The Return of Corey

The hall, enveloped in an air of solemnity and magnificence, came alive with the rich aromas wafting from the castle's kitchen. Freshly baked bread, spiced with melted chocolate, mingled with the sweet perfume of red wine, saturating the air. Grey, with his habitual voracious appetite, devoured generous portions of the bread, while Camellya, with a bashful smile, emptied glass after glass of exquisite wine that shimmered under the quartz lamp's light.

They had married. Not in a traditional sense, but in one of profound importance.

"I know this is not the most appropriate setting for a wedding between us," Grey said, gently taking Camellya's hands into his own. His gaze, warm and profound, resembled a tranquil ocean, and his words carried the softness of a breeze whispering across the sea. "We're not outside, celebrating with our people, but if rushing this ceremony can aid the humans, then I won't hesitate to take this risk."

Camellya intertwined her fingers with his as if fearing that letting go might cost her something more than mere contact. Her voice trembled for a moment, laden with a mixture of emotion and understanding.

"It's all right with me," she replied, her tone carrying the faintest quiver. "I want to help too. I can't blame you or anyone else for the abruptness of this wedding. In truth, I feel… happy, as though I've been waiting for this moment for a very long time."

Grey tilted his head, his eyes seeking some hidden truth within Camellya's words. Deep within him, something stirred—a strange familiarity, an echo of something lost. But before he could dwell further, Samson, the master of ceremonies, spoke with resolute authority.

"Your Majesty Grey, this union may seem sudden, yes, but the circumstances demand courage and sacrifice," Samson declared, his voice filling every corner of the hall with its gravity. "You may not recall certain aspects of your past, but it is not my place to reveal them. Today, by the power granted by the gods and my own will, I shall bind your souls together, creating a bond that transcends any known force."

Samson's words struck Grey's heart like the echo of a hammer on an anvil. His mind wandered to shadowed recesses, searching for answers to questions he hadn't known he possessed. For a fleeting moment, doubt gripped him, as though he could not fully recognize himself.

Samson turned to Camellya, bowing slightly in a gesture of respect.

"Your Majesty Camellya, with all due respect, I understand your reservations. This hastily prepared altar may seem unworthy of a queen. But we are desperate to defeat the Outer Kings. While you may not fully remember, your heart harbors a deep and genuine love for His Majesty Grey. It is natural, however, that like him, you feel confusion and doubt about your own nature."

Camellya pursed her lips, her thoughts tangling into a knot of emotions. She loved Grey, yet a strange uncertainty throbbed within her, as if something fundamental remained just out of reach. Even so, she could not deny the warmth he inspired in her.

Samson raised a book from the wooden pedestal, his fingers brushing its pages with reverence.

"Today, we shall perform the most sacred and powerful ritual this world, mortal or divine, has ever witnessed. Two souls will be united—one mortal and one blessed by a god who, though vanished, left his legacy in those who still bear his will."

Samson's voice reverberated like thunder throughout the hall, echoing off the polished quartz walls. The Nurukaidos knights, standing like living statues, unsheathed their swords with a sharp, ceremonious sound. In perfect unison, they held their weapons before them, their free hands resting behind their backs. The civilians present rose as one, placing a hand over their chests and closing their eyes in a gesture of respect.

Grey, intrigued, observed the scene with renewed interest, while a faint smile played across Camellya's lips. Samson raised a hand toward the heavens, his stance majestic and his voice imbued with fervor.

"Coreygrey Gallant, son of Yaoshi Gallant and Juliette Gallant! Before you stands the woman who will become part of your life from this day forward, shining with a light to guide you even in the darkest moments. Now I ask you: Will you love her, cherish her, and respect her until the cruel hand of death parts you?"

Before Grey's eyes, Camellya's figure began to blur, as if enveloped in a golden mist. The rest of the world was consumed by a dense darkness that seemed to swallow everything around him. Yet, he felt no fear. Deep within, something whispered that this was part of the ceremony. His voice broke the silence, resolute and unwavering, echoing against the castle walls:

"I accept!"

The moment the words left his lips, Camellya's image regained its clarity, the brilliance surrounding her fading away. But something had changed. At the center of her chest, a faint light began to flicker softly, awaiting acknowledgment, ready to merge completely with her. Grey recognized, with a blend of admiration and solemnity, that this was a fragment of his soul.

"Camellya Rouserlend, daughter of Yulian Rouserlend and Margarita Rouserlend!" Samson proclaimed, his ceremonial tone reverberating through the spirits of all present. "Before you stands the noblest and most beautiful man this world has ever known. He stands here, holding your hands, hoping to be accepted as the guide of your life while wishing for you to be the beacon that illuminates his path. Now I ask you: Will you love him, cherish him, and respect him until the cruel hand of death parts you?"

Camellya's heart raced, as if Samson's words had awakened something long dormant within her. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, while an unfamiliar warmth enveloped her. With a mix of emotion and courage, she cried out:

"I accept!"

As the word escaped her lips, the faint light within her chest erupted into a radiant glow that surrounded her completely. Her body shone with such intensity that those present, blinded, raised their hands to shield their eyes. Grey watched calmly, trusting that this was part of something greater, something he need not fear.

When the light subsided, Camellya stood there, but she was no longer the same. Majestic white horns curved backward from her skull, adorned with red ribbons cascading like elegant waterfalls. Her eyes now glowed with pure gold, like twin suns piercing the soul of any who gazed upon them. Grey, awestruck, felt a similar transformation within himself: dark, powerful horns emerged from his own head, marking the manifestation of his Ryujin form. Before him, Camellya stood as the embodiment of Tiamat. Two simultaneous draconic transformations—something the Nurukaidos had never witnessed. Astonishment filled the hall.

Samson, visibly moved, raised his voice to conclude the ceremony.

"Then, I, Samson Lalouch, declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Grey nodded, approaching Camellya with a tenderness that contrasted with the ferocity of their new forms. She met his gaze, her eyes alight with pure love.

"I love you," Camellya said, her voice a balm amid the collective awe.

She leaned toward him, and with a gesture brimming with emotion, kissed him. The room erupted into applause, including Samson, whose smile radiated satisfaction.

After the ceremony, Grey and Camellya were escorted toward an uncertain destination. Camellya clung to Grey's arm with a sweetness that did not go unnoticed. Even the guard leading them observed the pair with a mix of envy and admiration.

"This is it," the guard announced, stopping before a massive stone wall. "This is Miss Aurora's coliseum."

He placed his hand against the wall, which crumbled like sand to reveal a vast arena covered in earth. At its center lay scattered weapons, abandoned, while at the far end, a lone female figure stood atop a heap of injured Nurukaidos, piled like broken dolls.

In a blur, the figure moved toward them with speed that defied Grey's perception. He swallowed hard, startled by how quickly the woman had closed the distance. She was striking, her presence both imposing and fierce. Cascading white hair framed her sharp features, and her red eyes burned with unsettling intensity. Dark, sharp horns jutted from her skull, vibrating faintly as though reflecting her impatient energy. Her crimson lips curled into a smirk as her gaze lingered on Grey with a blend of challenge and intrigue.

"Well, what kind of people have you brought me today, Your Majesty Samson?" Aurora exclaimed, bouncing lightly on her heels like an excited child—a stark contrast to her formidable physique.

The guard, visibly uneasy, bowed before responding.

"The King wishes for you to train and strengthen them," he said solemnly. "He has also requested that you treat them with the utmost respect. These are not individuals to be approached lightly."

"Don't worry, don't worry," Aurora replied with contagious enthusiasm, waving her arms dismissively. Her gaze shifted to Camellya, and an expression of fascination lit up her face.

Grey, still processing the situation, regarded Aurora with caution. To his surprise, Camellya stepped forward and took Aurora's hands warmly. The gesture utterly disarmed the warrior, who ceased her bouncing and gazed at Camellya with a genuine smile, her eyes gleaming with immediate connection.

"Come with me," Aurora said, gently pulling Camellya toward the coliseum.

Grey followed, his mind churning with thoughts of an imminent danger he couldn't fully comprehend.