"Blanc, Kael, and Lune of Blood Denegis," the Daughter began speaking, "Celine, first daughter of Blood Maroux, now married to a Denegis, and… who is this?"
"She is Miyanna of Blood Denegis, my second wife," Blanc said, smiling.
The Daughter's eyes turned towards Miyanna, studying the entirety of her body with her cold, ruby-colored eyes.
She did not linger on much of her body for too long, only stopping at three places for more than a second.
Her eyes, her hair, and her stomach.
It made Miyanna feel as if she were naked while being watched by the Daughter.
It sent shivers down her spine, yet she stood straight and true.
"Was the ceremony officially done by one of our Order?" the Daughter asked, turning towards Blanc.
"It has not," Blanc shook his head, "As you might have guessed already."
"Not quite," the Daughter replied, "Her soul carries your Blood, so in the eyes of the Vita, she really is your wife, though I wonder why would a Noble Blood decide to marry a commoner."
"She is also my Capesso, Daughter," Celine added.
But Blanc spoke before the Daughter could reply to Celine, "Does love hold ranks, Daughter?"
"That is beyond my expertise," the Daughter turned on her heels, "Although it is a joy for the Order to see that Noble Blood Denegis is still alive and full of… vigor. Now to the matter at hand, for which I've been summoned."
With those words, she took her first step on the hardwood bridge as the Metamorphs stared daggers at her.
She walked as if they were not even there, passing them without blinking, looking their way, or worrying for her life.
For she knew she would remain unharmed.
And most of all, she did not care even if they tried to harm her.
"Welcome, Daughter," Alvin muttered as he came out of the wetlands forest, a warm smile on his face despite the situation they were in.
"Good evening, Patriarch," she bowed lightly, "You called. I answered."
"That you did," Alvin nodded, approaching her casually, "You also spoke with Noble Blood Denegis, anything in particular worth mentioning?"
"Nothing of the sort, my lord. At first sight, they lack anything remotely impressive," the Daughter replied, turning to look at them.
"We shall see," Alvin muttered as Blanc and the rest of his entourage stopped on the bridge, near the Metamorphs.
"So?" Blanc asked casually, looking at the lineup of Chiefs and Chiefesses in front of him, "What is your decision?"
"Will we regret it?" Georn asked quietly, disappointment in his crystal white eyes.
"Perhaps," Blanc answered honestly.
Celine took a step forward, "But in this situation, all choices you make will lead to regret."
"Lying is also an option," Allegra's eyes stared into Blanc's soul.
"What point is there in lying when you already know the truth?" Blanc questioned, tilting his head.
Aleto clicked his tongue at Blanc's words, but remained silent, feeling Georn's glare upon his neck, before the Spirit Bear addressed Blanc.
"In that case," Georn put his hand forward, "We accept your helping hand."
Blanc smiled, taking Georn's hand with confidence and shaking it lightly, "We will try to give you the best terms possible, though I hope you are aware that, no matter the result today, your fighting ends as well, right?"
"We figured as much," Georn nodded, looking towards the sky for just a moment.
But that was enough of a sign for Celine to notice, her eyes moving in the direction of the clouds above, seeing what Georn was seeing.
A reptile's giant red eye stared at the events happening inside the Gardens from what she thought was over two miles above them.
It seems the Metamorphs have a protector who does not wish to get involved, Celine thought to herself.
The discovery put a smirk on her face as she returned to the discussion between Blanc, Allegra, and Georn, which was coming to a satisfying end.
"Let's get this over with," Alvin said out loud, drawing the attention of all present. "The Daughter appointed to my Domain has been summoned as per your right and request. Now, with her as a witness, it's time to barter."
"You seem restless, Lord Certa," Blanc chuckled, moving forward with his family moving closely behind, "But it's only right not to waste either ours or the Daughter's time for no reason."
The Daughter took a step forward, biting her finger to release some blood from her thumb.
Her mouth began rapidly moving, sound escaping her lips, yet no words reached the ears of anyone present.
The droplets of blood escaping from her thumb jumped into the air, swimming toward all parties present.
A drop to Alvin, another to Blanc, and the last one, for some reason, stopped in front of Allegra.
"Me and the Vita are witnesses," she muttered, her crimson-colored eyes darkening lightly, "Now speak your terms."
"I request the release of all the captured, safe passage out of the Domain in the direction of our choosing, and several Turtle Path beasts to be used as harvest by our side," Blanc spoke his terms. "In exchange, I offer the Patriarch of Blood Certa a secret he might find more valuable and useful than any of the captured Metamorphs. I offer him the backbone on which his Noble Blood has survived for centuries. Turtles."
Alvin's eyes went wide, and by instinct, he took a step forward, pushing with his foot two of the Metamorphs tied on the ground as he passed between them, walking towards Blanc.
The soldiers present took a step forward, following their Lord.
But the drop of blood that flew around Alvin turned into a large bubble that enclosed Alvin, the kneeling Metamorphs, the Daughter, and all the soldiers who started their short walk forward.
"I am here as a witness, my Lord, which means I am to stay neutral," the Daughter began, taking a step towards Alvin, "Calm your mind, or the Vita will stop you Herself."
"What do you know of turtles?" Alvin hissed, ignoring the Daughter's warning.
"Only what I've seen for myself," Blanc replied, as he, Celine, Miyanna, and the twins showed the Black Marks on their necks.
"You thief," Alvin muttered, trying to pass the barrier made by the droplet of blood, but with no success, "You come into MY Domain, into MY Wilderness, steal from me, and then use that to get more out of me?"
"I do," Blanc nodded casually, "For I know how lacking you are in resources at this moment. And although we are indeed here illegally, we've come across something you value, so I see it only fitting to help each other… in our needs."
"Our needs, you say…" Alvin's eyes turned to stare at the black Marks of the Turtle on all their necks.
He thought of the value such Marks would have brought him if he had them in his hand.
His mind then ran towards his father, who died desperately looking for them, to the point that it almost became his madness.
Amidst the first challenge befalling his Domain since he took over, amidst a civil war started by the death of their Emperor, here stood a Denegis, an old enemy of their Blood, with the key in hand, and the answer to all of his prayers. The irony of it all.
An answer that the Denegis had stolen.
Though to Alvin's quiet frustration, it was one Blanc had uncovered alone, despite Blood Certa searching for decades with little to show for it.
Fortunately, knowing all that, he managed to compose himself, to breathe deeply, and calm the storm building in his heart.
It calmed him down enough to think properly and logically.
Once calm, he signaled for his soldiers to go back, just as the bubble of blood retracted back into the droplet swimming in the air around him.
"Daughter, please check the Mark's authenticity," Alvin requested, pointing with his chin towards Blanc.
The Daughter turned her head towards Blanc, waiting for confirmation from his side.
"Feel free, Daughter," Blanc replied casually, "You can check the Mark on all five of us if it is of any help."
With confirmation given, the Daughter walked towards Blanc, placing the same bleeding thumb onto the Mark, which, once it made contact with his skin, began pulsing, turning from black to red, then back to black again.
"Ten turtles," the Daughter nodded, "It's a real Mark, Patriarch."
"A pity," sighed Alvin, now feet away from Blanc.
The Daughter then moved to the remaining four behind him, leaving the two men face-to-face.
"I accept your terms, with three conditions," Alvin said, tightening his jaw in unspoken frustration. "First, the beast men behind you need to offer all the information I require, as well as a thousand gold in reparations. Secondly, you are to show me tomorrow where the turtles are located, as well as everything you and your family have done inside the Gardens. Three, you are to give me a list of beasts you require, no more than twenty, which I will bring caged and alive. Until then, you and all your friends are to remain at the beast men's campsite, without further destruction. Once everything has been delivered, you and your marauders are to leave the Domain, never to return."
"Allegra, Georn," said Blanc out loud, "Are the terms acceptable for your side?"
"It is," Georn said, with Allegra nodding along, her cold eyes now wide with surprise.
"There you have it, Lord Certa," Blanc sighed, "But I want thirty beasts."
"Twenty-one," Alvin said.
"Twenty-eight," Blanc countered.
"Twenty-four, last offer," Alvin offered.
"Let's do twenty-five," Blanc replied, putting his hand forward.
Alvin sighed, still unsure if the transaction he was about to conclude was the correct one.
But once the Daughter returned, confirming the legitimacy of all Marks of the Turtle on their necks, Alvin struck the deal.
"Fine," he said, shaking Blanc's hand.
"A pleasure to see diplomacy between our Bloods," Blanc smiled, not believing his own words.
"Indeed," Alvin replied, thinking the same.