"This place is well kept for an ancient palace.", Eravon remarked as he walked the great hall with Vanessa beside him.
"You know I like to keep my place clean. I use my wind spirits to maintain the place.", Vanessa explained. They reached the second floor when Eravon stopped in front of two ornate doors.
"Isn't this your throne room?", he asked.
"Hm?", Vanessa turned around, "Oh yeah. I don't go there nowadays. I usually attend to my visitors at my office or in the garden. Well, the only visitors I get are the dragon lords."
"Speaking of dragon lords.", Eravon placed his hand on the doors, "Flaria mentioned that you spend most of your time sleeping. Just how much do you sleep?"
"Six days a week. I am still recovering.", Vanessa pouted, "Besides I have nothing else to do while waiting."
"Well, there are many fun things to do out there. So stop acting like an old lady who is bedridden most of the time.", Eravon said as he pushed open the doors.
"How dare you call me an old lady.", Vanessa frowned. "Since when did being three-thousand years old count as being young?", Eravon replied as he entered the big hall. Five columns stood on both sides each engraved with a symbol.
"Look who's talking. You are 500 years older than me. And that is in this world. I don't know how long you lived in your world but I bet it was a long time.", Vanessa said as she entered the throne room and stopped beside Eravon who was looking at the symbol on one of the columns. It was of a dragon.
He traced his finger over the symbol. "You miss him don't you?", he asked.
Vanessa smiled sadly, "Of course. He was the best of us. I'm sure the other two feel the same."
"Don't worry. He'll come back one day.", Eravon assured her.
"That's why I remain here.", Vanessa said, "You also told me to keep watch from here for any disturbances."
"And you are doing a marvelous job by sleeping most of the time.", Eravon said sarcastically. "I can still sense things even when I am asleep so don't worry.", Vanessa reassured him.
Eravon walked away from the pillar and stood in front of the main object in the room. Near the end of the room, on a raised podium was a magnificent white marble throne with designs of roses on it.
On the throne sat a black crown. "You finally put the crown down.", Eravon noted.
Vanessa nodded. "It's just as you said Eravon. The age of gods and rulers is long over. I am just a remnant of that age. The only thing that is keeping me here is my duty as one of the queens and kings to protect this world."
"I will not hesitate to give my life away for the safety and protection of this world. Just like Oserion who gave his life for his people and this world.", she stated.
"Don't be so quick to throw away your life. It is a precious thing. There are many things out there. I want you to experience all of them and have a good life.", Eravon said in a soft tone.
"Do I deserve a good life after the devastation I caused?", Vanessa asked.
Eravon looked wistfully at the throne. "That is for you to decide. Besides, it's all in the past."
"But if you ask me, I would say that everyone should get another chance.", he looked at Vanessa, "You should accept the past and move forward. Sure, there will be the final clash but don't throw your life away that fast."
"Besides.", Eravon glanced at the column with the dragon symbol, "He would never forgive me if you or the other two die while I am around."
Vanessa raised her eyebrows, "I can't believe I am hearing this from an immortal guy. I thought you welcomed death."
Eravon smiled, "Of course. Before coming to this world I craved death and shut myself away from the world. But I met an interesting young man. It was he who showed me there are more things to experience. You could say he encouraged me to travel between universes. So I did just that after he passed away."
"He sounds like a wonderful person. Have you met his parallel version?", Vanessa asked Eravon.
He shook his head, "Not yet but I will. I have time after all."
Eravon saw Vanessa looking at the throne with a feeling of nostalgia. "How about you sit on the throne and show me how strong your presence is right now?"
Vanessa frowned, "What do you mean?"
"I hope you have not become rusty."
"Fine then.", Vanessa walked over to the throne. She propped the crown on her head and sat on the throne. "I'm only releasing 25 percent. I don't want to destroy my palace. Rebuilding is a huge pain."
"Also the barrier around the island can only withstand that much. It would be a bit unpleasant if the people outside get affected by my presence.", she explained.
Eravon nodded, "I agree."
"Alright then.", Vanessa said and released her presence.
Eravon's knees buckled as the immense presence pushed down on him. He found it almost impossible to breathe and felt the magia particles around him shake.
The whole palace trembled and the waters of the lake splashed around.
The fog surrounding the island became disturbed and the barrier within it pulsed violently as it struggled to contain the powerful presence. A small crack appeared in the barrier, releasing a bit of the presence in a short but powerful shockwave.
The citizens in Cerus paused as a shockwave passed by them, wondering what the heck just happened.
"Still think I'm rusty?", Vanessa asked, her head resting on her hand. Her eyes glowed as she looked down on the immortal warlock. Eravon was breathing hard, his hands resting on his knees.
"Scary, powerful, and magnificent. As expected from the Vampire of the Purple Rose.", he remarked. "That presence was enough to bring the dragon lords to their knees. Any normal person would be flattened to the ground. And you are still recovering. Damn.", he said.
Vanessa tilted her head, "I haven't heard that title in a long time. Only a few know that and unfortunately, you're one of them."
"Wow. Not mincing words huh?", Eravon said.
Vanessa stood up and placed her crown back on the throne, "Let's go to the garden shall we?"
Eravon nodded, "Yeah. I need to sit somewhere after this."
He followed Vanessa out of the throne room, the ornate doors closing behind them. They soon reached the garden and both of them sat on the chairs underneath the olive tree.
Vanessa waved her hand and the fog surrounding the island dissipated, causing more sunlight to come. Eravon looked at the blue sky that the fog uncovered.
The fog was a special one. It was part of the barrier around the island that kept the palace hidden from the outside and allowed ample sunlight to fall on the island. But the fog only allows sunlight so the sky is obscured.
Eravon knows that when Vanessa waved her hand, the part of the barrier controlling the fog deactivated and allowed the sky to appear while an illusion was created simultaneously.
Anyone outside will see the island still covered with fog. This illusion is not as effective as the fog but it is enough for the time being.
The creation of such a barrier and manipulating it requires a lot of focus and enchantments. Yet Vanessa did it with a wave of her hand. That is a testament to her power.
"What are you thinking?", Vanessa asked him.
"Just wondering how that same wave of the hand can easily destroy the entirety of Ascalon.", Eravon replied.
"Oh? Should I try it?", Vanessa asked with a mischievous smile.
"Please don't. It will be messy."
"I was joking.", Vanessa laughed and snapped her fingers. Her invisible wind servants brought a tea set along with a wine glass. Eravon took out the wine bottle and popped it open.
"I thought I would never taste this.", Vanessa said as Eravon poured a crimson liquid that flowed like wine into the glass.
Vanessa took the glass and sniffed, "Wine made from the Blood Grape. This fruit is only found in one place and I am amazed you went there. That is a dangerous place, even dragons barely survive there for a week."
Eravon smiled, "Good thing I am immortal."
Vanessa took a sip of the special wine. "The taste of grape concentrate, tinged with the essence of blood which gives a special tang. The blood also sweetens the drink and leaves a warm feeling as one swallows it."
She took another sip, "Just as I thought. The blood used was from a dragon. This is not surprising considering from where you harvested the Blood Grapes."
"Your palate for blood is both amazing and scary.", Eravon chuckled. "Of course it is.", Vanessa frowned, "I am a vampire after all."
She looked at Eravon, "So what is the situation?"
"Straight to the point huh? That's our tactician alright.", Eravon snapped his fingers. A screen of magia appeared in the middle of the table.
It started glowing and showed the hellish landscape of Ethereos. "This is real-time. I sent one of my spirits down there to show you this.", Eravon said.
The screen zoomed to the top of a cliff where a group of warlocks converged around a massive object. Some of them were setting up enchantments around the site. A few tents were also being erected.
The object of attention was the massive skull of a dragon-like creature. The most noticeable things were the six empty eye sockets, the twelve horns with some of them broken, and the soil around the skull. It was as if the massive skull was rising from the ground.
Vanessa's eyes turned serious as she saw the skull. "You remember this thing?", Eravon asked.
"Of course I do.", Vanessa nodded, "That creature had put Jerares in a tight spot."
Eravon nodded, "Indeed. This creature was the greatest foe of the king of the Vahari. He almost died in his battle with this thing."
"Jerares said that the creature will return one day. According to him, all must prepare themselves the moment the creature's bones rise from the ground.", Vanessa stated.
"So.", Vanessa swirled her drink in the glass, "What do the mortals plan on doing?"
"Well. The most effective method is also an impossible thing. Find all the bones of the creature and rebury them very deeply.", Eravon said.
"That is stupid. Ethereos is as large as Arken and is littered with bones.", Vanessa shook her head.
Eravon nodded, "Of course, the Council is aware of that. So their current plan is to observe for the time being and look for ways to destroy the creature before it awakens."
"The only information about the creature was from Jerares and ancient Vahari engravings. I never encountered the creature or its bones since Jerares killed it 10000 years ago. Way before Arkenstein was even born and yes obviously before your arrival or even my birth.", Vanessa sighed.
She looked at Eravon, "So you want me to deal with this issue? It is understandable. That creature must not live."
Eravon shook his head, "Well. I just want you to act only when everything goes south. Let's put faith in the warlocks working on this. They will come up with a plan."
Vanessa raised her eyebrows, "You are putting a lot of faith in them", she smiled, "Well. I respect your decision. I too want to see what they will do. I promise not to interfere unless it's too late."
Eravon smiled, "Thank you."
"Well then.", Vanessa drank the rest of the blood wine and put down the glass, "How about we have a game of chess?"
Eravon shook his head, "I'd rather not. You always win before we even start."
"I insist.", Vanessa stared at him. The stare-off lasted a minute. Finally, Eravon sighed.
"Fine. I'll play some chess."
Vanessa smiled, "Checkmate. I win."
"Oi!"