The pointed question hung heavily in the air, casting an invisible weight upon the gathering crowd.
Merina, her fingers still firmly gripping Isola’s forearm, met Vespera’s gaze without flinching.
With a thinly veiled derision, she retorted, “Master Asher is alive and well. We will reunite soon,” She knew this woman was purposefully trying to stir trouble for them by asking such a question aloud and so she also made sure to answer loudly.
Vespera’s chuckle echoed, a chilling sound that left no warmth in its wake, “Oh, my apologies. I didn’t realize the Bloodburn Consort’s pet was right here,” she said, the words laced with scorn as her eyes flickered to Merina, a contemptuous glint twinkling in their depths.
Before the discomforting tension could reach a boiling point, Circe, her voice smooth but laced with condescension, turned her attention to Isola, “Tell me, why would someone as distinguished as you want to spend your time with a traitorous bitch who is a rat to her own race?” she asked, her dark yellow eyes gleaming with sinister amusement.
Isola’s eyes grew cold, an icy glacier in the face of Circe’s challenge, “Merina is my friend,” she stated, her tone steady, the words heavy with unspoken warnings, “I will not stand here and listen to you insult her again.”
Circe curled her lips with a incensed look while Merina looked up at Isola with a softened gaze.
A tense silence followed her words, an invisible force field pushing back against the two women’s scornful comments.
Suddenly, Agonon’s hand raised, a silent command that brought Circe’s derision to an abrupt halt. With a subtle snort, Circe took a step back, her serpentine gaze never leaving Isola.
Agonon’s fiery eyes bore into Isola, “Princess Isola, you are something quite special,” he admitted, “You and your people don’t deserve to be slaves to the Bloodburn Kingdom.”
Isola’s gaze did not waver under his scrutiny. She shook her head, a strand of hair falling forward, a lone beacon of disagreement, “You misunderstand, Prince Agonon,” she replied, her tone devoid of any uncertainty, “Neither I nor my people are slaves. Despite the war, the Bloodburn Kingdom has been merciful, especially the queen and her consort.”
Agonon shook his head, his gaze still fierce and heavy, “The Bloodburn Kingdom has twisted the narrative in their favor,” he declared, “If you and your people were truly free, why did their queen strip you of your kingdom and titles other than to rob your dignity?”
His words echoed beside her ears, an unkind echo of a painful past. He continued, “They keep you close because of the life crystals Unperturbed by the tension his words had caused, Agonon continued. His eyes never strayed from Isola’s as he proposed, “I your kind ‘generously’ provide, and you know this is true. Does the shame of losing your kingdom, you and your parents’ dignity, and the humiliation of being led around by the Bloodburn Kingdom not weigh on you?”
The truth in Agonon’s words stung. Isola’s lips pressed together in a tight line, a silent response to the harsh reality being dredged up.
Beside her, Merina clenched her fists, her eyes filled with worry. How she wished her Master was here; he would know how to handle people like Agonon.
Unperturbed by the tension his words had caused, Agonon continued. His eyes never strayed from Isola’s as he proposed, “I want you to join us and form an alliance. With our help, we can free your people from the Bloodburn Kingdom one day. My people will restore the respect and dignity that your kind deserves. We will stand together as equals. I can promise that on behalf of my kingdom. We can also help you survive this because we both know your group isn’t strong enough, especially if you all manage to reach the higher dungeons.”
His words brought a spark of hope, a flicker of possibility in the stark reality they faced, or so anyone in the shoes of Isola would feel…Merina thought.
Yet the gravity of his proposal was not lost on either woman, “You need not worry about the consequences. You can say you were forced to cooperate for survival, and if it makes things easier… we can ensure no unnecessary witnesses remain.”
Merina’s heart skipped a beat. The thinly veiled threat was aimed directly at her. Agonon was suggesting her death as a casualty of this new alliance since she heard this conversation.
Even if she believed in Isola, she also knew what was hurting Isola the most, and that reason caused her heart to flicker with doubt.
“Thank you for your offer, Prince Agonon,” Isola began, her voice cool as the surrounding cavern, “But I must decline. I’ve given my word to the royal consort. I will stand by him. That is my choice,” Isoa’s words were firm, and her eyes contained no hint of hesitation or doubt, making Merina let out a sigh of relief inwardly and feel grateful.
Circe, standing to Agonon’s side, scoffed, her disbelief coloring the air, “How ridiculous. Is she joking?” she sneered, but her derision was cut short as Agonon’s voice cut through the tense silence.
“You’re making a grave mistake, Princess Isola,” He then briefly glanced at the Kraken before looking at Isola, “I can’t fathom why you would honor a pledge made to a man who even caused the death of your—”
But Isola suddenly cut him off, her voice calm yet sharp as a blade, “That is enough,” she warned, her gaze hardened, “I won’t have you, or any of your people, bring up such matters again.” 𝞸𝓥𝒩xt.𝗇t
Without another word, Isola gestured to Merina. The two turned their backs on the Draconvers and began to walk away, leaving Agonon and his group standing in silence.
As the two women walked away, Callisa who had been silent throughout the encounter finally looked down at the Draconvers.
“Krrr…”
Her eyes were hard, her mouth parts letting out a subtle growl as she ominously snapped one of her giant pincers together, looming over their heads.
It was a clear threat, a wordless warning to not cross her path again. With one last deathly stare, she turned to follow Isola and Merina.
As Isola and her party retreated, Circe couldn’t contain her outrage any longer. She hissed, “Sea bitch!” her voice echoing around the cavern, “How dare she spurn our Agonon’s kindness like that!”
Rune, who had been silent throughout the confrontation, let out a low grunt. He turned to Agonon, his golden tattoos glinting ominously in the faint light, “What now, Agonon?” he asked, his voice grating and thick with barely concealed anger.
Agonon watched the three retreating figures for a moment before he spoke. His voice was steady, his eyes cold and resolute, “Our plans remain unchanged,” he declared, “I did not anticipate the Umbralfiend princess to respond as such, but that does not alter our objective. The Bloodburn Kingdom is on its way to its doom. If the Umbralfiends wish to share their fate, then so be it. They will all succumb to us anyway.”
A small, cruel smile crept onto Vespera’s face at this, “That is a given,” she agreed, her spectral eyes shining with malicious delight, “Judging from the confidence of Asher’s pet, it would seem that alien is still alive.”
Circe scoffed at this, her dark yellow eyes flashing with derision, “Even if he is, he won’t remain so for long,” she retorted, her voice filled with venom, “The bounty we have put today on that alien with the so-called Immortal Bloodline is so tempting, even those far beneath him might try their luck. His time is running out and even more so now that he doesn’t have a Soul Devourer or the Kraken to protect him.”
The people standing around were finally able to release their breaths as they saw the two groups part.
They could only gossip to each other, wondering what this powerful party from the Draconis Kingdom was talking about with the one from the Bloodburn Kingdom.
It was a surprise they didn’t feel any killing intent considering the history between those two kingdoms.
Isola and Merina walked in silence for a moment, Callisa’s immense form looming over them like a protective shadow.
Eventually, Merina broke the silence, her voice unsteady. “Thank you, Isola,” she murmured, her gaze fixed on the rocky path ahead, “I have to be honest… For a second, I wasn’t sure how you were going to respond to Agonon’s offer. Logically, anyone else would’ve taken it.”
Isola remained silent, her gaze distant and unfocused, her thoughts seemingly miles away. Merina knew the wounds from losing her kingdom, and her people’s pride was still fresh, still raw.
“Why?” Merina finally asked, “Why did you choose to still stand by Asher?”
Isola finally turned to Merina, her eyes glazed but firm, a quiet strength radiating from her, “Other than the fact that I would never believe the words of a stranger, I told you before, Merina. I believe in Asher. I believe in the changes he can bring about,” she said, her voice steady, “Agonon and his group are wary of Asher’s potential. They wanted me on their side to ensure Asher had no allies to support him.”
Isola’s gaze hardened, her voice carrying a newfound resolve, “This is proof. Even without knowing Asher personally, these powerful people from around our world are wary of him. They fear his potential, whether they believe him to have the Immortal Bloodline or not,” Inwardly, Isola wondered how much different their reactions would be if they knew who he really was.
Maybe they would even risk everything to kill him as fast as possible.
Merina listened to Isola, her eyes widening in realization. She smiled, a sense of pride welling up in her chest for her Master, and feeling happy at Isola’s choice.