A Terrible Evening

The head counselor stands tall above us at the table, reading from her book silently from her podium. A turquoise tailed mermaid with curly ocean colored hair, always dressed way higher than any of us. She doesn't have to get her hands dirty, unlike everyone in these dozens of seats.

All the other kings sitting next to us stared at each other, confused by the silence in such a large and filled room. I fidget my fingers on the huge glass table in between us all. It's been minutes since anyone has had the courage to even breathe too loud.

She flips a page and finally opens her mouth.

“So, let’s see... You mean to tell me that, besides the 2 villages burnt to ashes, 3 forests stomped, and the couple hundreds of other casualties... None of you two have a SINGLE CLUE of where this dragon is?“

I look to my left at to see Hiro is just as curled up on her seat as I am. "Hah. Couldn’t find it either. Loser."

“You know, I got there first. Me and my guys had everything under control unti-“ I say calmly.

“Nothing was under control before I arrived. I managed to control the victims damag-“ Hiro interrupt's me.

“The victims I asked you to save--"

The counselor cuts us both out, making us look at her, losing the smug on our faces.

“Everything was still not under control after you arrived there either.“ She says with her eyes twitching, staring gelid at Hiro. She gulps. The long blue hair mermaid closes her book, looking down at both of us.

“You know… Mass destruction is nothing but a regular afternoon here in these parts, but I think we can all agree the less we’re the ones to blame, the better. Right?" The head counselor tone was cold. "Then why can’t you two work together?“

I grind my teeth. Trying my best not to crack the meeting table.

“As I said, I was there first. I didn’t need any help.“

“You two were after that dragon, weren’t you? That’s why you couldn’t work together, isn’t that so?“ She ignores my answer.

Me and Hiro gulp at the same time, looking into each other’s eyes and then at hers. I nod, and then I look back to see Hiro nodding as well.

“Bullshit.“ The mermaid slams her fist on the tabçe. “Let’s make something clear, I know all of you here better than you know yourselves.“

The talk was for me and Hiro, but everyone got uneasy on their seats as she spoke.

“You two have been out there, fighting every single day, causality reports as long as a building every week, and you want me to believe this circus was all just because of a dragon?“ She stares at our trembling figures. "You’re both childish. You both want your kingdoms to be respected again at the council, and yet, will destroy an entire village if it means ruining the other’s day. I’ve seen it. The entire continent has.“

I look at Hiro. She doesn’t look half as shaken as me anymore. She looks completely serious.

“Help was offered for Hero’s army by my side, and he refused it and threatened me if I touched the dragon.“

“Oh, really?“ I say holding onto my sword stuck into the ground with a huge smile in her direction. The counselor looks at me, then rolls her eyes and looks at Hiro.

“…I can’t believe I cancelled plans for this mess, and no testimonies will say anything coherent… So... Sure. I believe you. I can see it.“ She looks at me disapprovingly, I take my hand off the sword, trembling in anger.

“E-excuse me… It was pretty much the exact opposite… Except no actual help was offered whatsoever by none of us.“ I say with my eyes wide and my eyebrows raised high looking for any sign of empathy in her eyes.

“Yes, sure, Hero. Of course. I believe you too.“ She says completely uninterested. “The difference is she is a specialized dragon tamer, and you, a necromancer. You knew what should have been done.“

I don’t take my eyes off the mermaid until I hear Hiro’s low giggle, discreetly mocking me with a smirk.

“Now, Hiro.“ The mermaid says.

“Yes, your highness.“

I can’t stand staring at her stupid smile any longer.

“Get up and go find the creature, bring it here to the center.“

Hiro chokes on air.

“Sure thing!! Of course, right away!“ She instantly and trembling gets up, passing behind me as I stare blankly at the table, hearing her steps trying to get as fast to the door as she can.

“Before you leave..." She softly says, looking down at Hiro. "Give me the wrong answer and you're out of the royal guard...“

She leans her arms on the table, smiling like this was about to get interesting.

I raise my eyebrow to look at the little liar with one foot already outside, slowly turning with the most terrified happy face I’ve ever seen.

“…Y-yes Miori my darling…?"

Darling's grin grows vile. "Ooh."

“What did you want the dragon for?“ Miori giggles.

Hiro’s face turn’s white. She opened her mouth like she had something at the tip of her tongue, couldn’t answer. I knew exactly why.

I look back to the table and I sigh.

“Immortality.“ My irritated voice breaks the silence. I couldn’t wait to get over with this.

The entire building makes not a single sound. I didn’t even know silence could be this quiet.

“…Well that explains everything.“  Miori says finally looking somewhat content.

Hiro immediately closes the door again and turns her entire body facing the woman straight. I turn my chair to do the same.

“You two know any kind of research involving achieving immortality is an offense punishable by death in this world, right?“ She says, I nod, hoping Hiro nodded too.

 “…As expected. And you also know that you’re never going to engage in it again now that I’ve reminded you of it, right?“ Miori Looks around at every single creature here today.

I nod. She looks at Hiro and then at me, not pleased

“I want to hear it.“

“Yes.“

“Yes“.

She smiles, and sits back while doing so.

“Perfect. Everyone heard, right? They said they’re not going to, so we believe them.“ She chuckles, opening her book again and then looking back at us. “Then also know that if you’re good enough to do it before getting caught, the mermaid's kingdom would very much like to buy it from you.“ Miori chuckles. “Dismissed. See you in… Forsaken me, one day, since we had to schedule for this. Have a nice one everybody.“

I get up instantly, Hiro turns around. Miori interrupts again.

"Oh. One more tiny little silly thing. Hero, Hiro."

The rest of the people leave, we're the only ones left behind, staring up at the podium where she sat on her throne.

"If for any reason this dragon doesn't get captured, we'll be replacing you two on the royal guard."

"What?! Like you could possibly find someone better than us!" I shout.

"You may have heard of her, Bunny. I believe both of you have already met her before? Around 5 years ago... " Miori says a little confused.

My eyes open wide, I turn at Hiro, and her jaw is also on the floor.

"Bunny?? You gotta be kidding me. Out of all people?" I quickly say.

Hiro laughs baffled.

"You genuinely expect her to capture that dragon?" Hiro continues as soon as I finish talking.

"I don't even expect you to capture it yourself." She laughs. "Are you over already?" Miori says not breaking her smile. "I got more important things than this council."

I sigh, lowering my head.

"Good." Miori claps her hands, the lights turn off. "If that dragon isn't here by this night, you two are back to being nobodies outside your kingdoms."