The queen's room was wrapped in embarrassing silence. 

Aether Van Lanfoi, Aeltherion's sovereign, was sitting on her knees over her own bed, hair loose and ears lowered like a teenager who had done something very stupid. 

In front of her, standing, arms crossed and eyes half -circled, Elena watched with silent fury. 

- Did you try to have sex with a vampire?! - Repeated Elena, in a tone that mixed indignation and shock. 

"I ... I just wanted to be touched ... the men here flee from me." - Aether murmured, without looking at Elena - Damn, I'm a woman also feels like ... I wanted to know how it is with someone not elf ... 

- And you lied about "testing virility" as if it were real tradition! 

Aether pulled a pillow and buried her face. 

- He refused me! I was embarrassed ... I invented at the time ... But he doesn't even know this is true. 

- Yes, he asked me if every elf tests the virility of the new men! - Elena Bufouu- Now he thinks we live in a ceremonial brothel. 

Aether took her face from the pillow, flushed to the soul. 

- I did shit ... I know ... But why did he have to be so beautiful? That mysterious air, it takes me right ... I get crazy and ... when I saw ... that ... hard ... very hard by the way ... 

- For the moon goddess .... my sister is a pervert. 

- I swear I just leaned, and he ... 

- ENOUGH! 

Aether, still red, gave a half trembling smile. 

"This would be my third time ..." The first was very good, but the guard captain died before repeating the dose. And the second time was very brochant ... with an elf warrior of yours. But ... it didn't work. At the time ... I think it was nervous ... just wanted to see how it was with someone not elf ... And you can see the difference of the old men ... more ... thin and long ... and that ... ual ... 

"Aether ..." Elena whispered, not believing. 

- The vampire was thicker. A little short, but firm. He leaned against me and ... well ... if it wasn't for that armor or clothes, I would have ... - She made an indefinite gesture. 

- by Mother Nature .. 

- And you saw the volume. It's there. Just look ... the costume. - Completed Aether, unfortunately sincere. 

Elena turned red as mature fruit. She turned her back and went out the door without saying anything else. 

Shortly thereafter, Aetherion's suspended gardens, Axial was silent next to Loriel, floating. 

Elena appeared, still without armor, wearing a light green linen dress, glued to her body through the moisture of the morning. 

She tried to act naturally, but her gaze deflected for a second ... straight to the volume under the symbiotic costume of Axiel. 

Axiel raised his eyebrow. 

- Strange eyes, duchess. 

Loriel appeared between the two with a devilish smile. 

- It is analyzing the real symbol of vampiric virility. Check out what your sister said? 

Elena widened her eyes, embarrassed. 

- I am not... 

- Oh, oh ... - Loriel turned in the air - These elves are an example of shameless. 

--- 

The next morning 

In the ceremonial courtyard of the Elífica Palace, the survivors of Elena's guard aligned themselves. Aether was present, dressed in his golden ceremonial leaf tunic. With noble posture and cold mask, but the eyes still diverted as he stared at axiel. 

Axiel approached. Elena was by her side, now wearing light armor, ready for any eventual escort. 

Aether slightly tilted head. 

- I hope you enjoyed our hospitality. And that ... Return. 

She approached, speaking only to him: 

- My bed ... will always have space, if you need to rest again. He whispered. 

Elena poked discreetly with her elbow, making the queen move away with a little trembling dignity. 

- See if you control your tongue, sister. murmured Elena. 

Before the farewell, Elena approached and hugged axiel. 

For a moment, she felt the vampire's cold and hard muscles under the costume. Her face was glued to his chest, and an involuntary memory of the conversation with Aether crossed her like arrow. 

- Hmm ... Thank you ... for everything. She said, releasing him in a hurry. 

She tried to disguise the flushing, and soon made a mention of accompanying him. 

- I can lead you to the border ... 

- You can nothing. Corted Loriel, appearing and crossing his arms in the air - This is my dark load. Only I carry. 

Axiel opened his arms. The black wings of the costume expanded, elegant, soft as a veil, but with lethal ends. 

A murmur went through the present elves. 

He took a step, floated ... and then went up slowly, next to Loriel, leaving the kingdom under the clear sky. 

... 

Solarius's Kingdom.

The smoke rose in black columns between the burnt trees. 

Malak UG rode with his pupil Aranna Al-Fayum next door, both wrapped in travel cloaks. The sacred sword rested on the back of the paladin, immovable but tense. Aranna was holding a short bow and wore mild, lightweight, leather plates and jams embroidered with the crusader seal. 

- I smell blood and ashes - she said, her eyes narrowing. 

When they reached the hill, they saw. 

A mixed village. 

Humans and elves had lived there together. Wooden houses. Gardens with magical crystals. Tissues hanging from braided ropes. Children had played on that floor. 

Now everything was dead. 

Burnt bodies. Women trapped in posts. Symbols of the dug church in the doors. 

Malak dismantled, looking silently. 

- Why? Asked Aranna, coming down. 

- Orders of the high clergy. Malak replied, his voice far away. - They say the heretics live among the mestizos. That the elves contaminate the faith. 

Aranna looked at a charred child, hugged the body of a dog. 

- This is not faith. 

Malak remained motionless. 

- The world is about to set on fire. And ... I feel that fire does not come from demons ... but from men. 

In the background, a church flag was traveling. 

The mouth of the carved god in her ... Smile. 

---