A shock crackled through the room and a laugh rang out. "Finally!" A voice cried, "My plan is near complete. Now to enact it." The Emperor turned to his daughter. She learned long ago not to be frightened.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZ59M77rZo
"You," he said, "Do it. As I taught you."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiAlyZBsPz
The Imperial Princess did as she was told. She knew not to disobey. Buzzt. A zap and it was done. The metallic servitor stood as commanded.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsiZ8pJIE1
"Yes!" The Emperor shouted, "Yes! It is all ready!"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIij2uOCBM
The Imperial Princess stared at her work. She did not believe it possible, with her power. A robot…
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D3XFCR69K
"No one would ever conceive such a thing to be true. Them, more than just allies?" He laughed at his genius. "Come now, Chora, we have work to do."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAxXBOnugr
「◐」
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNv58Cg6Av
"Hey!"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CyRRuO5nX
A voice. A very familiar voice…
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaE86Qr0yV
"Hey, wake up!"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EfMJrwcLp
Hm?
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D1d3mqcaR
"Wake up, Ressi!"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9mlROtTMt
"HUH?!" Ressi was startled awake by a kick to the side, "Oww what was that for?" She groaned, rubbing the place where she was hit.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqmFCPBBr5
"You're not supposed to be asleep on patrol, you know," Kiran informed.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzvA6JwMny
Ressi frowned, "It's so peaceful in Storn Falls, though, you know that! And besides, everyone here knows my name so if there's any trouble, they know to come talk to me."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpGjxdK0DT
"Yeah, yeah whatever," Kiran dismissed, "Anyway, the King needs us for something."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HCOOyZsml
Ressi stood up and brushed herself off, "Needs us for what?"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjply9TRZ3
Kiran shrugged, "I don't know. He said it was important."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyinxr07fJh
A laugh escaped Ressi as she pushed past her twin, "Okay, then race ya!"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVJkKv0l3F
Kiran groaned as his sister darted off. "We're getting too old for this!" Despite his griping, he ran after her. He was not going to lose!
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcaZkKKumW
Ressi loved running through the land between Storn Falls and Stornval. It was forested and had a river with a fancy bridge that you had to cross. She loved it with all her heart as it was all she knew. Outside the Storn area was a mystery to her. Intriguing as that was, home was amazing.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqXySfL34p
As she raced, Ressi's mind wandered. It wasn't like the King to summon her like this. Heck, summon the two of them together like this. She hoped everything was alright, she would not be able to stand it if something bad happened during her nap.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNwiBxRP70
Ressi shook her head. Of course nothing was wrong, the kingdom has been at peace as long as she could remember. Ever since the King and Queen got married eighteen years ago and ruled as a unit, they were able to stop the Dynis menace. If it were not for them and the twins' own parents Storn Falls would have ceased to exist. Monsters would have completely taken over. Ressi missed them.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxrAWSxpfj
She turned around and ran backwards. "Hey, slowpoke! Why are you being so, uh, slow?!" Ressi called out antagonistically to her brother.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ9rAyFwbb
"Probably because I'm wearing more armour than you!" Kiran complained.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RhUzInpP9
Technically, that statement was true. Kiran was wearing shoulder plates and an entire breast piece while Ressi herself had shoulder plates and bracers. "Sounds like an excuse to me!" She said, sticking out her tongue.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OY4NACyea
Kiran sped up so Ressi turned back around to run forward toward the kingdom walls.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkefBHmzDf
「◐」
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3ca7RgxMZ
The twins made their way into the castle, out of breath. "I… win…" Ressi huffed out.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4o8AgUkv7
Kiran wheezed, "You… cheated…"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDXfwfh5XZ
"Come on, you two. You're late." The twins stood up straight at the voice of their superior.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kKd9c1JD7
"But we ran all the way here!" Ressi pointed out.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIh9yPW7os
Reldin shook his head, "You should learn to run faster. Come on, this is an urgent matter."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMWgBiGpLp
The twins shared a look before obeying. This was certainly strange behavior from Reldin. Yes, he was definitely no nonsense but he seemed a bit on edge.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOsYl9Oyoh
The mage lead them up to the planning chamber where the King, Queen, and Archibald were all already situated around a table with a map of the continent drawn on it. Reldin took his place next to Archibald, opposite of the King and Queen. The twins stood at the head of the table. "So, uhm," Ressi shifted awkwardly, "What's going on?"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQrgRQiSlU
The Queen looked to her husband and he spoke, "It has been reported to me that there has been some suspicious activity in the Dynisoktion Empire."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MRaC0zfRm
"WHAT?!" The twins exclaimed simultaneously.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIxGr0i00r
"It could be nothing," The Queen mentioned in a soothing tone, "But due to Dynisoktion's, ah, past actions, we must venture on the safe side for this issue."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51uOTBhh34
Archibald looked uncharacteristically serious, "The 'suspicious activity' in question is that there has been a lot of contact with the Dynis royals and officials in Korzion. Although it is a territory in Dynis lands, their people are very friendly and peaceful. Recently, they have been hostile to those around their area, making it difficult to trade with Dynisoktion."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon1C8UWRxF
"Because Korzion is near the main road to Dynisoktion, right?" Kiran said.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Coz7PyURi
"Correct," Archibald affirmed, "Due to this activity, we want to establish a better relationship with the Kingdom of Donatagun."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRJhtVMAzS
"Oh! Because they're the other superpower of this continent?" Ressi exclaimed.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDn8C8taAuH
The Queen smiled as Archibald answered, "Exactly. That is why we have decided that you, Ressi, and Kiran and Reldin must travel to Donatagun."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o9cL6Iyae
"Why can't we just send an ambassador? Isn't that what we normally do?" Kiran asked.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSEYtVsnPC
The Queen nodded, "Yes, but Queen Daria of Donatagun is not… the best. She sees ambassadors as an insult to her intellect and we'll need to be on the safe side with this one. It would be best if we could send Martina but, well, she's way too young for that. So we're sending both of you in her stead."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuiaR7lhzs
"Isn't that like ambassadors?" Ressi questioned.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYwetM6OZh
The Queen sighed, "Yes, but you are more royal adjacent and Queen Daria is looking for a suitable bride for her supposedly perfect son so Respelda will be almost perfect for her standards."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVT7vRu8eA
Ressi cringed at both the use of her proper name and the implications, "I won't have to marry the prince, will I?"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG8BQYdFMQ
The Queen shook her head, "No, that is only as a last resort or if you want to."
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJxWsUIK7U
Ressi let out a sigh, "So why is Reldin coming with us?"
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXGRchZXVQ
"I am friends with their court wizard and I am also experienced in negotiation," Reldin answered.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ahexeYfnv
"Well, that seems pretty well explained," Archibald stretched, looking more relaxed as he draped his arm around the shoulder of a disgruntled Reldin.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAfGx0lrTh
The King nodded in agreement, "Indeed. Please pack up anything you will need for the trip, you three will leave tomorrow, first thing in the morning." The three assigned the task nodded in unison. "Meeting adjourned."
ns 15.158.61.8da2
