Forgotten Realms (2)

"Actually milords, I just have found a little beast from my quest in Pandora Forest. Why not, let these young lords try taming it? And if one of them could tame it, only he then could be the champion and I, Anastasia Philip, personally give it to the champion as a reward, how about that milords?"

Moments of silence until a ridiculing laughter was erupted from the crowd. The judges were astounded when the laughter continued; hence they searched for its origin.

"Pardon me for my rudeness, but, rewarding the champion of the Realmitic Competition with a little beast, isn't that hypocrisy Lady of the South?" just as the laughter subsided, an arrogant voice was heard. And part of the crowd made way for a man--rather an elder of one of those tiny sects.

The judges felt disgusting and they were very angry to the point wherein they wanted to strangle the elder to death, not mentioning they don't look to the elder's backing sect.

However, even though hearing the elderly's complaints and audacity to anger her, Anastasia calmly smiled as she put down her cup. The judges, presumably saw the calm facade the lady showed, they just heed a sigh and look at the annoying elder with pity.

For themselves know what it is to be on the position of a prey being targeted by a sweet but merciless predator, just like the lady who sits in the nearby table of them.

"Oho. What is the matter then, Elder Breton? Are you implying that a little beast residing in the Pandora Forest is easy to tame? Or perhaps are you looking down on every beast that forest hiding?" sure enough, the annoying elder cast a murderous glance at Anastasia but she chose to return a small smile and took another sip of her tea.

"Of course not Lady Anastasia. I do not mean to look down on them. It's just that, you are saying that the last stage of the competition is to tame that little beast you are proudly presenting us. Everyone may know some technique in taming a little beast. How can we be so sure that this may determine the winner fair and square? Besides, is that little beast of yours worthy of becoming the reward of this competition?" the elder's words caused a few doubts in the crowd's hearts.

'The elder is somehow right. How can this taming stage determine the champion?' the people kept murmuring to each other on how bias they were on each side....

"...what if I say that little beast is even more precious than yours own life, Elder Breton?" this question of her made the escorts behind her snicker and control their laughter. Meanwhile, this made the elder's face even more uglier.

"Lady Philip! How daring if you to look down on me? For your reference, I am an Elder in the Wind Clan! That kingdom of yours is still standing because we pity your people! But be cause of you looking down on me, then don't blame me for being cruel!"

"..." Anastasia looked at the elder with a cold smile, grazing her reddish lips. She honestly don't know whether she will laugh nor cry.

"**What? Regretting your actions Lady Philip? Why not show your little beast and let us see what he could d---"

"I am sorry but I have to disappoint you Elder Breton. For I am only deciding whether or not should I cry nor laugh because of your jokes. *One more thing, are you and your clan worthy enough to challenge my kingdom***?" with the last question being said, everyone's breath hitched and was shocked to hear the latter's rebuke.

Her dark purple eyes contains evilness, arrogance and unknown bloodlust. Her gaze sent shivers to the spine of everyone who look at her eyes. She is smiling, but one could see the coldness and mischievous traces in it.

Seeing these, Anastasia mumbled a name below her voice that not even the elders could possibly hear what she had said. Afterwards, she continued drinking her tea when she notice a look coming from the young lords who are within the center of the arena. And it came from the infamous good-for-nothing, Duke Xander Constantine!

And it was also because of this young man that she purposely set up one of her precious aces on the line just for the young duke! She simply saw in his potential that he have at least a chance in taming the beast, not because he survived in all stages, but simply because of his determination and willpower!

Silence continued and literally no one spoke as the Lady of the South made her escort pour a tea unto her cup while she felt a familiar presence. She couldn't help but to sneer. 'This man always likes to hide. I wonder if he could continue on spying if the real show was going to start!' she mentally laughed and sat watching and interesting show.

Meanwhile, inside the arena, one can see that there are three person stands still, not falting to remain calm. Ignoring on how the looks and odds the people were giving them, they keep observing how the expressions of each judges change before they intently stare at them. Anastasia couldn't help but to secretly laugh at the three. They don't know what kind of problem she herself, especially made for them.

She was about to drink another cup when a loud roar from the wilderness sent chills to every person. And another roar came and a huge dragon flew in front of the five judges' eyes. The fiery red dragon whose wings were extravagant and in beautiful shade of the dawn sky, that made everyone's line of sight get blurry because of the sudden winds.

And when the red dragon's eyes looked at the people, the bloodlust in it were seen. He assumes he has been summoned by his master maybe because she wants him to please himself with humans as his food!

Just before he make another move a sweet yet cold voice made him shiver in fright.

"Gragolor! Didn't I told you to wait for my orders before attempting to make a move, didn't I?" the young lady whose eyes were earlier cold now hold disappointment and dominance! The crowd can't help but to feel like swallows to a phoenix like her. Even the three competitors! Seeing people ordering and subduing a dragon is a rare scene! Dragons were known for being proud and arrogant, yet she made this dragon follow her?

*But the question that everyone has in their mind is?

What dragon clan this dragon comes from*?

Their thoughts were halted when a man's cheerful voice just came in.

"I heard a divine dragon's howling and immediately went haste to go here only to find out that the Lady of the South is the real master of the Legendary Fire Dragon!" a young emperor walked towards the seat next to the young lady while everyone stared dumbfounded, not because of the appearance of Emperor Chadwell of the Eastern Kingdom, but simply because of what he had just said!

Did he mean that this dragon is a divine beast?! They continued to stare at the young lady of the South's  smiling face. Just now they were praising her because of subduing a dragon, and after hearing the emperor of the Eastern Kingdom's words, in their hearts, they were already lucky to witness this young lady's abilities!

"Brother Chadwell, you flatter me. Am no master of this dragon." the lady's sweet and harmonic voice calmed down the tremors of the crowds imagination. But the emperor chuckled at what she said.

"Hmm? Then are you telling me that you are sure that one of these three can tame your dragon?" Anastasia just smiled and poured tea on her cup. While the judges just nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, they aren't wrong on inviting the Lady of the South. Though the three men, including the young duke, looked at the young lady's smiling face. Anastasia, felt the gaze from the duke, also stared at him, completely ignoring that the person next to her was smiling like a dog while staring at her features.

When an unknown feeling went trough the exchange of gazes, only then Anastasia took the initiative to look away and casually took a sip at her tea, also paid no attention to the man next to her who was also staring at her

"Brother Chadwell, if you look to much maybe my face will be completely be painted in your mind! Don't worry. After this competition, I will ask my subordinates to gift you a painting of a beautiful flower." she said not even look away from her cup of tea.

"Pardon me but may I ask if that flower is you?" the emperor teased her, forgetting that they were not the only two person in the world . In the eyes of the subordinates of her, the emperor, who is their master's long time friend, once again shamelessly flirts or sometimes tease her Ladyship.

The elders whoever took a blind eye about this and just blindly eyeing the dragon before them.

"Of course not. A flower is good enough so that it can possibly wityer just because of your stare, mind as well saving my face from withering." irritatingly, she grabbed the cup from her table and sipped a little for her to calm herself from tearing this man alive.

"Ouch! Little Ana, you broke my heart!" he acted like he was stabbed in his heart snd as well as his fake painful voice. But one could praise this demon for changing his emotion in just a split second.

"However...Lord Gragolor, what do you think about these three? Do you think they can tame you just like what your master had said? And also, I heard a little beast was invited here? " he changed from an acting person to a serious yet cunning person. Still, the dragon plainly looked at the young emperor. He was about to rebuke when he saw his master's calculative gaze. This lady....

But before he answer the challenging tone in the emperor's question, black mist surrounded the dragon, which was slowly getting smaller and descending in to the arena.

"A liitle beast? Where is it? How come I sense none?" the baritone voice of the dragon caused everyone's heart panic risen up! Myths and Legends only foretold that Legendary Dragons can speak and shapeshift into human form.

Red robes flutter as the wind gracefully neaten the man's robes. Young maidens who are the daughters of the highest officials of the four kingdoms were impressed and were clearly infatuated with the man's handsome face! But the fact that this man was a dragon made them disappointed. All their attention was on the red robed man and didn't notice the mischievous smile growing in that man's young master. But seeing the emperor slightly glanced at her, she can't help but to cover her mouth and gently laughed.

"How come you don't know who you are, little beast? Or should I say, Lord Gragolor of the Fire Dragon Clan?"

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