Demonic Dragon: Harem System-Chapter 412: I hope you’re all right

The square was full of young elves, whose burning eyes reflected a mixture of hope and frustration. The gentle wind rustled through the surrounding trees, but the feeling of tension in the air could not be ignored. The rumor that had started in the halls of Vel'Haran was now spreading like wildfire throughout Sylvandor. In just a few days, Evelyn's name had gone from a symbol of hope to the target of accusations.

All thanks, of course, to the Noble Faction who began spreading all sorts of nonsense about her...

On the steps of the ancient forest temple, the youngest leader of the rebel faction, Mirdhael, stepped up to the makeshift podium, facing the elves who had gathered to hear him. His voice, although young, carried a strength that captivated those who listened. He stood up with a serious countenance, and his words spread like seeds ready to sprout.

Of course, it was all because of Faeron Vel'Aeth, the one who had started smoking the young elves...

"Queen Frieren has always been the protector of our land. She is the living link between us and the forest itself. But now, where is our protection? Where is the magic that has sustained life in this Kingdom for millennia?" Mirdhael paused, his eyes sweeping the crowd, seeing the smiles and nods multiply. "Evelyn, our Queen's daughter, has closed the palace, and what else is truly known about her? We don't know what she does. We only know that her mother's legacy is being silenced... corrupted, while she isolates herself on her throne!"

The murmurs in the square grew louder, and the sound of restrained applause echoed among the younger elves, the most easily influenced, who were already beginning to doubt Evelyn. Mirdhael continued, now with more fervor, throwing more fuel on the fire.

"There are rumors - and rumors that can no longer be ignored - that Queen Frieren's magic is dead! That the very essence of the forest is weakening, while Evelyn seeks to consolidate a power that does not belong to her. That she, in her youth and recklessness, could even destroy everything our Queen created!" Mirdhael raised his hands dramatically. "We can't allow that to happen! Sylvandor needs strong leadership. Real leadership."

The cry of support from his followers filled the air. The elven youth, who had long felt neglected by the old pacts and the rigid power structure that Queen Frieren represented, now saw in Mirdhael the possibility of a revolution.

[Gal'Shanai Palace]

While the fiery speeches echoed across the fields and squares of Sylvandor, Evelyn was isolated in her chambers, trying to cope with the weight of the situation. The silence in the palace, a deliberate choice to avoid further confrontation, was beginning to weigh on her. Not just on her, but on everyone around her. The only signs of movement were the Royal Guard patrols, which were now forced to increase their vigilance due to growing popular discontent.

She sat in front of the large window overlooking the forest, the rays of light piercing through the leaves of the trees, but the landscape seemed almost untouched, as if the very life around her was retreating. Evelyn closed her eyes, her thoughts becoming a whirlwind of doubts and fears. She knew she had to act, but she didn't want to give in to blood or war. The last thing she wanted was to see Sylvandor on the brink of civil conflict.

'Leaning on a man is a bit shameful... but I can only count on him now...' His gaze turned to the Orb of Vun'thel, which was resting on a nearby table.

The ancient magic that kept the forest alive was somehow failing. She could feel it - a slight but steady weakening of the connection with the land. It wasn't just politics that was falling apart.

The very essence of Sylvandor was disintegrating.

The sound of a door opening interrupted her. It was Ilyan, one of her mother's most trusted advisors, who entered with a worried look on his face. He was an old elf, an elder of the council, with eyes that seemed to see beyond the immediate present.

"My Queen," he began curtly, but his voice was laden with apprehension. "Rumors are spreading fast. There are speeches in the public square, calling you a traitor and a usurper. They say that Queen Frieren's magic is being corrupted, that you are destroying the legacy of the forest."

Evelyn frowned, a growing pain in her chest.

"I haven't destroyed anything," she said in a low voice, more to herself than to Ilyan. "The forest... it's dying, Ilyan. I... don't know what to do. I'll lock the doors if I have to, but what else can I do when the very balance of nature seems to be disintegrating?"

Ilyan approached her with a deep sigh.

"You can't solve this alone, Evelyn. The people are afraid, and they already have a new leader to follow. They believe in Mirdhael, they believe that change is necessary, but they don't see the whole picture. What you need to do is buy time. Show them that you're not against the forest, but that destruction isn't a choice - it's a consequence of a lack of understanding."

Evelyn shook her head.

"But if I reveal myself, Ilyan... if I call a council, there will be war. The noble faction will not accept my leadership. They don't trust me, and now, with the rumors of the corruption of magic... I feel unable to act."

"No, my Queen," Ilyan said with a firmness that surprised Evelyn. "What you must do is not fight them with words, but with action. Call upon the ancient sages of the forest. Renew the pact. Recover the magic that you know is still in you and show them that the Queen's power has not been killed. Only if the people realize that the forest still breathes, that the Queen's magic still lives, will you have any chance of avoiding confrontation."

Evelyn closed her eyes, absorbing Ilyan's words. She knew he was right. The solution wasn't just political - it was a return to the true essence of Sylvandor, something she hadn't yet fully explored.

The forest would not die so easily, not while she was there to protect her mother's bloodline. E...

"I'm going to that place." Evelyn spoke, standing up with the firm determination that characterized her so much. "I'm going to the Abode of the Spirits."

Ilyan frowned, surprised by the boldness and gravity of her decision. "But, Your Majesty..." he tried to protest, but was interrupted by Evelyn's resolute gaze. It was a look that spoke more than words could express - an unwavering resolve.

He sighed, and his tone softened a little. "Right... at least take Lyana with you. It's not a journey for someone alone." He smiled, trying to ease the tension. But before he could look again, the room fell completely silent.

Only the open window in front of him and the slight sway of the curtains in the wind indicated that she was once again out of his reach.

"That stubborn girl..." Ilyan muttered, almost unable to believe how quickly she had left, like a shadow disappearing into the wind.

He approached the window and looked out with a sigh of resignation.

[In the Clouds...]

The wind cut through the air with force as Strax, in his imposing dragon form, glided with ease over the vast lands below. His scales glistened with a golden sheen that reflected the sunlight, making him look like a creature that was not only made of flesh and bones, but also of pure majesty and power. Beside him, Ouroboros and Tiamat, also in their draconic forms, floated with lethal grace. Ouroboros flaunted his shimmering black scales, while Tiamat glowed a deep blue, her long, snaky tail slicing the air with precision.

On the backs of these powerful creatures, the other figures were arranged, mounted with ease and confidence. Beatrice stood next to Strax, her eyes shining with the excitement of flight. Monica, Samira, Cristine, Daniela, Cassanda, Scarlet and Beatrice were spread out between the three dragons, each of them holding tightly onto the reins or the sturdy scales of their draconic mounts. Rogue, with her calculating gaze, was mounted on Ouroboros, the creature that most reflected her enigmatic personality. The feeling of freedom was palpable.

"It's been a while since we all traveled together," said Strax, his voice reverberating through the wind that whipped his scales. The magnitude of the scene was like a dance in the sky, a spectacle of strength and freedom. He felt at home there, floating in the air with the other dragons, and watched the open sky below them with a smile.

Tiamat, next to him, let out a low laugh, the deep, melodious sound of his voice merging with the noise of the air currents. "Yes, it's been a while. But we can't let the opportunity pass us by. The sky has never looked so vast."

The women on the creatures' backs felt just as free, even in the midst of the tension that had arisen over the last few days. Beatrice looked down, where the trees and mountains became tiny as the dragons climbed even higher. "I'll never get used to it," she said, her voice full of wonder.

"Me neither," Scarlet replied with a smile, her eyes fixed on the landscape. "But I guess that's why we're here."

Cassanda nodded, her hair swaying in the wind. "It makes sense. We're heading into a new chapter, and there's nothing like flying high to see things more clearly."

Samira, her posture always calm and serious, said more softly: "With all that power, the view is even more... revealing."

Strax turned his head slightly to look at the women above him, feeling a stronger connection than ever. He had always known that his journey, as complex as it was, was more than simply a quest for strength. It was about bonds, about those around him, about what they could achieve together. In the air, with Ouroboros and Tiamat by his side, he knew that his mission wasn't just about what would happen on dry land. It was about what they could achieve when they were free, like dragons.

"So let's enjoy it while we can," Strax said, his voice strong and full of determination. "This is our moment."

Tiamat let out an affirmative grunt, her wings beating hard, making the wind around them intensify. She looked at the horizon. "What awaits us down there, on the ground, doesn't compare to this."

'I hope you're all right... Evelyn,' he thought.