LUNA: Alpha’s Soulmate from Another World

Alkrevas slammed the documents in his hand and glared at General Almbra and Mathias with a sharp, deadly stare. He strode forward quickly, grabbing Gamma Mathias by the collar of his uniform while growling. His brown eyes gradually turned a deep red, and the aura around him shifted.

“Is this it? Is this all you can do? Do you have any idea how long I’ve been away from the capital and my throne for this investigation, for this war, and you still say… you haven’t found the answer?” he hissed in a terrifying tone.

He then roughly released his grip on Gamma Mathias’ collar, causing the man to stagger slightly before straightening himself up. Alkrevas turned and stepped on the report he had just read regarding the particular team’s investigation report. It was formed to discover why the Goblins’ sudden power changes, as their transformation was unnatural. The evacuation had just been completed, and the border inhabitants and small packs had been saved, ensuring they would no longer suffer from Goblin attacks.

If they were forced to choose defensive illusion magic, it would happen when the sun was at its peak while the Goblins hid. Alkrevas would create that illusion to prevent the Goblins from quickly attacking Vasilos. The defensive illusion magic was the last resort he could use to hold off the Goblins temporarily until he could devise a new strategy.

Alkrevas could have used this method from the start, sparing them the need for war and the loss of many knights. However, his proposal had been fiercely opposed by the military leaders, who were concerned about the Emperor’s well-being. Defensive illusion magic is large-scale magic, not as simple as transforming appearances, which relies on low-level magic to manipulate reality momentarily.

The illusion magic Alkrevas planned to use was high-level, so complex that even Mages and grand wizards struggled to perform it simultaneously. This illusion would require vast amounts of mana from Alkrevas’ body. It would need to be sustained over a long period. The illusion would manifest as a labyrinth filled with thick fog, causing the Goblins to hallucinate, seeing either Vasilos or an endless forest.

Why a labyrinth? With that, the Goblins would be trapped, wandering in circles. This would buy Vasilos time, but not for Alkrevas himself, as using this magic was equivalent to gambling with his life. The enormous mana required could drain him so severely that it might destroy his heart. Unlike a protective shield that, once activated, could stand independently, the labyrinth illusion would rely entirely on its creator-Alkrevas.

The special investigation team was working so hard to find answers about the Goblins because if they didn’t, they might have to resort to more disastrous options, including the most extreme one. Time was running short, and the knights were growing exhausted. Although the war hadn’t lasted long, the lack of breaks was taking its toll, even on immortal beings.

The situation in the capital compounded all this. Alkrevas couldn’t stay away from the imperial palace much longer; soon, he would have to return to fulfil his duties as Emperor. He couldn’t rely forever on Markus, who had his territory to manage. “The only border region that hasn’t been directly affected is the north, correct?” Alkrevas suddenly asked.

Gamma Mathias nodded, though a faint frown creased his forehead. “Yes, but from the last report I heard, the commander of the Veniam Duchy knights mentioned suspicious movements right outside the border fortress. However, because Veniam borders the mountains, the Goblins seem to be having some difficulty.”

Alkrevas sat down, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair, racking his brain for alternatives to the illusion magic. Build a fortress out of the earth? He would need elementals, most of whom resided in Foryeust. Should he go beyond the border and investigate on his own? That would be suicide, and he wasn’t eager to die so soon. Still, the only way might be to investigate for himself. If he didn’t, he would have to resort to the final option to return to the capital quickly.

“Have the communication lines been reactivated?” he asked.

Gamma Mathias glanced at his assistant, who shook his head slightly. “Not yet, Alpha. The status remains the same as yesterday.”

“Damn it!” Alkrevas clenched his fist and slammed the desk before him, causing everything on it to fall to the floor as the desk split in half and shattered. He raked his hand through his hair in frustration. At dawn, he had sensed his teleportation magic being used, meaning Luna had already gone to Veniam Duchy using her private teleportation magic.

Should he use direct teleportation as well? “By any means necessary, contact the imperial palace. I need to speak with Duke Veniam.” Alkrevas paused momentarily before continuing, “Keep working on fortifying the new defense walls with the Mages. This needs to be finished immediately. If the walls are sturdy again, the impact of the Goblin attacks won’t hit us directly. We can fend off more Goblins.”

Alkrevas glanced at General Almbra. “What about the two black wizards?”

“They’re still in the same location. The port has ceased operations because of this issue, preventing them from crossing. The tracker team is still monitoring and awaiting your orders.” Right. Until now, he hadn’t given the order to capture them due to several factors, including ensuring the wizards didn’t escape again. If he acted rashly, the two wizards could slip away, just like last time, as they were slippery like snakes.

“Are they planning something else?” Alkrevas muttered. His heart grew increasingly uneasy, as if he hadn’t yet found the missing piece of the puzzle. “Any response from the Magic Tower?”

“They are still investigating whether there are any other black wizards alive, and also looking into the troublemaker in Mylonas Capital.” Alkrevas pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Connect me with the other knight commanders. We need to discuss a new strategy.” General Almbra nodded in acknowledgement before bowing and leaving the room.

Alkrevas and Gamma Mathias were silent for a moment, both deep in thought about the events unfolding, until Gamma Mathias finally asked, “Is this related to Marquis Erendiel, Your Majesty?” Alkrevas remained quiet.

“The Noble Faction must have planned all of this from the start.” Gamma Mathias growled and continued, “Just like the rogue smuggling incident some time ago. Although there was no proof of involvement, it was clear that Marquis Erendiel was behind it. It’s possible this situation is the same as before.”

“If that’s true, it would give me a good reason to kill them all without exception,” Alkrevas said coldly, his red eyes darkening even further, making Gamma shiver in fear. “Unfortunately, the mastermind behind all this isn’t one of the noble faction members. In fact, they’re currently trying to protect their wealth and power.”

“While we are all working to protect Vasilos…” Gamma Mathias growled in anger again. “So you’re saying the traitor has begun to reveal their face. Do you already have a guess?”

“Think about it, Mathias. Besides the knights, who else can move around easily?” Alkrevas asked calmly. He raised his hand and released some power, monitoring the tracking bracelet around Luna’s ankle.

“Staff, servants, and palace attendants. But they can’t move freely. There are certain restrictions that prevent them from wandering too much.”

“You know, the last time I entered my office, a magical surveillance device was hidden in one of the bookshelves and tucked into a flower vase. A recording device was then found in my bedroom. And last time, before the public mating ceremony, a servant brought a drink laced with poison. Luckily, I discovered it first, and Luna had no idea.”

“Rumors about Miss Luna also spread quickly, as if someone was leaking information while you tried to cover it up,” Gamma Mathias murmured.

“Those are just a few of the strange things I’ve noticed.” Mathias nodded in understanding. “Won’t it be a problem if you leave the imperial palace?”

“Catching them off guard is the best way to catch a rat, Mathias. Besides, I’m still watching, even from afar.” Alkrevas closed his hand and realized that an emergency meeting between nations had likely already occurred. He was annoyed by Markus’ decision to shut down the communication channels. Still, it was a good move, preventing the traitor from acting freely.

“For now, let the rat move. What we need to focus on is stopping the Goblins. I trust my Chancellor to handle the situation in the capital until I return, but that doesn’t mean I can stay here too long. If my throne remains empty for too long, we’ll have more than just the traitor to worry about-we’ll also have to deal with the Noble Faction.”

Mathias nodded in understanding. He didn’t fully grasp imperial politics, not because he hadn’t studied it, but because he chose not to get involved. Mathias had been part of a pack from one of the western regions of the empire before becoming a Knight and the Royal Gamma, so when he rose to the third-highest position, he dedicated himself more to the empire’s safety and protection than to its politics. After all, political affairs were the responsibility of the Royal Beta, Savon.

The Emperor also had competent aides, so Mathias focused more on strengthening the First Order knights and ensuring the security of the Vasilos Empire. “About The Shadow…”

“Don’t reveal their existence, Mathias. Other than you, me, and Lunaku, no one else knows, and they believe them to be a myth.”

Mathias nodded obediently. He certainly wouldn’t divulge the secret. However, Mathias was deeply shocked when he saw The Shadow. And that, too, by accident.

On the third night after they arrived at the border, Mathias intended to report about the Goblin’s movements to the Alpha. But when he reached the Alpha’s room, he found it empty. Mathias searched for him and finally decided to deliver the report in the morning. However, as he passed through the backyard of Count Deborah’s residence-where they were temporarily staying-he saw the Alpha standing there with several men in black cloaks, their faces hidden behind black masks.

One of the cloaked men had one black eye and one white. A hybrid? There was another with different-colored irises. Each had distinct features, and Mathias was so startled that the Alpha reprimanded him suddenly. “Eavesdropping isn’t good, Gamma.”

“Alpha.” Mathias immediately knelt on one knee, bowing his head. He heard heavy, terrifying footsteps before seeing a pair of shoes right before him. Mathias’s body trembled, and he held his breath as he felt a hand on his shoulder. “You shouldn’t have seen this, but perhaps that’s my mistake.” Then, Mathias heard the sound of a sword being drawn, and his eyes quivered as he felt the coldness of the blade. The silver sword would have grazed his neck if Mathias moved even slightly. “Anyone who witnesses their existence, I kill on the spot, severing their head so they don’t reveal my secret. I should do the same to you.”

“Alpha…”

“But I’ll make an exception for you.” Mathias didn’t know whether to feel relieved or even more terrified, knowing that if he said anything, not only would he die, but his family or even his birth pack would, too. “So you know what you must do, don’t you, Mathias?” The Alpha’s voice was filled with a terrifying, deadly warning.

“Yes, Alpha! I will keep my mouth shut for the rest of my life. I’ll carry this secret to my grave.”

“Good.” Mathias finally breathed when the sword was withdrawn. “Raise your head.” Mathias lifted his head. “They are The Shadow, a special unit directly under my command. They’re not just my personal intelligence, but also my shield. Remember that well, Mathias.”

Mathias shook his head as the scene replayed in his mind. He couldn’t believe that the Alpha, also his Emperor, could control a group of hybrids known for their strength and individuality, free from others’ control. The fact that he was still alive was something to be grateful for, wasn’t it? “Did they tell you about the identity of that rat?” Alkrevas only gave a small, mysterious smile. “Can they find the source of the Goblin’s changes?”

“I’ve already sent some of them, but for the first time, they failed.” That meant he’d have to search on his own. Alkrevas was convinced the Goblin’s changes were the work of a dark sorcerer, but how it happened was something he still needed to figure out. Suddenly, a black-cloaked figure appeared, interrupting their conversation. Mathias still couldn’t hide his shock whenever The Shadow appeared before him, and this time was no different. Fortunately, he managed to conceal his expression by lowering his head.

Alkrevas turned toward one of The Shadow members-Noelle. A hybrid, a siren-vampire. It was a surprising combination, as the two were opposites. Vampires ruled the land, while Sirens ruled the sea. Vampires were known for their exclusivity, while Sirens were rare, even in Oceania, due to their low population.

Sirens had a relatively shorter lifespan than ordinary mermaids, while Vampires lived so long that they were considered immortal. Not to mention, it was difficult for either species to bear offspring. So, it was pretty surprising when Alkrevas found Noelle and her rare bloodline made her abilities unquestionable. “What is it, Noelle?”

“Lord Damon has just regained consciousness.”

That news was like a breath of fresh air for Alkrevas. “His condition?”

“Now that he’s fully conscious, his recovery is progressing quickly.”

Mathias tried to lift his head to glimpse Noelle, and his breath caught as their eyes met briefly. He clenched his fists tightly, restraining himself until his body shook. “Tell Damon to report to me once he’s fully recovered. How about the task I assigned?”

“Lady Luna is still at Castle Veniam, in good condition.”

“Can you contact those guarding the capital?”

“Not yet, my Lord. We’re still trying.”

Alkrevas pinched the bridge of his nose. “Markus’s decisions are irritating me more and more. Mathias, I’m going beyond the border.”

“Alpha? Why so suddenly…?”C0ntent © 2024 (N/ô)velDrama.Org.

“I will be accompanied by The Shadow. If not, I will use illusion magic.” Since Damon had regained consciousness, Alkrevas didn’t need to worry about himself while outside the border. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the other members of The Shadow to accompany him this time. Still, they already had essential tasks assigned by him, such as keeping an eye on Luna. And Damon, having demon blood, could wield the power of darkness-something the other members of The Shadow did not possess.

“Alpha, I cannot-”

“Enough with your objections, Mathias. I’m starting to lose my patience. Waiting any longer will only make me more irritated. I need to return to the palace as soon as possible.”

“I will handle it.” Mathias glanced at The Shadow standing beside the Alpha like a guardian. “I will take care of it for you. I can’t allow your life to be endangered. Let me go beyond the border and find out, so you can return to the capital.”

Alkrevas sighed heavily. He signalled Noelle to leave, and shortly after, The Shadow disappeared. He had already anticipated this outcome. Alkrevas didn’t suggest going beyond the border because many would offer to take his place, just like Mathias. But they were just ordinary knights.

Fighting Goblins in this situation didn’t just require swordsmanship but also other abilities. However… Mathias already knew about The Shadow, which meant Alkrevas could send him with Damon. Alkrevas tapped his fingers, considering all the best and worst outcomes of sending his Gamma beyond the border in his place. “Alright. On one condition.”

“What is it, Alpha?”

“While outside the border, The Shadow commander will protect you, but that doesn’t mean you can be at ease. You must protect yourself as well because the Goblins could attack you as a group at any moment. Therefore, if the situation becomes dire, immediately return to the border with The Shadow. Don’t worry about your mission. Stay alive and return without any injuries.”

“Understood, Alpha.”

“One more thing…” Alkrevas observed Mathias for a moment. “Like the other investigation teams, you must carry a magical recording device, and don’t block your mind. I may contact you or use you to see the situation beyond the border directly. Understood?”

“I understand.”

Alkrevas sighed again. At least things had improved somewhat, thanks to Damon. Otherwise, he would’ve had to render Mathias and the mansion’s inhabitants unconscious and leave with The Shadow if they tried to stop him.

….