To our astonishment, two massive armies stood on the horizon, each teeming with winged knights. At the forefront of each army stood a king, their regal presence unmistakable. The king on the left was a towering figure clad in gleaming gold armor, his crimson cape billowing in the wind. His crown, encrusted with rubies, shone with a fierce light, and he held a massive golden scepter, radiating power. The army behind him was disciplined, their armor and weapons reflecting the sunlight, creating a dazzling display.
Opposite them, the second king was a stark contrast. Dressed in dark, obsidian armor that seemed to absorb the light, he exuded an aura of menace. His silver crown was adorned with black diamonds, and he wielded a wickedly sharp, double-edged sword. His army, cloaked in shadows, moved with a predatory grace, their eyes glowing with a cold, steely determination.
The tension in the air was palpable, and the sight of these two formidable forces, each led by a powerful king, left us speechless. The future of our kingdom hung in the balance, and the impending clash promised to be nothing short of cataclysmic.
The two kings stepped forward, their voices booming in perfect unison. "People of Glimmerfen! We have heard of the recent fall of your king and queen. But do not despair! For this signifies the end of the war among the three major kingdoms. Victory will be mine as I claim your kingdom!" Their declarations echoed through the air, each king's voice filled with confident authority, as they each vied for dominance.
The injured citizens of Glimmerfen looked up at the kings and soldiers in confusion. A little boy, his beak bleeding and his body covered in wounds, limped toward the king dressed in dark armor and his army.
"King Malachar, are you here to rebuild our destroyed cloud kingdom?" he coughed, his voice trembling.
King Malachar sneered, snapping his fingers. A winged knight beside him raised his sword, which ignited with blue flames. The knight struck at the boy, causing everyone to scream in horror.
"Who told you to approach me and speak out of turn?" King Malachar growled.
As the dust settled, the boy was missing from the spot where he had stood. Instead, I was standing on the debris of a destroyed building, the boy safely in my arms, my golden wings spread wide.
Malachar's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight. "Who the hell are you?" he spat, glancing at me, then Ember, Zira, and Alden who had joined me.
I set the boy down, and Ember quickly healed his wounds, her crystals shimmering as they covered his injuries and healed him instantly. I straightened up, my gaze steady on Malachar.
"Me?" I said, my voice carrying the weight of determination. "I'm the vessel of Sagea." I gestured to Alden. "This is the vessel of Nocturne Raven."
I pointed to Zira. "This is the vessel of Zephyra." Finally, I indicated Ember, who stood with an ethereal glow. "And this is my archangel."
Malachar's sneer faltered for a moment as he took in the formidable presence of our group. "So, you're the so-called defenders of this kingdom?" he mocked, though his voice carried an edge of uncertainty.
"No, I don't care about this kingdom at all. The winged knights are corrupt, the people are sheep, and the former king, queen, and princes are horrible. But even then, I can't let you hurt any of them. All your kingdoms are evil. That's why I'm going to create my own kingdom."
I stepped forward, my golden wings casting a radiant glow over the trembling citizens. "In my kingdom, there will be no corruption, no oppression. Everyone will stand as equals, regardless of their past or where they come from. I will build a realm where justice prevails, where the strong protect the weak, and where hope thrives. This is my vow, and I will not let anyone stand in the way of that vision."
Suddenly, the king in golden armor stepped forward, letting out a low chuckle. "I am King Clawfeather of the Drakewind Empire, and King Malachar is the ruler of the Moonshadow Dominion. I've heard tales of the vessels of the celestial birds. It seems there are only three vessels and one archangel. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself. But that's irrelevant. This is a matter for the three strongest kingdoms: my Drakewind Empire, King Malachar's Moonshadow Dominion, and now, the fallen Glimmerfen."
As King Clawfeather finished speaking and moved to the center, Malachar joined him. To everyone's surprise, I stepped forward, hands in my pockets. "I said, you're not taking this kingdom."
The two kings looked down at me, glaring with murderous intent. "If not us, who will take over the remains of Glimmerfen? Are you planning to kill us?" Malachar sneered. "You look to be in your mid-twenties. How do you expect to face us? Yes, you're the vessel of Sagea, and that's impressive. But there have been many like you in our time. How can you, a boy who never had to fight to survive, hope to stop us?"
King Malachar bent forward, bringing his face inches from mine, his eyes burning with disdain.
He then noticed a shadow over us and looked up to see Zira standing behind me, towering over him. She placed her hands on her hips and growled softly. "I don't remember my captain saying you could approach him. Move away."
King Malachar's eyes widened in fear and confusion as he saw her. "Y-you're that tigress, the one who killed the former king and queen of Glimmerfen before Bali and Silvia. So the rumors were true? And now you're playing second fiddle?"
Zira's eyes narrowed, her claws flexing. "I'm not playing second fiddle to anyone," she snarled. "I chose to stand by Gaian because he's the only one with a vision worth fighting for."
Clawfeather chuckled and snapped his fingers. His winged knights, along with Malachar's, closed ranks, their gazes all fixed on me. I felt the weight of their stares, but I stood firm. Zira, unfazed, chuckled and snapped her fingers as well. The tigresses swiftly gathered, their fierce eyes locking onto the winged knights, creating a tense standoff.
Malachar groaned in frustration. "So, what's your plan now?"
I turned to Ember, Zira, and Alden. "If we want them to leave this kingdom alone, we need to appoint a new ruler." I glanced at Zira, but she shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere without you," she said, her voice resolute.
Next, I turned to Alden. "I know these past few days have been tough because I chose to get involved with this kingdom. I promise I won't leave without you." He bowed after saying this.
Ember, already perched on my shoulder, nuzzled my cheek. "We'll stick together," she said softly.
I sighed, contemplating the situation. "What should I do? Why is everyone so adamant about staying with me? Am I that irresistible?" My gaze shifted to the tigresses, and an idea formed. I approached one of them, who regarded me with curiosity. Using my feather manipulation, I crafted a crown from a cluster of feathers and, with a leap, placed it on her head.
Standing tall, I addressed everyone with authority. "Listen up! This tigress is now the new queen of Glimmerfen!"
I leaned in and whispered to the queen, "What's your name?"
"Shina," she replied softly, her hand covering her mouth.
"This is Queen Shina!" I announced to the crowd. "And from now on, this kingdom will no longer be known as Glimmerfen. It is now officially Tigris Dominion!"