The Two Empresses
The New Spring

"I should ask, who are you? Why are you guys getting in here?" the reply to the minotaur was snuffed out, making Cerlina see the resemblance between her and Daniel.

"On the permission of Mrs Mostroes, we're here to take it, no, borrow an axe to mine in the Respher region" Nero replied.

"Auntie allowed you? Strange, then what about my uncle?"

"He's..."

"It's dead" Kezia replied flatly. The minotaur breathed.

"So right, huh? I thought it was one of my uncle's pranks to get me back," she said. "What about the enemy?"

"We only managed to beat one, the other got away with it" Nero replied. The minotaur exposed its face, showing off its left eye covered with an eye patch. Cerlina stared fixedly at those closed eyes with her magic eyes.

"You can use magic?" chirps Cerlina, surprise them. The minotaur immediately opened the blindfold and showed off his eyes which were replaced by eyes made of Oorun Eye crystals.

"You can detect magic, huh? It's amazing" he said. "You're right. I can use magic thanks to this crystal, but the more I use it, the more energy I need, even my life energy. We minotaurs can't use magic, even if we can die sooner."

"How did you get that thing?" kezia asked curiously, her tail swaying fast. The minotaur looked at him with a flat gaze.

"...Uncle Daniel gave it to me. This is the only crystal that the minotaur race could have before the war hundreds of years ago" he replied.

"By! Ancient things," complained Kezia. Nero hit his head slowly.

"Not polite, Kezia. Forgive my brother's words, "please Nero, while the one who was hit groaned a little.

"No problem. By the way, you haven't told yourself, especially the witches there, yet" he said, looking at Cerlina.

"Ah, yes. I'm Nero, this is Kezia and the young lady over there is Cerlina. You you?"

"Call me Rendy. You want to mine that crystal? It's not that easy" said Rendy ketus.

"What does that mean?" ask Cerlina.

"Although you get that axe, not all races can lift it, even swing it. The only uncle who can lift him, dear he is gone," said Rendy.

"At least I found that thing first" Cerlina replied. "You know where that thing is, don't you?"

"...yes, I know. But can I trust you?"

"meaning?" ask Nero.

"You are strangers, you can use it only for other things that are harmful" Rendy replied.

"...could I chop off his head?" kezia asked as he lifted his scythe with a vexation that he could not cover.

"No and put down the scythe, Kezia. Take care of your attitude" refused Nero. Cerlina advanced towards Rendy with a calm face.

"What do we have to do to earn your trust? If I can be soon, because I don't have much time."

"You sound like that phenomenal witch" said Rendy.

"Phenomenal magician?" ask Cerlina.

"Red hair, temperamental, rough and less manners" he said.

"Ah, well, she is my twin sister" Cerlina replied. "What's that rumor going around here?"

"so. Take your hand" said Rendy, holding out her large hand and covered in blackish blue feathers. Cerlina hesitated, but she held out her hand. Rendy clasped her delicate and fragile hands steadily, followed by the presence of the spiked tendril tattoo adorning all over her body.

"Cerlina!" sahut Nero's.

"Nee!"

"Relax, I'm fine" he said, smiling. Slowly the tattoo shone and a piercing coldness coursed through his body. "Khh!"

"My eyes!" sahut Kezia closed his eyes, while Nero blocked the light with his arm. A few minutes later, the light faded, showing Cerlina kneeling before Rendy. The tattoo that adorned her was still stuck on her body.

"What did you do to him?" nero asked, while Kezia rushed over to Cerlina and hugged her.

"I'm just detecting a lie on him. The tattoo appears itself on her body, not me" Rendy replied. Nero turns to Cerlina, hoping she gets some clarity from him, but the girl is just as confused.

"Nee?" call Kezia.

"You look sincere. Since Bibi has also given permission, I will not want to help you," he said as he tore his palm with a small knife until blood flowed to the ground. Slowly a sprout emerged from the blood, growing to the size of a human and flowering. The axe they were looking for lay just above the flower's stamen. Carefully Rendy picked up the thing and placed it on her shoulder.

"Let's go" said Rendy.

"Huh? Where to?" ask Nero in wonder.

"To place the crystal, right? You need me to mine, Your Majesty," Rendy said as she stuck out her tongue. "I think you need to help her, she looks.empty."

Nero turned, looking at Cerlina's empty face, as if her spirit was not there. But his eyes shining like jewels caught his attention.

"Nee? Nee!" call Kezia while shaking Cerlina strong enough. The girl blinked her eyes many times and looked at Kezia.

"To...zia?"

"Nee! Huwe, nee scared me!" sahut Kezia hugged him as tightly as possible. The light of his eyes began to dim, his face again showing off the hue of life.

"What's going on?" ask Cerlina.

"Ck ck, I think the energy still rejects it" Rendy murmured. 'Even so, the holy aura from him was able to make me shudder.'

"The story is complicated, we'd better get going. Rendy will help us" Nero said as he helped her stand up.

"Well..lho, what is this tattoo?" sahut Cerlina while looking at it with surprise mixed with surprise.

"You don't know?" ask Nero.

"I don't know anything about this" Cerlina replied hesitantly.

"You can find the answer later, let's go. My time is too precious to waste" said Rendy impatiently.

"Ah, fine. Please hold this," Cerlina replied as she clasped the shawl. Those who were confused immediately held onto the silk scarf. Cerlina flicked her finger and immediately teleported right on the connecting bridge.

"Ugh, I hate teleportation," Rendy complained as she held her stomach. "It's uncomfortable."

"Sorry, this is the fastest way I can. Then..where is it?" cerlina said while circulating his gaze.

"Stand, what? Dragon you said?" ask Nero in shock. A gigantic shadow flashed across their heads, then the sound of a huge object descended with a strong wind following. As soon as they opened their eyes, a dragon was already standing before them.

"Dragon! The dragon! Nii, dragon!" sahut Kezia girang's.

"Gosh, that's huge. How could...Cerlina, what magic did you use to tame this dragon?" ask Nero.

"Uhh, the story is long, we should leave immediately," Cerlina said as she extended her hand to the dragon. The creature immediately lowered its head to make it easier for them to climb onto its wide back.

"I didn't expect to see any more dragons, it's rare too" Rendy said as she climbed cautiously.

"Aren't you wandering?" chirps Cerlina.

"Ah, did you hear from Uncle Daniel? Well, but dragons can only be found in the Careol region, so there's no way I can enter at will" Rendy replied.

"Considerate. Is everything ready?" ask Cerlina while checking everything.

"Ready!" sahut Kezia's. Without waiting for long, the dragon spread its wings and took off from the bridge.