Chapter 26 This is fun...

Author note: Well i won't say that i am disappointed that you all chose the second option which was blue, i thought that you all were going for the first option which is red, which is why i have already created a chapter related to it,

But ohh well this it is what it is.

Anyways enjoy...

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As Nephis open the door, she saw a dimly lit office. The air inside the office smelled of old parchment, burning incense, and something heavier—something ancient and oppressive, as if the weight of time itself lingered here.

Nephis stepped inside, the door behind her shut close.

CLICK!!

Her boots clicked against the polished obsidian floor, echoing in the silence. The office was big, lined with towering bookshelves filled with books and papers.

As she reached the center of the room , she saw a figure sat on a ebony desk, perfectly positioned beneath an arched window that revealed the night sky beyond. Moonlight streamed in, casting an eerie glow over the scene.

And there, seated behind the desk, was the figure she had come to see.

Nephis stopped in her tracks.

'A girl?'

No—that wasn't right.

For a moment, her mind struggled to reconcile with what she was even seeing. 

The one sitting before her looked barely above twelve years old, with long, dark purple hair cascading down her back like a smooth, silken waves. 

Her skin was deadly pale, almost like that of a snow. Her delicate features framed her face, a small nose, full pink lips, and long, dark eye lashes that curled slightly over her big and deep violet-colored eyes.

Beautiful, Fragile and almost inhuman, was the words that could describe the person sitting before her.

'Is she the princess ?' thought Nephis instinctively.

Then she remembered the words of the white-haired maid who had led her here.

"The prince is waiting."

"!!"

A shiver ran down her spine.

'This is him?'

This doll-like creature is the Prince of the Royal Dark Solomon family?

'Raizel...' thought Nephis as she remember the name of the Prince, she has come to know from her late grandmother.

To Nephis he doesn't look anything like the cold and dark image she has imagine before coming here. 

But she quickly masked her shock, controlling her expression into its usual cold detachment. She could not afford to show weakness here. She had come with a purpose.

She moved forward, pulled out a small velvet box from her cloak, and placed it on the top the desk. 

Without hesitation, she flipped it open.

Inside, nestled in the soft fabric, lay a small dark phoenix, carved from obsidian, it is the insignia of the Royal Dark Solomon family.

Raizel's eyes flickered to it, but he did not move. He merely stared at the token for a long, silent moment before shifting his gaze back to her.

'Nephis of the Fallen Immortal flame clan.' thought Raizel as he looked at the black haired girl standing in front of him, his expression remained blank, unreadable.

Then he briefly shifted his back to the dark phoenix.

'Wasn't it given to her grandfather, "Immortal Flame".' thought Raizel as he remember that it was his grandfather Azrael Dark Solomon, the one who give it to Immortal Flame, because that guy saved Azrael life one, and Azrael decided to repay the favor by giving him the dark phoenix.

Dark Phoenix is not just a token but an ancient artifact of the Solomon family, crafted by the pure dark blood of the Solomon and their dragon, throughout the history of the Solomon family only five such artifact was given to the humans, and all those people has left their mark in the whole world, to the point that even today generation remembers them.

Dark Phoenix is one of the most powerful artifact, as it can not only increase the frame, power and status of a person, but also extends their life too, it can increase their life up to 50 years.

'But this token.....' was solely given to Immortal flame, as only he can use it, and because of it, he was able to make his clan great and also powerful, but after his death the token lost it's meaning, and so his does his clan.

'She did not come here thinking, that it can save her and her already fallen of a clan, did she ?' 

Raizel looked at her his narrow eyes, making her shiver.

'It seems that she has also not gone thought her first nightmare.' thought Raizel as he remember that in the book it was said that her hair colour was black which turned into sliver after she has completed her first nightmare.

'Well let her speak, what she wants.'

He waited for her to speak.

Nephis took a shot breath, as she steady herself, then she spoke.

"I seek an alliance."

As her words settle in, the silence in the room thickened.

Raizel said nothing. He did not ask why she had come, as he already come to know what was her purpose for coming here was, he come to know it when she said she needed an alliance.

'An alliance she says, huh.' Thought Raizel as he looked at Nephis with his emotionless gaze. He simply watched her, his cold, amethyst gaze devoid of warmth or interest.

Seeing his silence, Nephis clenched her fists at her sides, she said.

"You already know why I'm here," she continued. "I need information on three individuals—Anvil of the Valor, Ki Song, and Asterion."

'Those three who has now become the 'Sovereigns'.' thought Raizel, as he remember the three insects that are annoying his mother and her Rule in the dream realm.

'Anvil has already handed the position of the clan leader to his cousin brother, after his accession to Sovereigns, and he is focusing on building swords, for what purpose i don't care. 

ki song is building her army on her domain with her lesbians of the daughters, she is using her blood, doing some experiments with it, and also trying to see how far the Beast God powers go. 

and lastly Asterion... well from what mother has told me is that guy is chilling on the moon, and he has not made any move as of yet.' Thought Raizel as he remember the information, he has gotten from his mother in last night.

As Raizel was thinking about this, but too Nephis it seems that he was silent as he still haven't acknowledge her presence.

"They are the ones who betrayed my father," she said, her voice steady.

Raizel come out of his thoughts as he heard what Nephis was saying.

'Well not shit Sherlock.' thought Raizel.

She continued her words, while being unknown to his thoughts.

"I know this much. But I need more. I need their exact locations. Their power levels. Their weaknesses."

'She is asking for to much, and does she really think that, i am going to just told her whatever she wants.' thought Raizel as he blinked slowly, looking at Nephis who continued to speak.

"And in return," she added, "I am offering an alliance."

'Wow!, just Wow.... how generous of her to offer me an alliance.' thought Raizel in a mocking way, but his face expression remain the same, cold and emotionless, she had just said something absurd, which she did in fact. 

'Now that i think about it, i should have some fun with her~' An evil idea started forming inside his mind, as he tilt his head slightly.

Then, in a voice smooth as butter and cold as ice, he asked:

"And what can you offer in return ?"

Hearing this Nephis stiffened.

'What...'

The words sliced through her, not because they were cruel, but because they were true.

'He is right what can i offer.'

Her clan was gone. Its power, its influence, its warriors—everything had been reduced to ash. She had no powers, no resources, nothing of value to bargain with.

She clenched her firsts, as she tired to think of something of a value, but couldn't found any.

'It seems like she is back to reality, huh.'

Raizel looked at as he leaned back slightly on the chair, his expression never changing, then he said.

"You have nothing," 

It was the truth, Raizel knows that Nephis right now is nothing more then a beggar, trying to get some sympathy from him, well that's how it look according to him, all she has is her clan reputation which was not enough and also it is reducing day by day, from the reports he has gotten of her fallen clan.

'Nothing he says.... huh' Thought Nephis as she gritted her teeth, but she did not deny it.

'I think this the movement i should started adding more fuel to fire.' thought Raizel as he know what to say, so that she will fall right into his trap.

"Your clan is gone," said Raizel, his voice utterly devoid of emotion, he continued.

"Your name holds no weight. You have not even undergone your first Nightmare, and yet you ask for an alliance?"

He tilted his head slightly, his cold gaze piercing through her very soul, Nephis trembled in fear as all of her secrets laid bare before him.

'Now for the final touch.' thought Raizel, as his shinny dark purple eyes, glows under the crimson light.

"I do not know if you are brave or foolish, But I am inclined to believe it is the latter." he murmured in a slow voice which was enough to reach her ears, he then looks at her and was satisficed to see her reaction.

The one he has bee waiting to see.

'How dare he!!' thought Nephis as she clenched her fists, a dark look appeared on her face, she had known this would not be easy, she had known he would not simply accept her request, but this was to much, how can he mock her right in front of her face.

But she was not the one to leave without an answers, as she asked a question she has on her mind for years.

"Then atleast tell me this… why didn't your family help us ?"

'What...?'

Raizel blinked slowly, as if her question was tedious.

'Why didn't my family helps.... is she being serious right now.'

Raizel couldn't understands, what was wrong with her, how could someone be so dense, did her parents or grandparents hasn't really told her anything or was she just being indifference to the truth.

'Hmm, but that could be a possibility too.' thought Raizel as he know that it would make sense, after all for her to come here without an announcement, and also using her last money, with the dark phoenix in her hands as if using this she could get something out of it.

'Well it seems like i can have more fun with her now.' thought Raizel with a small smile that appeared on his face, enhancing his overall beauty. He now has an idea of what he needs to do with this girl, since he was already getting bored and tired of staying in this large Dark Castle, but with Nephis company here it might not be like that anymore.

'Now how should i deal with this...' thought Raizel as he looked at the black haired girl in front of her, she seems to be waiting for his answers, then an idea formed on his mind.

'I think that, It will be better to tell her the truth as it is more fun in that way.'

Raizel then lifted his hand and pointed his slender white finger toward the dark phoenix token, that was resting on the top of the table.

Nephis followed his gaze. The obsidian carving of the token gleamed under the dim candlelight.

"The alliance, was only made with your grandfather, Immortal flame." said Raizel, his voice cold and hollow.

Hearing this Nephis felt her breath hitch, as her eyes widden in shock.

Raizel seeing this didn't stopped as he continued, his voice remained flat and emotionless. 

"Your grandfather, the "Immortal Flame", forged a pact with my grandfather "Twilight". It was the pact that will help him build his frame, status, and powers. But after his death, the alliance also ended, with made this token now... meaningless."

'Just because he die....' thought Nephis's as her face become ghostly pale, her white nails dug dipper into her sweaty palms. 

"Y-You... l-let m-my clan.... b-burn b-b-because... of a t-t-technicality?" her voice trembled with shock, disbelief and rage, as she couldn't believe what she has just heard.

'Well that the expression i wanted to see, the expression of a child who was promised a candy only for the child to remember that it has no teeth to chew it.' thought Raizel as he as he was very satisfied with Nephis expression. 

His expression did not change one bit as he just replied with a single word.

"Yes."

A burning fury ignited in Nephis's chest after hearing such a cold response, to her it seems that Raizel family really didn't care about her clan, to her they are no better then the traitors.

But she quickly clamed down, knowing she can't do anything foolish right now, as it will make the situation more worse, then it is already is.

'I need to think calmly.' thought Nephis as she took a deep breath, then after while she asked.

"What will it take..."

"Hmm..??"

Nephis continued.

".....for you to from an alliance with me." 

Raizel looked at Nephis deeply, in her eyes he could see a lot of things, like her determination of getting what she wants, her shocked about the discovery, her anger towards him for not caring about her clan, and her desperation for getting something... 

Something she could use, after all she has come from a very far way place, in hopes of getting something that could aid her in her revenge agented her father former allies.

'Well it seems the fish has taken the bait, now i just need to make it think that it is not ready for more.' thought Raizel's as his expression did not change one bit, he then said softly.

"Leave, as you are not ready."

However Nephis did not move from her place.

"I will not leave without an answer," she repeated, in a determine voice.

'And that is exactly what i want.' thought Raizel as he slowly up from the chair, he sat on.

!!!

With his standing up, the room temperature changed, it dropped too icy cold, all the candlelight's got dimmed. 

And for the first time, Nephis legs trembled in fear as for the first time she has felt the full weight of Raizel dark presence.

'W-what!!... i-is.... h-happing!!?'

The dark presence, well it was suffocating.

"You are persistent," he said in a annoyed tone, then he continued in a dark and evil tone.

"Fine. I will give you a trial."

Nephis straightened her back. "W-what!! kind of t-trial!!?"

Raizel turned slightly, his gaze drifting toward the arched window, as he looked at the dark, cold, and silent forest.

Nephis also followed his gaze, her breath stopped, as she could guess what he was about to say, but she can only pray that he is not going to say, what she is thinking.

"The Death Zone."

A chill ran through her spine, as she back away two steps. 

She had heard of what a Death Zone is.

A cursed land. A place where even the strongest warriors of the mankind had perished, her father too was also one of the example of that, as it was said that he has accidently gone into a Death Zone and has never manage to return back.

Raizel's voice remained as indifferent as ever, as he looked at the cold and deadly forest.

"I will give you a task," he continued. "If you complete it without error, you pass. If you fail—"

He paused.

Then he turned to look at her, his amethyst eyes glinting under the candlelight.

"Well," he then murmured in a low dead voice "you already know the name of the trial."

Nephis inhaled sharply, as her darkened gaze fixed on the endless forest below out of the window

'A task in the Death Zone...'

She had expected something difficult but even she has not expected *this.

'It can't be an easy task.'

But

She clenched her firsts, as she remember all things that has happened in her life, her grandmother last words echo in her mind.

"If you truly seek the truth, go to them. Show them this token, and they will listen. But tread carefully, child, for the Dark Solomon family is as ancient as the world itself, and they owe loyalty to no one."

She gritted her teeth, she has come too far, and she will not leave empty hand.

She forced herself to meet his cold gaze, as she said.

"I accept."

Raizel looked at her for a long time, before turning his to one of the silent shadow that was standing near the door, from the movement Nephis is inside of the room. It did not even move an inch from it's place, it was almost like time has stopped for it.

"Prepare the Forest of Death." said Raizel as he looked at the shadow.

Then as if hearing the words, the dark shadow seems to have dissolved into the ground. 

All while Nephis watched it all.