Watch the queen.

A voice rings out across the entire audience. You've heard it before.

"Greetings, people of Avana. I am Lady Isabelle Turner, knight of Tivera and guardian of the royal family," she speaks. It carries easily through the sky via something familiar in her hand. Just like back at the Sports Festival, she grips a magic item resembling a microphone. It amplifies her words, rather clearly, to be hard far and wide across the park and beyond. "I'm honoured to be speaking with you all once again."

She isn't alone on the stage. Around her are several guards, and a lush red carpet has been placed directly in the center. Ribbons hang down from the tent roof above, and behind her is a man gripping a trumpet. He brings it up, purses his lips, and play what sounds like a segment of a song that everybody clearly knows, or at least they're aware that now they're expected to be silent, and await the coming of their queen.

Meanwhile, a shadow moves amongst the crowd.

As preparations continue, you watch eagerly, though something in the back of your mind tips you off to the sudden coming of figure behind. Whoever it is, they're weaving between the people of the audience, and either coming in your direction, or worst case scenario, carving a path to the stage. You ready yourself for anything, though you dare not tip the people around you off to potential trouble as to not create chaos.

"Without further delay, please welcome the reigning monarch of our fair nation, a woman who not only fought for her throne, but for the very people she swore to protect. I surrender the stage to you, Queen Catherine II," she says with an arm to her breastplate. She bows low, and extends the magical microphone forth to be retrieved.

Through the roar of applause, the shadow emerges.

Like a shape of sentient darkness, the dress she wears is jet black with a flourish at the feet, and a high cut all the way to her upper thigh on the rightmost side--a window to reveal that she wears fishnet stockings, and heels with crimson soles. It starkly contrasts pale flesh, far beyond what is normally human--nearly pure white. Her collar is incredibly deep. It reaches down nearly to her belly button, exposing quite a generous view of her cleavage. While the sleeves are short and end with a frill, she wears elbow-length gloves. Around her neck is a silver chain, which ends in a familiar pendent--a ruby wolf head. Her hair such a dusky shade of red that it appears almost entirely black apart from highlights when the light hits it just right, and it's neatly groomed with waves down to curled tips mid-torso, and her eyes are boldly traced with liner like a cat.

Atop her head is a wide-brimmed hat, shading much of her body from what little sun is left, though she's further covered my a parasol to match.

Though she's dressed differently today, there's no mistaking who she is. The moment your eyes turned, you knew it was Cat, also known as the first Queen Catherine from generations past. As a vampire, she isn't a fan of the sun, though thankfully evening has come, and it doesn't burn her skin. It only weakens her powers, and makes her incredibly uncomfortable. Even with what light remains, she'd prefer to cover herself in shadow, though that also may be an attempt to conceal her identity as well. While the only immediate tell someone is a vampire is their deathly pale skin, some may grow suspicious, especially with her sharp fangs upon the opening of her dark painted, lush lips.

"I didn't expect to see you here," you say.

Nyllia looks over.

Xiaoqing heightens her guard. She leans to you and whispers, "She's from Castle Phoenix, right? I think I remember seeing her."

You nod.

"I go where I wish," says Cat. "I was hesitant to come, I admit. I don't exactly deserve to stand before the queen. But something brought me here regardless. Mm. I see you three have been enjoying yourselves."

"Hey, Cat. You've helped us a lot," you reply. "You--"

"There's no need to sugar coat it, Kyle. I've done terrible things, and for a long time. Just because that within the last month or two, I've suddenly stopped and moved on to other things, doesn't magically erase my past. A recent past. I shouldn't have to explain further. You were even one I was trying to kill."

She ruled as Vampire Queen within a castle southeast of here, for I don't know how long, with a small legion of vampires that followed her every whim. Those creatures of the night have taken lives, and terrorized travellers as well as residents of Brumberg. Not only that, but she started making moves on the throne. She sent a high doppel to insert itself into the royal family in order to remove key members, such as the court wizard and others, with the intent to eventually kidnap or slay Queen Catherine II. From what I understand, the goal was to then claim the crown by blood relation, as she would technically be the next in line as the oldest member of the entire family.

Cat was a villain, and she was punished accordingly. We held her in captivity, or more specifically Mistress Dajy did that. After being her toy for long enough, however, we decided to release her from that fate. But over time, she turned a new leaf. I don't know if it was from seeing us and what we were doing, or reality caught up to her. Either way, I trust her now, but she's not wrong. Of all people at Castle Phoenix, she's likely done the worst in her past.

Also, her and Vivi dated for a time. Weird coincidence. Small world. It's funny to imagine a short mischievous witch being the first one capable of taming a powerful high vampire.

"I don't seek forgiveness. I'll simply spend my days atoning," she says.

At last, the queen herself appears on stage. Lady Turner has retreated in the background, and Queen Catherine II stands proud with the magical trinket grasped between her fingers. She wears exactly what you saw her in last--the crimson dress, a circlet of gold. She's truly fit for her role--sexy yet imposing, the mighty true queen of Tivera. Just like with the woman before, when Catherine speaks, her voice booms across the audience. She raises a hand and says, "I greet you, my people!"

You glance briefly back over to Cat. In so many subtle ways, you can tell they're directly related.

She continues. "We have been through much in our past, but for us to have pulled through such a grand invasion with so few casualties and so little destruction, compared to what could have been, I have never been more proud to call myself Tiveran. Heroic hearts stepped up to protect what we hold dearest. Each other. And they continue to do so as we rebuild, and we mourn what was lost. Though you may fear that such a thing could happen again, though I say that now, we have never been stronger. Nobody should dare to challenge us again. And I will make certain that no evil **** near our borders will grow in secret as it once did."

The crowd goes wild.

Meanwhile, however, you sense another incoming presence.

You see him first. Unless of course, he knew exactly where to find you. Emerging from between the rest of the audience is a man about the same age as yourself, clad majorly in white. It's William Cresswell, just as Rose mentioned before.

Both hands are slipped into his coat pockets and he approaches your group nonchalant to where nobody else notices or cares. His black hair is slicked back, and he wears a golden ring on each ear further decorated by a blue jewel. Beneath his coat is a green-tinted silver breastplate. Blue eyes peer out behind a pair of glasses, and they glance about in every direction, analyzing and observing everything around him. At his side is a beautiful silver blade.

He withdraws both his hands once stopped a step ahead of you, and to the side. There are a number of rings on his fingers as always. One you remember flashed when he conjured up his own Frost Blade, meaning he had some other way of accessing a similar altered spell you now have. On his opposite hand, you look to the one he used to absorb the fallen Sa'dis and Elok Daven after their defeat. It looks more like stainless steel than a previous metal, with two parallel, pale blue crystals. It seems he doesn't really care much to hide any longer. You've seen what he can do, and the same goes the other way around.

You speak first. "Are you here as one of the heroes of Tivera, William?" you ask.

"I only came to watch," he answers. "I don't have the same sort of rapport here as yourself. In fact, the more people who know me, the more of a problem it would likely become."

He is apparently still the Demon King of the southwest, where the free cities are. I don't know how much his face or true name is known like mine was. He probably takes more of a backseat compared to what I've been doing.

Between the queen's words, you speak again, though your eyes remain on the stage ahead. "William."

"What is it?" he asks.

"What exactly are you planning?"

He pauses. "That's a bold yet vague question."

"It's only vague if you want it to be. I'm not an idiot. For a long time now, all I've wanted is to enjoy myself. Be happy, surround myself with loved ones, in a world where we're safe. But you're strategic. Ambitious. You've been making moves this whole time, from absorbing our foes, to gathering magic items, or even spying on me. Don't think I forgot that."

"For the latter point, I wouldn't have been insulted if you did the same in turn. I simply like to know all that's going on."

"Don't jerk me around, William."

"You've grown. So have I. We've both become stronger, and we have the ability to make a difference in this world. Yes I'm doing my own thing, but I haven't hurt you. In fact, I've helped you on occasion. You keep to yourself, and I keep to myself. There's nothing wrong with that."

He's not entirely wrong. I know he's always scheming, but hasn't made any sort of outright attack us. I just can't trust this guy. But on the other hand, I can't go after him just because I don't know what he's doing. I'll just have to be ready if he actually does try something weird one day.

Also it's kinda hard to spy on someone who has a flying house.

That being said, Peony has greatly bolstered the surrounding forest. Between that, the Shard of Draconax, and all the people who now live at Castle Phoenix, I don't think I need to worry about spies anymore anyway. Maybe that bothers him. I doubt he'd admit it.

"There are so many people here in the Empire of Tivera I would call heroes," the queen continues her speech. "From our brave guards, to the adventurers out there who used their experience fighting monsters to combat the various creatures who threatened our homes. But there is one particular individual to whom I owe my very life. He started by serving as an honorary knight, but he vastly surpassed my expectations, and even saved me in the time when I was dethroned by the wicked Thadius. Not only that, but if it wasn't for his effort, and the strength of both him and his people, we may not have stood a chance against the Demon King's army. Many of you likely know who I speak of already. He was once deemed a wanted man, but let it be known by word of the queen, that the Hero King, Kyle Warren, was never a criminal, and will always be welcome in the Empire of Tivera! Though he stands amongst you as just another human, in my eyes, he is akin to the god-like men of legend. If you will, my dearest Kyle, please join me on this stage now so that the people may hear your voice."

William turns an eye. "It looks like that's your cue, Hero King."

With a pat of your shoulder, Nyllia smiles and gives your cheek a kiss. "I believe in you."

You look to Xiaoqing. She returns your gaze with a smile and an affirming nod.

Both of them are still squeezing their prizes from before.

Meanwhile, Cat simply watches.

As you step forth, an ocean of eyes turn in a wave across the crowd. They start realizing what the queen meant by a human amongst them. You're standing right there. Without needing to raise a hand, the sea parts way, and a path leads straight through them up to the stage.