It was a bright, sunny morning in Mudu. Chen Yu lounged in the Mudu Royal Palace, having breakfast with Count Brand. He listened as the Count boasted, spittle flying, about his glorious exploits in the White Horse Kingdom and how he had navigated between the various great families and factions.
Just as the Count was recounting how he had outsmarted a certain Duke to obtain his heirloom ring, the Gel network relayed news that the Rift Snowfield had been invaded by a Demon.
By the time Chen Yu led his companions into the Snowfield on Xiaoka’s back, all that remained were the pockmarked fields of frozen earth, towering icebergs formed by frost breath, and the Demon’s remains.
It was hard to imagine what the creature had gone through before it died, but judging by the frost marks on the ground, it had clearly picked a fight with the wrong opponent.
"AWOOO!"
Xiaoka beat its broad, pitch-black wings, circling once above the castle.
Shortly after, the Crystal Ball wall enveloping the castle in a soft light flickered slightly, as if granting permission to enter.
Only then did Xiaoka slowly descend, landing lightly on the small plaza paved with white marble in front of the castle.
Olivia and Silver Sparrow were already waiting at the castle’s main portico.
Olivia’s gaze first landed on Xiaoka’s glossy, pitch-black new scales and its large head with its clear, endearingly simple eyes. She was inwardly surprised, but her expression didn’t betray it; she maintained her poised, elegant smile.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty." Olivia executed an elegant curtsy, the corners of her lips turning up in a slight, pleasant smile. Her voice was melodious.
Silver Sparrow, standing expressionlessly to one side, corrected her. "Lady Olivia, according to the castle clock, the precise time is 8:47 and 32 seconds AM. It is morning."
Olivia seemed long accustomed to Silver Sparrow’s meticulous nature. She gave a helpless shrug and amended graciously, "Very well. Good morning to you all, then."
Chen Yu hopped down from Xiaoka’s back. Arthur dismounted as well, with Count Brand perched on his shoulder, preening his feathers with his beak.
The moment Count Brand saw Olivia, his beady black eyes darted about. He flapped his wings with great exaggeration and exclaimed in a tone of pure admiration, "Oh, what an elegant and beautiful lady! Count Brand offers you his most sincere greetings. I trust our sudden visit hasn’t interrupted your lovely breakfast."
While speaking, he slapped Arthur’s helmet with a wing, sending a quiet reminder through the Gel network: ’Squawk! You tactless follower of mine, do you want to end up a block of ice like those things outside? Greet her, now!’
Clearly, Count Brand had recognized the creator of those spectacular icy masterpieces outside. He was much better behaved than usual, and his tone was exceptionally polite.
The Gloomy Blue Soul Fire in Arthur’s eyes wavered slightly. He turned to Olivia and Silver Sparrow and performed a standard Knight’s salute. "Knight Arthur. Lady Olivia. Lady Silver Sparrow."
Olivia gave a slight nod without another word, her gaze returning to Chen Yu, waiting for the ruler of the Slime Kingdom to speak.
Chen Yu bounced up to Olivia and Silver Sparrow, glanced at them, and asked, "Nothing happened to the castle, I hope?"
Silver Sparrow seemed to misunderstand him. Her form flickered for a moment. She folded her hands, bowed her head slightly, and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Master. I am unharmed. The visiting Slime Scholars and craftsmen were all moved to a secure area when the invasion began. They are safe. All castle functions are operating normally, and they have resumed their work."
Chen Yu had meant to ask if the castle structure was damaged. ’But then again,’ he thought, ’Silver Sparrow’s body *is* the castle itself, so I guess her answer makes sense.’
"Please, come in and sit." Olivia gestured, leading the group through the castle’s spacious, bright foyer and into a small sitting room with a view of the gardens.
The sitting room was cozy and elegant. Soft velvet sofas, an exquisitely carved low coffee table, oil paintings of forests and starry skies on the walls. In the fireplace, warm Magic Flames leaped and danced, chasing away the last vestiges of the Snowfield’s chill.
As the guests took their seats, the silver teapot and bone china cups on the table animated, pouring steaming, amber-colored tea for everyone.
After sucking all the tea from his cup down with a loud SLURP, Chen Yu asked again, "So, what exactly happened? Why did a Demon invade the Snowfield?"
Olivia gently stirred a still-dissolving sugar cube in her cup with a small silver spoon. She looked at Chen Yu with her pale, mercury-like eyes and smiled.
"That’s a question I should be asking you, Your Majesty."
She took a delicate sip of her sweet tea, a look of pleasure on her face, before continuing, "It seems you have provoked a certain Demon Lord from the Abyss. For him to be willing to send a Demon Wanderer to assassinate you... that Demon Lord must think very highly of you, Your Majesty."
"Demon Wanderer?" Chen Yu blinked his little eyes.
"The Wanderer’s identity has been confirmed," Silver Sparrow’s emotionless voice interjected. "Target: High-tier Demon. Race: Shadow Demon. Alias: Abaddon. According to its verbal debriefing, it claimed to have successfully assassinated the Dwarf King of the Zhushan Kingdom—authenticity is questionable. Preferred weapon is named Death’s Whisper... proficient in High Tier Shadow Stealth..."
With just a few words, she had completely exposed the unlucky Demon’s background, giving Chen Yu a much clearer picture of the entire incident.