The Unrivaled Holder: Rise of the Dragon Monarch

Luviyah descended gracefully from above, her silver-white hair flowing behind her like strands of moonlight. As she landed on the ground before us, her regal presence remained unwavering, but there was a trace of something else in her eyes—hesitation.

Fafnir, Zarathorak, and Ingi stood ready, having already prepared the ritual. The moment had arrived.

Luviyah exhaled softly. "Proceed."

We began.

Just as before, the dragon's blood pulsed with an ancient energy, forming intricate patterns around her. Fafnir controlled the ritual, guiding the essence of Zarathorak's blood to dispel the stigmata embedded in her for over a century. As the process unfolded, Luviyah clenched her jaw, her body trembling slightly. The blood-mark on her forehead flickered and warped, resisting its erasure.

Then—a burst of crimson light.

The sigil shattered into dust, dissipating into the air.

The sigil shattered into dust, dissipating into the air.

Luviyah staggered slightly, her breath unsteady, as though a weight she had carried for over a hundred years had suddenly been lifted. She brought a trembling hand to her forehead, feeling only smooth skin where the curse once lingered.

The Queen of Elves—a symbol of elegance, power, and unwavering resolve—stood there, wide-eyed, her expression is unreadable.

Then, without warning, tears welled in her eyes.

Her fingers curled slightly as she looked down, her shoulders subtly trembling. It was as if the realization of her freedom had struck her all at once.

Without hesitation, I stepped forward.

Everyone else froze.

Zarathorak raised an eyebrow. Fafnir tensed slightly, as if unsure what I was about to do. The Supreme Officers immediately stiffened, but before they could act, I gently placed a hand on Luviyah's head.

A quiet gasp escaped one of her officers.

Luviyah's golden eyes widened, stunned by the sudden gesture.

I smiled. "Congratulations."

She blinked rapidly as if struggling to process what had just happened. No one had ever treated her like this. No formal bow, no grand words of gratitude—just a simple, warm acknowledgment.

I let out a small chuckle, ruffling her soft hair slightly. "You did well. And honestly… seeing you cry ruins your beautiful image a little."

I reached up and wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

Complete silence.

The Supreme Officers looked horrified—as if they had just witnessed something forbidden. Zarathorak simply let out a low whistle. Fafnir crossed his arms, watching the scene unfold with a complicated expression. Ingi… well, he just looked amused.

Luviyah remained motionless for a moment, her golden eyes locked onto mine. The weight of a century-long burden had just been lifted, yet she seemed more disoriented by my gesture than by the ritual itself.

A Queen, untouched, unshaken, now stood before us—silent and vulnerable.

The Supreme Officers were too stunned to speak. Their disbelief clung to the air like a thick mist, their hands gripping their weapons as if my simple action had shattered every protocol they had ever known.

Then, Luviyah finally reacted.

She blinked once, then twice, as if trying to grasp what had just transpired. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. A faint pink dusted her cheeks, barely noticeable beneath the glow of the lingering ritual.

I withdrew my hand with a small chuckle. "There we go. No more curse, no more marks… and no more reason to hide behind that cold attitude."

Her brows furrowed slightly, and for a brief second, I thought she would scold me. Instead, she exhaled softly, lowering her gaze. "…You speak as if you know me."

I shrugged. "I know enough. Strong people like you always carry burdens alone."

Silence stretched between us. A different kind of silence. Not tense, not hostile—just… still.

Then, Zarathorak broke it.

"Well, well… that was quite the scene." His voice dripped with amusement, arms crossed over his chest. "Didn't take you for someone who could tame an elf, of all things."

Luviyah snapped her gaze toward him, her usual sharpness returning. "I am not a beast to be tamed."

Zarathorak smirked. "No, but you sure let him pat you like a well-behaved one."

A barely audible gasp escaped one of the Supreme Officers.

Luviyah's eyes widened in shock—then narrowed dangerously. "Watch your tongue, Bloodweaver."

Zarathorak simply laughed, his deep voice echoing through the area. "There she is. I was starting to think we lost you for a moment."

Luviyah straightened herself, her regal aura quickly returning. She wiped the last traces of tears from her eyes, composing herself with a slow inhale. When she finally spoke again, her voice was firm but noticeably softer.

"…Thank you."

The words were quiet. Almost hesitant. But they carried weight.

I gave her a small nod. "Of course. It wouldn't suit you to have a stain on that beautiful face, after all."

Another round of stunned silence.

One of the Supreme Officers visibly twitched, their hand gripping the hilt of their blade a little too tightly. Fafnir sighed, shaking his head as if he had seen enough. Even Ingi let out a small chuckle, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Luviyah, however, only stared at me.

Her gaze lingered for a moment longer before she turned away, she smirked gently and said. "…Now that the curse is lifted, what will you do next?"

That brought us back to reality.

I glanced at the others before speaking. "Our next move is clear. We need to find the remaining dragons before the calamity arrives."

Luviyah was slightly stunned on what she just heard.

Zarathorak scoffed. "Easier said than done. Dragons don't just sit around waiting to be found."

I nodded. "Which is why we came to you. You might have an idea atleast as to where they're hiding."

Umbaxis, the Abyssal Enigma.

The name alone carried weight.

Luviyah's expression darkened. "That name… I have not heard it in over a millennium."

She lifted her gaze, meeting mine before shifting toward Zarathorak. "One of my scouts recently returned from an expedition near the ruins you mentioned. He spoke of an ominous presence—something ancient, something watching."

Zarathorak's smirk faded. "Oh?"

Luviyah nodded. "He described it as a void-like entity, something that made even seasoned warriors hesitate to move forward. They dared not venture deeper, but even from the outskirts, they could feel it."

Fafnir frowned. "And you didn't think to investigate further?"

Luviyah's expression remained composed. "Elves do not meddle with beings beyond our understanding. I had no reason to disturb what was already dormant. Until now."

Her gaze locked onto mine. "If this presence truly belongs to Umbaxis, the Abyssal Enigma, then you may have just found your next destination."

I exhaled. "Then that's where we'll go."

Zarathorak crossed his arms, nodding in approval. "Hmph. If he's still there, he won't welcome us with open arms. He was always the type to guard his domain fiercely."

Fafnir agreed. "And if he's been sealed, breaking that seal might be even harder."

Luviyah turned slightly, glancing toward the distant horizon. "…Regardless, I suggest you move quickly. If even my scouts could sense his presence, then others may as well. You will not be the only ones seeking him."

Luviyah's sharp gaze settled on me, her golden eyes narrowing with curiosity and suspicion. "You speak of gathering all dragons as if it is an urgent necessity. But tell me—why? Why do you claim that a calamity is coming?"

"Trust me, Luviyah" I uttered with confidence.

Luviyah remained silent for a long moment, her golden eyes studying me intently. She wasn't fully convinced, that much was clear, but there was something else in her gaze—hesitation, consideration.

She exhaled softly, shifting her stance. "I still find it hard to believe that such a calamity is approaching, but… you are not one to lie." She glanced at Fafnir, then Zarathorak, before finally settling her gaze back on me. "I will not stand in your way. You may proceed as you see fit."

A faint smirk tugged at Zarathorak's lips. "Hah. Took you long enough, elf."

Luviyah ignored him, her attention still locked onto me. Then, after a brief pause, she added, "But once you return from your mission… I want you to come to my palace."

Her words caught everyone's attention. Even her Supreme Officers subtly turned toward her, though they didn't dare speak.

I raised an eyebrow. "Just me?"

Luviyah nodded, a slight tinge of pink dusting her cheeks. "Yes. You and I… have something to discuss."

A teasing chuckle escaped Zarathorak. Fafnir, standing beside me, blinked in mild surprise. Ingi simply crossed his arms, unreadable as always.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Officers looked like they wanted to protest, but Luviyah's authority was absolute. None of them dared question her decision.

I smirked slightly, tilting my head. "Sounds important."

Luviyah held her composure, though her fingers lightly brushed against her sleeve—a subtle sign of her internal thoughts. "…It is."

The air between us held an odd tension for a moment before she straightened her posture. "Do not keep me waiting."

With that, she turned away, her form glowing with a shimmering golden light before vanishing into thin air.

The moment she disappeared, Zarathorak snorted. "Hah! Looks like you've caught yourself an elf queen."

Fafnir sighed. "This is going to be a headache."

I just chuckled, slightly laughing while shaking my head. "Come on, guys! Let's focus on the task at hand first."

But even as we prepared to leave, I couldn't ignore the lingering warmth of Luviyah's parting words.

Inside the grand chambers of the Elven Palace, Luviyah sat near the balcony, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. The gentle breeze rustled the silk curtains, but her mind was elsewhere.

She placed a hand over her chest, feeling the subtle quickness of her heartbeat. Why…?

Her thoughts drifted back to the moment when he—no, when I—had wiped her tears so effortlessly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The warmth of that touch, the way I had spoken to her…

She exhaled, pressing her fingers against her lips. "This is foolish…" she murmured. "I am the Queen of Elves. I should not be feeling like this."

And yet, she did.

A heavy sigh left her as she leaned back into her chair, staring up at the ceiling. Could it be… that I have fallen for him?

The thought alone sent an unfamiliar warmth through her chest. She had always carried herself with pride, never allowing herself to be vulnerable. But I had effortlessly crossed that boundary—soothed her, comforted her, even teased her.

Luviyah closed her eyes. "What… am I supposed to do?"

For the first time in a long while, the Elf Queen—the most powerful figure of her kingdom—found herself at a loss.