Chapter 276 A dream away from reality

Chapter 276  A dream away from reality

-- POV General --

"Sh…ro….i…"

As the little Princess slowly opened her eyes in the middle of the dark room, all that reached her ears were distant voices. What had happened ? The furniture had disappeared, or rather been reduced to nothingness when her powerful mana had nearly blown the whole thing apart. Shiro had lost control, alarming and worrying her family, who could do nothing but watch and hope she would calm down on her own.

One hour had passed since then, and while the room was silent, the little girl finally began to move, provoking a reaction from those around her. The phenomenon she had caused was unknown, as she lost control it was as if space twisted, making anything within a 5-meter radius disappear, while a powerful aura exploded, shaking almost the entire Underground Kingdom.

"Shiro !"

"Are you all right ? Shiro ?"

The white-haired Princess struggled to open her eyes but could feel the warmth of an embrace and hear those who were worried. Gaya tenderly stroked her head resting on her lap while Kira, Kalaa and Freya crouched beside her...her family was there. She was back, and after several minutes of silence, the little girl finally opened her mouth to let out a few words in a whisper.

"I had a dream..."

Shiro still felt a little lost between reality and her recent deep sleep that had seemed to last so long, but she hadn't forgotten. She hadn't forgotten and everything was jostling in her head, what had really happened ? Had she succeeded, was she back, or had she imagined it all ? Everything was confused, and yet the Princess found the strength to turn her little head towards the dragoness before asking a question from the tip of her lips.

"Am I dreaming again ?"

"No sweetheart, you're back~"

"S-So...I-...I did it ?"

A small, faint smile spread across her exhausted face as her cheeks turned pink demonstrating her palpable excitement. At that moment, her heart was racing, for that was all Shiro wanted to know: no matter what had happened, only the answer to her question mattered. Trembling, she waited impatiently, staring at Kalaa, who returned her smile before uttering the words she had always wanted to hear.

"Yes little one...you did it"

Like a breath of fresh air, these simple words were enough to soothe the little Princess's beating heart instantly. There were still many mysteries surrounding her powers and what had happened, but she was fine and that was what mattered for now. The Empress, the Queen, Kira and Kalaa said nothing, watching with a smile as she straightened up and gently rubbed her tired little eyes with her right hand.

"I-In my dream there was a boy who was a bit rough at first but kind afterwards who helped me, I didn't do it on my own. I-..."

"Of course you did Shiro, you can be proud of yourself...really. We all are~"

"I-...it's just...I-...I don't feel like I've done much..."

Now that she was surrounded by her family and back with them, Shiro though proud and happy, couldn't help but keep thinking about what she'd been through. Was it really a dream ? It had to be, because she'd been physically in the room, hadn't she ? It was confusing, and even though she'd felt her mana bending to her mind as it had during her nightmare, everything had seemed so real, so...intense that she didn't understand.

"My little moon, what happened in that dream ?"

Freya, who hadn't spoken until now, had detected at a glance her daughter's confusion shining in her big violet eyes. The she-wolf had not been able to approach the wave of aura that had engulfed the room, forced to wait for it to calm down without really understanding or seeing what was happening. She had felt her daughter's presence, but for a brief moment it was as if she had disappeared before reappearing, and Freya wanted to know why.

"Take your time, Princess~"

It had only lasted a few seconds or even less, but she was sure of it, something had happened. Perhaps she was mistaken, but the Empress wasn't the type to doubt until she had the answers to her questions, and she knew it well, her daughter and her powers were a real mystery. Waiting patiently, she crouched beside Shiro before stroking her head gently with a small smile at the corner of her lips.

"I did everything Auntie told me and...and when I managed to get a good feel for my m-mana I felt like I was falling asleep. I-I couldn't control anything and when I opened my eyes I was in a different place...like...a dream."

"A dream ?"

"Y-Yes. There was a big greenhouse and...and a not so very nice boy who said mean things and that I was going to self-destruct because of my i-instable mana. I didn't know how to stop it and it was very scary, I-...I didn't know what to do..."

As she recounted what had happened, the Princess's body began to tremble, remembering the physical pressure it had been under. It was like feeling her whole being being torn apart little by little as the mana escaped unable to be properly contained. Shiro had only been at the first stage, sparing her the pain, but who knows what would have happened without the intervention of the mysterious Demigod.

"I concentrated very, very hard to get there and managed to feel what Auntie Kalaa had been talking about, but..."

"But ?"

"But I-...it was hard and I was really really tired, after a while I felt like I was going to fall asleep again but I w-wanted succeed and make you proud, I promise you Mommy but it was...s-s-so soooo hard..."

The little girl had begun to cry softly, realizing even more the gulf that separated her from the family she admired so much. Of course, she had managed to tame her mana and could continue to learn more as she grew stronger, but it wasn't enough. Feeling and being aware of one's own weaknesses was a wall that every warrior had to overcome, and Shiro at this moment was facing it.

"Look at me...look at us~"

Tenderly wiping her daughter's cheeks, the Empress couldn't help but smile understanding what she was going through.

"Learning and mastering anything takes time, no one is an exception, we're all subject to the same rules. Everyone at their own pace, step by step, no matter the mistakes, the important thing is not to give up and we're already so proud of you~"

"I-...b-but you, you..."

"Back then your mother took hundreds of years to master one of her elements and find every flaw in it. It took her so long that she nearly destroyed all her apartments in a rage haha~ so yes, even the best need time fufu~"

Kalaa had uttered these unexpected words while laughing and wiping a tear from the corner of her eyes as the she-wolf squinted. She had no recollection of this episode in her life, nor did she wish to remember it, especially when she saw Kira laughing and trying to keep a low profile, to no avail. Gaya had turned her head so as not to add to the laughter, but no one was fooled by the mocking smile that was slowly forming on her lips.

As for Shiro, her mouth dropped open in surprise, totally shocked by the idea that Freya could take so long to achieve something. This simple facial expression was enough to make the Empress realize that her daughter was perhaps idealizing her a little too much, pushing her expectations higher than she should. At 6 years old, every step she took was already a great success, no matter if it was only the beginning.

"AHEM ! A-Anyway ! What your aunt means is that you're not born strong...you become strong through hard work, determination and training. You'll definitely get there too, I'm sure of it...keep believing and never betray yourself~"

"I-I'll do my best~"

"Then it's all right~"

Smiling with all her teeth, the little Princess feeling a little better straightened up a little before feeling a hand caress her hair. Despite her feeling of failure she knew this was only the beginning and wanted more than anything to keep that courage that had thrilled her even when she was alone. Despite the enormous fatigue she felt, Shiro kept in mind everything she had lived, felt and learned from this experience.

Grabbing her daughter to carry her in her arms, the Queen, still a little worried but proud, signaled to her wife that she would look after her. It was time for them to take stock of what had happened, but only once Shiro had gone to bed to rest before dinner. However, as the dragoness headed for the exit door, it suddenly opened, revealing a young girl.

"Your Highness !"

Long, icy hair like her skin, dressed in a seemingly oversized white gown, Valérie, fervent servant of the Nightshades, had appeared. Nourished by Freya's mana, which enabled her to remain conscious while retaining her ice nature and maidenly form, she set about welding and training the Vampires and Dragons for the next battle, not forgetting of course to extol the Empress's strength.

Still busy in the northern Underground Kingdom in the company of Magnus and Jade, something had prompted her to make an urgent trip to the Imperial family quarters. Staring in turn at Kalaa, Shiro, Gaya, Kira and Freya, wondering what could have happened here, she promptly announced the news, which for her was unexpected, suddenly changing the evening's plans.

"The...the mirror dragon has awakened."

The mysterious and rare mirror dragon imprisoned in the stone at the same time as Valérie had apparently just awakened, arousing curiosity. Why now ? And how ? This information was proving crucial and as the Nightshade family split up to attend to what they had to do, no one had seen the little divine moonstone shining in Shiro's pocket, who had already fallen into the arms of Morpheus.

_____

< At the same time in the Kingdom of Zal >

"Ruin has come to your world, death, despair and red war...Your hopes and pride have come to nothing and your empty whispers fall upon deaf ears. Your gods are dead, human reason has killed them and the Angel of Death has come. Humans, nothing can save you now...you think you're hunting us ? We're coming for you"

No human present in the room that day had forgotten those words, uttered by that menacing, sinister voice from the mysterious magic box. No one had forgotten the King's head rolling on the floor, his face frozen in the ice in an expression of horror, or even the messenger dying before their very eyes. For the first time, the humans lurking in their churches and castles trembled with fear, praying for a turnaround.

According to the Princes, Alayna's two brothers, only a few weeks remained before the monsters who had murdered their father would show up in the Capital. The Vancesia Empire had already been called in as reinforcements, so all that remained was to prepare the remaining army of knights and join forces with the Church. Hiding all this from the population, only a handful of people knew about it to avoid spreading the panic that was taking shape.

In a room beneath the main hall of the Capital's main Church, accessible only from secret underground passages, the Supreme stood there. It was dark, and only the lights of an unknown machine illuminated the place, filling it with a steady sound. The installation was made of wood, steel and glass and resembled an enormous pump now in motion, circulating a thick liquid through its body.

"Soon..."

The leader was standing in front of it and couldn't help but stare at their forearm where a huge syringe was planted there, connecting them to the machine. An almost gooey, red-tinged skin raised by huge purple veins peeked out for the first time from the lonely Supreme's black toga. They then stared at the enormous machine made of a very large glass vat vigorously pumping that recognizable red liquid into their veins...blood.

"Just a little longer and I'll have the strength to face the harbinger of chaos that is about to descend upon us. As the prophecy demands, soon a dome of blood will imprison all these cursed creatures...soon hahahaHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!"

The plan was set in motion, the forces in place, everyone preparing for their own convictions for better or worse. Time was not going to stand still for those who doubted and feared, time had no side and sped along losing some in its race. No one could know what the future would be made of...or maybe only...the little girl sleeping miles away with a moonstone in her pocket.

___

FULL STATUS

Names : Freya / Lucifer Nightshade

Age : 0 year old / Mentally : 25 years old

Sex : Female

Course: Ice Demon Wolf of Chaos - Adult

Race : Imperial Demon

Titles :

- Demon Goddess of Primordial Blood and Death (former - until all powers are recovered) - 35%.

- Wrathful Lucifer (7th Sin) - Master of the uniques Sins Demons (to unlock it, please gather the other 6 - 3/6 - (locked)

- Dragon tamer

- Ruthless slayer

Level : 47/70

Exp needed for next level: 7 000 / 48 000

HP : 170 000 / 170 000 MP : 85 000 / 85 000. BLOOD : 100 / 100

Strength: 660

Defense : 660

Agility : 666

Endurance: 663

Speed : 662

Intelligence: 660

Charisma: 500 (imperial she-wolf)

Attribute points to allocate : 1 600

Married to : Gaya Nightshade

Daughter : Shiro Nightshade

Twins (son & daughter) : Tyle & Altaïs Nightshade

Little sister : Kira Nightshade (Greedy Fox)

Big sister : Kalaa Nightshade

- Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 6)

Empire (menu)

Subordinates: 10 801(keep growing)

Humans killed: 153

Souls: 0/3

Elements: Ice / Chaos (Freya) - Blood / Death (Lucifer)

Skills (all):

Attacks :

- Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 6)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)

- Fighting techniques (Lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic Empress aura (lvl 7)

Défense :

- Ice demon wall (Lvl 6)

- Demonic Cloak (lvl 5)

- Pain Resistance (lvl 6)

Attack/Defense :

- Domain of the Ice Empress "Frozen Wrath" (lvl 4)

- Death Gaze (lvl 1)

Others :

- Humanoid form

- Demonic form (linked to the title so incomplete) - 20%.

- Ice creation (Lvl 6)

- Detection and control of mana (lvl 6)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 4)

- Devouring Chaos (Lvl 5)

- Master of Souls (lvl 3)

- Lucifer's Threads of Blood (lvl 3)

- Healing Blood (lvl 3)

- Reminiscence (lvl 2)

- Analysis

- Telepathy

Passives :

- Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]