Ashton glanced over Noelle, "I imagine you are correct princess, if anything Smyrna might use this humbling experience to… learn respect? Especially if they are going to ask for assistance in the coming days."
Noelle gave a knowing smile, "Ah, that does make sense. I happen to have heard of some Smyrnaean rebel sympathizers, I might even have the name of one or two nobles who have reached out for support."
Rommel raised a brow as a grin spread across his face, "I did receive the most interesting letter the other day, a request for a meeting. Not to mention… I might know where that sixth tier summoning spell was commissioned."
Sebastian took a deep breath, so… the information was out there, Smyrna just didn't have the rapport to access it.
Lucian glared at the children, clearly, they were taking advantage of Ashton's protection.
Ashton only gave a light smile, "How does the saying go? The weak are meat, the strong do eat. Or… might makes right? I recall hearing that phrase more than once from the guards and soldiers."
Jaxon glanced at Leonard they both knew Bert had ordered a rigorous retraining after the fiasco of a journey from Palmer to the capital. Unfortunately, the mindset was fairly common that any nation should bao their heads to Smyrna… they just could not catch a break.
Lucian drew himself to his full height, "Is that not the way of the world?"
Ashton languidly rolled out so his arms were over the edge of the nest and he was looking at the sky, then he let his head fall so the world was upside down. "Many seem to believe so…" Ashton trailed off.
Lucian watched Ashton's nonchalant dismissal, "You are also throwing your weight around. Is your pride not hurt from the hypocrisy?"
Ashton burst into laughter, then narrowed his eyes. A moment later he was chest to chest with Lucian. "Lucian, if I was throwing my weight around, the empire would have been forced to submit or burn. Then again… no beast in their right mind would stay make this cursed land their home." Ashton sneered with a deliberate look around.
Lucian didn't waver from the silver eyes, "I doubt you have strength for such a feat. Young Song."
Ashton kept his eyes narrowed, but his smile grew.
Lucian's breath caught when the smile became inhumanly wide… and Ashton's hair started to stiffen and bristle. Lucian also saw Ashton's skin start to slightly rise around his eyes under the mask as the heat became nearly unbearable.
Even the sudden heat couldn't stop Zane from paling as the entire capital was surrounded in a dome of silver fire. He jumped up to see all the gates were like torches as people started screaming. Mages were immediately putting up shields of wind and water.
"Speak with care, or do you dare, risk their lyves for your vain pride?" Ashton's body faded into flames as it danced around Lucian, only the mask was tangible as the flames curled around Lucian.
"The capital to burn, the empire will learn, to challenge my pride, I will humble your might."
Lucian's sweat was evaporating so quickly he felt as if he were in a steamer, when a hand of flames pointed toward the main city gate… it collapsed into ash. Slowly the gates started blowing away in all directions.
"Scorch the earth without question, for nary an objection, do you dare hold your tongue, and hope for my strength you'll outrun?" Ashton asked as the flames started to move off the walls and toward the palace.
Lucian glared Ashton in the eye, "You wouldn't dare."
Ashton swirled so he was eye to eye with Lucian, while his flames spiraled around Lucian's body, "The hoard will stay safe, for your curse I won't break." Soon the flames were moving noticeably closer.
Devlin realized the ceiling of the dome was also shrinking, but he still shot up to survey the damage. After the flames passed all that was left was smoldering ashes, surprisingly it seemed like some of the trees had been left alone but all the roads, noble villas, shops were being incinerated upon contact.
Devlin clenched his jaw, putting out this much fire… was impossible unless the castor was distracted. Even then… they would have to deal with the residual flames which wouldn't be so finely controlled. Devlin took a deep breath then started casting the strongest water spell he was capable of.
Ashton glanced up as Devlin started his spell, "Ember, the children." A moment later seven overlapping barriers surrounded the lordlings.
"STOP THE FIRE ASHTON!" Devlin roared when his spell was ready, when there was no answer, he unleased three spiraling water columns directly at Ashton.
The silver flames around Lucian were momentarily parted, but soon formed a human figure while Lucian had been carried away by the impact. Ashton glanced up but ignored Devlin to drift back over to Lucian who was being helped up by Jaxon.
Jaxon and more than a dozen guards were surrounding Lucian as spells were fired at Ashton. While the flames dispersed, they quickly reformed. Soon, the flames grew morphing into a bird that stood at least twenty feet tall.
"Lucian~, will your arrogance outlast my endurance, or will your nonchalance end my benevolence?" Ashton's voice went from singsong common to ethereally beautiful Smyrnaean.
"ASHTON! STOP THIS!!! YOU SWORE NOT TO BRING NO HARM!!!" Devlin shouted as he flew down to put himself between Lucian and the giant bird. The bird's head tilted to the side, while Devlin was already forming an ice spell.
"The royals, the nobles, the people unharmed, but the land and the country, my oath does discard." Ashton teased in common again, "Your challenge I answer, your cries I do dance for, your people who suffer, are yours to recover."
Devlin wasn't sure if he was sweating from the sheer heat Ashton was putting off, or the idea of the capital going up in flames before the Fae returned, "Ashton, please stop, we believe you!" Devlin promised holding the spell ready but hesitating to attack again.
Ashton stopped moving closer tilting his head again, "Your honor in tatters, faith left in you shatters, you must be humbler, for my fires to slumber."
Jaxon was also standing between Ashton and Lucian, but he could see the walls of fire closing in slowly. He estimated nearly a hundred yards from the gates had already been scorched. Even from the palace garden he could hear screaming.
Lucian was still rattled by Devlin's attack, even though it had been an indirect hit and only swept him away the force of hitting the ground then wall had been breath taking in the worst ways. Unfortunately, being dazed was the least of his problems. The heat emanating from Ashton was starting to crack the earth. Lucian's rapidly drying clothes felt like they were melting to his skin, and all the while he could hear screams. The constant, endless, bellowing screams. For a moment Lucian wasn't sure if they were only in his head… or from those around him.
Jaxon glanced back at Lucian, it was becoming painful to breathe the near boiling air. Even without Ashton coming closer the water was evaporating, the grass had withered, ground dried like a drought, even the chairs were starting to melt.
Lucian almost winced with how tightly Leonard was gripping his arm in his attempts to drag him further back. Since he was still a descendant of a dragon, his ability to endure the heat was several times better than the guards.
Leonard was already turning red, a few guards had already discarded their armor. "Ma-jesty," Leonard was barely able to choke the word out with how dry his mouth was already. He felt as if he'd been swallowing burning sand, his lips were already cracked and he could barely keep his eyes open from not only the heat, but the light.
Lucian watched as just that one word had Leonard's lip crack and bleed, but the blood dried before even reaching his chin. Several guards also had minor burns just from their armor turning red hot. Lucian realized… even if Ashton couldn't burn the capital… they wouldn't survive long enough to call his bluff.
Devlin's skin was already starting to redden like a nasty sun burn, "STOP IT ASHTON! DON'T FORCE MY HAND!" He roared over the screaming and wailing, he couldn't keep the spell contained much longer, either he would have to release it, or let it disperse.
Ashton tilted his head that was the size of Devlin's torso, "Your choices do dwindle, my embers rekindle, so make now your elections, I will destroy your deceptions."
Devlin gritted his teeth, but unleased his ice webs. Unfortunately, they not only passed right through Ashton's flames landing behind him, but the ice immediately evaporated. What hit the ground were only the edges that hadn't made contact with the bird's form. Devlin didn't hesitate to start casting an ice fog in hopes of at least lowering the temperature.
Ashton glanced at the growing fog that was quickly evaporating, then swept one wing toward the group. While there wasn't any power behind it, the sheer heat had destroyed Devlin's concentration causing a backlash.
Devlin crumpled to his knees and coughed up blood as Ashton started to move closer. "St. op…" he groaned, the cement was so hot he felt his hand searing.
"Our dies all now cast, either my fires to faulter, or knees you will bend, we await now the fate, our choices are made." Ashton shook his feathers out, while they weren't real… the flame representation of his soul was… liberating in a way.
Leonard's hand was starting to sizzle from the cape buckle he'd been gripping inadvertently, he let go only to see the imperial dragon insignia branded into half his palm. To add to his horror, the ground wasn't just cracking… it was starting to melt around Ashton.
Jaxon had to squint but could see the flame dome closing in, at least 500 yards had now been scorched and there was no indication of Ashton faltering. If anything, the bird seemed… amused by the chaos raining down on them.
Neolani was funneling mana and ensuring all the seven separate barriers were stable. The layers were stacked Ice, wind, ice, wind, ice, water, wind so the heat was dissipated several times, but then water would keep the air hydrated for their comfort.
Agapi was curled around the tables maintaining the last barrier, if the young ones failed, she would immediately take them and leave the area. She glanced at the dome of fire, she should be able to shield them long enough to pass through.
Zane was doing his best to keep a pleasant smile as the Inago refilled their chilled drinks, while the temperature had risen… it was more akin to sitting in the sun on a chilly morning. Just outside the barrier the garden had already withered, and the bush closest to Ashton had caught fire.
Lucera was sipping her iced tea while no less than two dozen Inago warriors channeled mana into the six outermost barriers, then the gryphon was tensed while holding the air barrier. To have even two mages cooperating was a feat, though they weren't perfect, each layer was stronger than what even their elite mage squadrons could manage.
Melia smiled at the nobles, while a few kept their poker faces well, most were staring in a mixture of awe and horror. Melia used her bangs to cover her eyes as she watched not only the Smyrnaean prince, but the Hazel. Something about Hazel's reaction… was off.
Serafin was only standing because of his grip on the table. Most of the garden was empty since everyone not surrounding his father had escaped, his mother and grandfather were seen hiding behind the closest building's pillar.
Alexei turned to the Smyrnaeans, "Do anything foolish, and we'll just throw you out of the barriers.
Leonard watched as two more guards had collapsed, faces tanning as if they were drying leather that had been left in the sun. Using his left hand, since his right was cradled to his chest, he pulled on Lucian's cloak. They could not endure.
Jaxon's ability to endure the heat wasn't as strong as Lucian's, he crumbled to a knee and had to stifle a scream of agony as he felt like he'd just knelt on branding iron. "Lucian, huff, huff, we …can't."
Lucian reached out to pull Jaxon up, Devlin's body was starting to smoke. He gritted his teeth as he watched the bird inspect his wings. "I yield!" Lucian finally roared out, the bird halted, then swung its head to face them.
Ashton stopped counting his adult feathers and looked up, while he stopped the dome from closing in any closer, he didn't let his flames die out just yet. "Then kneel." Ashton continued forward so he had to lean his neck down to be face to face with Lucian.
Lucian clenched his jaw so hard he could taste blood. Lucian stepped in front of Jaxon, then lowered himself to one knee. "I was wrong." He didn't break eye contact.
Ashton lifted his left talon and rested it on Lucian's head, pushing it down, "You challenged my Pride Lucian, now I humble yours."
Even when he'd been tortured in the church, he'd never baod his head, now… to have knelt of his own free will…
"Be grateful the price for this lesson is your pride, my next lesson will cost at least a life." Ashton informed removing his talon. He turned away to look over to the lordlings. Ashton flapped his wings once and the fire dome extinguished while he drew the heat into himself.
Jaxon didn't pale from the temperature difference, but at the look Ashton was giving the children. "Wha-t?"
Ashton settled his feathers as he made his way over to the barriers, he stopped directly over Monroe, "Kin of the dragon would be a substantial snack, weak as it is."
Monroe fell back as he paled, for the first time he genuinely feared for his life.
Leonard stared at the Inago hoping for some sign Ashton was joking. But Neolani's expression only hardened while sizing Monroe and the others up. Alexei looked as if he were ready to slice them into bite sized pieces.
Jaxon forced himself up, "No," While it came out as barely more than a croak, he'd been firm.
Ashton looked over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes, "Fortunately, I'm not asking." Ashton turned back to Monroe while he concentrated his flames to look human, though he was larger than even Alexei.
Neolani tensed, she wasn't sure if she should let Ashton in the way he is now. It was common for beasts to eat humans… but the idea of watching Ashton eat another human was… disturbing.