Demonic Dragon: Harem System

The Regent hesitated for a moment at Yennifer's question, as if weighing how much he should reveal. But, noticing the attentive eyes of everyone there, he simply shook his head in resignation.

"That is the question that haunts us too, Miss Yennifer. Why?"

The conversation did not go on much longer. A few minutes later, the magical dome was broken and the air once again vibrated with the faint sounds of the enchanted night in the Solar Hall. The Regent took his leave with a courteous but discreet nod and returned to his modest throne. His gaze, however, remained lost—as if he were already in another war.

Cristine and Yennifer rose in silence. Strax shrugged his shoulders with slight discomfort and turned toward the exit. The light from the enchanted columns cast golden reflections on the polished floor as the trio left the Solar Hall.

It was only when they crossed the main gates again, with the soldiers still standing motionless like statues, that Strax spoke.

"He's lying."

The words came out low, almost like a statement to himself, but clear enough for the two to hear.

Cristine glanced at him sideways. "The Regent?"

Strax didn't stop walking. The sky over Eldoria seemed heavier now, even with its stars visible. "Not everything. But he's hiding something. Maybe he doesn't know the whole truth... or maybe he knows more than he's willing to admit."

Yennifer frowned. "Lied about what? About the demons? About Lilith?"

Strax shook his head slightly. "About the purpose of the attack. He wants us to believe it was a random test, an experiment... but it wasn't. The precision with which the points were attacked, the absence of looting, and especially the way he already had records prepared..."

Cristine finished for him. "He was expecting something like this to happen."

"Exactly," said Strax. "Maybe he didn't know when or how. But he knew it was coming. And he decided not to warn anyone."

They stopped at the top of the staircase that descended the north hill. The city of Eldoria stretched below, its lights flickering in recovery, like wounds that still burned but refused to go out. The marks of the attack were everywhere—faint smoke in the distance, hastily rebuilt watchtowers, priests gathered in squares to maintain protective fields.

"If he knew... why didn't he do anything?" Yennifer murmured.

Strax looked at the horizon, his voice low and sharp. "Because he's afraid. And when leaders are afraid... they choose what to hide, not what to protect."

Cristine swallowed hard. "So... what do we do now?"

Strax narrowed his eyes. "We sleep. Tomorrow, we start looking for those who really know what's going on. The Regent has lost the right to be our only source."

Yennifer nodded. "And where do we start?"

Strax looked south, where the mist from the Nareth Mountains rose like a silver wall in the distance.

"We'll see the mages in the tower who are still alive. They shouldn't lie about this, especially since they're the ones most affected."

The night breeze grew colder as they descended the cobblestone streets of Eldoria, guided only by the mana lanterns hanging from bronze lampposts. The city breathed in whispers, still reeling from the attack, but surviving.

Strax walked ahead, the weight of responsibility overwhelming the physical pain that stubbornly burned beneath his skin. With each step, memories of the city—its alleys, its ancient architecture—mingled with more personal memories, like old scars never forgotten.

"It's right there," Cristine murmured, almost in a tone of remembrance, as if talking to herself.

Strax looked over his shoulder. "Do you remember?"

"Of course I remember," she replied, without looking at him. "How could I forget? Our first 'intimate encounter' was there."

He let out a brief, hoarse laugh. "Well, it was your fault."

"Of course," Cristine smiled slightly and finally looked at him. "You silly boy," she said, blushing as she remembered what had happened.

Strax just smiled back—discreetly, but genuinely.

The small gray stone inn was intact. It was one of the only buildings in that part of town that seemed untouched by the flames or demons. There was a faint glow around it — ancient magical protection, probably made by some local sorcerer who no longer remembered its effectiveness.

The wooden sign above the door read: The Moon Crossing.

They entered.

The interior was cozy. Enchanted fireplaces kept the room warm, and the few tables in the common room were occupied by silent travelers, exhausted soldiers, and the occasional priest sleeping on his feet. The smell of burning wood and sweet wine permeated the air.

Strax approached the counter, where a middle-aged attendant—disheveled hair and a faint smell of nutmeg—greeted them with a hurried nod.

"Two rooms, please," Strax said bluntly.

The man consulted a floating grimoire and shook his head with an embarrassed grimace. "Ah... sir, I'm afraid we only have one room left tonight. A nobleman from the east reserved the last available one less than an hour ago. Only 4A is left—with a large bed, of course, but it's all we have."

Cristine crossed her arms. "It's always 4A..."

Strax raised an eyebrow, amused. "You still remember the number?"

"You kept repeating, 'If you need to escape, remember 4A. Always close to the stairs.'"

Yennifer, behind them, sighed with an exhausted look. "Do you want me to sleep in the stable? Or are you two going to stand there pretending this is inconvenient?"

"Of course not," said Strax. "You get the bed."

"Oh, no way," Yennifer replied, raising her hands. "I'll sleep on the floor. I'm too old and too tired to sleep between a couple with unresolved tension."

Cristine blushed slightly but looked away. "The bed is big, isn't it?"

The attendant confirmed with a forced smile. "Plenty of room, ma'am. You could even practice fencing, if you wanted to."

Strax laughed softly. "No fencing tonight."

"Too bad," Cristine murmured.

They received the key with a magical seal engraved in bronze. The room was upstairs, just like last time. The silence between them as they climbed the stairs was dense but comfortable—like the silence between two people who know they've said everything they needed to say and are just waiting for the right moment to continue.

As they entered the room, Strax looked around. Nothing had changed: the oval window, the blue tapestry with the crescent moon symbol, the carved wooden bed with the same light linen sheets. Everything seemed frozen in time.

Cristine lightly touched the back of the chair next to the fireplace, as if touching a memory.

Strax left his cloak on the chest at the foot of the bed, and when he looked at her, his eyes were softer, more human.

"Funny... so much has changed since that night. And yet, in here, it feels like time has stood still."

Cristine smiled but said nothing. She sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze distant.

Strax approached and placed his hand gently on her shoulder.

"Rest," he said. "I'll stand guard. You two can sleep together."

Yennifer looked at him and sighed, removing her cloak and returning to her appearance as the "New Yennifer"... red skin, golden eyes, black hair, and horns.

"Be careful," Cristine said, seeing that Strax had already sat down by the window.