The room was eerily silent, every eye fixed on Avaris, anticipating his next move.
Suddenly, Avaris slammed his fists onto the table with such force that a crack snaked its way through the wood, threatening to split the table in two. The sound reverberated through the room causing everyone to shudder.
"Well, that's my cue to leave," the pope declared, his voice cutting through the tension as he shot to his feet. Without a glance back, he skipped toward the door, humming a carefree tune, as though the chaos behind him didn't exist.
Aris shrugged nonchalantly, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He grabbed his helmet, and as he began to walk away, he signaled the nobles to follow. They stood in unison, their movements hesitant yet obedient, whispering amongst themselves as they trailed behind him.
Felix, sensing the impending storm, wasted no time. "Black Rose Knights, with me," he commanded sharply, leading the rest of the group out. His voice was calm, but the tightness in his shoulders betrayed the tension.
The heavy doors groaned as they swung shut, swallowing the last rays of sunlight. A dull darkness reclaimed the hall, wrapping the space in an ominous shadow. Zaria's breath quickened as she stood at the edge of the table, trembling. Her eyes darted to Lily, who despite not being human, had gone deathly pale. Lily's wide, terrified eyes met hers, silently screaming, What have you done!?
With dread clawing at her chest, Zaria turned towards where Avaris had stood moments ago. But he was gone. Panic flared within her as she scanned the room, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. A sudden cold grip on her shoulder sent ice through her veins.
She gasped. How did he move so fast? Her mind raced. Why didn't I sense him?
"Sit down," Avaris growled, his voice low but commanding as he pushed her back into her chair. Zaria's pulse raced. She sat, wheezing, her body shaking uncontrollably. The suffocating weight of fear pressed down on her as cold sweat dripped down her face.
Avaris, seemingly indifferent to her panic, walked calmly back to the head of the table and pulled out his chair, sitting down slowly. His gaze never left her, his eyes sharp and calculating.
Lily, overwhelmed with terror, bolted upright, desperate to flee. Avaris, without breaking his intense stare at Zaria, raised his hand and casually flicked his fingers downward. In an instant, an invisible force slammed Lily back into her chair with brutal efficiency. Her body strained under the crushing pressure, as if invisible chains were tightening around her. Her gasps for air filled the room, her head shaking violently as she struggled to break free.
Zaria's eyes remained locked on Avaris. His hand, still raised, squeezed tighter.
A sudden silence befell the room then the sound of bones snapping echoed through the chamber, followed by Lily's agonizing scream. Zaria flinched as she saw Lily's arm break, then another bone snapped with another scream, more gut-wrenching than the last.
"No!" Zaria cried, standing up so violently her chair toppled over behind her. "Stop this! She'll die!"
Avaris's hand relaxed, and a cold laugh escaped his lips, as if he had just been told an amusing joke.
"Brave, not foolish. Interesting," he murmured. "Zaria, I have a proposal for you. But first, let me share something about this world." He raised his hand again, this time towards Lily, who was a sobbing wreck, her face streaked with tears and mucus ran down her nose.
"Greater Heal."
With a simple command, Lily's bones snapped back into place, and though the pain left her, the trauma of the experience had drained her. She sat quietly, wiping her face, too terrified to move.
Zaria, her composure shattered, stood frozen. She watched Avaris in disbelief, the reality of his power crashing over her like a tidal wave of corpses.
This man is the embodiment of death, how strong is he?, she thought to herself. Her expression became blank, the shock too much to process. "Fine," she whispered, defeated. "What do you want me to do?"
Avaris clapped his hands together, a pleased grin spreading across his face. He leaned back in his chair, eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction.
"Zaria, this kingdom, this continent—it is not what people believe. It was built on the corpses of nations."
As he spoke, the room brightened with an ethereal glow, and a holographic mirage materialized above the table. Scenes from history played out, suspended in the air.
"We dragonborn have existed far longer than any race, and we know the truth of this land, and of its king."
The images showed the king in his youth, a fierce warrior slaying demon lords and ancient dragons. But soon the imagery turned darker—his brutality was laid bare. He and the queen, hand in hand, committed unspeakable atrocities—women burned alive, men mutilated, children, even infants, beheaded without mercy.
Zaria's stomach churned as she watched, while Lily sat wide-eyed, paralyzed by the horrors on display. Yet Avaris remained unmoved, his expression cold.
"That man," Avaris continued, his voice resonating with pain, "is more than human. No one knows his true origin, how long he's been alive or what drove him. Even my ancestors fell to his cruelty. And with their blood, he built a nation—not by force, but by fear."
More images flickered across the hologram—the king leading various races: dragonkin, elves, dwarves, and beastmen, all forced to toil on a barren land, building walls, constructing buildings for the city including the hall they were in, farms, and ultimately, the grand castle that now served as his stronghold.
"This man claims to have created a land where all races are equal under his rule, a place of love and prosperity. Utter bullshit…" Avaris clenched his fists, his jaw tight with rage. "I watched my family, my kind, and my ancestors fall before him. Our blood, the blood of the ancients, was lost."
His eyes snapped to Zaria, his gaze sharp and predatory. "But in that simulation, I saw runes on your arm, similar to those of our ancient forefathers. Ancient dragon gods once bore such markings."
Avaris stood, his gaze darkening as he moved toward her.
"My proposal is simple: give me your blood, and I will spare this homunculus' life."
Zaria's heart pounded in her chest as he approached. She instinctively raised a hand to stop him, but he was too fast. With one swift motion, he tore her pauldron from her shoulder, moving downwards with force that ripped the rest of the armour off her arm exposing the runes etched into her skin. His grip tightened on her arm, pulling her closer until she stumbled against his chest.
"The ancient runes," he muttered, examining them closely. "But these... these are not of the dragon race." His grip loosened, and with a sigh of disappointment, he let her go, causing her to collapse onto the cobblestone floor.
"No, your blood is of no use to me," Avaris said, turning away. "But until we discover the nature of those markings, I need you alive."
Zaria struggled to her feet, her limbs shaking as Avaris continued, his voice cold and unfeeling. "Tell me, Zaria, didn't you have a horn during the simulation?"
Zaria's breath hitched. She knelt before him, her body trembling. "I don't remember much," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just Varix… he was going to kill me with Keldornas' hammer, and then... I woke up."
Avaris's expression darkened with intrigue. "You don't recall speaking in the ancient tongue, either?"
Zaria shook her head, terrified of saying the wrong thing.
"During that fight, you transformed into a one-horned demon. Perhaps it was the dust, but I wonder…" His voice trailed off, and he tapped her shoulder, signaling her to rise.
Zaria stood, watching as Avaris returned to his seat, his expression unreadable.
"A deal is a deal," he said with a dismissive wave. "I won't take your blood, but I do need you alive. You may look human, but you are something… different. As for the homunculus, she will now serve under a slave pact."
As he spoke, a tattoo of a slave collar appeared around Lily's neck, glowing as it seared into her skin. She winced, biting back a scream as the pain burned through her.
"With this contract, if she disobeys or harms you, she will die instantly. She is bound to you now, immortal as long as you live. No one can kill her but you—or if you die, she will cease to exist."
Avaris leaned back in his chair, his smile dark and sinister. "This will be interesting. Welcome to the knights' guild, Zaria. Serve me well."
Zaria's heart pounded in her chest. "Thank you, sir," she stammered, bowing deeply, though a flicker of relief crossed her face.
Avaris chuckled softly. "I'm not heartless, you know. Now go, my brave knights. You are dismissed."
Lily, still dazed by everything, rushed to Zaria, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "Thank you," she whispered through her tears, her voice trembling.
Zaria, stunned by the sudden affection, hesitated before gently patting Lily's back, a small, weary smile crossing her lips.
Avaris watched them in silence, his eyes narrowing in contemplation as the two women shared their moment of quiet relief. His fingers drummed rhythmically on the armrest of his chair, a subtle beat that echoed in the dim hall.
Lily, still clutching Zaria, finally pulled back and hastily wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
She bent down to pick up Zaria's torn armor, holding it awkwardly as if it were a fragile relic.
Zaria gave her a small nod, signaling her to help put the pieces back together. Together, they moved slowly towards the massive wooden doors at the far end of the hall.
The golems that guarded the entrance stirred to life, their stone forms grinding as they obediently swung the doors open, allowing a shaft of golden sunlight to pierce the shadows within.
The two women stepped forward, their silhouettes framed by the fading light. For a moment, they paused, casting one last glance over their shoulders at Avaris. He remained seated, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light, watching them with a mixture of curiosity and something darker.
The doors groaned shut behind them, and the echo reverberated through the hall, sealing Avaris once more in the dim twilight. A heavy silence followed, broken only by his soft, thoughtful sigh.
His gaze lifted to the ceiling, the faint glow of the mirage still shimmering above the table. The gruesome images of the king's past continued to play out before him, but his mind was elsewhere. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Father," he murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "could she be the one?"