Page 46 of Beneath Scales and Shadows
The golden felynx approached the table opposite Sora. “What would you propose then, Luna? How does one begin to heal centuries of division?”
The question hung in the air, weighted with expectation. Sora felt momentary panic—how could she possibly answer? She was a historian, not a politician or diplomat—and yet, she was forced to be all three and a warrior too. Then Ignis moved beside her, his presence steady and supportive—but he refused to wrap a wing or his tail around her.
The look in his eye and subtle nod indicated that he wanted her to prove herself to them on her own—to demonstrate that she could lead alongside him.
“By remembering what came before the division,” she said finally. “By recognizing that Artania’s natural state was one of union, not isolation.” She gestured to the representatives. “Your presence here, together, is already the beginning.”
The violet-eyed elf tilted his head. “An interesting perspective from one so new to our world.”
“What threat do you have with each other?” Sora challenged. “From all I could tell, no monster kingdom raised a claw against another. And the human kingdom, Elaris, still has unions with their dragon kingdom, Kaelthar. So why isolate from each other when you could’ve united and stopped all of the madness and damage that Celestoria had caused?”
Silence fell as the delegates considered her words. Sora felt the scrutiny of multiple species weighing her worth, measuring her against prophecies written before her birth.
It wasn’t her fault for what had happened to Artania, and yet, they were taking it out on her—someone who wasn’t evenoriginallyborn here.
“My Luna is correct.” Ignis’s wing shifted slightly, brushing against her back in silent support. “We all secluded ourselves once our omegas started disappearing, and turned within ourselves as self-preservation. In a way, it just quickened our kingdoms’ own downfall.”
“I propose an alliance,” Nylrion said suddenly, stepping to Ignis and holding out his hand. “Not merely between our individual kingdoms and Dralux, but a united front against Celestorian aggression.”
Ignis accepted his hand, his own engulfing the dark elf’s. “Thank you.”
The emerald fae nodded, wings shimmering. “Tor’Vasha would join such an alliance. We may be the farthest kingdom out of the Veil, but the pain runs deep with us as well. Too long have we hidden in our forests while Celestoria expanded their influence upon their own land and beyond.”
“The packs of Ilunthar stand ready,” Thornel rumbled, amber eyes gleaming. “We’ve lost too many to their hunters, using our fur for coats and rugs.”
“And Zhyr’kai would add our claws to this cause,” the silver felynx added, tail lashing behind her. “Our hunters report increased human activity at our shores. We’ve been able to repel them, but they’ve grown bold over the years.”
Energy shifted in the chamber, after centuries of isolation, neighbors were ready to become allies to face a common threat.
“What role would your Luna play in this alliance?” the androgynous fae asked, addressing Ignis directly. “Will she stand beside you as mere symbol, or as true power?”
Ignis’s crimson gaze settled on Sora, something unreadable shifting behind his eyes. “That is not for me to decide,” he answered. “It’s up to her what she wants to do. I won’t become like our enemies and force her hand.”
Unexpected warmth bloomed in her chest at his words. Not possession or control, but respect for her autonomy. He could strike his claim on her, force her hand by demanding her aid in front of the leaders gathered, but instead… he was making the decision up to her.
“Thank you.”She found herself leaning slightly closer to him, drawing strength from his unwavering faith. “I’ll contribute whatever knowledge and abilities I possess,” she told the gathered representatives, meeting each of their gazes. “Earth history is filled with parallels to your situation—oppressed peoples uniting against tyrannical regimes, forgotten alliances rekindled in times of need.”
The diplomats nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer, and didn’t press farther.
The discussion transitioned to pragmatic issues of cooperation and communication, emphasizing the need to safeguard each other from emerging dangers and restore trade pathways among kingdoms.
Ignis stepped forward, his wings extending slightly in a gesture that commanded attention without demanding it.
“Since discovering Sora at the Selection Ball, events have accelerated beyond what any of us anticipated,” he began, his voice resonating through the chamber as he gestures to the crystal 3D display map. “Celestoria’s forces gather at our borders with weapons infused with corrupted omega essence. They’ve killed our scouts and captured our delta spy, Coal.”
The room stilled at this revelation as the representatives exchanged concerned glances.
“A delta taken?” Nylrion’s silver eyes narrowed. “This suggests a new strategy. Historically, they’ve only targeted omegas, knowing how powerful their presence is. All of our kingdoms’ numbers have dwindled, as if we’ve fallen from the Moon Goddess’s grace for not protecting her most cherished ones.”
“Precisely,” Ignis agreed, his tail lashing behind him. “They know we are weak because of them, especially since there are only a few omegas within our combined kingdoms. And now they’ve begun targeting deltas, but for what reason? Our deltas aren’t human, so they weren’t born with any unique abilities. Unless… they want to do something as nefarious as using them to breed with pure humans.”
“That’s barbaric,” Ember spat from her post next to the door. “For them to stoop so low… Coal would rather end himself than give them what they want.”
Thornel growled, a sound that rivaled a dragon, vibrating through the stone beneath their feet. “They’ve grown bolder.”
“We must act before they become unstoppable,” Ignis said, his crimson gaze sweeping across the chamber. “Before balance becomes unachievable.”
Sora studied the map spread across the crystal table, noting the strategic markers placed by Blaze and Enixa. “They’re creating a perimeter,” she observed, tracing the pattern of Celestorian troop movements. “Not just around the Dralux mountains, but expanding outward toward all your territories.”
