As Asher and the other six accompanying him entered the royal palace, they were flanked by a large contingent of draconian guards, their presence a constant reminder of the watchful eyes of this kingdom.
The interior of the palace was a spectacle of dark grandeur, its vastness and opulence both impressive and intimidating.
Leonidas and Caelum could hardly conceal their astonishment as they gazed around. The towering ceilings made them feel minuscule in comparison, and the scale of the palace's architecture was almost beyond comprehension. They craned their necks upwards, taking in the sight of the tall ceiling that seemed to stretch into infinity.
Oberon's expression was quite pale, his eyes quivering subtly at the thought of having to suffer Asher's torture for the next seven days.
Initially, he felt jubilant, thinking Asher would be entering the tower right away.
But who knew this alien fiend would be asking for a week's time. He wished he could just fly away, but all he could do was follow inside helplessly, the grand architecture of the palace not even entering his mind.
"There are at least 200 floors," Caelum murmured, his voice filled with awe, "and each floor is hundreds of miles wide."
"Each floor also signifies the ranking of their nobles," Silvan chimed in, to which the two nodded.
Eradicator seemed least bothered and was always shifting her gaze around while Naida seemed to take a good look at the interiors.
Asher, too, was taken aback by the sheer size of the building.
However, he couldn't help but think that the Draconians had built such an immense structure more for show than for practicality, a stark contrast to the dignified and functional design of the Demonstone Castle in the Bloodburn Kingdom.
Rhygar, with a hint of disgruntlement in his voice, turned to address Asher as they continued to walk, "Usually, even our most important guests are only allowed to stay on the first floor," he said, his tone slightly bitter, "But due to your special request, we are allowing you to stay on the 190th floor for the next seven days only. So consider yourselves lucky. Nevertheless, you and your people are not permitted to visit any other floor, not even the one directly below or above the 190th floor. You can only use the teleportation chamber to come directly down here."
"Of course. By the way…" Leaning in slightly, Asher's voice was low but clear, "I heard all the princes and princesses live in this building, and the higher up the floor they are, the higher their rank in the kingdom."
Rhygar's response was curt, his brow arching in a mix of curiosity and irritation, "So?" he asked, his tone edging towards defensiveness.
"So... King Drakar lives on the topmost floor, and his Queen Consort lives just below him, while you, as the 1st prince, should be staying on the floor beneath hers, just as previous princes of your rank have throughout history. The rest of your father's consorts are supposed to live under your floor. But... I heard you aren't staying in the royal palace. I wonder why," Asher said, his head tilting slightly, indicating genuine curiosity.
Rhygar's expression darkened at Asher's words, "Why the fuck do you care?" he shot back, his annoyance palpable. He added with a sneer, "I stay wherever I wish to. Why stay here when I can have a palace of my own. Not that it is any of your business."
"I didn't mean to offend you. I was just curious," Asher replied, his tone neutral and his shoulders shrugging slightly.
Internally, however, he was intrigued. Rhygar's reaction suggested that there was more to his living arrangements than mere preference.
The fact that Rhygar chose not to live in what was considered one of the most prestigious locations in the Draconis Kingdom, and his visible annoyance at the question, hinted that something was going on here.
Thanks to Naida, he had heard rumors of Rhygar not being looked upon favorably by his own father even though he was the strongest prince.
Asher was hoping he could find out the true reason, and maybe that could end up being useful for him.
Naida's subtle smile broadened slightly as she observed the exchange between Asher and Rhygar.
Upon arriving at the 190th floor via the teleportation chamber, the vastness and luxury of the space were immediately apparent.
Rhygar, having done with escorting them, announced his departure, "I'll be seeing you in seven days," he said, his tone carrying a mix of disdain and sadistic eagerness before he turned to leave.
Leonidas, Caelum, Silvan, and Oberon began to explore the enormous floor, each taking in the opulent surroundings, "We could spend hours just walking through this floor alone," Leonidas mused, his gaze scanning the area, "Now, which room should I pick?"
Oberon, eager to distance himself from Asher, attempted to slip away to the farthest end of the floor.
However, his efforts were thwarted by Asher's call, "Oberon, why don't you stay in this room?" Asher suggested, "In case I need any assistance from you, it will be easy to reach you."
Caught off guard, Oberon stiffly turned around, and under the watchful eyes of the others, he managed a forced smile and a nod, "Of course, Your Majesty. As you please," He then retreated into the room Asher had indicated, his steps heavy with reluctance.
Eradicator took a step forward, "Do you want me to stay in the room adjacent to yours, Your Majesty?" she asked stoically, with Twilight, her cat, peeking curiously from her cape.
Asher, with a playful smile, inquired, "Can you stay inside my room?"
Eradicator, taking the question seriously, responded without hesitation, "If that is what you wish, I can. I would be able to help you faster in case of any emergency."
Realizing her literal interpretation and seeing how dense she was, Asher chuckled lightly, "I was kidding. You can stay in the adjacent room. You are dismissed for now."
Acknowledging his instructions, Eradicator nodded and quietly disappeared into her assigned room.
With the others settled in their rooms, Naida approached Asher, "It seems like you have something to tell me, right?" she asked, her tone suggesting that she sensed there was more behind Asher's decisions and actions than he had revealed so far.
Asher's expression was serious as he addressed Naida, "I need your help for the next seven days. But it is going to be risky. Are you up for it?"
Naida responded with a gentle smile, her tone resolute, "There's no need to ask. The least I can do is help you, especially after you potentially saved my life."
Curiosity piqued, she inquired, "Does this have something to do with you coming here without much hesitation?"
Asher nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face, "I'm not sure. Only time will tell. For now, let's retire to our rooms."
Later in the evening, Oberon paced restlessly in his room, his mind a tumult of fear and anxiety.
Every so often, his eyes darted towards the door, a sense of dread lingering over him. The memory of Asher's brutal beating haunted him, replaying over and over in his mind. He had never experienced such humiliation and was torn between the desire to have it over with and the fear of enduring it again.
Then, the door creaked open, and Asher stepped in with a dark, ominous smile, "Been waiting for me, have you? Don't worry. From now on, I'm going to take my sweet time."
Oberon's heart raced as terror set in, "No... Just wait... We can perhaps come up with another arrangement. I know you feel wronged, but you don't have to take it this far," he pleaded, his teeth gritted in desperation.
But Asher, closing the door behind him, was unyielding. Dark green mana began to swirl around his fists as he spoke with chilling intent, "What did you say? Don't take it this far? Where were all these thoughts when you inserted that damned bug into my body and made me feel like my organs were being ripped apart slowly again and again? It didn't seem to bother you much during those times, did they?"
Oberon swallowed his saliva as he unconsciously began to step back.
Asher continued to walk forward slowly, the echo of his steps causing Oberon's nerves to jitter each time, "There is no escape for you from this. How can I let you go when I am going to enjoy smashing your flesh into a pulp and breaking your bones again and again until you wish to not be alive for even a second more. But then you will realize no matter how much you wish, it isn't going to end."
Oberon's face paled as he tried to prepare his nerves to endure the worst from this mad fiend.
The night had settled over the Draconis Kingdom, yet the raging volcanoes never let any tranquility settle over its huge landscapes.
In the royal quarters of the 199th floor of the royal palace, Lysandra, adorned in a dark red nightgown that elegantly accentuated her voluptuous curves, prepared for her nightly rest.
Her long, silvery lavender hair cascaded gracefully as she prepared to lie down on her grand bed.
The hours of the night ticked by silently, with the kingdom enveloped in a chilling slumber.
*Whoosh…*
Lysandra's fiery red eyes snapped open, roused by an unexpected sound.
With the instincts of a seasoned warrior and queen, she rose swiftly from her bed, her gaze sharp and vigilant.
Her dark silver wings unfurled majestically as she prepared to confront whatever disturbance had invaded her private sanctuary.
But as she turned her gaze towards the balcony, her eyes widened in shock.
