The Reborn Witch had a nice 'Tea Time' with the Dragon Queen today-Chapter 9: Pride (1)

"Demond, I've been meaning to ask, but..."

"...ah, you mean this?" The witch lifted her bare feet, coated with glitters of frost and coldness of a morning dew, as the grass below crunched with snowflakes. "I fridged my feet. Or more accurately, I simply stuck my ice mana on them. This old man's fragile toes used to stubb in those straps, so I'm more comfortable this way."

"I see. It seems I've misunderstood." The dragon chuckled, playful glint in her eyes as they traced downwards. "But you should know, showing a witch's... uniqueness so openly in court might cause a stir, dear."

"...you're speaking for yourself, aren't you?" The witch huffed, before walking with haste in the forest, her steps tracing a path of an early winter. The dragon admired in wonders, before following the misty feet of her irritated 'wife'.

The night forest was serene and silent, only occasionally pierced by the distant hoot of an owl. The light from Adrei's blue flame, floating obediently beside her, illuminated their path as they walked among the shades. Fireflies danced around them, as the moonlit trees whispered secrets to the gentle breeze, welcoming the era of co-existence and normality that had long been absent from the kingdom.

A comforting silence fuelled between the couple's steps. The dragon, her scales shimmering with a soft metallic glow in the graceful moonlight, felt a sense of belonging she hadn't felt in centuries. Her tail swished idly, brushing aside the frosty leaves with eases and swishes, before she asked a question that has been dangling in her mind.

"So why do we not fly to the peace banquet, my wife?" Amused by the shutters of the Witch's shoulder as she cringed at her title, the dragon queen continued, "if you're worried for the wind pressure, your current mana should be sufficient to shield you for the three days of flights needed."

"Tch, youngsters these days...always results before process." The former old mage bobbed her staff up and down, unaware a dragon observing closely at the rising sleeves to her robe that revealed her...tasteful waistline. "I'm not used to this body's mana just yet, and there're a few places I would like to revisit before attending the peace banquet, my-hus-band."

The dragon chuckled as she ignored the witch's groaning. "Well, my wife should have a timely schedule to ensure her daughter recieved her newlywed parents with arms, should you not?"

"Grr..." Result for today's battle: Demond's defeat, as her steps quickened to leave the dragon's teasing words behind. "Yes, of course. This old man planned to visit the Cave for the Resting Wolves first, before heading to another town for an old friend."

"The Cave...?" The dragon mused as she followed the flustered witch. "Ah, the one which housed your summon, the Wolf Queen.

"Leona is her name. Though she would probably prefer you calling her by the title." The witch's voice grew distant, her eyes misted over with fond memories as she spoke of her summon. "She and her pubs lied there to sustain a barrier that hid my presence. Not that it really helps, I suppose."

"Please do remember it is your barrier's failure, not your summon's, will you?" Adrei smirked, a weird sense of competitiveness seeping into her tone, as the witch rolled her eyes for.

"If only someone didn't intrude without warnings, and didn't flame the entire house down in the process, I wouldn't have had to hide in the first place!" Demond shot back, her eyes sparkling with mirth. The dragon couldn't help but chuckle at the memory of their chaotic first meeting.

A sudden embarrassment crept up to the former old mage's, as he cringed at his own final words like 'I can't leave Alice this and that', or that cringey line about how she 'promised she would quit', she had a sudden urge to smoke again, only to realise she is the middle of the most 'flammable' areas. The dragon, on the other hand, had a knowing smirk, her eyes dancing with amusement.

"Ah, for f***..." The witch's mood took a sharp turn, and she abruptly stopped, her eyes narrowing upwards, before back at the dragon. "Right. I forgot. Apologise."

"I shall, as you wish, wife." The dragon's smirk grew wider, enjoying the rare moment of seeing Demond flustered.

"Not-me!" The mage raised her staff for a bonk, but Adrei gracefully evaded it, her dodging practices against the demon's assassins served her well in this mundane dance. "It's your responsibility, of course. But I can't be angry that you gave me a new life, albeit with...an inconvenient baggage."

Eyeing her own 'pillows' once again, the dragon's smirk grew even more playful. "How generous. So, by them, do you mean those little kids up in the trees?"

As if responding to the dragon's call, the trees' leaves shuffled as dims of lights popped out like stars from the dark. Pixies, with their mischievous laughters and twinkling eyes, circled around the unlikely couple, before swirling to the witch's cheek, recognising their old master. The dragon watched with a smirk, seeing the witch's grumpy demeanor melt away into a gentle smile as she lifted a fingertip to tickle one of the pixies.

"Who else would it be..." The witch chuckled, her eyes softening as the pixies continued their playful assault on her face. "They're more stubborn than I am, that's for sure. And this old man already has a bone more stubborn than a dragon's skull, not to mention that 'bone' no longer exists."

"Alright alright, enough." Chuckling exhaustedly at her innocent jests, the dragon muttered. "But these 'kids' do not contain consciousness for being pure forms of light. So I'll visit the Pixy Queen myself for her to communicate my apology. Will that be enough for you, my wife?"

The witch's face turned serious for a brief moment before cracking into a smile, as she tickled the pixy dodging around her nose. "Ah, you always know how to charm your way out, don't you?"

"I...well, I'm serious." The dragon's smile didn't waver, but her tone held a hint of determination. "And wouldn't you accompany me by the time we reach the Flower Kingdom, my wife? Though we may be purged before we were welcomed at its entrance."

"I'll consider it if you don't call me that in public, ever again," Demond smirked, though her reddened ears gave away the embarrassment. "Speaking of Queens...Leona also had an unique way of welcoming, so...uh..."

A sad smile adorned the dragon's face as she nodded. "Understood. I will prepare for the worst but hope for the best." The thought of facing Leona's potential wrath was a sobering one, but the anticipation of seeing her savior's summon and the bond they shared was too intriguing to pass up.

"I know I know. You're afraid that she'll be mad, won't she?" The witch chuckled, as the pixy swirled around her ear, whispering something that made her laugh even harder. "Because she will. Well, not for...what happened, but for the fact that her master's death was sullied by a goodbye kiss and a rhyme from a dragon queen."

"She sounded to have quite a personality." The dragon said, yet she noticed the solemnity in her wife's voice as they stood among the pixies, who now hovered around the witch in a protective fashion, as if they were guardians of her heart.

The witch's smile never left, content not with the regrets of the past, but with the wolf's temperament and loyalty she knew all too well. "Leona is as fierce as she is wise. If she wasn't, she wouldn't have chosen me. And so, remember this, Dragon Queen."

Her gaze turned to Adrei, before it was casual and yet serious, now only sternness remained. "Do not look down the Wolf Queen's pride, or she will have you apologizing to more than just the Pixy Queen. And for more than just setting fire to my house."

Adrei nodded, the words stuck in her throat as she felt the weight of the witch's gaze and the memory of Leona's fierce loyalty. She knew that facing the Wolf Queen would not be without challenges, especially after the tyrant's... display of madness. The dragon took a deep breath, the cold night air filling her lungs with a mix of anticipation and determination.

The dragon queen knew. Just as the witch could not escape her past, she too must face the consequences of her ancestor's actions. But she was not here to apologize for the sins of her kin. She was here to forge a new path, to bring peace to a world torn apart by centuries of war and mistrust, to introduce herself as the protector of the witch she convenanted to. So, she would not falter, not without a fight.

"In the name of the Dragon Queen of Tamara, and the Council Leader from the Dragon Council of Peace." The dragon announced their arrival to the silent forest, her voice echoing through the trees. All of her determinations, pride and hope wrapped into one clear sentence. "I promise you and your companion, Demond, that I will face Leona with honor and respect, regardless of what has transpired before."

The forest was a silent witness to this vow, the owls no longer hooting, the fireflies hovering as if waiting for a response. The witch's breath hitched in her throat, the quietness is almost deafening. She hadn't expected the dragon to be so serious about this, nor had she anticipated the depth of her words. But then again, this was the creature she'd chosen to trust her life with.

For a moment, an emotion that was regret filled her: hope, hope that the wolf's pride wouldn't lead to another solitary life for her, hope that the wolf's 'promise' would finally, finally, lead her to rest. And she knew, in her heart of hearts, that she had to be prepared. "Thank you, Adrei." The witch's voice was low, her eyes gleaming with a mix of gratitude and something else. "Your words do this old man honor unbefitting for someone who remained alone. And someone who failed to protect."

"Demond..." The dragon's voice was gentle, as if trying to soothe an old wound. "You did not fail to protect. You did everything you could with the knowledge you had."

"Mm." The witch nodded, her eyes distant as she looked into the dark forest. The gaping hole in her heart, mirrored the shaded abyss in front of them. Rallies of emotions swelled, yet she remained stoic, her hand gently stroking the pixies that hovered around her, their lights dimming slightly. "Well, let's get going then. We've got a lot to do even after we face Leona and her pubs, and I suspect they'll have quite a lot to say to us, especially me."

Visit ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

This time, it will be different. This time, our promise will be finally fulfilled. The former old mage muttered in her heart.

—————

With heavy steps that adorned their resolves, they approached a cave hidden beneath the grand canopy of ancient trees. The Cave of the Resting Wolves, as crumbling and silent as the vows of the past it stood for, loomed before them. The dragon's scales shimmered in the moonlight as she took in the grandeur of the gigantic entrance. She knew her witch would not mistreat her summon, but she couldn't help the sense of trepidation that grew within her.

"Surprised?" The witch smirked at the dragon's reaction, the glint of self-praise in her eyes unmistakable. "Leona and her pack had quite the flair for dramatics. Narrow caves that would only cramp in golbins won't do, so I naturally had to upgrade their accommodations to something more...queen-like."

"I must say, not bad." The dragon queen nodded, taking notice of the ancient runes and magic seals the former old mage had embedded into the very fabric of the cave's entrance. They were a testament to the power and respect that once lay within, as well as a loving care for her summon that accompanied her best and worst times.

"Alright. Let's not dilly-dally here, Leona is waiting." The witch announced with a firm voice, as she took the lead into the Cave of the Resting Wolves, the pixies trailing behind her like a cloud of shimmering dust. The dragon queen's gaze didn't miss the trembling shoulders of her wife, before she followed with a comforting nod.

Darkness of the cave surrounded them, a stark contrast to the moonlit forest they just left behind. The dragon's blue eyes pierced through the darkness, as the pixies' lights dimmed, allowing them to navigate the familiar path without disturbance. The shadow must be for the wolves' advantage in the night, Adrei thought, as the witch's footsteps grew heavier and more deliberate.

The frosty trails behind the witch grew thicker and thicker, as they delved deeper into the Cave of the Resting Wolves. The air grew colder, yet the dragon felt a warmth that was untouched by the chill. It was the warmth of anticipation, of a promise soon to be made whole.

Yet that promise is set aside as she noticed the witch's feet, frowning. "You're feeling the cold, aren't you?" She asked with genuine concern, her eyes scanning the bare feet that the witch had adorned with ice.

The witch ignored her, as she stepped forward with bundles of determination. Her eyes dead set on the end of the cave, where the air grew thick with the presence of ancient mana. The dragon followed closely, her eyes never leaving the witch's figure as they moved through the icy cavern. The walls were adorned with frost, and the air grew colder, but the dragon's heart remained still as she took in the witch's solitary figure.

Her feet, still coated with frost, had strangly marks of bruises and pain, but the witch did not show any signs of discomfort. The dragon's concern grew as she noticed the witch's stubbornness. "Demond, let me carry you. Your mana is reacting to your excessive state."

"..."

"...Demond? Are you-"

"Shh." The witch held up a hand, her eyes glowing with an eerie blue light as she listened intently to the whispers of the cave. "We're almost there."

The dragon fell silent, her senses heightened as she studied the witch, not forgetting her promise to pay respect. Despite the pain etched on her face, Demond's steps remained firm, driven by the unyielding spirit that had carried her through the darkest of battles, perhaps, her memories were indeed trapped within those battles, as the vestige from one of her closest ally, the wolf queen, laid waiting. The air grew denser with every step, the coldness piercing through the dragon's scales as if it was trying to reach into her very core, yet she remained unfazed, her eyes never leaving the witch's figure.

She took note to punish her 'feet' later, the dragon queen noted with a jest, as she tried to ease the anticipation in her chest. She too was excited, the thought of meeting a creature that had shared such a profound bond with her wife was a thrilling one.

And so, one with determination to greet the prideful queen, the other with solemn respect for her greatest companion, ally and partner, they both arrived at a clearing, the icy walls of the cave giving way to a spacious room, where the light of the moon was filtered through the frozen crystals above, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow. In the center of the chamber, a throne of ice and bone sat, and upon it, the Wolf Queen, Leona, lay in slumber while surrounded by a pack of wolves, equally as still as their queen.

Her white furs stood on edge, as the scarred, thick arms of the wolf queen lay over her chest, her eyes fluttered open, revealing the gleam of an ancient wisdom that seemed to pierce through the very soul of the dragon. The wolves around the throne stirred, their eyes glowing with the same piercing blue as the witch's. They recognized her scent, her mana, the bond unbroken by time or change.