Demonic Dragon: Harem System

The carriage swayed gently along the winding dirt paths, the sound of wooden wheels and horse hooves echoing in the calm of the countryside. Evelyn gazed pensively at the horizon, the verdant landscape passing slowly as a light breeze cooled the interior of the carriage. Beside her, Lyana sat with a rigid posture, but her gaze betrayed a deep unease she struggled to conceal.

"How much longer until we arrive?" Evelyn asked, turning to her knight, her voice soft but laced with curiosity.

"Half an hour, my lady," Lyana replied without hesitation, her tone firm but carrying a faint weariness.

Evelyn was no fool. She noticed the tension in the knight's shoulders, the slight clench of her fingers resting on her knee, and the vacant stare fixed on the scenery as though trying to escape something. "Are you sure everything is fine?" she asked, her tone gentle, her head tilting slightly with a kind smile.

"Everything is fine," Lyana answered quickly, almost reflexively, maintaining her usual professional demeanor.

But Evelyn wasn't one to give up easily. "Do you really think you can fool me?" she asked, her tone lightly teasing. "Stop hiding, Lyana. If you need to talk, you know you can confide in me."

Lyana sighed, turning her gaze to the opposite window. "I don't feel like talking right now, Princess," she said curtly, trying to end the conversation.

The response made Evelyn raise an eyebrow, surprised yet even more curious. "It's not like you to be so defensive," she remarked with a playful smile. "Are you in love? If it's about Strax, I can assure you he—"

"No!" Lyana interrupted so abruptly her voice echoed through the carriage, causing it to tremble slightly.

Evelyn blinked in surprise before breaking into laughter, a soft, melodious sound that seemed to dispel some of the tension in the air. "Fufufu… You're so adorable when you're flustered," she said, stretching gracefully. "Remember, before I'm your mistress and princess, I'm also your friend."

Lyana remained silent, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery. Evelyn knew her knight was grappling with something but was too stubborn to admit it.

"You're nervous because I'm taking a risk, aren't you?" Evelyn asked, her voice now more neutral but still filled with empathy.

Lyana huffed, crossing her arms and still refusing to meet her mistress's gaze.

Evelyn sighed, turning back to the window. "I understand. I suppose coming so close to death… shook me. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise. I think I've matured enough to realize that if I don't take this step, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

At last, Lyana turned slightly, her expression still guarded but her eyes revealing an inner conflict. "I don't think that's the issue," she said, her voice quieter, almost hesitant.

"Oh? Then what is the issue?" Evelyn asked, leaning in slightly, curiosity lighting up her face.

Lyana took a deep breath, the words seeming to weigh heavily on her lips. "I'm grateful… that he gave you the ingredient that cured your illness. I'm grateful to serve you, and I'm grateful you took me in when I needed it. But… you know very well my problem with vampires."

Evelyn's eyes widened for a moment, surprised by the confession. Then, a sad smile crossed her lips as she settled back in her seat, gazing at her knight with warmth. "So, in the end, it was never really about Strax, was it?"

Lyana pressed her lips together, averting her gaze as if unwilling to confirm but unable to deny it either.

"How foolish I've been," Evelyn murmured, letting out a soft, bitter laugh. She turned her gaze back to the window, a melancholic glint in her eyes.

The carriage continued its steady rhythm, but the silence inside was laden with unspoken emotions. Evelyn didn't press further, respecting Lyana's space, though something in her heart told her that, eventually, her knight would need to face her own demons.

"You know, Lyana," Evelyn said at last, her tone gentle, "our fears only hold power over us as long as we let them. Maybe… it's time you fought yours."

Lyana remained silent, her mistress's words echoing in her mind as the carriage trailed along the winding paths. The steady rhythm of the horses' hooves was interrupted only by the creak of the wheels and the soft whisper of the wind.

"Oh, it seems we've arrived," Evelyn remarked, her voice a mix of excitement and curiosity. She peeked out of the window, spotting an immense wall rising before them, so tall and imposing it seemed to touch the sky. As the carriage passed under the archway of the gate, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The sunlight was replaced by an oppressive gloom, as if they had entered a shadowy tunnel.

Lyana tensed instantly. "Damn it," she muttered, her voice low and brimming with tension.

Unlike Evelyn, who wasn't necessarily a warrior, Lyana could feel every nuance of the environment around her. And what she felt now made her instincts scream.

The air was heavy, almost suffocating, as though an unseen presence was pressing down on her chest. The absence of sunlight made the place even more unnerving, and her skin prickled with an uneasy sensation.

Lyana clenched her teeth, trying to steady her breathing. It wasn't just the environment that unsettled her—it was the auras she could sense. Strong, powerful, nearly overwhelming, they seemed to lurk in every direction, like predators hidden within a dense forest.

It was a feeling she knew all too well. A feeling she despised.

Evelyn, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the gravity of the situation, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she took in the towering spires and ornate gates. "Impressive, isn't it?" she asked, casting a brief glance at her knight.

Lyana didn't respond. Her hands rested in tight fists on her knees, and her gaze was fixed on the entrance ahead, as if she expected something to leap from the shadows at any moment.

"Lyana, are you alright?" Evelyn asked, leaning slightly to try and catch a glimpse of her knight's face.

"I'm fine," Lyana replied quickly, though her voice betrayed her unease. 'This damn woman forgets my mana sensitivity is sharper than any elf's,' she thought bitterly.

The carriage finally came to a halt, the creak of the wheels silencing alongside the rhythmic breaths of the weary horses. The coachman, an elderly man with a serious expression and a tense posture, turned slightly in his seat.

"Ladies, we've arrived. I can't go any further," he informed them, his deep voice heavy with caution.

Evelyn and Lyana exchanged glances. Neither questioned the coachman's decision; the palpable tension in the air made it easy to understand why. This place inspired unease, even in the most seasoned individuals.

"How exactly are we supposed to find Strax?" Lyana asked, her voice steady but laced with distrust.

Evelyn simply shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "Well, he said he'd find us. So, I guess we just have to wait."

"Great, because that sounds super reliable," Lyana replied, sarcasm dripping from her tone as she peered through the small carriage window.

Before Evelyn could reply, she pushed open the carriage door with a graceful but determined motion. The moment her feet touched the ground, the sight before her stole her breath away.

Revealed in all its eerie grandeur was Alagon, the vampire immigrants' city. Towering black spires, crafted from a material that seemed to absorb the meager light around them, rose imposingly against the overcast sky. A reddish glow emanated from crystals suspended on posts and arches, casting a sinister illumination over the streets. The gothic architecture of the buildings was so intricate it resembled macabre works of art, adorned with sculpted gargoyles and shadowy stained-glass windows.

The streets were alive with mysterious figures. Vampires walked with grace and authority, their presence almost as oppressive as the atmosphere itself. Some merchants, with striking features and curious gazes, tended to customers ranging from other vampires to submissive humans who looked more like servants than visitors.

The air was thick, charged with an almost suffocating energy, as though the very space radiated an ancient and uncontrollable force. Lyana tightened her grip on her sword, the instinctive reaction of someone who trusted no part of this situation.

"Welcome to Alagon," Evelyn said with a light laugh, clearly trying to ease the tension. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

"You're far too optimistic for someone stepping into vampire territory," Lyana replied, disembarking the carriage behind her. Her eyes were sharp, scanning the area for any sign of danger.

"Optimism doesn't kill, Lyana. But your constant state of alertness? Who knows?" Evelyn quipped with a wry smile before heading toward the city's entrance.

The carriage rolled away, leaving them alone at the edge of the city. The gates they had passed through creaked shut behind them, like a final barrier between the world they knew and this strange, perilous domain.

Lyana couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. "So, are we just going to wander around and hope he shows up?"

"ELVES!"

The male shout rang out across the streets of Alagon like an explosion, plunging the already oppressive atmosphere into absolute tension.

Suddenly, every vampire in sight—each imposing and pale figure—froze in their tracks and turned toward the two women. Their eyes glowed an intense shade of red, radiating pure, feral hostility.

Lyana felt her heart race as her hands instinctively moved to the hilt of her sword. "Princess," she said, trying to remain calm, though her voice betrayed her nerves. "Please tell me you didn't forget to mention to your darling potential boyfriend..." She paused to emphasize her sarcasm. "...THAT ELVES AND VAMPIRES HATE EACH OTHER!"

Evelyn froze for a moment, her nervous smile more of an attempt to defuse the situation than an actual display of confidence. "Oh…" she murmured as the realization hit her.

"That's right," she continued, now laughing awkwardly. "I… forgot."