After Charybdis's proclamation, Noir let out an awkward chuckle, his signature laugh echoing faintly through the ruined palace.
"Do I have any way to deny this?" he asked, his smile still in place but his tone edged with a mix of amusement and resignation.
Charybdis replied with a resounding, "No."
Noir sighed, the sound carrying a note of acceptance.
"Well, this certainly is... interesting," he said, his tone shifting to one of reluctant amusement.
"I suppose there's no helping it, then."
He looked at Charybdis, his smile softening slightly.
"Very well, Charybdis. If this is what you wish, then I will be your mate."
With that, the awkward tension between them began to ease until charybdis moved.
Charybdis, who had already exceeded her daily limit of awkward situations, decided to take a more direct approach after being done with the formalities.
With a swift and decisive movement, she knocked Noir out cold.
His smile remained fixed on his face as he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Without hesitation, Charybdis hoisted him over her shoulder, her expression unwavering.
She took to the skies, flying swiftly back to Lanka.
The journey was a blur, the wind rushing past as she navigated the familiar paths back to her palace.
Upon reaching Lanka, she landed gracefully in the courtyard of her palace.
The golden towers gleamed in the sunlight, and the intricate designs of the palace reflected light and appearing to be glowing.
As she approached the grand entrance to her chambers, the guards stood aside, bowing respectfully.
Charybdis entered her private quarters, gently laying Noir down on a luxurious couch.
She took a deep breath, the events of the day finally catching up with her.
Charybdis looked down at the unconscious form of Noir, a mixture of relief and anticipation coursing through her.
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Noir woke up slowly, his head pounding from the abruptness of his unconscious state.
As he opened his eyes, he found himself laid out on an opulent bed in a room that exuded power and grandeur. He groaned softly, sitting up and glancing around.
There was no sign of Charybdis.
As his senses sharpened, he began to notice the intricate magical design woven into every inch of the room.
It was like staring at a piece of paper covered in millions of meticulously drawn runes, each one layered with precision and care.
The complexity was beyond normal magical understanding, leaving even Noir, a primordial demon, in awe.
His curiosity piqued, Noir swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
He moved towards the door, intent on exploring or perhaps finding an exit.
But as he approached, a soft, almost childlike voice echoed throughout the room.
"Please, do not leave," the voice said, coming from everywhere at once.
Noir paused, looking around for the source of the voice. "Who are you?" he asked, his tone wary.
"I am Blue," the voice responded. "An Artificial Manas created by the Queen, Charybdis, to inhabit this palace. I have been ordered not to allow you to leave without her permission."
Noir frowned, feeling a mix of irritation and fascination.
"The Queen, huh? And I suppose you address me as...?"
"You are Queen's mate," Blue replied simply.
Noir's mind raced as he processed this information. "Her mate," he repeated, the reality of his situation sinking in further.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I suppose there's no way out of this room, then?"
"Correct," Blue answered. "The Queen has given strict instructions."
Noir couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of his predicament.
He walked back to the bed and sat down, resigned to wait for Charybdis' return.
As he waited, he continued to marvel at the magical intricacy of the room, thinking he was wrong about her when he initially saw her.
When they met thousands of years ago Noir had thought that Charybdis was complacent like all the other true dragons considering she was Veldora's offspring.
His curiosity soon got the better of him again.
"What will happen if I try to leave forcefully?" Noir asked, testing the boundaries of his confinement.
Blue's voice remained calm and matter-of-fact.
"According to the strike system, you will be allowed three transgressions against the Queen's orders. If you commit another one, I will be forced to bind you in a Reality Distortion Bubble."
"A Reality Distortion Bubble?" Noir repeated, intrigued despite himself.
"Yes," Blue confirmed. "A makeshift marble phantasm without any specific qualities. It will effectively immobilize you and prevent any further attempts to leave."
Noir sighed, weighing his options. "So, I get three chances before I'm completely restrained."
"Correct," Blue said.
Noir couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of his predicament.
Noir, always one to test boundaries, decided to push his luck.
He walked to the door and grasped the handle, attempting to open it.
However, the door glowed with a red light, signaling that it didn't recognize him as an inhabitant, and became glued in its place as spatial Magic activated negating all his strength in opening it.
He found himself unable to move, held in place by an unseen force.
"One strike," Blue's voice announced, calm and unwavering.
Undeterred, Noir tried a different approach.
He prepared a teleportation spell, intending to bypass the physical constraints of the room.
But as he began to cast the spell, he found his senses blocked, unable to reach beyond the confines of the room.
"Two strikes," Blue stated.
Before Noir could try anything else, the door swung open, and Charybdis entered the room.
She was dressed in a rather revealing outfit, her presence commanding and intense.
She looked at Noir with a small deadpan stare, clearly aware of his attempts to escape.
Caught in the act, Noir couldn't help but chuckle nervously.
He waved his hands in a small, sheepish greeting, like a child caught in mischief.
"Hello," he said, his voice tinged with the same mix of amusement.
Charybdis sighed, a hint of exasperation in her expression.
"Really, Noir?" she said, her tone a mix of amusement and mild annoyance. "You couldn't wait a little longer?"
Noir shrugged, his usual confident demeanor slightly diminished.
"I was just testing the boundaries," he replied with a grin. "I didn't think you'd mind."
Charybdis shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips.
She walked towards him and feeling her mood Noir backed off until he was standing by the wall with Charybdis in front of him.
"You're lucky I find you worthy," she said, putting her hand beside his head and bringing her face closer to him.
"But remember, Noir, you're my guest here. Try not to break the rules too often.", as she backed off she commented off handedly
Noir nodded, still grinning.
"Understood, Queen Charybdis," he said, giving a mock bow.
"I'll behave."
"You better", Charybdis said as she ruffled around some stuff on a table not giving attention to his antics.
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