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.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAisfm6MvWJb
"You," he said, "Do it. As I taught you."
596Please respect copyright.PENANAy3GFOaXA8p
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.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4xU8fszE8
"Yes!" The Emperor shouted, "Yes! It is all ready!"
596Please respect copyright.PENANAzT7BD6K2zZ
The Imperial Princess stared at her work. She did not believe it possible, with her power. A robot…
596Please respect copyright.PENANAskyxLZEO6x
"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."
596Please respect copyright.PENANAZK9vRwgyod
「◐」
596Please respect copyright.PENANADdk5bbMLMJ
"Hey!"
596Please respect copyright.PENANAcey0EIjQ1m
A voice. A very familiar voice…
596Please respect copyright.PENANAdMunOBVyG1
"Hey, wake up!"
596Please respect copyright.PENANAY6TlntuonM
Hm?
596Please respect copyright.PENANAUV6IAVdkfk
"Wake up, Ressi!"
596Please respect copyright.PENANAi388UiK1Pn
"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.
596Please respect copyright.PENANA2s53cMPh31
"You're not supposed to be asleep on patrol, you know," Kiran informed.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAKiRfgr9uxr
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."
596Please respect copyright.PENANA87LbuMpcnq
"Yeah, yeah whatever," Kiran dismissed, "Anyway, the King needs us for something."
596Please respect copyright.PENANA1eEdvfr6Ng
Ressi stood up and brushed herself off, "Needs us for what?"
596Please respect copyright.PENANAlymnEkMqJn
Kiran shrugged, "I don't know. He said it was important."
596Please respect copyright.PENANANHNWiposHK
A laugh escaped Ressi as she pushed past her twin, "Okay, then race ya!"
596Please respect copyright.PENANAC6Z6SBiufs
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!
596Please respect copyright.PENANAeFHi6nfbTf
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.
596Please respect copyright.PENANA5rOTRmc4MA
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.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAVabHD5aJJl
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.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAMJ1gtNq27U
She turned around and ran backwards. "Hey, slowpoke! Why are you being so, uh, slow?!" Ressi called out antagonistically to her brother.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAfBqxDqHtBL
"Probably because I'm wearing more armour than you!" Kiran complained.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAi01VazXwBT
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.
596Please respect copyright.PENANA5P2MtmyZP5
Kiran sped up so Ressi turned back around to run forward toward the kingdom walls.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAoI4V8VT08S
「◐」
596Please respect copyright.PENANAXy4B42E7KV
The twins made their way into the castle, out of breath. "I… win…" Ressi huffed out.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAML58reVApS
Kiran wheezed, "You… cheated…"
596Please respect copyright.PENANAEj7YdOCNly
"Come on, you two. You're late." The twins stood up straight at the voice of their superior.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAbEjuD4lRNU
"But we ran all the way here!" Ressi pointed out.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAROBAd15xT8
Reldin shook his head, "You should learn to run faster. Come on, this is an urgent matter."
596Please respect copyright.PENANAyewTBLaWJG
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.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAGy6bvSnOaQ
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?"
596Please respect copyright.PENANAmWWw7xsqnU
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."
596Please respect copyright.PENANARy3GER3gFD
"WHAT?!" The twins exclaimed simultaneously.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAIx18c68jYa
"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."
596Please respect copyright.PENANApICmzBVah9
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."
596Please respect copyright.PENANApgHmdS4tfE
"Because Korzion is near the main road to Dynisoktion, right?" Kiran said.
596Please respect copyright.PENANA2b5b3Vye2A
"Correct," Archibald affirmed, "Due to this activity, we want to establish a better relationship with the Kingdom of Donatagun."
596Please respect copyright.PENANA3OIwoQzwVZ
"Oh! Because they're the other superpower of this continent?" Ressi exclaimed.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAyai46M42sX
The Queen smiled as Archibald answered, "Exactly. That is why we have decided that you, Ressi, and Kiran and Reldin must travel to Donatagun."
596Please respect copyright.PENANAz3zAMdlh0V
"Why can't we just send an ambassador? Isn't that what we normally do?" Kiran asked.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAByGYsBeXWb
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."
596Please respect copyright.PENANAigQYoI2Svo
"Isn't that like ambassadors?" Ressi questioned.
596Please respect copyright.PENANABplYUUtYoA
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."
596Please respect copyright.PENANAJL5LSrk9P8
Ressi cringed at both the use of her proper name and the implications, "I won't have to marry the prince, will I?"
596Please respect copyright.PENANApcyjsxJqoq
The Queen shook her head, "No, that is only as a last resort or if you want to."
596Please respect copyright.PENANAKEQnS0my4h
Ressi let out a sigh, "So why is Reldin coming with us?"
596Please respect copyright.PENANA6M57SZhREI
"I am friends with their court wizard and I am also experienced in negotiation," Reldin answered.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAIOhMvh1NfO
"Well, that seems pretty well explained," Archibald stretched, looking more relaxed as he draped his arm around the shoulder of a disgruntled Reldin.
596Please respect copyright.PENANAnW8m1s8u27
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."
ns18.191.237.209da2