As they stepped out of the house, Lana and Elizabeth were immediately enveloped by the sights and sounds of the forest. The house, crafted from natural stone and timber, blended seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, its rustic charm and beauty a perfect complement to the primeval forest that surrounded it. The trees, towering above them, cast dappled shadows on the ground, their leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze.
Lana turned to her sister, her voice taking on a serious tone. "Elizabeth, what really brings you to our humble abode?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she searched for any hidden motives behind her sister's visit. Elizabeth's expression turned grave, her midnight purple eyes flashing with a mixture of disgust and wrath. "There's a problem within our empire, Lana," she began, her voice low and measured. "The Four Heavenly Demons have been acting erratically since your disappearance 500 years ago. They've recently betrayed the Demon Empire, forming an alliance with those detestable humans."
Lana's eyes flashed with anger, her golden irises burning with an inner fire as she listened to her sister's words. "They've even had the audacity to aid those insufferable churches in summoning a Celestial Angel," Elizabeth continued, her voice dripping with venom. "The very thought of it is an affront to everything we hold dear." As demons, they were well aware of the darker aspects of human nature, the hidden sins and depravities that lurked beneath the surface. Angels, on the other hand, were blinded by their own righteousness, unable to see the evil that lurked within the hearts of men.
Lana's expression turned cold, her eyes glinting with a fierce determination. "We cannot let this affront go unpunished," she declared, her voice firm and resolute. "The Four Heavenly Demons must be brought to justice, and the humans must be taught a lesson they will never forget." Elizabeth nodded in agreement, her eyes flashing with a fierce light. "Together, we shall unleash a reckoning upon the world, one that will shake the very foundations of the humans."
As Elizabeth's words hung in the air, Lana's thoughts were suddenly invaded by the image of Lycius's peaceful, slumbering face. It was as if the mere mention of destruction had triggered a profound shift within Lana as she wondered how Lycius's first kill will be like, whilst Elizabeth whose demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation. Her wrathful countenance gave way to a radiant smile, and her voice, once laced with venom, now dripped with sugary sweetness. "Of course, we shall postpone our plans until Lycius has reached his teenage years," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with unbridled joy.
Lana's brow furrowed in confusion, her mind struggling to comprehend the sudden change in her sister's behavior. "Why do you speak as if you'll be staying with us?" she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism. Elizabeth's response was immediate and emphatic. "Because I shall," she declared, her midnight purple aura rising like a challenge, as if daring Lana to contest her decision.
Lana's golden aura responded in kind, rising to meet Elizabeth's defiant energy. "Hahaha... Oh, you're serious, Elizabeth. You cannot stay here," Lana said, her words laced with a mixture of amusement and concern. Elizabeth's eyes flashed with a deadly, venomous wrath, her voice dripping with malice. "And why is that?" she inquired, her words hanging in the air like a challenge.
Lana's response was measured, her words chosen with care. "As the Queen of Dragons, you cannot afford to be absent from the Dragon Empire during these tumultuous times," she reasoned. However, her argument was not without its flaws, and Elizabeth was quick to capitalize on Lana's weakness. "Says the Shameless Demon Queen who has been absent from her own empire for 500 years," Elizabeth retorted, her words a verbal slap that left Lana reeling. "You don't even know what your empire looks like, do you?"
Lana's question, "Well, I'm pretty sure it's still great... right?" was a feeble attempt to salvage her pride, but it only served to underscore her defeat. Elizabeth's response was a triumphant declaration, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. "Yes, that's only because you have a generous being such as myself as your sister," she bragged, leaving Lana with no recourse but to concede defeat in their verbal sparring match.
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