Elyra pulled Valea along as they giggled their way to the changing area. Mirania followed last, holding her outfit protectively to her chest.
As the curtain fell closed, Sophia remained outside, a satisfied look on her face.
The other maids guided the Medusas toward private dressing booths at the back of the room. As they vanished behind velvet curtains, the mood in the room shifted—hesitance began to melt into something else: excitement, curiosity, the crackle of awakening.
Sophia stood still and smiled.
Her plan was working.
And soon, each of these royal serpents would slither sweetly into the palm of the Dragon Lord's hand.
After guiding the Medusas and royal sisters to the changing area, Sophia quietly stepped into one of the fitting rooms herself. The black silk curtains fell behind her as she undressed with calm efficiency, folding her clothes with methodical grace, as expected of the Head Maid of Castle Black.
In moments, she slipped into the iconic uniform—her uniform—the one that declared not just her role, but her devotion.
Sophia emerged from the changing room wearing the same maid uniform she always wore when serving directly before the Black Dragon King. Her high-heeled steps echoed softly on the obsidian stone as she walked to the main corridor. The dressing area still buzzed with the sounds of laughter and soft conversation, the sisters still in the process of dressing, assisted by dragon maids and other Medusas.
Pausing before a black mirror panel, Sophia took a moment to check herself. Her white-gloved hands reached up to touch the black velvet bow perched atop her silvery-blonde hair. She adjusted it slightly, then slid her fingers downward to brush the edge of her white collar.
At the center of the maid collar was a gleaming silver insignia—a perfect circle engraved with the name: Black King. The delicate script shimmered with a magic glow, branding her as His. She smiled faintly.
Her black bra clung tightly to her large, proud chest, pushing her cleavage forward like a gift. Her smooth white skin spilled above it in rich curves. Her toned, flat stomach was bare beneath, a sight for no eyes but her lord's—yet she always made sure it was perfect.
The apron at her waist framed her short skirt, and below it, the transparent black silk swayed lightly with every breath she took. Her white underwear, clearly visible through the veil-like fabric, clung to her plump backside, shaped perfectly from her years of training, combat, and posture.
She examined the rest of her look. Her long legs, shaped like they belonged to a goddess of war and beauty, were sheathed in thigh-high black silk. The fine material shimmered in the ambient lighting of Castle Black's inner sanctum. She wore black high heels that clicked authoritatively against the stone floor, making her stand taller and giving her already flawless figure an extra edge.
The door to the other side of the room opened, and at last, the six royal sisters stepped out, one by one, dressed in their newly gifted maid uniforms. Each of them wore a variation of Sophia's seductive attire—with one key difference. Instead of standard thigh-highs, each sister wore long socks chosen to match her unique personality and style.
Sophia turned to them with a warm, confident smile, placing a gloved hand lightly to her cheek.
"Look at you all six," she said softly. "You look beautiful. I'm sure my lord will love you tonight."
Thena, the proud and composed eldest, blushed as she stepped forward in her maid attire. The tight bodice and the short hem left her self-conscious in a way she never felt during war councils. Her usual regal bearing softened with unease. "I never thought I'd wear something like this to serve someone…"
Sophia chuckled. "It suits you far better than royal armor."
Saphyne, meanwhile, twirled in place with curious delight, watching the black skirt flare around her thighs. Her golden eyes sparkled. "When do we meet the Black King? I want to see him with my own eyes."
The sisters glanced at one another, and giggles began to rise. Saphyne, the flirt, ran her finger slowly along the hem of Thena's apron. "Not bad, big sister. You've got the curves to pull it off."
"Stop touching me," Thena said stiffly, stepping away, but her red ears betrayed her embarrassment.
Elyra spun in front of a mirror with a childlike giggle. Her pale silver hair danced as she observed the sway of her hips in the reflection. "It's fun. We should all wear these once a week. We can even clean! I want to clean the ceiling with my tail."
Kaelith, calm and studious, adjusted her collar. "Focus. We must remember why we're here. Our clothing is symbolic. We're not just dressing for seduction, we're pledging loyalty."
"Exactly," Sophia said, pleased. "You understand."
As for Mirania, the quietest, she said nothing—just slowly reached up and brushed a hand across the silver sigil on her own collar. Her cheeks were softly flushed, but she didn't try to hide it.
Saphyne spun in place, eyes alight with thrill. "When do we meet him? I want to feel his power close."
Elyra ran a hand along Valea's apron, smirking. "I can't wait to see his reaction to us." Valea blinked, cheeks coloring; for her, shy by nature, the outfit was both exciting and terrifying.
Mirania giggled, watching her reflection sway. "These skirts are fun! I want to dance in them."
Kaelith, ever calm and thoughtful, straightened her apron. "Let us not forget why we're here. These clothes are symbolic. We gave up our freedom to preserve our clan."
Valea nodded, soft-spoken but resolute. She adjusted her collar, biting her lip. "Yes. We serve through this ritual—not just to impress but to atone and to thrive anew."
"Excellent." The sisters lined up behind Sophia, who clapped her hands gently. "Okay, girls. Let's not keep our lord waiting."
Her attention shifted to the rest of the chamber. Across the room, 299 Medusas stood in orderly rows, each wearing freshly adjusted maid uniforms. Their postures were regal and their expressions varied—some curious, others excited, a few visibly nervous.
Sophia's golden gaze fell on a particular maid with black wolf ears and a matching tail—Fena, one of the Aegean half-beasts and a senior Dragon Maid.
"Fena," Sophia said, "escort the new Medusa sisters to the Room of Ascendance. Once there, teach them what it means to serve the Black King. Teach them about their new duties, their path forward... and most importantly, tell them who they now belong to—in soul, mind, and body."
Fena stepped forward gracefully, her black silk uniform gleaming like ink. She bowed.
"Yes, Sister Sophie. I will teach them properly."
The stallion-stable tension hummed with unspoken rivalry. Sophia nearly glared at the whispering maid-captains. Tonight's ritual showcased her authority—and it thrilled her to hold the center of attention. She'd fought her way here from obscurity; now every jealous glance at her from second- or third-generation Dragon Maids only sank her deeper into pride and purpose.
Fena's presence radiated quiet authority. As one of the first generation of Dragon Maids, her strength and knowledge rivaled Sophia's. Some whispered that had it not been for Sophia's encounter with the Black King himself—the moment she dared step forward while others trembled—Fena or some else would be the Head Maid today.
But that single act of bravery changed Sophia's fate. She had stood alone before a being of legend, and he had looked at her and said only, "You're brave... and talent." From that moment, she had been chosen.
Fena's amber eyes scanned the Medusas. "You now wear the collar of Castle Black. This is not merely cloth and metal. It is a mark of belonging. You are no longer individuals drifting through fate. You belong to Him. Mind, body, and soul."
She paced slowly.
"Your mind will no longer wander with doubt or fear. You will think only of service, of discipline, of love and purpose. Your body—" she paused and held up one of their hands, gently—"is now trained to act for his will. Every movement you make should please him. Every breath you take is a tribute to his mercy."
"And your soul," she said quietly, her eyes glowing faintly, "will never be lost again and I mean literally. You are safe. You are guided. You are his."
The Medusas listened in silence, their expressions shifting slowly from confusion to understanding to awe.
Like Sophia, Fena had once been nothing. A stray half-beast orphan born in the lower districts of the fractured coastal cities, she had clawed her way into the world's notice with nothing but her bare hands, fierce pride, and hatred of being powerless.
She, too, had stood before the Black King—though months after Sophia—and had bowed with tears in her eyes, offering her blade and her loyalty. Her training had been brutal, her responsibilities endless. But she endured, because she had nowhere else to return to. Because like Sophia, she had found a place where she belonged.
And yet... the jealousy never faded. Because Sophia was never punished. Not once. Because even after all her efforts, Fena had never seen the Dragon King smile the way he had smiled at Sophia.
She pushed the thought aside, bowed again to her superior, and turned to lead the Medusas to their fate.
As the group passed through the western atrium, dozens of castle guards lined the halls—men dressed in black plate armor bearing the sigil of the Void King. Every one of them dropped their eyes the moment the Dragon Maids entered.
Not a single gaze dared to rise.
To look a Dragon Maid in the eye was not only an insult, it was a risk. A reminder that these maids were not mere servants. They were hand-picked, battle-trained, ascendant beings who represented the will of the Black Dragon himself.
Whispers often passed among soldiers: "They say the maids choose who lives and dies in the inner court."
"I heard one snapped a man's neck for bumping into her."
"They're more terrifying than the Shadow Guard."
But it wasn't just fear that bent necks—it was reverence. These women were perfection.
Fena led the royal sisters forward, Fena and the dragon maids flanking them. Guards in dark plating lined the corridor. As soon as the white wings of the maid procession glided past, every guard bowed, eyes dropping respectfully. The discipline was automatic—a sign of their fear and reverence for Dragon Maids, unique beings who carried both seductive beauty and lethal skill.
—
The group moved down the hall, each step echoing through Castle Black like a ritual. The six sisters walked behind Sophia in a single line, their expressions solemn. They passed beneath arches carved from obsidian, the walls lined with flickering violet flames that danced in eternal sconces. The air here was thick with purpose.
Sophia led them through a side corridor that curved downward, eventually opening to a tall set of black double doors. Intricate carvings of dragon wings and interwoven vines across the surface, with a plaque overhead that read in draconic script: Room of Ascendance.
She turned to face them. "Beyond this door is where your pledge becomes absolute. It is sacred ground. From this moment on, your past lives are over."
The six sisters looked between one another, tension building. Alessa bit her lip, while Thena squared her shoulders.
Sophia placed a hand over her chest. "I once stood in front of him trembling. I had no idea what it meant to belong. I only knew I didn't want to be lost anymore. When I met our King, I offered everything. And I was remade."
She motioned for them to follow.
The heavy doors opened with a soft hum, revealing a grand circular chamber beneath a crystalline dome. Starlight poured in unnaturally from above, casting the room in pale luminescence. The floor was made of runed black stone, etched with the symbol of the Black King at the center. At the far end stood an altar flanked by twin dragon statues—one coiled in stillness, the other mid-flight one gray, the other black.
Fena was already inside with the Medusas, positioned along the edges of the circle in reverent silence. She looked up as Sophia entered.
"You've brought them, Sister," Fena said, bowing slightly.
Sophia nodded, then addressed the sisters.
"This is where it happens. Where you let go of being royal, of being warriors, of being anything other than his. Your soul must be bared here—not to us, but to yourself."
Kaelith fidgeted. "What do we do?"
Sophia smiled gently. "You kneel. You listen. And you accept."
She led them to the central circle and knelt first, hands on her thighs, head bowed low.
The sisters hesitated—then slowly followed, settling on the cold stone with varying levels of grace. Even Thena knelt.
Sophia began to speak—not in commands, but in quiet truths.
"You are no longer wandering stars. You revolve around a greater sun now. Your lives are not yours alone. Every breath you draw, every joy you feel, is a reflection of the mercy and will of the one you serve."
She looked up slightly, eyes glowing gold.
"The Dragon King does not demand your love. He simply accepts it. He does not demand your beauty. He recognizes it. And in return... He gives you purpose."
Valea whispered, barely audible, "What purpose?"
Fena answered from behind. "To be more than what you were born to be."
She walked forward, circling the kneeling sisters.
"You were princesses of a broken people. Now, you are blades of will, silks of devotion. Your souls will be guarded. Your minds will be focused. And your bodies..." she paused, brushing her fingers lightly under Alessa's chin to raise it, "...will become instruments of divine service."
Mirania shivered, but did not flinch.
Sophia resumed. "Every Dragon Maid is taught the six pillars: Obedience. Grace. Strength. Devotion. Loyalty. Love."
Fena added, "The moment you walk out of this chamber, you will be bound by these tenets. If you stray, you will feel it in your bones. If you uphold them, you will feel joy as you never imagined."
Elyra, always lifting spirits, raised her eyes. "What if we fail?"
Sophia met her gaze. "You won't. Because we won't let you. You belong to us now."
Silence fell.
Sophia stood and gestured toward the inner altar. "Step forward. One at a time. Place your hand on the circle. Speak your name. And give yourself fully."
Thena rose first, trembling. She walked with dignity, hand extended. She touched the stone.
"I am Thena Ophionaris of the Medusa. I give myself to the Black King. My soul, my mind, my body. I am his."
The circle beneath her hand pulsed with light. A very thick golden red blood thread wrapped around her wrist, drilling into her body as she suddenly felt warm and hungry.
Then came Saphyne, her steps unhurried, sensual. "I am Saphyne Ophionaris. I offer all that I am to the Dragon King. I will be his, wholly."
Kaelith followed, cool and poised. "I am Kaelith Ophionaris. My service, my mind, and my discipline belong to him."
Mirania stepped forward, hesitant. "I... am Mirania Ophionaris. I offer myself... because I wish to be more. To be safe. To belong."
Valea moved next, brushing her hand along the runes curiously before placing her palm down. "I am Valea Ophionaris. Let my knowledge serve him. Let my thoughts be useful."
Then Elyra, practically skipping forward. "I'm Elyra Ophionaris! And I'm all his. Wherever Thena goes, I go too!"
The room brightened faintly, as though the very air recognized the offering.
Sophia approached, holding a velvet tray. Upon it lay six silver chokers, identical to her own, engraved with the Black King's name. One by one, she fastened them around the sisters' necks.
As the final clasp snapped into place, she whispered: "Now you are truly ours. And we are his."
From the edges, the Medusas bowed as one.
The Room of Ascendance was complete.
*****
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