Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 688: Internal Turmoil ()

~The Gathering Meadow; Aloria, The Fae Royal Forest

The Fae race faced an unlikely situation on this night, one that had been long coming, an internal turmoil that brewed quietly for as far back as decades, or perhaps even centuries.

The Fae royal representative of the highest authority, Lady Diandre of Aloria had received a challenge for her title, the very first challenge to be posed against the royal house of the Fae since the passing of the High Queen.

The royal house of the Fae had been on a decline since they lost the rights to the title of High Queen, as ordered by the deceased High Queen upon her death bed and for centuries after, there had been quiet musings in the shadows and one question that no one had dared ask.

’The final order given by the High Queen was only a burden on the royal Fae lineage. Did that not mean another clan could claim the rights to the throne of the High Queen?’

And so, a drastic change in the power dynamics of the Fae race had long been in the horizon and had even been kept abay for much longer than anyone could have anticipated... until now.

The challenge was a public declaration on the basis of the recent and continued failures of Lady Diandre and accompanying the declaration was the news of what had happened in Dragon Keep.

Word had quickly spread through the Fae clans and an urgent gathering had been called, summoning all the Fae Clan Lords and council representatives to the gathering meadows.

The atmosphere in the clearing was tense and silent, except for the quiet murmurs of dissatisfaction spreading around and in the midst of it all, Lady Diandre sat at the head of the gathering.

Her fists were clenched tightly on one hand and on the other, her fingers tapped the wooden armrest of the chair she was seated on.

"Lord João, you received my orders...has it been done?" Lady Diandre broke the silence first.

Lord João to whom Lady Diandre referred stood by a trunk, hands rested on the hilt of his blade, whilst the end of the blade was pinned into the forest ground.

He donned the full plated armour of the Fae royal soldiers but his had a honorary sigil which identified his rank as the Fae battle lord, highest ranked amongst the Fae royal soldiers and one of the few who were still fiercely loyal to the royal house despite its continued decline since the passing of the High Queen many centuries before.

"The Fae soldiers guarding the trade routes to the mer seas have all been withdrawn and the shipments of channeling gems hoarded have been released. The end of the bargain that was made to the Lady... the Dragon Queen is fulfilled." Lord João reported dutifully.

At the mention of the new title, Lady Diandre’s tapping fingers clenched into tight fists, rage flashing through her eyes.

One had ascended to a new height of honour and prestige in just the blink of an eye, whilst the birthright and rightful place Lady Diandre struggled to uphold for all these centuries seemed to be tethering off the edge...fate was a constant irony.

Lady Diandre knew it, that the Fae clan lords and council representatives had gathered to enquire as to the events that occurred in Dragon Keep, but she also knew there was an even greater motivation behind their gathering.

’To witness my downfall...’ Lady Diandre thought to herself.

Lady Diandre had bet everything on this attempt, without their King and two of their greatest pillars, the dragon empire was on unsteady footing, and it would be all the more unsteady if their newfound Queen was also snatched away from them suddenly.

If at this time, the Fae could acquire an upper hand using Lord River’s death and force a change in the hierarchy of the unified council, then the dynamics of power in the stronghold would be eternally altered and all the credit would belong to Lady Diandre.

How could she have imagined that even Celeste would fail to achieve anything and be captured? Especially now that the dragon empire made it known that Lord River was still alive and well? News Celeste had only received upon her return to the Fae royal forest to plot a new method to benefit off of Lord River’s death.

Celeste had achieved nothing, a complete failure for a dark fairy who had survived centuries with hate and a thirst for vengeance and she had successfully dragged Lady Diandre down with her.

Lady Diandre who had hoped to undermine the dragon king’s position was instead at risk of losing hers.

And as though on cue, the questioning began.

"Is this the best you can do?! We had secured the upper hand but a single misstep and all our efforts are for naught!" A Fae clan lord hissed, stomping his foot in displeasure.

"You have not provided us with reasons we can understand, as to why you would stir trouble in dragon territory when we agreed to keep a low profile and push the dragons to make the first move! Now we are forced to withdraw our soldiers in exchange for your life!" Another Fae clan lady supported, her tone disapproving.

Lady Diandre pursed her lips, the Fae clan lords had been well aware of her liaison with the dwarves all along and they had not protested in any way, but now that it had come to this, the clan lords were clearly intent on pushing off the blame to her alone.

And what could be done about it? The Mantis stalked the Cicada, unaware of the Oriole behind him.

Now that it had come to this, Lady Diandre could only hope she would get through this night unscathed.

While the dragon empire may have made allowances for a bargain, the Fae were different. They were ruthless even to their own kind and Lady Diandre knew this because she herself was not any different.

"Is there still a need for more explanations? You have failed your title enough times that at this point, the only reasonable turn of events is that in which you voluntarily step down." A Fae clan lord who had been quiet all along confronted, getting up to his feet.