"You know I can't ignore this as a Fallen Lord. Inferno is not called the Fallen Slayer for nothing.", Stephen said with narrowed eyes.
Akira just shrugged, "You are free to do whatever you want with this information but you must not harm innocent lives due to it."
"You know that's not possible. Casualties will be unavoidable."
"Then make it as low as you can.", Akira proceeded to leave. "Wait. I want to ask one more thing.", Stephen called out.
She turned around, "What is it?"
"My descendant. How is he?", he asked, concern evident on his face.
Akira's eyes softened. Stephen was concerned for his blood after 3000 years and becoming a Fallen Lord. This is what made him different from other Fallen.
Just like her and Vanessa with their curse, he had accepted the Black Magia as something he couldn't avoid, despite how much he hated it.
Fallen are evil beings but Stephen Kain may be the good in that evil. "Eravon had observed your descendant from afar. He is living a good life.", she assured the Fallen Lord.
He sighed in relief, "I only needed to hear that. Please let me know beforehand the next time you drop into this abyss.", he said with a smile.
Akira grinned, "Sure. You better be prepared. Maybe it will be Vanessa the next time."
Stephen shuddered, "Oh please no."
She turned around and waved him goodbye. The front doors opened and the last thing he saw of the Fox Goddess was the white tip of her long hair.
"Master. Who is that demi beast?", Vergas the Fallen vampire asked as he appeared beside Stephen. "An old friend and someone we should never anger. And she is not the only one.", the Fallen Lord replied.
"There are monsters like her out there?", Vergas's eyes widened. He never thought that the outside world had these powerhouses. That was the reason he became a Fallen, to get stronger.
Now he understands why his master never encouraged aggressive attacks on Middle Arken and Ascalon.
"What about the scouts sent to the Corvinian Mountains?", Stephen asked. "They are on their way back. They reported that the Silent Mountain has crumbled and there are traces of a vast battle."
"Anything else?"
"That's all for the time being. They will give you a full report when they return.", Vergas said.
"Very well. You're dismissed.", Stephen waved his hand. Vergas gave a bow before walking away.
The Fallen Lord fell back on his couch and was in deep thought. First Vanessa and now Akira. Both have started moving after 3000 years. He narrowed his eyes.
"Just what is happening?", he whispered.
*******
Seventeen felt very confident.
He swiftly dodged every blow directed at him by his opponent. He parried some of the attacks and the contacts caused shockwaves in the air.
His opponent, a tall man with olive skin in his thirties with hip-length spiky blue hair, and icy blue eyes, changed the style of his attacks, aiming for the android's vital areas.
His long blue long coat swayed as his hands turned to icy draconic claws and attacked. Seventeen's eyes glowed blue as he used Magia Vision and dodged, the claws barely grazing him.
{Fire Code: Volcanic Fist}
The man noticed the flaming blow coming at him. Tough scales appeared on his arms as he defended himself from the powerful blow. He was thrown back by the attack and before he could recover Seventeen appeared behind him.
He quickly turned around but a kick straight to the face launched him into the sky and he crashed into the barrier at the top of the mountain.
Seventeen controlled the winds and flew towards his falling opponent but the man quickly recovered. Two dragon wings emerged from his shoulder blades and he stopped in midair.
He faced Seventeen who came up to him and launched a straight punch which he dodged.
Curling his dragon claws, the man countered with an icy punch.
Seventeen immediately flew back while guarding with his arms. The attack launched him towards the rock walls of the cavern. Before he hit the hard rock he looked at the man,
{Space Code: Switch}
The air warped as he and the man switched places. His opponent was confused when he found the rock wall behind him.
Seventeen smirked and began to try a new idea he had. He concentrated flame orbs on his palms and feet.
(I hope you are not doing what I think you are.)
'Relax.', he assured Prime.
He focused and the orbs turned into something akin to flames coming out of rockets and he flew at the man at tremendous speed.
The man quickly reacted and dodged just as Seventeen shot past him and straight to the rock.
"Oh. Frick.", Seventeen muttered before crashing headfirst into the wall. Rocks rained down on the trees of the garden as he was unable to control his newly devised mode of transportation.
"Whoa!", he suddenly felt himself flying backward and again passed the man with the dragon wings. He crashed into the rock wall on the other side.
Seventeen tried to stop the thrusters but his attempt was in vain. He was totally out of control, flying erratically and crashing into trees and rocks while his opponent watched the spectacle in confusion.
(So much for a bright idea.)
'Stop criticizing and help me!', Seventeen yelled internally.
"Oi. You're going to destroy the garden.", Vanessa suddenly appeared above Seventeen and smacked him straight into the ground. When the dust settled, the android was upside down, his head buried deep into the rocky ground.
"That was scary.", the man remarked as he touched the ground and retracted his wings.
"I thought that being a machine, he would have flawless intelligence.", Vanessa said, looking at the android trying to push his head out of the ground, "But even machines aren't immune to stupidity.", she sighed.
The two of them heard the muffled shouts of Seventeen from the ground as he struggled to escape his peculiar position.
"Help him out Frigus.", Vanessa told the man.
The human form of Frigus nodded. He went over to the flailing Seventeen, grabbed a leg, and pulled him out of the ground effortlessly.
"Thanks, Frigus.", Seventeen said, relieved to be out of the ground. "That was a crazy move. It did catch me by surprise.", the shifter dragon said and dropped him to the ground.
"Ow.", Seventeen stood up, rubbing his head despite not feeling any pain. "That smack was unnecessary. I almost got control over it.", he said to Vanessa.
She arched her eyebrows, "Yeah. I saw that. You were in complete control.", she taunted and rubbed her shoulders, "Goodness. It's really cold."
"I thought you were immune to cold."
Vanessa rolled her eyes, "I am not a machine like you. I am a living being. Of course, I would feel cold."
"Should've thought of that before coming to the peak of a mountain in the north wearing just a simple dress.", Seventeen said drily, glancing at her petite figure visible through her dress by the moonlight.
Unfortunately, she caught his gaze, "Are you having some weird thoughts?", she asked with a sly smile.
"Well. It would be pretty unfortunate if that dress somehow got ripped away.", Seventeen replied back.
"Do you want me to turn you into an art piece with its head buried in the ground?"
"No thank you. I'll keep quiet."
Frigus laughed, "I've been getting a lot of visitors lately. Earlier today, the young Earth Cardinal came over with some amazing snacks, and now you came along with a surprise guest.", he looked at Vanessa, "I am very honored to be graced by your presence, Queen Vanessa."
She smiled, "I told you Frigus. I am no longer a queen. My people have forgotten me."
"But I haven't. And to me, you are still the mighty queen of the vampires, the one who stood by my master's side.", the ice wyvern bowed.
Vanessa tried to stop him but Seventeen spoke, "Sometimes it is a good thing to be remembered by even one person. No matter what you say, you still have the presence of a queen, and you must have pride in that.", he advised with a smile.
She looked at him and chuckled, "I see why your students see you as an amazing teacher."
"Getting praised by the Vampire Queen. You truly are amazing, Seventeen.", Frigus said. He noticed Vanessa staring at him.
"What is it Queen Vanessa?", the wyvern asked. "Oh. It's been a long time since I had dragon blood.", she replied, eyeing him.
"Seriously?", Seventeen asked, looking between the two of them.
Frigus just shrugged, "When she has her eyes on something, there is no escape."
He sat down on a rock and exposed his neck. In an instant, Vanessa was beside him. She sank her fangs into the neck of the shifter dragon and drank his blood.
The whole garden was silent except for the sound of the Vampire Queen gulping down the sweet blood of the dragon. Frigus, however, looked like he was enjoying the experience.
"That was exquisite.", Vanessa smacked her lips. She licked a drop of blood that fell on her palm. "Watching you do that was pretty surreal. It looks like Frigus was happy about it.", Seventeen remarked.
The wyvern nodded, "Of course. You get an indescribable pleasure when a vampire drinks your blood. It is pretty nice and addicting. There are some individuals who offer their blood to vampires just to feel that pleasure."
"That is interesting and worrying at the same time. Will I be able to experience this pleasure you speak of?", Seventeen asked.
Vanessa wiped her mouth, "I wonder. You are a machine yet you have a soul and emotions. I don't know your exact constitution but considering that you are an artificial being. There is a chance that you will not be able to experience the pleasure of a vampire drinking your blood."
She made a face, "Besides. Liquid magia is too sweet for my taste."
"Wow. Thanks for making me feel better.", Seventeen rolled her eyes.
"Oh don't be sad.", she sat down next to the Raviel's headstone, leaning against it, "This lady over here loved getting her blood sucked by me and she wasn't even human. Maybe you will one day be fortunate to experience the pleasure."
"Ah.", Seventeen sat down next to Frigus. His eyes fell on the headstone Vanessa was leaning against, "Can you tell me more about Raviel?"
He was curious about the mysterious being buried on the mountain. Frigus never told him the entire story of Raviel.
Judging by what Vanessa said, Raviel was the dearest friend of the Dragon King. He glanced at Frigus. The master of the ice wyvern could be the mysterious king of dragons.
Vanessa shrugged, "Why not?"
"Are you sure about it, your majesty?", Frigus asked, a bit apprehensive.
She just waved her hand dismissively, "It's fine. He deserves to know some of our world's history."
She glanced at the star-filled sky beyond the barrier over them.
"Now where shall I begin?"