The grand hall of the Palace of the Eldertree was nothing short of magnificent, a testament to the fusion of their Elven ancestry and their deep connection to nature.
The chamber was vast, easily large enough to accommodate the 50+ travelling members of the Eclipse Order, yet it retained an air of intimacy due to the natural warmth of its design.
The floors were a smooth, polished wood with golden veins that pulsed subtly with life running through it, as though carved and directly polished directly from the tree that this palace was built upon.
Tall, arched stain glass windows let in streams of filtered sunlight, casting dappled patterns on the floor.
Hanging above were massive chandeliers made of vines interwoven with glowing flowers that sent a kaleidoscope of colours throughout the room.
Massive wooden pillars twisted upward like spiralling vines, etched with intricate carvings of Elven myths and histories.
The ceiling stretched high above, where a dark green-blue bioluminescent moss created the illusion of a starry sky. Kain could imagine that it'd be even more stunning at night.
At the far end of the hall stood the centerpiece of the room: a throne carved from a solid piece of glowing green emerald-like stone. Vines wound around the base, while golden ivy dotted with white flowers climbed the entire structure.
Seated upon the throne was an ethereal woman, her long silver hair shimmered like moonlight, cascading down her shoulders in soft waves.
Her striking purple eyes gleamed with intelligence and a calm yet commanding presence. Her beauty was so radiant that Kain momentarily froze, a small voice in his head whispering conspiracies.
His eyes flicked between the queen and Serena. The resemblance was uncanny—the silver hair, the regal demeanor.
Then, he noticed the ring on the queen's finger. His mind began spinning its own melodramatic tale. Could it be? A forbidden romance between one of Serena's relatives and the Elorian queen? A love that defied kingdoms? A secret affair hidden under the veil of political meetups? Is it a secret marriage? Or does this queen already have a husband and instead had an affair with one of Serena's ancestors?!
As his imagination ran wild, he felt a sharp, icy sensation, like being doused in cold water. Serena's piercing gaze met his, and her expression was one of pure disgust. Before he could react, her voice resonated in his mind, transmitted through a spiritual skill.
"Whatever nonsense you're imagining, stop it right now."
Kain coughed, his face flushing in embarrassment. Ahem. I guess I was wrong, he thought, hastily redirecting his attention to the queen.
The queen's gaze briefly swept over the group before pausing on Kain. For a fleeting moment, her piercing purple eyes locked onto his, and the pressure in that glance alone felt as though it could crush his heart.
Then, just as suddenly, her gaze moved on, leaving Kain gasping inwardly for breath. The moment passed, but the memory of her cold, assessing look lingered, sending a shiver down his spine.
'Ahem. Let's remember not to think nonsense about the private lives of people far more powerful in the future…'
Ashen Voril stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty Evé, on behalf of the Eclipse Order, I extend our gratitude for granting us passage into Elowen Haven."
The queen's voice, smooth and melodious, filled the hall. "The honor is shared, Ashen Voril. The Eclipse Order's reputation precedes you. I trust you understand the delicacy and purpose of your presence here."
Ashen nodded, "We do, Your Majesty. We are prepared to cooperate fully and respectfully."
The queen's gaze swept over the group again, her expression unreadable. "You have been granted access to the heart of Elowen Haven because of the urgency of this matter. However, act carefully. Our land and forests are not to be disturbed or harmed in any way."
Seeing that this was addressed to all of them, Kain and the others nodded solemnly to show that they took her words to heart.
"The dragons appeared to the kingdom's east, but there appears to be a ban on the area limiting the strengths and ages of those that can enter. The ban is extremely powerful, likely created by a group of Demigod-grade dragons. When they arrived, hundreds of Elorians in a nearby village were enveloped into their territory—their life and death unknown. I do not care about what you do or how you interact with those dragons, as long as you bring back our citizens safely."
'Demigods…dragons…' Kain was surprised that this mission seemed to be a rescue mission against dragons. Moreover, it will likely involve the presence of dragons far more powerful than any of those partaking in this mission.
Moreover, he also understood why most participants were now so young—nobody above the age of 30. And why the Elorians requested the help of the Empire whom they had a good relationship with.
Since Elorians age so slowly, a full-blooded Elorian under the age of 30 may physically and mentally be no older 10 and likely wouldn't have a spiritual contract yet. Moreover, most Elorians can only contract plants—which are at a huge disadvantage against dragon's breath.
But what surprised Kain the most was the imposing title of 'Demigod'. This was the first time Kain had heard of this term used to describe a spiritual creature, and the features and terminologies used for high-grade spiritual creatures was largely still a mystery to him.
From what he's heard, such information is usually only provided to fourth-years, since thinking about preparing to break through to that level too early on is likely to just impede forward progress of the student. But he made a mental note of the new term.
The grand hall fell into a tense silence at the Queen's words, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves from the bioluminescent vines above. This was the first time any of them had heard the true details of their task this time.
Demigod dragons. What exactly have we gotten ourselves into? The weight of the mission seemed to press down even harder now, and he could sense similar unease coming from those around him.