Leona slowly opened her eyes to a rather familiar throne room. She was sitting on the stairs leading to the throne while the familiar Empress was with her arms crossed while leaning against a nearby column.
"Ah… the inner world." She muttered to herself as the familiar sight was both warming and calming. "I must be asleep then."
"Passed out more likely." The Empress said while stepping forward and looking at her with a serious glare. "Why did you let Robert trick you into doing whatever he pleased?"
"I… I don't know how to deal with it." She grabbed her own left shoulder. The old wound throbbed from pain. "What if… what if that fear costs me another life?"
"Your fear, our fear, is something born out of necessity."
"What do you…?"
"Being a dragon slayer was not something that naturally came to me. The reason why I was able to overcome it was by slaying her."
That sentence made the tactician flinch.
"Her… you couldn't possibly mean…"
She nodded in response, unbridled rage boiling in her eyes.
"I've killed my own great grandmother." She looked at her right hand. Despite being clean, each time the Empress blinked she could see it soaked in blood for brief moments. "I was like you, being drawn into his whimsical 'experiments' and one of those cost her life."
"But… if you were afraid, then… wait… was it thanks to Avalon?"
She nodded once.
"Only a dragon may slay another and upon partaking of her blood I became an existence close to what Krieg is now in your world." She clenched her right hand into a fist. "A dragon knight."
Leona glanced down at her own open hand. The mere thought of pointing a blade at the one that gave her such warmth was unfathomable. Such a despicable act made her heart ache.
In Leona's eyes the once fearsome Empress seemed nothing more than a poor soul that was controlled like a puppet to other's amusements.
"I'm… sorry."
Her heartfelt apology caught the woman off guard as she uncrossed her arms.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I thought… I honestly thought you were nothing more than a tyrant, but I see now." She glanced down again at her own hand as she closed it tightly. "You've tried to achieve your goal through your own way."
There was a lingering sensation inside her chest. The pain, the suffering, the sorrow they both felt. It was all too familiar to the tactician. However, the pity in her eyes soon turned into a glint of determination as she looked up to the Empress.
"Lend me your strength. If not for me—then for yourself."
The woman widened her eyes in surprise.
"Do you… want this accursed power?"
"Don't you want to make amends? Isn't that why you left Avalon in Xenovia's hands?"
She looked away. Her stone cold heart felt like it was being pierced through by a blazing hot stake.
"Don't be ridiculous. I…" Hesitation made her voice get stuck midway through her throat as she couldn't bring herself to finish her words. "No… you're right." She shook her head slowly as a heavy sigh came out of her mouth. "Xenovia was never supposed to suffer like she did."
She put her closed hand atop of her breast and sighed heavily once again. In that moment Leona felt a pang of sharp pain in her head as images of a young blonde girl started to flash in her mind. Big aquamarine eyes filled with curiosity stared at her as the Empress sat on a gilded throne.
She would regale to her granddaughter of tales of her conquest. Though kept brief and painted through a more heroic lens than what historians would describe, it nevertheless entertained and brought a smile to the small child atop of her lap.
But those fond memories that brought a tingle of warmth inside her chest would soon change as the entire world became an enemy of the empire. Not a single day would pass without a revolt and those same revolts would be put down by the might of her own army.
As if staring down a bottomless cliff, Leona suddenly held her breath before the Empress reached for her shoulder and squeezed it tightly.
"Leona. I…" She spoke in a soft voice. "I don't know if I'll ever find in my heart to forgive what Robert did to me, to my people, to my world. But know this, your conviction—our conviction, is second to none. Should you will it, my power is yours to command."
Those words made her eyes widen in surprise.
"Are you… entrusting it to me?"
"Better you than that insolent otherworlder." She grabbed her shoulder and squeezed it. "Power without ideals is meaningless and ideals without power are worthless. But be careful Leona, my strength isn't born out of love."
She blinked a few times and it was at that point where she found herself back facing a familiar ceiling. A silver haired woman suddenly popped into her field of vision as soon as she woke up.
"Ah! You're awake!" It was Ascalon, she looked in her eyes and raised an eyebrow. "Leona?"
The tactician looked at her and smiled awkwardly.
"Yes?"
Her nonchalant expression and tone left the woman with a puzzled look on her face as she couldn't exactly tell what happened just now.
"No, you… look different."
"Do I?" She forced herself to sit up. Her body felt lighter and the mana coursing through her was reinvigorating. "I feel like I've slept for days."
"Well… that's good to hear!" She said with a cheerful expression showing on her face as she turned around. "Ah, before I forget. Sir Robert and Sylphia are waiting for you in the kitchen."
Leona nodded and Ascalon made sure to bow before leaving the room. The tactician looked at her right hand as she felt a surge of power from within. Though different from the time she trained with Robert—it felt more primal, a source of untapped potential that she wasn't exactly sure how to make use of.
She closed her eyes and took a slow, deep breath.
'She never really told me what this power of hers entailed but I certainly feel… different somehow…'
The room felt warm—warmer than usual in fact. The stove was at its lowest with flame's light barely peeking through the metallic grate door and yet Leona felt even somewhat uncomfortable from the heat.
She loosened the fur clothes around her neck before stepping outside the room. Already from the hallway she could see Sylphia slouched in her humanoid form in order to look through the door frame.
"Are you okay? How are you feeling?"
The dragon knight asked with a genuine look of worry on her face.
"I'm good. Feeling a bit hot, if anything, but alright otherwise."
Her worried expression softened up a bit into a faint smile as she stepped beside the doorway and motioned with her hand.
"Then come join us. You must be hungry."
Leona nodded and made her way to the kitchen. However, as opposed to a full table, she saw Ascalon putting plates in front of only three seats. Avalon was sheathed and placed lying flat on a chair.
The tactician sat beside where the sword was while Sylphia took the seat directly across from her and Ascalon beside her master. On the table, there was a metallic tray halfway filled with food that reminded Leona of a pie—though not the ones she used to eat back in Arcadia as there was melted cheese on top of it.
"What is this…?"
Leona leaned closer as she inspected the unusual look of the meal. The top layer was yellow while the middle portion was stuffed with meat and the bottom part was a vibrant orange color that seemed like mashed potatoes.
"It's called shepherd's pie." Ascalon grabbed a knife and started to cut through it as she explained. "Master's favorite meal as a human."
"Hey."
Sylphia gently nudged her with her elbow which made the maid chuckle. After neatly cutting the pie into squares, Ascalon scooped one of the pieces and put it on top of Leona's plate.
"Here you go."
"Shepherd's pie huh…?" She picked the fork and turned it sideways before cutting a bite size piece. "What is this orange puree?"
"Mashed kabocha." Sylphia said as she carefully picked up the fork between her index and thumb. She was handling the cutlery with such care that it seemed like the metal would bend if she were to apply any more force than she was. "Your great grandfather was the man who introduced me to the food of humans."
"My great grandfather…" She took a bite of the pie and the distinct sweet flavor of the squashed mingled with the savory salty shredded meat. All was accompanied by a rich butterfly flavor from the cheese which made Leona take her time chewing before eventually continuing speaking. "... great grandmother, how did you come to live in Nara? The few times Mother spoke about her homeland, she would always mention it was to the far east but she would never go into detail."
That made Sylphia widen her eyes in surprise.
"Oh, really? Well… I guess it would be difficult for her to explain the things she went through here." In the meantime, Ascalon served one piece of the pie on Sylphia's plate. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Despite her rather large size, she was able to use the fork and knife to an extent that made Leona think she was sharing the table with a noble lady.
"Ravness was… not very liked by her own mother."
"Huh? You mean your daughter didn't like my Mother?"
The dragon knight nodded with a saddened expression on her face.
"You see, dragons often have problems dealing with their own ego. Only after living for a few centuries are we finally able to shed it in place of something greater. It's difficult to know that we stand at the pinnacle of power, yet we are similarly powerless to the whims of fate." She smiled bittersweetly. "Your grandmother, my daughter, was no different. When Ravness came to this world with almost no mana to speak of, she was casted aside like a spent torch."
"Then… what did she do?"
"What any dragon would, she sought her own path." Each of her movements with the cutlery made it seem that they were being led with emotion as she was speaking. "She often would come to seek my counsel for matters that concerned human life. That child was smarter than her years. There was not a single day where we wouldn't spend talking together."
"Mother…"
Leona's left shoulder throbbed as her heart felt heavy.
"Years passed by and then, one day, she decided to leave Nara."
"She just left?"
"Yes, she bid farewell to me that day and Avalon went with her as a companion for the road. That was before the Heavens War happened."
"The death angel war, correct?"
She nodded with a light frown forming on her brows.
"That conflict claimed many lives. Even my might as a dragon was not enough to push them back."
"Mother left, then the Heavens War happened… what happened to my grandmother?"
Sylphia shook her head slightly.
"I don't know what became of her. She used to be a commander in the capital but I never heard from her again after it had fallen."
Leona took another bite of the pie and kept thinking. Something didn't quite feel right about the story she was just told.
"You mentioned you gave Avalon to her, right?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Is this the same Avalon?"
"Huh? Of course–" At that point Sylphia stopped and narrowed her eyes as she turned her head to the left as if something didn't quite click. "Why do you ask that…?"
"No… I was just curious. It had been a few years so I thought maybe Avalon had changed."
"Ah, I see…"
Ascalon started to chuckle as she raised her shoulders and said.
"Aside from the fact she is more bite than bark now."
"It's not good to say those things about your sister."
Sylphia lightly reprimanded her.
"Sorry, Master."
Leona looked at Ascalon before glancing at Sylphia.
"Say, great grandmother, why does Ascalon keep calling you master?"
Both women exchanged looks before turning to the tactician. Which by then the maid spoke confidently.
"I chose Master Sylphia to be my wielder."
The dragon knight patted Ascalon on the head.
"Leona, living weapons like Avalon, Arondight and Ascalon here, have their own paths they like to choose as well." She smiled as if content with the maid's words. "Just how wielders choose to wield their weapons, they too, also choose who they want to be wielded by."
"I see…"
Her gaze trailed down to her left where Avalon was quietly sheathed.
'Avalon… you haven't chosen me exactly…'
A few minutes passed and after Leona had enough time to rest after eating, she stood up and grabbed the sheathed sword.
"I'll head outside for a bit."
She said without hesitation as she headed out. Ascalon was putting away the dishes and Sylphia helped the maid before she was interrupted by her.
"Master, why don't you go spend time with her instead? I can finish this by myself."
"Ascalon, you already–" She gently pushed the dragon knight towards the door. "Hey!"
"Don't lie to yourself, you want to spend as much as you can with her before she goes away, right? You have the same look on your face when young lady Ravness was still here."
The dragon knight huffed—embarrassed.
"You should respect your wielder more."
"I already do, Master."
Stepping outside, Leona noticed how beautiful the place truly was. The white expanse was bright as the sun reflected off the white powdery snow. The chilling breeze was comfortable to a certain extent as it dissipated the warmth she was feeling ever since waking up.
However the peaceful view was abruptly interrupted by the sound of clashing steel in the distance. To her far right, Krieg and Miyamoto were exchanging slashes that would cut through the snow as the aftermath of blade energy attacks.
"Not bad, my son!" The swordmaster shouted atop of his lungs as he was going all out with his unsheathed black blade. "I can finally go all out!"
"Don't get carried away, old man!"
Krieg was holding a frostburnt silver blade that was akin to a zweihander—a sword with a slender blade that was equally durable as it was sharp. The knight raised the blade perpendicular to his body before a large quantity of mana surged within the metal as he swung the weapon down with all his might.
A bright blue light engulfed the horizon as an explosion of bright blue flames covered the snow in a large cone towards the swordsman. To everyone's surprise, Miyamoto had parried his attack and the mighty blade was nothing but a piece of metal in the snow. The curved sword stopped halfway towards Krieg's neck as he raised his left hand.
"I… concede."
He declared defeat as there was nothing else he could do at that range. They each took a step back and bowed to each other. Miyamoto sheathed his blade but Krieg simply carried his sword by the pommel with the flat part of the blade resting against his own right shoulder.
As they were heading to the cabin for a break, they both saw Leona standing there in awe.
"Krieg…" She muttered as he approached her. The pristine frostburnt silver blade on his hand seemed like something straight out of a fairy tale. "Is the sword you're holding… Arondight?"
He smiled faintly before nodding once.
"Lady–ahem. Aron told me that I should wield her."
He glanced at the blade and nodded to himself before sinking it on the snow. A light blue glow started to envelop the weapon and much like how Sylphia transformed from dragon to human, Arondight did so from sword to human.
"Good afternoon, Leona." She bowed slightly with both her hands near her thighs. "I hope it wasn't too forward of me."
She wasn't exactly sure why she was apologizing until she remembered the conversation with her great grandmother the day before, she realized what she was talking about.
"If you're referring to becoming Krieg's weapon, do not concern yourself with formalities. While I share great grandmother's blood I'm not a dragon knight myself."
Wielding a living blade was a bonding ritual between wielder and weapon. Similarly to bestowing the title to a knight, it was something only those with prestige would achieve within the clans of dragons. For Arondight to claim Leona's knight as her wielder—it was nothing short of challenging her position as his liege.
The maid looked up at her with clear worry in her eyes.
"But…"
"Worry not, as I said before. I am no dragon knight. In fact, I'm not even a swordswoman." Her fingers unconsciously tightened around Avalon's sheath. "Both Krieg and myself came to this faraway land to become stronger so do not concern yourself with these matters."
She walked past the maid and gently tapped her shoulder with the back of her hand. Krieg didn't utter a word, but seeing his liege's anxious expression was enough to make him worry.
Leona walked far away from the cabin before eventually sitting down with her legs crossed on the snow. She placed Avalon lying flat on her knees and closed her eyes.
The memories from earlier in the morning started to come back like the tempest that came before she fought Akamui. Sylphia's dragon roar that sent chills down her spine was now filling something from within her chest.
Unlike before, her body didn't shake from fear—in fact, she was the most steady as she played the same scene in her mind. As the shockwave of her roar echoed through her bones, shefelt a heat rise from within. It had been long since she felt that sensation.
Hatred.
But unlike when she lost those dear to her, this hate was too much for her to bear—it was like every single bone in her body was about to break. Her heart ached as if a malicious freezing hand grasped her muscles and was about to yank it out of her chest.
"Gah…!" She opened her eyes and gasped for air. "What… what was that…?"
She could feel her heartbeat echoing throughout her body. Each beat was strong enough for her to sense her own pulse from her very fingertips. It was invigorating as it was terrifying.
That was the power of the Empress of Annihilation.