The Corrupted Syndicate

Zenos, watching her with a hint of amusement, observed her shivering figure and the way she wrapped herself up like a cocoon. His initial confusion had given way to a subtle smile, an expression that softened his usual stern demeanor.

The unexpected sight of her in the bath, and now her bashful reaction, brought a rare touch of warmth to his own expression.

"I wasn't aware that you can change forms," said the Viceroy as he lay down on his bed.

"I'm part dragon, go figure. Anyways, do I really have to wear this? I feel more comfortable in my scales…" complained the dragoness as she looked at the clothing as if it was a stain.

"Yes. I insist."

"I hate clothes…" grumbled Mavislin as she threw the nightdress over herself.

Zenos gave a smirk as the dragoness adjusted her new clothes, wearing a small pout on her pretty little face. The Viceroy then moved over, allowing the dragoness to sleep on the right side. Mavislin felt eyes bearing the back of her head as she tried to fall asleep.

"Could you please not stare at me while I'm sleeping?" asked a grumpy dragoness.

Mavislin was just about to blow up at anyone living at that point as she felt her energy levels plummeting.

"Are you a co-sleeper?" questioned the Viceroy, not caring about Mavislin's words.

"No. Please let me sleep."

Zenos said nothing as he turned away from the annoyed girl. The room's lights dimmed and flickered out, gradually plunging them into darkness. The soft glow of the mana crystals faded, leaving only the gentle, ambient light of the moon filtering through the windows.

As the last remnants of light disappeared, both Zenos and Mavislin settled into a tranquil silence. The quiet of the night enveloped them, allowing them to drift off into their slumber and dreams, undisturbed by the events of the day.

Despite his weariness from the day's demands, the Viceroy found himself unable to find rest. He turned to gaze at Mavislin once more, her form serene and undisturbed in the moonlight that filtered through the room.

She appeared almost doll-like in her peaceful slumber, her features soft and calm. But that tranquility soon shattered. Mavislin began to stir restlessly, her face twisting into an expression of distress as if she were caught in a troubling nightmare.

Her brows furrowed, and her breathing grew uneven. Zenos, unsure of how to intervene, watched her struggle in silence, his own heart inexplicably tugged by her visible discomfort.

Without fully realizing his actions, Zenos reached out, his hand moving with surprising gentleness. He brushed his fingers tenderly against Mavislin's cheek, his touch light and soothing.

He then traced a calming path along her temple, his touch intended to comfort rather than disrupt. Slowly, the tension eased from Mavislin's face. Her features relaxed, and her breathing steadied as she returned to a deep, undisturbed sleep.

The Viceroy, still sitting by her side, felt a rare flicker of solace as he watched her once more drift peacefully into slumber.

"Why the hell must he take her?! Damn it! That damned Viceroy..."

Far from the tranquility of the two beings, Mattheos found himself consumed by frustration and anger. He hurled a throwing dagger into a nearby oak tree, the blade embedding deeply into the wood.

His blood boiled with rage as he replayed the events in his mind, the failure to rescue his partner haunting him. He threw another dagger, this time with such force that it struck the tree with a resounding thud, burying the hilt deeply in the trunk.

How could he have allowed that monster, the Viceroy, to take her? The thought gnawed at him relentlessly. Matt's thoughts turned to Raven, who would undoubtedly be furious with him for failing in his mission.

Venom might even send the poor bunny to sleep permanently. The pressure was immense, and the consequences of not retrieving Mavislin weighed heavily on him. As he looked down at his trembling hands, a deep sigh escaped him.

Confronting the Viceroy directly seemed like a suicidal gamble, yet doing nothing was not an option. Caught in this torment of indecision, Matt wrestled with the dilemma of how to act.

The path ahead was fraught with peril, but he knew he needed to find a way to confront the Viceroy and rescue Mavislin. He needed a strategy, a plan that could turn the tide in his favor and offer a glimmer of hope in this dire situation.

Lost in his turbulent thoughts, Mattheos remained oblivious to the eyes peering at him from the forest's darkness. The weight of his failure hung heavily over him, drawing his focus inward.

Yet, his acute combat instincts were still sharp. Without breaking his stride, he effortlessly snatched an incoming arrow out of the air, his eyes never leaving their distant, unfocused gaze.