The Dragon's Kiss

What benefit would Kel get from killing Soren?

It was a strange question.

Revenge on those that had already died at his hands? Preventing any trouble he might cause in the future?

Was there anything else she could possibly gain or even needed to gain from slaughtering the vile man?

"He'd be dead," she scoffed in response to the emperor's odd inquiry. "What more 'benefit' do I need?"

The emperor shook his head, his lips curling into a smirk.

"You're too naive," he chided. "It's always better to squeeze every last drop of usefulness out of someone… even if it's while your hands are around their neck."

Of course, the emperor was that kind of person.

Even when killing, he calculated every single detail, manipulating the situation to somehow profit him in the long run.

Kel wasn't like that, however.

Simply ending Soren's life was enough for her. Why did she have to play the emperor's game when, to her, the answers were already so clear and uncomplicated?

"What do you plan to do with him, then?" Kel ventured, unable to fully hide her annoyance.

Under her breath, she added, "That is if you can find him again."

"He still has one more thing to do for me," the emperor explained. "And don't worry. I'm sure he's already on his way to meet us."

Kel blinked in confusion. "What-"

What does that mean? She wanted to ask, but already knew it was useless.

"Fine," she corrected. "I'll follow you, then."

The emperor chuckled, as he slowly released her. With his hand on the small of her back, he moved to escort her away.

"Wait," Kel stopped before he could take a single step. "Promise me one thing."

"...Sure," the emperor nodded.

His answer was rather unconvincing, but Kel would have continued with her demand even if the man had flat out refused.

"When the time comes," she said quietly, "let me be the one to kill him."

The emperor paused for a moment before pressing against her back as a sign to start walking.

"Alright," he agreed softly as they started out of the passage.

It wasn't long before the time to test the emperor's promise came.

Kel wasn't sure what she had expected to find in the main tunnel.

A battlefield?

A scene of carnage?

The soldiers of Subterra fighting bravely against the Dragon Emperor's forces while the citizens took refuge in their homes?

When Kel stepped into the bright orange light of the massive passageway, however, she was greeted by a sight she hadn't prepared herself for.

While traveling back to the main cavern, Kel and the emperor had easily caught up to Thane and Lucy. The injured woman resolutely continued putting one foot in front of the other, but the pain on her face with each step was clear to see.

With Kel supporting Lucy from the other side, they were able to move more quickly, and, at least Kel hoped, make things less painful for her friend.

The fact that they never crossed paths with another Subterran soldier nor citizen seemed odd to Kel. For such a massive civilization to be under attack, shouldn't there be several people fleeing through these tunnels?

Those thoughts were what led her to the assumption that either the people had already been slaughtered or they were hiding away safely. The reality of the situation, however, ended up falling somewhere in between the two imagined scenarios.

The vast majority of the Subterrans were very much alive and well, but they weren't locked away in their homes.

Hundreds of Serin soldiers had swarmed the passage and formed a ring around the surviving people of Subterra. A few bodies and stray weapons were strewn about, but it looked like they had been cornered without much of a fight.

The pale-skinned people stood crowded together in a large circle with dozens of the strange bladed staff weapons sticking above the heads of those in the outer layers.

Likewise, the emperor's people were poised and ready to attack.

It was a fragile and silent standoff. One large breath could send the momentary peace toppling down and the soldiers rushing at each other's throats.

Kel gulped.

In such a situation, it was easy to see who the victor would be once the fighting finally broke out.

Also sensing the tension, the emperor raised a hand above his head.

The command passed quickly through the Serin soldiers, and they reluctantly lowered their weapons into a defensive stance.

Kel risked a glance at the emperor as his soldiers complied with his order to stand down. He wouldn't kill all these people after all, would he?

"If they don't surrender," he murmured, once again seemingly reading Kel's thoughts, "I'll have to cut them down."

"Y-Your Majesty.." she whispered, unsure how to respond.

"Ah, there!" The emperor brightened up, pointing to a sudden commotion coming from one of the side tunnels. "Right on time!"

An uproar erupted from the group of Subterrans as they saw what was happening.

Soren, bloodied and limp, was being dragged through the crowd, toward the head of Serin's formation. As the small figures grew closer, Kel noticed Roland leading the way of the gruesome procession.

"Roland…" she breathed. "Don't tell me he's…"

She trailed off, glancing at Thane and Lucy.

Was he one of them as well? One of the shadow guards?

"Sir Roland is an ordinary knight," Thane answered quickly. He thought for a moment before adding, "Well, his rank is ordinary, but his skills are no joke!"

"Right," Kel replied absently, watching the 'ordinary' knight lead his catch.

Had Roland done that to Soren? When both Lucy and the emperor together couldn't overpower him?

Perhaps, the knight had caught the man off guard, she reasoned. Seeing as Roland was most definitely the 'use violence now, ask questions later' type. There's no way he would have wasted any time with words when he encountered his enemy.

If that was the case, with an entire squadron of soldiers and the right timing, even taking Soren down wouldn't be too difficult.

"Shall we?" the emperor extended his hand toward Kel as Roland and his men finally came to a halt.

"Eh? Why?" Kel questioned, glancing around nervously.

"I promised you, right?" The emperor replied with a grin.

"That you could be the one to kill him."