Princess & Cyberserk

The uneasy beginning of introductions

The princess looked carefully at the strangers and immediately realized that no one in this world would show kindness and compassion to their group. Elina since childhood has had excellent practice with persons who love to deceive. Everyone is always pursuing their interests. For everyone in the palace, only personal well-being matters.

Three creatures came out to meet the group of newcomers, and they all seemed dangerous and unpleasant personalities.

The tall vampire carefully appraised the group of strangers. He quickly drew his conclusions about the quality and abilities of the new faces in this world. The vampire smiled an unpleasant evil smile and argued with the elf. The elf looked young but the princess noted at once that this assassin had undoubtedly lived for several hundred years and was a most dangerous adversary. There was a smile of a more unpleasant nature on the handsome young face. Elina knew such feigned and complicated smiles of seasoned courtiers. The elf took pleasure in his confrontation with the vampire. But at the same time, the vampire showed open dislike and irritation. The elf smiled with contempt and his smile was entirely following his manner of a king who approached the wretched commoners.

A third person confused the princess at first. She could not understand who was approaching them. The short figure was dressed in an ordinary costume with no armor equipment. But this stranger did not look like a mage. The stranger had no staff or wand of sorcery in his hands. On the stranger's head was a hat with a very wide brim. The brim of this funny hat was twice as wide as the stranger's shoulders. The princess restrained a smile, but in her mind flashed the thought of a funny intelligent mushroom with arms and legs. The stranger lifted his head only once, and Elina could see the familiar features of the townsfolk. It was a mouse! The mouse was silent and did not interfere in the quarrel between the elf and the vampire.

"What brings a daughter of the Night to this place? Where are your servants? Your company does not please me," the vampire loudly voiced his condemnation.

"My name is Darmar of the Wanderer bloodline. I am pleased to welcome the daughter of Nature. Tell me your name child. Tell me your bloodline," the elf offered. The smile on his face did not change. The elf showed no respect or favor to Algrin. Calm condescension and even boredom were clear in the elf's words.

The behavior of the representatives of the two important nations strained Dan Raven. He did not like the way the locals greeted them. By the bridge, the tall figure of an orc was visible. The broad-shouldered warrior held a large ax in his hands and was ready to engage in a duel at any moment. Three gnomes stood at the side of the group of elves. The short figures were armed with axes and carried powerful heavy armor.

Why didn't the orc and gnome representatives come to meet the newcomers? It seemed strange to Dan. He felt uncomfortable with the situation. But to the young man's aid came, as always, his faithful assistant. Tom was always ready to act on his friend's behalf.

"We are a group of adventurers from the city of Grossroads. My name is Tom and I am pleased to greet the native inhabitants. I act as an advisor to Baron Raven," Tom stated calmly and defiantly put his sword away in its scabbard. To start a fight in this case was stupid and abnormal.

It seemed to the princess that the mouse nodded its head and took Tom's words seriously. The vampire and the elf paid no attention to the clone's performance. The two fearsome creatures continued to consider the girls who had caught their attention.

Algrin decided to be the first to respond to the greeting. The stranger behaved courteously enough and gave his name and his kind.

"My name is Algrin of the Eternal Pine family. Grossroads is the home of my clan. I am pleased to welcome you, Darmar of the Wanderer family," smiled the elven girl.

"Koreima of the Kor clan. To whom do I have the honor of speaking?" Koreima didn't kid herself. She knew at once that this vampire was a formidable and powerful aristocrat. The vampiress had many enemies in the clan. She had been raised in austerity and many of the older vampires had been too demanding and cruel to her. Now the girl saw before her a persona that was incapable of warm feelings. She would have big problems ahead if this vampire was not of her bloodline.

A look of even more boredom appeared on the elf's face and the assassin even allowed himself a sigh.

"Oh, what simplicity and innocence. I have heard of the Grossroads. Come to me, child. I want to talk to you about important things," the elf turned and took a few steps away from his unpleasant company.

"She doesn't smell like innocence," the vampire laughed. He paid no attention to the companions of the vampiress and wished to speak only to her."You have come into the strange company, Koreima.

I want to know the details."

The vampire stopped laughing and with a graceful gesture of his fingers beckoned the vampiress to come closer.

The girls could not refuse the representatives of their nations. Algrin whispered a few words to the princess and walked over to the elf. Koreima felt hurt and humiliated. But she saw perfectly well the strength and magical power of this unfamiliar wizard. The girl was forced to behave with restraint and politeness. The vampiress touched the orc's shoulder and Dhroll took a step to the side. Koreima patted Dan on the back and walked over to negotiate with the dangerous vampire.

Tom knew at once that they would not expect any representatives of the human people. Perhaps there are humans among the warriors and mages at the bridge. From afar it is difficult to distinguish a vampire from an elf or a human. But the clone was able to instantly draw the important conclusion that no human aristocrats wield power in this place. Vampires and elves behave brazenly and boldly. The mouse is silent and makes the point that he's just out for a walk and a break from the noisy company of bridge guards.

In this situation, Tom could not act like a weak and miserable newcomer. The clone stepped forward and greeted the mouse with a funny big hat.

"Tom Riddle of the Abyss. It's always a pleasure to deal with mice. Can you tell me about this place?" Tom bowed respectfully and there was not an ounce of insolence or mockery in his voice.

"Grossroads. Raven. Riddle. Human," murmured a squeaky mouse voice. "I am the third of the councilors of the Community on the Hill. Frowny Nose. I am ready to speak to you. Our Community is ready to give shelter to anyone who comes to us without malice in the heart."

"And will soon be without gold in its pocket," laughed the vampire. "Don't be too quick to be polite to them. These servants will not be in the company of your rabble tonight."

"Lord Ragnar is too honest and never hides his feelings," murmured the mouse and walked past Tom to the group of young adventurers.

The vampire laughed happily and sniffed at the young vampiress.

"Young blood of the Kor clan, you will meet your family members here. You have heard my name. You have heard my questions. I await an answer," the vampire crossed his arms over his chest. The look in his eyes didn't promise anything good for Koreima.

Tom frowned and decided to return to the group. He heard the important mouse start a conversation with Dan. Phantom was very unhappy with the beginning of the conversation. The continuation of the meeting turned out to be more unpleasant for the members of the Black Flame group.

The old mouse named Frowny Nose spoke at a slow pace and his husky voice sounded strange. There was no menace in the elder's voice, but the hoarse low-pitched tone gave the news an unpleasant impression. The princess stopped smiling and felt great distress for the first time. This world was not a peaceful place. There would be no polite and cautious treatment here. This world was ready to devour any newcomer.

Elina listened attentively to every word from the mouse, and it seemed to her that she was dealing with one of her teachers from the palace. She had received leadership lessons from a variety of teachers. Elina quickly tried to find the most useful behavior to arrange a safe and better future in this place.

"This great bridge divides the lands of the vampires and the elves," the old mouse said. "There are two centers of power in this world. The vampires and orcs own the ancient settlement of Night Hill. The elves and gnomes are developed in the city of the Deepwood."

Frowny Nose fell silent and turned his head toward the orc. The mouse gave everyone a moment to contemplate the important information and continued his explanation.

"Son of a tribe of orcs, your relatives support the power of vampires. Orcs are not servants. But your tribe does not have much power in running the affairs of Night Hill. Humans do not come into this world. You are the first to be able to enter this place. The human Raven of Grossroads. You're out of luck. On the other side of the bridge, you will meet a gnome who has brought bad publicity about you. I repeat my words. The Community is ready to shelter you," the mouse fell silent and decided to listen to what these interesting young creatures had to say. 

Frowny Nose didn't know how the day would end. But the wise mouse saw before him a girl who could be a source of great trouble for his folk. But this blond girl with clear and honest eyes could be the foundation that would allow all the nations of the Community on the Hill to rise.