// Collar //

Tyr's Pov:

[It broke so easily...

A collar used to suppress a dragon's rage, often used on our young that are still unable to fully grasp their emotions.
Normally, it would absorb the strength of the user to the point of being unable to move.

But Estel simply broke it in a few seconds,
That it's quite absurd how it could only seal away a portion of her rage.

It was wise to place it on her the moment she woke...
A failure in renouncing her own title and only to be praised in return.
It was quite Ironic how that simply ended spectacularly against her favor.

I don't blame her to feel the anger the moment she woke up.]

While restraining himself in laughter recalling the event.
During this time, my own son said.

"Renounce.
I highly doubt the council nor my wife would accept such a thing.
Especially now that she was discovered to be someone extremely special."

while walking at his side, I nodded to his words then said.

"Most of the council had kept her identity as a moonlight a secret.
Due to her unique race, everyone understood how dangerous it was to spread the news.
Of an offspring which rarity had only can be born for many centuries.

Most of them are saying the golden age of the demon-kin is rising once more."

My son then replied.
"That's good.
Though, it's quite unfortunate.
That Estel held no spark of ambition for them."

His father could only shake his head in response.

"Though, we might need personally craft her a stronger restraint,
To keep her rage from taking over.

Estel herself doesn't seem to be aware of her own power.
But only seem to spring out, when deep hatred takes hold of her."

His son nods to his father in response.

"That collar we used was the old design inside the archives of the castle.

After my people studied it.
They discovered it was designed to suppress a large amount of their power that it should have left a normal dragon unable to move. But surprisingly, even the old design isn't capable of suppressing her power."

Taking a deep breath his father then said to him.

"If that's the case then,
we need a stronger collar that can keep her sanity in check without weakening her too far."

He then shook his head in response after hearing his thoughts.

"The arcane smith's have already made a new design that can perform a similar effect to the collar she wore.
Except it constantly drains it's user while providing other beneficial effects.
It was a protective prototype for the demon-kins who wished to enter the dungeons.

The creation became postponed because no one can actually use it in practice.
Lately, they have been growing a bit more ambitious in their work.
That they finally found a way to switch the tool off and said to be ready for use.

I'm still wondering if I should have Estel try it out...

But right now, she's rather unstable.
That I couldn't put out the topic."

His father scratched his beard as he then said to him.

"If it can suppress her rage,
Then it would help immensely.
But still, in the past, those smiths usually keep their work in secret and privately amongst themselves.

They usually only craft tools of their trade as a gift for the king alone.
How did you persuade them into crafting tools for your own men?"

His son's face twitched in response.

"I wonder how did the previous leaders not show any interest in them?"

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// Anarchal Past. //

His father raised a brow as they walked in the hall continuing their conversation.

"I can understand the previous leaders including yourself was strong.
But after the assassination incident during the hour of anarchy.
The other races have become too afraid that the races will enter another chaotic state.

That they have decided to pool their knowledge and secrets together.

On the day I stood as the king of this place,
The current order of the castle was in complete disorder.
How did you manage to control such a country without them trying to kill you in your sleep!?"

A simple word came to his mind.
"Through strength.

The moment the 9th demon-king was slain by human assassins in the castle.
It pushed the demon-kin into a maddened rage against humanity, it then spread across the continent for years.

But that wasn't the only problem.
Without a leader, everyone started hunting down their own kin's like animals without a guide.

The races that weren't fully built for battle was the one who suffered the most." his grandfather said.

His son replied to him.

"The menders and the white dragons."

Which his father nods in response.

"On my coming of age,
I had to rise and take control of the situation.
The forest was being decimated, blood was being spilled without reason.

Monsters and beasts were striving on our own blood.
I came to the conclusion that...
This would only lead to the extinction of the many kinds of our own race.

Standing at the top, I had to rule them all with an Iron fist.
After many duels with leaders and many different color's, all of them respected me as its head.
My first goal was to save the menders an amphibious race that can scale walls and live underwater caverns.

They hid under caverns while those who failed to flee.
Became enslaved by the other races to do their bidding.

After aiding their cause.

The second goal was to save the white dragon race.
Which held a powerful symbol in our country.
We were in the middle of keeping them safe then this disaster had to occur,
right in the middle of it.

After searching for their trail and records.
It turns out they split into two groups.
Their numbers had already dwindled to a group of fifty of them.
It did not bode well as they were already endangered of being wiped out."

"Which was the day when you met mother?"

"Yes.

Half of their tribe had fled from the demon-kingdom already.
They were hunted down by both humans and demon-kin.
My rise to power simply came too late.

Under my reign,
I needed to unite the multitude of races as one.
Even if it would lead to other races being slaughtered in return.

Those that refused to listen will be silenced.
Those who kneeled before me and accepted me as their king would be spared.

It was a troubling hour.
Then I had to seek the help of the many talents of our own people.
They recommended a council which carried the problems and wishes of my own people.
Originally such a thing was never held and mostly the demon-king was the one who provided wisdom and protection for the people.

But after the construction of such a community.
I left it to their own devices and rarely stepped foot inside it.
Only when matter's of great concern is the only time they should call me."

His son then furrowed his brow in response with annoyance.
"I see...
So most of the mountains of paperwork came from them."

He nods in response.
"Life was harsh during that time.

While they were busy with that...
I was more concerned about the white dragon race which was once an important figure of our race. With their numbers dwindling and scattered across the land.

It was difficult to send people to search for any remaining living survivors.
I had no choice but to abandon the search for them
Because our people were simply too wounded to do anything.

To begin the reconstruction of the demon-kingdom.
 I had to raid merchants and village's from the outer kingdom in order to sustain the lost resources for our people.

The land was fresh with a rich presence of mana that improved the cultivation of the land.
But it was also plagued by monsters and deadly creatures.

Constantly fighting those monsters was the real foes which humans mistake as our own race.

They had raised a pointless war against us by sending assassins.
And thus we had to return their kindness in return.

We slaughtered their kings and queens the same way they have done to us.
Took their lands expanding our domain to a reasonable size.

After that...
We sought the last human leader close to our nation and told him about our purpose.
We no longer seek any pointless bloodshed and thus focused on creating a treaty of peace.
This treaty will be shared across the lands as we sent out messengers

The moment I managed to get a grip of hold and claim ourselves of who we are towards the many races outside our borders. It was a good hour to seal away conflict that there is a difference between mindless-monsters and the demon race.

During that time...
Your mother perished,
Slain by a greedy human who sought her scales."

His son gave an exhausted sigh as he complained.

"And thus I took the center stage to change the path of the once tyrannical ruler.
Into a peaceful one which you forcefully pushed into me." His father then gave him a wide grin.

"They can never really reject my decision.
I lived my life as a king who commanded a powerful army and that led them towards a future where there was no need for conflict.

As for you...
Who saw the races with eyes of indifference.
I realized you didn't particularly possess any prejudice towards the humans nor any other race.

But...
I had to wonder.
How did you persuade your siblings to abdicate the throne?"

His son deeply sighed once again giving him an annoyed expression.

"It's simple really," he said with an annoyed tone.

Then gripped the cloth on his father's chest lifting him up with a wide and furious smile.

"After showing how much paperwork was left behind.
They swiftly paled at the amount of work, I was dealing with...
On the day they came to complain.

They swiftly fled the room.
Suddenly accepting me as the next ruler."

His father laughed at his words while turning his eyes away from him.

he then replied.
"Sorry,
I had no time to deal with such papers.
We needed man-power during those times and there weren't enough people to lend a hand."

"Would it kill you to help me with some of the paperwork at least!?" he replied to him in agitation.

His father swiftly turned away.

"I was too busy searching for your mother's people.
You should know full well how ill I became after her death."

He was silenced as he said those words.
His father then said.
"But still...
This only proved that you were capable of leading them where I could not.
It is good you at least managed to shape this kingdom on the right track."

He then put his father down and gave a deep sigh.

"Well it doesn't matter anymore,
I managed to find help among my siblings while we were undergoing the changes inside the city.
 
Aside from a bunch of paper works, about the conflict between ownership of lands.
Despite and rivalries present on the lands.

I managed to fairly deal with most of them, using the power of the council.
They couldn't complain and investigations were made to fairly deal with our own people.

After it was dealt with...
The races had begun to show support by sharing knowledge, arts, and crafts.
Didn't particularly expect this kingdom would turn out so grand."

His grandfather pats his back with a large *Thud*.

"Now you have a daughter who turned out to be the child that your mother failed to give birth to.
You either have the greatest fortune or perhaps the worst luck.

Even I did not expect a human to give birth to such a child." He said with gentle eyes.

His son looks at him with a lighter feeling in his chest.
The once sodden father who sat in the corner of his room, shooing away any that dared enter.
Had his purpose returned upon discovery of Estel's origin.

He could not help but feel fortunate that the demon-king greatest king and warrior had returned to serve his own daughter. There was no one else he could have given a task to keep her safe.

He then asked him.

"How did you discover about Estel's origin?"

With a puzzled expression in his face, he looked at him in confusion.
"Her own mother told me.
I thought you were the one who sent her."

To which his eye's open wide in shock as he soon realized Rue had been moving on her own whims deepening her relationship with him for years.

________________________________________________________________________________

// A Candidate. //

Among the demon-kins there are candidates.
Upon discovery of a new crown princess which was instantly accepted in the first few days of her arrival.

Such candidates were furious as they swiftly rode to the demon-castle to complain.

The first who arrived in the castle was...

The Dryads which govern 70% of the land.

With their aid cultivating the vast land while sensing the hostility of the monster's proved an important asset in the nation. Dangerous threats were easily sent out and dispatched through heir assistance. Which made her one of the viable choices of the next Queen despite her lack of achievements, her people have shown great use that they were simply indispensable.

Her carriage that moved across the area as demon-kins continued their work were distracted by the sweet scent of nature coming from her ride. A beautiful carriage made from mystical barks while showing unique flowers rarely seen within their lands soon took the attention of the bystanders as they watched it enter the castle gates.

Upon her arrival by morning...

The soldiers felt calm ease as they felt a soothing air around them that made them more composed than ever before.

As they ready themselves to greet the carriage, the door soon opened as the whiff of flowers affected them, but soon realized they had been paralyzed by it as well as they fell from the ground.

A beautiful young lady steps outside the carriage, green hair and wooden horn with pink flowers on her head.

It would have been a fantastic sight that would make any race human nor demon would be charmed by her presence alone. The dress she wore was designed with purely white silk as her fair skin showing the green scales of her race, a dryad born from the green dragon race.

In the demon-kingdom she came from one of the many factions:
She belonged to the green race which managed agriculture.

With her agitated mood, she had turned her scent into a paralyzing nature.
In her thoughts, words of agitation flowed in her mind.

[I cannot believe the council would recklessly just accept a half-human.
I would have reconsidered if it was Esla who had worked to my aid, many times over.
But to see her own sister to take the spotlight from us, is quite a rude decision on their part.]

The reason why candidates sought the throne was for one purpose.
In order to bypass the council's will and perform tasks for the benefit of their own faction. Later on, she simply needs to apologize while they strengthen their own faction. As what the Frost Queen had done thus far...

This made a vital part of why the title of the Queen became such an important aspect in their lives.
They are also free to mate with other races as it follows a polygamous relationship are permitted as the other chosen concubine does...

With the condition that the king had also accepted their relationship as a norm.

It was a way...
To prevent competition of affection for the king,
As it was the only way to cope as tradition followed a path.
That simply needs to rear a single child from him to lead their race should he/she fail to become king or queen, that person would remain a leader of their clan.

As she walks outside, she was swiftly greeted by Esla whom she had sent new's of her arrival.

"Esla, I heard the terrible news.
I can't believe the council would recklessly choose your own sister!"

But Esla could only show her a wry smile as she then said.
"Nea, It's not what it appears to be..."

But she replied in agitation.
"What do you mean by that!?
Aren't you angry at her?
She just stole your rightful seat!"

She shook her head once again as she repeats herself.
"It's not...
What it appears to be.
Just follow me."

As she said those words she followed her as the paralytic scent flowed around the place.
Esla was unaffected due to her resistance but other's who were unfortunate simply fell to the floor as they made their way to Estel's room.

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