The Corrupted Syndicate

"I've asked Gorgon about Lunaris and unfortunately she didn't have much to tell me... Besides, I am utterly drained of my brain juice so let's leave the rest for the battlefield. Anyways, all three of us would be facing her so there isn't much strategy to form..."

"Are you sure?" 

Mavislin glared at her rabbit and placed her arms on her eyes.

"Yes. I am very sure. Now go and do whatever you want now while I sleep..." grumbled the dragoness as she turned to her side to sleep.

Mattheos said nothing as he strode out of the chambers, eager to leave. Despite the lavish surroundings, filled with every comfort one might expect from a home, it lacked the warmth of a true sanctuary. Or perhaps it was the weight of knowing it was stolen property.

He wandered through the winding corridors, trying to retrace his steps back to his quarters. As he did, his thoughts drifted uneasily. Would the Legion make more frequent appearances now, especially after Minwoo's arrival?

Suddenly, Mattheos froze, a cold shiver running down his spine. Something was coming—and he knew he wasn't going to like it.

Meanwhile, the dragoness was determined to use the Viceroy's floor as her new bed as she continued to lie on the ground.

"I don't think that you would be comfortable when you wake if you continue to be on my floor," noted Zenos as he walked over to her.

"It's fine... I don't feel like moving from this place-AH!" 

The poor dragoness couldn't contain her yelp as the Viceroy merely plucked her off from the ground with a single arm and tossed her onto his bed.

"What the hell are you doing?!" yelled Mavislin, as she sat up and rubbed her tail.

"Ensuring your spine remains unbroken, nothing more. You spoke of rest, did you not? Then take it, while I tend to matters far more pressing. These troops will not command themselves in the face of the Legion."

"My domain has been breached, and retribution is required. Yet, as for the frontlines—my father's request shall go unanswered. I have no intention of playing the obedient son today."

Mavislin's eyes widened as she snapped her head toward the Viceroy, her gaze sharp. But her expression softened just as quickly, and she turned away from the Prince of Darkness.

Pulling her knees to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them, retreating into herself. A small snake emerged from her hair, silently slithering across the floor toward Zenos.

"Do you not trust me?" quizzed the Viceroy as he crouched down to allow the snake to slither up his arm and rest around his neck.

"It's not that... I'm just making sure that you behave and not betray me..."

"I fail to see a difference... But very well, if that's what makes you comfortable."

"...Come back when you can; I need my walking furnace..." mumbled the shy dragoness as she grabbed the blanket to warm herself up.

Winter was creeping in, and the nights grew colder with each passing day. If Mavislin didn't find proper clothes soon, she knew she'd freeze before long. Zenos paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as if the thought had caught him off guard.

Then, with a scoff, he turned on his heel and left the room without a word. Mavislin sighed, pulling the thick blanket tighter around herself as she crawled into bed, bracing for a lonely night.

While the Viceroy was away, Valokia had been breached twice more, with reports indicating that the White Rat of the Legion had claimed several lives among his troops.

Although Zenos was indifferent to the loss of those too weak to withstand the enemy, the breaches posed a serious problem for the nation. 

He quickly assembled his teams to strengthen Valokia's defenses and dispatched a squad of his elite soldiers to hunt down the Legion as retaliation for their audacious attacks.

If you are going to poke the bear, then be prepared for the prey to be turned into a prayer.

Despite the middle of the night, the troops had no choice but to comply. Even though it was in the middle of the night, the troops had no choice but to oblige since the Legion strikes hardest during the day for some odd reason.

The Legion wasn't made to be nocturnal, making them the very opposite of the Syndicate so nighttime would be the best time to catch them off guard. 

After the commands were finally completed, a servant clad in the Viceroy's homeland's attire appeared, holding a letter sealed with his father's emblem.

The speed with which the report had reached him was surprising—no, this had to be something entirely different. He took the letter with a flicker of disdain in his eyes.

"Begone. Leave me alone," boomed the angered Prince.