Blowing through leaves and grass, the chilly winds of fall caressed the wild and lush greenery that was once more present in the Mir Mountains.
They encompassed hundreds and thousands of miles stretching from the entrance until the unknown.
This time, the birds were chirping as they sat on the trees. Crickets started sounding as the dusk was soon to come and the silent dance of the small flowers perched on various hills serenaded the senses of anyone who sees them.
One could not believe that more than half a year ago, an enormous catastrophe had befallen upon the area after the sovereign phoenix had nestled in its tallest mountain and set the monsters in a fervent desire for destruction and rampage. Yet right now, all that's left were the calm and serene environment without the presence of any enormous and scary monsters.
Instead, harmony was restored in the place.
"Today is a beautiful day, isn't it?" A man wearing a cape and armor spoke as he held his sword quite loosely.
"It is, brother, I never knew the Mir Mountains could be this beautiful!" The child accompanying him as they patrolled the borders spoke.
"The Mir Mountains have always been a beautiful and astounding territory. Only the monsters living here made it quite scary," He admitted making the child's eyes sparkle.
"Is it true that the young master- I mean, His Majesty had slain all of the monsters here?" Caleb asked wherein Gideon affirmed by nodding his head.
"It is true. The moment His Majesty had gone missing from the kingdom, he went here to save the vampires that resided on the second mountains and are on the threat of losing their homes due to the monsters," Gideon smiled when he remembered the sight he saw after arriving in the territory.
Monsters left and right was frozen in complete solid ice and ice spikes were pierced through their bodies inside.
"Wow, His Majesty is incredibly powerful!"
"He is. No other humans could rival him when it comes to magic and he knows how to rule the vampires too!" The knight smiled happily.
"I heard today was the day when they will announce a new prince in the kingdom, brother. Do you know who he is?" Caleb inquired and Gideon only shrugged his shoulders.
Raegan had been kept a secret for a month now ever since Pier and Ciaran got him.
Though the vampires had been suspecting of another creature amongst the royals after they constantly heard Ciaran command them not to enter the uncharted territories since he would be training.
It was quite a lame excuse but they really did not care either. Ciaran does not have to train in the uncharted territories of the Mir Mountains because he wouldn't be able to get stronger.
The vampire king needs stronger opponents for him to grow and the Mir Mountains were no longer an option for him to train.
It couldn't be Pier either because it was the same reason as the vampire king.
They are both strong enough to wipe out the remaining monsters on the uncharted territories without breaking a sweat but still did not do so.
Citizens of the Mir Kingdom had insisted they were the ones who will do the clearing.
It only left one explanation as to why the vampire king decided to explore the hidden territories.
King Ciaran was training a new member of the royal family.
They were excited and giddy about the thought of it.
Did they somehow break the limits of nature and was able to produce offspring of their own?
That would be the best option for them.
Having a prince that the vampires can call their prince seems like a new era that the citizens can all love after the two kings.
"I wish to become friends with the new prince," Caleb suggested and Gideon thought about it.
Though Raegan had been polite and well-mannered when he was with his fathers and him, he knew the dragon was hostile to strangers.
'But of course, these are his people. His majesty will teach Raegan the appropriate manners,' Gideon thought.
"You might become friends with the new prince if you train hard enough, Caleb," He spoke and ruffled Caleb's hair.
"I will, brother!"
Gideon did not really know as to why Pier had insisted to keep Caleb by his side. From what the child had told him, Pier and Caleb met only for a single time in the palace where Pier gave the child a golden coin and taught him how to play the small guitar.
But he guessed Caleb would soon play a big role in one of his master's plays.
"Let's head back. The ceremony will start a few hours from now, right?" Caleb nodded his head and the two started to go back to the palace where the event will be held.
---
"This is... beautiful..." One vampire named Ed spoke as he was walking in the gardens of the palace where the ceremony will be held.
The contrast of white and cream-colored cloth lines was woven like the ocean waves on top of the garden to serve as shade for the attendees and the flowers were in full bloom despite the season being in fall.
Comfortable chairs with cushions that reach up to a thousand are also spread across the avenue as tables covered with cream-colored cloth were accompanying the chairs.
In each table were napkins and a vase of a purple-colored flower that the vampires knew all too well.
"I agree. I have always seen the palace as a beautiful place but the one in front of my eyes surpassed my expectations!" Anna, a female vampire accompanying Ed affirmed the former's statements and they started to head inside the venue first.
"Do you think our kings have finally produced a child?" Ed asked but Anna shook her head.
"I doubt it but I am hoping. However, even though the new addition to the Royal Family is not from their own bloodline, if our kings love him then it is our duty to love him as well," She spoke and Ed nodded his head.
They then sat on the seats located near the palace's entrance and soon the other vampires started arriving.
Everyone was tasked to wear beautiful garments to accompany the celebration. The usual black cloaks and leather boots were dismissed by the vampire king.
Instead, the wearing of proper and beautiful suits and dresses have been instructed.
Each vampire that came inside the venue wore luxurious suits and dresses. Fine pieces of jewelry are dangling from their different body parts and the beautifully decorated garden was filled with sparkling and beautiful guests.
This is the only kingdom in the continent where no one is suffering from poverty.
Each and every vampire was allocated with their own supplements of jewelry and money in order to provide for themselves.
They were grateful to the two kings for that and in return, they offered the excess jewels and stones they can find to the two.
Greed did not surpass their love and admiration for their rulers.
Caleb and Gideon then approached the venue now with their suits and proper clothes.
The swordmaster wore a black three-piece suit and on one of his fingers was a ring with a blue sapphire gem while Caleb wore a smaller version of Gideon's suit.
"I wish this kingdom existed before. I will surely live here," The child muttered and Gideon silently agreed.
The Kingdom of Mir was a beautiful territory that is always filled with harmony and peace.
Everyone respects one another and the rulers are benevolent yet strict enough to not let any crimes pass.
No one is hungry.
No one is in poverty.
Though the kingdom is only composed of more than a thousand citizens and slowly increasing, it was able to provide them with the right number of necessities and will do so for more years to come.
Everywhere you look, fruits are present and can be consumed at any time.
The forests are well-preserved as to not disturb the natural ecosystem living in the territory for millions of years ago.
If they needed wood and had to cut down trees, the trees would be immediately replaced with new ones along with the help of magic, which will grow rapidly throughout the years.
Even though it was slightly dark due to the towering trees that covered the skies, it was not a problem at all. In fact, the darkness provided solace for the vampires who love to be in peace and away from the bright sun.
It also added to the atmosphere of the place.
The darkness mixed well with the cream color themed venue and occasional zephyrs blew left and right making the dangling table clothes sway.
"I wish for the rest of the years we would live that the Kingdom of Mir would stand in prosperity and development," Ed shared his sentiments.
"Our Kings will rule over us with justice and integrity," Anna added.
All the vampires who heard them speak agreed and even the ones that were humans did so too.
Ciaran had been their chief ever since the man was four and until he turned to his current age, he had carried the burden of his village within his shoulders and fought with his life.
He knew how to rule but he was sometimes reckless and impatient. He was hot-headed too.
The vampires thought that at one point, Ciaran would give up on them and live on his own since they were basically baggage unto the vampire king.
But then, another miracle happened for them.
It was the other king.
Pier taught Ciaran how to love his people and be mindful of his duties. He made the vampire king learn how to be patient.
Their white-haired king taught Ciaran Fenrir how to be a good ruler and that's one of the reasons why despite being human, everyone loved Pier.
He was like a shining star that aided their prince in the path of darkness.
"I wonder what the new prince looks like." Ed and Anna agreed about the same thing.
It was big news inside the territory.
Initially, only two royals exist in the Kingdom of Mir and that was Ciaran and Pier.
In the course of just five months, Ciaran and Pier ruled the territory like no other. Now, another one was going to add with the family and the vampires were all expecting.
"I bet he is as masculine and handsome as King Ciaran!"
"I disagree. Having the Crown Prince of our kingdom take after the image of our King Pier would be better. Wise, rational, and benevolent. Garnering the looks that put the fairies' beauty into shame and is the epitome of perfection! Our prince would surely be a worldwide sensation like him!"
"What if he takes after King Ciaran? Chocolate brown hair and serene viridescent eyes! Such a handsome young man with an astounding build!"
"Oh, any appearance of our prince would be nice. As long as our kings love him, we shall do so too."
The vampires started to argue with one another and though it was a friendly argument, they were quite serious as to what they favored in the prince's appearance.
Nevertheless, they will still love the new addition to the Royal Family.
Dusk would soon fall and the palace's front garden was becoming fuller every second that passed by.
Children were playing with each other as they waited for the event to start.
"Shh, everyone! It will soon start!"
The noise reverberating around the front garden started to die down and the vampires all watched with anticipating eyes.
Excitement coursed through their veins when the kings announced they now have a son and now here they are, waiting for him to be revealed.
What could be better than having a prince next in line to the throne and completing the bond of the two kings?
They were finally a family.
The Kingdom of Mir's Royal Family would soon arise and their names shall be known throughout the territory and the world.
It was then, the already dark surroundings became darker with a shade of yellow and orange.
The sun trying to pierce through the green lush situated at the skies of the territory altered its color into that of dusks and that signified the beginning of the ceremony.
But that's not where it ended.
All the flowers that were placed in vases on each table started to emit a beautiful glow.
When the night came, these flowers that could be found alone on the palace's garden gleamed brightly and illuminated the marvelous structure in an array of pleasant lights that made it look like an enchanted place meant only for the most beautiful and deserving individuals.
"Wow..." They all spoke in awe as they watched the flowers glow.
"I can't believe I'm seeing this."
Shivers ran down their spines just from the flowers alone. It was a continental wonder that was yet to be discovered by the world.
If they saw these precious flowers, royals from all over the world would definitely covet and fight over them.
"His majesty!" They all turned to the doors of the palace that opened.
A second passed and a man wearing a gorgeous suit appeared. His large build was the most noticeable feature of his body.
His hair was pushed back and he looked even more handsome than what the citizens are used to.
A smile was etched on his lips as he walked through the carpeted path. The leather shoes tapping on the floor were the only sound they could hear.
When he reached the set-up platform situated in front of everyone, he took in a deep breath and smiled again. Plenty of vampires was swooning at his charisma and attractiveness.
"Greetings, citizens of the Kingdom of Mir," He started to speak but they were all starting to cheer already.
"KING CIARAN! KING CIARAN!" They chanted and Ciaran's smile widened.
"Calm down, you haven't seen the other king yet. Reserve your cheers for him," He joked and the rest of the vampires chuckled too.
"We are gathered this evening right in front of our palace to witness the recognition ceremony of a new addition to the bond Pier and I share," Ciaran spoke and some of the vampires already started to wipe the tears off of their faces.
Ciaran loves Pier and it goes the other way around. They knew the two kings were busy, especially in the war but they still found time for each other.
"To tell you the story, it was a hard-fought battle between the forces of the enemy and only Pier along with his vanguard were there to defeat all of them."
They all let out surprised noises.
"And throughout the remnants of that battle, we found this little ball of creature that I should say, instantly captured the heart of my beloved."
A series of cooes and awes hollowed throughout the venues as they heard him speak.
"Quite unfair seeing I pursued him for months before acquiring his love, no?" The vampire king smirked and the rest of them laughed.
"However, I have come to love the little creature throughout the time I spent with him. To speak of the truth, my son is neither a vampire nor human." This time, Ciaran slowly spoke and they all sat there waiting for what's next.
"But rather, what we rescued from the hands of the enemy was a baby dragon."
This time, everyone that did not know gasped when they heard the king's revelations.
"We took care of him and treasured him deeply. He may not be one of our kind but I want him to be a part of our family and kingdom." Ciaran lifted his gaze to look at them.
"My son is a dragon. My blood and Pier's might not run through his small body but we made sure that our love fills that necessary for him to become our child," He gently spoke and all the vampires were silent.
"Before I show my son, anyone who opposes having a dragon as their prince can step up and speak. I will not punish you nor condemn. It is your right as a member and citizen of our kingdom to speak of your opinions."
That's right.
Even though they are kings, they wouldn't be so without their people. Their decisions and acknowledgment are desired for his adopted son to become the official prince.
The vampire king is anxious as to what the other vampires might say. Some would probably oppose and others might doubt.
But all he needed was a small part of the majority to agree and he would not hesitate to make Raegan a prince.
'Haah...' Ciaran heaved a sigh when he saw that everyone was quiet.
It was a dragon. A creature spoken in the scriptures and in literary books that were truly powerful and almost impossible to defeat.
They might doubt him-
"I accept our kings' son!" Ciaran's eyes widened when he heard a voice speak through the silence and his eyes instantly darted in the direction. There, he saw the previous leader of the scouts and now currently his attendant, Chray.
"I also accept our kings' son!" This time, it was the vampire that took care of the human children they adopted, Ema.
"We want to be friends with the new prince, your majesty!" The kids supported her claim and soon, noise billowed inside the venue as every vampire stood up from their seats and spoke about their opinions.
"I accept our kings' son!"
"I accept our kings' son!"
"I accept our kings' son!"
"I accept our kings' son!"
"I accept our kings' son!"
"..."
Until the last vampire seated on the back spoke his acceptance, Ciaran's heart warmed at the sight.
All of his people have accepted Raegan even though they have differences.
"We do not mind if our prince is another creature, your majesty! As long as our kings love him and treat him as their son, it is our duty to love and accept him too!"
The vampire king's grin widened at that certain statement.
"Very well then. Everyone had accepted my son despite seeing his appearance," He chuckled and they all followed again.
What could he possibly look like? Would it be the same as the books have spoken of?
Ferocious and wild?
But they soon quieted down again when the doors of the palace opened again.
This time, they held their breaths as a person stepped out.
He was wearing a fine robe made out of silk. Unlike his usual appearance, he did not wear a suit.
Small pins were attached to his hair and they all sparkled as the glow from the flowers illuminated the gems embedded on his hair clips. Not just that, even the rings that had various gems such as sapphire, diamonds, opal, and emerald were attached in his fingers did so too.
His white hair was carefully situated by the hairpins but that did not stop the strands from waving a few times as he walked.
"Majestic..."
Indeed, it was a majestic sight for the other king.
He is extremely beautiful and words were taken right out of their mouths.
But their stares soon went to the creature cradled in his arms.
All the vampires' eyes widened when they saw a child proudly smiling as he sat in his dad's arms.
The child's blue eyes were sparkling too as it scanned the surroundings. His small hands were waving at the people and his raven hair looked like the sight of the midnight sky void of any stars.
But despite him being obviously an extremely young child, his height was commendable and they knew his body would soon be like that of their vampire king.
Pier was carrying Raegan in his arms until he stopped right beside Ciaran.
"Greetings, everyone." Pier smiled at them and all the vampires wanted to cheer for him but their attention was being drawn to the small child.
"Introduce yourself, son," Ciaran gently rubbed Raegan's head and courage filled his small body.
"H-Hello, everyone! I..." Raegan gulped in nervousness.
"I am Raegan Linnaeus Aegenwulf!" He spoke completely and, in an instant...
"WOOH!" The vampires clapped their hands and cheered.
"WONDERFUL NAME FOR OUR PRINCE!" They spoke in unison wherein Raegan's smile widened too, just like his father earlier.
"And... and I am three now!" He raised his hands and raised the three consecutive fingers starting from the pinky.
"Aww!" They could not contain their cheers for little Raegan as he was too adorable.
His squishy cheeks were screaming to be touched but they knew touching the Royal Prince was asking for a death sentence from the kings.
"Everyone, this is Raegan. I know it is too sudden but I wanted to introduce him as a part of our kingdom," Pier looked at them and they approved with nodding their heads.
"Raegan is now a part of me and Pier. He is our son and no matter what the others say, he will always be." Ciaran laced his arm around Pier's shoulder and pulled the man to his side.
"We are now a family."
Whistles, claps, a few dances of happiness erupted inside the venue as the vampires were all delighted with the arrival of the new prince and son of the kings they love.
But soon, once the euphoria of their happiness subsided, their eyes gently smiled on Raegan and starting from Ed followed by Anna, the vampires kneeled one by one. Until the final vampire on the back had placed his knee on the ground and lowered his head.
It was at that point that a new family was created and acknowledged. Opening their mouths, they were ready to speak one phrase.
"Glory be unto the Royal Family of the Kingdom!"