As the last of the demons were vanquished and the Sapphire Kingdom was finally at peace, Crimson couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that lingered within him. It was as if the darkness they had just defeated was only a precursor to something far more sinister.
He stood atop the castle walls, gazing out at the kingdom below, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger. The wind rustled his hair, and the faint scent of smoke and ash still lingered in the air.
Ares approached him, his expression thoughtful. "You're feeling it too, aren't you?" he asked, his voice low.
Crimson's eyes narrowed. "Feeling what?"
"The weight of what's to come," Ares replied, his gaze piercing. "The demons may be defeated, but the true enemy is still out there, waiting for his chance to strike."
Crimson's grip on the stone parapet tightened. "Roman," he growled, his jaw clenched.
Ares nodded. "Yes, Roman. And whatever plans he has, I fear we're not ready for them."
The unsettling feeling within Crimson grew, and he knew Ares was right. The battle may be won, but the war was far from over.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the Sapphire Kingdom, Crimson and Ares stood in contemplative silence. The weight of their responsibilities hung heavy in the air, like the promise of an impending storm.
"We need to gather the others," Crimson said finally, his voice firm. "We can't let Roman catch us off guard. We need a plan, and we need it now."
Ares nodded in agreement. "I'll summon the gods and fae leaders. We'll meet in the great hall at dawn to discuss our next move."
Crimson's eyes narrowed. "I'll gather the human leaders and our allies. We'll be ready."
With a shared nod, Ares vanished into the shadows, leaving Crimson to his thoughts. Crimson's mind was already racing with strategies and battle plans, his senses on high alert for any sign of Roman's next move.
As he descended into the castle, he spotted a figure waiting in the shadows - a figure who seemed out of place among the castle's bustling corridors. Crimson's instincts prickled, and he approached the figure with caution.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "And what brings you to our kingdom uninvited?"
The figure stepped forward, a sly smile spreading across his face as he bowed low. "Greetings, Crimson. I am Dimitri, a dark fae and... an acquaintance of Roman's. I've come to speak with Queen Isabelle on a matter of great importance."
Crimson's eyes narrowed, his grip on his sword hilt tightening. "What business do you have with the queen that can't wait?"
Dimitri's smile grew wider. "Let's just say I have information that could change the course of our... complicated history. Information that Roman would rather keep hidden, but I think the queen would find... enlightening."
Crimson's expression remained skeptical, but his curiosity was piqued. He glanced at Isabelle, who had emerged from the shadows, her expression cautious.
"Very well," Crimson said finally. "You may speak with the queen. But be warned, Dimitri, we'll be watching you closely."
Isabelle stepped forward, her eyes locked on Dimitri. "I am Queen Isabelle. Speak your mind, Dimitri. What is this information you bring?"
Dimitri's smile faltered for a moment as he met Isabelle's gaze, but he recovered quickly. Dimitri's smile grew wider as he revealed the information. "Roman's plan to free the Khragixx has hit a snag. He can't free it yet... he's missing a crucial element."
Isabelle's eyes narrowed. "What element?"
"He needs the heart of a dracotaur"Dimitri said. The room fell silent as the weight of Dimitri's words sank in. Isabelle's eyes widened in shock, and Crimson's jaw clenched in anger.
"Eryx?" Isabelle whispered, her voice barely audible. "The Dracotaur we've been fighting alongside? He's the one Roman needs?"
Dimitri nodded."Yes, Your Majesty."Isabelle's eyes flashed with anger as she looked at crimson . "We have to warn him. We have to protect him."
"Let's tell the others"crimson said and Isabelle agreed. Before leaving Crimson's eyes narrowed as he gazed at Dimitri. "You're one of Roman's followers, aren't you? You're a traitor to him, and yet you're telling us this now. Why?"
Dimitri's eyes darted around the room, his face pale. "I...I don't want the Khragixx to be free," he stammered. "Roman's gone too far this time. He's playing with forces beyond his control."
Crimson's grip on Dimitri's arm tightened. "That's not all of it. There's something else, isn't there?"
Dimitri swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was scared, okay? Roman's not one to be trifled with. I didn't want to end up on the wrong side of him... but I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try to stop him."
Crimson's expression didn't soften.
"You're not going anywhere," he said, as he nodded to one of his guards.
"Lock him up. We'll deal with him later."
The guards moved to take Dimitri away, their faces stern and unyielding. Dimitri's eyes widened in panic as he realized he might not be as safe as he thought.
Isabelle strode purposefully through the corridors, her mind racing with the weight of the revelation. She gathered the others in a secure meeting room, their faces filled with anticipation.
Isabelle turned to Ares, Eris, and Aaron, her expression grave.
"Roman can't free the Khragixx just yet. He needs something, or rather someone, to unleash it. And that someone is Eryx, the Dracotaur." Ares's eyes narrowed. "Why Eryx? What's so special about him?"
Isabelle's voice was low and urgent.
"Because Roman believes Eryx's heart is the last piece of the sacrifice that unleashes the Khragixx. That's why he's been stalling, using the portal attacks to distract us while he goes after Eryx."
Eris's face twisted in anger. "We have to protect him. We can't let Roman get his hands on him."
Aaron nodded in agreement. "We need to get to Eryx, now. We can't let Roman use him for his twisted plans."
Ares raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile on his face. "Roman thinks he can capture Eryx? I'm not worried.
Eryx is more than capable of handling himself. I've trained him well."
Eris frowned. "Don't underestimate Roman, Ares. He's been planning this for a long time. We can't let our guard down."
Ares chuckled. "I'm not underestimating Roman. I'm just confident in Eryx's abilities. He's a powerful Dracotaur, and he's not one to be trifled with."
Isabelle nodded in agreement. "Ares is right. Eryx is strong, and he's resourceful. But we still need to warn him. Roman won't hesitate to use every trick in the book to get what he wants."
Aaron spoke up, his voice thoughtful.
"I'll go with Ares to warn Eryx. We can't let Roman get the drop on him."
Ares nodded, already heading towards the door. "Let's move. We'll get to Eryx and make sure he's prepared for whatever Roman throws his way."