Interlude: Lord of Shadows

A nobleman with long, gray hair, elegantly dressed—and with the air of a vintage aristocratic artist—stood amidst the remains of a village ruins, surrounded by destruction that's hard to imagine how it was carried out; all wrapped up in a tragic and eerie atmosphere.

He stood still, like a statue, his beautiful garment fluttering slightly in a breeze that carried the revolting smell of blood.

Fragments of a gigantic ship were scattered throughout the area, as if torn to pieces by a terrible force of nature. Charcoal-black scars over huge holes seemed to indicate they had been melted by a monster's fiery breath.

Countless enormous craters lay in the area, either created by the collision of ship parts that fell from the sky, or the result of a fierce battle; evidence of a terrifying struggle that took place here.

And finally, corpses of knights littered almost the entire floor, some so completely mangled that they were indistinguishable from a mass of flesh and broken metal. The aura of the dead, subtly mingling with the somber air and the faint smoke emanating from the body parts scattered like garbage, brought a heartbreaking sense of desolation.

It was a disturbing sight, but he stood firm, completely unfazed.

And after a few seconds, her parched lips finally moved, releasing through them a voice with a tone as refined and sweet as honey... but with a deeply chilling sound; like the cold whisper of the wind in the middle of a dark, endless cave.

—My dear servants, have you found where the unknown variant fled with Grisella-chan?

Amidst all this pure remnant of chaos and death, the nobleman with a dignified bearing and a long white hat spoke alone, apparently addressing no one in particular, while calmly playing with his cane.

However—as if responding to those almost affectionate and casual words—the shadow projecting from his tall body distorted unnaturally until it reached an impossible size and shape before emanating as a black and transparent three-dimensional liquid that took form; turning into a large, elongated head with eyeless, draconic features and rows of uneven, hideous human teeth, revealing a bottomless abyss inside it and releasing fog similar to the twisted shadows of a senseless and illogical nightmare….

Within this supernatural monstrosity, within that seemingly endless abyss that chills the soul, the figure of a thin, unsettling man appeared faintly, wearing a murderous attire that made it easy for him to blend into the abyssal darkness of those malignant jaws.

Even without being looked at directly, the shadow demon bowed its head weakly in submission and respect, its neutral, cold, and clearly inhuman voice softly echoing with a broken and distorted sound as two of its four arms rested against its chest.

—Lord Valmint, all traces of the person who saved Knight Grisella seem to have completely disappeared. Even with our exhaustive search for Grisella Arean's shadow, it seems she has completely vanished from the Shadow Realm. From the looks of it… it's also unlikely we'll be able to find her with just her vague energy signature…

The assassin quickly stopped, then lowered his head and spoke again with some hesitation; his face covered by a black cloth, revealing nothing but two murky red eyes filled with malice.

—No…it would be correct to say that no traces were left behind in the first place, beyond his massacre and the destruction of the warship, as well as a faint trace of his magical energy trait…

—I see… I guess we can't expect to find out who our new friend is just from that, huh…

The nobleman in front of him nodded while stroking his mustache, with the attitude of someone who had already expected this outcome from the beginning.

A weak but imperturbable smile still spread across his face, faintly marked by age, his eyes closed, staring into nothingness, somber and disturbing.

—Well… I suppose we should report this to the Holy Queen. — He let out a serene and mocking laugh as he half-opened his eyes, showing two empty, abysmal sockets from which miasma emanated, and revealing sharp teeth that could send a shiver down anyone's spine as he licked his lips with a long, wicked tongue as dark as the night itself.

I could almost taste the sweet flavor of that naive woman's fury and worry on the holy throne of idiots. Although, of course... it couldn't be tastier than the negative energy released by those unfortunate dead.

Like those of this insignificant land.

—I'm sure our dear Isabellle would be interested to know that an unknown Aspirant close to the Corunus's level kidnapped her favorite knight and destroyed one of our warships like garbage. Heh, though I doubt their Priests' Divination would be of any use in this case…only the Gods could help, and they have better things to do than worry about a missing knight.

With that said with a slow shrug, both disappeared from the place as they were swallowed by the chilling and disturbing mass of miamsa, leaving behind nothing but the destruction and death caused by their dark plots and nefarious designs.

It was a beautiful night in the capital of the Archduchy of Draco Silva, with the light of the full moon reflecting faintly on the surfaces of the Palaces to the horizon.

Although commonly referred to as the Great Pendragon Palace, it actually consisted of at least three palaces varying in size and design, with the main palace that once housed the Archduke and Archduchess, known as the Dragon Palace, as well as the two palaces behind it, collectively known as the Twin Wing Palaces, which once housed the eldest and youngest sons respectively.

As befitting its glorious name, the Dragon Palace looked like a huge 100-meter-high construction that was covered by some mosaics in different shades of black and gold on the white limestone, in addition to small dragon statues, looking extremely imposing and luxurious to a great extent, its opulence unquestionable.

Atop their roofs and towers, banners depicting a black dragon with golden eyes roaring in anger were displayed in all their splendor, waving even when there was no wind; proof that enchantments were being used to maintain their perpetual majesty in the eyes of Baldur's citizens.

A faint energy field could be felt throughout the structure like an invisible veil, creating an invisible sealed space of formidable strength, designed not only to protect its palaces from enemy invaders, but also to keep out any birds that might taint the noble palace walls with their presence.

To reach this mountaintop palace that once served as home to a real dragon, vassals and visitors must first pass through the palace guard with the proper paperwork—either a family summons or a request for audiences with the Archduke or any member of the Pendragon family—and, once they have acquired the necessary permits, ascend a grand white marble staircase with steps approximately 5 meters wide and about 20 centimeters high before ending in a large, marble-floored plaza 100 meters wide.

The marble floor was of various shades of black and gold, arranged in such a way as to form an intricate and repeating geometric pattern that pleased the intellectual mind of an observer and pleased the eyes of those who appreciated architectural beauty.

And if any noble vassal finds it difficult to climb the stairs, he can take what could be described as a sloping marble path, gentler, although longer to travel.

The road is quite wide, so even 50 knights can walk side by side easily and still have enough room for their horse to make a complete turn.

At the end of the Plaza, in the middle of the Dragon Palace, is another unforgettable sight. A very large entrance with twin doors made of mithril metal with thousands of multi-colored runes now visible in formation, glowing faintly like a rainbow floating on a silver sea in the middle of the night.

These twin gates measure approximately 13 meters in height and length. The quantity of mithril used in their manufacture attracts many men with greed in their hearts to take the mineral that composes them.

But to this day no one has been found who entered with such intentions and managed to escape alive, nor has anyone managed to remove even the tiniest bit of Mithril dust in the first place, as the gates are protected by the natural hardness of Mithril and runic enchantments that no known force can separate.

The Twin Wing Palaces, although designed with less splendor than the Dragon Palace in terms of size, were also very beautiful, with the white color giving off a faint sharp glow on their surface, each displaying its own splendor to the world.

In the middle of those three architectural wonders created with the best that magical technology and sorcery could offer, there was a large atrium with a large, labyrinthine garden filled with beautiful flowers and magical trees of different species, with different statues of beautiful goddesses and angels, as well as an imposing Black Dragon in the center releasing a jet of water like a breath of fire.

Each of these flowers and trees in the garden, individually, were rarities worthy of the beholding of any noble who could appreciate their natural beauty. Each and every one of them, on their own, could be considered precious alchemical materials, and when combined, they created a picturesque image that wouldn't easily leave people's minds.

Especially with the beautiful leaves and petals fluttering around in the slightly cool breeze, illuminated by the soft moonlight, one would be captivated by the sight they presented, worthy of a masterpiece.

And in that garden, a young pink-haired maiden was resting in peace and quiet... masturbating, half-naked.

She was standing with her breasts exposed, feeling the cold, soft night breeze caressing her bare skin, and her panties sliding down her thigh, her hands frantically playing with her vagina while she let out low, seductive moans.

The maiden moved her hips almost like a dance as she ravaged her insides with three of her fingers and tormented her clitoris at the same time. Gasps of pleasure were constantly released, as the girl immersed herself in her passionate fantasy of the garden, the moon and flowers as witnesses to her actions.

In her mind, she could feel how that man subjected her to his dominance, holding her arms, as if he were imprisoning her, and penetrating her from behind like a beast in heat, his hips moving rhythmically and fiercely, biting her neck as if to mark her as his.

His large, magnificent member, which she had finally witnessed on that troubled day, pounding her womb mercilessly as if to prepare it for insemination while her bottom trembled with the impact of his hip against her buttocks.

Although it was just a mere sexual fantasy, perhaps because his mind surpassed even individuals comparable to his rank of existence—or perhaps simply because of his innate lust—Franx Leumiere felt it to be extremely real, rolling his eyes in pleasure.

Drop after drop of vaginal juice fell onto the floor covered with beautiful marble tiles, staining its smooth surfaces with her wet, warm body fluid.

Ever since he saw his Master's penis and what we all know happened, Franx Leumiere has been holding back his Lust the whole time. However, there are limits to containing something he's been holding back since... forever, and that increased overnight.

So all she could do was try to satisfy herself, masturbating, immersing herself in a fantasy that she could only hope would one day become a reality.

From her body, due to the excitement and pleasure that surged through her body, faint waves of magical energy were released into the surroundings. The Maryoku, which shone with the unique color of the 'Wood' Release, was absorbed by the surrounding plants, making them appear more beautiful and energetic, having been generously nourished by the unconscious Maiden.

The level of Maryoku that was pouring out of Franx's body as he continued to masturbate constantly increased, unwittingly nourishing the plants in the garden as he indulged his fantasies.

She was completely unaware, not only of the fact that she was leaking her magical energy into the surrounding environment, but also of the ponytailed blonde Maiden approaching from behind with a mischievous smile; her movement revealing no sound that would betray her presence.

Not that she'll need it; her "prey" is too busy pleasuring herself to satisfy her lust.

Finally, the blonde-haired Maiden stood behind Franx Leumiere with a suspicious glint in her eyes and a big, mocking smile that grew with every moan from the pervert before her, before reaching out with her arms….embracing Franx from behind and groping her generous, bare breasts!

—¿ ¡Uwwa!?

Franx, who had thoughtlessly surrendered to her moment, certain of her solitude, let out a strange but adorable squeal as she felt the harassing hands on her two balls. I didn't need to look back to know who the culprit was; she simply crouched down, placed her hands on the ground, and seemed to want to do a somersault; a confusing movement.

However, realizing her true purpose, the mischievous Maiden behind her let go without hesitation and jumped back, putting a distance between the two while keeping her smug smile on her beautiful face.

Though she didn't accomplish her goal, Franx still performed a half-naked somersault and flipped in the air, landing easily on both feet as she glared fiercely at her sexual harasser; though her embarrassment and red cheeks sapped any killing power her gaze might have had.

There was a moment of silence, which the uninvited guest broke after two seconds. “Yo, Franx-tan~”

"What are you doing, Ainere-Onee-chan!" Franx reproached her furiously, showing more emotion than usual for her.

Was it because she was sexually harassed at her most embarrassing moment, or because the shock of being seen in such an intimate affair made her unable to properly maintain her expressionless facade?

You could say it was a combination of both.

But even more importantly….it's because the other party was one of her only sisters; her family.

Ainere Leumiere makes an unexpected appearance in Draco Silva, catching Franx completely off guard as he hasn't heard from her.

—More like, the normal thing would be to ask what you were doing outdoors, right?

The only "Caster" among the Leumiere Ainere replied without any shame, her smile never leaving her beautiful face.

Perhaps out of embarrassment, Franx was speechless for a moment, realizing her immodest state, and quickly sought to fix her clothes in a hurry.

Ainere just watched that funny scene, magnanimously allowing her beloved younger sister to present herself as much as she could to regain some of her dignity, as much as that was possible anyway.

—…. Here I can not only be alone, but it is where I feel most comfortable

That was what Franx finally said, his teeth clenched in anger, both towards his sister and towards himself for being too confident.

—Ah… yes, because of your connection with the plants, this is the place where you feel most comfortable— Ainere nodded to herself, —And since there are no guards in this area for obvious reasons, it became your ideal place to masturbate while fantasizing about our dear Master! Isn't it?

He blurted out his “hypothesis,” with a look so smug and mocking it deserved a beating, as he looked at the Rose Princess , his beloved younger sister.

—You really are full of lust~ Why don't you just do what Rudia-san told you and beg the Master to give you all your love if you are so full of desire?

"What are you doing here?" Frax didn't respond to her words as he finished dressing appropriately, but instead looked at Ainere, his eyes narrowed and his voice strict. "I'm sure I've informed you of Arthur-sama's orders regarding Mirien Donslater and her mother, right?"

Despite not knowing the importance of those two women, Franx at least remembered the name his Master used for one of them. Of course, he remembered that Ainere was supposed to protect them, instead of being here, of all places.

"Oh, those fragile human women who don't seem anything special?" Ainere shrugged as she scratched her ear, her demeanor reminiscent of a criminal who didn't fit in with her clothes. "Since it would be too bothersome to follow them 24/7 to protect them in a city full of petty criminals, I "kindly" brought them to Draco Silva, where it would be easier..."

—What did you do that…?“ Franx stared at her, feeling his temples twitch in response.

—Come on, let me finish, okay? Rude…— Ainere rolled her eyes while Franx gave her a dead-fish look with his only visible eye. —I brought you to Draco Silva because you'll be safer here and my workload will be significantly better and less annoying—I mean, less stressful. Yeah, that's it.

—…In other words, Nee-sama kidnapped a-arthur-sama’s protection targets…without thinking about the consequences…just out of laziness!?

Franx Leumiere's voice cracked at the end as he exclaimed angrily, his fists clenched.

Her anger towards her sister's unnecessarily independent actions, which could bring displeasure to her master and even herself, not only made her unconsciously release magical power again, but also in a manner filled with murderous intent that caused the cheerful plants to appear to "wither" under the fierce intimidation, not daring to feed on its energy.

—Come on~ Your Onee-chan has better things to do than deal with such pathetic humans all the time, you know? And anyway, I highly doubt Arthur-sama would care too much if he really wanted her protection, anyway~

However, despite that, Ainere clearly acted as if she couldn't see what the problem was, angering her even more.

—Franx, Ainere wasn't the only one who did something irresponsible like kidnapping a protection target.

Suddenly, another voice joined the conversation before Ainere could say something naughty or irresponsible that could start a fight between sisters.

From the unnaturally fluttering shadows of a tree, out of nowhere emerged the tall, slender figure of a beautiful woman with dark skin and poisonous purple hair down to her neck, dressed as a maid like the other two.

And like them, she wore the same items that looked like huge gem-studded screws around her neck.

Franx whispered with visible confusion—…Eubira-Nee-sama…?.- The anger disappeared a little from her delicate face and her magical power calmed down as she looked at the Firstborn among the three Leumiere leaving from the very Realm of Shadows with the grace of a Pendragon Maiden.

—This may be quite unexpected because no one informed you directly, but…

Her voice was soft, quite delicate but seductive; absolutely attractive, like a model's. And, despite speaking so calmly that it seemed like it should be inaudible, it resonated easily throughout the garden as she said something as scandalous as the above.

—It turns out that Copellia also made the grave mistake of “Kidnapping” its protection target.

——With a cold and expressionless face that betrayed no emotion, the "Assassins" Eubira Leumiere, fully manifested on the physical plane, dropped such a bomb of a magnitude that made Franx open his only visible mouth wide, seeming like she was about to go crazy with disbelief and anger.

-What!?

His scream seemed to echo throughout the palaces of Pendragon, in the middle of a full moon night.