"I know I can never be his size but I can try," joked Mattheos as Mavislin got up to stretch.
"No, I miss my fluffy bunbun..."
"Please never call me that again."
The dragoness couldn't help but laugh as she summoned up a little purple and black snake from her hair.
"Go and let Zenos know that I'd like to sleep with Matt for the day. If he does anything, rush back to me," commanded Mavislin, kissing the snake on the head and releasing it.
It happily nodded and slithered through the stone door, darting down the halls with a swift, determined motion toward the Viceroy's room.
Zenos remained almost motionless, his attention focused elsewhere, while the servants attending to him gasped in shock and barely contained their tears as the snake boldly made its way up to him.
"What is it?" boomed the Viceroy.
The snake opened its jaw to relay Mavislin's words in a very distorted and monotonous female voice. Zenos sighed as he commanded the servants to leave before crouching down and holding his hand out to the snake.
It coiled around his wrist and made a happy sound when he gently stroked its head.
"Hmm... So her snakes do like the same thing she does..." noted the Viceroy as he left the room to return the little creature to its bigger creature.
Though he didn't strictly need to knock, it was wise to do so, especially with Mavislin in the room. She had a reputation for being unpredictable, and it was always prudent to avoid giving her a reason to take offense.
Additionally, it was simply good manners to knock whenever a lady was behind a door.
"We're decent. I'm assuming that it's Zenos?" asked Mavislin, as she wanted to reach for the door.
The Viceroy opened the door before Mavislin had the chance, letting the little snake slip from his arm and dart back to her. The snake happily wriggled against the dragoness before curling up in her hair once more.
"It seems that you are treating my girls well... You're not as cruel as you ought to be but I'm not complaining," said Mavislin, glancing at the Viceroy.
"I see no need to waste my blade on such trivial matters. However, I have no objections to our current arrangement. Just remember, we strike only when the sun has completely set," reminded Zenos, leaving the room.
As the three of them tried to rest, Mattheos was deeply asleep while Mavislin found herself growing bored. Being half-dragon, she required less sleep compared to her rabbit companion.
Without the day's exertions to drain her energy, Mavislin's mana was at full capacity. Thus, she lay there, a restless dragon nestled against a bunny. The night was theirs to utilize. If they confronted Solaris during the day, the challenge would be overwhelming.
Moreover, with the entire team, including Mavislin, wielding darkness as their primary element, fighting under the cover of night would significantly boost their abilities.
The dragoness closed her eyes, pondering whether she could advance her level quickly enough to aid Mattheos if needed. Yet, she held on to her faith in her little bunny, trusting in his skills as a Fifth Seat.
As darkness enveloped the sky, the trio gathered on the rooftop, readying themselves for their mission to Heliomald. The stars above were a breathtaking sight, as though someone had pierced a dark blanket with tiny holes to let the light shine through.
"So, how do we plan to enter Solaris' Throne? Don't tell me we are jumping from here to the ground and going by foot," asked Mattheos, adjusting his blade.
"We wouldn't make it in time either. Abyss and Void has managed to find a small blind spot to drop us off and then we have to make our way towards the first level. Not to worry; it's only a small distance."
"Now, to answer Matt's question about our mode of transport... Stand back," said Mavislin as she gestured for the men to step back.
As the night deepened, a swirl of black and purple mana erupted beneath the dragoness' feet, while another swirl manifested above her head.
The two swirling circles of energy connected with shimmering strands of mana, enveloped her in a cylindrical formation of dark power.
Out of this shadowy cocoon, dragon wings began to unfurl from Mavislin's back. They grew larger and larger, their black expanse edged with vivid purple until they enveloped her entire form and curled gracefully within the mana-formed cylinder.
The formation cracked with a resounding pop, bursting outward in a cloud of dust and debris. With a single, sweeping motion of a long and powerful black tail, Mavislin cleared the dust away, revealing her true dragon form.
She loomed over both the Viceroy and Mattheos, her towering figure reaching the height of a grand chapel.