"You could quit being Shallom's personal guide."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"It's my duty to work as the heiress of the Gallagher family."
"That doesn't mean you have to do all of her work, your job is to protect her, not to be degraded and insulted by her."
"Jake, please don't."
Ignoring her pleads, Jake and Lucia walked ahead of her, reaching the meeting room. The room gate and seeing all the members of the council seated together, discussing with Clover about the liume jewels, the council turned to their direction, noticing Erica's appearance and a child who stood behind Jake.
"Your Majesty, we are sorry for being late, we were stopped by some bandits on our way here, so we had to dispose of them."
Erica proclaimed to Clover, while Seth stood up from his seat and gave her his handkerchief, to clean off the remaining fresh blood from her face, Clover noticed Lucia hiding behind Jake and was surprised but immediately hid it, to prevent suspicion from the little girl.
"We get that, but why is Jake holding a scared child? Last time we checked, Jake was as heartless as my sister and Rico."
Noticing the sudden shift of interest in her, Lucia was frightened and completely hid herself behind Jake. Lisa approached her after realizing who she was, taking a quick glance at her friends on the table, Seth acted mischievously, Rico was bored as usual and Christa had her mind on the book. She had brought with her something to suppress her boredom.
"Hey, what is your name? I would like to know and don't worry, we don't bite, but we can be annoying that's for sure, especially him", Lisa pointed to Seth, who felt hurt by his sister's words and didn't try to hide it. The others witnessed his hurt expression and laughed about it.
"Mm…. my…. nam…. I am Lucia, I a…m five years old, I a…m a fown," She stuttered her words in fear of being hit by them.
"So, you're part foumet and part luwn, huh?" Rico said with little interest. It wasn't his problem. He normally stayed cleared of situations like this, but knowing if he acted interested, the meeting would end faster.
"Wow, Rico, I can't believe you finally decided to actually speak in this meeting at all."
Seth snickered at Christa's words, but Rico ignored Seth and continued not to be involved in the situation, by reading his book. Lucia, on the other hand, was hyperventilating behind Erica.
"Oi, little one, you're not the only one who is a half-breed, the black-cloaked man that brought you here, is half dragon and half human, making him a luend, and your half-brother," He whispered the last part for Lucia not to hear, but the others heard loud and clear, she was more focused on Jake, and showing her surprised expression to him, while Jake had wanted to give the roses to Lisa, talk to Christa for their engagement and give most of his attention to his lost sister.
"Rico, don't forget, you are part human and demon, you know."
Christa said without losing her focus on her book, only to be disturbed by her elder brother, who gave her a disappointed look.
"As much as I love you increasing your love of your hobby, of reading BL novels, don't you have something to say to Lucia?" He looked at the chartreuse-coloured haired fown, who was slowly starting to get close to the others.
"Big brother, last time I checked, you may have forgotten that I am not good with children, especially the ones who have been scared mentally. I would rather not be involved in this, but you could make her a playmate for Daniel and Drake."
She suggested. Jake scoffed at the mention of Daniel not having any fond time with his mother.
"Jake will take her to the Alaric dukedom, give her love and affection, something she hasn't received for a long time, let her make friends with children around her age, and interact with people who understand her pain. Nice idea Christa," Giving a thumbs up to his sister.
"Now, that I have suggested an idea to you, kindly return my book, allow Jake to give Lisa roses, and let Erica shut Seth's mouth up," Clover sighed in defeat, as he listened to his sister, and allowing Jake to give Lisa roses, which she accepted happily and Erica hitting Seth on the head with her hardened fist, noticing Rico about to leave with his sister, he walked up to them and asked them a question.
"So, have you retrieved the boy?"
"Yes, we have. We call him Drake now."
"Good, we have completed our first phase. I hope for more news in the future."
"Of course, Clover."
The three whispered in their lowest tones, making sure no one heard their conversation, giving Clover a goodbye hug. The meeting had ended quickly, as Rico dragged Christa with him, heading for Moria, hoping to make it on time before a blizzard took place, interrupting their trip back to Moria.
In the Moria desert, next to Jonmer's dead rotting body, the bold written words were slowly merging together, forming molten magma, until standing still and slowly turning solid. The creature was grateful for learning Ice liume, to not be killed by it.
The sudden change of weather was normal in Glathon. There was never an exact season for the weather, it was quite occasional for the weather to last for three weeks straight without changing.
Jade needed a body to withstand the cold, after all. Then, the true weakness of the Glathony race was water and ice, so the current weather wasn't suitable for her, using her fire affinity to warm herself from freezing and breaking into pieces.
Over her travels, in the Moria village, located some kilometers away from the desert, having suitable conditions for every species to survive in, it was one of the secret hideouts for the Glathonies, disguising themselves as lower class demons. That was another reason why it was hard to locate them.
She felt her liume draining more, as she used it more to maintain her body heat, she started to look for a host, to possess and control, until she found no use for the creature.
She wondered around, seeing no human in sight until. She passed a nice little cottage, seeing a little boy, covered in fur. He didn't even look bothered by the cold, as he clumped snow together, making a small circle of snowballs, as if he was making a little snowman. Jade was never picky when choosing a host, but something about him was strange, but her survival instinct took over, clouding her rational judgment and questioning, and she immediately jumped on him.
"Leave me!" He shouted, as a huge amount of lava seeped through his body. It was painful and terrifying for him.
"Shut up, human, it will only last for a minute, say hello to the new owner of your body. Jade is my name, if you were wondering." The puddle of lava had cackled maniacally, it only scared Drake more, he was drowning in pain, dark spots clouded his vision, slowing. He was losing his will and body, he shouted.
"Leave my body, it's mine to keep," A green light shined over his body, while Jade screamed from an almost instant pain that passed through her body. Noticing the light, she realized who he was and why she was cautious of taking his body.
'It can't be, they have been extinct for over a thousand years, why is it now?' She thought to herself, feeling her body being destroyed by the amount of risme.
'He isn't even above the age of ten, and he has already unlocked such a high amount of risme, so he is the one destined to kill us.'
Well, at least, it wasn't as gruesome as her ancestors' deaths.
He fell down to the ground, not knowing the damage he had caused to the lava. His head was buried in the snow, while he looked at the destroyed snowman, three feet away from him, as he heard a ding. Looking up from the snowman, he saw a screen and it showed.
[CONGRATULATIONS]