First Encounter

Riona writhed on the ground. Her screams echoed through the courtyard as the invisible force crushed her from within. "Aaaarrrgggghhh!"

Just as she thought she might black out, a low, husky voice broke through the haze. "What's with the commotion?"

Riona's eyes widened as the pressure eased. She turned to see a tall, imposing figure stepping into the garden. He had a straight face, and his amber eyes were fixed on Sir Orlo. 

For some reason, the scene of Sir Orlo subduing Riona had caught the eye of Thorin Klein, the Alpha werewolf of Wintertooth.

Riona rubbed her neck and muttered to herself, "Funny that you asked. You didn't even realize the commotion you made."

"What's that?" Sir Orlo turned to Riona, but she pretended not to understand what he was talking about.

Suddenly, Florian jumped into the palace garden through the broken window, tearful and clutching Riona's sleeve as he pleaded silently.

"That's okay, Flo. I'm alright," she whispered, squeezing his small hand.

Thorin's voice cut through the tension. "I'm just curious. I almost thought this is how you welcome your guests. Is this some kind of performance?"

"Thorin Klein," Sir Orlo tasting the name with distaste but maintaining a poker face. "I'm afraid there is no such performance. I'm merely stopping her from causing even more trouble."

Nearby, Juan regained his strength and crawled away from the scene, leaving Riona with the two men. There was tension between them as if they were about to brawl, but Riona knew better.

The Eternal Scholar always had a pragmatic approach, and no matter how angry he was, he wouldn't engage in unnecessary battles.

Riona coughed several times, glancing around as if seeking an escape. While Sir Orlo was busy addressing the royal guest, she thought of slipping away. But the Eternal Scholar was meticulous, and he didn't let go easily. 

Something heavy befell her shoulders—Sir Orlo's power, forbidding her from moving.

Though the force was invisible, Thorin sensed something was amiss. His gaze turned to Riona, who was struggling to rise with a boy crying silently beside her.

He eyed Riona, who was visibly different from the other inhabitants of the Kingdom of Eira. While her hair was the same shade of silver, her eyes were sky blue, an extreme rarity among vampires, where green and grey were more common.

"Is this the customary treatment for your own kind?" Thorin's voice was calm but firm, his gaze shifting between Sir Orlo and Riona. "Forgive me, but it raises concerns regarding the proposed alliance. If this is how your own people are treated, I must question how you would treat mine."

"It seems like you're implying that our discipline system is something bad," Sir Orlo spoke through gritted teeth. 

His hatred toward werewolves was public knowledge. He often referred to those with fur as barbaric and uncivilized. He took several steps forward, sticking out his chest to show he wasn't afraid of the Alpha werewolf. 

"I believe this is none of your concern, Thorin. You've only been here a day. Maybe if you stayed longer, you could learn a thing or two about manners."

The insult was direct, and Riona felt a real fight brewing. She raised her hand and said, "Um, excuse me, gentlemen? Not that I'm not enjoying the show, but could you maybe release me first, Sir Orlo? My brother and I have a strict 'no getting squished' policy."

Sir Orlo raised an eyebrow, clearly unsure how to respond to Riona. But it was even more baffling that Thorin was not provoked.

Instead of taking offense at the insult, Thorin laughed lightly. "You're a funny one," he said to Riona, then turned to Sir Orlo. "And you, Sir Orlo, are the dramatic one."

The unbothered response irked Sir Orlo even more. His veins bulged, though he remained otherwise still. One wrong move, and he would unleash his power, no doubt. He stood tall, unwilling to budge; letting Riona go would make Thorin the final winner.

Meanwhile, Riona was trapped amidst the battle of pride between these two men. "Sir Orlo, release me, please. Your glare could rival the sun—what if you accidentally turn me to ashes?"

At first, Riona tried to talk it out. Despite his claims, Sir Orlo was usually lenient, having been her teacher for quite a long time. He also had a soft spot for Florian, the unfortunate kid who often bore the brunt of things due to Riona's recklessness.

"Hello? Sir Orlo?" It seemed Sir Orlo was too focused on the person in front of him to hear Riona's voice.

"Flo, can you stay away from me? A little bit further, okay? I'm going to release level two, so make sure you're at a safe distance," Riona whispered quietly in Florian's ear.

His eyes widened, afraid of what his sister might do next. His lips quivered, and his body shook. He must have thought Riona would do something bad, and he was right.

Sir Orlo might be strong, but he was still just a scholar, who spent his time in books. Although Riona didn't know the extent of his power because she had never challenged him directly, she was confident that she was stronger than him. 

Taking a deep breath, Riona focused her energy around her back. She felt warmth building, and when she was ready, she unleashed her power. Her groan was so loud that everyone's attention shifted to her.

Her strength catapulted her into the air. Her blue eyes turned red, a color they only assumed when she activated her power.

Noticing the imminent danger, Sir Orlo clicked his tongue and mumbled to himself, "What were you thinking, Riona?!"

He stretched his arms to both sides, sending everyone around him flying, including Florian, who was still running away but too slow.

"Lord Thorin, you better move. She is dangerous!" Sir Orlo shouted. 

Thorin, however, held his ground. Even the Alpha werewolf could sense that something big was about to happen, but his curiosity got the better of him. "I'm fine here," he said.

"Your call. But you're not going to like this," Sir Orlo added.