Answers Revealed

-----Kaede's POV

After some time had passed and the night was beginning to descend upon us, Yui had returned, but she didn't return alone. With her was a large group of men, carrying with them a bunch of supplies in a few wagons. One of the men in particular is a giant demi-human with a bull's head, but what was most surprising was that the queen and her daughters also came along as well, along with Luna and her family. I even saw Alice walking next to Yui along with Natalie. Just how much people does she think we need? We only need to make a small shack...

Yui: "I'm back~"

Kaede: "You seriously didn't hold back."

Yui: "Well... It's not my fault-"

Luna: "Mhmm! Ellen told us what was happening and we all just decided to help out."

Nick: "Plus, you'll need a "strong" man to do the heavy lifting here."

Luna: "Oh please. You only came because of Alice."

Nick: "Hah. That's just an added bonus."

Although I have mixed feelings with this many people around now, I am happy in knowing that mom will be getting the assistance she needs. But I suppose I do need to make sure everyone understands. And so, I move back over to Rina who's still treating my mother as I take a moment in inhale deeply.

Kaede: "Alright! Thank you for coming, but I need to make one thing clear. Do not interfere with this dark elf. If anyone is to so much as touch her, I'll have your head."

Everyone went silent, stopping their little chatter, but that's not surprising. Some of their faces were utterly shocked, speechless even.

Cecelia: "Hehe. We know. Ellen informed us about the situation. We'll work around her."

Kaede: "Thank you."

It might've been useless to proclaim all that, but I just needed to make sure that everyone knows what they're doing. But I like to think with my newly added threat, I doubt they'll try anything.

...

It didn't take long for everyone to begin constructing walls around Rina as everyone slowly found their respected roles. It seems like the bull man is the one in charge of the constructing as him and his men are the ones putting everything into place. Luna and her family, along with Yui and Alice helped bring the materials from the wagons over to the others. Natalie sat with Rina, making sure that she's also being cared for, giving her some water and some snacks. All these people, helping my mom... I honestly would've joined in, but there doesn't seem to be much need for my help.

Neri: "Hey, Kaede."

Kaede: "Hmm?"

Neri: "Walk with me for a bit."

Seeing as though everything is under control, I end up following Neri a bit deeper in the woods. Mell noticing me ends up following me, but Neri doesn't seemed bothered by it and allows her to follow us. The further we walk, the less I hear of the banging sounds and everyone's chatter.

Mell: "Where are we going?"

Neri: "Just a bit further."

Does she want to show me something that's out here? Or is she simply taking us away from everyone else?

My question would soon be answered as we come to a clearing in the forest. A small stream can be seen flowing through the forest, curving around rocks with many different shapes and sizes. There's not as much trees around here, making for quite a pleasant atmosphere, especially with the trickling of the water from the stream ticking our ears.

Neri: "Alright. This should do."

Suddenly, Neri began to take off her mask. I already knew what she looks like underneath it, but I can imagine what I would feel like seeing this for the first time. She then turned around to face the two of us, and that was when I noticed one specific change. Before when I saw Neri's face, her eyes were bright green, just like they are now, but the eyes I'm seeing now are not that of a human's. Her eyes reminds me of a cat's, but more specifically-

Kaede: "Dragon."

Neri: "Hehe. How'd you know?"

Kaede: "Your blood tasted similar to a dragon I fought long ago."

Neri: "Ah~ So that's why you reacted like that. I see."

She then took off one of her gloves before her normal, human looking hand began to grow in size, changing in color. Her nails grew into long talons, much like the feet of a dragon and her fingers grew black, plated scaled over her skin. I already had the suspicion that Neri was a dragon, but seeing the sight in front of me is still mesmerizing. But now I can't help but wonder if all the masked soldiers are secretly dragons.

Kaede: "...Is everyone else in your group a dragon?"

Neri: "No. It's just me. I will say for you to keep this a secret for me. Same for you Mell."

Mell: "Y-yes!"

Kaede: "Sure. But that would mean that none of them knows about you?"

Neri: "Mm. Only the queen knows of my true identity, along with her daughters. And now you two."

I'm thankful that at least someone else knows about Neri. And for them to be the queen and her daughters of all people. But then wouldn't it be okay for Neri to go public about this? I mean, everyone knows I'm a vampire, so why can't Neri reveal herself?

Neri: "I know you have questions, but let me just say that our situations are different."

Kaede: "Different?"

Neri: "Yes. For you, you were simply seen as a high potential threat. As for me, I'm already a well known threat. I've done quite a lot of bad things, things that would put everything at risk if people found out."

She's making herself out to be some sort of criminal with the way she's wording this.

Neri: "Remember when we talked about Leris?"

Kaede: "Yes. But you said you weren't a citizen there."

Neri: "Correct. I wasn't a citizen in that city. I was actually attacking it."

The reveal came quite abruptly, but it was then that she turned away from us, walking over to the stream before sitting down on the ground, staring at the water flowing through the forest.

Neri: "...There's a reason why I know a lot about Leris. How they operate, and how strong they are."

Mell and I take this time to walk over to Neri as I sit by her side, with Mell on my other side.

Neri: "You see. I had a younger brother."

Had?

Neri: "He was still young at the time, but he was so mischief for his own good. Our mother would usually go out often, and during those times, he would go out and explore, just like anyone else would when they're setting foot into a new world. As the older sibling, it was my job to look after him, so I ended up following him as he pleases."

I can't relate to having a sibling, but from the sounds of it, it does sound like a pain running around after them.

Neri: "Everything was fine for the most part. That was until he decided it would be fun to explore a kingdom off in the distance."

Kaede: "...And that would be Leris?"

Neri: "Mm... He didn't know about humans or the threat that they could bring, but I was well aware how dangerous they were. Mom made sure to drill that into me when I was young."

Kaede: "Then why didn't you stop him?"

Neri: "Pfft. You don't think I tried? Even though I was older, he was still a male dragon. Even at his age, he was much stronger than me. He insisted that we wanted to explore, and all I could was to watch over him."

Kaede: "And that was when you two attacked?"

Neri: "No. We didn't even make it close to those sparkling towers. The humans found us and shot at us. I managed to dodge their barrage, but my brother got hit. It sent him in a rage, killing the humans that attacked us. But it didn't stop there. He ended up continuing on towards the capital. I tried to protect him, covering his back in case he wanted to retreat. But in a flash of light... He fell..."

So that's the reason why Neri knows how Leris operates, their tactics.. She's fought them herself. But to hear she lost her bother because of it...

Kaede: "...Do you still feel anger towards Leris?"

Neri: "No. Brother instigated all of it. I know it's not Leris' fault. But it didn't end there. When I managed to flee Leris, my mother berated me before she ended up casting me away, leaving me to fend for myself. It was due to this that I had to learn how to blend in, as I knew firsthand how deadly humans could be."

Kaede: "And that was when you met Cecelia?"

Neri: "In the end, yes. It was a long journey, but she did manage to pick me up... Hah, sorry. It's been a while since I told this story."

Kaede: "No no, you're fine."

Actually, I can empathize with her a little. Casted away? Sounds very similar to how I was when I was young. Waking up in that carriage, only for Silas to pick me up. The only difference is Neri didn't end up killing Cecelia...

Neri: "But because of what happened in Leris, rumors began to spread, leading for me to wear this mask."

Kaede: "Wait, but I thought that mask was a part of the group you're in?"

Neri: "Heh. Originally, they never wore masks. It was only when Cecelia put me into their group did they all decide to wear masks as well."

So Neri was the reason for the groups mysterious aura...

Kaede: "And did the queen give you the mask?"

Neri: "Yes. When she found me, she could tell what I was. She found it strange how I was trying to blend in so much. At first she was skeptical, watching me at a distance, as she said. But eventually I must've gained her trust. She found a way to help me, and for that I'm forever grateful."

Kaede: "So that's why you work for her."

Neri: "Mm."

Wow. I had a few suspicions about the queen as she seemed to be "too" nice sometimes. But Neri, a dragon seems to trust her quite a lot. Also explains why the queen was lenient towards me being here. Hehe, in a way I'm thankful for Neri in that regard.

Neri: "Anyways, that's enough rambling. I guess it's time we head back. Be sure to keep all of this to yourselves."

Kaede/Mell: "Mhmm!"

She puts back on her mask and glove as we soon leave the stream, heading back through the forest to join up with the others.