Within a few hours of leaving the Orc tribe area, they had all returned to the Lizardfolk village that they had left just earlier, all resources obtained once again. Kaa could only watch in shock to see them returning with his enemies no longer hostile, instead helping them set everything stolen back from where it came from.
“Oh my…I take it Thrak is dead then?” He asked solemnly, not sad but disappointed in himself for doubting Zerinia, Maura and his son, Rango, believing they had all banded together to finally defeat him. “He is, father…we have all the stolen resources again too, just like what we had intended, as you can clearly see.” Kaa could only watch Zerinia and Maura, glad they helped but also cautiously curious about what they could want.
That evening, Kaa and Rango sat in their home together, drinking tea while conversing with one another. “Tell me, Rango…I’ve seen break our strongest warriors with his bare hands like a primordial titan…so how did you kill him?” He asked, genuinely but sceptically curious about how such a powerful creature could be killed, Rango’s eyes narrowed, not out of anger but lasting shock that calmed but remained. “I didn’t…neither did the dark elf- no, Maura…it was all Zerinia.” He said, sipping his drink as if to quell his thoughts, Kaa raised an eyebrow.
“O- Oh...I see, she must be very powerful then.”
“No, she’s something else… she’s hahahahaha.” He laughed, his subconscious fear bleeding through and not knowing how to control it. “She killed him with just a look…just one stare.” He said after calming down, placing his drink onto the table in front of him of the table, Kaa knew his son wasn’t a liar, but a claim like that was beyond outlandish.
“A stare?” He questioned, genuinely taken aback by his claim, “A single look…and that was it, our strongest enemy of this generation, dead as stone.” Kaa could only look down into his drink, staring at his own reflection. “There are always bigger fish in the sea…Zerinia is that apex predator…and that makes me wonder, if she hasn’t come to wipe us out, why has she come?” Kaa’s question hung in the air between them like an omen, neither could decipher whether it to be good or bad, truly understanding how far out of their depth with an entity of such power they really were. Rango placed a hand on his head, as if the memory gave him great pain.
“Father do you think she is one of the 6 Great Heroes? Only they have the power to do something like that.” His voice was firm and rather matter of fact, Kaa could only sigh. “I don’t know…there are always more powerful creatures in the world, she may be as strong as them, she may not, she may even be a member of that group…but if something is for sure, I have no doubt she comes from Sirion, there’s no vampire that powerful who is not sired in such an ancient, cruel land.”
Outside, temporary constructs for the Orc’s to rest were being built. Lizardmen walked alongside them, the air was filled with tension so thick, you could almost touch or feel it. Tharia stood by and also watched, not knowing how to feel about the recent events, just a few hours ago she was thinking about leaving the tribe to live her own life, now she was organizing her own people as a new commander in this…tribe? Organisation? It was beyond strange now.
“You’re a strong person, Tharia, other than just physically, as you clearly are strong in that regard too.” Zerinia said casually, like she was commenting on the weather, Tharia didn’t even look over after hearing the compliment, “What makes you think that?” She questioned, genuinely curious about her leader’s comment. “You’ve managed to last this long, forced into a lifestyle you don’t enjoy, watched your father die, now working along for his killer and your peoples sworn enemies…”
Tharia realised her words were actually true, nodding slowly before responding. “I don’t have anything against you…nor the Lizardfolk, even if they are supposed to be my enemies…but what I am aware of, is that I’d happily call you ‘my chieftain’.” Zerinia was curious about her words, “Why is that?” Tharia was quiet for a few moments, thinking of how to arrange her response.
“Tradition…not to mention you’re clearly someone more powerful than most people I’ve even heard of…and I trust you, I mean, you are trying to make peace with two races who hate one another like the Lizardfolk and the Orc’s…there’s tension and probably more death stares than there are humans in the world but no-one’s tried killing one another, so that’s definitely progress.”
“I want you to be the chieftain of the Orcs.” Zerinia said, the sentence made Tharia lose her breath for a moment and her eyes widen, turning to Zerinia. “What? Why?” She asked, genuinely shocked by what the vampire said, “It’s only fair that the Orcs are led by their own people, and I trust you.”
She said, after looking over towards Tharia, small smile on her face. “I have a present for you.” Zerinia said calmly, taking out a large axe battle axe, it’s handle was black and the blade was a powerful grey, one that looked like it had seen many battles, the patterns along the handle looked like runes of the dwarven kingdom. “Mithril…it’s called ‘Red and White Flame of the Sun God’, or just ‘Arianor’.” The word Mithril shocked Tharia, she knew Zerinia was powerful, but to have access to a Mithril item? “Mithril?! She has access to Mithril items?! And if she’s giving it to me, she has to have more…just how powerful is this woman?!”
Tharia thought to herself, beyond shocked and even more grateful. “I don’t know what to say…” She said, gripping the weapon in her hand, observing it with great intensity. Zerinia smiled, placing her hands behind her back, “Then make our people proud, Chieftain Tharia.” She said, turning and walking away, leaving Tharia to organise the tribe and their construction work.
Soon, she arrived at Kaa’s home, sitting with him and his son, Rango. The trio sat on the floor around a low table that held three small clay mugs of tea, only Kaa and Rango had even attempted to consume their beverages, Zerinia didn’t for reasons obvious now that they knew what Zerinia is. “You must’ve come a long way to come to us,” Kaa suggested as if to get information out of her, his curiosity asking as to why this person, so powerful, had intended to come to a Lizardfolk tribe like this, seemingly out of nowhere. “It was a lot shorter than you may expect…but still as important as it would be if the journey was longer.”
The statement was clearly intentional; she wanted him and Rango to understand that this task wasn’t to pay a small visit to an isolated people. “The truth is, I want your help just as I can help you.” Zerinia began, intending to reveal as to why she had come to this place.
“I want to build a kingdom, one to call ‘home’…free from the restraints of kingdoms across the world and their hatred for creatures different to themselves…a place where all people can unite, regardless of differences they share with their neighbours. You may think me a fool, Kaa, for wanting such a thing and maybe I am, but it’s something I know hasn’t been tried before this moment, and it’s something I wish to try now, so that all creatures of the world can call somewhere ‘safe’, ‘home’ and a place to be proud to be a citizen of…will you be one of these citizens?” She words seemed to flow like water in a river, Kaa and Rango listened with shock, even thinking of such a thing was never heard of before, let alone openly suggested.
Kaa thought for a few moments before speaking, “Yes…my people will join this nation, you’ve shown yourself to be trustworthy, powerful and a strong leader. In all my life, I have never been able to properly call any place in particular truly ‘safe’, so hearing a possibility of this becoming a truth…I would rather die than let the people who look to me for help, miss out on such a peace because of some grudge against enemies or petty pride towards who the queen of this nation is.”
His tone was firm, absolute where he wasn’t remotely concerned if anyone thought he was a madman, his son sitting on the other end of the table, Rango, looked just as serious and simply nodded, agreeing with what his father said. “I thank you, Kaa…your kindness is inspirational, and for that, I wish to give you a gift.” With that, she drew out two daggers, the first had a white blade and golden handle while the other had a black blade and red handle, both of them curved and polar opposites to one another, and that difference made them closer, Kaa and Rango stared at them with shock.
“Mithril, they are called, ‘Daggers of Order and Chaos’.” She said holding them towards Kaa. “Mithril?! I saw first-hand how powerful she is, but Mithril Items now?! I’m glad she’s a friend.” Rango thought to himself, Kaa sighed softly and looked at her with a solemn expression. “I’m sorry Zerinia, but I cannot accept this…I’m too old for this sort of gift, I believe it should be in the hands of my son, Ramgo.” Rango’s head snapped to his father, “Wha- Me?!” Kaa simply nodded at him.
“Yes, I know you’ll do great things…and as for me, there’s not much I can do for this nation, that’s something I have already come to terms with, but you? You can still do many great things.” Rango’s eyes softened, realising his father’s logic and nodded slightly, his face soon filled with grateful determination. “I see, I can respect your reasoning, Kaa, but perhaps this will suffice?” She said, holding out a necklace with fish teeth, it wasn’t a powerful weapon but rather a magic artifact that was clearly Lizardfolk make, “I believe this should belong to its people rather than myself.” Kaa watched the item, smiled and put it around his neck. “Thank you, Zerinia for your kindness…your actions won’t go unforgotten.”
Before the interaction could continue, Maura slammed the door open and stuck her head in, “Lady Zerinia, I’m really sorry for barging in like this, but you need to see this.” She said, almost panicked, like she saw something that was never meant to exist. Each of them followed the Dark elf to where many Lizardfolk and Orcs gathered, all of them looked in one direction and once Zerinia finally managed to get through, she immediately saw what everyone was staring at.
On a small hill was a high elf, she had grey skin darker than a dark elf, long black hair and shining blue eyes. Her facial expression was void of any emotion that almost opposed yet complimented her soft features. She was around 5 foot 7 inches in total and wore old high elf clothes that had clearly decayed, worn down and aged over time, removing the former bright colours to be replaced by black and grey that matched her skin while the once bright gold had darkened too, she then spoke with an icy cold and emotionless tone, “I have found you, my Lady Zerinia.” It was Edilia.