Chương 132: The Truth About Xia

The following day. With Teresa's help and that of several Golden Knights, Oscar had the dragons taken to the vast underground chambers beneath the royal palace. The place was perfect for them. The ceilings rose hundreds of meters high, and the spaces were wide enough to allow the creatures to fly freely and have plenty of room to rest. The dragons looked around, cautiously sniffing the air. The green dragon, in particular, made sure that the environment was safe for her hatchlings.

Only after she was certain there was no danger did she spread her wings and take flight. The hatchlings immediately followed her. Oscar raised his gaze and watched the four creatures flying above him.

"They'll be fine here", he said at last. Teresa looked into the green dragon's eyes, which met her gaze with an almost primordial calm.

"Yes. It seems to like this place". Oscar then shifted his attention to the smallest of the hatchlings, the one with scales as black as obsidian.

"I want to train that one". He pointed at the little dragon with a smile.

"I like its color…something tells me it is destined for me". Ambition gleamed in his eyes.

"I can already imagine myself riding it and commanding the army from above. They'll write about it in the Kings' books…the only ruler of the kingdom to ever possess a dragon. Or perhaps the first of many". Teresa turned toward him and took his hands.

"I understand your enthusiasm, my son, but for now, let it grow alongside its mother. They're still hatchlings". Oscar looked at the green dragon.

"Mother? How do you know it's female?"

"Oh, I don't. But since she laid eggs, I simply assumed she was". Teresa turned her attention back to the creature.

"However, I believe their nature may be different. Perhaps they aren't divided into males and females like the other creatures of this world". Oscar frowned.

"What do you mean? They're both male and female?"

"It's possible. Honestly, I know very little about their nature. And it seems the rest of the world knows about as much as I do". Oscar shrugged.

"Well, I don't care. What interests me is their strength in battle". His gaze returned to the dragons. It was obvious that, in his mind, the creatures had already become a new weapon to be used in the war. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. That afternoon, Teresa stood motionless, gazing out over the gardens from the palace balcony. The wind gently stirred her hair. Someone approached from behind her.

"My apologies, Queen Mother". Teresa did not turn around.

"I would have liked to accompany you on your journey, but my duties as an advisor forced me to act as I did…betraying your trust". Teresa looked at him coldly.

"Don't apologize, spider". Declan remained silent.

"Trusting a spymaster was foolish. At the time, I was desperate to leave this place and didn't think things through". Teresa turned completely toward him.

"But now, I have no intention of leaving". She looked him directly in the eyes.

"Here, in the royal palace, it's simple: either you use others, or you are used. And you, as an advisor…are the one being used". Declan had no time to respond. Teresa walked past him and left without saying anything else. She made her way to Matilda's room and knocked on the door. After a few moments, it opened.

"Teresa…I heard you had returned". Matilda gave her a forced smile. Teresa entered the room and immediately wrinkled her nose. The air was stale. Without saying a word, she threw open the window.

"There's a bad smell. How long have you been cooped up in here?" Matilda lowered her gaze.

"I don't know. I've lost count". Teresa studied her carefully.

"Oscar told me you're pregnant. I hope you've stopped drinking".

"Of course…" Matilda sighed.

"Your son practically threatened to kill me if I didn't". She said it almost as though she expected Teresa to comfort her or reprimand Oscar. Instead, she got the exact opposite. Teresa stared at her in annoyance.

"And you say that as though it were wrong? That is my grandchild too. We cannot allow a malformed child to be born into House Hawk because of your vices". Matilda fell silent.

"Furthermore, you need to go outside more often. Move around. A sedentary lifestyle weakens the body, and a weak body can also harm the next heir to the throne". Teresa headed toward the door.

"Act like a queen". Matilda watched her.

"I thought the journey would change you". Teresa slowly turned around.

"You know, exploring the world broadens the mind and improves the soul. Staying here, in the palace, on the other hand, eventually makes a person cynical and miserable". Her gaze grew sterner.

"But you…you're exactly the same. The cold, controlling woman you've always been. You haven't changed at all". For several seconds, Teresa remained motionless. Then a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"You're wrong, sister. I have changed". Matilda stared at her. Teresa opened the door.

"Now I have more power than before". Then she left, leaving Matilda alone in the room. Meanwhile, in the forested regions, Mason watched Leah sleep peacefully on the grass. He gently stroked her hair before approaching Xia, who was sitting a short distance away. The mage sat motionless, staring at the trunk of an enormous tree.

"You can stop pretending you don't know me now", Mason said calmly. Xia turned toward him, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"She's sleeping. She won't hear us. So stop pretending". Xia stared at him without understanding.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Why would I know you?" Mason studied her carefully. For a moment, he said nothing. Xia seemed sincere.

"You're not lying…" His expression became serious.

"You haven't lost your memory, have you…?" Xia did not answer. Mason sighed.

"I noticed right away that there was something strange about you. I couldn't sense your powers, but I thought it was because of some strange concealment spell". He paused.

"Instead, something happened to you". Mason turned toward the tree.

"That's why you allowed that mage to teleport us here". He looked back at her.

"I can't give you everything back. But I can offer you the memories we shared". Xia stared at him with growing unease. Mason smiled faintly.

"Brace yourself…because this might make your head explode".

"What do you mea-" Without warning, the fingernail on his index finger elongated unnaturally. Mason plunged his finger into Xia's temple. The woman began to tremble violently. Thousands of fragments flooded her mind. Her first meeting with Mason. Their toxic, symbiotic relationship. The atrocities they had committed together. The blood. The power. And, above all, the truth about her nature. Xia collapsed onto the ground, her body wracked by violent convulsions. For several moments, Mason watched her without moving.

Then the wave of memories ceased. Xia lay motionless on the grass. Several seconds passed. Finally, she slowly got back to her feet. She brought a hand to her aching head and breathed heavily. Then she looked at Mason. Pure horror filled her eyes.

"You and I…" Her voice trembled.

"Are we vampires?!"