CHAPTER XX: TANGLE

I wake up feeling heavy and sweaty from the blankets smothering my body and the amount of heat trapped around me. My right-hand shuffles the blankets down to my side, causing me to shiver from the rapid change in warmth. I slowly open my eyes and immediately see Aura's face, an open-mouthed smile on her face while she sleeps soundly. With the return of feeling other than heat comes the feeling of one of her arms holding my upper back over my shoulders and the other arm holding my lower back around my waist. As if sensing that I'm awake and moving, her arms pull me into a tight embrace the smushes me into her. I appreciate her affection by returning her embrace while simultaneously disliking the feeling of extra sweat and extra heat.

Someone throws the black curtains open behind me to let more sunlight in. My eyes shut from the change in radiance and Aura groans in our embrace as she manoeuvres herself so that my body blocks out the light. Then she enjoys herself by rubbing her face and body against me in a show of defiance. Our arms reorient to make holding each other easier as Shalltear states with a huff from behind me, "As much as I would love to lay around and enjoy each other's company for as long as we wish, we accidentally set things in motion again. Nazarick is busier than ever to get everything prepared for the most important wedding in its history and we have our part to play in it."

"Lord Ainz made a final decision in so short a time?" I say while swinging us around so I can see. Aura is surprised by the sudden move while Shalltear closes the curtains again. I manoeuvre my head over Aura's right shoulder, allowing me to finally see Shalltear smiling but in a forced way followed by a matter-of-fact tone. "This has been in the making for a few years by now and after our little push, Lord Ainz finally accepts the collective logic that the King of Darkness and the Overseer of Nazarick should become a royal couple."

"And you're just going along with it? I was expecting... I don't know... more fight... more anger... some response..." Aura interjects while trying to turn her head to the right but eventually gives up when she can't see Shalltear. I try to roll her on top of me so we can both see but she refuses, instead pulling me on top of her as both our heads turn to regard Shalltear properly. Shalltear looks between us with that same forced smile and a tired sigh, eventually losing her smile and saying after a brief pause, "I fought that battle already... quite literally... and I learned from that struggle that I have always been only a servant to Lord Ainz... what I felt for him was always one way and I abandoned those feelings entirely at that moment... and in moving on, I saw, for the first time, how my obsessions were driving everyone away... all in a desperate gamble to replace Albedo as Overseer of Nazarick... I guess I've outgrown such lofty goals-"

I feel my head guided to face Aura who gives me a stern look and I immediately prepare to receive important commands. She firmly says to me, "Whatever you did to her, you need to do to me too. I don't know what you did to make her like this but I've never seen Shalltear in control of herself like this... ever... I want what she has and it's not like you lose anything by attempting."

"That's the problem, Aura. I didn't do anything to make Shalltear change her mind or her path in life. She chose everything herself and all I did was what she wanted- and I just dug myself into a hole," I state as I realize the implications of what I'm saying too late. The familiar mischievous grin crosses Aura's face as she pulls me into a hug and replies, "I used to be jealous that you would worship the ground she walked on if she wished but... I guess I can look forward to the same treatment."

"Those attending the wedding will be spending the next few weeks practising for the coming ceremony. That includes some of the most powerful leaders and warriors in the Sorcerer Kingdom and beyond... including representation from both the Elf Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy," Shalltear states, my gaze turning back to her to witness her evil smile. The subtle meanings are not lost on me and I gather my thoughts before replying, "Every leader in the world in one place... do we expect problems from any of the guests?"

"Lord Ainz is using every resource at our disposal to ensure that nothing out of the ordinary happens. The last time he mustered this much of our resources was when he declared his intent to dominate the New World," Shalltear replies though her tone reveals that she shares the same concerns. But she quickly hides her thoughts as she tells us both, "Now get up, both of you. We had an important meeting with Lord Ainz that I had to delay because you two decided to sleep in. Although Lord Ainz assures me that what he has to say is not incredibly important, I'm sure he would appreciate a meeting as soon as possible."

I move to obey automatically, baffled by the sudden feeling of dread creeping into the room.

Lord Ainz and Albedo are in their typical positions when we arrive in the throne room but the air between them has changed. Albedo is standing slightly closer to Lord Ainz who seems far more relaxed on his throne, slouching and looking more like an upstart prince than a King of Darkness. But my attention is immediately drawn towards the creature taking up an ample amount of space next to the raised dais and as if noticing that it's being observed, the creature looks away from the task in front of itself to return my glance with startling emerald eyes. They rise to their full height in a graceful ascent, four muscled and scarred scaled legs holding aloft their massive frame. Large wings fold behind them as they begin moving towards us and at first, I think that the creature is moving towards our group but their path brings them directly towards me. I stop moving in a stupor when their size becomes more and more apparent the closer they get to me until they are close enough for my idle inspections to reveal the horrible scars coating their entire body. Whatever this creature is, it had survived wounds that would kill most lesser beings several times over and not only survived but came back stronger and more intimidating.

I have to look up to see eye to eye but in a display of agility that defies their size, the creature leaps back and tenses its body, extending its wings outwards as it intones two syllables that I don't understand. Those strange sounds are accompanied by a torrent of frost magic projecting from their mouth, a stream of ice and magic slamming into me instantly. My body feels like it's burning from how rapidly it's being chilled but even as I start to completely freeze over, I remain focused on the creature and its actions despite the growing pain. I inhale the magical frost hurricane around me, burning my throat but filling my third lung with its potency. Something in the magic feels familiar and upon inhaling it, sensations and memories of unknown origin start to intrude on my current thoughts.

The familiar sensation translates into tangible knowledge. I utter three syllables unknown to me and with those sounds, the creature immediately stops in its unexpected attack. I can feel their unease and sudden fear as they back away slightly and with swift but smooth motions, I casually break myself out of the ice shell that encases my body. I'm more upset that my outfit is drenched from leftover frost melting onto it than by the strange behaviour of this stranger and feeling the eyes of Shalltear burning into me suddenly, I attempt to dry off the outfit with the light use of fire magic. She steps closer and assists me with her magic, both of us hurrying to fix the damage until she's satisfied with the result. She pats me on my left shoulder as she steps back into her position and when I look back towards the creature, they are bowing their head towards me and say in a grating rasp, "Ancient lord..."

"I'm no one's lord," I reply firmly, feeling uncomfortable from the change in formality and not bothering to hide my irritation from the title's use. But from their throne behind the creature, Lord Ainz finally intones with a hint of amusement, "I present to you Hejinmal Haylilyal, the current reigning Dragon Lord of the Frost Dragons of Nazarick. Given the coming circumstances, I thought it prudent to introduce you to each other."

I'm stunned into silence, not knowing what to say in such a strange situation. Though dragons are part of my studies and training, I've never met an actual dragon of flesh and blood before this. I look among Aura and Shalltear as Aura steps forward, recognition showing on the Dragon Lord's features as he bows his head towards Aura and rasps, "Lady Aura. It is good to see you again."

"Relax, Hejinmal. This is an informal gathering. No need for such reverence," Aura states with her usual grin, my gaze turning to Aura as she offers me the same grin and a shrug. She states when she sees my look of confusion, "He's one of my pets or used to be. I whipped him into shape but I didn't think he would become the leader of the Frost Dragons."

"Maybe you should add Kingmaker to your list of skills," I reply, getting a chuckle out of her. But before the conversation can continue, something shifts in front of me without warning. A cloak of shifting images swirls behind a figure with sharp, red eyes and short blond hair, a predatory smirk plastered on her face. I am completely shocked that they had made no noise and no signs of life or magic for an extended amount of time, their presence even now defying my ability to detect them. Whatever sense of confusion I have is quickly replaced with a sense of danger and minor fear as if knowing of her presence affects the mood of her surroundings.

My gaze is then drawn to what she's wearing, realisation turning into further horror as I see what's coating her armour. The unmistakable glint of adventurer plates reflects the light around us, each plate ordered neatly from lowest to highest rank. Her smirk seems to gain more mirth as she does a slow twirl, emphasizing her body as she displays what could easily be a hundred plates across her armour. I take an involuntary step back from this person to their visible amusement as Lord Ainz intones, "And this is another of our allies. She has waited for a long time for this meeting at my request. I believe the name Clementine Quintia means something to you already?"

"The Hero Killer!? One of your servants is the Scourge of the Adventurer's Guild!?" I splutter as the final pieces of knowledge fall into place, the mix of horror and anger threatening to overtake me with their toxic embrace. I take a deep breath as Clementine takes some of the plates off her chest armour, crossing the space between us and showing the names to me as she says in a sing-song voice, "The Scourge of the Adventurer's Guild? How flattering if completely false. You kill a few grandmasters and their subordinates and suddenly, you're an outlaw to be hunted down like a dog. Is that what you believe?"

I force myself to look at the names she's showing me and upon reading them, my sense of danger and horror starts to diminish as realization strikes. My body relaxes as I slowly say, "Banished adventurers... those who broke their code... I'd heard of a sanctioned killer purging their ranks of the corrupt but I didn't think it was you... aren't you supposed to be dead?"

She casts a sidelong glance at Shalltear, tilting her head to the right and chuckling to herself. The distraction is only moments before she takes a step forward towards me. I stay still as she gets uncomfortably close, the smell of the faint fragrances on her skin and her equipment coming into focus. I say without meaning to, "Spruce trees... spring flowers... but decaying... you've been to Irlo... the clearing..."

"Good sense of smell. That was several days ago and that clearing is little more than a decaying mess now without its source of magic," she says casually, taking my left hand and brushing it with her gauntleted fingers. The sensation isn't unpleasant but it holds no comfort. She releases my hand as soon as she seized it and brushes past me, my body turning around as she approaches Shalltear. Clementine says to her without ceremony, "And you're sure he'll go along with this? He doesn't seem too thrilled to see me."

"Go along with what?" Aura asks in growing confusion, my posture and expression mirroring her confusion. Shalltear smiles her usual wicked smile as she replies to Clementine, "He takes a little... tender love and care to get on your side but trust me when I say it's well worth the effort. Even with your very specific magical senses, you can feel his presence too, right?"

Clementine turns around and fixes me with a more critical eye, her expression plain and apprehensive. Then she smiles and shrugs dismissively while walking away from the group, flicking her right hand lazily towards a nearby wall. A gate opens for her to walk through and as soon as she's through, the portal closes rapidly behind her. As if on cue, Lord Ainz intones from his throne, "Clementine has vital information on the Black Scripture and the Slane Theocracy, information that we need to make the coming conflict easier. Shalltear will explain the plan to you."

I turn to regard Lord Ainz but he and Albedo are taking their leave as well, walking side by side into a gate they summon for themselves. Aura moves towards the Dragon Lord as the large creature summons a gate as well. Aura waves her left hand in farewell as she says to us, "It's been a while since I've checked up on the Frost Dragons. I'll leave you two to discuss her plan. You can give me the summary tonight."

Before I can fully orient myself towards Shalltear, she says to me mid-turn, "The plan has multiple phases. You just passed phase one by meeting her and not attempting to kill her. She, in turn, didn't try to kill you. I can assure you it wasn't because Lord Ainz or I were present and we wouldn't have stopped her if she tried. However, there may come a time when she'll want to test her skills against yours like I did."

"So what's next?" I ask plainly, Shalltear taken aback by my neutral tone but quickly hiding her surprise. She replies with a wicked smile in a knowing tone, "Oh, nothing out of the ordinary. You're just going on a little date to see if you two are compatible and-"

I turn away, shaking my head and sighing at being put in this position. Shalltear stops abruptly in her explanation to snap at me angrily, "I wouldn't put you through this without good reason! We need her intel, a heavy emphasis on need! She knows the inner workings of one of our greatest enemies in the New World! All she demanded was to get to know you and potentially... you get the idea!"

It only takes a few moments to ponder the situation and come to a decision. I groan to myself and turn back, tensely saying while trying to hide my irritation, "Alright... I'll play along but don't expect me to like whoever you pair me up with just because they have something valuable to offer Nazarick. I don't like playing the pawn if I can help it."

She replies a bit too quickly and enthusiastically, "Fantastic! Everything is ready so I'll take you there now."