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As everyone glanced at the crystal, they were completely flabbergasted by it. It was huge and overflowing with mana and spirit energy of the finest, highest quality, bordering into the divine boundary already.
It was surrounded by many plants, making the hall look like the ruins of an ancient temple instead, where nature had overtaken it over many years. There were colorful crystals growing around the large green one as well, and everyone could see small sparkles of light with tiny faces moving here and there, decorating the area.
"I wanted to show you this place first, this is where my-"
"Y-Your majesty! The King! He's inside the crystal?! Can't we get him out of there?!"
Patricia, however, interrupted the Queen's words midway through as she was so shocked, and then she covered her mouth due to her insolence.
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The Vampires glared at her with such anger and disgust in their faces they were about to rip her head out of her body!
"You have a death wish?!"
They didn't say anything, but it felt like they had scread at her just by glaring at her while releasing the pressure of their auras.
However, the Queen cald them down.
"Yes, I know he's inside, Patricia," she nodded with a gentle smile, showing how benevolent she was. A trait the Vampires both like and dislike at the sa ti. "Yesterday, the Goddess Verdant left his body crystalized in here, a place we call the King's Spirit Sanctuary. It is a special place where this crystallization of the Goddess' Spiritual Divinity has kept my husband's body alive."
"S-So he's alive?" Patricia asked.
"I thought he was dead…" Heshrie said.
"No, there must be sothing going on though…" Joustin said.
"Is that so?" Erette wondered.
"What could it be?" Juliette asked.
"Yes, his soul is not here," the Queen sighed, caressing the crystal as she glanced at her husband. "Technically, a body without a soul cannot live. Even if his biological functions continue living, if he lacks a soul, he'll die eventually… This is why his body is being preserved here. With Planta, we'll go to the Underworld to both defeat the Demon King of Death and retrieve my husband's soul. But that's for later, we must first take care of this Kingdom."
"Your majesty… To go as far as the underworld to retrieve the King's soul…" Heshrie was moved to manly tears, despite being the biggest, burliest, and manliest of the group, he was crying first. "This is so moving… Your love for him… is so pure! Your majesty!"
"But such a thing… I-Is it even possible? To go to the underworld…" Joustin muttered, afraid to even think about such a perilous journey.
"Yes, it is possible," the Queen nodded. "Planta has already secured the Key for the Underworld's Gates. But we must first prepare for such a thing to even happen… It'll take ti, but Verdant said my husband will remain "alive" inside here, as long as the crystal remains intact."
"I see…" Patricia sighed. "Your majesty, where is the prince? I'm worried…"
"He's sleeping inside of his room," the Queen said. "He was very exhausted and had to sleep. He ca back first due to his title as my son, although I was quite surprised. But worry not, he is alright. And also being taken care of by my Vampires."
"The Prince will be our Future Vampire King."
"Therefore, his safety is our largest priority."
"His talent and abilities are also incredible; he has a bright future."
The Vampires kept praising the prince constantly, which Patricia and the rest didn't really dislike, but they found it a bit bizarre now knowing he was a vampire and all.
"Anyway, let's go." The Queen said. "I know you would like to stay here for long, but it's better to let my husband rest. I am sure he will return… I will do anything in my power so that becos a reality."
"Your majesty…"
The young knights felt moved by her love and determination. Any small doubts they would have developed regarding her being a Vampire were completely gone.
She was indeed their Queen, no matter her race.
"Co on, let's go. Let's quickly close the door."
As they walked away while closing the door, they moved through the castle corridors here and there, finding areas that were virtually untouched and others with large cracks or missing wall pieces, which were being fixed by various workers.
Until they reached a long stair, walking downstairs and then reaching the castle's underground, which was so firm it remained intact even after the war that happened before.
There was a huge labyrinth under the castle, with giant pillars everywhere, and which even connected to the sewer system.
"This is the castle's underground, I suppose you've never been here, it is highly guarded," explained the Queen. "I suppose you didn't notice, but we walked through twenty layers of magical defenses already. All neatly placed in a massive formation. This formation keeps both the Castle's underground firm, so the castle doesn't collapse, and this area protected from ruffians. Without the permission of the current rulers, nobody can pass through, or they get zapped to death."
"EEEH?!"
The Magic Knights were shocked, looking around trying to find any runes or sothing, but there was nothing they could see, the whole formation was invisible.
"Calm down, as long as I am here allowing you to co, it's fine," the Queen giggled. "Let's go over there…"
They walked through various corridors, it was confusing and a bit exhausting, but eventually they got to the end of it, where they saw a huge golden door with the head of a lion in front of it.
"A lion-headed door?" Heshrie wondered. "Wow… Such subli design!"
"Thank you, I keep myself shiny."
Out of nowhere, the lion spoke, winking at the young knights.
"HUH?!"
And they were perhaps even more shocked at that mont.
"T-The door talked!"
"I-I heard rlinus had a Demonic Door that could talk! Is it that?!"
"No way, a demon! Your majesty please be careful!"
"DEMON?! WHO ARE YOU CALLING A DEMON?! I AM THE LUMINOUS KINGDOM'S TREASURY GUARDIAN! LEONIDAS!"
The lion grew even more furious, screaming incredibly loudly and making everyone's ears ring painfully.
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