18 Chapter 16 – Ceremony of Promises (1/2)

Jens : ”Ah… Emilia!”

Jens saw Emilia standing in front of him, worried yet relieved. The whole camp followed Emilia walking towards Jens.

Aldebaran : ”You're part of the Emilia Camp heh!?”

Priscilla : ”How interesting. Being part of an obnoxious camp like the Witch Camp really worries me.”

Jens : ”Hm?! How did you call her?”

Jens walked towards Priscilla until Emilia grabbed his shoulder.

Emilia : ”Ignore her. Please.”

Priscilla : ”Oh don't ignore me. That would be quite a loss for the Emilia Camp.”

Aldebaran : ”My Princess, aren't you overreacting a bit?”

Priscilla : ”Don't make me burn your face even more.”

Aldebaran : ”Haha, right.”

Jens turned around and walked away along with the other members of the Emilia Camp. Meili was playing with a doll dog while Pack was standing on Emilia's shoulder.

Jens : ”You guys, what happened in the forest?”

Meili : ”Older Brother suddenly vanished!”

Jens : ”Ehh… there is no need-”

Emilia : ”Some sort of guy appeared from the forest and he teleported you away. Right when I summoned Pack, he was gone.”

Jens : ”So that's how it is huh…”

Elis : ”After that, we spend hours searching for you.”

Jens : ”Hours?!”

??? : ”EVERYONE! PLEASE TAKE PLACE IN YOUR OWN SQUARE!”

Suddenly, an old man appeared near the throne. He had gold hair and red eyes. He had wrinkles and had problems with breathing.

Emilia and the camp immediately started walking towards the purple square outline with red and gold inside.

Suddenly, the main door opened and a huge amount of old fancy looking people entered the hall. They were nobles for sure, it was easily to see from their clothes.

While Jens still stuttered, he ran behind Nathan and followed them.

On the left of them was an empty square with a golden outline where only Reinhard van Astrea was staying. Right to him, was the green outlined square where Joshua and some other people were standing, seven people to be precise.

On the right of the green square, was the yellow square where Maria was standing. There were only five people standing including Maria.

On the right of the yellow square, was the orange square where Aldebaran was standing with Priscilla. There were also only five people standing including Aldebaran and Priscilla.

The old man sat down on the throne and clapped his hands. Immediately, a girl walked towards him from the crowd.

She was certainly a beautiful lady. Maybe in the late twenties. She swung her beautiful

blonde hair away towards the nobles while she looked at the Emilia Camp as a smug.

??? : ”Welcome everybody!”

The old man said loudly.

Jens certainly felt weird. He felt sweat dropping from his forehead and he heard the splash of his sweat shattering on the ground. He looked next to him were Rem and Meili, left to him were Emilia and Elis.

Elis : ”Oops! I forgot!”

Elis ran towards the throne and stood between the girl and Weiss.

??? (2) : ”Hurry up Evergarden!”

Elis : ”Sorry!”

Apparently, Elis was supposed to stand there too and looked towards the crowd. In front of the throne, there were the five squares. Behind them, there was a huge crowd of nobles, at least three hundred of them. Between those nobles, there were also mages and swordsmen.

??? : ”Welcome to the Royal Election. My name is Jet Lugnica. The 41st King of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica. Today is a special day. We'll start with introduciii~ng the representatives of the countries and then the Camp Leaders will introduce themselves.”

The old man is the 41st King of Lugnica. He didn't look like a king. He was really old, sick, exhausted. His gold hair was almost blonde and his red were close to light red.

Weiss : ”I'll start first! My name is Weiss Schnee. I'm a former member of the Royal Guardian Team RWBY. I'm currently the heiress of the Schnee House and I'll be the representative of the northern kingdom, Gusteko.”

The woman with blonde hair laughed.

??? : ”How funny. You talk as if we would be interested in you talking about the Schnee Family. Ignorant.”

Weiss : ”Hey I didn't–”

Cynthia : ”Anyways. My name is Cynthia Elscar. I will be representing the Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica during this Royal Election.”

The man nodded and started talking.

Alexandrius : ”My name is Alexandrius Fulcia. I'm the representative of the Sacred Empire of Volakia. I'm the head of the Volakian Military and the left hand of the 77th Emperor, Vincent Volakia.”

The man was wearing a soldier outfit with red patterns on it. The giant sword on his back was bigger than Reinhard's and was probably a great sword. He has bandage around his face, covering the nose and the mouth. He had short red hair, dark amber eyes and a handsome face from what able to be seen.

Elis : ”Well! I guess it's my turn now. My name is El-Elis Ro-se Evergarden-en. I'll beeee a member of the Emilia Camp and will be the representa..tative of the Western Kararagi City States! I'm the–”

Alexandrius : ”That's enough Evergarden.”

Cynthia + Alexandrius.png

Elis : ”Sorry!”

Jet : ”Thank you. Now, these representatives will be the judges for the next King… Now please… Candidates please step forward.”

Right after that, the four representatives walked towards the chairs behind the throne.

Emilia, Priscilla, and other two woman stepped forward and walked towards the throne.

Jet : ”Emilia. Priscilla Barielle. Anastasia Hoshin. Crusch Karsten. If these names are incorrect, please say so.”

A silence occured.

Elis : ”King. Why is the fifth square empty with only Reinhard in it ?”

Jet : ”Ah. Reinhard, could you explain the situation ?”

Reinhard : ”Well of course. I found… the fifth candidate. She'll come here in a few minutes with the camp.”

Jet : ”Alright then.”

The king said with a exhausted voice.

Jet : ”Please return to your square and keep your speech. First, Priscilla, second Crusch, third Anastasia, fourth Emilia, and last but not least, Reinhard.”

The three woman walked back to their square but Priscilla stayed.

Priscilla : ”Hey Pigs! It's show time!”

Priscilla yelled that to her camp members. The crowd started talking about how wrong it is to treat your servant like that. Suddenly, the square of Priscilla walked towards her. Aldebaran, a young boy with white hair, a green haired maid and a white haired young boy ran towards her and stood behind her.

Priscilla : ”It's quite a sight here. Tragic sight.”

Jet : ”Priscilla Barielle. Could you introduce yourself, then your knight, then your camp and then the speech ? ”

Priscilla : ”Well of course. My name is Priscilla Barielle. A Dragon Priestess from the southern empire !”

She said full with pride. Jens looked at Nathan and he looked both back. Together the thought the same, she is way too sure of her self.

Aldebaran : ”Hello y'all! My name is Aldebaran, but please call me Al. I'm Priscilla's knight, but I see myself more as her subordinate.”

Then, the green haired maid stepped up and started talking. She wears a green maid outfit with a white frilled head band, matching white apron, and a pair of brown boots over black leggings.

Ryuu : ”My name is Ryuu Lyon. I'm Priscilla's personal maid and adventurer.”

Then, the pink haired boy started talking and stepped up.

Schult : ”My name is Schult! I'm Prisciiiillaa's subordinate !”

The young boy yelled with his high pitched voice. Schult is a handsome boy with red eyes and medium length fluffy and curly hair. He has a thin body like a woman and wears a butler uniform over his developing body, his appearance somehow giving off an immoral feeling.

Then, the last kid walked up and said–

Haku : ”I'm Haku Segmunt. The younger brother of Cecilus Segmunt and a member of the Priscilla Camp.”

Priscilla Camp.png

Everyone was in shock except Jens, as he didn't understood who that was.

Suddenly, someone from the crowd started screaming to the king.

Miser : ”Excuse me! My name is Miser. How can you allow the son of Cecilus-sama be part of this royal election ? He can be a betrayer ! He could easily allow Cecilus to infiltrate the dragon kingdom !”

So, the crowd agreed with him. Screaming and creating chaos.

Jet : ”Calm down.”

Immediately, the situation calmed down. Everyone stopped talking and listend to Jet.

Jet : ” We'll ask Priscilla right now, please… give me your speech.”

Priscilla : ”Alright old man! Here me! I walk the path to royalty because the heavens wish me to do so! This world is full of things that go my way after all! No, no one else is competent enough! Therefore I'm the most worthy to become the King! All you need to do is be obedient to me!”

The woman yelled. The woman was full with pride and arrogance.

Jet : ”But Priscilla-sama… what would be Lugnica's Citizens benefits of being obedient to you ?”

Priscilla : ”You old man don't get it, do you ? Being obedient to me means that you're at the side of the winners. I can make your dreams come true and allow you to have everything you want. All you need to do is following me! Haku might be from the Volakian side like this whole camp, but we left the country years ago and we have no connection to them.”

Jet : ”Ah I see, beautiful. Now please, go back to your square. Crusch Karsten. It's your turn.”

Crusch : ”Alright! Everyone, follow me.”

The woman walked towards the throne and stood looking towards the crowd. Crusch is a beautiful woman with amber eyes and long dark green hair that reaches to the middle of her back.

Crusch : ”My name is Crusch Karsten. The head of the Karsten House and the leader of the Crusch Camp.”

Felix : ”Hya! Mya name is Felix Argyle, but call me Ferris. I'm Crusch' Knight!”

Jens : ”Knight?!”

Nathan : ”Knight?!”

Jens and Nathan both reacted the same way silently. Felix was wearing a dress and looked like a girl to Nathan and Jens.

Ferris has flax colored hair and yellow eyes. His casual wear consists of a blue collar with a ribbon, a blue dress, black tights, blue leggings, blue shoes, white arm covers, and a blue scarf tied around his right arm. He has cat like appendages.

Maria : ”My name is Maria, the head of the Aqua House.”

Levi : ”My name is Levi Avaritia.”

Levi has a short and slender build, with long brown hair which she commonly wears in a high pony tail held together with a shuriken-shaped hair ornament. An old man stepped up from the Crusch Camp line and started talking.

Wilhelm : ”My name is Wilhelm van Astrea. The husband of the former Sword Saint and Crusch' personal butler.”

Crusch Camp Full

Jens : ”van Astrea…. isn't that Reinhard's surname ?”

Nathan : ”Yes. That's his grand father.”

Both of them whispered. Whispering was allowed in the throne hall, but nobody wanted to do that as it looked rude to the king, also everyone was deeply interested in this ceremony, as these are very rare.

Jet : ”I see Crusch Karsten. Now please, tell me your speech.”

Crusch : ”Of course, Jet Lugnica. The Dragon Kingdom Lugnica… The country has grown and prospered under the protection of the Dragon's Contract. I acknowledge the prosperity that we've had thanks to the contract with Volcanica. The dragon will help us in our times of need. I ask of you… DO YOU FEEL NO SHAME?”

Everyone was left speechless, immediately, Cynthia stands up from her chair.

Cynthia : ”You're overstepping your bounds, Crusch! It's unforgivable to make light of the contract! Are you denying the Kingdom's History?”

Crusch didn't even turn around to look at Cynthia and kept looking into the crowd.

Crusch : ”I'm sure I mentioned that I have acknowledged our past prosperity. The Karsten House has benefited from it after all. However, the future is a different story !”

Crusch shouted.

Crusch : ”This country has become too dependent of this covenant and has subsequently become weak ! Can you say that we are prepared for the events that the dragon history stone make no mentioned of ? ! Dependance gives birth to stagnation, and stagnation brings about corruption… Corruption eventually brings about destruction. That's how I see it and how you all should see it. If we will die out without the dragon…. We should become the dragon ourselves ! When I become the 42nd King of Lugnica, I will amake sure that the dragon forgets about the convenant ! Lugnica isn't the dragon's possession ! IT IS OURS ! ”

The crowd was left speechless and Cynthia sat down.

Weiss : ”Crusch-sama, so you want to focus on the strength of the country excluding the dragon, am I correct ? ”

Crusch : ”Correct Weiss. ”

Jet : ”Interesting. Now please, go back to your square. Now, Anastasia Hoshin please.”

The camp walked towards the yellow square and Anastasia and her camp came towards the throne.

Anastasia : ”My name is Anastasia Hoshin! The head of the Hoshin Trading Company and the Leader of the Hoshin camp from Kararagi !”

Anastasia is a petite woman with blue green eyes and long, wavy purple hair that extends to her hips. She wears a long white dress with a fur hat and scarf along with a large purse shaped like a wallet. She has cute looks and an aura similar to a small animal.

Julius : ”My name is Julius Euculius. The knight of Anastasia Hoshin.”

Julius has yellow eyes and light purple hair that is arranged neatly. He wears the Royal Guard uniform.

??? : ”Oy Oy! Anastasia-san, should I introduce myself right now ? ”

A wolf human stepped forward.

Alexandrius : ”I believe most of us know who you are… Admirer.”

Suddenly, the crowd started screaming.

Young man : ”What is the meaning of this ? Why is the strongest Ninja of Kararagi here ?”

Woman : ”Nonsense!”

Knight : ”Impossible ! This is unfair !”

The wolf human laughed at the crowd.

Halibel : ”Oy Oy! You guys sure are noisy. As you guys might know, my name is Halibel. I'm the strongest individual of Kararagi and a members of the Anastasia Camp. I've left my journey of being The Admirer and decided to make my lady the new King.”

Joshua stepped forward and Halibel took a few steps back.

Joshua : ”My name is Joshua Euculius. Next in line of becoming the head of the Euculius House and the personal supervisor of Anastasia Hoshin ! ”

A catlike beast girl and two catlike beast boys stepped forward and Joshua walked back.

Mimi : ”Listen up! My name is Mimi Pearlbaton. This is Tivey Pearlbaton and Hetaro Pearlbaton. We are the Pearlbaton triplets and members of the Anastasia Camp !”

Anastasia Camp

Jet : ”Interesting Camp you have there Anastasia-sama. Now, may I request your speech?”

Anastasia : ”Yes… Well then, I'll begin. Unfortunately, I don't have grand ambitions like Crusch-sama, or believe that I'm the chosen one like Priscilla-sama… However, there's one thing I can say. I'm a little greedier than others !”

Anastasia shouted that into the crowd. Jens looked strangely at her and so did the representatives of the countries.

Anastasia : ”One day, I scored when i voiced my opinion about how things were done. Gradually I was put in charge of even bigger deals. Eventually, I started earning enough to forget about my poor past. I was supposed to feel relieved. But I felt like I was poorer than before.”

Jet : ”Why is that ? ”

Anastasia : ”As my connections grew, the amount of things I wanted also increased. That's the scary thing about greed. I want this, and that, more, more, more more. Before I knew it, I was the head of the Hoshin Trading Company, one of the leading powers in Kararagi. However… That still didn't satisfy me. I wasn't able to have the feeling of sufficiency. I wanted something bigger… something much bigger than before… I WANT THIS COUNTRY !”

Nobody reacted, until the king started talking.

Jet : ”Why would we vote on you, Anastasia ? ”

Anastasia : ”Didn't I mention it ? I'm greedy. What I obtain is mine and everything I own is a part of my passion. That's why… You can all feel at ease and become mine ! ”

Jet : ”Thank you. Please, Emilia.”

Priscilla : ”My My. Jet Lugnica, how can you allow a Witch entering this hall ? ”

Jens : ”WHAT DID YOU CALL HER BITCH ? ”

Jens screamed it through the whole hall.

Anastasia : ”I don't want to say much, but I do agree with it. She looks exactly like the being that swallowed half of the world. It would be a tragedy do allow it happen again.”

Jet : ”Please, everyone. Calm down. Come please, Emilia Camp.”