"Stay safe..."
Dragon did as I asked and took Ali away. I can't risk anything... if it comes to a fight I know I can escape, but if they're here they will just be in the way. I just don't understand what this woman's power is. All I knew was that what I saw was too true to be an illusion. I heard from Primrose that Donquixote Cervantes' power was also related to very realistic illusions. Is that something all knights have in common?
Soon it was only the three of us. Isabel, Rosward and me. Just the sight of that pig was enough to make me revolt.
"Aren't you going to get rid of that trash?"
Her eyes squinted a bit before sighing and giving the man an uncharacteristic kick.
"Ugh!"
"Your life is no longer in danger... get lost before I change my mind, Rosward".
"Thanks, thanks!"
The piece of garbage left the room not before shooting me a gaze of disgust. Celestial dragons are truly something else... you don't really know in how many ways I would have slaughtered you if she wasn't here.
The lady's crossed legs exchanged positions.
"Settle down your anger, Veyron".
"Easy for you to say. Now that my objective is accomplished, I have no reason to be here. Quickly state what you want from me".
Ginny and her daughter are secured, the only thing keeping me here is curiosity about this woman's character, power and intentions. I don't understand anything.
She helped us. But she also helped Rosward... so 'the friend of my enemy is my friend' doesn't apply here.
"Don't you want to know about my powers?" Her arms crossed beneath her ample bust and I shook my head, telling myself that this is no doubt a great grandma who hails from the void century, no matter how many curves there are in there. I won't be swayed!
"I don't think you're going to tell me about your powers, why would you? You're not that stupid" I answered.
"Clever. Another knight would doubt your intentions, thinking that you're planning a wide-scale invasion, but I believe you're not that stupid, Veyron".
"Clever. If I wanted to attack Marie Geoise, I'd wait until that woman is weakened".
She frowned a bit, "What woman?"
"Imu".
"..."
Her eyes showed complexity for a second before she stood up and beaconed me towards a door adjacent to her little 'throne'. In fact, this must be Rosward's room, not hers.
"Come with me, if we are to have a civil conversation, it has to be done in a secluded spot, away from prying ears. Once I give you the signal, erase that barrier. It may isolate what's happening inside, but it serves as a beacon that something is happening to the outside".
"..."
This woman is certainly an enigma. I did what she said for now as that is the truth, anyone else could sense my barrier. With how many celestial dragons Ali has slaughtered, it is a matter of time before someone realises something is not right, even if she got rid of all the corpses.
A day at most, I need way less than that to figure out this woman's intentions. She led me to what looked like a secret room inside the mansion. Not because it was difficult to access... but because it seemed like only she could access it using her powers.
She put her palm on a wall and a group of lines converged until a door manifested, it was like she 'drew' a door on the wall and it manifested. Once again I'm clueless... how does this relate to her previous power?!
"How do I know you're not getting me into an ambush?"
"Me and Mihawk are acquainted... I wouldn't hurt you if I could help it" She opened the door, it was a luxurious room inside with nothing but a bed in it. There was nothing else... just a bed.
I entered and she closed the door behind me.
"How do you know my mother?"
"You should know she's noble in our land. The Dracule Family was very scarce but prominent in the past. Even now she's still incredibly strong... her father would be proud".
She began by removing her coat.
It dropped on the floor and the next second when my eyes flickered, it had disappeared.
W-What...?
One by one her armour and garments disappeared until she was left only in a slight dress. Sitting on the bed and looking straight at me.
"So long as you don't ask anything about my powers... I don't mind answering your questions".
"Why? What do you expect to achieve?"
"An ally in this chessboard".
"Chessboard...?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, boy".
We glared at one another for a while until she patted the spot next to her.
"Come, let's talk..."
"You're a celestial dragon, even if you hadn't done the most wicked of deeds, you actively protect and support this sinful land. I can't trust you no matter what... even if you know my mother!"
"I don't have a choice".
"There is always a choice!"
"I fought centuries ago just so my family could prevail... I'm ashamed of what it has become. But it is still my family. They're all my descendants, they have my blood running through their veins".
"So it doesn't matter to you what they do to the rest of the world?!"
"Why would I care about the rest of the world more than I do about my own family... could it be that you're any different?"
!!!
Of all the things I expected from coming to Marie Geoise, getting into an existential junction wasn't one of them.
"My family is not causing harm to nobody... if I had a child and he or she strayed, I wouldn't kill him or her, but I certainly wouldn't support them either".
"You may say that now. But this is a mentality that has been ingrained for centuries. You're strong. You're mighty... but you're young, Veyron... once you have lived enough among the powerful, ask me again".
"Tch!"
I had nothing else to do here, talking to someone who I wouldn't ever be able to meet to the eye, my curiosity quickly morphed into disgust.
She's smart, she's beautiful, she's charming, she's clever, she's strong, she's... mysterious.
But she's the enemy.
Before I could flicker away, her palm grasped mine.
CHAA!!
I flickered away from her grasp into the other side of the room, in guard. She was still looking at me neutrally.
"Don't touch me".
"I may be your enemy... but that can change".
"I'd rather trust a pirate than a celestial dragon".
"Your mother is one and so is Alicia... and yet you trust them, boy".
"Alicia?"
"Rocks D. Ali. She's my descendant, she's the daughter of Saint Leia Esquivel and that sinful bastard, Rocks D. Xebec. Her true name is Saint Alicia Esquivel, whether she acknowledges that or not, matters little".
"Hmph, what's the use of that after everything she already went through? what has your family ever done for her?"
"I made sure she could live. That was Leia's request thirty years ago. They were both supposed to die but I didn't allow it. I have done more for her than her disgusting father ever could".
"It wasn't enough-"
RUMBLE!
My eyes opened and closed and all I could see was a ceiling. She teleported me?!
Her face quickly entered my field of vision, she was straddling me.
"For a brat, you're quite stubborn in front of your elders. I'm trying to have a civil conversation with you, but you keep judging me, should I judge you for sleeping with your mother, naughty boy?".