Walking through a run-down alley, the butler was exposed to all manner of poverty. Children were running around clad in rags covered in dirt, squabbling with some adults over stale pieces of bread.
Some older ones were huddled around barrels with a fire coming out of it, to keep warm. There was trash and broken houses along with graffiti at every noticeable surface.
'Disgusting' thought the butler, his features contorting in disdain as he reviled by the sights around him.
Walking past a couple more alleys, the distant sound of grunting reaches the butler's ears.
*Thud*...
*Thud*...
*Thud*!
He eventually found the origin of the sound and what he saw left him disgruntled but relieved.
At last, he had finally found the count!
The count's current appearance could only be described as disheveled as his white button-up shirt was wrinkled and covered in grime and sweat!
His pants had splotches of liquid on them and he was conspicuously missing a shoe. His once neatly groomed and combed hair is now a ruffled mess as evidence of his physical exertion!
Laid in front of the count, on the ground, was a bruised and bleeding boy who was currently curled up into a ball and trembling in pain.
Just as the count prepared to deliver another blow to the hapless, broken child once again, he paused as he heard a familiar voice, "MY LORD"
Frowning, the count withdrew his extended leg and turned to look at the person who called for him. He beheld the sight of his head butler kneeling in front of him.
"Ah, Daniel~" The count greeted with an amiable smile. He walked over to Daniel and placed his hand on his shoulder, signifying the butler to stand up.
The count returned his attention to the battered boy, having not moved an inch from his previous position, and remarked, "Haha, This pitiful insect thought he could steal my bracelet from me and get away with it. However, I suppose such foolishness can be expected from mere ignorant dregs"
*Thwack*
His amused smirk returned as he swiftly and brutally kicked the broken boy once again!
Sighing with a content smile, the count inquired of his very silent butler, "So, what brings you here to interrupt this boy's lesson in how to act in front of his betters?"
Despite the inviting smile the count was wearing at the moment, Daniel felt a slight chill run down his spine! He knew beneath his friendly facade lurked a monster in human skin! If he didn't answer correctly, he would also be subject to one of the count's 'lessons'!!
"I'm deeply sorry to have interrupted your 'fun' but I must inform you that the beast king is coming to the capital today" The butler informed with his head bowed.
The count silently stared at the butler for a few seconds before he chuckled and said, "Fun? This isn't fun, it's about asserting my dominance, reminding these cretins of who holds the power!
"They need to be reminded of their place, crawling under my feet for any scraps I deem worth to give them" He ranted with a livid scowl.
"Trying to take what is mine is not just a crime, it's a direct affront to my authority! How dare he think he has an entitlement to what is mine? He deserves every ounce of suffering I inflict upon him" He viciously glared at the bleeding child on the ground.
*Twack*
He kicked him, hard, once again before walking away with the frowning butler in tow.
The Count raised his voice for those hiding nearby in this desolate alleyway to hear his proclamation, "Let this serve as a warning to all those in this cesspool of a city. Cross me, and your ending will be even more lowly than this boy here"
'I think…I'd have preferred the brothel' Daniel sighed as he followed the Count back to the mansion.
…
Meanwhile, in the depths of the Beastly-highlands, unfolded a breathtaking sight. Amidst the symphony of chirps and trills that echoed through the towering, green trees, the grasslands stretched as far as mortal eyes could see—the vibrant blades swaying gently in the wisping breeze.
Wandering through this magical landscape, one couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom and awe and wonder at the sight that would be before them.
Because contrasting this beautiful and serene scene, laid a tall and proud sleeping red dragon! This dragon was as titanic as a mountain, covering a multitude of the already towering trees!
Folded neatly against its domineering frame were the dragon's wings, wings that span the length of the colossal beast, their leathery folds covered in hues of crimson. Its claws were razor-sharp, gleaming, talons capable of slaughtering and piercing everything under the sun!
As the dragon slept in peace, its long spiked tail would brush against the forest floor, occasionally rustling the leaves. The jagged yet commanding horns that crowned its head rested upon his massive claws.
Its scarlet scales reflected off the midday sun, its deep breaths pushed out a billowing breeze of Ki with every exhale. It slept, out in the open, without a creature in sight daring to disturb the majestic and dangerous beast!
Suddenly, the dragon slowly opened one of its eyes, signifying the awakening of this mighty predator!
It slowly stood, taking its time to regain lucidity, before letting out a heavy puff. It slowly rose its wings up, stood on its legs with its chest puffed in pride, and let out a deafening,
*ROOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR*!!
The trees and grass in the vicinity of the beast all quivered and broke, shattering everything from the wave of energy that was released from the creature's mere breath!
Its roar echoed through the forest, a thunderous howl that shook the earth that the dragon stood on! Trees were uprooted and snapped like mere twigs, as the air crackled with raw power!
As the ground rumbled, the dragon closed its mouth after that display of raw strength!
Leaving a trail of devastation in its wake, the very forest trembled as the titan flapped its wings and took flight!
*WHOOOSH*!!
This red dragon's name was Agni Igris, the Dragon Emperor of the Beast Kingdom! And he was on his way to the capital of the human kingdom!
He had agreed to meet with the human king, as he had said there was something that they needed to discuss. Agni Igris was curious what the ruler of the humans would want with him, so intending to find out, they set the meeting!
…
Meanwhile back at the Dungeon.
"We are weak, undeniably so" Number 102 stated, his eyes unblinking as he stared into his sibling's eyes.
They both nodded silently in agreement, prompting him to continue, "In order to escape, we need to figure out three things"
He held up three fingers as he explained, "One, how to open that massive gate to leave the dungeon and if there are any other secret entrances we need to know about"
He put down one finger as he said, "Second, we need to know the shift of the guards and which ones are weak and which ones are strong enough to stop us no matter what"
He put down another finger, leaving only his pointer finger, "Thirdly, we need to figure out a plan making use of the first two things to finally escape successfully"
"Now then, any ideas?" He asked, acknowledging that he wasn't smart enough to come up with a plan by himself.
He had spent hours in his cell thinking about plans, but no matter how he thought about it, he failed to strategize anything substantial.
"Well, I know how to open the gate," Interjected Number 103, leading her brothers to look at her with puzzled expressions.
"I recall the specific pattern that the butler used, from the time we first arrived" She explained with a grin, feeling good from the looks of amazement on her brother's faces.
"That's awesome, way to go sis" Number 104 exclaimed with an excited smile as Number 102 nodded in agreement as well.
"Now we need to understand the guard's patterns" Number 102 stated.
"I know them" Number 104 replied, a little embarrassed.
Hmm? The older twins looked at Number 104 in surprise as he peeped out, "W-what? I just paid attention to them when I was bored"
They both shook their heads with a smile as Number 103 then declared, "Well, we have the information we need, all we need is a functioning strategy"
"Right," Number 102 nodded in agreement, swelling with pride at his family's ingenuity. These two were little geniuses, weren't they?
He as the eldest brother couldn't be caught slacking, now could he?
"Alright, well, first you need to share everything you know with us," Number 102 told 104. Understanding that for a decent plan, they needed to know the variables that could go wrong, just in case.
Without a good idea of those variables, any plan they devised would be flawed.
Unbeknownst to them, their efforts would soon prove to be futile. That in just under 24 hours, any plan or scheme that they could cook up would become absolutely meaningless! After all, the Count was a bad luck charm that would doom them all!
*****
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