Sarina paced in her high chamber, like a caged animal, her cloak swirling around her feet. The busy and vicious streets of the Valkyra clan were visible from Sarina's balcony. It failed to evoke a sense of pride this time, instead, she felt waves of anxiety wash over her.
Giving no sign of the mage's return, the dark sky lay above, testing her patience; she gave away something precious, something more valuable than she could even realize. The future of this clan and the valuable dragon.
It was her duty to comply with Arzoth's request or demand, whatever it was, but her mind was now a mess. The prince was a brat, everyone knows that, she would have never given Arisa to him even for a second, what made her rethink her decision was only the unexpected change in the prince's recent behavior.
She knew she was betting on Arzoth for this. What choice did she have, anyway?
A glowing, green star sparkled in the dark sky, but only when it neared, Sarina caught sight of the magic circle and Tashi on it.
Sarina rushed downstairs, out on the ground, and she halted right in the middle. Tashi's magic circle stopped a few inches above the ground, it faded as soon as the mage stepped down.
The mage moved forward towards her queen and paused at a suitable distance, her head bowed before Sarina, before Tashi's calm gaze met the queen's anxious ones.
"Did you do what I said?" Sarina spoke, not bothering with formalities. To which, Tashi gave a curt nod.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I removed the seal from the dragon."
"And Arisa?" Sarina inquired.
"She is with Prince Arzoth. Though I don't think it was necessary, Your Majesty."
Sarina shook her head slightly, "It was...necessary!"
Tashi frowned, "I am not sure if the prince would be able to handle the infant well. Why let him take the demon princess, Your Majesty?"
Sarina crossed her arms and gazed at a distant point on the horizon. "Was it not righteousness?"
Tashi gave out a soft sigh of defeat, "It wasn't."
"Is it because Arisa will not be with her mother? If you think that..."
"No, Your Majesty, I don't believe that at all," Tashi paused, carefully choosing her words. "If a half-breed child remains in either the demon realm or the human realm, it will lead to disaster. She can only be properly shaped with the right elements."
Sarina looked at Tashi, "You are right, and I am not capable of doing that, Tashi. He is!"
Tashi faintly tilted her head in confusion, "How are you so sure, Your Majesty?"
"Arisa told me so,"
Tashi's eyes widened, and she questioned herself whether she had heard right. "Huh?"
Sarina just smiled at the puzzled mage and turned around before walking inside the grand castle.
****
The breeze was strong, given the height at which the ice dragon flew. Skor flapped his large wings, cutting through the clouds and filling the air around him. He carried the weight of the man and an infant effortlessly over his trained body. The dark sky was lit up by the sole, giant moon with almost no sparkling stars to accompany it. The trio flew above various small kingdoms, rivers, and villages.
It was just a matter of time before Arzoth could see the signs of life, prosperity, and the well-lit kingdom of Eldrakai in this night. Skor flew passed the houses inside the kingdom until he reached on top of the palace gardens.
Arzoth could see the crowd of soldiers of the palace gathering on the ground to navigate the unknown creature entering the palace gardens. As Skor descended, his wings flapped with minimal effort. The soldiers panicked; a wave of dread washed over them once they recognized the creature as well as their prince on it.
They parted for the dragon's lending while they watched in awe at the formidable ice dragon, which they never thought they would see.
Arzoth didn't pay a glance at the stares and unmounted the dragon with caution, not wanting Arisa to wake up.
Evren rushed to the palace gardens as he got the message of a dragon lending. Evren's gaze took in the familiar ice dragon and Arzoth, before his eyes narrowed as he noticed a child in his brother's arms. The infant lay peacefully in Arzoth's arms, her breathing even and peaceful.
Evren took measured steps towards the prince, lifting his hand in a slight gesture to get the crowd moving.
The soldiers gave a deep bow and obeyed the orders of their crown prince immediately. The garden was soon emptied, leaving behind the dragon, the sleeping Arisa, and the princes.
"Your Grace won't be happy about this," Evren said, his focus solely on Arzoth.
"You think I don't know that?" Arzoth said with a smile.
The crown prince looked passed his brother, "And from the looks of it, I assume you want to keep this child and dragon-"
"Skor," the dragon corrected.
Evren's eyes widened in surprise, but he decided to continue, "Keep this child and Skor here for a while, right?"
Arzoth nodded, "Yes, I so intend to keep them both, and train Arisa here in this palace."
Evren looked at his brother, "That's why the dragon's seal is removed, so that it can train her? What wild step is this, Arzoth!?" The crown prince's voice rose with each word.
Arisa stirred from her beauty sleep by the disturbance, but with Arzoth's gentle taps, she drifted off to sleep again.
Evren looked back and forth between Arzoth and the infant. He sighed, "What will you tell the emperor?" Evren glanced at the dragon, "Your Majesty, won't allow a dragon, Skor, in the kingdom, let alone in the palace."
"In that case, I can always change my form." Skor said, dragging the attention of the princes to him."
The dragon closed his eyes, concentrating on his mana alone. He formed a blue aura around him, which floated in the air surrounding him like a cocoon. The intensity of the ice dragon was something Evren had never witnessed before; the cool glow of the mana made it impossible for the human eyes to see past it. Evren and Arzoth closed their eyelids to avoid their vision getting damaged.
"Is he?..."
When the cold glow faded, what remained was a young man with frosty hair, falling over his face in waves, doing little to hide his striking glacial eyes and the centuries-old wisdom in them. The dragon's skin sparkled under the moonlight like melting ice. His attire was that of a noble, an icy white crisp shirt under a sapphire-colored waistcoat, matching his brooch on his collar. The navy-blue trousers were tucked into his ankle-length, black boots.
Evren and Arzoth opened their eyes, they widened simultaneously as they scanned the dragon's new form. The human form of Skor was full of charisma and charm. He was beautiful in all ways.
A few light footsteps caught the attention of the three as they turned to face the person approaching from behind. The princes turned around,
Their eyes widened at the sight of the empress, watching them from a distance with her stern expression.
[Unique Quest: Avoid Arisa's Assassination]
[Penalty for failing: Death]
"What on earth!?"