"In fact, they will so we will continue our sting operations against them. Disperse," commanded Shadow of the Syndicate as both males saluted.
The five little snakes darted away in several directions, each on a mission to relay news of their victories to the Syndicate. They moved with an almost electric energy, weaving through the shadows and slipping into the cracks of the area, eager to deliver their vital message.
"As for the two of you, I will see to your payments and rewards very soon. Of course, both of you should take a week off. Now then, I find myself quite hungry and itching for a nice hot bath," said a smiling dragoness.
Mattheos smiled, his expression warm, while Zenos smirked as his Alter form gradually faded away. With a playful air, he approached Mavislin and placed a gentle hand on her head, ruffling her hair affectionately.
The dragoness felt a surge of irritation, wanting to claw at his hands, but she thought better of it. The Viceroy radiated a kind of relentless energy as if he could fight for hours without breaking a sweat.
Instead, she settled for a frustrated huff, knowing that challenging him wouldn't end well.
"Ah, splendid work, my exquisite trophy. Truly, you've surpassed expectations. As for my payment, all I desire is this blade and..."
The blonde leaned in closer, dipping lower to whisper softly in the girl's ear, warm breath tickling her horn.
"Your company for the next few nights," finished Zenos, in a deep voice before kissing her cheek.
Mavislin immediately pushed the blonde away, unleashing a torrent of every curse word known to the universe at the Viceroy, which only sent him into a fit of roaring laughter. Mattheos, lacking the energy for anything more, let out a weary sigh.
Once the flustered dragoness had calmed down, she focused on bringing the group back to Valokia. As a show of respect, she turned to glance back at the now-empty arena.
To her surprise, she spotted two stunning figures with hourglass silhouettes—one pale as snow, the other a vibrant orange—holding hands. Their lips curved into warm smiles as they waved at her with their free hands, an unexpected gesture that caught her off guard.
Mavislin felt a sharp pang in her heart, a familiar jolt in her head causing her to wince. Could Lunaris have wounded her? No, that wasn't it. It was the same pain she had felt during the battle when Lunaris mentioned the Calamity.
The thought echoed ominously: everyone had perished. But how could that be when the realm around her remained intact? There had been disasters, yes, but not an outright annihilation. The mention of a vile name lingered in her thoughts.
All these questions swirled in her mind like a tempest as she stared at the two ghostly figures, their smiles both beautiful and unsettling. She couldn't shake the feeling that they held answers, yet their presence only deepened her confusion and sorrow.
"Once more, you've saved our lives from disaster. We thank you and bid you farewell."
The dragoness opened her mouth to call for the two, but it was too late; they had already turned their backs and vanished into thin air. Mavislin fell silent, her heart heavy as she ferried the two sleeping males back to Arcadia.
The only saving grace of distraction was the view beneath her and the sight of Mattheos, now transformed into his adorable rabbit form, sleeping soundly in the Viceroy's lap.
Zenos, despite his best efforts to stay awake, found himself succumbing to the heaviness of his eyelids, the exhaustion overtaking him as he fought to keep his eyes open.
The peaceful tableau below offered a momentary reprieve from Mavislin's swirling thoughts, grounding her amidst the chaos.
The air was thick with unspoken words and lingering emotions, with the dragoness unable to comprehend what Lunaris had mentioned and the twins' final words. She had just met them, right? Mavislin groaned in frustration; she hated having pieces of an unsolved puzzle.
As she landed on the roof, the dragoness carefully transformed back and caught the sleeping blonde just before he could tumble onto the pavement.
A few guards rushed over at the sight of a dragon, but Mavislin dismissed them with a wave as she made her way to Matt's makeshift chambers. She gently laid him on the bed before heading to the Viceroy's quarters, kicking the door open and placing him on the bed as well.
Arching her back and releasing a sigh of relief, the weary dragoness fulfilled her promise to indulge in a nice bath. Afterward, she climbed into the empty side of the bed, surrendering to exhaustion and slipping into a deep slumber.
Despite the impending battles that awaited her, she couldn't help but smile in her sleep.