The black haired girl wore a slim black battle suit beneath a short free black gown with short boots. Her hair was neither long nor short, with its edges on her nape. She carried with her a very ordinary long sword and her small face coupled with her immature voice was a bit laughable. She was about 16 years old, but still very tall. On the very edge of her eyebrow was a black tear drop, a birthmark normal for people of her royal family. A mystery to why Novem doesn't have one.
"There's a misunderstanding". Novem refuted
"Of course, that's what they all say" She frowned and shoved him aside. "How did you even find me? Those people won't give it a rest." She couldn't have been more pissed
Novem, who couldn't be bothered turned around to enter the room. He then paused and asked her, "What is in this room?"
She was probably on her way to check out more doors and had expected November to follow her. Hearing him ask about a door he wanted to enter of his own will made her confused. "What? You gonna write down a documentary on my experience here?"
"Ho" November hummed. Her ramblings were starting to get annoying. "Please answer my question, I have no interest in you or your being here"
The girl was surprised and she sealed her lips shut. "What do you" she pointed, "You mean my parents didn't call you here?"
"Why would your parents call me" Novem asked back
"To bring me back home!" She furrowed her brows, "There's no how they wouldn't have realized I'm missing."
"How did you get missing if I may ask" Novem asks, hoping to get useful information.
"Thought you weren't interested?" She smirked, but hold that thought- "Aren't you in our kingdom? How come you don't know about the missing person cases? Are there more kingdoms of ours in other empires? Is it from there you're from? And I don't see your birthmark on your face, is it elsewhere?"
Although he had said he had no interest in her- nor her being here… seems she didn't get that.
"I'm not living in your Kingdom's castle, so I don't know about the missing person cases. If it was in my empire I would have cared but if it isn't, I don't care" November answered solemnly, "With my knowledge, there should be about just one or two of our family kingdom and they are both in the Second empire."
"Pft course, it's only two." She grinned, "After all, Royals of our caliber are quite rare" She replied proudly, flicking her nails.
"--No, you Royals are racists" A man said, walking towards them with a scowl.
None knew where he came from. Even his steps were silent. He points his ordinary sword at them, "And your type of Royal are the worst of them all"
Great, a commoner with a Royal problem.
"Dare you speak to a royal like that" The girl frowned, "Your actions and words demands execution"
"It's because of that mindset they think we're racist". November sighs
"Hm? Aren't we?" She asked
"I'm not, shut up". Novem tells her and smacks her face
"You people are worse than other royals. You're so racist you even exercise birth control just to keep your numbers in bare minimum" The man huffed
Ayrene who was still fuming about having her face casually smacked turns to look at the man,
"Wow, you seem to know a lot about our kingdom". The girl smiled, "Then do you know we also organize a battle Royale every year so our numbers can reduce even more". Her smile grew even wider and the man shuddered, "We also don't allow marriages into other royal families so we don't taint our blood." She paused for a moment before stating, "We're the only true royals" she said with pride
All these things were something Novem knows. It isn't happening in his kingdom, so it didn't matter to him. He sighs though, after all, it was his family kingdom.
It was said the rulers of this said kingdom never allow their royal blood to step even a foot outside the kingdom. Everything they do will be within, from their birth to their death. They are delusional in keeping themselves original and refuse to interact or get married with even royals from other kingdoms. They are also the only ones who look down on both royals and commoners. A significant number of them are put to death every year, and birth control policy has been put in place since the first generation. Many escaped, but have been caught and dealt with. They have a single priority, which is to follow rules and orders till their end.
"Are you perhaps a princess". November asks
"If we're not Queen, we're all princesses silly!" She laughed
"The King's daughter in particular" Novem frowned
"Was it that obvious?" She laughed again ,
"It's no wonder you act so carefree."
"Even I can get executed if I break a rule. You should understand if you're born in our royal family.
"Unfortunately I was given birth to outside the kingdom, and I grew up on the outside also"
She remained silent, deep in thought. She placed her hand on her chin, taking it away a moment later. "Why haven't you been caught yet?"
"You asking me"
"Oh."
"Stop ignoring me!" The commoner spoke up
"Oh, how did you get here". Novem asks
"I have a problem with your royal family, they killed my brother!"
"Your brother? Your brother probably trespassed. I don't see why we would kill a commoner" She shrugs
The commoner only got angrier,
"So he did tresspass" She confirmed
"That doesn't mean-"
"I remember asking you what's in this door?" November asks again
"Oh, yeah. Sorry for accusing you, I thought my parents sent you to come find me. Even if we suddenly disappear, no one cares. They just don't want our body to decay on the outside".
"Has this been going on since the previous generation? We weren't really thought about this back in HQ". Novem asks again
"Nah, it's been going on way back in our kingdom's history. Probably since the second generation" She replied
"Seems like a personal Royal's matter, it's no wonder we weren't taught. The only one who would know would be the second emperor, since the kingdoms are in his own empire"
"I'm talking to you-!!!" The man shouted again
Ropes that slithered like they were alive bursts out from the left door beside him and tightened on his neck and limbs.
"Is he stupid? Why would you shout in a place like this?" she sighed
"I would help you but what empire do you reside in?" November asks
"Why do you care about what empire he resides in?" She asks
"Shh" Novem tells her
"T-the s-second e-emp cough cough" He struggled to talk
"Second empire eh. Not helping you then" Novem acted heartbroken.
The man gets dragged inside and the door shuts.
"Why didn't you". The tall girl asks
"I have no love for the Second Emperor, and his influence has poisoned his entire empire. Every citizen, from commoners to royals, looks down on those from other empires.
"Even the commoners treat foreign royals with observable inferiority." Novem frowned. "Their Emperor's influence runs deep"
"Hmm. You seem to know about royal issues well. You also mentioned HQ. If by chance are you…" She hesitates
November got what she was hinting at. He didn't say much, and merely took down his coat and put it on. "Does this answer your question?"
It happened in the last generation. A royal from their family had a disagreement with their ways and hoped for the king to change it. A thought process like that being voiced would normally get the person banishment for life. However, they couldn't kill him for a reason so small, and they couldn't send him to the outside, so he was punished by working as a servant in the kingdom. On a particular day, while he was going about his work, farming on a sunny afternoon, he came across a princess from another kingdom who was sent to deliver a message to his family's king, and he fell in love with her. He especially loved her long Taupe green hair and the name of her kingdom immediately came to his mind. Time passed by, and the both of them fled together, living a simple life in a remote area in the fourth empire. After rigorous searching, the royal prince was brought back to his empire and executed, while the princess was never seen again.
Perhaps Novem had been a descendant of the prince and his wife, no one knew.
It was a story which spread like wildfire back in their kingdom as it was a real life event. Such a tragedy fairytale is still being passed down till their current generation, never to be forgotten anytime soon.
It is also known that the current Supreme Emperor/leader of HQ, and the current fourth Emperor are also from the same royal family. Perhaps the supreme emperor also had been a descendant of that couple. He and Novem had achieved something spectacular and made their kingdom proud. Maybe more of them could also achieve unforgettable things, if only they weren't trapped in their delusions.
There's no way she wouldn't know about that popular fairytale. Ayrene watched November with his cloak on and thought, "If I could also share a fairytale with someone"
She took to her heels and hugs him. November solemnly dodges her and blinks. Once again she tried her luck and caught him this time. "Lord Fourth!" She nearly cried, "How I had hoped to meet you so much! So you could take me away from that kingdom"
Novem waits for her to stabilize herself. He waited not too long as she pulled her hands away unwillingly and looks up at him.
"Chuu-" she pursed her lips stands on her toes
"I'll slap you"
"J-just kidding" she laughed nervously
"Do you want to leave?" Novem asks
"If you think I can break the rules just cuz I'm daddy's girl, then you're joking!" she grinned
Novem watched her. "Give me your answer before we depart"
"Oh. Alright then" she blushes, "I'm Ayrene by the way"
"Novem"
"I know. But that's a weird name."
"Shut it"
The both of them walked about the hall, opening and checking out doors. The darker rooms, the more dangerous they are so they avoided them. Throughout the time, the girl who Novem knew to be Ayrene talked like there was no tomorrow.
"People have been going missing in our castle. And there have also been reported cases of missing commoners and royals around the kingdom" she crossed her arms, "You're not listening to me are you"
"I am" November replied her without looking back, "How did you disappear again?"
"I knew you weren't listening!"
"What do you know". Novem shrugs
"I was walking, and then suddenly boom! I disappeared!" She exclaimed
Novem, "...."
"...what"
"Nothing, where were you walking through?" he asks again
"The main passage in our castle. I was heading from my room to the throne room to see the king" She explained
I asked a simple question, you this girl. "It seems the targets of this instance are people passing through a passageway or corridor or alleyway. Something of the likes"
"Did you also disappear like that? Walking through a corridor or alley?" She poked her head beside him and asks
Novem nods. If more Instances like this, or far more dangerous than this, keep popping up out of nowhere, then no one is safe. He frowned, "There's no way to sense or predict them and that's our major issue."
Quite problematic.
"I'm sure you'll come up with something!" She cheered, "Even though the fourth emperor's reputation is always poor- i- I mean you're doing your best!"
Novem paused and turned to look at her.
"But those are from previous generations heh" she tried to explain herself, "Previous fourth emperors are always lazy and unproductive so everyone just got used to believing that!"
"I know" Novem turned back and moved on
"I- wasn't trying to insult you or anything "
"I know"
"I'm sure everyone is trying their best!"
"I know"
"We'll be getting married right?"
"I kn-" Novem squints his eyes, "No"
"Still kidding" she grinned cheekily
"Then you could introduce me to one of your Vassals?"
"You're a child-" she didn't wait for Novem to finish
"I like the kind of guy who wouldn't like me back!" She mouthed, "I mean, he should be interested in me- but he should be interested in other ladies too! So he doesn't have time for me!"
"What in tarnation" Novem rolled his eyes
"Do you know anyone like that!?" She asked him
Novem thought, "... I mean Felix has always said he likes children"
"Is he a womanizer?" The girl's lips wobbled
"Something like that"
"Why isn't he in my life!?" Ayrene nearly screamed, pulling out her hair
Zttch
The electric bulbs went off and immediately after, the LED lights came on.
"Wow! Much better" The girl cheered
The two continue to walk down the hall. "Have you encountered any puppets? At all?" November asks
"Yes I did."
"Is this your first level"
"No, it's my sixth" she answered
"Sixth?" Novem was surprised.
His first question was, 'How many levels are there?'
'If this is her sixth level, and this is my third, how much more dangerous will my upcoming levels be?'
"What did you see in your previous levels?" Novem asks,
"Hmm" Ayrene recalled, "Multiplication tables, dodge the paintings, escape light- "
"What?" Novem couldn't help but blurt. He then started to think hypothetically, 'Perhaps we get assigned to these halls based on our abilities? strength?"
"It's not like they were that easy!" She huffed, "Hall of Tables, Hall of Fame, Hall of Damned Lights" she listed
Nothing was easy here.
"Please, shut it and wait here"
"Waw, ruudeee. Can't you be a gentleman"
"I am to older ladies, not bratty kids"
"I'm not a kid! I'm-"
"16?" Novem answered
"W-well"
"Kid" Novem pushes open a random door and walks in.
It was surprisingly well ventilated and wide. No, it was too ventilated. The center window was very large and eye-catching.
It was too open and eye-catching
"Go check what's outside the window" Novem tells Ayrene
"No, why don't you go"
"Please"
"It's going to take more than that"
"Rest". Novem tells her and goes to check the window himself. He was instantly taken aback at the sight he saw
The room was like an insignificant dot on top of a very tall cliff. The valley way down below was lush green, the sky was blue with dusty clouds here and there, the air was refreshing, and a red dragon flew past them with ease.
"Wow" November exclaimed, the heavy wind left behind by the dragon ruffling his hair and clothes
In the distance he could also see many other dragons flying about. Although they were mostly green and red in colour.
He looked back at Ayrene, "This is actually amazing! If only a dragon could also throw you away to who knows where-"
"You cannot be serious!" She laughed
Novem looked back out and continues to take in the mesmerizing sight.
He commented, "If only there was a purple dragon."
A certain someone had made him like the colour purple.
Creak-
A pair of large purple eyes appeared right in front of him. Novem stood frozen in place
A purple scaled dragon had poked its head right in front of the large open window.
Certainly, it was very beautiful with its dark shade of rich purple. However the dragon was still a child and minute in size compared to the others that were flying around.
It was upside down, so it flapped its wings and swirled three-sixty. It looked Novem in the eye
Novem remained frozen in place for a while. When he regained his senses, he moved back a little, and the dragon moved forward in turn.
It reached out its long neck and opened its wide mouth right at Novem's face
Boom!
As if pulled back by an enormous force, the purple dragon got pushed back at an incredible velocity, crashing on another hill far away in distance.
"Are you okay? You were literally waiting for that dragon to eat you" Ayrene had her eyes wide open this whole time.
"What the-" Novem was still processing his thoughts when another black mass loomed before him.
It was an incredibly large dragon. So large the two couldn't have made out anything of it if not for its scales.
The black dragon slowly descended, its mass beyond anything weighable, and its large wings which spread forth reeling in gusts of wind.
"Shall I take you to a more suitable place?" A low growl came from above
They could not yet see any other part of its body. Especially not the mouth from which its words came from.
Before November could respond, the dragon sped up, and way down it went, revealing its face to him.
From his position, all Novem could see was one large eye.
"Come" The dragon said, and Novem vanished
Ayrene looked about, "Well, he's gone." She runs up to the window and looks outside, "Will you be back?"
…
"Woah!" Novem tries to stabilize himself as he lands on a roof.
He raises his head and can now see the full scale of the dragon. All sorts of emotions ranging from shock to fear…plus a sense of familiarity turned his heart inside out. But his fear took over
Noñ to blame though, given the dragon's vicious appearance and towering height.
November went down one knee-
"Stand" The dragon commanded
Novem's heart stopped as the voice resounded in his ears and he immediately stood back up, his legs buckling.
"I sense fear from you and that is not supposed to be" The dragon, although fierce, had shock in his voice
"Follow" it said, and Novem once again vanished only to reappear mid air with nothing to support himself
"Woah!" He exclaimed, he believed he couldn't use his abilities inside this Hall instance.
He guessed it only counts when he's inside the hallway.
Novem used his air ability to keep himself afloat.
The black dragon came down and flew around Novem.
"It's good to see you again, my Lord" The dragon said, "However, I do not see your birthmark"
Novem, "Wha-? My what?" He blinked twice. "Oh, i don't have a birth mark"
"Nonsense" the dragon said, "Although it's customary to your Royal family, how would I forget my master has a tear-like birthmark right below his left eye."
Novem realized what was going on, "Oh…your master" he laughed. "You mean the Supreme Emperor, Lord Marl"
"Are you not?" The dragon asked
"No I'm not, you clearly haven't seen your master well enough. Take some time to visit him" Novem waved
"Are you an extremely close relative then?" The dragon asked again, "You give the same aura as he does, except yours is considerably weaker, noticeably observable, so much so now that I know, it's laughable"
"Yeah, sure" Novem frowned
"Thank goodness it wasn't him. I had feared he has gotten less handsome and much weaker-"
"Yeah, I get it!" November was starting to lose it
"Do not be annoyed, mortal" The dragon laughed. "In fact, I like you already. You have the potential to become as strong as My Master."
"Potential huh" Novem thought to himself, 'Lord Zachary said the same thing' "How did Lord Marl become your master?" he asked
The dragon closed his eyes, reminiscing, "Haa…" it sighed "How many years do you think you need to defeat me"
"Me?" Novem thought, "Seven years? I don't know- I can be unpredictable" he smirks, "More like not all strength comes from persistent training. If someone hits the trigger for their potential, overnight just might be an understatement for them to reach their peak"
"A brilliant answer" the dragon laughed, "You're quite an interesting soul, may I know your name?"
"November…" Novem paused, What was his surname again? "How can I forget the name of my birth kingdom- that's literally my surname!" He murmured to himself
After racking his brain several times for several rounds, he just couldn't remember. "Oh, I could just ask Ayrene." Since we're from the same kingdom and all
"November. A beautiful name indeed" The dragon affirmed, "I shall remember that"
"What about you?" Novem asks,
"My master calls me Marlen, I would like you to refer to me as that also."
"Sounds like a girl's name" Novem's lips curved, "No, that would be Marlene." He thought, "I'm guessing Lord Marl named you after himself. Cool…"
"As for your question" Marlen started, "I became my master's slave after losing to him in a battle" he smiled, "The battle was completely one-sided. I was completely overwhelmed." he then looks down at Novem, "My master was just as young as you then, when we battled"
"For real" Novem was in awe, he then laughed. We've been taking Marl way too lightly.
"Oh, lest I forget. A family member and I are trapped in an insubstantial realm with no way to escape than to do as it says."
"An insubstantial realm you say" The dragon hummed
"Instance, as well call it"
"Then how did you make your way here?" … asked
"A particular room I entered led me here. This place, does it lead to the outside world?" Novem asks
"Ahh… the outside world you came from is the only outside world. Anything inside an insubstantial realm is another insubstantial realm. However, we specters are very much real" Answered, Marlen
"Hoo" Novem huffed,
"When you do find your way back, do you mind me coming for a visit?" Marlen proposed, "How may I find you?"
"Ask for the fourth empire. When you do get there, down you go to the largest castle beyond the city. You're looking for November" Novem smirks. "I assume you'll come look for me right after visiting HQ. Also try not to destroy my empire, you're way too big-"
"Of course, I intend to see my master first. Farewell, young mortal… November, I do hope we cross paths, many times again in the future"
"I hope we meet again also"
The black dragon bidded him farewell and commanded, "Return"
Novem vanished once again and returned back to the room he was, looking out the window. He looks back and sees Ayrene going through stacks of old books and wood.
She turned her head and gasps, "You're back! You sure took your time! Do you know that dragon?"
Novem looks back out the window but the black dragon was nowhere to be seen. It had probably flown off somewhere, or perhaps gone for a visit.
"Lil sis," he called out
"Lil sis!?" Her expression brightened, "All this while you thought of me as a lil sis? No wonder! But that works out too! I could be the the little sis of the fourth emperor! How amazing is that-? Wow, yayy! Dad will be soo proud-! Or angry! And I can show off in front of the others my age that, 'Guess what? I met the fourth emperor!' " She gushed
Novem grinned back at her, "Hey, you could perhaps journey outside our family kingdom to this land on the outside and tame a few dragons for me. I'll look for you when my Empire needs help on that scale"
Ayrene smiled helplessly. "Since when did you learn of my ability? Did that dragon tell you?" She takes up her ordinary katana and taps it on the wooden floor. Anyways..
"Big bro, that's a promise"