A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1249: Embera Duskfire

While Archer was terrorizing the Water Elf commanders, a meeting in further north was underway. ’’What do you mean those devils have taken the west?’’ Empress Embera Duskfire roared in anger as she heard the dire news.

’Damn Alliance! They better not back out of helping us!’ she internally raged. ’The Novgorod Emperor said the reinforcements would be here weeks ago, but now I have the devils taking another part of my realm.’

The Duskfire Generals had gathered to discuss what to do at the capital, Ashenreach at her order, but all they’ve done since arriving is argue and squabble over useless things. While sitting there, the empress was regretting joining the Alliance as their soldiers were useless. Your next read awaits at ReadNovelFull

’Can’t take it back now. How was I meant to know we would be the first target?’ she thought while brushing a strand of orange hair out of her face.

She sighed before turning to her advisor, who was her younger sister, ’’Emberlyn. What do you suggest we do?’’

’’Call for peace. If the White King accepts, we’ll sign a treaty,’’ a yellow-haired elf said with a serious expression. ’’But from all the rumors I’ve heard about him, he won’t agree to such terms.’’

Embera noticed the young woman’s pause as her normal, friendly expression darkened. ’’He’s more likely to demand our submission and take one of the princesses to keep us in line. The devil has a reputation for collecting them.’’

Upon hearing those words, her eyes blazed with fury, glowing like embers. ’’That womanizer will not lay a hand on any of my daughters!’’ she exclaimed, her voice filled with defiance. ’’Rally every Fire Elf in Duskfire! Tell them we’re marching south to confront the devil who dares invade our land!’’

The nobles all went quiet as she continued, ’’Now go!’’

Embera watched as everyone hurried out of the hall, preparing for the march. Just as the room emptied, Emberlyn appeared. ’’A Draconian Emissary has arrived,’’ she said, her voice low but deliberate, ’’And they’re asking to speak with you, big sis.’’

Her gaze darkened, and anger flared even hotter. ’’What?’’ she hissed. ’’As if I needed another reason to be furious today! Bring him in.’’

Ten minutes later, she spotted a tall, well-built woman with dark hair and eyes with a pair of tiger ears approaching the throne with a confident stride. The stranger stopped a respectful distance away, nodding before introducing herself.

’’Greetings, Empress Embera Duskfire,’’ the woman said, her voice calm but authoritative. ’’I am Elise Darkwater, emissary of the White King and his queens. I bring a message from my king.’’

’’Out with it!’’ Embera snapped, her fiery temper flaring at the mere thought of the White Devil.

The Draconian woman nodded, unfazed by the outburst, and spoke with a calm voice. ’’My king thinks that you should join him in the fight against the Alliance. He promises that under the Draconian Empire, the Fire Elf people will prosper.’’

She paused briefly before adding, ’’He also made it clear he has no interest in claiming any of your daughters.’’

Embera’s orange eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with skepticism. ’’Why should I join the devil’s side? I’ve heard the stories, what he does to his people, and worse, his poor wives.’’

Elise’s expression shifted to one of confusion, her brows furrowing. She shook her head firmly before replying, ’’Poor wives? That couldn’t be further from the truth. They’re pampered to no end. The king allows them the freedom to do as they please.’’

She noticed the woman’s smile widened before concluding, ’’Tell me, who do you think your generals have been struggling against all this time? Many of them are his queens, leading his armies.’’

’He let’s them control their own soldiers?’ she thought with a confused expression that quickly faded before speaking, ’’I will not ally myself with the devil. I’ve seen the proof of his vile deeds. Now leave Ashenreach.’’

The Draconian emissary’s response caught Embera off guard. ’’The king expected you would reject his proposal,’’ Elise replied calmly, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. ’’He will now fight his way to this city and meet you in person. But you will be surprised when you meet him, mark my words. The rumors you’ve heard? They’re utter rubbish.’’

Her eyes narrowed when hearing the tiger woman’s words, who turned around and left the hall without saying another word. Embera watched her leave, causing Emberlyn to speak in a wary voice. ’’You should have accepted their proposed big sis. The Draconians are skilled warriors and their generals are some of the best.’’

’’They lost four armies, remember?’’ she replied before standing up.

The sisters walked through the palace, their steps echoing in the grand hall. Emberlyn’s voice broke the silence as she spoke in a knowing tone. ’’Yes, but the Alliance lost nearly four million soldiers trying to kill just over a million of us. It wasn’t worth the cost, especially not the Firedrake Warriors or the Sisters of Fire who we lost when that one army ventured too close to West Pass City.’’

Embera shivered at the thought when remembering the memories of that demonic army causing havoc across the Water Elf homelands before the Swarm brought it down somewhere in the far west.

As the sisters entered the private part of the palace, they spotted a young girl with bright orange hair, much like Embera’s, though her red eyes were a striking resemblance to her late father’s.

The little girl turned around and squealed in happiness, ’’Mama!’’

She dashed toward the empress, who caught her in a loving embrace before speaking with a voice full of love and affection. ’’Hello, my beautiful spark. Have you been having fun with your big sisters?’’

’’Hello Princess Ashara. You look pretty today,’’ Emberlyn greeted the little girl with a big smile.

Embera watched as her youngest daughter held her arms out to the yellow-haired young woman. She sighed before handing her over. ’’You owe me a cuddle later, Ashara. Promise you will give me one?’’

’’I promise Mama!’’ she screamed with a big smile before leaning over and kiss Embera on the cheek.

Emberlyn eagerly dashed off with the Ashara as the little girl’s laughter rang out through the halls as she played with her aunt. The sound of her made Embera smile as her two daughters approached.

One of the young women looked to be in her late twenties with short fiery orange hair and was the spitting image of herself. Then her eyes landed on her second child, who was slender and had the same yellow hair that some members of the Duskfire Family had.

’’Flarelia, Solea,’’ she said with a big smile while embracing the two women. ’’How are my beautiful girls?’’

Flarelia giggled at her words but replied cheerfully, ’’I’m fine Mama, I was just heading to the academy for my classes.’’

Embera nodded before kissing her on the forehead, ’’Well have fun dear and be careful with the test. Some Professors add trick questions to catch out the students.’’

She smiled while hugging her mother. ’’Thanks for the heads up, Mama. I’ll see you at dinner.’’

The young woman rushed off, causing Embera to shout with a big smile, ’’I love you, daughter!’’

’’Love you too!’’ she heard a quiet voice as her eldest daughter rushed out of the palace.

’’Who would have thought that the Fire Devil of Duskfire would be such a doting mother?’’ her second eldest commented with a grin.

Embera turned to her and quickly wrapped her in a hug. ’’Solea! So what if people know? I’m proud of my girls,’’ she exclaimed, with no embarrassment.

The yellow-haired elf giggled before returning the gesture. ’’I love you mother, thanks for always supporting us.’’

’’You’re welcome and I love you too darling,’’ she replied to Solea with a warm voice. ’’Now get to your training. Maria will punish you if you’re late.’’

The yellow-haired elf nodded curtly before hurrying off through the palace. Embera watched her go, a sigh escaping her lips as she made her way to her office. She muttered under her breath.

’’Damn devils,’’ she grumbled. ’’Why did they have to start a war when I was so close to finishing my project?’’

Embera had been tirelessly working on improving her people’s crop yields and refining mining techniques. The dangers surrounding her workers had become too great, and she knew that without these advancements, their future would be at risk.

’Maybe there’s a way to store large amounts of mana?’ she mused while admiring the beautiful garden she had created.

The Fire Elf Empress entered the study and started going through all her paperwork while getting annoyed. No matter what she came up with, there was no way of getting enough power to it.

What Embera didn’t yet realize was that the devil knocking at her door would bring far more than just war. The encounter would change her life in ways she couldn’t yet fathom, altering her path and the fate of those she loved forever.

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