The two human kingdom envoys froze in their chairs. Their faces were tense, holding back anger. They tightened their fists until their knuckles turned white. The Viortta envoy bit his lower lip hard. Teardrops flowed from the corners of his eyes. His face showed a tired and desperate expression.
The Vlamis envoy stood up quickly from his chair. He took a deep breath and exhaled it roughly. The man in silver armor stared sharply at the princes and the other envoy, then lowered his head. Without saying a single word, he turned his body and walked quickly out of the dining room.
The Viortta envoy still sat in silence. His shoulders trembled, holding back tears.
Klaus narrowed his one eye. The man stared cynically at the Viortta envoy. Klaus's right hand moved down and brushed his sword hilt. He was ready to slash the man's neck if he dared to make any sudden threatening movement.
After remaining silent for quite a long time, the Viortta envoy finally stood up.
His body faded and disappeared completely from where he stood. There was no sound of footsteps. The man vanished, leaving empty air.
A mage, Aldes muttered in his heart.
Vilavia remained sitting calmly in his chair. The dragon man looked down and stared at his own reflection on the surface of the wine inside the glass.
"Everything starts from here," Vilavia muttered softly.
Vilavia raised his head. He stared at the princes' faces across the table. He then opened his mouth and spoke with a very gentle tone of voice.
"In one second from now. The heads of everyone here are crushed. Except for Aldes Viranea."
Vilavia tilted his head slightly. "Klaus cannot use his magic."
Portas, Valno, and Martius's eyes widened. Shocked and panicked expressions were clearly depicted on their faces. Klaus quickly pulled his sword out of its sheath. The princes stretched their hands forward, preparing to cast protective magic and ambush weapons.
Pam.
A dull explosion sound was heard.
There was no flash of light. There was no resistance. Portas, Valno, Martius, and Klaus's heads burst simultaneously. Thick red blood and bone fragments scattered, staining the white dining table and ceramic plates. Their bodies collapsed and hit the marble floor.
Aldes widened his eyes. His mouth opened. The air seemed forcibly pulled from his lungs. His body was stiff, staring at the pool of blood in front of him. The metallic stench of blood instantly stung his nasal cavity.
What is that. What is it what is it what is it. The power to change destiny. What is this. He is crazy. He killed the princes. He wants war. Will there be war. This is war. What should I do. I cannot defeat him. I, Aldes's mind screamed in panic.
Vilavia stood up from his chair. The dragon man stepped forward, approaching Aldes's sitting position.
He stopped right beside Aldes. Vilavia's hand reached out to touch the prince's shoulder. A hot temperature spread from Vilavia's palm to the skin of Aldes's shoulder. The horned man lowered his head, smiled warmly, then whispered right into Aldes's ear.
"You."
"Who."
Aldes's pupils shrank drastically. His heart beat very hard against his ribcage. His breath caught.
"Do not panic," Vilavia said again. "I know."
"I will not tell the others." Vilavia patted Aldes's shoulder slowly. "If Aldes tells. He will die."
Vilavia pulled his body away from Aldes.
The man raised his right hand into the air and snapped his fingers.
Click.
Instantly Aldes's vision changed. The metallic stench of blood disappeared without a trace. The dining table in front of him was clean again. Portas, Valno, Martius, and Klaus's heads were intact and attached to their necks. The four people sat calmly in their respective positions.
At the end of the table, Aldes saw the Viortta envoy had just faded his body and disappeared, leaving the room.
What happened. Didn't he already leave. What is this. Aldes looked around with a highly confused facial expression.
Did I return to the past. To a few minutes ago. Aldes turned his neck and stared straight at Vilavia.
Vilavia returned Aldes's gaze. The dragon man widened his lips, smiling gently at him.
Vilavia then stood up from his seat. He stared at the princes' faces and bowed his body politely.
"Until we meet again, gentlemen." Vilavia straightened his body. "May you be happy with what you sow."
One second later, Vilavia's figure disappeared from the room without a trace.
Total silence dominated the dining room.
"Heh." Martius let out a sound from his throat. He chuckled softly. "Haha. Haha."
Martius's laughing sound slowly grew louder. "Hahahahahahaha."
His laughter echoed loudly, bouncing off the walls of the room. He held his stomach and laughed uproariously.
"So ridiculous. So ridiculous," shouted Martius. "Wow. Wow."
"They are like trash now." Martius shook his head a few times. "I almost forgot I was conversing with kingdom representatives. Wow."
"Him. Not that man. Hahaha." Martius's laughter still had not stopped.
Portas took a deep breath. He raised his glass and drank the remaining wine inside it until it was empty. Portas placed the glass back on the table and stood up.
"Your laugh is too loud," Portas said flatly.
Portas stared straight at Martius. "You truly have no manners and empathy, my brother."
After saying that sentence, Portas turned around and walked out of the dining room.
Valno leaned his back fully against the backrest of the chair. He looked up, staring at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling of the room.
"We are doomed," Valno said softly. "What awaits us later."
Valno lowered his head. His eyes glanced toward Aldes. Aldes's facial skin looked pale white and his body posture slumped weakly.
"What is wrong with you," Valno asked. "Did he threaten to kill you or what."
Aldes took a deep breath. He shook his head slowly. "It is nothing."
Valno took one red apple from the basket in the middle of the table. He bit into the apple and started chewing it.
"But I am truly surprised by what you did," Valno said while chewing. "Attending this banquet. Going to the library. And training."
Valno pointed at Aldes with the apple in his hand. "Damn it, what is wrong with you. Is there a woman you like, hm. Or you admire."
Aldes knitted both of his eyebrows. His face showed a confused expression. "Huh. What are you talking about."
"He already started training four months ago secretly," added Martius, interrupting the conversation.
Valno widened his eyes. He turned his head quickly toward Martius, then looked back at Aldes.
"Four months," Valno said in surprise. "I truly did not realize it."
Valno shook his head slowly. "I truly could not see it."
Aldes stared at his two brothers alternately. His hands that were under the table still felt cold.
They are so relaxed, Aldes muttered in his heart.