Chapter 888: The Exhibition Begins!
~SHIIIIINNNGGG!!!~
The Magic Circle began to warble with power, and within a second, it burst in glorious white light. Rey witnessed as space distorted and how swiftly their location changed in the blink of an eye.
Everything became a messy blur, and once the area around them stabilized... they were already somewhere else.
-The Capital.
They were in a white hall-within a much bigger room that also had the same Magic Circle embedded on the ground. This room was lined with gold, appearing far more prestigious than the ones they were coming from.
That wasn't the only difference, though.
"Lord Frey'ja... we welcome you wholeheartedly." Two ladies spoke at the same time, their heads bowed as they greeted the Dragon Lord.
They must have been waiting for the arrival of the Dragon Lord and her entourage, considering how their faces had already been bowed by the time the four of them arrived.
That wasn't the fascinating thing about them, though.
"Kat'erin... Shai'ya... it looks like all preparations have already been made, correct?" "Yes, Master."
These two were the other members of the White Dragon Lord's Squad... which meant adding Rey and Lucielle, they would be a total of four.
'I don't know why she didn't just go for five members and add Adonis, but... it is what it is.' Rey made a wry smile. 'In any case, how long has it been since we last saw each other? About three weeks, I believe.'
Kat'erin and Shai'ya were an integral part of disciple training, which meant the three of them had interacted many times in the past. The two Dragons were a little off, and Rey had noticed it right away.
However, he couldn't show his real thoughts regarding them.
"R'ai and Luc'ia, why don't you greet your senior teammates?" The White Dragon Lord turned to look at Rey and Lucielle, who were still standing behind her.
"A-ah! It is good to see you again, Seniors Kat'erin and Shai'ya." He bowed slightly, a wry smile forming on his face as he saw their pale faces.
As always, they responded rather reverently towards him-bowing their heads and saying "The pleasure is ours Ma-R'ai...."
"It's R'ai... actually." Rey tried correcting them, but he only whispered it silently. 'They always confuse my name and call me Ma-R'ai. I still don't know why.'
He also didn't know why they treated him so respectfully even though they were his seniors.
'Even since training, they've been considerate of me.'
Sure, he currently appeared as an attractive male Dragon, but wasn't Adonis much more attractive than he was? Besides, they were definitely too old for Academy Students, weren't they?
'Unless that is what they prefer...' As his thoughts trailed, he noticed Lucielle rushing towards the two women, a big smile on her face.
"Seniors! Long time no see! Have you been good?!"
"Ah... Luc'ia." Kat'erin smiled, a blushing expression forming on her face. "I've missed you, cheeky girl."
She then proceeded to pinch Lucielle's cheeks.
"Hehe! We've been very good, Luc'ia! We were eagerly waiting for you to arrive, you know? Kat'erin especially. She wouldn't shut up about you."
"Z-zip it, Shai'ya!"
"Haha! She was so confident you would pass and join the Squad."
"H-hey!"
Rey watched the three ladies interact, feeling a little awkward since he had been sidelined. 'As always, Lucielle's interaction with them is lighthearted and casual.' He sighed. 'And these are my teammates. How am I supposed to survive?'
He was the only guy, and also the oddball among them.
It would have been nice if Adonis was also a member of the team-even though they didn't really talk-since he would also join Rey in the solitude and awkwardness. Unfortunately, it seemed the White Dragon Lord had a thing for even numbers.
'Whatever... it's not like it'll last long anyway.' Rey smiled in relief, watching everyone in the
room.
Once the day was over, this whole farce would end.
"Shai'ya and Kat'erin will show you three to your preparation rooms." The White Dragon Lord broke the festivities with her sweet voice. "There isn't much time until the opening ceremony, so you should start getting ready right away."
Lord Frey'ja walked out of the room almost as soon as she said this, definitely in a hurry.
"I have to take care of a few things and talk to some people, so make sure you're all prepared within the hour."
"UNDERSTOOD!"
With that said, Lord Frey'ja vanished from the room, leaving the rest of them standing there. "Well, since the two of you qualified, you'll be coming with us to the changing room. We need to change into our uniforms. Afterward, we will get briefed alongside the other Squads regarding the format of the Exhibition..."
As Kat'erin explained all of the details, everyone began to trail out of the room.
"As for Ad'oni, you can stay in the resting lounge until the Exhibition starts. Show them this card, and you will be directed to the seat reserved for you by Lord Frey'ja."
"Understood."
"In any case, I'm excited we have two more teammates. Work harder so you can eventually join us too, okay Ad'oni?"
"Yeah..."
"Alrighty! Now where was I...?"
The conversation kept going until the five disappeared in the passageway.
***********
"Distinguished representatives of the Empire... welcome to the Grand Exhibition of the Lords!"
The roaring voice that echoed within the central hall belonged to none other than the host and referee of the Exhibition. He had slick dark hair that curled upwards, with sunglasses-even though they weren't necessary-and an all-black gown that glimmered with the gold designs
plastered all over it.
"We have waited for this moment for over a year now, and it is finally upon us!"
The few hundred members of the audience within the hall consisted of none other than the important figures in the Empire-each at the very least, of the Commander Rank.
Generals occupied a high seat, making the strict hierarchy evident right away.
The open hall resembled a coliseum, with a center stage at the very bottom of the array of seats, which was where the host-Kre'mlon-stood as he addressed everyone before him. He seemed the most excited, since this was the first Exhibition he would be hosting.
That said, the air was electric with sheer anticipation.
All the Dragons shifted in their seats as they felt the incredible weight of the occasion bear down on them. More than anything, they wanted to see the event begin.
But first-
"The Emperor is now about to grace us with his presence, so... let all arise from their seats and
pay homage to the Supreme Ruler of the Empire!"
Instantly, every single member of the audience rose to their feet.
Then... a dark shadow covered the entire area.
This was a result of a certain vessel the form of a spacecraft-settling above the hall.
Everyone bowed their heads instantly, not daring to move a muscle in preparation for what
would come next.
That very instant, the Dragon Lords appeared at the center of the stage, all of them on their knees as they kept their faces bowed... waiting for the arrival of the Emperor.
First, the Great Old Dragon Lord emerged from the spacecraft.
He descended slowly, both hands behind him, as he looked at the submissive form of the rest
of the Lords with a cold gaze. His aged face commanded authority, as his simple outfit-a black and white military uniform-clung tightly to his body.
Once he landed on the ground, he opened his lips and made the declaration.
"All tremble before your presence! Lord Emperor... please descend and grace us with your magnificent presence!"
*
[A/N]
Thanks for reading!
Will we be seeing the Dragon Emperor in the next chapter? I wonder...