CHAPTER 21 —
The Empire of Dominion was restless.
Sunlight spilled across its towering spires and polished marble bridges, painting the capital in a warm glow that could not hide the trembling excitement in the air. Servants hurried through the halls, decorators balanced trays of golden ornaments, and soldiers polished armor until their reflections looked back at them.
The grand feast was only hours away.
Inside the Main Hall, where the ruler of the empire would sit during the meeting, three workers were struggling to fix a velvet banner in place. Their hands moved, but their mouths did far more work.
"Hey, do you know who's coming?" Person 1 asked while pulling the cloth tight.
Person 2 shook his head without looking up. "Nah, I really don't know. They told us to prepare like our heads would roll if anything goes wrong."
Person 1 sighed loudly. "It's been decades since we worked our butt off this much for a feast. My arms feel like they're about to fall off."
Person 3, balancing a vase, scoffed."You guys don't know who is coming?"
Person 2 blinked. "Nah, we don't."
Person 1 narrowed his eyes. "Do you know?"
Person 3 leaned closer with the enthusiasm of someone who lived for gossip."Yeah. I heard that rulers of a great kingdom are coming. A kingdom so strong even the Four Great Emperors fear them."
Person 2 dropped the plate in his hand."What the hell are you saying?"
Person 1 frowned. "Yeah, I never heard of any kingdom rulers that the Four Great Emperors fear."
Person 3 shrugged. "This kingdom isn't officially declared yet, but it's soon going to be."
Person 2 put his hands on his hips. "You are just spilling nonsense now."
Then—
Screams erupted outside the door.
The three froze mid movement.
Person 1 swallowed."What were those screams?"
Person 2 edged toward the entrance."Let's go check it out."
They opened the large doors and stepped outside.
And froze.
Their entire bodies locked in place.
Person 3's voice trembled."What… is this…"
The sky was gone.
Something enormous covered it, something so impossibly vast that the sunlight turned pale. The air vibrated with an ancient pressure, and a shadow covered the entire capital as if a second moon had eclipsed the world.
A beast.
A dragon.
Not a normal dragon.Not even a legendary dragon.
This one was large enough to blanket the entire capital city beneath its wings.
The workers fell to their knees, unable to scream, unable to breathe.
The scene shifted.
Inside the Emperor Chamber, an elite knight came sprinting down the hall, nearly stumbling as he barged through the double doors.
The Four Great Emperors, seated around a round marble table, looked up sharply.
The knight bowed so fast his helmet clattered."Forgive me, your highnesses, but… a great white dragon is heading toward the capital. Its size is enough to cover the sky of the entire city!"
Althares rose to his feet instantly, his eyes wide."It can't be…"
Isolde scoffed."Stop thinking nonsense. We all know it can't be her."
Kuroz tapped his fingers on the table, anxiety leaking through his composed expression."But it can't be impossible either."
Cassian pushed back his chair."We should go out. We can't tell anything from inside. Move."
They marched out of the chamber with the authority of gods.
Outside the castle gates, they lifted their heads.
Althares whispered first."Skin as white as a moonlit glacier…"
Kuroz clenched his jaw."It is her."
Isolde exhaled shakily."The Great Dragon Queen."
Cassian's voice was quiet."Lunara…"
The knight stumbled forward."T-the dragon… it turned into human form!"
The Four Emperors snapped their heads up at the sky just in time to see five figures descending.
Five silhouettes falling gracefully as if gravity itself bowed for them.
Airi.Haruto.Frost.Lyria.Lunara.
Before they reached the ground, Frost extended a wave of controlled wind magic to soften their landing. They wouldn't have been harmed anyway, but the earth most definitely would have cracked under the sheer mana pressure.
They landed gently in front of the emperors.
Airi lifted both arms into the air."Onii Chan, that was even more amazing than a roller coaster!"
Haruto patted her head with a small smile."Yeah, it sure was."
Lyria twirled lightly, wings shimmering."We should try it again sometime."
The Four Emperors stared at them silently.
Ancient beasts.Three of them.
The Great Wolf King, Frost the Destroyer Fenrir.The Great Fairy Queen, Lyria the Nature Guardian.The Great Dragon Queen, Lunara the Catastrophic Dragon.
And standing in front of these beasts…two children.
Airi, the Eternal Princess.Haruto, the Prince of Death.
Conversing casually with world ending creatures.Laughing.Enjoying the fall from the sky like it was a festival ride.
Althares felt sweat on his back.They aren't just dangerous.They redefine the word.
Isolde coughed lightly to regain composure."W-why don't we get inside."
Althares nodded quickly."Y-yes, you must be tired from the journey. Please, let us go in."
Airi nodded cheerfully."Yes, let's go in."
Haruto leaned closer to her, whispering."Act like a real queen now."
Airi smirked mischievously."Yeah yeah, Onii Chan. I got it. But what will I get in return?"
Haruto sighed."What do you want…"
Airi tapped her chin dramatically."Hmm… let me think… ehehe… I'll tell you when we get back home."
Haruto's eye twitched."I don't think it's something good. But fine. If you behave, I'm willing to do anything."
Airi grinned."Ehehe. This is going to be fun."
Lunara rolled her eyes."Will you two stop acting like a couple?"
Lyria nodded."Yeah, we are not in our kingdom."
Frost snorted."We should pay attention. Analyze every corner."
Haruto and the two queens said in unison."Yeah…"
The emperors guided them into the grand hall prepared for the feast. Massive pillars rose to the ceiling, chandeliers shimmered with mana crystals, and an enormous rectangular table gleamed at the center.
Airi walked with a calm, regal posture.Haruto noticed instantly.
She really was acting like a queen.
Her chin raised.Her steps slow, confident, yet graceful.Her expression serene but strong.
He smiled softly.
Lunara noticed and whispered to Lyria."She learned that from him."
Lyria sighed."She refuses to learn magic formations quickly but picks up royalty mannerisms in one day…"
Frost added quietly."She learns only the terrifying things she shouldn't."
Haruto almost laughed.
They sat down at the table.
Althares cleared his throat."We are honored by your presence. Truly. We have awaited this meeting for years."
Kuroz nodded."The Empire wishes to discuss diplomacy regarding the formal recognition of Aetheria as an official kingdom."
Airi placed her hands together, her expression turning serious."We are ready to make Aetheria public."
The emperors stiffened at her confidence.
Cassian leaned in."But how will people enter Aetheria? The Great Forest cannot be stepped into by humans without divine mana."
Airi's smile deepened.This was the smile she learned from Haruto.Not a sweet smile.
A confident one.
A smile that said: I know what I am doing.
"We can do anything. We are not weak, you know… Lyria"
Lyria bowed her head slightly."Yes, my queen."
Airi turned to her."When we get back to Aetheria, cover the entire Great Forest with our barrier."
The four emperors froze.
"Barrier?" they whispered.
Althares dared to ask."If I may be bold… can you explain what barrier you are referring to?"
Airi shook her head gently."Sorry, your highness. That is confidential. But I can say this."
The lights dimmed slightly as mana stirred around her.
"Once the barrier covers the forest, we can modify it to our specifications. We can set what type of mana can enter."
Isolde exhaled slowly."That is incredibly advanced."
Cassian's jaw clenched."Even we do not possess such technology…"
Haruto watched their reactions quietly.
Airi continued with a calm, queenlike voice."We will allow citizens to visit Aetheria through designated gates. The barrier will protect them. But only those we approve may enter deeper."
The emperors nodded, overwhelmed.
Lunara stretched her wings lazily."If they cannot even understand this much, they are not ready."
Lyria giggled."I wonder how humans will react when they see spirits dancing in the trees."
Frost looked toward the windows."The forest will adapt to Airi's wishes."
Haruto reached for a glass of water.Airi gently tapped his hand."What is it?" he whispered.
She leaned closer with a proud smirk."I learned another queen thing."
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "What did you learn now?"
She whispered."How to intimidate people with a smile."
Haruto sighed deeply.
The meeting continued until night fell.
After long discussions, after planning how Aetheria would be announced to the world, after deciding the first diplomatic exchange, Althares finally stood.
"We humbly ask you to stay a night in the palace. We have prepared separate rooms."
Airi nodded."We accept."
Haruto placed a gentle hand on her shoulder."Let's rest. Tomorrow will be busy."
Airi smiled.A real one this time.
Not regal.Not intimidating.Just hers.
And the night embraced them as Aetheria's rulers spent their first night inside the Empire of Dominion.