At the table, three "individuals" in red mantles and eight people in black cloaks joined us. The entire courtyard and the main street in front of the fortress were filled with tables laden with food from the castle's underground storages. Initially, the locals didn't trust the clan, but Yuki managed to explain the situation to the village elder, and he asked people not to perceive it as something extraordinary.
Seating everyone so that peasants from nearby villages sat together with clan members, Yuki hoped they could find common ground and overcome their differences.
"I wanted to apologize to your clan," the eldest of the red dragons, Serezar, spoke first at the table. "Ultras didn't sit well with most of our clan, but we were too afraid of him. None of us could match his strength, and because of that, so many people perished."
We sat at one table with Kageyuki, Hiren, and other special guests, able to hear the entire conversation. The leader of the shinobi felt saddened, but she had to act primarily as the head of the clan.
"I understand you. You cared for your clan, and if you opposed him, who knows how it would have ended. Perhaps the Red House would have split into two factions, and a full-scale war would have started," Yuki looked at Seleria, who was happily chatting with her friends. "But you sent us the best assistance one could imagine. You knew she would win."
"To be honest, Ultras' supporters hoped she would die, and that would push us into a new war, but I knew she would awaken that power within her," Seleria turned to the leader of the red dragons and took a small pouch out of her pocket. "Not just Ragni, but someone else reached out to me, I'm sure it wasn't Saraz. I think this stone is to blame."
Seleria pulled out an exquisite ruby in the shape of a teardrop, the size of a fist, from the pouch.
"Ohh, so that's where that little gem is. I hoped to catch a thief and get a reward, but all this time, it was working for you," the leader of the Assassins whistled thoughtfully.
"Seleria!" Kat looked at the gem. "Please don't tell me that's the Flame Heart!"
"Well... I won't say it if you ask," the girl awkwardly looked away.
"But it is precisely that," the girl-assassin elegantly sipped her tea. Among all the assassins, only she and her "brother" sat with their hoods down; the rest of the killers preferred to hide their faces. "So much noise over this theft – engagement canceled, a reward for the head of one of the best thieves, Liran – and yet the gem was here all the time."
"I didn't mean to frame him; that's why I decided it was safer to carry it with me. Also, for some reason, my powers recover faster when I hold it in my hands. Perhaps the ruby was enchanted in ancient times and can accumulate fire mana within it," Seleria explained.
"It's all because this is not just a ruby..." Serezar wanted to reply, but I interrupted him.
"Allow me to guess," the dragon raised an eyebrow indignantly but gestured for me to continue. "Ignis told us about the creation of the world, how souls of all living beings, humans, dragons, and monsters, are born in the spirit world and go there after death. BUT, that doesn't apply to you, does it?"
Serezar and Siferina nodded, and a satisfied smile briefly crossed the face of the ancient dragon.
"You were born before the creation of the spirit world, and your souls were personally woven by your fathers – the great dragons. Therefore, there's no reason for your souls to dissolve into the endless mana of the otherworld after death."
"You're right, young man. After death, our souls remain in this world. They turn into powerful crystals we call Dragon's Heart."
"And one of these hearts is now in Seleria's hands?"
"Eeeh?!" The red princess looked at the gem warily. "Maybe I shouldn't handle it that way, then?"
"Don't worry, girl. Our souls slumber inside these stones in eternal rest, so it's unlikely anything could disturb us. Although your battle with Ultras clearly awakened it."
"But who could it be?" Seleria peered at the flames flickering inside the stone.
"I think it's the dragoness whom Ultras forced to give birth to the green lineage. Who else would want his death so desperately?" I expected Serezar's confirmation; only he could confirm my guess.
"Yes, Shafira. She was a more respected member of the Red House than I," Serezar ran his hand over the gem but quickly pulled away. "What my brother forced her to do was revolting... After that, I secretly vowed to find a way to take revenge on him, which is why I asked Lady Nigrael to teach you the path of the Red God."
"I thought my father did that?" Seleria opened her eyes in surprise.
"With all due respect, he wouldn't have had enough power. I helped him persuade your teacher."
"Thank you," Seleria held the gem close to her chest and hid it in the pouch on her belt. "I won't be able to carry it openly, but I promise to keep it safe for the rest of my life."
"Aaaah," the assassin pouted dissatisfiedly on his chair. "Now I definitely won't get a reward for it."
"What, are you afraid to attack a member of the royal family?" The girl-assassin smirked slyly.
"Well, not really. I just can't demand anything from such a beauty," the boy grinned lecherously, and his sister rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Seleria, can you introduce them? How do you even know them?" I studied these assassins with interest.
The boy was about a year younger than me. He had chestnut hair and brown eyes, and his tight black-violet leather suit revealed a trained but not overly muscular body. His sister, on the other hand, had a delicate physique and, judging by her battle with Seleria, relied more on agility and speed. The girl had black hair and beautiful blue eyes, a rather rare and attractive combination. However, she always averted her gaze whenever she caught my eyes on her.
"Well, I always need to know our best assassins. Besides, they fit the description the guild master gave me perfectly."
"I thought only guild masters of thieves and assassins could approach the king?"
"Yes, but I was simply curious about what other talented youth joined the ranks of assassins."
"Really? And that has nothing to do with their teacher..." A fork was embedded into the back of the chair a couple of centimeters from my face.
"Oh, sorry-sorry, it slipped out of my hand," Seleria swiftly jumped to me with the most good-natured smile, retrieving the cutlery that had lodged itself in the wood: "I should be more careful; they are quite sharp, after all."
I understood the hint and decided not to pursue that topic further. Besides me, only Aileen could hear their conversation, but I doubted she grasped its meaning.
Throughout our conversation, I glimpsed someone pouring drinks into Grain and Levris's glasses. But every time I turned, the mysterious waitresses vanished.
"That's Mercer and Frida, second and third in the assassin's guild. Moreover, they're cousins," the princess pointed at the assassins.
"Don't you dare associate me with that pervert," Frida retorted coldly, taking a sip of her tea with an indifferent expression.
"Admit it, you're just annoyed that I'm the second, not you," the boy beamed with a satisfied smile.
"It doesn't matter to me! I'm simply appalled that such as you defile the honorable name of our guild," the girl covered her eyes with her hand in despair.
"Well, don't worry. After all, we are the secret servants of the king. Why not take advantage of a couple of privileges that come with that title?"
"Would be fine if you didn't boast about it to the girls you seduce. That's a different story. Imagine what image of the assassins forms in the minds of ordinary people after you."
"Fret not, no girl remains unsatisfied after my visit," Mercer grinned contentedly, provoking even more indignation from his sister.
"Goodness," the girl twirled a small dagger in her hands, "sometimes I seriously consider cutting off something unnecessary from you."
"Hey, hey, easy there! I also follow my own code and never approach girls who already have a beloved!" The boy nervously stuttered.
"What kind of code is that when just a few minutes ago, you were trying to flirt with the princess? It's inconceivable how my serious aunt could give birth to such a son!" The girl helplessly hung her head and fell silent.
"They seem to get along well," I whispered understandingly to Seleria.
"You won't believe it, but they fit the guild master's description to a T," the princess giggled spiritedly.
By the end of the evening, the locals had grown closer to the Yukitori clan. While they were warriors, most of them were peaceful inhabitants who knew little about the art of warfare. Therefore, they had plenty to talk about with the simple peasants. The children also found common ground, and the peasants' kids eagerly watched as almost every child from the clan had their own sword, even if it was just a short wakizashi.
In the morning, we were to return to the Academy, but for now, we had a peaceful night in the castle's chambers. Not to say that the baron was an aristocrat caring for luxury; the bedrooms had one or two simple beds without extravagance, and there were hardly any decorations. So, compared to the rooms in the Academy, they were even worse. Not everyone had enough bedrooms, which meant I would be spending a long night with Grain. I hoped he didn't snore...
"Well, it looks like this is our place," I opened the door and entered the spacious bedroom. Not that there was much space, but the lack of any decorations on the walls and just one wardrobe created the illusion of an empty room. "Hmm, not very rich. Come on in, Grain."
For some reason, the mage hesitated to enter, and I couldn't see him in the corridor.
"Right now, I feel dizzy," followed by a muffled thud.
"Nyahaha, tie him up!" I heard footsteps behind the door, but when I went out, I found neither the guy nor the reason for the commotion.
"Well, to hell with it. I'll just sleep in peace," I clenched my fists mentally for my companion and went to bed.
In the morning, we gathered in the fortress courtyard. Not only the shinobi but also the local residents came out to see us off. The elder wished us success in our future exploits and promised to do everything for peaceful coexistence. And Yuki timidly approached her sister, just a couple of days ago she had attacked her with a weapon to drive her out of these lands, and now she didn't know what to say.
"Are you here to say goodbye to me?" Asura also felt awkward.
"But... why do you have to leave? These are your lands now," the girl still couldn't express her true feelings.
"Yes, but now I am the princess's defender, and I owe everything to her. If she always has loyal comrades, she will be able to help not only our clan but also the people of the whole country. And I will support her in this."
"But what about our clan, what about us without a leader?" Yuki was afraid to look up to avoid crying.
"Everything will be fine. The clan already has an excellent leader, and I trust her completely," Asura hugged her sister and held her close to her chest. "I always knew you would be a wonderful leader, and I'll be a good warrior. These lands are mine now, but I could use a good manager while I'm away. I hope you'll take care of our family until I return."
"Yes, just be sure to come back," sobbing, Yuki clung to her beloved sister like a kitten reaching out to its mother. "We will always be happy to see you."
"Farewell," Asura leaped onto her horse and rode away, so that no one could see tears rolling down her cheeks.