Chapter 19

  And so, the day arrived.

  This week, throughout the entire Artheris district, there would be no public entertainment, no citizens moving about.

  One week of unrelenting formality, one week of the highest possible security.

  Nora Ophilis appeared in the ceremonial dress of the Ophilis royal family of Snowhaven—a pure black ensemble, resembling a flexible suit of armor blended with a neat, formal design.

  “Princess Nora… it is an honor to meet you. Your Highness is truly radiant.”

  A general from Velmount’s diplomatic delegation greeted her with a compliment. Nora inclined her head politely in response.

  The place she stood in now was called—

  The Allianz Assembly Hall.

  The building had been designed with inspiration from both the United Nations headquarters and ancient parliamentary halls.

  Its exterior was shaped like the open curve of a seashell. The walls were pale stone fused with magically-treated copper, catching the light with a soft, muted shimmer. Massive windows were arranged in a precise pattern, symbolizing the balance among the five powers. Towering Roman-style columns ringed the structure—not ostentatiously decorated, but every line, every curve conveyed the sanctity of the decisions made here. This was not a place built to display might—it was a place built to shape history.

  The polished stone floors were so clean they could reflect the figures walking across them, and footsteps echoed no matter how softly one tried to tread. The air carried a unique scent—not just the old paper and well-worn leather of documents read a thousand times, but also the faint tang of magically-forged approval seals.

  Now, the human delegations had all arrived—except for Luminus, whose section of seats lay conspicuously empty.

  And at last, when the great doors opened, the visitors from across the sea arrived.

  The moment the Diablo delegation stepped into the Allianz Hall, the atmosphere shifted without a word being spoken.

  More than ten years had passed since most of the humans here had last seen them—about 60% of the room had met them before, but the remaining 40% were of a new generation who had never laid eyes on them. And of course, when they saw Prince Everton and his party, with Galatasaray in her true form… they could not hide their reactions.

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  Demons. Real, living demons.

  That was exactly what their eyes told Nora. They stared the way a child might stare at a disabled stranger for the first time on a train…

  But the true weight of the demons’ presence was only just beginning.

  When it came time for Crown Prince Fury to enter the Allianz Hall—his towering black-and-red form nearly brushing the ceiling, clad in imposing armor—the tension among the leaders spiked instantly.

  The hall fell into absolute silence. No one dared to shift, no one dared to whisper.

  They were all under the crushing weight of a presence that had seared itself into their deepest survival instincts ten years ago.

  Seeing that he was still just as strong, just as unchanged from before… for some here, that was terrible news.

  Even for Nora.

  Though she knew him, here and now she had to act as if she had never met him before in her life. But she barely needed to “act”—her limbs stiffened on their own under the pressure, whether from Fury himself or from her own people beside her.

  Yes… Fury had been right.

  Standing on this side—it was suffocating.

  Still…

  Her gaze swept over the demon party and caught something odd. Some of Fury’s bodyguards were missing.

  Roma, Valencia, Livramento—nowhere to be seen.

  Only Freya stood by his side.

  Huh?

  Why was that?

  Nora could guess about Valencia—her true form was likely far too large for this space.

  But Roma and Livramento?

  Only Everton, Galatasaray, Fury, Freya, and the regular demon warriors from Everton’s ranks were here.

  Her wondering didn’t last long—because suddenly, right by her ear, a voice whispered…

  {Princess.}

  “!”

  She flinched and turned her head—

  Nothing there.

  But the whisper continued.

  {It’s me. Roma.}

  “You… Mr.Roma?”

  How?

  “Your Highness?” one of Snowhaven’s people turned to her.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “No. Nothing.”

  She faced forward again, murmuring under her breath to the empty air.

  “What is this?”

  {Don’t be alarmed. I’m here too—but you can’t see me. No one can.}

  “What do you mean? Mr.Roma? You’re… invisible?”

  {Correct.}

  Roma’s true form… could turn invisible?

  “Magic?”

  Impossible—security here was too advanced. An invisibility spell would be detected instantly… unless—

  It wasn’t magic.

  Nora’s eyes flicked sideways… staring at the empty space beside her.

  Which meant…

  Roma’s true body was right there, breathing faintly beside her.

  {I’ll be hanging around here… just thought I’d say hi. Later.}

  “And Mr.Livramento… where is he?”

  {Underground.}

  Roma’s voice faded away.

  Nora turned her head back to the front.

  Everyone was now seated in their places—Everton and his team on their side, while Fury… did not sit.

  He stood.

  As still as a statue.

  Freya too.

  Alright… it was time.

  Everton placed Snowhaven’s formal letter on the table. Galatasaray, the butterfly-winged demon, rose to her feet, ready to translate Everton’s words from the demon tongue for all to hear.

  From here on, the conversation was carried out through each side’s interpreter.

  “Greetings to you all—the royal families, the prime ministers… and the esteemed presidents. I, Prince Everton of Diablo, have been granted full authority by our king to negotiate with Snowhaven and the remaining kingdoms.”

  He continued,

  “We are aware of the general details of the issue. The king extends his deepest condolences for your losses, and we are more than willing to lend our hand to Snowhaven—to fulfill His Majesty’s will in eradicating the Shadows completely.”

  His words were perfectly professional.

  “In traveling to Snowhaven, crossing the far ocean poses great danger to our people due to severe weather conditions. Therefore, I propose this—”

  Everton unfurled a map of the sea routes for all five kingdoms to see.

  “We will take the Swansea River route, passing through Luminus, up into Artheris, and then onward to Snowhaven. This is our plan.”

  In simpler terms, the same route Fury had once taken north to Snowhaven.

  And, of course, the moment Everton finished—

  “Hold it.”

  That voice…

  Nora turned her head toward its source.

  From the Mathema delegation…

  President Fofana Steelers.