A vow to what for? Daniella kept thinking to find answers to this question until someone called out for her.
"Daniella~! It's time to go home~!"
The young girl acted out from her thoughts and spun her attention around to see a vampire and a man, it was her parents. They were waving at her from a distance. Daniella grumbled while feeling dissatisfied that she hadn't found an answer. It was unfortunate for Daniella that she knew it was the last day she had spent her time in Gaul with her parents.
She would've let her parents know about Reginald, the strange boy who became her first friend and they will approve that he'll be her fiancee to be a worthy husband when they grow up.
"I'm going home..." Daniella said while expressing sadness while looking down. "We... might not meet each other again."
Reginald thus raises his brow to his realisation; is she not coming back? They just met today and had fun playing ball. He saw how the girl felt sad because he was her first friend and playmate outside of her family. He felt sorry to see her going back home to a faraway place and had no other way to meet each other again. But he knew that someday when they grew up, chances of their reunion were possible. Thus, he pulled out a bracelet from his pocket.
"Here! You'd better take this." Reginald said while handing over his bracelet. It depicts a silver coin with a heart imprint and it was tied together with knots. "My mother gave me this, and she told me I'll hand it over to someone who's special."
"R-really...?" Daniella was surprised while Reginald tied his bracelet over her left wrist. Then she smiled as she teared up again. "Th-thank you, Reginald... Then... we'll make a promise! I'm sure of it when we see each other again!"
That was the last moment she saw him. Upon embarking on the carriage and heading back to her family estate; she waved her hand to him as a farewell. Her parents were confused to see her happy until they noticed a boy and saw him waving back to her from a distance. After their departure from Gaul, Daniella's family rode down the path with their noble carriage and her mother curiously looks up at her daughter, seeing her face expressing happiness as she daydreamed about him.
"Daniella? What's wrong?"
"Hmm? Oh! It's nothing, mommy." Daniella stuttered in embarrassment. "I just made a friend today."
"A friend?... I see!" Her mother, the vampire and matriarch of the Andrei family, perked up in sudden realisation until she expressed her teasing smile. "It's about that boy, hmm~? So what do you think of him~?"
"Him?... w-well he's a nice guy," Daniella answered while getting flustered. "I made a promise with Reginald that one day and we'll get married once we're older!"
"Oh my~! Then you seem to have a future with that boy, huh?" Her mother then made a proud smile before hugging her daughter. "My dear little girl is growing up~!"
Daniella couldn't help but embraced her mother's acceptance to let her marry the young boy when the time is right. Some years have passed. She turned eighteen and revisited the city of Ansur, the place where she met him when they were young. The young dhampir tried to find any hints of his scent around the only big settlement in southern Gaul, the Viola region, yet her efforts went to no avail.
It was proven to be more difficult than she realised. Where did the boy live? Daniella knew he had already grown up, and she tried hard to find him until, at one point, she soon found out her only answer the way to find him is to join the Demon Lord's Army Intelligence and be employed in the Radical Faction. She knew Druella and her loyal servants had more information about certain individual humans and they were active in bringing the fate of love among the mortal humans. Her ambitions of love for the young man were big and upon joining this faction, she has a ray of hope to find him one day.
Within another few years, after trying to know about his whereabouts, she finally met him at their reunion during an espionage mission. But she was horrified to see that he was changed. She wanted her love should change him and melt his icy heart... yet little did she know that the heart of her love is that of a wolf, sitting in patience in the midst of darkness, awaiting if she was worthy to have responsibilities. If she doesn't; he has the right to leave and he will bite back if she dares to imprison his submission.
And Reginald knew he was cautious of her imaginable ambition of abducting him to her estate.
...
Town of Gerth, Present day.
...
"It's lovely, isn't it~?"
"Yeah, Uncle's special menu is great, after all."
Inside Horseback Inn, Daniella and Reginald sat at their reserved table with a neat candle in the middle that has been lit. The entire restaurant itself is quiet and nearly empty of the usual noisy guests. After all, they all went home drunk, and it is the right time for they will have a peaceful date. The former Order Heroine and barkeeper, Jennifer, was polishing the mug while smiling when she turns her gaze to the couple before her husband, Siegward, came by her side.
"A lovely night, isn't it dear~?" Siegward muttered with a smile behind his helmet. "Ah yes, young love. Who would have thought that the son of Hawkwood will end up having a date with a dhampir of the Radical Faction?"
"Oh hush now, honey. Just let them have their lovely moment!" Jennifer hushed with a snicker. "I've seen Reginald when he was a young boy and how innocent he was when they first met Sieglinde and Siegemeyer. Now look at him, he's gonna be a man which will make his mother even prouder~!"
"So Reginald... I remember you've said that your mother is a vampire." Daniella said, while carefully spinning her glass full of wine. "I didn't believe it at first and tried to deny that face, but... is that actually true?"
"Yeah, like my friends who have human siblings like Elaine and Lucrezia," Reginald answered with a nod. "Me and my sister... we're actually blood-related."
Daniella stopped spinning her glass after catching this feeling of his genuine answer through the emotions in his voice. This time, it shows the truth, despite her senses didn't pick it up. She couldn't know what to think of it about the existence of mamonos giving birth to human children. Hearing that can only feel like a dream come true! Even during a time when the Demon Lord has done nothing yet to change the core of the metaphysical world to grant the mamono race to give birth to sons.
'So his actual mother is a mamono, then it isn't a lie after all!' Daniella said in her thoughts while cupping her chin in wonder. 'If I were to be his wife and produce children... so that means I will also conceive human children too!'
Daniella couldn't help but smile. Imagine seeing herself surrounded by her children, both human and mamono. A sight to behold that will make her extremely happy. Thus then, her thoughts were soon interrupted by another group of people who have entered the tavern. She turned her gaze around, and her skin froze to see them again.
Ash Cyrus, the Silver-Blue Knight from a faraway land called Astora and Sasha Fullmoon, the once Holy Maiden of Lescatie. In addition, Olivier came along with the two until Ash noticed the same dhampir from before, sitting beside a fancy table with Reginald.
"Huh... you are on a date?" Ash asked curiously in question. He'd never thought Reginald would fraternise with a hedonistic spy of the Radical Faction. Thus the son of Farron responded with an awkward nod. "I see then... take your time. Pardon me for interrupting."
"That's weird. Daniella and Reginald are dating?" Sasha said in surprise at the couple, cupping her mouth while turning to Reginald. "Since when did you two got... close?"
"It's complicated..." Reginald replied while looking down with a sigh. "We usually spend our time with each other while you guys were busy."
"Oh, right! I've seen you were busy spending some time talking with her!" Sasha then perked up in realisation before making an apologetic bow. "Th-then p-pardon for our intrusion, and have fun~!"
...
Once the trio left the couple alone for their date, Ash came up to Jennifer and Siegward before ordering a siegbrau, while the two heroines ordered some warm milk. Olivier looked back at the dating couple in her concern while turning her attention to the wooden stairs leading up to the next floor.
She wondered, what is Alameria currently doing right now? Her friend, a dhampir of the Ice Flower, knew she had returned to her pre-transformation state shortly before Olivier was rearranged to a new room to prevent another transformation into a new monster from the spread of their demonic mana.
"I was wondering what is Alameria doing right now?" Olivier muttered before Jennifer placed a cup of warm milk on her side. "Oh, thank you."
"You're welcome~!" Jennifer smiled and then asked. "So... did you two set your quarrels aside?"
Olivier is busy drinking her milk before her eyes narrowed toward Sasha and the former priestess was forced to make a nervous smile as some sweat rolled over her face. The musketeer then wipes the milk from her lips and sighed deeply.
"I still have my mental scars after hearing her story for what she did to my kingdom." Olivier grunts in spite with a slam of her cup on the bar table. "But... I'll forgive her this time and decide to give the idiot a chance to undo the things she made."
Sasha felt a painful sting through her heart as her tears fell down comically like a waterfall after Olivier called her an idiot while Jennifer was glad to hear that with relief. The former priestess felt did also some great relief once she drinks her milk, but being called an idiot still stings her. Thus, Sasha noticed Olivier left her seat and then went upstairs without saying a word.
"Olivier?"
Olivier ignored her and continuously went up to the next floor. Sasha grew into concern and followed her steps and Ash joined the fray in case of something worse will happen. On the upper floor, Olivier went through the dark corridors before finding the room where Alameria and the two other dhampirs had been. Then she knocked on the door three times and then she heard faint
footsteps coming from inside the room.
Then it opened up and revealed to be Elen, which she raised her eyebrow in question.
"Oh, it's you. Gonna have a talk with your friend?"
Olivier nodded and then Elen let her in. Once coming inside, she was surprised to see Sandra, Jane, including Alameria, tied up in chains made of special alloys that she brought them from Andre and their mouths were gagged, stuffed with cloths. All three of them were moaning in despair while trying to free themselves from their restraints.
"Good thing Andre had chains made up with special Geisteel and Titanite Alloy." Elen sighed while looking down at the restrained mamono in pity. "If they were of ordinary steel, then they would've broken out without problems."
"Just... what did you do to them?" Olivier asked out loud in bewilderment. "I mean... what did they do?"
Elen then sighed once more with frustration. "I can't say... but these bitches wanted to form a harem for my brother."
Thus then, Alameria finally spits out the cloth, which has been stuffed in her mouth and then looks up at Elen with a hateful gaze.
"W-Were not trying to claim him as ours!" Alameria protested. "We just want to be together with him!"
Upon hearing that, Elen couldn't help but make a slap her own forehead to shake off those idiotic words that had entered her head and let out a deep, frustrated sigh.
"Listen, bitch. You are not getting him." Elen responded with a bitter tone, returning a dark glare to her prisoner, which made Alameria move away from Elen in fright. "Especially, all three of you will not have him and spread your so-called "love" while thinking for his dick. Seriously, those instincts in your heads made me sick."
"But aren't you one of us!?" Alameria then questioned with an irritated tone. "Why would you reject your love for any man you come across-"
"That is because I'm completely different from your kind." Elen shot back with a growl, causing Alameria to shut her lips. "You think that molesting me alone would work? Then I pity for your tongue because my knife would want to cut it off."
"NO~! Please don't~!" Alameria begged for mercy as her eyes broke up with some streamed down out of fear. "Why!?... Just why are you so cruel?"
"Ugh... I hope this girl needs to get a reality check." Elen said with a grunt to Olivier while massaging her temples. "It's giving me a migraine from all of their complaints and talking about sex, which I ended up stuffing their mouths. It's repetitive, really."
Olivier couldn't comprehend the current situation between her dhampir ally and her former friend. Seeing Alameria in a pitiful state like this made her feel sorry for her former colleague. Then she knelt in front of the dhampir of the Radical faction and Alameria then turns her eyes to Olivier. The Dhampir Musketeer turn her mood up and she was happy to see her again.
"Olivier~! Please talk about something to Elen~!" Alameria begged her friend. "We're friends, right? Please let her understand our intentions, I beg you!"
The human musketeer then took a deep breath before asking. She truly needs to talk to her friends after the reveal of her true nature. "Hey, Alameria... we just want to talk, shall we?"
Alameria then stopped struggling and then raised her eyebrows in confusion. Did the musketeer casually ask her for a talk?
"A... talk?... About what?"
"We haven't taken some friendly talks for a while... or at least for a long time," Olivier said while sitting down on the floor beside her. "But I am not sure how long I was out... and for the answer to your question... I don't remember myself for what I did as a demon."
"You... didn't remember what you did before you became human again?" Alameria was surprised by her statement. Olivier responded with a nod, which made the dhampir feel a shiver through her spine. The revelation of her answer did not have lies in it. "I thought you remember anything when you were a monster and accepted for who I am! No wonder you grew hostile towards me!"
"Haaah~! Let's get back to the point." Olivier sighed deeply before looking up at Alameria. "So Alameria, you're actually a dhampir under our noses... all this time?"
Alameria's tension lessened when Olivier was casually talking to her with no signs of hostility from her voice as if it were normal. The restrained mamono replied with a nod.
"How did they accept you to be one of us?" The lescatian musketeer asked. "I mean, we've worked with the Order for quite a while and they would've rejected you when knew you're one of them, so how did that happen?"
Alameria was dumbfounded and remained silent, then she opted to speak out her entire backstory. Then Olivier smiled. "Just talk... I have nothing to harm you."
"Hum~... Well, where should I begin...?" For Alameria, it was weird. After Olivier turned back to her human state, she despised her after that and doubted her loyalty between her and Lilim Druella. Yet she is a member of the new Order of the Dark Ice Flower. Until now, Olivier wants this talk between her and the musketeer would mean reestablishing their friendship? "Ah, yes... I was adopted by the Order after being taken away from my parents during a fight when I was very young. Back in our old days, I could hardly remember them until my parents found me... during the day of Druella's invasion."
Olivier continued to listen more about Alameria's background of her confusing past, while Elen was taking care of the other two restrained prisoners. Outside of their room, Sasha peeked to see Olivier, listening to Alameria's explanation of her story. The priestesses' eyes went wide in shock to hear that the Order took her away from her family and knew little of her parents. Then Lucena's explanation about certain members of the Order who sympathised with the mamono was right... she is not the whole cause of the kingdom's downfall.
"I wonder if the Order has other mamono in disguise within their ranks." Behind Sasha, Ash mused while crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall.
"Maybe Alameria is the only mamono in Lescatie's Holy Order." Sasha surmised while rubbing her chin in thoughts. "The magic barriers of the kingdom created by the Magitec institute could detect any hints of demonic energy from the strongest monsters. Yet dhampirs have special mana emitted from them was similar to humans. Another possibility is that the monster sympathisers might have made it weaker."
"Huh... nice thinking." Ash nodded in agreement as Sasha appreciates his words. "That case might be the reason for its downfall."
"I know, right?" Sasha smiled before something caught up in her mind. "Say Ash, Alameria is a dhampir, am I correct?"
Ash nods to her before she concluded. "Then that means they usually transform into their versions of vampires once they drink human blood."
"For Elen's case, she didn't turn after drinking the Inquisitor's blood," Ash added with a piece of new information. He must admit that the encyclopedia should've been updated for the mamono of the Federation. "Therefore, dhampirs who are born with the blood of outsiders, like mine... are truly different from those that came from the Demon Realm."
Sasha couldn't help but admit while her thoughts form a belief that the people of the Five Factions were the only ones who can overturn the tide of conflict between the remains of the fledging human realms and the depraving onslaught of the minions unleashed by the Current Demon Lord while having questionable ideals. She put her hopes that her support for Ash Cyrus, the Silver-Blue Knight, also known as the renowned Hero of Oolacile, will bring the future and peaceful coexistence between the two races amid these chaotic times with the arrival of outworldly monsters. Not the forced assimilation which the Radical Faction wanted to spread their so-called ways of "love".
But then she shakes her head sideways from such thoughts. Sasha needed to come up with a plan whenever Lescatie returned to its pre-transformation state and her comrades will be out for her head when they find out that she was one of the traitors that brought its downfall with minor impact. All she needs is some courage to face their judgement upon her when the time comes. She remembers that time, how her mother taught her that lying in front of everyone will be worse than anything else in the world.
'Don't worry... it will be alright.' Sasha heard a voice in her head as if it came from a distant memory when she was still a young girl. 'Everything will be alright, Sasha.'
She knew that voice. It came from her memory and belonged to her now-deceased mother. 'No matter how telling the truth may hurt... it is still better than telling lies. Do you understand that, my little dear?'
'Okay, mommy... I won't tell lies anymore.' Sasha heard her own youthful voice. She remembers her mother's gentle embrace while asking for her forgiveness. 'I promise.'
Back in reality, Sasha turns her gaze downwards with a sorrowful expression while clasping her hands together. "I'll promise... I will take responsibility for telling everything."
Ash heard her muttering and exhaled deeply while closing his eyes in thoughts. He knew she will tell the truth to her former friends who put their trust in her when the time comes, but he dreads her life when her comrades and the people who will decide to hang her for treason, even if the reasons were given.
In his realisation, her sacrifice for the greater good will bring only but nought, and that alone will achieve no salvation for her people and will he allow them to desecrate her grave after all of their efforts have been put up to save Lescatie? For the Knight such as him; will not accept it. In his vow for her oath, he had sworn to protect her life no matter what the consequences may be.
...
Dragonia, Ten Years ago.
...
"Hah!... Hah!... Hah!"
"She has an astounding amount of vigour." A dragon knight said with a proud smile on her face while seeing a dragon squire doing some sword practices. "You're training her quite a lot. Maybe you should let her rest, Death Sentence."
To her left, a Dragon Knight named "Death Sentence", observed her pupil from the balcony and her eyes scrunched to see the young Dragon did not express any forms of exhaustion. She knew Alti had a big ambition to become a knight in their knight's order. Yet from that ambition alone, she knew the dark truth behind Alto-Eris' motivation why she wanted to work hard.
"I hope she must stay on the right path." Death Sentence said while crossing her arms, expressing her doubts about her pupil. "Lyra... have you heard of the dreadful incident from sixteen years ago?"
Lyra, the wandering dragon knight, raised her brow to Death Sentence in confusion before some sweat rolled down her face. She did not forget that horrible incident that did to their beloved Queen.
"Yeah... I remember that day." Lyra replied while expressing sorrow while looking down. "It's been over a decade, and our knights were even more vigilant since the appearance of that infamous knight."
"Alti had the ambition to become one of our knights..." Death Sentence said before narrowing her eyes towards Alto-Eris. "But her motivation alone... I fear for the sake of her life."
Lyra was even more confused until she heard the young squire let out a war cry as she heaved her sword up into the air and thus swung it down. Thus, a powerful blast came forth from her sword, producing cracks on the stone grounds. The Wandering Dragon stared at the squire with a frightening look in her eyes. She had never seen such deadly strength coming from a squire, and such force alone could've seriously killed or injured anyone.
Yet Death Sentence remained unfazed before she clasped her hands together.
"Alright, Alti! That's enough!" Death Sentence called out to her pupil. "Take a rest before we could train more."
Alto-Eris breathed heavily while sheathing her sword back into her scabbard and then spun her attention to her mentor, Death Sentence. Lyra felt her spine twitch and could've sworn that she saw the young squire make a deathly glare and then left the training area without a word. The Wandering Dragon grew worried and the aura which emits from the dragon squire alone could mean one thing she has an intent against someone.
"Death Sentence... is your pupil alright?" Lyra asked and Death Sentence tilts her head sideways without saying a word. "Just what happened to her?"
"... Sixteen years ago, her mother left Dragonia with the Queen to hunt down the infamous Golden Dragonslayer named Ornstein." As Death Sentence explained in a depressing tone, Lyra couldn't help but gasped when Death Sentence mentions Alti's mother went into a battle against the infamous dragonslayer. "She is a victim of that horrible battle... and her death alone drives Alti... who we know today."
"Don't tell me... is she going to find the Dragonslayer for revenge!?" Lyra said outspoken with shock. "That's crazy! You need to consult her before something worse will happen to her!"
"I tried, but she didn't listen and her head is as stubborn as a rock!" Death Sentence hissed in spite as she clenched her claws. Lyra stood back in fear until Alti's mentor continues her explanation. "If that dragonslayer didn't appear sixteen years ago, she wouldn't be like this and her mother would've still been alive and proud to see her daughter's progress to become a knight like her while standing beside me right now. As for now, while I cannot do anything against her wishes... all we could do is to prevent her from doing revenge against her killer, a man who can put down our Queen with ease."
Lyra fell silent as she slowly turned to the young squire and saw her entering the trainee quarters. Thus she noticed several Dragon Knights, including their incubi husbands, stepping away from the dreaded squire. The Wandering Dragon expressed her sorrow to see how distant she was from the rest of her colleagues and felt the anger of the young dragon is immeasurable; she must have heard her mentor telling her tragic background.
The Wandering Dragon wanted to go after Alto-Eris to ease her anger, yet her mentor grabbed Lyra's left shoulder. She turned around and saw Death Sentence tilted her head sideways.
"Don't... it will make matters worse." Death Sentence said before making a depressing sigh. "Her happiness was robbed by that man... and now look at her. Do you think giving her a reason will help her?"
Inside the barracks, Alto-Eris marched her way through the corridors and reached her room. Upon entering her quarters, her body felt exhausted and collapsed on her bed. She reached for her favourite dragon plushy from her childhood. Yet that stuffed toy she had is the last gift which is given by her mother shortly before her death and she cherished it as a remembrance. She closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep, dreaming about the time where she spent with her parents during her childhood, a time when her mother was still around.
...
...Present Day ...
...
"Zzzz~... Mama~ I want to have another dragon steak~... plea~sh~...Zzzz~"
Artor is sitting patiently on the chair on the left side of her bed. He turns his gaze and looks down at the dragon knight, mumbling in her sleep. He couldn't help but snicker to see her silly sleeping expression as drool escaped from her lips. That is not until his sister came inside a room while knocking on the door.
"Hey, is she awake?" Ciara asked, and Artor tilts his head sideways. "Oh, still asleep, isn't she?"
"She's having a good sleep," Artor said with an amusing smile while crossing his arms. "Probably dreaming about her most cherished ones."
"Zzz~... Zzzz~...Zzz-H-huh..?" Artor and Ciara then noticed the young dragon knight wakes up before stretching her arms with a yawn. "Uguu~! Is it morning already?"
Alto-Eris then rubs her eyes until her gaze caught the attention of a young Lord and a valkyrie standing beside him. But her vision is still blurry and makes another yawn.
"Ugh... I've seen mama in my dreams." The dragon knight yawned before looking up at Artor and raising her brow. "Huh?... You look awfully familiar-wait..."
Thus, the realisation hit her head and promptly tried to jump out of the bed in her attempt to escape him. But the bedsheet caught her toe and fell unceremoniously onto the wooden floor as Alto-Eris cried out in pain.
"Well, good morning, miss dragon~!" Artor smiled sarcastically while waving his hand. "Did you sleep well?"
"H-How long were you here in my room!?" Alto-Eris baffled out in frustration while pointing her finger at him in an accusing manner until she realised the dragon wasn't even in her own home. "Wait... this isn't my home either and... wh-what is a valkyrie doing here!?"
"Jeez, is that girl alright?" Ciara raised her brow, growing some concerns at the dragon. "Are you sure you've chosen her as your spouse?"
"Ciara, didn't I tell you I was not making her into my spouse?" Artor grunts while massaging his temples. "Are you and mother agreeing on this?"
"Well... you two seem and act like a couple, really," Ciara replied with a smug while shrugging her shoulders. "Besides, my dear brother... it looks like you two fit~!"
Upon hearing that, Alto-Eris felt a tick mark appear on her forehead and cried out loud in defiance to the valkyrie.
"Hel no! I don't even love him!..." Thus, a blush appeared between the cheeks of the young dragon knight before looking away from Artor with an annoyed pout. "W-well... only a tiny bit..."
Artor felt one of his eyebrows tingle in irritation until he let out a frustrated sigh. Venting out his rage wasn't worth it. "Right, we'd better patch you up and oh, by the way. This is Ciara, my sister."
Alto-Eris then felt her frustration stop in its tracks as she looks up to the valkyrie in disbelief. Ciara then expressed her smile while greeting the dragon with a wave of her hand.
"S-... Sister!? How is that valkyrie your sister!?" Alto-Eris said out loud at Artor in disbelief while pointing her finger towards Ciara. "Isn't she an adherent to the Gods?!"
"Oh, how rude! I differ from all the other valkyries you've known." Ciara pouts in irritation while crossing her arms. "Thus, I do not belong to any other gods across this realm."
"Now, now, you two, I don't want this to escalate into a quarrel." Artor made a gesture to calm down the dragon and his valkyrie sister before both of them looked away in spite. "So then, where should we begin?"
"Start with me." Artor fell speechless once he heard her voice. He and Alto-Eris spun around to see an older valkyrie leaning against the door's entrance. "Allow me to talk with your... ahem, beloved dragon."
Alto-Eris is confused about the situation she got herself into after seeing there are two valkyries inside of his house! But that's not all; she felt a wild blush pop up on her cheeks when the older-looking valkyrie called her a "beloved woman" to the young Dragonslayer while Artor tilts his head sideways in discontent to think that his mother would call this dragon mamono his significant other. By the way, he hasn't got her name ever since he patched up her wounds.
"What is your name, dear?" Alissa asked while having a judgemental look on her face.
Alto-Eris felt flattered by her question. A valkyrie just casually asked for her name is indeed weird despite she is a mamono and she knew the valkyries of the Chief God despised the mamono. The young dragon blushed in embarrassment. Being aware that Artor is looking at her specifically, she hasn't introduced her name to Artor, who's the son of her mother's murderer and possibly her future husband.
"My name is Alto... Alto-Eris, a member of Dragonia's Dragon Knights." She said before narrowing her eyes towards Artor in spite, yet Artor couldn't help and smiled to see how her flustered face was cute for an angry dragon while at the same time, the dragon knight felt her own body quiver to see his warm smile teasing her. "A-Also my c-comrades called me Alti... s-so remember that!"
"Dear me, what an impulsive woman indeed," Alissa said while reeling back in mild surprise before introducing herself. "I am Alissa, the mother of Artor."
Thus, Alto-Eris looks up to Alissa and her jaws fell in disbelief. 'This valkyrie is his mother?... That can't be right... right!?'
"H-hold on a second... you're his mother!?" The dragon knight's voice quivered before pointing her finger towards Artor. "Then how... did you give birth to... a son?"
Alto-Eris knew Valkyries aren't mamonos in the first place, but like them; they wouldn't produce sons and give birth to more valkyries after finding a worthy hero which their Chief God would approve. Yet their chances of turning into a Dark Valkyrie are high when they drown in too many forms of pleasures. But seeing this valkyrie in front of her is a rare case and hasn't been transformed into one of them until now, despite how long she stayed in the mortal realms which have small bits of demonic energy coursing through the air.
"Curious, are you? Well, I have no clue either," Alissa answered, and then placed her hands on her own hips. "But that answer lies in the blood of my husband. But I doubt you'll lay a finger on him and he has already enough to deal with the dragons such as you."
Alto-Eris growled in irritation from the mention of the Valkyrie's husband before looking away from Alissa and letting out a defeated sigh, looking down with a face expressing defeat.
"I felt so defeated... this is worse than I expected." The dragon knight muffled in regret and her eyes made glaring daggers towards Artor with a hiss. "This is all your fault. Now my instinct sees you as my potential mate! It's humiliating and I can't accept it!"
"Could you try at least to ignore it?" Artor asked, but Alto-Eris tilts her head sideways in response. "Why not?"
"It's hard... my urges of desires grew for you, Artor..." The dragon knight trembles as small tears rolled down. Feeling her own urges was driving her own mind and clenched her claws tight. "After that day, you defeated me... and saw how you treated me... I couldn't help but think about you."
"By the flames, she's now having an unhealthy mentality," Ciara whispered to her mother and Alissa agrees with a nod. "Hating on my brother and loving him at the same time?... Mother, do you find that weird?"
"I must say, such cases are not uncommon," Alissa whispered back. "The mamono were usually driven by love and finding a mate is their only goal."
Back to Artor, Alto-Eris moved to the left side of the bed, near to his side and gently grabbed his hand; clutching it, and her eyes grew bleary. She regrets it.
Who would have thought that searching for the man who killed her mother to avenge her life would lead to finding a husband outside of Dragonia? Well, when her own desires told her she will make his son into her husband, will that count as an act of complete revenge? If Artor would become her lover, what will the Queen and the other knights think of this?
He is a trained dragonslayer and the son of Ornstein. His ire alone will bring chaos not only to the Dragon Knight's Order but to the kingdom itself. She hoped the Revolutionary Hero of Dragonia, Dell, will sort out this problem unless it weren't for him to travel around the world every few years!
"Artor, I... I don't want this, but my love for you is strong." Artor fell silent upon hearing her. Now he regrets picking her up and sparing her from death on that day. Only that leads to her own submissiveness for him. "I want to find my own happiness... then please, teach me how to do it!"
"I... I'm not sure what to say but..." Artor then fell speechless before nervously scratching the back of his head while shyly looking away from her. "I think we should..."
*Clack!*
"Artor? Are thee here?"
Artor and the two valkyries heard a familiar voice as the sounds of footsteps entered the wooden cabin. Yet Artor dreads once he felt another person come in with much more heavy sounds of footsteps. He knew the lighter ones belonged to his uncle, but the other...
"Oh, Mr Ledo, come in~!" Alissa stepped aside before a tall Silver Knight entered the room. "Here's your nephew and his... newly found spouse."
Artor could've sworn he heard his uncle making a slight chuckle. "I've seen your fight from the other day with that dragon. I couldn't help but feel amused seeing you sparing her from death."
"I... didn't know you were there on that day," Artor said with a deadpanned expression. "I never knew how careless I may be."
"Fret not, your father is here too."
While Artor swallowed a gulp through his throat, Alto-Eris looks up curiously at the Silver Knight for a moment and couldn't believe how tall he was. Only a few inches taller than Artor. But she remembered what Artor told her about that he belonged specifically to a race called the Lords. Then she imagined how tall his father is? Only then her thoughts were interrupted when another individual came through the door of their room.
'Wh-what!?'
She widened her eyes in disbelief. The young Dragon Knight never expects to see a person wearing a complete set of golden armour, crouching down through the entrance of the door because of his unusual height. Then the giant stood straight up and stared down at the dragon mamono with a menacing glare. For Alto-Eris, she couldn't help but fall into complete silence while looking up at the person. She used to believe her mother's killer would've been a human being and the race of Lords was similar to them, but she was straight wrong.
His father is a 10ft tall giant, twice the height of his valkyrie mother!
"So... I heard thee has been chosen as his spouse." The poor dragon knight felt a chill through her spine to hear his metallic growl behind the helmet of the dragonslayer. "I never thought my son would fall for a dragon and thee has the guts to court him without my recognition."
Alto-Eris couldn't help but shiver in fright. Staring at his presence alone emits an ominous aura of death and she swore her senses picked up death itself lurks in every corner which her thoughts of her superiority as a dragon have immediately vanished from her mind, and it only leaves her in a much more vulnerable mental state than usual.
"I am Ornstein of Lordran. Speak of thy name, dragon."
The Golden Dragonslayer demanded with a commanding voice, which made her feel a shudder through her skin and scales as if she were facing some sort of God.
"I-I-I... u-um... y-you m-must be his f-father, r-right?" Ornstein raised his eyebrow when hearing the dragon knight stutter in fright. "I-it's n-nice to m-meet you...!"
"Hmph... you don't even introduce thyself properly." The dragonslayer crossed his arms while tilting his head sideways in discontent. "I'm quite disappointed in thy kind has taught thee some manners."
Fortunately, in saving grace, Alissa intercepted as she stepped in. "Oh hush, dear. The presence of your height is frightening her."
"But Alissa, I must-"
"Dear, no buts. Try to make yourself less intimidating... she's a guest in our family."
Ornstein tried to protest his wife's plea, but Alissa stand firm before scolding her Lord husband with a glare. "Please, use your magic to lower your height. She might lose her sanity to speak properly."
"... Alright, this time she will talk properly." Ornstein grunts in admittance while activating the powers of the miracles, and then his height shortened to the same level between Artor and Ledo. He is still tall, but regardless, the dragonslayer made it less frightening to their guest. Thus, he gazed down at the dragon knight like steel. "Now. Talk."
Alto-Eris then breathes in deeply in slight relief before introducing herself. "My name is... Alto-Eris, a Knight of Dragonia's Dragon Knights Order."
"Hmph. Another one of those loonies of her kingdom. But I admire thine courage to face my son, who I trained him as a Dragonslayer." Alto-Eris couldn't help but felt offended by Ornstein's words by naming the Dragon Knights as the "loonies" he called them. She wants to talk back and teach him a lesson, yet she can't. If she retaliates against his words, then death grips her soul with no hesitation. "But facing a Dragonslayer of Lordran, such as I, who had fought over hundreds of battles against the immortal Dragons, is an immediate death sentence for those who wished a challenge. When thine thoughts think of us as mere humans, then thou are dead wrong and thine death shall be swift."
Those last words send chills to the young dragon knight and remained in silence. Ornstein then turns his gaze to his son and tilts his head sideways.
"I do not know why hast my son has chosen thee as his spouse." The old Dragonslayer said in a disdainful tone while looking down. "You are lucky to have his mercy and my family is keen to look forward to your... questionable relationship."
Artor then protested. "Father, I do not intend to choose her-"
"Silence, my son. You brought this upon yourself," Ornstein interrupts while giving Artor a sharp look and then looking back to Alto-Eris. "Now... what words do you want to say, dragon?"
Alto-Eris gulped; what does she want to say to Ornstein? She all wanted is to have revenge against this murderer that brought Dragonia to its knees. Yet his icy stare behind his helmet alone washed away her thoughts for vengeance and replaced them with the true fear of this man's presence. It gave her some pressure as if some rock was pressed against her back and her heart was beating like crazy as if it opted her to answer fast or else she will be disposed of. Artor felt worried for her, which she was not answering, and quivered at the presence of his father.
Thus, he gently placed his hand on her left shoulder, comforting her from such fears in her head.
"Hey... don't be scared." She heard his gentle voice giving her some soothing sensation in her heart. "Be honest with my father. It's just that, okay?"
Alto-Eris felt the warmth in his words; she didn't know that this guy, a young dragonslayer, is willing to help her out. Despite her hate for this guy, her heart throbbed at a calmer rate. Her body was no longer quivering and relaxed. She felt a great relief wash over her anxious senses before her mind could rationalise her words and speak out.
"As Artor's chosen spouse... I will take my full responsibility." The dragon knight replied, giving Ornstein quite a surprise as he raised his brow behind his helmet. "I will treat your son well, with full respect, as he treats me in return. I may have my hate aimed towards him, but it has been washed away when he spared me."
Then she continued. "... yet his kindness changed me, so I... I wanted to build my happiness with him."
Ornstein stared at the dragon mamono for a while until he made a silent nod and Artor couldn't help but felt relieved that his father was satisfied to hear her answer. But Ornstein knew he remembered the words of the Nameless King who told to him earlier to never sway into the same path as Lord Gwyn.
"... or else misfortune and despair will come for thee and thine family." The old Dragonslayer heard the words of his Lord and he knew it was never a facade, to begin with. He couldn't help but give out a silent grunt of defeat.
"... A reasonable answer, I allow it," Ornstein said in satisfaction until Alissa and Ciara perked their heads up with dumbfounded looks. Since when did he reconsider accepting the Dragon?
"Wait... dear!?"
"Father... you can't be serious!"
"Hahaha! I never thought milord Ornstein will approve!" Ledo laughed out loud proudly. "Did ye' hast a change of heart?"
They never thought that he will allow a dragon to become Artor's future wife! Yet the old Dragonslayer isn't finished as he raised up his index finger, pointing up.
"But on one condition. If you dare to defile my son's virtue and disrespect his ire, I will never hold back, nor does he. My eyes are on you."
The dragon mamono silently gulped and nodded. Ornstein noticed the sun had set outside the window and then turn his way towards the entrance to leave the room.
"It's getting late," Ornstein said to his wife while heading for the exit of the wooden cabin. "We're going home, Alissa."
The two confused valkyries followed Ornstein on their way to the exit. His uncle, the Silver Knight Ledo, was the last to exit the room before he looks back at his nephew.
"Well, you've grown much into a man than I anticipated, Artor," Ledo said with a smirk behind his helmet. "Now, good luck in your...ahem, fiancee
...
Within minutes later, darkness filled the skies, and the stars glimmered over the night skies. Ornstein and his family have already left, and Artor is now alone with the dragon knight which his family deemed as his future wife. Yet he couldn't help but massage his temples filled with stress and breathe out in frustration. He can't believe that his own consequences of taking care of an injured dragon from that deadly battle to this unusual situation. Then he noticed the dragon mamono is peeking at him from around the corner of the cabin's entrance with a grumpy look on her face.
"Why does this happen to me...?" Artor sighed in regret.
"Your father said it," Alto-Eris said with a grunt. "You brought this to yourself."
"I did not intend to choose you as my wife." He responded while glaring at her. "But now, look! My family sees it."
"Well, it's your fault that I fell in love with you!" She responded with a wild blush on her cheeks and then groaned in disdain. "Ugh! What will they think of me when I return to Dragonia!? Marrying a son of a giant dragonslayer!? Are you kidding me!?"
"If it weren't for your desires driving your instincts, this wouldn't have happened." Artor retorts while crossing his arms.
"If I hadn't met you in the first place, THIS wouldn't have happened!" Alto-Eris raised her voice while throwing up her arms. "Now I am stuck here and your father is seriously putting a blade around my neck! How would I ever accept this new life that I'm having!?"
"Well, isn't your drive for revenge that led you here?" Alto-Eris scrunched her eyebrows and gave Artor a hateful glare at him after saying such words. "Seriously, if your Queen didn't do something brash... this shouldn't happen."
"ARGH! DAMNIT ALL! I HATE THIS!" Alto-Eris yelled out loud in rage as her arms wailed hopelessly as she turns away from Artor in spite. Until a growl was heard from her stomach. "... I'm hungry."
"... Do you want another roasted salmon?" Artor asked curiously.
Alto-Eris then felt a blush on her cheeks while feeling embarrassed to answer. She must've admitted that his cooking was superb. "... Yeah, they actually taste good."
Upon hearing that, Artor chuckled. "... So that was a lie from the last time you've said."
Alto-Eris grit her teeth while a tick mark appeared on her forehead. "Tch! Shut up!"
...
Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth.
...
"The food was absolutely amazing~!" Daniella squealed out loud with joy as she held Reginald tightly by his arms. "I wonder if the mamonos of the demon realm would like the cuisine of the Onion Knight. Don't you find that great?"
"Yeah, I'm sure they will love it," Reginald responded with a nod before asking. "So... where do you want to head next?"
"Hum~... Oh! I know, we'll just go to that place!" Daniella said, as her cheeks grew bright red. "The same place where we've reunited..."
"... Reunited? What do you mean by that?" The son of Farron questioned in curious. "Have we truly met before?"
The dhampir grew a smile as she embraced her love. She wanted him to know her again after years of separation. The mamono led her lover through the silent streets and alleyways that led them to the town's outskirts.
...
Half an hour had passed, and the couple reached the same place where Reginald first used his enhanced sword against a dummy target. The tree he cut down weeks ago remained there lying on the ground and a stump is still present. Reginald looks up at the moon illuminated the night sky and the dhampir breathes out in awe to see the serene view of Gerth from a distance, as the sight alone was indeed beautiful, even at night.
But now, it is time to reveal her secret.
"Reginald... do you remember that day when we were young?" Daniella asked. Reginald looked down at her and he was awed to see her face illuminated by the moonlight, showing her beauty. "Do you remember a girl you've met before?"
He was confused by her question and tries out to find an answer. Then his memory struck him... he remembers a time about the girl he met before when he was just a young lad back then and he knew they were playing a ball game in the past.
"How did... you know about that?" Reginald uttered in surprise until examining Daniella's face. Then his eyes widened in realisation, "That girl... no, her face... don't tell me..."
"Yes... that girl you met was me," Daniella answered with a smile as tears broke out. Then she raised up her right wrist, revealing a bracelet. "You remember this... do you?"
That bracelet... Reginald didn't forget that day. He gave it to her as a remembrance when they both made a promise to see each other again. He made a silent gulp as a single sweat drop rolled down his right forehead. So that girl was actually this woman, the real Daniella all along?
"Now I remember... why haven't you told me sooner?" He asked. "I could've known you since that day."
The dhampir then looks down, expressing her worried look. "I was afraid... that day, you thought of me as an enemy, and your sister is threatening me with her knife."
"... The only reason I wanted this date..." Thus, she looks up at him straight in the eyes, her crystal red eyes showing hints of her happiness. "... is to let you remember me."
"Then... you're trying to find me because of that promise?" Her heart throbbed happily once he said that in his disbelief. "I... can't believe you're so devoted to that... even after all those years."
"Hehe~ I'm a mamono, what do you expect?" Daniella giggled as she cupped his cheeks. "A promise of love is a promise that we shall be together~!... So that we could get married~!"
"I'm not sure about that..." Reginald said dejectedly as he made a sad sigh. Thus, he cupped her right cheek in return. "We're now on two different sides... well, you are on Druella's side, but how are you sure of your loyalty?"
"What do you mean? The Radical Faction has good intentions to make everyone happy." Daniella's smile then fell and her voice speaks up desperately. "Please, just come with me and we'll make an eternal happy life... together!"
"... I can't. It's difficult..." The dhampir then saw his eyes and began expressing doubts. "Why should I want to live forever? Wouldn't you leave the radical faction and try to live a normal life as I do?"
"B-because... she promised us to create a world where there is no suffering and no one wanted to die meaningless," Daniella said until Reginald tilts his head sidewards before gently putting down her hands from his cheeks. "Why the question?... Would you like the world to remain like that?"
"Listen... I have to tell you one thing... is that about my blood." Reginald reasoned while tenderly clutching her hands together. "Me... Elen, and the others I am friends with... we're different from the rest. I do not agree to intend to join your side. So please... why don't you just leave it out and be happy with it, with me? Just learn one or two things about us."
Daniella fell speechless to hear his unexpected wishes, and she has no words to say. Like her wish for him to be on her side, thus Reginald, too, wanted her to be on his side. Will she abandon her loyalty to the Radical Faction for her sake of love, or will she let him turn away and leave her meaning of life empty-handed?
"I... I don't know what to say, Reginald. But I love you..." She couldn't handle it. Her love for this man is strong than she could imagine, and she is on the verge of tears. She fears that one day, her love would disappear from her life. "Yet, you want us to live in a world... where I can see you live shortly and die?"
"Daniella, I am a human... my nature does not want to change. Prove that you actually cared for me," Reginald said calmly as he leans closer to her, making her cheeks flush brightly. "Hear me... why my mother, a vampire, lost her immortality..."
Daniella made a small gasp when she heard that; a vampire losing her immortality? How was that possible? Reginald then explained with a pained expression.
"The reason why she chooses it... because my mother loved him. Her devotion to my father was equally strong as her love... Dad has made a promise, that he wanted to move on in peace and she did it to follow him, no matter where he goes."
"Immortality might sound great for anyone, but... I don't think it will be the best way for me until I see my friends who will wither and die out." Reginald continued on. "It's best for me to follow them, and I do not mind what the world will turn out. If you can't accept it... then I don't mind that either and see that you'll move on."
The dhampir couldn't comprehend his words. Her love wanted to die when the time comes? For her, it was unacceptable. Eternal youth for her love is what she wanted and staying mortal is only pitiful for human beings who will live short lives and couldn't see the entire world, yet the man she loves never minds about it and he wanted to see his beloved friends and his family in the afterlife. Her heart fell broken once Reginald released her hands and then turns around, walking away from her.
"It was a nice date... but I cannot accept to live longer in order to outlive anyone else." Hearing these words hurts her soul even further. "Maybe... you'll meet someone else who wanted such desire... I'm sorry, Daniella."
Daniella almost had him. Why can't he accept an eternal youth she wished for him? Now the disheartened dhampir is stuck between the only two options she has in mind, either to accept the mortal life or remain loyal to Radical Faction. Such thoughts were conflicting in her head, like never-ending. She knew Druella will give them happier lives when they return to the demon realm, but his answer was something she did not expect.
To her horror and revelation, Reginald preferred he will live as a human, not an immortal Incubus. Due to his nature alone, he can't become one. She saw what love is to him differently than what she knew and he perceived love as something that should be earned, no matter how hard life could be and no matter how long it will last. Love was strong but not eternal. She doesn't want to be separated from him again until a decision comes to her mind... Daniella balled her fists and went for him in desperation.
"No... I don't want this... Reginald!" Her cries stopped him in his tracks before she wrapped her arms around him and hugged it tightly. "Please, don't do this to me! It hurts me more than what you could've imagined... just please... stay with me!"
"... As I've said, I cannot stay long if you remain that way," Reginald responded, as he didn't bat an eye at her. "It is a responsibility for everyone, even those who loved themselves and each other will remain together until death."
"I know... then that's fine... So you wanted me to live a mortal life?... Then... so be it." Thus, Daniella looks up at him with a determined look in her teary eyes. Now she knew what responsibility was like when he told her when they were young. "Take me with it... I couldn't think of other guys except you! You were the first friend I only knew and ever have... do you think I would see my future husband will die without someone close to him? No, I refuse to see that."
"... Did you change your mind?" Reginal stopped and asked one more time.
"... Yes, I will accept to die for it..." Daniella sobbed with tears filled with regret. "I will follow you... whatever place you would go."
Reginald raised his brows in surprise until he smiled back at her. She longed for him for years after their separation, and he knew the dhampir wanted such a desire to be with him together for eternity. But yet, she was afraid of the concept of death. He knew the words of his father that had told him is that immortality can see the world change until the end of time, but it will only bring pain, misery and loneliness to see someone close to him, dying.
He remembered one story from his mother, Valeria, who had accepted these words. She told him how conceiving her firstborn child resulted from the cost of her immortal lifespan. It is no wonder how his vampire aunts remained young, while Valeria was having streaks of white hair and wrinkles. It was said that was a sign of her ageing despite her youthful appearance persisted.
Therefore, he wanted Daniella to accept this grim reality he lives. Not in a world of wish-fulfilling desires where his efforts to strive for something greater are worth nothing.
"I see... do you really want to remain with me until I die?"
"... Yes, I do..."
Reginald was satisfied to hear that and leaned down to her. Daniella, in her response, cupped his face once more and her lips reached out for him. The two then kissed under the moonlight until the fireflies flew into the starry night skies. It was a beautiful sight to behold and Elen, who hid behind the tree, couldn't help but felt tears streaming down from her eyelids.
She didn't know her brother and their enemy were childhood friends in the past. She would have met her back then to know each other and play some ball games when they were still kids. Thus now, hearing Daniella accepting a mortal life for the sake of her love satisfied her at least.
"Shit... Now, what am I doing here, just only bawling myself?" Elen sobbed quietly as she wiped off her tears while she turns her gaze back to a nearby camp. "If... if it weren't for that damn Kunoichi cutting some onions nearby!"
... It is true, there was, in fact, a wandering Kunoichi nearby who's minding her own business and busy cutting onions beside her small bonfire with a boiling pot. She couldn't help but cursed her sharp nose that still caught the painful scent.
After the kiss, Daniella embraced her love, and Reginald was happy that she accepted. At this moment, the dhampir threw away her loyalty to Druella and left the area as the couple then heads back to the humble Town of Gerth.
...
Town of Gerth, Morning.
...
"So... everyone, I would like to introduce... well, you know her already."
"H-Hi~? Daniella von Andrei, nice to meet you~!"
Daniella was nervous as she waves her hand in front of the group. Olivier, Elaine, Junayd, Gerome, and Arcturus were unsure to let her join and Ash couldn't help but take a deep stressful sigh. He knew dhampir is a spy and feared that making herself a double agent might make the migraine in his head much worse. For Sasha, she was surprised that the dhampir wanted to join their group for reasons unknown.
"Daniella?... joining our group?" Sasha pointed out in confusion. "Uh... did she just reconsider...?"
"Well... our date went well." Reginald surmised with a nervous scratch behind his back. "So my girlfriend here wanted to learn a thing or two."
"I'm actually appalled by this. But isn't she a spy from the Radical Faction?" Elaine questioned, doubting the dhampir. "Doesn't that make you a sympathiser with the radical faction?"
"Um... actually I'm-" While Daniella tries to answer, someone interrupts.
"She's not..." Then everyone turned their heads to another table. They saw Elen sitting on the chair while her feet were placed on top of the table. They noticed she gives Daniella a warm smile. "Not anymore... she can join."
Elen's answer made a surprise to everyone, and Daniella felt happy that she was accepted. While in the midst of the couple's welcome celebration. Jane and Sandra were fuming at Daniella from the kitchen window and saw their former comrade gain the trust of their enemies, resulting in her joining their side as some form of betrayal. But to add matters worse, only jealousy clouded their minds.
"I can't believe she just ditched us!" Jane cried out in despair.
"Seeing this is unacceptable!" Sandra cried in spite as she bit her tongue. "While she can... why can't we!?"
"I'm actually jealous of her..." Alameria breathed out while looking down with a gloomy expression and crossed her arms. "Still... my only genuine friend I have is Olivier, but she still can't trust me because of my loyalty to Druella."
"Wait... but didn't you already have friends?" Jane perked her eyes up in confusion as she asked the dhampir musketeer. "I mean, your friends have already turned into monsters... until that lady there turns her back into a human again. She was one of your friends, right?"
Alameria then looks up and saw Olivier was crying out in disarray while Elaine held her by her arms while displaying orc's drunkenness from drinking the Siegbrau while Junayd and Gerome joined in their cheerful ruckus. She couldn't help but feel sorrow.
"Olivier... remembered nothing for what she did as a demon," Alameria spoke in a tone of regret, now thinking of another musketeer who is still left in Lescatie. "Now I wonder... if Paula can remember if she would turn back human again."
The dhampir of the three musketeers couldn't help but doubt if she truly had friends around Lescatie after Druella's invasion of monsterizing everything in the process. The monsterized denizens of Lescatie didn't bother her nor surprise them after her reveal of her true nature. But normally, they would've been surprised at first before they could think up their opinions, whether or not they can accept her. But as monsters, they would never mind about it and perceive it as normal.
Then in her mind and began thinking... were they really her friends despite shortly after their transformation?
It feels something off until a realisation struck her mind as if the people she knew were acting entirely different? The last time she heard from the Lilim Ilassa during her visit around Gerth is that the monsterized humans were driven by the manifestations of their desires and not by their true selves. Then does that mean her monsterized friends were fake and their manifestations were putting up a charade to make her believe they had accepted her?
'Earning friendship is through trust, it's from what I heard of... would that mean...?'
For such thoughts, she wasn't sure. But such knowledge outrightly creeped her out as if they were true. Alameria felt dread to know as if the Order was right all along and spoke tales about the temptations of the succubus imprisoned the souls of humans. Just like what Ilassa spoke about.
'If that were true... Then I'm not sure what am I fighting for...'
...
"Alright, I picked up a new Quest sheet... and this might surprise you all."
Everyone gathered around the table after Junayd placed the sheet on the table and looked down at the descriptions of the quest sheet with curious eyes before their eyes widened.
[Help Wanted: New Dungeon Exploration in Dragonia and help us fight against deadly monsters. Reward 75.000 Gold.]
"By the lords... look at that reward," Gerome uttered out incredulously before tilting his head at such thoughts. "But by the way... who's paying this?"
"It says here... under the sister of Red Queen and her majesty, Dracolinde." Elaine reads it out loud. "Huh, the sister of the Dragon Queen is handing these out."
"But isn't Dragonia a demon realm?" Ash asked while expressing doubt. "They were allies with the Demon Lord. I'm not sure if they could trust us."
"Nah, don't worry. Why can't you just make up a new identity?" Arcturus asked out loud proudly. "I'm sure they haven't recognised you yet!"
"Hmm... That might be acceptable since mamonos can't catch my truth and lies whenever I say something." Ash cupped his chin in wonder and then looked back at Sasha. "... won't you agree?"
"I guess lying to an enemy is better than lying to a friend." Sasha agreed while Olivier made a slight cough at her side, which made the priestess nervous. "W-well, lying to our enemies is one hundred times better than that!"
"Well then, it's settled," Junayd said in conclusion before raising his fist. "Off to Dragonia!"
...
Meanwhile, in Dragonia.
...
"So... this must be the place, huh."
Elt said while looking around the desolate rocky place. It's been hours since they had left the capital of dragons and went to the route, a path where many travellers and wandering dragons spoke of dreadful outworldly monsters and knights lurking around the place where large spear arrows and lightning hailed out from nowhere; killing travellers without warning. Even though there are incidents that had happened earlier where the Dragon Knights tried to overcome this area, their expeditions failed to achieve anything. Wilmarina was surprised by these stories weren't the dragons supposed to be one of the strongest mamono races?
"This place... is weird..." Wilmarina stated with confusion as her mamono senses picked up an aura, something that is out of this world. "Just what is this dreadful feeling?"
The Dark Hero has never felt so much dread as if she was sent back to a time when she was just still a human being. She remembers the executions and the reek of death were common in the old days of Lescatie because of the influence of her father, who corrupted the very heart of the nation when he came into power. Until now, she didn't expect to feel it in the midst of a demon realm.
As the couple ventured forth through the rock paths, little did they know they were being watched. On a distant cliffside, covered under the fog, red hollowed eyes observed the monster couple before vanishing from its sight. After another hour of passing through the dark rocky valley, Elt and Wilmarina reached on top of the very end on the other side of the mountain and the light radiated from the heavens as if their visions were blinded by sunlight.
Once the light faded, their eyes didn't expect to see a majestic view. A massive city, filled with towers, bridges and white walls. Elt hadn't seen a beautiful city unlike the capital of Dragonia and Wilmarina just saw the metropolis itself might be as majestic as that she saw in the portraits depicting Al-Mar. But she couldn't fathom that the place itself was even bigger.
When Wilmarina stepped in, a gong-like tune rang through their ears and saw the sight of letters appearing above them in thin air, much to their surprise.
[Anor Londo, City of the Gods]
...
Chapter 35: Ends
Authors Note: As for the information to those who don't know about Alto-Eris, she is a canon character who appeared in MGE Guide: Dragonia. Go search for it. As for Wilmarina and Elt. I made them a happy welcome to Anor Londo, thus I am sure they might have fun with the flying heat-seeking umbrellas.
Extra notes: Also as for Artor and his sister Ciara, they were named after the two knights of Gwyn; Artorias and Ciaran, but they were shortened and Ornstein named after them for their honour duty to Lordran.
Secret Info Unlocked:
Order of Mirrah.
The Order of Mirrah is a secretive Knight's Order which served in the Kingdom of Albion. They worked directly for the Royal Family and they were sent off to help the Federation states in need of emergency since they were considered as the "Eyes and Swords of the Federation". Despite they were a royal agency for the Albion Royal Family, the Mirrah Knights engaged in highly confidential missions outside of their kingdom to preserve the young Major Power in the Western Continent from the influential grips of the larger Order States and the Demon Realms.
Ranking Structure:
The Ranking Systems in the Mirrah Order is of the utmost importance for rookies to recognise their superiors.
1: Private. 2: Sergeant. 3: Lieutenant. 4: Captain. 5: Commander.
However, there is another ranking system in a special branch that was handpicked by the higher-ups who recognised the individuals' strengths and talents. Those who hold these ranks belonged to the Special Units, and they were calculated according to the conventional ranks.
1: Knight (Sergeant). 2: Grand Knight (Captain). 3: Grandmaster (A rank above Commander)
The Grandmaster is the head of the Mirrah Order that organizes and decides which action they should take.
Capabilities:
Their Agents consisting of knights that wore mostly light armour. Relying on agility and stealth while there are some knights who were trained for utilising strength referred to use armour. Yet their feet remain quiet even under broad daylight and they were skilled in swordsmanship and ranged weaponry, such as bows and crossbows. They even used firearms under special operations that were intended for long-range sniping. Their most notable firearms are their Rifled Muskets, and they even utilised special bullets which have sorcery attunement to pierce magic barriers in any case when enemy magic is involved and they remain unhindered from the effects of the powers from the Elemental Spirits that are present in the area.
The Mirrah Order has many allies such as the Astora Family and the Carthus, but their closest friends are the Vinheim Clan of the Northern Kingdom, in which they practised special sorcery spells and tools for interrupting enemy magic, even if their opponent's magic that could break the fabric of reality and time. The Knights of Mirrah spends their time in training and studied a variety of individual enemies and certain mamonos as pre-caution. Although, they usually avoided engaging their enemies directly and aim for the primary target.
If they discover any items within the Federation and detect any amount of demonic energy through smell or distorted visions; that item shall be immediately terminated in order to prevent the monsterization of local people.
Members:
Most of its members are Blank Humans which covered a significant 65% of the agency. 34% were Blank Mamonos and 1% are from other special individuals. They either be undercover mercenaries or former Order Heroes while some are mamonos from the Demon Realm. There has been a Baphomet, a former member of the Sabbath, who began working in the Order of Mirrah under some reasonable circumstances due to Ilassa's support for the Five Factions.
Surprisingly, the majority of the mamonos who served their duty under the Mirrah Order were made up of Dhampirs by 75%. This is due in fact prior to Mirrah's recognitions of their capabilities to the Albionese Royal Family. The Knights of Mirrah landed on a small Demon State from the seas around ninety-five years ago that takes place in the northern regions of Albion, which is once ruled by a Vampire Noble Family.
The heir of the vampiric noble family soon later married to a high-ranking Mirrah Knight shortly before his Order of Knights soon took over the small monster estate.
History:
Their origins are obscured until today and no one knew where they are from. According to their history, the knights of Mirrah said to hail from a faraway land which is located in the eastern regions of land called Drangleic. Yet that land is nowhere found in any known maps. I've talked with the former Sabbath member who had told me in an interview is that their ancestors came from another world according to her theories. She knew the fact there are other worlds that could've been created by the First Chief God prior to the creation of our own world and there had been instances of individual humans were summoned to this world from their own and becoming husbands to the monster summoners.
But regardless, humans of the Mirrah Order differed from the usual humans than the monsters knew. Around ME 1002, one knight married the princess of the Albion Royal Crown and the Order of Mirrah gained their position as the "Eyes and Swords of Albion".
Shortly after the Mamono invasion of Gaul, the Knights of Mirrah and the Tribesmen of Carthus took their roles in securing the Signing of the Sovereign Law of 1020 which led to the creation of the Federation and they are chosen to be the peacekeepers of the young major power in the west mainland of the continent while their southern allies, the Carthus tribe, maintain their control over the eastern Desert Regions while sending off their mercenaries into the Order states to observe their moves on the Federation, including to interrogate spies of the demon realms as well.