Axel's men guided us through the dense crowd and to the thrones. Everyone seemed to admire their king as they bowed at him and prayed for his well-being. Axel waved his hand and smiled at his people as everyone greeted him like a big brother.
They also mentioned me. I wanted to sigh and escape so much. This wasn't me at all. We walked between eager and thrilled society as they threw praises at me left and right.
I smiled weakly at them as my stepmother used to. I still could recall some of the valuable memories and lessons in my mind.
A strong arm wrapped around me, and I exhaled in comfort.
Suddenly, I heard all too familiar voice in my mind:
"Calm down, princess. They will love you."
I snapped my head up at Axel, who gave me a gentle smile evoking butterflies in my stomach. I was on cloud nine as he took me under his wing. Yep, I liked my privacy, but nobody ever gave me another option. I was living in solitude and ignorance. Nobody really cared about me.
"Now, I will."
This time Axel voiced his thoughts and left me flustered. It came out as more affectionate than it should have.
Axel assisted me, and I took my throne beside him. To my surprise, our thrones were the same in size and design. In the River kingdom, the queen had a poor excuse of a throne.
"I like equality," I murmured, and the corners of Axel's lips turned upwards.
"Me, too." Someone agreed beside me.
I glanced to my left and saw Danu grinning down at me.
"Danu,"
"At your service, my lady."
He bowed with his upper body and faced me with his crimson red eyes.
"Axel and I will help you assess the warriors before you."
Suddenly, Axel waved his hand, and the whole palace collapsed.
Sharp inhales, and shouts were heard.
The gothic castle's walls melted in gold. Then the substance transformed into the coins and scattered across the limitless area before me. We were on the higher tier of the arena as others were mobilized in the center.
I gawked at Axel as he remarked, "My magic, princess."
I scrunched my nose and stuck my tongue at him as he laughed. Damn you for being this strong.
People spread out with yelps and cheerful exclaims as they kept gathering the gold.
"Enough!" Axel ordered, and in an instant, everyone straightened and froze in their places."Return to your places and let the combat begin!"
Everyone obeyed the absolute monarch and executed his command while bowing their heads and never turning their backs from him. They crawled up to their seats in the circle building.
"The first one," Ash announced with a carrying but lovely voice, standing down there and addressing the king.
"Why is Ash the one down there and you up here?"
Danu bent down to whisper to me, "He's the strongest after Axel."
I blinked at him. I still had many things to learn about them or this place for that matter.
"My lady, if the fight crosses its limits, Ash is the best candidate for that case."
"How so?"
"You will have to see his abilities."
I nodded at him and turned to witness it myself.
"The first participant is from the southern realm, The Sun clan," Ash declared, and everyone went dead silent.
A tall, bulky mountain-like man emerged from the crowd and roared out as the people erupted in the clamour.
Not him, please!
"And his opponent will be from the Shadow clan."
A young, slender man made his way to face his rival. He had raven hair and matching colored eyes. He was so slim and graceful compared to the sun clan's representative that I was a bit worried about him.
"Danu," I uttered, and he immediately caught on as he leaned in to hear me out.
"Yes, my lady."
"Let's bet, huh?"
He faced me with astonishment and a hint of amusement written on his perfect features.
"On what, my lady?" A smirk dancing across his lips let me know he wanted me to voice the deal but had the idea of it. The golden flecks were spread in his bloody eyes, glinting with excitement.
"I bet anything that you wish on the shadows clan."
Danu seemed to be considering my words with entertained expression. Hm… One thing I loved, venture.
"So, you will leave a sun clan to me? Okay, deal, my lady."
Danu reached for my hand as he pressed his plump lips on my skin and made shivers run up and down my spine. They were so charming!
His red orbs were never leaving my green ones.
"Hands off of my princess, Danu."
A low growl pulled us out of our little game as we glanced at Axel, who had clenched his jaw and rested his head on his fist. He didn't even disturb himself to throw us a simple glimpse.
It would be fun!
"Start!" He ordered, and Ash nodded at him as the stunning blonde announced the start of the fight.
The sturdy, tan man advanced towards the pale one. He unsheathed a powerful punch at him, but his opponent dodged swiftly and slid to his side. The slender man stomped his foot on the ground, and the brute couldn't take even a step forward. He thrashed and clobbered the air but in vain. The shadow sorcerer squatted, and I gasped as I leaned forward.
He had taken the sun sorcerer's shadow in his bare hands! Then he raised to his feet and yanked the shadow with one arm throwing his opponent in the air and smashing him into the arena walls. People cheered and blasted in additional comments for the young shadow alchemist.
"Good bet, my lady." Danu complimented me with a gentle smile tugging on his lips.
"You knew from the start that he had more potential." I made a guess, and Danu backed me up as he bobbed his head but kept on watching the fight.
"I was more curious as to which one you would choose." Then he faced me, "Why did you bet on the shadow clan?"
"They will win."
"How do you know?"
"I am a fighter, too, ya know?"
Danu lifted his brows as he let out a breathy chuckle and bent his upper body at me.
"You're perfect, my lady."
A slight blush crept its way to my cheeks, and I turned to the opposite side, but this decision made me want to facepalm myself. I came across Axel's face. He stared at me with a crooked eyebrow and a lopsided smile.
Okay, okay. I put my hands on my temples to shadow their faces from my peripheral view and goggled at the arena. The dragons laughed and exchanged gazes. I could decipher that much!
The man from the sun clan had regained his senses as he shut his eyes as if summoning some power.
"Sun clan is distinguished for its overwhelming energy, my lady," Danu explained and received my attention.
The tanned warrior soon illuminated light as he burned his own shadow. Damn it! His rival looked thunderstruck as he eyed his surroundings warily. He could no longer manipulate the shadow. He was in deep shit now.
The muscled man drew out the sword made out of light beams. He then hurled it at the sorcerer, who barely rolled over in time, or else he would have been blasted.
I inhaled sharply and clutched the handles of the throne—my plan needed for the shadow clan to advance.
In a bat of an eye, the slender man stood up and swirled shadows around him. The sunny beams were darkened and subdued as the bulky sorcerer panicked and looked enraged—barking and throwing his arms in the air.
The sky became gloomy and dark as the crowd exploded in murmurs and threw their heads back. Their shadows were slithering from them and integrating into a thick cloud as it slowly formed into something familiar –The dark oversized shadow was snaking and raging in the air.
Wait! It was a black obsidian dragon!