Chapter 163 – Fangs and Shadows Negotiation
The long corridor of the castle was still wrapped in silence as the door to the main meeting chamber slowly opened. A tall woman with deep red hair, golden eyes like an eagle’s, and a pair of beast-like ears atop her head stepped inside. She wore a thick fur cloak that trailed across the floor, and slung across her back was a massive axe that shimmered faintly with the aura of earth and blood magic.
Behind her, two beastkin guards in gray cloaks closed the doors and took position.
Sylvia watched them from her throne. She wore no crown just her black gown and gloves but the presence radiating from her was enough to make the guards tense unconsciously.
The woman approached with firm steps, stopping two meters from Sylvia, and gave a shallow bow.
"I am Ragna, daughter of the Stone Fang clan from the northern mountains. I come representing the Beastkin Confederation to engage in dialogue... or deliver a warning."
Her tone was calm, but heavy with pressure.
Sylvia replied with a faint smile. "A warning? I haven’t done anything offensive to your people."
"Not yet," Ragna admitted. "But you’re drawing too much attention. The Church, the humans... even the sky and earth have begun to speak of you. And the gods? They’re whispering more than usual."
Sylvia leaned back into her seat. "So what do the beastkin want? Neutrality? Alliance? Or are you just here to see how far I’ll rise before I shake this world?"
Ragna didn’t answer immediately. She observed Sylvia carefully, as if trying to measure the depth of darkness within the undead queen.
"I was tasked with ensuring you do not become a threat to our lands. But after seeing this place... and hearing reports from our spies, I find myself wondering: why aren’t we the ones offering an alliance instead?"