Before the journey.

The next day, after being chained by my mother, the elders summoned me to discuss my journey to the Everwinter Mountains. This time, mother also joined us. After debating for a while about me not being allowed to go alone, we settled on Vereesa and my blood elves joining me. I asked either Sylvanas or Alleria, but they declined, saying they couldn't let generals leave the city again, especially for a journey that would take months.

After settling the matter, which took the entire morning, I left the castle to visit the High Priestess Ryllae. It had been a few weeks since the last time I saw her.

"He's here again."

"May the goddess have mercy on the high priestesses."

"Poor high priestess, I don't know what she did to deserve this."

"She will be bedridden for a few days again."

 As I walked through the grand temple's halls, the other priestesses whispered and stared at me as if I were a monster. Some even started praying to the goddess.

When I reached Ryllae's room, I opened the door and walked in without knocking. She was busy looking through some scrolls. When she saw me, a smile spread across her face, but she looked tired and worn, with messy hair and dark circles under her eyes.

"Malgath, it's been a while since you last visited. I was beginning to think you got bored of me," Ryllae said, standing up to hug me.

"I had some simple matters that needed to be taken care of, Ryllae."I returned her hug as she rested her head on my chest.

"Butchering an entire human town in the name of the goddess is not a simple matter, Malgath."

"No, it is. For a human town will be nothing but a simple pebble next to the mountain to what I will do to this realm."

"Malgath, I'm worried about you," Ryllae said, her eyes filled with concern and pity.

If I didn't know her well, I might have felt insulted. But I understood there was more to her feelings.

"This hatred and burden you carry is too much for your young heart, Malgath. You should let it go before it destroys you," she cupped my cheeks and brought my face closer to hers.

"You don't need to bring back the so-called glory of the elves. You don't owe anyone anything. Our time has passed. You are still young, enjoy your life, don't be a fool," she said, almost sounding like she was begging.

"I am blessed that you think of my well-being,Ryllae, but your words mean nothing. The realm will bow before the elves once again."

Ryllae sighed at my response."Listen to me, we are not the strongest in the realm anymore. It's dangerous out there. If you think that just because you've defeated a few humans and orcs, you are invincible, you're wrong. If you start a war against to who realm, you will die. Malgath, you're still young, so please enjoy your life within the safety of the city, okay?"

"No"

"Stop being a stubborn idiot and listen to me, Malgath. This is not a war you can win. You will die trying, and I can't bear to lose you. Let someone else bring the 'glory' of the elves. Don't let the words of the fools called elders push you to something you don't want to. They are nothing but a bunch of incompetent fools who do nothing but sit and bark orders. You don't have to do anything for them,you don't owe them anything. If they want to see the glory of the elves so much, they should get up and take it themselves instead of sending a young boy with his whole life ahead of him."

"I bow to no one but the goddess. They cannot command me. The war is my will."

Releasing my face, Ryllae stepped back and slumped onto the couch.

"Yes, it is your will," she said with a tired voice.

"Your biggest enemy isn't humans, orcs, or dwarfs." Ryllae lifted her head and met my gaze. "It's you. Your biggest enemy is you, trying to kill yourself at every opportunity, doing things no one asked you to, taking on burdens no one asked you to carry, trying to achieve something impossible with next to nothing in your hand, not listening to anyone when the only thing they want want is what's best for you."

Her words ring true. I may call others a nuisance and a headache, but I am probably the biggest nuisance there is. I am aware of it, but I refuse to change.

I stayed silent as we locked eyes for a moment before she stood up and began to undress.

"This is what you came here for, right?" she asked as she opened her arms and showed her naked body. "Come on, take it. It's yours."

Once again, she was right. After the night with Mother, my desire for her has only grown, but something's not right. I can feel it. If I were to take her here and right now, it would change our relationship, and not for the better.

I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around her as she shivered at my touch.

"This isn't the first time I've acted like this, Ryllae. Why are you doing this and why are you looking like this?" I asked, sitting down and placing her on my lap.

She didn't reply; instead, she rested her head on my chest, listening to my heartbeat as her trembling gradually subsided.

"I... I can't hear the goddess anymore, Malgath," she said, her voice breaking as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I know it was coming. Over the past few centuries, her voice had faded away. The last time I heard it was during your first visit. I can't bear the thought of losing you too, so please stay with me, alright? She looked at me with a mix of hope and sadness, tears streaming down her face like a heavy rain.

She has fallen from the grace of the goddess, something I found absurd since the only way for a god/goddess to abandon their chosen is for them to commit blasphemy, something that I would bet my very own soul that Ryllae had never done such a thing with how devoted she is to the goddess.

"My duty is the goddess's will. Once the war begins, the realm will tremble, and the goddess must prepare to face the wrath of the other gods. That is why she is not answering you,Ryllae," I said, lying as I gently stroked her hair to soothe her. Even if the goddess were to face other gods, he would surely make an exception for her most devoted believer.

"Thank you, Malgath," she murmured sleepily as she drifted off, and I carried her to bed.

***

After leaving the grand temple, I headed to the magic tower to see Archon Lyrei. Upon entering her chamber, I saw dozens of Archon Lyrei inside, each one of them doing something different. One of them was going through scrolls, one of them was preparing a potion, and one of them was carving runes.

As soon as the door opened, they all turned to look at me and pointed to the center of the room where a ritual circle was located. I stepped into the circle, which began to glow brightly. For a brief moment, my vision went dark, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a stunning garden filled with flowers and a lake at its center, where Archon Lyrei was bathing.

[IMAGE]

I approached the lake, and Archon Lyrei turned to me, water glistening on her bare bosom.

"Join me, young prince," she said, tossing her hair back and splashing water at me. She looked mesmerizing and truly beautiful, something she is well aware of.

I removed my clothes and entered the lake while Archon Lyrei glanced at my body.

 "You should feel honored, young prince. You are the only one I have ever allowed into my sanctuary," she remarked, moving closer with a water sphere in her hand. She floated behind me, as her height made it difficult for her to reach my head, and began to wash my hair.

"You feel hopeful and expectant. You shouldn't, young prince. Those feelings are for the weak. A ruler must always expect the worst and be ready for it. Your journey to the Everwinter Mountains might be pointless. Even if you find others there, don't expect them them to bow and be loyal to you. To them, you are just a stranger. It doesn't matter if your blood ruled over them for eons.; ten generations have passed, they have long forgotten it," Archon Lyrei advised me in her cold, emotionless tone, now scraping my back. This wasn't the first time she had lectured me; over the years, she had been both my magic teacher and a mentor.

"Matters not. They will bow either willingly or by force. I need them for the war, or we will be defeated with what we have."

"You don't need anyone. You are a ruler, a monster. If you desire something, you take it,never forget that. And if you force them, you will only get mindless slaves and meat shields instead of subjects. Act like a ruler that you are, offer them some rewards, but not enough to make them feel equal to you. Show them kindness, but let them feel your cruelty as well,"she said, wrapping her arms around me and gently caressing my abs as she pressed her body against mine.

I turned around as my erect member brushing against her body, then rested between her bosom.

"I want you, Archon Lyrei," I said, locking my gaze with hers. If I can have someone as powerful as her, the war will be far easier.

"You're not ready for me, young prince," she replied with a playful smile, bringing her finger to her lips.

"An empire is my price," she said, kissing her finger and then placing it on my lips. "Bring an empire down and dedicate their death to me, then you can have me."

As she spoke, the world around me darkened once more, and I found myself back in her chamber.

***

[Stables]

As I brushed my griffin's feathers, I sensed a presence behind me and heard soft giggle. It felt familiar, so I didn't do anything and continued to take care of my mount. Suddenly, someone jumped on my back.

"Hehehe, Mally, your favorite sister is here," Vereesa said happily as she landed on me.

"Not this chattering idiot. I can already feel a headache coming," Sylianner complained, rubbing her temples while sitting on my head.

"Ehhh, how can you say such mean things to this cute face, fairy queen?" Vereesa pouted, trying to look adorable at 350 years old.

"You look disgusting and don't talk to me, elf," Sylianner waved her hand dismissively and ignored Vereesa.

"Hey Mally, hey hey," Vereesa poked my cheek over and over to get my attention.

I turned my head to look at her.

"Hehehe, it's going to be our first journey together. Aren't you excited?"

"No"

"Ehhhh, but it's going to be so much fun! I have so many places to show you and things to try. You'll love the world outside the forest. It's way better than this boring place," Vereesa said, jumping off my back and spinning around with a big smile and shining eyes.

"We're not leaving our home to have fun, Vereesa. We're going on a quest to find our lost brethren."

"And there's no rule saying we can't have fun while on our 'quest.' If there is, show it to me," she challenged, hands on her hips.

"Doing so will delay our-"

"No, no, nope," she cut me off, covering her ears with her hands. "I'm not listening the big idiot with fun disability. Lalalalala," she sang for a bit. Then she paused and glanced at me while I just stared at her, and Sylianner, who buried her face in my hair to block her out, along with my griffin, which looked like it had just survived a death battle with it feathers falling.

Seeing no complaints anymore, a grin spread across her face. She leaped onto me, wrapping her arms and legs around me tightly.

"Anyway, we're going on a long trip, and I heard from mother that you only packed a few outfits. That won't do, you know. We have so much to prepare. We need to take clothes for when it rains, when it's cold, and when it's hot, not to forget matching shoes with them. We should also pick some good books to take. Maybe we should bring a cook along. One of my friends is an amazing cook; we should definitely invite her. And I can't leave my pet rabbit behind; I don't want her to be lonely while I'm away," she began rambled on without taking a breath, right beside my ear. I wanted to rip my head off to end this torture, but it's better to endure this, thinking of it like some sort of patience training.

"Elvy, please put me out of my misery, or I will erase the very existence of this thing you call sister," Sylianner whispered in my other ear, biting my earlobe to keep herself calm.

It's going to be a long journey. May the goddess have mercy on our poor souls.