A smile creeps along my face once again. Looking at the old general. A notification appears. NO CRIMES. I undo my control on him and order, "Approach." Feeling his movements unrestricted. He slowly gets off his knee and walks towards me. Then stops just ten feet from me and turns to face me.
"You know what happens if you decide to try to kill me, correct?" I ask. A smile still plastered on my face. He gives me a firm nod of recognition.
"I have no doubts that you can kill everyone in this room with a snap of your fingers. Before I can even reach you. I understand the power you weild," he replied calmly, orderly. Like a servant addressing his king.
"Good, as long as you understand." I look over him once again. His eyes were warm, caring, and just, but a fire burned in them. One of war and determination. He's seen things, done things no other man should have seen or done, but did it for the good of his country. The smile on my face becomes just a little wider.
"Speak, why should I wait?" I ask my still wide.
"First, before I answer your question. I must ask one of my own," he replied. He then waited for my affirmation.
The smile on my face slightly receded. I'm gonna guess, why are you doing this? Why does he need to know? Especially if he might die here today. I give a slight nod for him to continue.
"Why do you hide yourself behind an illusion?" My eyes widen slightly at his question, then my smile returns, back to a full grin. The people around try to turn their heads to find the real me.
"What do you mean hide behind an illusion? I'm right here in front of you. I am not hiding."
My sharp canines now showing through my smile.
"You are not hiding. That is correct. You are not hiding in the shadows like a theif, but what you are hiding is your appearance. I can see a slight glimmer around you. Illusion magic is not your expertise. It is a good illusion, but to one who is experienced in more advanced illusion magic. It is plain to see."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "You're not hiding like a coward. You are here in front of me, but the you I see is not the real you. Why do you face us with the appearance of small 12 year old child? Why do you hide your horns?"
A new emotion starts to fill up inside of me. No not exactly new, but one long forgotten. Joy.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
My laughter fills the room of the quiet halls. "The answer for your question is quite simple. Easier for infiltration. No one suspects a child to do what I'm doing."
"You would have no problem infiltrating with Miss Heartwind with you. She may be a woman with no real power, but she is a noble. Even if you did not hide your appearance you would have no trouble infiltrating, especially with your horns. Its more suspicious a noble walking with a commoner child."
Murmurs sand whispers grace the crowd.
"He's a noble."
"Why would he do this if he's a noble?"
"Is he part of the rebellion, but decided everyone else was not needed?"
The last comment caught the general's attention. He looked and scanned the crowd for the upstart, but they went silent the moment he narrowed his eyes unto them.
He slowly turned back to me. "Is that what this is a rebellion. An upstart." Voice now firm, angry.
"No I'm not with them. Nor am I a noble of this country. No, this is judgement. I am here to judge everyone of their crimes against the citizens of this country. I am here to conquer."
I let my words settle for a moment. I gaze at the crowd with bewilderment etched in their faces, then turn my gaze to the general before me. His anger subsided, just slightly once again calm.
"As to answer your question, once again. For easier infiltration. But you misunderstand. I hide my horns not to hide that I'm a noble, but another reason entirely." I paused again. A smile once again crept across my face. "Only because they stand out too much."
The air around me starts to break. Crack. Then it spider webs, then it shatters like glass. Revealing the truth. Revealing my true self.
Gone was my short black hair. Only to be replaced by blood red hair that reached my upper back. My bangs covered the top half of my face. With little spaces in between do you could just barely make out my eyes.
Gone were my blue eyes. Only to be replaced by eyes the color of blood. Sharp, warm pools of blood with dark slits. Reptilian in nature.
My body that appeared to be of a 12 year old boy was now that of 17 year old. With lean, compact muscle, from years of dedicated training. Red scales decorated and adorned my body. Even a few on my left cheek.
Most of all my draconic horns appeared. Large, curved, regal, blood red. The largest in the room by far. Their appearance commanded attention.
The room stunned in silence. Jaws were dropped. Even the general's jaw gaping. Eyes wide as if they were glued open to their utmost limit.
He tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. When the words finally came out it was a whisper, but a loud one,"Dragon Emperor."
Those words caused the world to freeze. Nobody moved. Nobody dared to breathe. Their breaths caught in their throat.
For a moment everything was quiet. Then panic, fear, dread gripped them all at once. They now knew that gravity of the situation. The hall became loud with many pleading for their lives. Many crying loud, unfiltered sobs. Others consumed with awe mixed with fear. Still not daring to move or make a sound.
The evolution of dragons. Commoners have no horns, no transformation. They can confused with an ordinary human. The only real difference is strength, constitution and longevity. Commoners are three times stronger than the average human and live for about 300 years.
Noble they are adorned with small horns that grow as they age but stay still get no longer than about six inches and can do a partial transformation. Are ten times stronger than the average human and that's without training. They can live up to five hundred years.
King dragons have medium horns. That can grow up to 10 inches. Can do a full transformation into a dragon. Are twenty times stronger than the average human without training. And can live up to 700 years.
Dragon Emperors on the other hand are a complete mystery one hasn't existed in thousands of years. So most is unknown. All they know is that the horns on their heads are massive. Mine being 14 inches in length at seventeen not fully grown was undeniable proof my my blood line.
Then finally there's the Dragon God evolution. That one is of myths and legends. No proof of one to ever exist. A being of worship among dragons. The symbol of power and purity for dragons. Bahaumut, the supposed founder of this country was another being of legend was rumored to be one such being. But there's no proof that he or she even existed in the first place.
I look among the people in the room. And after a few moments of them crying and panicking, I finally speak, "Silence." The room instantly stilled.
"Now do you see why I hid my appearance, general."
"Yes your eminence," his voice shook. He finally lost his calm demeanor. Replaced with shock and awe. He then did the unexpected. He took a knee and bowed his head.
I looked at him for a moment the slits of my eyes narrowed. My brow furrowed. "Why do you bow? I am not your king. Why do you lower yourself before me? The others are forced you are not. Why? Do you betray your king?"
"No, I do not. My loyalty is not to the king, but only to the throne," he replied his voice still shaking slightly.
"Then why?"
"Because your grace, you are the rightful ruler of the throne." He gave pause then continued, "According to our laws a Dragon Emperor is supposed to hold the throne not a dragon king. But our blood over the years has lost its purity and Emperors have ceased to exist. You are the first in thousands of years."
Seriously, plot armor. I look at him once again this time stroking my chin in thought. "Sorry to disappoint, but I was made not born. I have no rights to your throne. I will take it do not get me wrong, but I have no rights to it."
He took a moment of silence to think. Curious on how I was made, but shook his head slightly then continued his plea. "Made or born it doesn't matter. The fact that you stand before us is a miracle. Brought to us by the great Dragon God, perhaps even by lord Bahaumut himself. It is your right to take the throne."
This was unexpected to say the least. After a few moments I was about to speak when doors slammed open and a voice shouted in blind fury, "I've heard enough!"
Heads turned towards the noise and standing in the doorway was the man I came here for. A slight smile crept along my face. Finally. What the hell took so long? I guess it's only been about 15 minutes, but still it shouldn't have taken this long to get here. W*bN*vel plot is the only explanation for this shit. Am I character in a W*bN*vel? I push the thought aside at how rediculous it sounded.
The middle aged man marched forward. His robe robe barely covering his gut, underneath the robe dressed in nightwear like he just got out of bed. His grey hair disheveled, a mess. His red eyes filled to the brim with rage. His slit pupils narrowed never leaving my face as he marched with an authority of a child's tantrum.
He stopped at the general. Then looked down at him. "You traitorous shit!" He the kicked the general in the ribs. The fat of his body jiggled as he kicked. The general fell over clutching his side in pain. My slit pupils narrowed to the point of paper thin. My rage boiled, but I didn't let it show.
"You are supposed to protect the throne not give it to someone else," he yelled. His childlike tantrum continued. Veins were popping showing on his rage filled face. I thought that only happened in anime.
He turned towards me and shouted, "You there, get off my throne. I don't care what the law states, or what he says that's my throne."
I lean my head on my arm and just stare blankly at the childish king. They say you're supposed to to ignore your child when they throw temper tantrums. Its supposed to let them know that they will not be acknowledged for their behavior, but I'm not a good parent.
I raise my hand and took control of his body. "Kneel," I ordered. His body went down with great force, causing his knees to break and the the ground to crack.
He screamed. It filled the room. Unfiltered, gutteral. Rage left his face only to be replaced by pain, confusion and fear. After a few moments he tried to choke it down but it he couldn't. This was all so new to him he never felt pain like this before. The worst pain he felt was stubbing his toe or a paper cut.
The pain only grew and his screams turned to cries. Tears flowing down his cheeks. Yep, just like a child.