The scene cleared and everyone was visibly worn out. Their clothes torn, skin scratched, breaths heavy. No one had expected to face that level of overwhelming power. Myterl quickly returned with a medical team, each one wearing pristine ivory uniforms and carrying gleaming silver kits. They moved swiftly, like a silent wind, attending to the group one by one.
Rhyes sat cross-legged at the center of the clearing, sword laid across his knees. Around him sat the rest, some injured, some dazed, all shaken. His eyes were low, a grim weight in them.
"That was... truly unexpected," Rhyes finally muttered.
Neo clicked his tongue, arms crossed as he leaned back, still catching his breath. "What type of monster was that guy..."
Jahanox shook his head slowly. "Someone far worse than we could've ever imagined."
Asher gave a small, tired chuckle, wiping the blood from his lip. "On the bright side... we all survived."
Ai, still processing, spoke gently, "I still don't understand... Rhyes?"
Before Rhyes could answer, Myterl stepped forward. Her coat stained and torn, but her expression resolute. "I should tell you then... About sixty or so years ago, that woman — the one with spiral eyes — appeared out of nowhere on a planet far from here. When we classified her, she became the second Omega-class threat ever recorded. We had no choice but to confront her, to gauge her intentions. So I left... with nine other Zero-Star threats."
She paused.
"It was a slaughter. She killed everyone."
The air grew heavier.
Myterl continued, her voice lower now, haunted. "One of the strongest Zero-Star humans at that time... sacrificed himself to save me."
Minos asked quietly, "Why did he save you?"
Jahanox, grave, answered before Myterl could. "He didn't save her. He saved the intel she carried."
Rhyes nodded slowly. "They died ensuring Myterl could live... and warn us. She brought back critical data — their fighting style, a glimpse of their power, even her voice. It was enough to prepare future generations... or so we thought."
Ai shook her head. "I still don't get it. If they're that powerful, why didn't they just kill us just now? They could've. Easily."
Neo scoffed and clicked his tongue again. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. They didn't even try."
Rhyes looked down at his sword, a soft frown on his face. "It's always been like that. Those Omega-class threats... they could wipe us out. But they never do."
"But why?" Jahanox asked, leaning forward.
Myterl answered, folding her arms. "Because, for one, they can't act within Nullflux Bastion. It's protected. And second... they don't want to."
Ai blinked. "They don't want to...?"
Neo answered this time, his tone sour but thoughtful. "Remnants never wanted a full-scale war. They send waves of lesser beings — the hordes — but that's it. They don't send Omega-classes... not often."
"Then why now?" Jennie asked.
Rhyes looked to the sky, the wind brushing his cape. "That's the question. Why do they do anything they do?"
Silence followed.
Then Rhyes stood, dusting off his coat. "But this is no time to ponder that. We have a royal appointment — can't keep the Queen waiting for something so... minor."
Asher groaned, inspecting his bloodied clothes. "My coat's practically shredded. But I guess she'll understand."
Jahanox stood and stretched his back. "So we're still going?"
Rhyes gave a single firm nod.
Suddenly, the air shifted. A gust of wind followed by a deafening beat of massive wings.
A colossal dragon — no, the dragon — soared into view above the treetops, casting an enormous shadow over the forest. Its scales shimmered like liquid obsidian, reflecting the sunlight in a dazzling, surreal pattern. Its wings beat once more, causing trees to sway violently.
The dragon landed with a ground-shaking thud behind Rhyes. The earth trembled beneath its weight. Its head lowered slowly, its eyes like golden suns, intelligent and ancient. The creature's snout alone was the size of a house, and its horns twisted back in spiraling arcs. Glowing glyphs were etched into its neck and wings, pulsating with quiet energy.
The group stared in awe.
Miwa stumbled back, nearly tripping over a root. "W-WHAT IS THAT?!"
Jennie's jaw dropped. "No way..."
Minos blinked repeatedly. "This... is insane..."
Kiyomasa, however, looked thrilled. "WOAH... now that's a dragon!"
Zephyra whistled. "Talk about a dramatic ride."
Rhyes turned to face the group, a faint smile tugging his lips. "Quite the ride we've been sent, huh?"
The dragon leaned down, letting out a low, almost polite growl. A magical bridge — ethereal and glowing — formed from its forehead to its back, extending like a regal walkway.
Rhyes gestured toward it. "Let's go."
They ascended the shimmering bridge one by one, their expressions a mixture of amazement and disbelief. When they finally reached the dragon's back, they found something none had expected: an entire luxury deck.
Ornate wooden flooring with golden inlays. Old-style velvet couches, carved tables, soft rugs, floating light orbs — it was like stepping into a fantasy inn in the sky.
Miwa's eyes sparkled. "Okay... okay, maybe this isn't that bad."
Jennie smiled gently. "It's... beautiful."
Kiyomasa sat down, running his hands over the armrest. "This feels unreal."
Minos flopped down on a couch. "So soft! I thought dragons were all spiky!"
Asher leaned on the balcony edge, eyes on the clouds. "We'll be there by daybreak. Enjoy the view."
Despite the comfort, the mood was subdued. No one talked much. Instead, they sat in silence, letting the wind brush past them as the dragon soared into the skies. The sun dipped behind the horizon, and the dragon's shadow stretched across the land like a silent guardian.
But in everyone's heart, a question burned: who were those enemies... and what came next?
The night air was cool, crisp, and silent. Stars glittered across the vastness above like shards of a broken mirror scattered on velvet. The colossal dragon soared quietly through the sky, its scales shimmering faintly under the moonlight.
Inside its luxuriously built back, no one said a word.
Rhyes finally broke the silence, his voice low and steady. "You've all been sitting here since we left. Don't you want to see the view you were so excited for?"
Ai spoke first, her tone hesitant. "After that... Everyone's just too shaken."
Jennie added, voice soft. "We almost died. It's not easy to just forget."
Neo stood, his expression cold as ever. "Don't cry over such minial things. We risk our lives every single day. We sleep not knowing if we'll see daylight. That's the price of choosing to protect."
He looked around at everyone, his eyes sharp. "The easiest thing to do is hide. The hardest is to fight, knowing it might all be for nothing. So live while you can... because you aren't guaranteed to see tomorrow."
He turned and walked away, the wooden door creaking behind him. A heavy silence followed.
Then came a chuckle. Jahanox laughed and said, "I didn't know he had quotes like that in him."
Asher pointed toward the door. "I think Neo got swapped with a skinwalker in the forest or something."
Everyone burst into laughter, the tension melting away.
Even Rhyes cracked a smile. "Well, now you all know. Live to the fullest."
Miwa stood up, a spark of thrill returning to her tone. "I always wanted a thrilling life. Might as well live what I wished for."
Kiyomasa raised a brow. "Where are you going?"
"To see the view," she said, walking toward the exit. "You coming or not?"
Ai nodded. "I'll join."
Jennie looked uncertain, glancing at Jahanox.
He gave her a look. "You can go too."
Jennie shook her head. "I'm good. Me, this lantern, and this hut are getting along just fine."
Asher turned to Jahanox with a grin. "Quick question. Do you know what the densest thing in the universe is?"
"Black holes or neutron stars?" Jahanox replied without thinking.
"Wrong," Asher chuckled. "It's you."
Jahanox frowned. "What do you mean?"
Asher pointed to Jennie, then back to Jahanox. "That."
Jahanox followed his finger, still confused. "What about Jennie and me?"
Rhyes leaned toward Jennie with a smirk. "Where exactly did you find him?"
Jennie flushed red. "It's more like he found me."
"Oh~~," Rhyes teased.
---
On the dragon's massive head, Zazm lay stretched out, the wind brushing through his hair. His eyes, cold and lifeless, stared blankly at the expanse above. The stars were still visible, but they were slowly fading as the first hints of dawn bled into the night.
Zephyra lay beside him, near his legs, her arms spread wide, her voice a hushed whisper. "There are so many stars... and moons. I can't get tired of this view."
Zazm said nothing, his expression unchanged.
Then, after a pause, Zephyra asked, "Are you tired?"
The question wasn't physical. It carried weight. Years of exhaustion.
Zazm's voice was flat, but softer than usual. "I'm fine. What about you?"
Zephyra didn't smile. Her tone was hollow, yet strangely gentle. "I want to live in a small village in the mountains. We'd be farmers. At night, we sit on the roof and look at this sky."
Zazm glanced at her, then back up to the stars. For a moment, just a heartbeat, there was emotion in his voice. "I see."
He looked to the horizon and saw them—two suns, rising together. Golden light pierced the fading black, igniting the clouds in hues of crimson, gold, and violet.
Miwa's voice called out from behind. "Why are you sitting alone during such a beautiful scene?"
She was followed by Kiyomasa, Minos, and Ai. Kiyomasa plopped down beside Zazm on the right.
"Seeing two suns rise together. That's something else."
Minos and Miwa joined on the left, Ai next to Kiyomasa.
"Are you all seeing it without us?" Jahanox's voice rang out as he pushed between Kiyomasa and Zazm, claiming the center.
"You could've sat somewhere else," Ai said.
"Nah. I want the main seat," Jahanox grinned.
Jennie hesitated, but Zazm moved aside slightly and said, "Come on."
She smiled and sat down between Zazm and Jahanox.
One by one, they all formed a line, seated side by side on the dragon's head, watching the dawn of twin suns.
Zephyra, still invisible to the rest, leaned her head against Zazm's back. But her gaze never moved to the suns. She kept her eyes on the stars vanishing from the sky, as if saying goodbye.
Ai's voice broke the silence. "Do you think... in ten or twenty years... we'll still be able to sit like this?"
No one answered.
Then, softly, Jahanox said, "Who knows. But we're all here right now. And we'll make damn sure we work for that future."
Laughter followed. Soft, light, and warm.
As stories were shared and jokes flew, Zazm remained quiet. He looked at each face, one by one. His gaze deep, heavy, searching.
As if trying to remember something...
Or trying not to forget.
---
Moonlight poured through tall glass windows, washing the room in a pale, silver glow. A woman sat silently on an ornate velvet seat, the dark strands of her long hair cascading over the back of the chair. Her figure was graceful yet commanding, motionless save for the gentle movement of her fingers as she raised a porcelain cup to her lips. She stared out the towering window — eyes focused on something far beyond the night sky.
Behind her, a quiet voice broke the silence.
"They should have arrived by nightfall at the latest. It's nearly midnight now…" said a woman standing near the tall glass doors.
Another attendant, more stern in demeanor, folded her arms tightly.
"This delay is unacceptable."
The seated woman lowered her cup onto the saucer, the sound soft yet final.
"They ran into trouble," she said calmly.
"What kind of trouble?" the stricter woman pressed, her voice laced with concern.
A pause. Then, the seated woman tilted her head slightly, her voice gentle but firm.
"Nothing worth losing sleep over. They'll be here by morning."
The first woman hesitated before stepping closer.
"Then perhaps you should rest, Your—"
She was cut off.
"There is no rest in life," the woman murmured, resting her cheek against her hand, gaze unwavering, "Only pain and suffering."
The words, though somber, were spoken with surprising softness — not in despair, but as a truth long accepted.
The first woman parted her lips to object, but again the seated woman spoke first, her voice low and steady.
"But that's what makes life beautiful."
She rose slowly, her posture straight, elegant, regal without trying. Her eyes still lingered on the moonlit horizon.
"To find even a flicker of peace amidst the pain… that is where meaning lives."
Neither servant replied — they only bowed as she moved past them toward the bedchamber, her steps quiet, decisive.
"I'll rest now," she said softly. "There are guests to greet in the morning."
The door closed behind her with a faint whisper, leaving the room cloaked again in that same silent moonlight — but now, the air carried the weight of something deeper, older.
---
The twin suns had yet to rise fully, but the horizon was already blushing with golds and violets. The group still sat on the vast, warm back of the slumbering dragon — some laughing, some gazing quietly, others wrapped in thought.
A little ways off, Neo stood alone, arms crossed, watching them.
His expression was unreadable — not distant, but heavy with things unspoken. His eyes were fixed not on the sunrise, but somewhere beyond it.
"What's wrong?"
"Why are you standing here like a gargoyle?"
Asher's voice rang beside him, casual, friendly.
Neo didn't turn.
"Do I need someone's permission now?"
Asher chuckled. "Rude as always."
There was a pause. Neo's eyes stayed fixed far ahead.
"Those kids," he muttered. "They don't know what they're walking into."
Asher's smile faded into something softer, more genuine. He looked back toward the group — Minos and Jahanox laughing, Miwa trying to pull something from below with her telekinesis. Ai rolling her eyes. Jennie telling Zazm something which he clearly wasn't understanding.
"They're standing with us," Asher said, voice calm.
"They don't know anything."
"They'll learn."
"They're weak."
"They'll get stronger."
"They'll die."
Asher stepped closer, putting a hand gently on Neo's shoulder — steady, unflinching.
"They won't."
Neo finally turned, just enough to glance toward them again.
Asher smiled, warm and fearless.
"They're like us. Fighting for something. Doesn't matter where they came from, or how long we've known them."
He nodded toward the group.
"What matters is that they're trying to change something… maybe for the better, maybe not. But they're trying."
Neo's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't answer, but his silence wasn't resistance — it was thought. Weight. Hesitation.
After a few seconds, he clicked his tongue and slapped Asher's hand off his shoulder.
"Tch."
And without another word, he turned and walked away into the shadowed curve of the dragon's spine.
Asher watched him go, then slid his hands into his pockets and looked toward the rising light.
The first sun peeked over the distant peaks, and Asher smiled quietly to himself.
"Yeah…"
"They'll be fine."
The sky had shifted — a deeper azure, crisp and thinning. The dragon glided smoothly beneath the early sunlight, the wind weaving through its wings like silk thread. The group had been scattered in their usual rhythm, talking and laughing, but then—
Rhyes stepped out, his voice calm but audible.
"Enjoying yourselves?"
Everyone turned. "The trip was really fun," Jahanox said, stretching his arms with a grin.
Jennie added softly, "All the trees… the flowers… the little villages… they were all wonderful, but it's hard to really see them from up here."
Ai joined in, her voice light but longing.
"If only we could fly a little lower… it's so beautiful."
Rhyes approached slowly, the wind tousling his white cloak.
"We're flying this high to avoid alarming smaller kingdoms. A dragon that size in their skies might cause… chaos."
Jahanox burst into laughter.
"Imagine we trigger a kingdom-wide lockdown just by sightseeing."
Minos smirked.
"Someone sees a dragon and suddenly the whole village evacuates in panic."
Laughter echoed across the dragon's back, the mood light and breezy — until Rhyes spoke again, tone shifting.
"We're nearing the borders of Vlies now. Once we cross, we can descend. The dragon's presence won't be so strange there."
In seconds, everyone was on their feet, rushing to the edges of the dragon's back, peering down over the ridges. Even Zazm moved — his usually cold eyes briefly flickering with a faint glint of curiosity.
Then, through the thinning mist — it appeared.
Between two colossal, dark-iron mountains — as if cleaved by some ancient god's blade — rested a castle so massive, so impossibly built, it made the mountain peaks look like garden hedges.
The castle wasn't built into the mountains. It was the mountains.
Its foundation was a mammoth blackstone bridge that connected the two mountain faces, wide enough for cities to sit upon. The architecture was layered — gargantuan towers, each hundreds of meters tall, jutted out from both mountain walls like fangs. They were carved with arcane glyphs that shimmered faintly with indigo light in the sun, pulsing like veins — veins that carried mana rather than blood.
Above the bridge, the central structure of the castle rose — a single spire, so tall it tore through the upper sky and pierced the cloudline. It looked like a spiked obsidian monolith, its edges sharp and impossible, covered in shifting runes that rearranged when you weren't looking.
Beneath the castle's foundation, massive chains, each as thick as a mountain road, anchored the structure to the cliffs — not for support, but for containment. Like the castle itself was too ancient, too powerful, to be left untethered.
The castle walls were alive with movement — mechanical limbs, shifting terraces, balconies that rotated as if on their own will. Some balconies even hovered, suspended mid-air by unseen forces, and floating walkways connected the highest spires. Enormous glass domes encased elevated gardens on the upper levels — floating forests visible from the sky.
At the base, nestled between the mountains, was a massive city. Not medieval — not quite modern either. The architecture was a fusion of arcane craftsmanship mixed with bricks and stones.
Towering lamps emitted soft ambient light; the buildings were sculpted from stone and glass but embedded with lights.
The houses were made of wood, the streets of rocks and pebble. People were using horses and carriages as means to travel yet they used Google map. Yes I can't explain it otherwise.
"How big is this kingdom?" Jennie finally asked, eyes wide, her voice nearly drowned by the wind.
Rhyes smiled slightly, his tone casual.
"Roughly the size of… Asia and Europe combined."
Miwa blinked.
"What?"
Then squinted suspiciously. "How do you even know that?"
"I know a little history," Rhyes replied with a smirk. "Hopefully you now understand how big it really is."
Jahanox whistled.
"That castle's just something else…"
Minos suddenly began smacking Jahanox's arm.
"What the hell, man?" Jahanox turned, annoyed. "What is it now?"
Minos pointed down.
"Those two elves—pants. Shirts. Look at that—what is that? Is that a screen?"
Jahanox leaned out further.
"They're using screens!?!"
Asher laughed, appearing beside them.
"Told you. Arcane-old-tech hybrids. This kingdom's full of that."
Kiyomasa pointed excitedly.
"Those guys are using cameras! Actual old gen cameras!"
"C-CAMERAS!?" Jahanox screamed.
"Okay, this place can't get any cooler. This is peak. I've peaked. This is it for me."
Asher chuckled.
"And you haven't even seen the inside of the castle."
"Don't say that," Jahanox said, eyes wide, fake-panicked. "I'm gonna die of excitement right now. Let me have this moment. Just from outside view I'm ascending."
Everyone laughed — even Rhyes cracked a grin.
Then, cold and quiet — Zazm finally spoke.
His voice was ice.
"Then we should definitely go in."
"This bastard," Jahanox grumbled, trying not to laugh. "Can't let us be dramatic in peace."
As the dragon descended, the castle grew larger — so large it distorted scale itself. What had looked like small turrets were the size of stadiums. What seemed like doorways were archways hundreds of feet high. Massive gears turned soundlessly in shadowed depths, like the castle was part living machine.
Ai gasped, eyes reflecting the structure.
"Those two mountains… if stacked, they'd be taller than Everest…"
She swallowed.
"And that castle reaches even higher."
"That's the coolest thing I've ever seen," Jahanox muttered, rotating his neck to take it all in.
Jennie looked up curiously."But… if we're flying at that height, where are the clouds?"
She asked a question which Jahanox should've asked but due to excitement his intelligence has dropped to that of an infant.
"There were clouds earlier." Kiyomasa blinked in suprise.
Rhyes pointed upward.
"The atmosphere here is higher. The clouds are up there."
Everyone looked — and there they were, still distant, floating like silken sails far above.
Minos asked, puzzled.
"Would people on the ground even see them?"
Asher answered calmly.
"The people here are born with vision sharper than an eagle's. For them, seeing this high is nothing."
---
The wind picked up, and the dragon let out a slow, low growl as it began its approach to land.
The castle loomed ahead — a fortress of impossible scale, ancient and futuristic all at once. A palace of kings. A prison of gods. A monument to time itself.
And within its halls… someone was already waiting.
---
The air was thinner now, and colder — still humming from the dragon's slow descent. A low thrum echoed through the canyons as its talons scraped gently against a stone landing ring carved into the mountainside — a ring so large it could house ten dragons if needed.
Surrounding the platform were dozens of armored personnel, all standing in silent formation. Their armor gleamed with jet-black polish, trimmed in faint silver-blue lines, but most noticeably — none bore the Obsidian Fang insignia.
Instead, each warrior wore a chestplate marked with a winged crown sigil — sleek, regal, and commanding. It shimmered faintly under the lanternlight that lit the area with a soft, glowing blue.
The platform they stood on was suspended behind the castle, hovering between the two colossal mountains, with the sky stretching endlessly beyond the peaks — a landing pad in the clouds.
As the dragon folded its wings with a guttural sigh, the bridge appeared again, formed by silver strands of light assembling into stone, brick by glowing brick.
Rhyes stepped off first, his posture stiff, cloak flicking from the wind. One by one, the rest of the party followed behind, each footstep echoing softly on the fresh-formed bridge.
Below their feet, the ground was paved in hexagonal, onyx-black stone tiles, mixed with chalky-gray pebbles that crunched slightly under pressure — every inch carved and placed by precise hands.
On one end of the platform stood a woman clad in pure black, her dress long and sweeping like a shadow given shape. She wore a high-collared, matte black coat over a long skirt that kissed the stones. Her hair was tied back in a loose, intricate braid, and her eyes — light gray — remained calm and sharp.
Behind her stood guards in matching black combat gear, and beside them, a line of maids in formal maid outfits — polished, disciplined, eyes lowered in quiet reverence.
As Rhyes approached, the entire group bowed low, even the guards keeping their gazes down.
The woman stepped forward, her voice as smooth as marble.
"Welcome back, Supreme Commander Rhyes Vance."
Rhyes gave a slight nod.
"Thank you, Marshal Velra."
She raised her gaze slightly, observing the party's appearance. Her tone held a faint note of concern.
"Judging from your condition… am I correct in assuming you were attacked?"
Rhyes nodded curtly.
"Yes. We need to meet the Queen immediately. There are urgent matters to report."
Marshal Velra inclined her head.
"Understood. I was instructed to escort you to her directly."
Just then, Neo stepped forward, eyes steely, voice cold and clipped.
"Then don't waste time. You heard him — it's urgent."
Velra turned her head slightly toward him, offering a small bow.
"Apologies. Then we will proceed at once. She awaits you."
With a slight wave of her hand, the formation of guards parted like a black tide, opening a pathway. All remained bowing as the group moved forward, their footsteps swallowed by silence and reverence.
As they passed through the archway carved into the mountain itself, the inside of the castle opened before them like a dream.
The first hallway was a cathedral of grandeur and shadow.
The floor was made of obsidian-tinted glass, polished to perfection, with swirling patterns of gold and violet veins running through it like rivers of magic.
Above them, the ceiling stretched hundreds of feet high, supported by titanic arches carved to resemble dragons and celestial beasts. Each beast had glowing gemstone eyes — sapphire, ruby, and topaz — that faintly lit the hall like stars.
The walls were layered with black marble, etched with ancient runes in flowing silver script. Every five meters, there stood a statue — each one depicting a former monarch of Vlies, their expressions regal and eternal.
Between the statues were tall, narrow windows — stained glass in deep hues of violet, indigo, and crimson. They cast soft, shifting light onto the floor, and each depicted moments of divine battle, fallen gods, and rise of immortal dynasties.
Lanterns hung from coiling black-iron chandeliers — not with fire, but with slow-burning orbs of white-blue light, hovering like fireflies trapped in crystal.
Carpets of dark velvet, embroidered in silver threads with winged motifs, stretched across the center, their ends slightly levitating just above the ground — untouched by dust or time.
Minos glanced around with awe, muttering under his breath.
"And we thought the castle Jahanox made was big…"
Jahanox laughed nervously.
"One of these halls is bigger than my entire castle…"
Kiyomasa looked up.
"If I stare at that ceiling any longer, I might just fall backward."
Their voices echoed, but the hallway itself swallowed sound gently, like it was absorbing their presence — watching.
The party passed under arch after arch, through an antechamber where pillars were made of spinning crystal encased in glass, humming with quiet power. The air smelled faintly of lilac and cold stone, and the temperature was strangely perfect — neither too cold nor too warm.
They finally stopped before an enormous set of double doors — easily fourty feet tall, carved from whitebone wood laced with glowing black metal veins.
The doors bore the insignia of the Winged Crown, but behind it were twelve interlocking glyphs, pulsing in unison like a heartbeat.
Rhyes turned around, his tone formal.
"Before entering, you are to kneel before the Queen. Show respect."
Jahanox blinked. "Like on one knee, right? Like in those old movies?"
Miwa looked at her dress. "If I kneel in this, I'm faceplanting on the marble."
Minos grinned.
"I don't care. I'm excited. Feels like we're meeting a goddess or something."
Asher stepped forward, voice calm. "Like this."
He unfastened the buttons of his ruined coat and knelt slowly.
"Your right knee forward," he explained, his tone instructive but gentle.
"Right forearm rests just above it, left palm on the floor… and your head should lower — not too much, just enough to show reverence, not subjugation."
Jennie watched intently.
"Oh… that's the proper way. Got it."
Kiyomasa mimicked it quickly.
"Actually easier than I thought."
Rhyes nodded.
"Now that you're prepared…"
He turned to Marshal Velra, who stepped forward and gestured at the two guards stationed by the doors. They braced themselves, placing gloved hands on the cold surface of the gates.
With synchronized effort, they pushed the doors open, the sound of ancient hinges roaring softly through the air — and beyond them, the Throne Room of Vlies awaited.
The massive double doors creaked open, spilling golden light into the hall ahead.
As they stepped into the Throne Room, the atmosphere shifted.
It was not cold — nor warm — but something else entirely: timeless. Like stepping into a memory that had been perfectly preserved in silk and shadow.
The room was colossal, stretching far beyond the eye could follow at first glance. Hundreds of chandeliers dangled from a sky-high vaulted ceiling, each one suspended by threads of shimmering silver. The chandeliers glowed with floating crystals, each emitting a soft, white-blue flame — fire that neither flickered nor smoked.
The light kissed everything it touched.
Walls of deep obsidian were veined with living gold, veins that pulsed ever so slightly, like they carried lifeblood through the castle itself.
Windows lined both sides, floor to ceiling — stained glass in rich purples, deep blues, and soft whites. Each pane depicted dreamlike scenes.
Paintings older than time lined the stone in golden frames. They were soft in color but rich in depth — so realistic they felt like they breathed.
At the center of the room stretched a massive carpet — plush, ink-black, woven with embroidered wings that glittered as if real feathers had been stitched into them.
Lining both sides of the carpet were two rows of silent attendants:
Dozens of maids, standing with perfect posture, heads bowed, in beautiful dark uniforms with subtle silver trim.
Behind them stood guards in polished ceremonial armor, their winged-crown insignias glinting faintly. Each bore polearms laced with glowing patterns — no sound, no movement, only unbroken discipline.
As the group walked forward, boots soft against the velvet carpet, a sense of silence heavier than gravity hung in the air.
Then, upon reaching a marked distance before the throne platform, Rhyes dropped to one knee, his voice formal and resolute.
"Supreme Commander Rhyes Vance of Obsidian Fang greets Her Majesty, the Queen."
As if rehearsed, everyone behind him followed suit instantly — some more gracefully than others. The silence that followed held weight — like the seconds before a divine verdict.
Then she spoke.
"Welcome, Rhyes. I've been awaiting your arrival."
Her voice washed through the chamber like a warm tide through a frozen lake — soft and soothing, yet undeniably commanding, as if reality itself paused to listen.
A soft breath passed through the group.
They lifted their heads slightly, just enough to steal a glimpse of the figure who had spoken.
And there she sat — on the Throne of Vlies — a seat carved from a fusion of silverwood, obsidian, and crystal, suspended slightly above the floor with no visible supports. Ribbons of living light twined around the throne's spires, whispering softly as they moved.
Upon the throne was Elziora Livia de Vlies — and for a moment, the world forgot to turn.
She was… impossible to describe in simple words.
Her hair was a gradient waterfall, beginning as the deepest black near the crown of her head, then melting gradually into soft pink, before fading into a muted lilac near the ends. It shimmered slightly — not as if dyed, but as if each strand was spun from dusk and rose quartz.
Her outfit was reserved and refined, a regal gown of dark pink silk layered with a flowing black outer robe, both embroidered with ancient glyphs in faint silver thread. Her sleeves were long and flared near the wrists, and her collar rose up just below the jawline. Everything about her attire was completely modest, yet so meticulously crafted it emanated nobility, grace, and quiet power.
But it was her eyes — or rather, what covered them — that made everyone still.
Over her face was a blindfold unlike any they'd seen. It was not cloth — but something elegant, otherworldly. It looked to be made of black moon-glass, soft and thin as mist, edged with twin lines of glowing pink that pulsed faintly in rhythm with her voice. It wasn't hiding weakness, but suggesting something far greater was being withheld.
Jennie's breath caught.
'That hair…' she whispered in her mind. 'It's... beyond beautiful.'
Minos blinked, half-scowling.
'Why the hell are all women here absurdly gorgeous…'
But even in their awe, they all noticed — beneath her regal appearance, behind the blindfold, there was a sense of calm weariness, as though she had seen too much. Yet she still smiled.
The Queen stood.
With one hand raised, she motioned gently.
"You may raise your heads."
They obeyed instantly, eyes locked on her.
Marshal Velra now stood beside her and spoke in a ceremonial tone:
"You are in the presence of Her Majesty — the Queen of Vlies, Monarch of Euphoria."
But before she could continue, Elziora raised her hand, and Velra fell respectfully silent, lowering her head.
Elziora stepped forward, each step like a note in a forgotten song.
"I am Elziora Livia de Vlies," she said, her voice even, graceful. "It may seem complex… but I assure you, it's not such a hard name."
Her tone had shifted ever so slightly — curious, almost amused.
Rhyes kept his gaze respectfully lowered.
"We've brought them, as you asked of us."
She nodded faintly.
"Very well done, Rhyes. I've read about them… and honestly..."
She stepped closer to the group, walking slowly — studying them.
"I fail to see why such gentle-looking souls are considered 'threats.'"
Her voice was light, calm. She glanced toward each of them in turn, then gave a soft smile.
"They truly mean no harm to anyone."
Rhyes spoke carefully.
"Yes, Your Majesty. They've chosen to fight... with us."
Elziora's smile faded gently.
Her voice cooled.
"Fight? That's a heavy word, Rhyes."
The room felt like it had just inhaled.
"It's their decision," Rhyes replied.
She turned, her robe flowing like ink in water. She made her way back to the throne. As she approached, she looked to Marshal Velra.
"Would you mind leaving us alone?"
Velra bowed instantly.
"At once, Your Majesty."
With a sharp gesture, Velra led the exodus. All guards, maids, and attendants silently swept from the room. The sound of their departure was like silk brushing silk.
Only one figure remained — a woman standing beside the Queen's throne. She did not speak or move. Perhaps a handmaiden — or something more.
The massive doors sealed behind them with a quiet boom.
Now it was only the Queen… and the party.
Elziora seated herself again, folding her hands gently in her lap.
"Now then." Her voice was a soft invitation.
"You may stand."
They all rose slowly. The air was lighter now — but only barely.
"Why don't you start by introducing yourselves?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, a curious spark behind the blindfold, like a quiet fire in the dark.
She was calm. Poised. Bored, perhaps — not with them, but with life's endless repetition. Yet behind that apathy burned something old, powerful, and utterly, unreachable.
The room, now emptied of guards and attendants, was unusually quiet.
The stillness wasn't heavy — instead, it held an almost comfortable weight, like the kind felt in the moment before rain. And at the center of it all sat Queen Elziora, graceful and relaxed, her presence somehow even more powerful now that the court had departed.
She leaned gently to one side, hands resting loosely on the throne's armrests, the ambient crystal light weaving along her hair like moonlight on ink and rose quartz.
From the line of newcomers, Jahanox Nova stepped forward slightly and gave a respectful jerk of his neck — half-bow, half formality — and began to speak.
"My name is Jahanox Nova, ma'am—"
Elziora let out a light laugh, soft and musical, like the chime of wind brushing glass.
"It's fine. No need to break your neck like that, dear."
Jahanox's eyes widened slightly. He froze, caught in place, then cast a sidelong glance to the ground, his ears turning faintly red from embarrassment.
Rhyes stepped in quickly, his voice composed.
"Apologies, Your Majesty. They're not accustomed to the formalities."
Elziora nodded softly, her blindfolded gaze fixed somewhere just above them.
"I already know."
She gestured subtly to the empty hall. "That's why I had everyone leave."
With a fluid motion, she leaned back into the throne again, exhaling quietly.
"Just introduce yourselves. No need to fold into knots over it."
Jahanox visibly swallowed and stepped back in line, muttering under his breath:
"I'm going to go drown myself after this..."
A few smirks passed through the group.
Jennie Aurelia stepped forward next, her posture composed but her voice slightly shaky: "I-I'm Jennie Aurelia."
Kiyomasa Saito followed, stiff but respectful.
"Kiyomasa Saito."
Minos spoke next, slightly more quickly."Min-Seok."
Miwa offered a simple nod still carefree but as nervous as one can be."Myeong-hwa."
Elziora smiled lightly.
"Oh... you do all have unique names, don't you? Beautiful ones."
Ai Hoshino spoke next, her voice gentle and calm. "I'm Ai Hoshino."
Then came Zazm.
He simply said: "Zazm."
Elziora's head tilted slightly, her curiosity slipping into her tone.
"Zazm, you said?"
"Yes," Zazm replied without emotion.
A pause.
Elziora's voice was smooth. "Don't you have a last name?"
There was a quiet beat.
Zazm hesitated, his gaze unfocused, as if digging through something long buried.
Then, finally, he said: "It's Mystic. Zazm Mystic."
The queen's voice slowed. "It's surprising that you... forgot your own last name. But how?"
The question hung in the air like fog.
But then Elziora shook her head gently.
"Well... don't worry about it."
Her voice returned to its earlier warmth, brushing the tension away.
Then, with a faint laugh, she asked:
"And what's your name?"
A sudden pause followed.
Everyone blinked and glanced around.
Jennie spoke up, hesitant.
"Um... Your Majesty, that was the last one."
Elziora blinked behind her blindfold and gave a small, sheepish smile.
"Oh… my mistake."
She chuckled. "Maybe I'm getting too old for this."
The moment passed with a soft chuckle or two from the group. Elziora turned her head toward Rhyes.
"You've brought them here to attend the E.I.A.A., haven't you?"
Rhyes nodded. "Yes. That place will be best for them. They'll learn everything they need to know."
Elziora nodded.
"A good decision. And if they truly reach their potential…"
She leaned forward slightly, her voice turning cooler again.
"…then they'll be an enormous help. Until then, they remain under your care?"
Rhyes affirmed.
"Yes. Along with Neo and Asher."
Elziora's head turned slightly toward the two.
"Then that's for the best."
She exhaled slowly, fingers now lightly tapping the throne's armrest.
"Now… Rhyes. What exactly happened?"
The room shifted again — the tone sobered immediately.
Rhyes stepped forward, voice flat and professional.
"They encountered the False King. Standing beside him was the previously identified Omega threat—Spiral."
Elziora murmured, "Spiral… yes, that was her name."
Rhyes continued.
"On the other side of the throne stood another man. Power levels consistent with another Omega-class."
The Queen leaned back, an unreadable expression crossing her face.
"That doesn't add up."
Neo spoke next, arms crossed, his tone clipped like a knife but respecful.
"A lot of it doesn't. They could've killed us... but didn't."
Elziora nodded slowly.
"That's the problem. We thought remnants didn't have anyone commanding them but now we know who orders them..… is the False King."
Asher spoke, running a hand through his hair.
"It can't get worse than this."
Elziora gave no false hope. "There is nothing we can do. Not yet."
Then, she paused — her voice softened again as she turned to the group.
"…Tell me something."
Jahanox straightened. "What is it, Your Majesty?"
She looked toward all of them.
"As Queen of Euphoria… I formally ask you this: would you be willing to help us?"
Jahanox nodded immediately. "That's what we're here for."
She gave a faint smile… and then, her tone shifted.
"Now I ask you not as Queen… but as a normal human being. Would you choose to side with us?"
Jahanox answered again, firmer. "We've already made our decision. We're not going back."
Elziora finally smiled more fully — soft, sincere. "Then… that's great."
She stood now, her robes flowing behind her like ink over marble.
"I've seen what I needed to." She turned to Rhyes.
"You may take them to E.I.A.A. But it starts in two months, doesn't it?"
Rhyes nodded.
"We would've been late… if not for the dragon."
Elziora chuckled gently.
"Then how about you stay in the castle until then?"
Neo's voice, calm and firm, cut in.
"They can't. Their identities are to be kept secret."
Elziora replied without pause.
"I'm not asking them to parade themselves through the streets. And besides — everything that happens in this castle stays within it. Please. While you're here, enjoy yourselves."
There was a silence — not awkward, but peaceful.
The group gave their final bows, and Rhyes turned, leading them toward the doors once again.
As they reached the threshold, just before the great doors were opened—
Zazm turned his head to the side and looked at Zephyra, who stood silently along the wall.
He gave her a slight nod.
She returned it — a ghost of a smile crossing her lips.
The doors opened — and they all left except Zephyra.
Elziora didn't sat on her throne instead she walked towards one of the glass doors and when she opened it, it was the way to a balcony.
She walked outside the balcony and leaned on the railings made from iron looking to the kingdom below when she spoke in a soft yet curious tone.
"It's surprising."
She turned around and spoke saying, "Is it only me that can see you?"
Zephyra's eyes widened in slight surprise as she spoke, "Not really."
Elziora looked at her for a while before speaking. "Aren't you surprised by the fact that I know you were here even though you aren't visible to anyone?"
Zephyra gave a sharp smile along with a shrug.
"Trust me I'm extremely surprised."
Elziora turned around again to look at the kingdom as the winds blowed her hair.
"You know I was never able to see anything that normal people could but I was always able to see things that normal people can't. "
"I assume that's why you can see me? "
Elziora gave a small nod.
Zephyra walked closer to her standing next to her as she spoke, "My name is Zephyra I'm a soul without a body."
Elziora turned to her in slight surprise.
Zephyra continued.
"I'm a soul that was wandering around with nothing when I met Zazm and ever since then my soul was connected to his soul."
Elziora leaned forward on the railing even more now slightly smirking.
"How beautiful...." She spoke while stretching the words slightly.
Zephyra nodded slightly before asking her, "Don't you have something to say? I was spying on you."
Elziora quickly shot up, "really?"
Zephyra gave a grin saying, "Am I that bad at spying?"
Elziora burst into slight slaughter.
"No no.... that's not what I meant."
Elziora stopped laughing and continued, "I can tell what a person wants and..."
"And?"
Elziora didn't spoke anything instead she spoke, "Say Zephyra no one can see you, right?"
Zephyra gave a small nod.
"That's perfect would you like to hear my little story?"
Zephyra's eyes widened slightly as she leaned forward aswell saying, "sure, why not.....?"
As Elziora and Zephyra talked they talked and talked about various things.
Elziora didn't knew what was wrong she just enjoyed talking to Zephyra as if she understood her.
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