As the towering gates of the Zerithian Empire loomed ahead, Cordelia approached with her entourage—Sig, Mimi, Sai, Rex, and Nox—each hiding their monstrous appearances beneath illusion spells. The air around them was tense, tightly wound with restrained power.
Just as they were about to step through the gates—
Splash!
A bucket of ice-cold water crashed down on them.
Lilith, standing smugly atop the sturdy stone with a glimmer in her eye, had dumped her signature Sparkle Ice Water—a rare alchemic concoction that suppresses one's aura and strips any concealment magic in an instant.
Caught completely off guard, the group staggered. Their monster auras dissipated temporarily, leaving them exposed in unstable, humanoid forms. Their control over their powers flickered erratically.
Zerithian's ancestral shield—a creation by the ancient houses of Vaelcrest and Vaelthorne—sensed the disturbance immediately. It pulsed faintly, warning against intruders with unnatural auras.
For centuries, the shield had served as a sentinel, a silent message to monsters: Don't even think about stepping inside.
Now, the heir to Vaelthorne himself was marching monsters through its gates.
Lilith only grinned and chirped, "Whoops!" before disappearing with a skip, as she began pouring her mana on Mimi and Sai.
The city, unaware of the silent invasion, buzzed with life. Banners of orange, gold, and emerald danced in the wind—Harvest Festival had begun, painting the empire in vibrant hues.
Gabriel arched a brow, recalling a particular someone's panic-stricken face. The elite hunters had been away, leaving Zerithian vulnerable. Emperor Cassian must be fuming right about now.
"Don't worry, Cas," Gabriel thought darkly. "I'll bring white roses to your funeral."
Behind him, Luomon strolled in, smirking. "Think Cas'll place us under house arrest the moment we enter?"
Gabriel scoffed. "Who'll handle the foreign delegates then? Those noble fossils can't even hold eye contact without fainting."
Lilith, wiping her brow as she stabilized Mimi and Sai's residual aura, snapped, "If you two are done gossiping, maybe help me instead? I'm draining my damn mana out here!"
With exaggerated sympathy, Luomon patted her head before extending his own mana to suppress Sig, Rex, and Nox's auras. "You damn freaks better behave behind the walls."
All three hissed at him.
Luomon hissed back, grinning mockingly.
Chaos brewed at the back. Lilith, Sai, and Mimi side-eyed the feral trio like tired babysitters at their wit's end.
At the front, Gabriel approached Cordelia. Her form now hidden beneath a heavy cloak, her once luminous, ocean-shaming curves concealed. Her crimson hair shielded most of her face—and he hated it.
"Cordelia," he called, gently.
She was busy pouring her own aura inward. No one else could mask her power. When she finally opened her eyes, golden irises flickered like molten sun.
"Done with the camouflage?" she asked, her voice crisp.
He chuckled. "Sadly, no. And I didn't get the honor."
"Of…?"
"Of covering you with my scent."
She raised a brow. "Wasn't that supposed to be aura?"
"Same thing."
He stepped closer, a smirk playing on his lips.
Sig immediately intervened, standing between them like a wall of steel.
Gabriel sighed and gave him a withering look. "Ah yes, how could I forget you."
Sig smiled coolly. "You better not."
A flicker of lightning danced in Gabriel's blood-red eyes.
Lilith barked, "Gab! Shus it! Do not blow our cover before we even set foot inside!"
Gabriel backed off, aura reigned in. "Fine. But once we're in—"
Sig smirked. "Bring it."
Cordelia's voice cut through the tension, icy and commanding. "Only I give orders to my subordinates. No one else."
That voice—so cold, so commanding—it sent a shiver down Gabriel's spine. He was addicted to it, drawn to her more with every word.
Without realizing, he closed the space between them. Her floral scent curled around him, sweet and dangerous.
He bowed slightly. "Pardon my rudeness, my lady."
He offered his hand.
She took it.
A thrill ran through him—finally, he could touch her. But the warmth was absent. Her hand was cold—dangerously cold. The kind of cold that didn't just bite your skin, but froze your blood and stilled your heart if you held on too long.
He held it longer anyway.
Challenge accepted.
"Now then," Gabriel murmured, "shall we head to our duchy?"
Luomon raised his hand, chanting swiftly. A glowing bluish sigil formed beneath their feet.
"Wrap," he commanded.
In an instant, the group vanished from the eastern gates—just as the crowd outside began to stir.
___________
In the Emperor's private chamber,
Cassian stood by the arched window, gazing out at the sprawling capital below, hands clasped behind his back.
Henry entered, bowing slightly. "Your Majesty, Lord Gabriel, Lilith, and Luomon have returned."
Cassian sighed in relief. "Finally. The delegates from the Middle States will arrive this afternoon. Good thing they made it back just in time."
But Henry hesitated.
Cassian turned, brows furrowing. "What?"
"There were… other individuals with them."
"Individuals?" Cassian repeated slowly.
Henry nodded once. "Yes."
Cassian's voice grew sharp. "Didn't they enter the forest? What individuals—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Something clicked. The dots aligned in a sudden, horrifying realization.
His expression turned pale. "No way."