A refreshing gust of wind rustled the female's skirts and rompers.
The sun was pleasant, and the skies were a gentle shade of sky blue.
It was a nice day to ride on the back of a colossal mythical creature known as a Gryphon.
One person, in particular, didn't feel that way.
Chief Defense Salkey.
He stared at the two young adults in front of him awkwardly.
The look on his face didn't showcase fear or trepidation.
Instead, he desired to express many emotions that he couldn't.
Resentment, regret, humiliation, annoyance, remorse—his face showcased a plethora of emotions.
However, there was one emotion that held all others back.
Shame.
"Gentlemen." Helix announced after a minute of awkward silence.
Masov and Salkey snapped to attention.
"As you've gathered, we came here with the secondary intention of mocking you mercilessly." Helix chuckled.
The two men gave him wry smiles.
"However, it was necessary."
Masov and Salkey looked at Helix with quizzical expressions.
Helix gave them a slight smile.
"If we didn't, we would feel bitter and resentful, making it impossible to build relationships or move forward as allies."
A wave of understanding washed over the two.
"We've achieved our petty revenge." Helix announced loudly.
Marie, Charlotte, and Riley burst into giggles, and the men gave them wry smiles.
Then Helix made eye contact again.
"Now we're not resentful and can discuss as adults and equals with mutual respect." He said with a slight smile.
"Do you understand?"
General Masov panned the faces of the women, especially Charlotte, who radiated true bloodlust less than two hours ago.
She was not friendly, but she had [respectful] disdain in her eyes.
He understood with her face alone that Helix's farce had auxiliary motives.
"I understand. We apologize for your shameful treatment in Alzeria." Masov said with a humbled voice.
"I hope you'll forgive us given the timing and the extraordinary circumstances."
Helix nodded in a respectful position.
"I'd also like to apologize for my behavior as well." Masov continued in a humbled voice.
"While I've never tried treating you poorly, I did not take you seriously or with the respect that you deserve."
General Masov stood up and bowed slightly before sitting back down.
Chief Salkey's eyes widened in shock.
Masov gave him a mocking smile.
"I'm not bowing to him as a country's leader." He growled.
"I'm bowing to a potential ally that I treated like a child instead of a man."
Helix and his partners nodded in respect.
Chief Salkey looked at the group with a complicated expression.
Then he took a deep breath.
"I'm not a big enough man to do what General Masov is doing to the same extent, but…." Salkey began.
Charlotte's face began contorting.
"I give respect where it's due." Salkey sighed.
He looked at Helix with his light brown eyes.
"I was wrong to underestimate you, Sir Helix." Salkey continued.
"I'm pretty fair in that I treat everyone aside from those above me in the same way.
If you prove that you're as honest as you are strong, I will give you the same level of personal respect as General Masov."
Charlotte tried to interject, but Helix motioned respectfully, and she calmed down.
"Chief Salkey is saying he will respect us professionally," Helix said to her.
Helix turned back to Salkey.
"He's telling us that he'll respect us as honorable people once we prove we're honorable. Is that right?"
Salkey nodded with a serious expression.
"That's perfect." Helix said with a slight smile.
"Let's begin, then. First, please let me answer all of your concerns as before."
Masov and Salkey looked at each other hesitantly.
"It's okay, General Masov, Chief Defense Salkey." Marie said gently.
"There's a big difference between addressing major concerns and tying them to confinement and treason. Do you understand?"
Salkey's expression crumbled, and he gave her a wry smile.
"Understood." He replied.
"Then, Sir Helix, Dame Marie, please tell us why you're so certain of an impending attack." Masov requested.
Helix nodded with a serious expression.
"As you know, Master Tyrene did not receive definitive proof of a monster attack upon the Alzerian Capital."
The two men looked at one another with conflicted expressions.
"The information she received indicated that the Mad Queen was becoming active for a power play." Helix continued with a grave expression.
"Ancient monsters were popping up out of the blue after centuries of being believed dead.
It wasn't coincidental that there were multiple popping up simultaneously.
Therefore, we intended to come back ahead of our training schedule to continue closer to home."
The men confirmed their knowledge of the situation.
"A week before we were planning to head back, the Kozen Royal Army spotted a Colossus in the southern region, and we left a week ahead of schedule." Helix continued.
"Gentlemen, the Colossus came from hibernation underground with an ancient level."
Helix's face turned grave, and the men noticed.
"In the last century, the highest level Colossus was Level 10; Master Tyrene fought it.
This Colossus was level 387.
You know Master Tyrene's power.
Now that you've seen our power, can you understand the caliber of the enemy we fought?"
Masov and Salkey's eyes widened in shock.
"Yes. We learned firsthand what the sighting of ancient monsters meant for humanity.
You can witness one in the arena at any time."
The men trembled in terror.
"Alzeria is the largest power on the continent." Helix continued with a serious expression.
"If the Mad Queen is looking for a fight, she'll be coming here.
Maybe not first, but she's not going to play power games with small countries."
"I see…." Masov commented with a frown.
"So you're here without knowledge of anything concrete.
That makes things difficult." Masov grimaced.
Helix nodded with a frown on his face.
"Forgive me for being so forward, Sir Helix." Salkey said with hesitation in his eyes.
"Please speak freely." Helix nodded.
"You summoned Kozen's army here with the urgency of an attack you warned could hit [today]." Salkey said with a bitter voice.
"Now we're being told that it is in the unforeseeable future.
You do understand the skepticism that follows that. Right?"
Charlotte's eyes narrowed, but Helix called her down from the other side of the box.
He looked into Chief Salkey's eyes.
"I'm aware." Helix said with a nod.
"There is information that Master Tyrene wanted to share with the core cabinet alone."
Masov and Salkey gave him quizzical expressions.
Helix touched his neck and pulled out a piece of parchment.
Then he handed it to two men.
They read the note on it carefully, and then their eyes trembled when they read the final line.
"This…." Salkey whispered in disbelief.
Masov looked at Helix with a perplexed expression.
"Is that legitimate?" He asked in a stunned state.
"I don't know." Helix replied with a serious expression.
Everyone looked at Helix with strange expressions.
Even his partners were looking at him with curiosity, which the two men noted.
"I don't know much about this woman or your history with her." Helix continued.
"Master Tyrene gave this to me in her will and told me not to share it unless it was with the upper cabinet, if at all."
The two men shook.
"That was a wise choice, Sir Helix." Masov said with a serious expression.
"The gravity of this note is quite serious, and if it weren't for your background and close relationship to General Tyrene, it would do more harm to you than good to show us this."
Helix nodded with a serious expression.
"I was warned of that and understand enough about her to understand the gravity for myself." He said calmly.
"However, it's the only thing I have to help Alzeria take an impending strike seriously and support us."
The two men grimaced when they considered the note.
"I understand the irony. However, you are justified in fearing aiding the Earthians grow, especially after what you've just seen." Helix asserted.
Masov gave Helix a wry smile, and Salkey followed close behind.
"However, that will only become more extreme as time goes on." Helix sighed.
"So holding back critical information will not help us from the distrust or potential malice of this kingdom if attacks don't begin occurring within the next few days."
Masov and Salkey developed bitter expressions with dead eyes.
"Sir Helix. Please give us time to review this information with the Queen." Masov said with a calm tone.
"We'll send Knights to be your symbolic bodyguards from the Kingdom.
The three of us will meet the day after the celebration of Tyrene's life."
Helix nodded in agreement.
"Can I please request your help with the celebration?" He asked hesitantly.
"Of course. We planned to make it a state sponsored event if we judged your claim to be true."
Helix bowed his head respectfully.
Marie's eyes glittered in happiness, and the others followed.
"Thank you. For now, can we agree to a pact of mutual respect between us?" Helix asked while reaching out a hand to Masov.
"Yes, I find that acceptable." Masov replied while shaking his hand.
Helix turned to Salkey and extended his hand.
Salkey didn't hesitate and shook his hand.
"I'm not agreeing to trust you until we have made an agreement amongst the cabinet with her Majesty." He said with a sharp look in his eyes.
"However, I'll agree to respect you from now on."
Helix nodded in mutual respect, and then the group sat in silence for the rest of the trip.
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