"Can you tell us more about the thirteen demon lords?" Iris asked. "If we are to spend the rest of our lives in Asnar, wouldn't it be better for us to know who the big shots are?"
Ricci pondered for a moment, as if trying to find the right words to introduce the demon lords that reign over Asnar to them.
"As you know, the thirteen demon lords worked together to stop the Black Mage from destroying the world. The Court of Shadows are being led by three demon lords, namely Master Xanaros, also known as the Red King; King Eldas, Ruler of the Seven Seas and Lord Kieran, the Undead Lord. Each of them, as well as the remaining ten demon lords, hold great power and responsibility to maintain the peace in Asnar.
"Master Xanaros oversees the peace and authority in Asnar. He made sure that the High Kings and Queens of different courts and kingdoms wouldn't engage in a useless war. King Eldas on the other hand oversees the affairs of those living underwater. He can rarely be seen on land, while Lord Kieran is assigned to keep the Night Critters out of our lands by leading the Frost Guards."
"Sounds like a taxing job to me." Amelia commented, while Iris and Chrysanthe listened to the High Fae curiously. There wasn't much known about the thirteen demon lords from where they came from, as the Kingdom of Dravial had taught them to hate the darklings from the moment they gained a sense of consciousness of the world around them.
"Lord Kieran is the youngest amongst the three, but he's considered one of the strongest amongst the members of the Court of Shadows." Ricci continued. "However, that doesn't mean other demon lords don't see him as a threat. He has a long-standing rivalry with the Red King."
"And the other ten?" Chrysanthe asked. She wasn't surprised that even the thirteen demon lords still had a hierarchy among them. Considering how powerful they were, the inexistence of a power struggle is close to impossible.
"Others have their own roles, but some of them would rather work on their own, just like Lord Kieran. You also need to know that there are other beings that are on the same level as them, but don't hold the title of a demon lord."
Iris swallowed the invisible lump in her throat. She briefly remembered the other darklings she sensed along with Lord Kieran in the woods during one of her hunts with Amelia and Luca. It had a strong magical presence that was enough to make her cower in fear. She couldn't imagine what could happen if several demon lords appeared in the same place.
That could be frightening, especially for mortal humans like them who weren't well acquainted with the darklings. It only proved Iris's assumption that they had been living with false security in Dravial for some reason. However, she couldn't help but wonder why her father and their ancestors didn't choose to stay in Asnar instead of facing persecution in the land of the mortals.
"What would happen if they found a magus amongst the maidens?" She asked Ricci.
"Nothing serious. Once they completed their training in Shayla kingdom, the Court of Shadows or Queen Asheera herself could endorse the maidens to the magic guilds and work as a crusader. They accept missions from all over Asnar, such as killing monsters that are terrorizing the lands or accompanying prominent people for a price."
"You mean I can be an Adventurer and earn my own place here in Asnar? What currency do you use here? Is it the same as we have in Dravial?" Iris was surprised that such a possibility was available for a magus like her.
"We use bronze, copper, silver and gold coins as well, but I doubt that human kingdoms acknowledge it. Also, you have to know that time goes differently in Asnar. Three months here could only be considered as a week in the human lands. This means when you spend your whole two years in Shayla Kingdom, only two months would've passed in Dravial."
The three maidens looked astonished at what the High Fae just said. Iris and Amelia shared a knowing look while Chrysanthe considered her choices. They all thought that maybe they could use this time disparity to find a way and return to Dravial.
"Is that why Lord Kieran looked like he is only in his mid-twenties, when in fact he's been alive for over a millennium now?" Chrysante asked.
"Oh no, Miss Chrysanthe. Asnarians don't age the same way humans do. Most of us stop getting old at a certain age. I suppose it also depends on their race and how much mana they have."
"Thank you for explaining these to us, Miss Ricci. I'm sure Amelia, Chrysanthe and I would do just fine here in Asnar." Iris smiled at the High Fae.
"However, I doubt that Queen Asheera would let you off easily, Lady Iris." Ricci suddenly said with a solemn tone in her voice.
"And why is that?" Amelia narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "You don't seem impressed when you talk about Shayla Kingdom, Miss Ricci."
Iris glanced at her best friend. So she wasn't the only one who noticed it.
The Fae Warrior glanced outside with a dazed expression on her face.
"Shayla Kingdom is where I came from. Queen Asheera is one of the thirteen demon lords and the ruler of the kingdom. She's also my mother. I was born as Ricci Hazelwood, but ever since I got exiled from Shayla Kingdom, I've been using my father's last name. So I'm known as Ricci Rosebriar now."
"That would mean that you aren't just a High Fae, Miss Ricci. You are practically a royal princess." Amelia commented.
Ricci gave them a weak smile. A princess of Shayla Kingdom was nothing but an empty title to her.
"I'd rather not be associated with my mother anymore. Of course, there are other fairy kingdoms in Asnar, but what sets Shayla Kingdom apart from the rest is that females dominated the place. Male Faes are only allowed to live there, but they aren't allowed to partake in any judicial or authoritative functions in our Kingdom. Their only purpose was to produce female faeries with their wives."