Althea’s expression shifted a bit into something akin to gloomy or somber. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to show it to you, My Lord, because I, in fact, did not receive this honor from my mentor.”

  He sensed a story there and decided not to pry any further into the Dragon lady’s personal life yet. “I apologize for being insensitive in asking about something very private. Let us refocus on the more joyous proceedings.”

  Asterios stood up and walked closer to ceremonially accept the scale, hiding it away shortly after. It wasn’t something that should be put up on display. Its value and importance was simply too high. It was a gift he was meant to hold onto privately.

  Althea then moved up the steps with him and stopped slightly behind his throne just as she’d said she would, showing a little more than half of her figure. Some more small gifts followed before the congratulations ended. Yet, Asterios had a feeling that it still wasn’t all of them. Something told him that the other rulers would still approach him with additional offers separate from their joint declaration.

  Finally freed from his throne, he took the girls aside to take a sip of some wine and grab a snack for them all. As they were chatting about the ceremony and presents, the four monarchs joined them and they turned to meet their guests.

  “Having fun playing king?” Welrond snickered at Asterios.

  “It’s… something.” He chuckled wryly.

  “Well, it’s just the beginning. Before you kick back and relax here, there is one more thing to be taken care of,” the Human King stated.

  “Which is?” Asterios raised a brow at the man.

  “You gotta tell the people!” Silvia’s father patted him on the shoulder. “Your new subjects are impatiently awaiting the official announcement! Come on, let’s get you back on that stage and return here to have some fun in a flash! I don’t want to miss the dance!”

  Asterios rolled his eyes with a sigh. “Of course. Let’s get this over with. The longer we take, the higher the chances of even more surprises surprising me.”

  The ladies chuckled at him as he smirked their way. Judging by their conspirational glances, the night wasn’t over yet.

  Chapter 26

  A Great Start

  “Too bad you can’t just turn into a Dragon and fly out there, Master.” Miria pouted adorably at Asterios. “It would make such an amazing entrance.”

  “You just want to ride him into the crowd.” Selene smirked at the panthergirl, who giggled shyly.

  “We could all join, but alas.” Bryn shook her head while spreading her arms.

  “Yeah, sorry, but these kinds of stunts will come later.” Asterios chuckled at them. “I have no doubt we’ll reach the point where most of my lineage is publicly revealed, but this is not that time yet. Let’s first make sure the beginning of our new little town-state proceeds without any major hiccups.”

  “Do you have an exact moment in mind where you would like to become open about your origins?” Grea raised a curious brow at him.

  “I’m not fully sure.” He shrugged lightly. “I need to get a better grasp on my talents before we go that way. I bet Althea’s help will be extremely valuable with that. There are many things related to draconic energies I still need to learn about before I can flaunt myself to the world.”

  “But it will happen,” she stated with a small nod.

  “Definitely.” He nodded back at her. “It can be as much an advantage as it can be a drawback and risk. I just want to make sure that the latter are reduced as much as possible. Our safety, and the safety of our people, should come as a priority. But, it would be good to make the realm aware of the return of the Dragons. If it turns out that our future children will be born as ones, I want their homeworld to be a welcoming place where they can comfortably grow up without having to run through dimensions to escape violence, hunts, and prejudice.”

  The girls’ cheeks grew a tad rosier as Asterios met their eyes one by one after his unexpected exclamation. Especially Miria and Tina were getting as red as a tomato, avoiding his gaze to timidly stare at their nice shoes. As he finally turned to Althea, who kept herself relatively close but still far enough not to intrude on their time without an invitation, the Dragon lady graced him with a soft smile.

  “You are correct. The chances of that, and I mean your children being born as True Dragons, aren’t high on their own, but let’s just say that there are ways to further raise them according to one’s wishes,” she explained, easily guessing his unasked question with just one look. “But, we’ll cover that during one of our future lectures. We should keep to our current schedule and order. Unless you have a particular interest in this topic and would like to modify it a little bit?”

  Everyone glanced away as she roamed her emerald eyes over the blushing faces of the other women this time.

  “I think it can wait.” Asterios smirked at his mentor. “At least until we are in private.”

  “Wise words.” Althea picked a cherry from the nearby bowl and popped it in her mouth, announcing the end of that conversation and allowing the girls to relax.

  “Clock’s ticking. People will soon start wondering if their soon-to-be leader didn’t suddenly chicken out at the very last moment. Just imagine that.” Zegion snickered under his nose, acting like he wasn’t paying attention to anyone, only focusing on the snacks placed on the tables.

  “Well, I can’t exactly fly us there on my back like Miria wished me to, but I think I have a different idea.” Asterios grinned at his feline mate as the panthergirl looked up at him curiously. “Do you think we can manage this, Umbra?”

  After a brief moment of silence, the Lord of Shadows responded in their heads. ~Piece of cake. Will I need to protect everyone too?~

  “I have it all under control. Thanks.” Asterios shook his head. “Right. Let’s make sure our loyal subjects get an amazing show. I’ll see you all on the stage.”

  With a mischievous wink directed at his lovers, he turned around and started walking away. As his pace evenly increased, they all noticed the direction he was heading in. When he passed from a jog into a run, no one had any doubts about it anymore. Hitting full sprint, Asterios pushed the balcony doors open and dove forward over the railing, disappearing from their sight.

  With a flash of crimson light, a red, glowing smudge shot upwards, passing by the open balcony in a blink. The girls ran outside alongside the monarchs and watched in awe as a massive flaming figure of a True Dragon made of pure crimson fire ascended into the night sky while spinning gracefully. Ast’s mates clearly remembered that ability of his from their time in Bryn’s world and it brought reminiscent smiles to their lips.

  Reaching the peak of its ascent, the fiery magical shape of a True Dragon stopped in a vertical position and spread its flaming wings wide. A powerful roar split the air and echoed throughout the town and its surroundings. Everyone on the balcony could pinpoint the moment when Glimmervale’s streets fell silent, no longer filled with the muffled noise of partying and celebrations.

  As Asterios’ blazing avatar did a flip to the back and began descending at a rounded angle, the girls and the rulers noticed deep shadows pooling under their feet. They exchanged knowing glances and soon plunged into the darkness all together.

  The magical manifestation of a True Dragon fell from the sky until it reached the roofs of Glimmervale’s buildings. Asterios then pulled up a little bit and flew over the streets at a relatively quick pace. His silhouette flashed above the mesmerized crowd, bathing the residents and travelers in a scarlet glow.

  He did three full laps before heading for the stage, where he spun around while rising once more, and rushed right for the wooden contraption. People gasped as the flaming shape crashed into the floor, spreading violent fire in every direction like a small tsunami. But, before any flames could reach the observers, they dissipated and revealed a new group of people right behind Ulyssen, who had been notified by Asterios to prepare for this moment.

  Asterios, in turn, knelt on one knee and with his fist pressed into the ground with Tina, Silvia, Miria, Selene, Grea, Bryn, and Althea by his sides. A little bit away, Welrond, Grotger, Zegion, and Civienne grouped up into their own little team. The stage was wide enough for them all to stand in one row with a pause between the two lines.

  Ulyssen stopped looking at them with a wide smile and turned to the voice-enhancing artifact. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Lord Asterios and his entourage once more. This time, as many of you might be aware, joined by respectable leaders of our many neighboring and not nations, King Welrond the Fifth, Patriarch Grotger of the Damascu Clan, King Zegion the Pulverizer, and Queen Civienne Innanis of the Elves.”

  The gathered people applauded the new arrivals until Ulyssen raised a hand.

  “Now, allow me to make some space for Lord Asterios so he can address everyone properly,” the man said and retreated with a simple bow.

  Asterios took a breath, glanced at his lovely mates, and took the Committee member’s place. “Greetings again, everyone. I hope you are having lots of fun and that my brief interruption doesn’t ruin any of it by accident. My little magic trick might have been a tad too flashy, but I thought it would fit the theme well. I’m fairly sure you are already aware of the nature of my second appearance on this stage, so I’ll keep it short. As of right now, I have officially accepted my role as Glimmervale’s and Dragon Valley’s lord by signing the Declaration of Independence that you all have worked together to bring forth.”

  Before he could continue, the crowd exploded in cheers. Hats, gloves, and random items flew into the air as people celebrated. Either on their own or with their neighbors. Asterios smiled wryly while waiting. He certainly hadn’t expected such a powerful reaction. Giving people a moment to express their joy, he waited without shushing the crowd down. Thankfully, it didn’t take long until the plaza turned relatively silent again with all the eyes focused on him.

  “First things first, then.” Asterios glanced over the small ocean of heads. “We definitely aren’t changing the city’s name. New nation on the map called Dragon Valley, sure, but Glimmervale remains as its capital. For now. We shouldn’t forget our origins. Plus, I heard there is a certain part of the year when the name truly shines and I can’t wait to experience that.”

  A mix of chuckles bounced off the facades of the nearby buildings alongside a wave of nods.

  “And I say we because just as Tina and I have been given the right to oversee Glimmervale together in the past, we are going to continue that notion from today on with the inclusion of my other amazing partners and my new mentor,” he continued, glancing at the girls and Althea. “Naturally, each of us possesses a different set of skills and knowledge, so no one is going to make decisions on their own without consulting with the rest of us. But you can still bring your worries and suggestions to whoever you wish. Additionally, the Committee will naturally remain as our advisors and aid us with their precious experience. Not much is going to change regarding its function, but the Committee members themselves will share more details about that topic at a later date. No need to bore you all with stiff regulations.”

  Some more laughs traveled through the air but quietened down fairly quickly.

  “Therefore, before we return to our grand festivities, myself and all the ladies just wanted to give all of you our heartfelt thanks for your faith in us. We promise not to disappoint and do whatever we can to make Dragon Valley thrive. Who knows? Maybe one day it will become the central hub of the whole realm?” Asterios finished and the girls reached his sides so they could wave together and perform a respectful bow to even more cheers.

  They retreated from the artifact while King Welrond passed them and stopped in front of it. Seeing the human ruler take the speaking spot, the crowd slowly calmed down, eager to see what was coming next.

  “Greetings, everyone. Allow me to officially congratulate you and Lord Asterios on this historic achievement. Some might think that losing a piece of my kingdom can only be seen as something detrimental from our side, but I’m honestly glad all of this happened and I’m looking forward to Dragon Valley’s fruitful partnership with the Human Kingdom. In the end, your new rulers have your complete support. Otherwise, the referendum wouldn’t have passed through. Therefore, I’m certain both of our nations will be able to thrive under these new conditions. As my daughter and I believe, happy people are the true pillar of a great kingdom.” He gave his own short speech, receiving a round of his own applause and cheers. “And I can personally vouch for Asterios and his good heart as his honest efforts made our lands much, much safer by uprooting an evil cult hiding in the shadows of our homes. If anyone can keep this place well-protected, it’s him. We owe Asterios a massive favor. One we can hopefully repay through this solid alliance.”

  Silvia rolled her eyes lightly, causing Tina to chuckle quietly. Her father was really building his position and image during Ast’s big moment, but they all knew it was simply part of being a monarch. Who could let such an opportunity to get in the good graces of another community pass just like that?

  Welrond backed away and Patriarch Grotger trotted to the artifact next, grabbing the tall pole to angle it towards his face. It looked somewhat comical, but no one dared to laugh openly.

  “I hate big speeches like this so let’s get this done quickly. The Damascu Clan owes Asterios a lot too, both in terms of safety and intercontinental trade, so we are happy he is making a place of his own. I sure as hell am going to continue our relationship. You might notice its benefits through the heaps of Damascu Ore that are going to support the development of your little town soon. And, we might be working on something even better together already. This is going to rock. You will see.” The short man pushed the artifact up and waddled back to his spot with that unbothered swagger of his.

  Surprisingly, it was Queen Civienne who moved next. Asterios thought they were stepping up chronologically, but it seemed unlikely now.

  “May the Tree bless you all, both elf, human, and other races,” she began with a kind of ritualistic gesture, which many elves reciprocated. “As you might be aware, our nation also worked with Asterios to take down the evil cult plaguing our realm, but that’s not all. If not for him, someone dear to me would have most likely lost their life. I’m unspeakably grateful for his aid during those dark hours, which coincidentally could have ended with a tragedy befalling the Garden of Sinners and the entire Elf Nation. I now not only hold a personal favor towards Asterios, but through his valiant efforts during his diplomatic delegation as the Human Kingdom’s representatives, he and his close companions earned the right to be called one of us. Therefore, I ask all elves present here to consider this place their second home. This budding kingdom is led by our sworn blood and we are obliged to support our own however best we can. The Tree wills it, and so do I.”

  This time, the applause was much quieter, all because the elven part of the crowd didn’t participate. Instead, the elves fell to one knee and bowed their heads as the queen spoke her last words, including even Ulyssen. An honorable moment passed before the icy lady curtsied lightly and turned away.

  The moment Asterios saw the huge smirk on Zegion’s lips, he and the girls knew the next part was going to be something special.

  “Alright, folks, demon, and demon-not. Since I’m strong enough to take care of my own issues, I’m unfortunately not going to join this favor party for being saved in times of great need. Why am I here then, you ask? Well, I can respect strength, and nothing makes a more powerful statement than a random guy waltzing into one of your sacred sites and turning it into dust and pebbles with a snap of his fingers.” The Demon King snickered loudly. “I had the pleasure of challenging Asterios shortly after, and I have to admit, he almost gave me a run for my money. It was back then, and with how absurdly quickly he and his ladies are growing, I’m almost certain I wouldn’t be able to come out alive from a serious duel. So, now that I have such a perfect opponent to test myself against, I’m not going to let anyone mess with him or his now or ever. Am I making myself clear enough? The demons will not stand idly and crush anyone who tries anything funny here. That includes demons too so watch yourselves, peeps.”

  He glared at the crowd intensely while met with complete silence. His speech was so different from the other ones that people didn’t know what to do. Zegion didn’t wait for any other reaction and proudly joined the ranks of his fellow rulers, who looked at him weirdly. All he did in response was smirk back at them.

  Before the long, awkward silence spread for too long, Ulyssen stepped forward. “And on that note, let’s wrap this incredible announcement up and—”

  Suddenly, the ground shook. It wasn’t a violent tremor, but the vibrations were noticeable, and he paused mid-sentence. The crowd began looking around and at their feet as everything trembled more and more. Slowly, it began reaching the level where many tripped or had to support themselves against their friends and companions.

  ~This isn’t a natural earthquake,~ Tia chimed in with a slightly anxious tone.

  Venuzathor woke up and directed his head to the sky, gazing far past the walls of the city. ~Spiritual energy in the direction of the contaminated summoning circle has spiked greatly. It’s flooding to the surface.~

  ~I concur,~ Umbra confirmed. ~Something is happening, and I have a feeling it’s connected to the dungeon.~

  “He just had to jinx us.” Asterios cursed under his nose and thanked his friends for talking mentally so as not to spread more panic amongst the people. “Selene! Bryn! Protect everyone!”

  ~My scouts report a few spiritual signatures heading our way. Nothing of a serious level,~ the Dracodon commented.

  “I’ll take care of it,” Asterios replied as his two mates jumped into action. “Miria, Silvia, Bryn, stay here and protect our guests.”

  The air grew heavy as intense spiritual pressure filled the square, Selene standing behind everyone with ten tails out and a focused expression, spreading her mana through the market to reinforce the buildings. Golden glow encased the people one by one as Bryn activated her shields around everyone. Asterios materialized his wings and soared into the sky, followed by Tina with her feathery ones borrowed from Esil, and Grea who rose from the ground with Aura’s help.