"What does his majesty think?"
Staring down at the knight the emperor frowned deeply with a cold stern look in his eyes.
"The Black Storm has been my companion since I was still the crown prince of this empire. I take him with me everywhere." The Emperor spoke out in a deep expressionless town as he moved his royal blue cape to the side to reveal his black sword that remained at his side in his shield.
"He's not only my sword but a friend I've had with me. Fighting alongside me in my first battle and every one after. He was there for my first child's birth and my last."
Smiling softly Celesti looked down at the black sword as her father held a protective hand over it. Just like hers and her brothers'. Her father's sword was also notorious. Her father wielded that sword magnificently in his youth even now. The black storm, unlike their own familiars. Her father's familiar was a dark shadow spirit. Shaping it's into a large black misty wolf with bright bloody eyes. The sight of it brought fear in the eyes of those around. Yet for Celesti he was a valued family member. She remembered often when the familiar would step out of its stone on its own. Walking alongside her father. Her most precious memory was that when she was a child. How her father would allow her to ride on its back. She had grown a soft spot for the wolf and it for her.
During the last battle, her father had been fighting four dark creatures on his own when a larger creature snuck behind him. At that moment, the Black storm used itself as a shield and in the damage, its stone received a crack.
Now Black storm rarely came out of its crystal. Her father still carried Black storm everywhere he went. Wanting to still share his journies with his dear friend.
"My apologies, I'm sure the emperor meant no Ill-"
With a raise of his hand the Emperor silence the Bloody crimson knight next words. A tiny smile appearing in his face.
"The emperor is still young. With little experience and I'm sure he meant no ill will to this old Emperor and his old friend. I send my thanks for the sword as I'm sure the queen does for hers." The emperor said placing the silver sword back in its shield. Smiling Empress Titania nodded her head as she gestured to one of the Celestia knights to take the large chest. As he turned to leave the Bloody Crimson Knight's eyes to widen as he looked down. Hiding under the shadow of the emperor's cape stood the shadow wolf itself. It's bloody red eyes staring back at him before following after it's a friend.
"Your majesty, If I may the emperor also sent the princess a gift." The Bloody Crinsom knight said as he turned to Celesti with a bright smile. Wide eyes Celesti stared back at the man unsure. Turning to look over his shoulder the emperor Caelum frown once again. His silver hair shifting with his movement as it shinned under the room's lights. Sighing the emperor turned to his daughter stretching a handout.
"Celesti." Frowning Celesti's hands clenched on to her skirts before she forced herself to stand. Fixing her posture she calmly walked down the steps. Her brothers watching her carefully in case they had to step in.
Smiling the Bloody Crimson knight took the smaller box looking down at the princess. The Black storm stepped out from her father's shadow circling itself around her.
"Your highness, the Emperor had this especially made for you." The Bloody Crimson knight smiled lifting the top of the box to reveal the object inside. Inside the box sat a small silver ring. Her eyes widen when she saw the small crystals sitting on the band. On one of the sides of the ring the silver tree, the white doe was engraved. Even her mother's old forest guardian were engraved on the other side. On the ring, both her mother's emerald crystal and Celestia crystals sat on the ring. What sat on in the middle was what shocked her, a clear frost crystal in the shape of a teardrop sat in middle. Shinning so beautifully it would make any other girl's heart race. Yet at that moment, a cold terrifying shiver passed down her spine.
This was the same ring the emperor had given her the day of their marriage. It had only been for appearances then, yet to her, it was something she treasures. The day he had burned her eyes, he had stared down at her with cold dead eyes crushing the ring in his hands.
As she stared at the ring, she suddenly felt her heart pound painfully. A flash of an old memory in the battlefields passing through her eyes. A pair of cold red eyes staring straight at her before she felt a painful scorching feeling in her chest. With a painful scream, her body was filled with only pain before her vision grew dark.
"Celesti!"