16/Meeting at the castle

Early in the morning in the royal capital, a dense crowd lined the cobblestone streets, the excitement palpable in the air. The murmurs and enthusiastic conversations created a harmonious cacophony, as if in anticipation of a grand event. The merchants' stalls, usually crowded with customers, were temporarily abandoned, everyone eager to have a clear view of the main street.

Suddenly, a luxurious carriage, gleaming with golden ornaments and pulled by majestic white horses, appeared around the corner of an avenue. The finely sculpted wheels of the carriage seemed to glide over the cobblestones, adding to the aura of perfection and grace it exuded. The horses, proud and elegant, trotted with impeccable synchronization, their manes flowing in the wind.

At the sight of this scene, the crowd burst into enthusiastic cheers. Faces lit up with wonder and respect, children on their parents' shoulders joyfully waving. Petals were thrown into the air, creating a colorful shower that gently fell around the carriage. "We've only been gone a few days and we still get a welcoming committee," remarked a man sitting in the carriage, observing the crowd with a satisfied smile.

"That's quite normal since we are returning from a diplomatic mission." replied a calm female voice.

"In any case, this little trip wasn't too tiring, and I managed to bring back a little souvenir." added the first man, smiling even more as he caressed a small jewel-encrusted box beside him.

"Pfff." sighed his companion in an annoyed tone.

"Why are you sighing? Don't I have the right to indulge myself?" the man asked, turning to him, feigning innocence.

"Do as you please, but you should focus on our report and tonight's dinner." replied the woman with a hint of exasperation in her voice.

"Ah yes, we do have dinner with our newly summoned heroes. I can't wait to see what they're like, can you?" exclaimed the man, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"New encounters are always interesting, but having a good dinner would be nice." she replied, visibly preferring tranquility.

"Let's hurry then. Guard, could you go a little faster?" the man asked, turning to the guard at the front of the carriage.

"Of course." replied the guard, saluting before lightly whipping the reins, speeding up the horses' pace.

The carriage now headed swiftly towards the royal castle, visible on the horizon. A black flag bearing a white crow soared proudly in the wind, symbolizing the power and authority of the royal house. The cheers of the crowd gradually faded as the carriage approached the imposing gates of the castle. Finally, after a few days of acclimatization in the castle, where they were treated like royalty with their breakfasts, meals, and suppers served by servants at their full disposal, they were invited to a dinner with the king. Apparently, it was to celebrate the start of their training. The King's daughter and son had also returned from a journey, providing an opportunity for everyone to meet.

It was currently morning, and most of the heroes were still sound asleep in their luxurious beds. Maïli, however, had risen at dawn. Since her arrival at the castle, she had regularly gone to the training grounds to perfect her control of magic. She practiced on dummies, as usual.

Maïli was a beautiful young girl with black hair, with large brown eyes that shone with intelligence and determination. Her feminine curves, generous chest, and round buttocks often drew admiring glances. That morning, she was intensely focused, effortlessly channeling her magical power. A violent gust sprang from her hands, striking one of the dummies with such force that it shattered into pieces. Despite the power of her attack, Maïli did not seem satisfied with the result.

Frustrated, she clenched her fists and took a deep breath:

"Fff, I can't create sharp gusts to cut the dummy. I only manage to tear it to pieces for now." sighed Maïli, frustrated.

"Isn't that one of the famous summoned heroes?" a voice rang out behind her.

She turned to see an elegant young man, dressed in magnificent black attire adorned with delicately embroidered gold patterns. His blond hair, carefully styled, and his emerald green eyes gave him a royal and sophisticated appearance. His upright posture and confident air testified to his noble origin.

"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Raphael, prince of the Kingdom of Sigma. Delighted to meet such a lovely and apparently hardworking lady." he said, making a graceful bow.

"You flatter me, and I do need the training to prepare to defend your kingdom." replied Maïli with a polite smile.

Raphael approached her and took her hand, placing a delicate kiss on her fingers.

"You are delightful, I look forward to seeing you at dinner tonight." he murmured, his gaze captivating.

"Me too, Prince Raphael." replied Maïli, trying to hide her surprise at his gesture.

He walked away calmly, eventually disappearing from her sight. Maïli watched him leave, her thoughts swirling.

"At first glance, he seems very nice, but I need to be cautious." she said to herself, resuming her training with renewed determination.

She knew that behind the prince's apparent charm could lie more complex intentions, and she didn't intend to let her guard down. The prince wandered quietly through the castle, the servants along his path bowing respectfully.

"Welcome back, Prince Raphael." murmured the servants.

Continuing on his way with confidence, Raphael noticed a beautiful young girl waiting for him. She wore a magnificent black dress, finely adorned with embroidery and gold patterns that glittered in the light, adding a touch of mystery and sophistication to her appearance. Her long blonde hair, carefully styled, fell in silky cascades over her shoulders, accentuating her natural beauty and creating a striking contrast with the darkness of her dress.

His piercing emerald green eyes, bright with intelligence, followed every movement with particular attention, adding an aura of grace and mystery. The slight smile on his lips testified to an innate elegance and quiet confidence.

"You were waiting for me, Sarah." Raphael said as he approached.

"Indeed. I saw you speaking to that girl. She's one of the summoned heroes, if I'm not mistaken." replied Sarah, glancing out the window, where Maïli could still be seen training.

"It was nothing more than brief salutations." Raphael retorted.

"Then was the kiss on the hand really necessary?" Sarah asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"How could I not greet such a magnificent woman in the most beautiful manner?" Raphael replied with a charming smile.

"A real ladies' man. Have you already decided to make her yours at first sight?" continued Sarah, exasperated.

"It's not just her beauty, but also her character. Haven't you noticed? She's the only one training early in the morning after being here for just a few days. She shows discipline, a sense of duty, but most of all, a purity I want to tarnish." he said with a wicked look.

"You'll never change. Your outer beauty is matched only by your inner ugliness." Sarah replied with barely concealed contempt.

"Oh my dear little sister, always complaining and playing the good girl. We are nobles, more than that, prince and princess of the Kingdom of Sigma. We have the right to do whatever we please whenever we please." Raphael replied with a sneer.

"Is that why, on the way back, you enjoyed burning and exterminating a newly discovered demi-human village?" Sarah asked, her tone icy.

"Those filths got what they deserved, but I must admit I took great pleasure in it. I even brought myself a little souvenir that I can't wait to use." Raphael replied, his eyes shining with cruelty.

"Do as you wish. Father is waiting for us to report on our journey." Sarah said, resigned.

"Very well, let's go then." Raphael concluded.

They made their way to the great hall where the king sat, accompanied by his magician Moses. Numerous nobles were lined up on either side, accompanied by guards. The princess and the prince walked on a red carpet leading to the throne before finally kneeling before the king.

"My son, my daughter, I hope you had a good journey," declared the king, looking happy.

"Yes, father, it wasn't too tiring, fortunately." Sarah replied.

"And you, my son?" the king asked, turning to Raphael.

"I managed to annihilate an elf village on the way, so it was quite pleasant." Raphael replied with a smile.

"As expected from my son, the goddess must be pleased that you exterminated those vile creatures." declared the king, a satisfied smile on his lips.

A part of the hall displayed approving smiles.

"Well, you can now report your mission to the royal court." the king ordered.

Sarah and Raphael stood up, ready to recount the details of their mission, aware of the court's attentive gazes.

"Well, we went to the Kingdom of Ecclésia to start diplomatic alliance talks. It went very well. A meeting should soon take place between you and the king of Ecclésia. We agreed on a military and economic alliance, in conclusion, mutual support. They also gave us a very worrying report that coincides with ours." explained Sarah confidently.

"And what is this report?" asked the king, his interest piqued.

"Well, father, the number of dungeons is constantly increasing." Sarah replied, her voice resonating in the silent hall.

In the hall, many whispers could be heard, showing the general concern.

"Hasn't Ecclésia summoned its own heroes?" asked the king, intrigued.

"They have indeed summoned them and have already begun their training. In total, they managed to summon fifteen, all with very good professions and skills." explained Sarah.

"Well, our goal was to seal an alliance to fight against the dungeons, and that seems settled. Once our heroes are trained, they can subsequently collaborate together. However, the increase in dungeons is a problem. We don't even know why they appeared, nor why and how they continue to multiply. My daughter, you will send a letter to determine the date of our meeting. You have done a good job." said the king with approval.

"Thank you, father." replied Sarah with a bow.

"And you, my son?" asked the king, turning to Raphael.

"Well, nothing has changed so far, father. I went to the Kingdom of Ria, that infamous country where humans and demi-humans coexist. They refused all forms of assistance or alliance." reported Raphael with disdain.

In the hall, cries of indignation could be heard. The idea of coexistence between species was unbearable for many. One of the nobles spoke up loudly.

"My King, how can we still tolerate the existence of these heretics who reject the teachings of the goddess and her Church!" exclaimed the noble passionately.

The hall approved his words with murmurs of agreement and nods. The atmosphere was charged with emotion and rese.ntment.

"You all know that the Kingdom of Ria, despite its neutrality, remains one of the most powerful kingdoms. Attacking it would create a war we are not sure to win. Not to mention that we have the problem of dungeons, which represent a great threat." declared the king, his voice firm.

"But isn't that also why we are creating diplomatic alliances?" retorted the noble, insisting.

"Yes, but for now, we won't attempt anything reckless. We will take our time and create military and diplomatic alliances with other kingdoms, big or small. All to increase our strength and become one of the greatest superpowers. After that, we will see what we will do." explained the king, his strategy well thought out.

"But why wait so long? We have the Church and now Ecclésia with us. Let's burn those heretics who deny human superiority." the noble launched passionately.

"Do I need to remind you who currently rules the Kingdom of Ria?" the king said in a serious tone, his gaze piercing each of the nobles present.

In the hall, there were gulps, and a heavy silence fell. Their hatred for those who did not worship the goddess had made them forget who ruled Ria.

"The Queen of Flames! The most powerful red mage that has ever existed on the continent! Capable of setting a kingdom ablaze single-handedly, Queen Edelgard!" declared the king, his voice resonating with undeniable authority.

The nobles fell silent, aware of the danger a direct confrontation with Ria and its formidable queen would represent. The silence in the hall was now heavy with reflections and fears. Each of them fully understood the implications of the king's words. The threat of Queen Edelgard was not to be taken lightly.

Queen Edelgard, nicknamed the "Queen of Flames," was feared across the continent. Her destructive powers were legendary, capable of reducing entire armies to ashes and devastating cities and even dungeons in an instant. Her mere name was enough to instill terror and make the bravest tremble. Her past acts of destruction had left indelible marks, etched in the collective memory of neighboring peoples.

The king, observing the reactions of his advisers, continued:

"We must be strategic and patient. It is crucial to strengthen our alliances and solidify our defenses before thinking of any action against Ria. Their current neutrality offers us a window to prepare, but never forget the power we could face."

A murmur of agreement ran through the hall, the nobles nodding in understanding. The king's pragmatism seemed to calm them, though the tension remained palpable.

"My daughter, continue to correspond with Ecclésia. We need to fix this meeting quickly to consolidate our alliance." the king ordered Sarah.

"Yes, father. I will take care of it today." Sarah responded.

The king straightened up, concluding the session:

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a difficult path ahead of us, but together, we can overcome these challenges. Let us be cautious, but resolute. May the goddess guide us." (King)

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Special thanks to Rebecca/Amari/Zezima/Crowny_66/Bored dragon/ Sky_Shay/A_F_D/Fidelissama/Morgan/Arjunn/TheGreatSucc/Jared/ Grimjaw/Damion/ for her power stones.

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