Chapter 7: Secret Meeting

The aching pain in her heart made the restless tears drip down her face once again. Wiping it away, she stumbles to get up from the ground. Walking past him she puts down the ointment on his dresser. "Please use whatever is left of it to treat your wounds." With those words she walked out of his room. 

As soon as the door closes, Eric sighs in relief. He was glad to finally get rid of Ruby. He knew that if he didn't open the door, she wouldn't leave him alone. It was best to have her come into his room and be done with it. How he wish she would just disappear. 

Eric thought to himself that it be best for him to go to the frontline for the next few years. He needed to avoid the growing problem. Especially her. Through the next few years, it will give him enough time to cool off.

During those times he will grow stronger and more powerful. When he comes back with victory in hand, then the Emperor won't be able to hold onto him anymore. He will be known as the Prince Regent. He has too. Only then, can he do as he wish. He can annul the engagement with Ruby, and he finally be able to marry his beloved Samantha. 

The door creaked again. 

"I told you to leave me alone!" shouted Eric. 

"Prince Eric," said Simon his right hand man. 

"What is it?"

"The Emperor have summoned you."

"Oh."

"And-" Simon looked at him with weary eyes.

"What is it?"

"The Emperor have also summoned the four clans."

Eric frowned at the comment. "Do you know why?"

"It have something to do with the Demon and Fallen Clan."

"The previous Emperor already subdue them. So, what's the issue?"

"I'm not sure."

Eric's frown deepened as he thought about the previous emperor. His grandfather, the mighty Theo Thompson who led the war, fought alongside the other clans against the Demon and Fallen clan. Through the one hundred years of battle, he finally chopped off the head of the Demon clan and won the war. Thus, crowning him as the Emperor, and the Dragon Empire was forged.

Eric frowned and said, "Tell him I'm busy." 

"Ah... Prince Eric."

"What is it?"

"The Emperor also summon Miss Samantha Wild as well."

Shocked, Eric grabbed his coat and ran out the door. 

As Ruby was getting ready to leave, she saw Eric running out of his room. He seems to be running to the great hall of the Emperor. 

Ruby thought, "Where is he going in the middle of the night? Should I follow him? Maybe, I should follow him, in secret." Ruby summons a spell and turn invisible. She quickly followed him closely behind. 

Eric's pace quickened as he got closer to the palace's hall. 

When Eric got there, he was out of breath. The four clans were all gathered at the great hall. The three princes were also there. Everyone was staring at him in silence. Comprehending himself he straighten himself up.

He looked around and saw Samantha. She looked unharmed and seemed to be well. He nodded in recognition of seeing her.

Ruby frowned in annoyance as she saw them exchanging glances. She snuck in through the door before it closed. 

The Emperor said, "Now that everyone is here, let us start the meeting."

"Emperor, today we are calling this meeting for an important detail we have gathered. The Hellhounds have combined forces with the Demon and Fallen Clan. They are gathering at our border as we speak," said a big, muscular, and tall built man. The leader of the clan was, Duke Leon Leopard of the Black Tiger Clan.

"How certain are you that the Hellhounds have combine forces?"

"We're pretty positive."

"As far as I know, the Hellhounds have hated the Demon and Fallen Clan, so why would they all of a sudden joined forces?"

"We're not sure neither." 

"Hmm," frowned the Emperor. 

"We must send someone to defend the border," said another man. He was small, hunchback, with mustache hanging from both side of his lips. He is bald with small white strokes of hair on his head. Duke Elon Slow of the Green Tortoise Clan. Despite being the youngest of them all, he looks older than the rest of them, 

"We must win this war, or at least try to prevent it from happening," said Duke Leopard. 

"Yes. Even after a hundred years we still haven't recovered."

"I agree with what Leon and Elon said," commented the leader of the Vermillion Clan, Duke Henry Wild. Samantha's grandfather have red hair with green eyes, he have a serious feature that help him stand out from the crowd. 

"I was thinking of sending my son, Prince Eric, the best swordsman of the Blue Dragon Clan to the battlefield. He is also the best magician and have the strongest spiritual power of the Southern Border. He will do well in leading the battles. I hope his strategies and combat skills will turn this war victorious."

Everyone didn't make a comment as they all knew what the Emperor said was true. Eric was considered to be a genius of this era. At the age of three he was able to wield a sword, by the time he turned six he was able to conjure up magical powers that his seniors could not. When he was twelve, he was able to handle fully grown monsters and demons. Now at his age, he is able to take on full battles as he is highly skilled in strategy. He was one of the very first to max out his energy level of his spiritual power, the Blue Dragon. 

Ruby's hand clutch to her chest as she hears that Eric was going to the frontline. It seems that this war was unavoidable. She didn't want him to go. She was feeling uneasy. 

The Emperor continue to say, "However, I do request that from each clan, bring forth their best man or woman to go with him to war."

Ruby sighed in relief as she was happy that he wasn't going to be alone and there will be others to help him and guide him to victory. 

"Alright," said everyone.

"I do have a request," said Duke Slow.

"Go ahead," replied the Emperor.

"For as long as we know each and every clan have their own special abilities, and very few carry these bloodline. If we happen to find anyone out there who have different abilities or different aspect of energy, let's recruit them as well." 

"I agree. There are many talents out there we haven't seen yet. So, we should hold a competition every year to see who have potential, skills, magic, spiritual power, and so forth to join the forces of the Southern Border, Dragon Empire," stated Leopard. 

"Wise choose there. I do agree. The more talents we can recruit the better. There can never be any shortage of men," said the Emperor.

They all nodded.

"Alright, get ready to leave tomorrow," said the Emperor waving his hand at them.

"Yes, Emperor," said everyone. 

"Dismissed." 

"Oh, Emperor, I do have a matter to discuss with you," said Duke Henry.

"Yes, what is it?" asked the Emperor.

"As you are well aware the scandalous that happened this afternoon, I want an explanation."