As the morning sun rose, Queen Safira stirred from her slumber, her eyes fluttering open. She got out of bed and walked over to the boy, who was still sound asleep. She couldn't help but smile as she tucked him in, knowing that he needed the rest after all that he had been through.
As she got dressed in her royal kimono and robe, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and responsibility. She placed her sword on her hip before glancing one last time at the boy, and then she left her tent to see how things were going.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," three voices spoke in unison as she stepped out of her tent.
She saw two dragons in humanoid forms bowing before her, her royal vigils, and the third was none other than Fenris, who was not a dragon.
"Good morning," Queen Safira replied as she nodded her head. "Fenris, can you go look after the sleeping boy? I'll manage things around the camp."
"Yes, Safira, with pleasure," Fenris said as he rose and made her way into the tent to look after the boy.
Queen Safira smiled and then looked at her royal vigils. "How is the camp doing?"
The older one stepped forward and lowered his head before raising it in respect. "S squad left as ordered, Your Majesty. Everyone else in the camp is packing up, but uhmm, Your Majesty Drac stopped them and wants to speak to you."
Queen Safira nodded and thanked them before making her way to Drac's tent. It was the next significant tent within the camp area, and she arrived quickly. She made her way inside after passing the guards, who were bowing since she didn't need permission to enter.
"Safira, good dawn," Drac said as he stood and bowed to her. "It's lovely to see you. Thanks for coming."
"Good dawn, Drac," Queen Safira said with a rough glance, tapping her foot in an irritated posture. "I was informed you wanted to speak to me. Why was my decree not obeyed?"
Drac nodded and looked at the beautiful Queen Safira, admiring her but not lusting after her.
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, the youngsters haven't had any survival training. We only arrived two days ago and were discussing Beast Creek. Why are we departing?" Drac asked confusion etched on his face. "And what's this I hear about you housing a pararoach?"
AN:" Pararoch, is a term given to lower lifeforms that breed and conquer because greed fills their eyes, raining destruction and spreading like wildfire."
Queen Safira's wings extended 2.8 meters outward, hitting the tent, and her pupils enlarged and brightened. She tensed her fists and a tiny power wave is discharged, an aura that would bring an Emmortal to the floor hurt.
"Watch your mouth, Drac," Queen Safira growled, still releasing her aura. "The boy is not a pararoach. Do you hear me? Who I house in my tent is none of your concern. I am the Queen of Dragons. When I give decrees, they are to be obeyed without question." She takes a deep breath and rescinded her aura, closing her wings.
Drac is in shock, not because of the aura, but because Queen Safira had never exhibited such wrath towards her clan members before.
He quickly bowed his head. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I meant no offence. The other dragons were just conveying their complaints because we traversed so far for nothing."
Queen Safira breathed in and out for a minute before sitting at Drac's desk. "I know we've traversed so far," she said, her voice calmer.
"But I found ogres in the forest, too close to the perilous zones, with children's bones ubiquitous. This drove me to lose my temper and obliterate a section of the forest. I also found the child caged up like a play pet. I want to proceed back to the central city to find his race on this planet and return him if I can. I'm worried about the young ones without me here. The troops can be mobilized again after that, the time here will just be less."
Drac sits down, "Shit, Safira, that's brutal. I'm truly sorry for what I said about the boy."
Queen Safira gives him a nod, indicating that it's alright. She knows he means well. Drac then thinks of a plan.
"Why don't we do this instead? You take your Royal vigils to the main city, see if you can find his race and return him. That way it's not a complete waste."
But Queen Safira is still concerned about her clan, "I don't want the same thing to happen to the dragon youngsters. I won't be here to protect them."
Drac understands her concern, "I see, Safira, as always concerned about her clan, such an immense heart. I will personally protect them. You know I'm the best combatant here. So no harm will come to them, I vow it. I'll put off exploring new places like I usually do."
Queen Safira thinks for a moment and examines the map on the table. Then she stands and points at the map, "The central city is a 3-day chariot ride from here. The flight will take me 40 minutes to get back. You do not take my clan youngsters anywhere near the perilous zone. Other squads also stay away, you hear me? They'll contact you every hour to check in with their zone. I'll be gone for a week minimum, and two weeks maximum. You contact me if something happens."
Drac smiles, "Yes, Safira, thank you, wise and gracious as always. We will await your return. Please journey safely and keep me informed, as I will do the same."
Queen Safira starts walking out but stops, "Don't be excessively rough on the youngsters, please." Before she gets a reply, she leaves to tell her Royal vigils the new plans. Once she's done, they hurry off to spread the word. Then she enters her tent and notices a young man eating. Fenris bows as always.
...
Ten minutes earlier, in Queen Safira's tent, the boy is sleeping peacefully for once in his life. He's never slept in such comfort before. Fenris stands to observe him, listening to his slumber. She can see he's at ease and dreaming.
Suddenly, Fenris senses an immense energy wave in the area. Recognizing the aura, she isn't apprehensive. The boy unexpectedly awakens and sits up in terror, as if his past few hours were just a promising fantasy that is about to be gone. But then, he sees Fenris and the captivating tent and calms down a little.
However, he panics again when he can't see Safira.
Fenris rushes over to him and notices his anguish. She puts her hand on his head and caresses it. She then pulls a small object from her neck, a necklace, specifically a locket, and shows him a picture of Queen Safira. He takes the locket and holds it tightly, staring at her appearance.
Fenris backs up and walks over to the table, removing a chair and indicating the food. The boy stands up and sprints to the table…sits down and starts to eat fast, never letting go of the locket. He holds it close to his heart.
After some time, Queen Safira enters the tent and the boy sees her. He runs into her arms, and she picks him up and holds him tightly, missing him as well. She notices the locket in his hands, the one Fenris usually wears, given to her by Queen Safira.
"Thank you, Fenris. I'll get you a replacement necklace," she says to Fenris as she holds the boy.
Fenris smiles at her, "It's my delight, Safira. I remember the day you saved me like it was yesterday. I can see that you care for this boy."
Queen Safira nods and informs Fenris of their new plans. Fenris decides to go with Queen Safira.
Queen Safira sits down, still holding the boy, and they all eat breakfast together. Afterwards, they pack up and get ready to depart since everything is already prepared.
Outside the camp, a chariot awaits, loaded and ready to go. Fenris and the boy are sitting inside. The boy has his head out the window, looking at Queen Safira and other beings kneeling in front of her as she speaks with them.
Queen Safira gives her final orders to each squad leader. There are six squads in the Emmortal Milky lane and one proceeded to the main city. They flu there straight away last night. Drac and the five leaders kneel in front of her.
An:" Emmortal Milky lane will be explained later"
"My squad leaders, please take it easy. I'm not here to protect you, but luckily, Drac is here. Even though you are powerful, remember you are restricted here. The youngsters in your supervision want to prove themselves, but preferably be safe. I would rather have you all perfect than lose you. I think teaming up two or three teams together would be best. Contact Drac if you are in crisis and stay close together as well. Somethings have changed since five years ago, monsters have shifted around, so always keep your eyes open."
All the squad leaders bowed on one knee, saying "Yes, your majesty. Long live Queen Safira." They then get up and walk towards the camp, conversing about teaming up and which way they want to proceed.
Drac gets up and walks to Queen Safira's flank, setting his hand on her shoulder, "Truly a magnificent leader as always, caring so much for her clan and others. I'll monitor them all and make sure the young ones don't come into danger. Safe journeys and no combat," he says with a subtle laugh.
As the overlord of martial arts, Queen Safira turns to Drac and jokingly scolds him, "You one to lecture, be safe, Overlord of Martial Arts.
Hahahaha." Drac's face turns red with embarrassment as he quickly tries to conceal it. "Those were my youthful days," Drac responds, embarrassed.
Queen Safira then turns to the chariot, which is entirely automatic and white, with the clan logo in gold on the door. On the roof, there is a small surveillance tower where four Royal Vigils sit. The interior is a spatial dimension that makes it look like a miniature flat.
She climbs into the chariot and sits by the window, looking out at her clan. The boy scurries over and climbs onto her lap, facing out the window. Fenris also walks over and sits on her right side, positioning her head on her shoulders.
"Safira, what are you going to do if you can't uncover his race? We can only spend a month in this universe, and he won't survive the pressure from the God Beast Domain," Fenris asks her, concerned that Safira cares for the boy so much.
Queen Safira takes a deep breath and strokes the boy's head, holding his chest so he doesn't fall. "Fenris, I hope we can find out his race. But like you said, we don't have much time here. If I can't find anything about his race, I'll go to my friends, the forest elfs, and request their assistance by using their soul scanner to find out information about him, and then get him home if we discover anything," she says.
Fenris smiles and touches the boy's arm. "I hope so, Safira. He's such a precious child," she says.
The boy leans back onto Queen Safira's chest and plays with her soft hair, but keeps looking out the window as the chariot proceeds towards the city.
Queen Safira watches as her clan camp gets smaller and smaller as they depart. She hopes nothing will happen to her clan while she's gone, otherwise, she will never absolve herself if they get hurt.
Fenris attempts to play with the boy while Queen Safira is deep in thought. She doesn't want to disturb her at all because she knows she's worried right now.