Just as the Queen finished speaking, she waved her hand, and everyone present felt the air tremble slightly. The space around them twisted and warped, and ultimately only her oldest son, Alistair, and the nine young figures remained in the hall.
The rest had vanished.
Skyler's eyes widened. Did the Queen just use a space element skill or spell to send everyone away? With a wave of her hand? How convenient! Those standing around him were in a similar state of shock.
'I want to learn this skill too!'
Elizabeth turned to Alistair.
"Explain what's needed to them."
Nodding, the taller man hurriedly stepped forward and stood before the youngsters.
"As many of you already know, you will be entering a tomb. Even if you don't, I would not go into details. They aren't necessary."
His calm gaze fell on Skyler, the only one who was in the dark about everything. This kid had only come to meet the Queen, but was thrust into this perilous situation. His timing couldn't have been worse.
Alistair would have preferred not to send Riya's son into the tomb, but they had no other option. With the imminent threat of extinction looming over their planet, not just theirs, but every ruling family across Eldoria was taking desperate measures.
Still, knowing Skyler had cleared the first level of Battle Royal in a very short amount of time, at least, he didn't have to worry that he lacked combat experience. He was also a 9-star at only 18. A good seedling indeed.
Alistair was sure he wouldn't die easily.
Sighing inwardly, he continued.
"Your primary objective is to stay alive and bring back the Lost Sapphire of Serenity. It's a dormant Mythic-tier sword that vanished long ago. According to the old records, it is resting in the very center of the tomb that belonged to a king from a bygone era."
His eyes turned solemn.
"None of you would be able to wield that powerful sword because only those above 20-star are capable of wielding it. You just need to find it and bring it out of the tomb. The one who succeeds will be granted any wish they have by the Queen. The tomb is also filled with treasures. All that you find there is yours, except for the sword."
Skyler raised his hand tentatively.
"Grandmother said we could bring people with us. I don't have anyone with me except Riruru. It would be hard to find anyone who trusts me, or whom I trust, in a short time. So, I wanted to know, can I go in alone?"
Hearing him, all his cousins gasped. No, not because he wanted to enter the tomb alone, but because he dared to address the Queen as 'grandmother'! Even the bravest among them had never done that!
They were even more shocked when the Queen didn't seem offended. She merely gave him a surprised look, and that's it!
Alistair immediately dismissed him.
"No. We've already selected many powerful young individuals to follow you all. They are all loyal to the royalty and specially trained."
He fixed his gaze on Riruru's figure.
"The snake with you is powerful, but I have confirmed with the royal mages that beasts can't enter the tomb. Therefore, I will select three individuals to go with you. They will act as your guards and help you in there."
Skyler's eyes widened.
"Riruru can't go with me??"
He hugged the snake clinging to his arm when Alistair nodded his head in response.
"What the..."
Skyler muttered a curse under his breath. None of the protagonist team, nor anyone in the royal family, were beast tamers.
It was a very costly class. Because unlike the others, beast tamers required a lot of resources to nurture their beasts.
Understandably, not many pursued it.
That's why in the original timeline, during this event, no beast entered the tomb. So, he forgot to take into account that Riruru might not be able to go with him.
His brows furrowed as he thought about where he should leave Riruru. He couldn't leave her with just anyone! She could even transform into a human now – a very, very beautiful and pretty one at that!
Elizabeth noticed his solemn gaze.
Not just her, everyone present did. The others just thought he was overreacting. But the Queen's lips twitched upward because her eyes could see what others couldn't.
'Where did he find such an exquisite creature? Truly fascinating.'
Elizabeth drummed her fingers on the armrest. Then, all of a sudden, her voice, calm and commanding, filled the hall.
"If you are worried about your little beast, leave her with me. I will take care of her."
Skyler's head snapped towards the Queen, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Why would the Queen want to take care of Riruru? Had she perhaps sensed something about her?
Sensing his unease, Elizabeth chuckled.
"I gave my word. Do you think, as the ruler of this continent, I would break it? Besides, I'm sure Riruru would be happy to stay with me. You can ask her."
Skyler's lips fell open. How did the Queen know Riruru's name? He had not uttered it, and neither had Alistair. His Uncle had called her a 'snake', a 'beast', but never by name.
So how?
He turned to Riruru, only to find the snake gazing at the Queen with surprised eyes.
"Riruru??"
She finally turned her gaze toward him. Yet, the words that echoed inside his head left him rooted in his spot.
'I will stay... with her. You can go.'
Skyler could only watch dazedly, his world tilting on its axis, as his dear, precious, one and only Riruru abandoned him and went toward his evil grandmother! His shocked eyes traveled toward the Queen.
"Why? She had never left my side so willingly before! What did you do?"
Alistair was prepared to scold him for his casual tone with the Queen. But Elizabeth raised a hand to stop him. Her eyes glinted with amusement as she lifted the beautiful snake, who had arrived beside the throne.
"I know beast language."
The Queen explained, her voice firm.
"I told her telepathically that I would teach her how to understand us while you're away. I have been rather stressed lately. Guiding her will be a welcome change of pace."
Skyler didn't even listen to what she was saying. His gaze was fixed on Riruru, who settled down on the Queen's lap. His gaze stayed fixed on her until he was dragged away by Alistair, who grabbed him by the collar because they didn't have time.
As the huge door of the hall closed shut before him, he couldn't help but mutter.
"Riruru? How can you leave me?"
His eyes filled with grievance.
Alistair was speechless at the crestfallen young man. The other youngsters simply snickered, laughed, or ignored him.
Skyler's shoulders dropped. He cast one last glance at the closed door before him and was about to turn away to leave when Riruru's voice sounded in his head.
'Come back soon.'
His eyes brightened as he spun around.
"On second thought, I shouldn't leave my dear Riruru with someone I just met today. Even if that someone is my grandmother. I will send her to somewhere safe—"
His words were cut off with a gasp when Alistair Thorne grabbed his shoulder and tossed him into a portal he had crafted.
All his cousins followed him before their uncle did the same to them. Then Alistair stepped into the portal, vanishing.
Behind the huge closed doors, Elizabeth gazed at the snake curled up on her lap.
"If you want, you can transform into a human. It's just the two of us here."
Riruru shook her head. She wouldn't do it because Skyler had instructed her not to. Not in front of anyone else.
She would never have left Skyler's side if not for the fact that the Queen claimed to possess something that could make her soul stronger. Plus, Elizabeth promised to teach her the human language and rules.
The Queen's offer was tempting. So, she decided to stay behind, although it pained her to watch Skyler leave. But Riruru told herself this was to stay with him longer.
With her constant transformations into a human, her life force was dwindling. Unlike before, when she didn't fear death because she was alone, now she didn't want to die because she wanted to stay with Skyler.
Elizabeth arched an eyebrow, but then let it go. Maybe Riruru wasn't comfortable around her yet. It was understandable, given the fact that they had just met.
"You have angel power within you. It's mixed with another kind of power I don't recognize. Still, I wouldn't have known you were a half-angel if my husband wasn't a fallen angel. It's shocking how easily I recognize it."
Riruru blinked as she looked at her.
Half-angel? What angel?
Elizabeth let out a sigh at the confused crimson eyes staring directly at her.
"Perhaps you are lucky you met me. At least, lucky enough before you died."