Finally, Setti's calm expression cracks, his brows furrowing slightly as new suspicions arise for him about this meeting's purpose. On the couch beside him, Naydra pales, glancing at the room's only door. The reaction they both partially share, though, is confusion.
Setti speaks, his voice reserved, respectful.
"Great Dragon, am I to understand that we've offended you in some way? I hope you'll forgive me, but...I can't recall any opportunity for us to have done so." (Setti)
Nina taps her chin thoughtfully, smirk still in place.
"Is that so...and what about you?" (Nina)
She turns to Naydra, who shudders slightly under her questioning gaze. The woman shakes her head emphatically.
"N-No, Queen Nedonera! I-I don't know about Setti, but I'm certain that I've done nothing to offend you." (Naydra)
Setti's jaw tightens slightly at the subtle distance in his wife's remark, which Nina is quick to notice. Her eyebrows raise curiously.
'It seems they are rather lacking in unity for a mated couple...how pathetic.'
Of course, not everyone can have a mate like hers, she supposes. Returning her thoughts to the matter at hand, she sighs.
"Well, your position is not without merit. Truthfully, you haven't done anything to offend me...not yet, at least." (Nina)
Their expressions relax, though only slightly. Naydra speaks, her tone still nervous, but mostly confused.
"Then...?" (Naydra)
Nina smirks, though there's no amusement in her eyes.
"The problem is that you're sure to cause problems in the future, which will irritate me indirectly." (Nina)
The two of them blink, dumbfounded. Recovering quickly, Setti gives her a dubious look.
"Great Dragon, what is it that you anticipate us doing? I'm sure that, if you'd enlighten us, such an unfortunate outcome can be avoided entirely." (Setti)
Nina studies the two of them in silence for several moments, then smiles, her eyes amused, her tone turning borderline sarcastic.
"Oh? Well, the issue is...Alto." (Nina)
Setti and Naydra freeze, surprise on their faces. Clearly, they weren't expecting this issue to be related to their daughter. Of course, she knows why...her kind isn't exactly known for having emotional attachments to weaker creatures, so why would she involve herself in something that is clearly drama of a personal nature?
That said, even if she'd be quick to admit that she has little personal attachment to Alto, she doesn't consider Alto weak...not anymore. So, their reasoning is flawed. However, she still can't help but feel a bit of disdain at their surprise, even knowing their thought process. What interest could they have possibly held for her otherwise? Alto is the only common thread between them, and she issued this summons right after their own meeting with Alto.
Realizing that they obviously never considered such a reason for her summons, her opinion of their intelligence lowers considerably.
Unaware of her disdain, Setti echoes her statement, tone full of disbelief.
"This is about...Alto?" (Setti)
Nina sighs internally, giving him an impatient look.
"Indeed. I am aware of this morning's events, and your relationship with your offspring. So, I know that she has essentially told you to leave her alone, and...I also know that you have no intention of doing so. That is the issue, you see. You attempting to meddle in her life further would cause me a great deal of annoyance.
"Of course, if – as you said – you truthfully swore to avoid such meddling, then I would have no issue ignoring you entirely. However, I'd like to remind you of something that your kind seems generally ignorant of – it is impossible to lie to an Elder Dragon. If you swear such a thing with deceit in your heart, I will know, and my response will be...unpleasant." (Nina)
Surprise transitions to comprehension on the Silvers' faces, then...something more somber, thoughtful. Though Setti keeps himself composed externally, Nina can clearly sense the unwillingness emanating from him. Naturally, such a reaction to her ultimatum is no surprise...she could sense the depths of his animosity with Alto before this meeting even started.
However, she's surprised to sense a similar unwillingness from his supposed mate, Naydra, mixed with something distinctly melancholy – sadness, regret. The observation causes her eyes to narrow curiously. As far as she could tell, the female elf seemed docile, largely passive – it was really Alto's father that she felt needed to be dealt with. If the woman had not accompanied him into this summons at all, she wouldn't have bothered the elf further.
Her thoughts are interrupted by Setti's voice, a low whisper of anger wrapped in forced politeness.
"Great Dragon...respectfully, our presence in her life could never constitute 'meddling'. It's our right as parents. What about our private family matters could possibly concern you?" (Setti)
Nina blinks, genuinely stunned for a moment by the man's sheer...idiocy? Audacity? She can't decide which she's more incredulous of, honestly.
On one hand, she's tempted to mock the fool for thinking that his wishes matter. That he has any semblance of control over this situation. Not just because an Elder Dragon like her plainly told the imbecile he doesn't, or even because Mizuki himself clearly expressed his support for Alto. Rather, Alto herself is far more formidable than the pitiful man seems to know...does he really think that Alto would have the will or need to bend to his wishes? He is clearly the weakest, least influential person implicated in this entire mess. Yet, to hear him talk of his 'rights', you'd think he sees himself as someone with leverage...power.
On the other hand, his statement seems to imply he views Alto as something or someone he has claim to. The concept of such possessiveness over a person – even Alto, specifically – is not what she finds objectionable. Rather, she's tempted to rob the man of his tongue for daring to imply that his priority with regard to Alto exceeds Mizuki's. Their influences in Alto's life are as laughably disparate to her as their magic.
'Perhaps I could just...cripple him? Less difficult to justify than murder, and it will be rather hard for him to be a nuisance without legs or a tongue. Hmm...'
However, she ultimately suppresses the urge, recognizing that even that restrained approach would cause Mizuki more trouble than she's willing to abide. So, she breathes deeply, steadying herself. Then, she fixes a cold glare on Setti and, when she's sure she can do so calmly, she speaks.
"What do you know about how the human emperor, Belmod, died?" (Nina)
Once again, her response seems to surprise the Silvers, both of them blinking in confusion.
"The Queen did not mention at the announcement earlier, but our own intelligence reports suggest that he was murdered by a local adventuring party he tried to prosecute for their crimes. What does this have to do with Alto?" (Setti)
Nina can't help but chuckle at that answer, causing the Silvers' puzzled expressions to worsen.
"Fufufufu...I suggest that you find information pathways less tainted by the Empire's propaganda. But no matter, I suppose, there is a grain of truth in that story. You see, the human countries do not know that Mizuki is a Nephilim. They remain under the delusion that he is a human with no magical abilities...who leads an adventuring party." (Nina)
Realization slowly starts to dawn on the Silvers' faces, causing them to pale. Nina nods, amused, and continues.
"In fact, it was Mizuki who killed the Emperor. Now, what your intelligence has not mentioned is that Mizuki accepted a summons from that idiot human voluntarily, one which made no mention of trying to prosecute his party. Truthfully, even after recognizing the Emperor's intentions and suffering the man's belittling, Mizuki remained far more affable than I would have in his situation. Some nonsense about not acting rashly and influencing global power...I care little for that kind of mercy, honestly, but so be it.
"Unfortunately, Belmod did something foolish enough to make Mizuki abandon civility entirely, to the point that Mizuki slaughtered every soldier in sight. But...at least they died quickly. Mizuki's treatment of Belmod was...far less kind. He made sure that the man's mind broke before his heart stopped beating. I'll spare you the details, but...would you like to guess what that mentally inept Emperor did to elicit such a reaction from Mizuki?" (Nina)
Nina smiles as she poses the question, no warmth in her gaze despite the amusement flickering in her eyes. Setti and Naydra stare back at her in somber silence, giving no indications that they're willing or able to respond. Seeing this, she smirks, waving dismissively.
"Don't worry, I'll tell you...he said something distasteful about Alto. Fufufu...rather funny, isn't it? Belmod threatened violence against Mizuki, his party, and even the whole city he thought Mizuki lived in. He sanctioned kidnapping and enslavement. He admitted to infiltrating this very country, and made no effort to hide his ambitions of conquest. Yet, he would have lived through all of that. In Mizuki's eyes, the most damning thing Belmod did was speak the wrong words about your daughter.
"So, just imagine what fate awaits you two if you meddle in her life against her wishes." (Nina)
Hearing the explicit threat, the Silvers stiffen, disbelief, fear, and incredulity warring on their expressions.
"Are you saying...if we try to see our daughter again...Mizuki will kill us?" (Naydra)
Naydra's voice is a hesitant whisper, as though she can't believe what she's saying. Nina raises her eyebrows at the remark.
"Well, no. If Mizuki kills you two, despite how insignificant you are, that will invite outrage from the rest of your kind on principle, which will in turn cause friction with Queen Elira and the nobles. Of course, that's completely irrelevant in and of itself, since your whole race is unfit to punish Mizuki. But, little Ilina at least would be quite unhappy with him, which would deeply trouble Mizuki in turn, given how much he cares for her." (Nina)
Despite the very dark implications of several of her remarks, the Silvers visibly relax, accepting her words as reassurance that their lives are not truly in danger. That is, until her lips twist into a chilling smile, and she continues...
"That's why, if you bother Alto again, I'll simply kill you myself, preventing such unpleasant drama from troubling my husband." (Nina)
Perhaps it's the casual nature of the threat, the way it's delivered without a single inflection in her tone and followed by an absentminded sip of her wine. Or, perhaps it's the crystal clear implication of her prior remarks that she doesn't implicitly value the lives of elves. Perhaps it's as simple as knowing the Elder Dragons' long-standing reputation for ruthlessness. Regardless of the reasons, neither Setti nor Naydra doubts that she means what she says.
The effect of the threat is as pronounced as it is immediate. Silence, thick and stifling to everyone but Nina, descends on the room. The Silvers pale, shock and fear twisting their expressions, every muscle in their bodies immediately tensing. Because no matter how well they know the reputation of Elder Dragons, how sure they are of the theory that offending one could mean death, feeling it looming over them is another matter entirely.
Especially for a race as unburdened by illness as the elves, within the safety of one of their own cities, where the idea of dying of anything other than old age – much less premeditated murder – seems like a statistical fluke. It's a kind of fear they have no experience with, and therefore no resistance to.
Yet, despite their obvious fear, strong enough that she can feel it through her draconic senses, she does not sense the unwillingness within them abate. The observation baffles her, and on some level, frustrates her as well. Are they truly so stupid to think that there's a chance of survival if she decides to carry through on her threat? Why does Naydra, who she presumed to be less defiant, exude even more unwillingness than Setti?
Alas, if someone more personally familiar with mortal social dynamics were here, like Mizuki, the issue would be obvious. At least in Setti's case, the nature of his reservations to comply are more important than their severity. Entitlement, principle – whatever you want to call it – is funny that way. Reasonable or not, Setti, at least, feels that he is being denied something which he is owed on a very fundamental level.
Whether it be laws, promises, or deep-rooted cultural norms – people often cling with inexplicable fervor to the idea that outcomes will or should align with the principles they'd never deign to violate themselves. As though it is enforced universally by a higher power that none can ignore without consequences.
To Setti, being entitled to influence, respect, and other privileges with regard to one's own child is such a 'principle' of the world, as is the idea that an elf cannot be murdered within the Kingdom. Thus, despite the rational knowledge that he himself has no capacity to prevent Nina from violating either principle, he instinctively feels that she would be unable to do so without suffering consequences that she should rightfully fear.
Of course, to Nina, who has lived as a dragon under the fundamental assumptions of might makes right and survival of the fittest, no such principles exist. There is no expectation, no fear, that anything she's done or will do to mortals as insignificant as the Silvers will negatively affect her.
That is why Setti's next words are so incomprehensibly moronic to her, and why he can't fathom her response to them in return...
"Great Dragon, even you wouldn't dare-" (Setti)
Hisss...chink!
Whatever thoughts he wished to share are cut off as the temperature and pressure in the room drop precipitously, frosting the furniture around them. An unnatural ice spreads across Setti's and Naydra's skin in a flash, covering everything but their eyes and nose. In a mere moment, the Silvers are frozen stiff against the couch, expressions twisted in horror, their movements restricted so thoroughly that they can't even scream. The only the sounds they produce are panicked breathing and the soft hiss of sublimating water vapor from their skin.