Chapter 31: The Aftermath.
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Enrollment time, Distraction time, So many things to do in life.
=3= why can't I split myself into two and do all of them.

Time progression:
Sunset -> Evening

// The battle between Giants. //

While the shadow knight captain pursued the lich as it fell from the cliff,
The yellow sky and shadows had begun to dawn around the place.

It was falling straight towards the city large alleyways used as a passage for carriages,
As the dragon soon found the crater which the lich fell from, however.

There were no signs of the lich, bystanders and citizens who saw the black dragon attacked with poor weapons throwing it towards him as most of them ran doing little only to *tink* upon his scales.

He simply ignored their presence and searches for his prey.

Surrounded by unfamiliar buildings and Fleeing humans,
he turns and gazed all around searching for its presence.

It was then he cried out.

"You hide underneath the shadows of this place. Lich!
I will show you...
Your naivety of the fact,
That you had challenged an elder dark dragon as myself!"

It's sharp vicious tail then swiftly poised itself as a gigantic lance.

Then as he raised it upwards, he then plunged it toward his own shadow connected to the shadows of the buildings they were in.

A wide screeching sound like a banshee's cry was heard across the area, terrifying anyone that had heard it and fleeing away from the place.

"We are called dark dragons not only due to our strength  
but also because of our nature with darkness itself!
Your kind has tried to control us, only to be butchered by the shadows you fools have clung to."

"To hide underneath the darkness where we are at our strongest!
Is possibly the greatest mistake you fools could ever make against, Us!"

As it continued to plunge its tail within the shadow, It's cries of pain continued to echo.
Until finally the lich revealed its disfigured and gigantic form.
It mourns, it weeps, it cries, it begs.

Its body had been pierced and bleeding as the pile of flesh had turned into a bloody horrid being from a nightmare.

With the many voices of its body, the Shadow knight captain could only pity its presence.
"A human...
Trying to surpass death itself.
Truly you would have made the humans into your pets.

But it was your mistake to challenge the demon-kingdom,
where your own kind have tried to control the land we have lived in..."

The lich body is being overwhelmed by the many souls it has possessed.
With exasperated breath, it then asks.

"My kind?
Tried to control your land?"

"What do you mean!?" it cried out.

The dragon frowned as it gazed at it with pity.
He then said.

"How ignorant are you...
How pitiful...
Why do you think the first demon-king rose?"

"Why? he rose?" It asked.

As his voice then turned into fury.
"The answer is to command and to slay creatures like you,
Those had lost the value of life and caused the war amongst my kind!"

It was at this moment the lich had a hypothesis.
The demon-kingdom was a place where liches had tried to usurp their power.
Only for them to lose and be defeated by the rise of the demon-king.

"I am not involved in that!" The lich cried out.
"You simply stepped in a place where my reign would have been my salvation!?"

The dragon snorted at his words, giving him a grin.

 

"Human greed is truly quite pitiful.

You speak of salvation yet...
You already damned yourself the moment you consumed that many living beings within you.

You are not the first who dared challenge us,
It was you people that forced a demon-king to rise among monsters.
Because you fools dared to use even our own children for your own selfish desires.

Using our own kind to butcher the last of our kind, into dust.
It was for this reason, we prey upon those that dared to seek the power of the innocents.
And hunt down the shadows that lurk within the realm of this world."

As it's spiritual body began to wither away, it then said.

"All I wanted was to break the curse, placed upon me."
while saying these words, the black dragon then asked.

"Curse? I do not sense any kind of curse upon you,
Aside from that body you've brought to the living.
The proof of your hideous form is proof of your crimes.
You are perhaps the first foolish lich who showed his original form so boldly to us.

When we usually had to deal with their human body, that flees away from us like rats."

In a puzzled look, it then gazed upon its body.
Unknown to it, and only to realize a certain fact.

*From the very beginning, the curse which he possessed were already broken.
The shape it took, were the victims he had made.
The magic he had shaped to hide his presence as an undead made his senses dull.
It was all too late for him to realize this truth.*

"A... body, I must find... a..."

As he turned around him in search of a living being.
It was all too late.
The dragon had already imprisoned him in magic,
As his fleshy body could no longer move from the position he was in...

"Nooooo!
Allow me to return to my human form!
Let me taste the life known as being a mortal once more!"

It begged.
But the dark dragon grinned as it chuckled.

"By taking the life of another.
You have already claimed too many.
This shape that you have, is the proof of your own sins.

As an immortal being, the only way to end you.
Is to simply imprison your kind."

The barrier surrounding him slowly changed its shape as the magic,
which the dark dragon had performed enveloped him.

"No...
Noooo.
NOOOOOOooooo"

In these final moments of the lich then recalled a certain moment with the child who gave him the ability to possess another-being using a curse.

"Hey, don't you think...
This power is a bit terrifying?"

The man who is now known as a lich shook his head.

"I believe it's magnificent."

The young boy had a lonely look on his face.
"But...
It feels wrong somehow...
It's like if I keep using it.
Something terrifying that is worse than death might happen to me. "

The man simply grinned with a chuckle.
"There's no way...
Something...
Like...
That...
can...
Happen..."

"GRUUUUAAARRRGHHH."
as it's body, were slowly sealed into an object of a small doll made in his shape.
The black dragon approached the doll and picked it up using its tail as it was swallowed by his own shadow.
He was relieved, that the job wasn't too difficult, and he was simply up against a lich who was unaware of what he had become.

But then sensed the presence of those that had followed him,

He then cried out to them.

"Lurking won't help against a dragon.
Our senses are greater than you fools could perceive.
Tell me, what is the purpose of risking your lives by stalking us."

They soon revealed themselves to him.
A wide grin fell into his face as he saw them.

"Ho... I'm sure the demon-king would be interested then." were his words to them.

________________________________________________________________________________

  // Aftermath. //

After the lich fell off the cliff, the undead that continues to sprawl across the palace had begun to turn to dust, signifying the giant monstrosity were undoubtedly the cause of the calamity.
As Esla represented herself as the princess of the demon-kingdom. She spoke to the king regarding the incident and their purpose which is Estel. Establishing a relationship within their kingdom and their reason for coming, which he was glad for their timely rescue and arrival.

The servants and people of the palace were both grieving for the victims of the undead while returning to their work, as the king later explained that a gigantic monstrosity was the cause of it.

He also revealed to his servants and people that the demon-kins arrival had saved them from the creature. Cleaning any kind of doubt of any malicious intent in their presence.

Though they knew little of what happened at the end.
After the black dragon chased the lich.

The Shadow Knight captain with his black wings in his large draconic form soon returned to the group. He then shaped himself back into a human with dark scales covering his back and completely naked as his dark scaly wings revealed his proud wings.

His muscular form and dark scale's made them swallowed their thoughts.
As a mere gaze is enough to make a woman swoon over how attractive yet powerful he looked.
Everyone who still had their wit's left saw him buck-naked as he approached Esla with his armor fully reconnected by her. As he hides his wings to wear them with the greatest ease.

In a few seconds, he was once again the shadow-knight captain.
As they simply swallowed their throat, out of dread.

Leanne then asked Esla.
"Is it natural for you, guys to be naked like that...
After transforming?
I expected some kind of magical clothing or something."

Esla chuckled at her comment.
As she said,
"That would be a very convenient piece of clothing if it truly did exist.
We often bring extra clothes, just in case we had no time to spare.
The armor we have usually are made to detach whenever we shape ourselves into a dragon.

As you saw me, fix it up after everyone helped me search for them."

As Esla said, the armor in a few minutes was fixed and he wore the lower part then the upper.
Finally fitting the helmet as it took him a while to find it due to the battle that occurred.

The king then asked Esla.
"Are... all of your people capable of."

"Turning into a dragon?
Only a few, most of our kind usually just want to live in our nests as we eat and amuse ourselves with whatever interests us. Aside from the casual duels for spouses, which many of my father's race seems to be fighting over me."

She boasted her value with a happy look as the shadow knight captain then called out to her.
"Did you find her?" he asked.

Esla nods, as he brought him to her.
"She's not waking."
But... he then observed her appearance.
The drained face and resting expression showed signs of exhaustion.
He conjured magic upon his eyes to gaze at the circulation of her magical energy.
It was there he understood.

"She completely exhausted...
It's only natural she isn't waking.
Her mana is extremely low as well.
Did someone teach her magic?"

He then turned to Esla.

"Well... perhaps I did teach her how to put people to sleep with our eyes."

He was puzzled, it usually only used little magic to drain her so completely.
Shaking his head at Esla, he then gave up.
As he couldn't understand the cause.

[Perhaps the undead had forced her to use magic somehow...] was all he could believe.

________________________________________________________________________________

// Damage control. //

"The palace is a mess..." Leanne said with an exhausted expression.

Destroyed walls, burned decor, broken and shattered pieces of glass and broken furniture were everywhere. Victims of the attack were present as well, some were unfortunate and wasn't able to escape.

Right at this moment, Esla and the shadow knight were inspecting the queen alongside the royal family. With everyone around gazing at them with worried gazes.

"This is just ridiculous...
What the hell was that thing?" the king turned to the shadow-knight captain.

"An elder lich." with a simple word, he then paled.

An elder lich a being that lived in dungeons and places with terrifying creatures.
Often regarded as masters of the undead, they were revered as creatures of pure hatred towards the living. Willing to sacrifice everything for the purpose of their interests in magical knowledge.

"That... thing was inside my wife?
But how?" was his question.

The Esla and the captain simply shrugged.
"How are we supposed to know that?
We simply arrived only recently" Esla said with a groan.

The king swiftly distanced himself.
After watching their ability in action,
It would be easy for them to simply destroy his nation if they wished for it.

Leanne, on the other hand, was relieved as she then asked them.
"So how is she?"

The captain turned to her as he placed his hand on his chin with a curious gaze.
"She is fine...
The curse placed upon her was broken,
But... it drained most of her strength.

However, it is very unlikely she will wake and recover her strength."

As the king heard his words then cried out with worry.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"One of our menders can possibly help her recover, but it will take a while for them to arrive.
Or perhaps a light-mage which your people often rely upon can restore her strength."

The king then had a bright expression as he turned to Estel who was on Esla's arms.
"Then the silver-haired girl, can help us?"
Esla simply had a furious look on her face as she gazed at him with anger.

"Please explain to us, what happened to her?"

A heavy presence and malice swiftly dawned the room they were in.
As the king was confused and pressured by her expression.
Leanne swiftly took over as she cried out.

"I'll explain what happened!
Calm down!"

It was later explained to Esla and the captain that Estel had conjured powerful magic that obliterated a mass of undead blocking their way. Only to be rescued by one of their soldiers.

The heavy air swiftly changed back to normalcy, as Esla then said.

"This is strange...
We never taught her magic?
How on earth was she able to do that?" She asks Leanne with doubt.

But Leanne retorts with a quick answer.

"How on earth are we supposed to know that?
She kept many secrets from us and even now.
We don't even completely understand her quite well!?

I didn't even know she was the daughter of the demon-king.
Up until your recent arrival." Leanne had a frustrated look on her face as she finishes her words.

Esla was surprised and gave the person she carried a worried look.

"I... see.
So... she even tried to hide that."

The S.captain placed his hand on her shoulder.
she turned her head to see him nod to her.

They later then requested a room for them to rest in.
Preferably close to the gate where they were building it.

________________________________________________________________________________

// Seid's guarding duty. //

While two of the shadow-kin continue to write intricate figures on the wall making a grand artistic look of the wall. Seid had repelled most of the undead as well as humans who tried pointing fingers by simply knocking them out.

He later conjured an illusionary barrier in their front door to repel any humans who tried to attack them or forcefully entered their room. He tied up most of the guards and servants and kept them in the corner of the room while sealing their ability to use magic.

"Good work, Seid." one of the companions on the left said to him.

"Guard duty sure is nice, isn't it?
Beating up these weaklings will surely make you stronger." the second told him in a sarcastic tone while chuckling who is drawing on the right.

"Shut up...
You two get paid more than I have anyways so stop complaining.

We are also in a schedule here.
If we don't finish, the captain will kick our asses."

"Yeah, yeah...
We've done this plenty of times already..." -Right D-kin.

"We can talk while doing this without much of a problem.
The issue with this is..." -Left D-kin.

As the two paused while they both cried out.
"This is so boring!"

Seid could only sigh, as they continued their work in peace.
"Tell us a bit of your past with the princess.
You only told us, you were barred away from her." -Left D-kin.

"If she truly is the white-winged like the rumor's says she was.
Then you probably hit the jackpot." -Right D-kin.

Seid simply exhaled while sitting and clinging to his sword while using it as a stool.
He then said with a lax expression.

"Jackpot? Eh...
Try saying that to the captains face.
He'd mince you alive you know?"

"But he's not here right now?
At least tell us what you think about this and all?" -Left D-kin.

He then said with a worried expression.
"Then... isn't it likely that the Elder Council of the demon-king.
Would be banging their heads in the wall by now after completely neglecting her?"

The two demon-kins in armor laughed in unison.

"Right?"

"That's completely Correct."

Seid then told both of them.
"But still, you twins can get your asses demoted if you talk like this in front of them."

The twins then said.
"There's no way that's possible.
After all, both of us are the true masters of crafting these gates."

They had completed 70% of the gate using only a few hours of their spare time.
The gate often required a large amount of time taking weeks for a normal work-force to complete.
But for these two specifically trained for long distance transportation that they were valued as geniuses by the kingdom.

It was later then the knock on the door was heard.
As their captain entered their room.
Esla enters with Estel in her arms as she walked towards the bed.

The captain then said.

"Good work, the three of you."

"Oi... Oi...
Is that possibly the princess?" one of the twins said with surprise the other then had a confused expression. "Her hair had turned completely silver."

The captain nods, but Esla worried look turned to Seid.

"That's not the problem, here." as she then approached Seid.

"Seid, you were taught how to use mender's techniques, right?"

He nods to her.
"But I was taught to only use it as a last resort, I'm not technically proficient in it."

Esla turned to the captain as she smiled then asked.
"Can you transfer some of your mana back to her?
It's very unlikely she will wake for a few days in her current state.
We need to ask her questions."

He nods without question, but as he gazed at her...
He could not help but ogle at how much the young girl,
he once met before had turned quite an attractive lass.

He sat on the bed beside her while.
Placing both of his hand on her head he could only close his eyes and focus.

『Transfuse』

 As he conjured the spell both blue and white light emitted from him as Estel's body absorbed it with great ease. However, he then cried out in both pains and complaints as black light were transferred to him.

"What the *@#&!?
How much did she push herself!
To put her own body in a state like this!"

As he turned to the two he felt drowsy from the pressure.
But he continued to pour off his own strength to restore her.
Wishing he could at least ask and know what happened to her.

Unfortunately, he finally reached his limit.
As he collapsed on the side of the bed.

Esla then pinched her cheeks but, she remained resting unable to wake...

"She's still not awake," she complained.

But Seid retorted with an annoyed expression.

"Of course, not!
I can barely move my body right now!
Whatever she did,
It's like she just experiences some hellish training from knight captain!"
He said with an honest and frustrated expression.

But the captain then asked.
"Ho... do you have complaints about my training?"

He then went meek as she turned his gaze while explaining things a bit.

"No... it's cool, but she and I won't be able to move awhile.
Transfuse can only restore an equal amount of their strength
So it's more likely she will wake up soon.

Let her rest a bit." while assuring them of her recovery.

He said as the two then gazed at one another.

They later planned for the knight captain to guard the gate.
While Esla and Estel later move to another room.
As naturally, they cannot allow two sleeping princesses among the males.
For their father will inevitably punish them with death.

Note: I lost touch with writing for a long while,
Ending in a mind-block since the flow of the story just abruptly stopped.
Sorry for the long ass update.

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