Red Dragon Emperor Of Madness

The Shadow of the Empire

"I don't like this," Xenovia Quarta said to the other members of her group. 

"Someone killing this much... it's concerning," Irina said, as she held onto a cup of non-alcoholic drink. 

"I hope they will be okay," Asia whispered, her hair tied into a Nordic braid. Gone was the innocent nun, well some parts of the innocent nun. Covered in form-fitting Fur armor, she ate her bread with grace and innocent visage. A mace of steel strapped on her belt showed signs of use compared to the swords Irina and Xenovia used. 

"Do we have word about Issei?" Irina asked, curious about the whereabouts of her childhood friend. 

"None so far," Xenovia replied with a frown. The young perverted man disappeared like a ghost on them. 

"Excuse me," The girls turned to see a figure approaching them. It was an Elf, an old one. "Did you say Issei? As in Issei Hyoudou?" Despite his age, he walked with grace and poise. 

"Who are you?" Xenovia asked. With Issei gone, it was up to her to control her more naive teammates. Her hand discreetly opened, ready to grab her sword. 

"Apologies, my name is Gaheris," The old elf said with a smile. "It has been a long time since I last heard that name," 

"Huh?" 

"Ah, I remember... 200 years ago... I watched him fight against the Gray Prince and win. Becoming the Grand Champion of the Imperial Arena," The old elf whispered with a smile as a tear formed in his eyes. "You should have seen him! The battle was the greatest thing ever! Sadly, the last we heard of the Grand Champion was his disappearance in the Niben Bay," 

"Are you talking about Issei Hyoudou? Brown hair and eyes?" Olga asked, looking more confused than normal with her eyes swirling a bit. The image of the perverted teen she traveled with appeared in her mind. 

"Yes, although by the time of his disappearance, he retired from the Imperial Arena to focus on his duties as the Archmage of the Arcane University," 

"WHAT?!" Olga slammed her hands at the table. "HYOUDOU IS AN ARCHMAGE?!" 

"Aye, the best! He once dueled and led an army of Battlemages to attack Mannimarco, the god of worms, the greatest Necromancer in all of Tamriel," The old elf said with so much energy that the girls saw a young child in front of them. "I was an associate of the Mages guild back then. Archmage Hyoudou saw a potential in me," 

"No way... Hyoudou is an Archmage?" Olga whispered to herself. 

"Wait... if you were a student back then. How did you meet Issei?" Asia asked, looking up at the old man with eager eyes. 

The old man said with a smile. A memory of a younger-looking Issei Hyoudou clad in battle-worn armor standing tall in front of a younger version of himself appeared in his mind followed by a memory of Issei handing him a spellbook to study and a task to have him be a member of the mages guild if he wanted to be his assistant. 

"That's rubbish, old man!" 

"Sheesh, you're still alive?" 

"BY AZURA, BY AZURA, BY AZURA!" The old man turned around so fast and tears formed in his eyes. Standing by the door was no one other than Issei Hyoudou dressed in casual Mage robes bearing the eye of wisdom. 

"Hey, brat, did you wait long?" Issei said with a smile. "Damn, you really did hold your promise," 

"I promised to be your assistant, will you give me the honor of helping you, Archmage Hyoudou?" 

"Former Archmage Hyoudou, you should have been one too. But you always were my Adoring Fan, Finn." Issei said with a fond smile. "Go back and tell the others," 

"At once, Archmage!" Finn nodded at Issei and reality cracked. 

"A powerful illusion magic trapping all four of us and the old man, preventing anyone from eavesdropping?" Olga whispered as she looked at Issei. 

"Issei!" Irina smiled and hugged the young man. "Where have you been?" 

"Oh, you know, around," He said with a smile, gently hugging back his childhood friend while totally not enjoying the feeling of a good pair of breasts pressing onto his chest. "Heading to Windcaller's abode?"

"You know him?" Asia looked at the first friend she made in Teyvat. 

"Yeah, I used to visit the Greybeards before I was sealed." Issei revealed as he sat with them. "Jurgen Windcaller, a tongue so powerful that other Tongues couldn't make him fall under their shouts," 

"If you fight, who would win?"

"Hard to say. Can I silence him first? Can I cut his throat open? Unlikely, he was a warrior so it will be hard. It depends but as long as I get a surprise attack then there's a chance but in a straight fight? Then probably no," Issei revealed. "So, how have you girls been?" 

-==-=-=-=-=-=--=

Spending the night with the girls made the perverted teen smile and remove some tension on his body. 

Knock

Knock

Knock

"Issei-kun, it's me," Hearing the voice of his childhood friend, Issei sheathed the dagger in his hand. Approaching the door, Issei opened it, revealing the smiling face of his childhood friend with her hair let loose. 

"Irina? It's late, what's wrong?" 

"I should be asking you that, Ise," 

Stepping aside, Irina gently entered the room and sat on the bed, patting a space by her side. The perverted teen gently sat by her side, hiding away the dagger in his hand. 

"What's wrong?" Irina asked, looking at her childhood friend. They have been separated for years ever since she moved but they met again in this place, then they have to part ways again for a bit. 

"Nothing... I was hunting down some Enemies of the Empire," Issei replied with a shrug. "I already wiped out some outposts they have, you must have heard of it," 

"Oh... that was you?" 

"Yeah... terrifying right?"

"Why did you do it?" Irina asked.

"Huh?" 

"Why did you do it?"

"Do you want to know?" Issei asked. "What you know will change how you see me, Rin," 

"I want to know, Ise," Irina said with a smile. Gently, her hand landed on top of his. 'I don't want to lose you again, Issei,' Gently, she leaned in and pressed his face on her chest. "Relax, and tell me, please." 

"Hmm... this is nice," Issei replied, enjoying the soft feeling pressed on his face. "Fine, I'll tell you," Issei said with a smile. As the night unraveled, the two childhood friends told each other about their lives. From Irina's adventures with the Church to Issei's mundane yet perverted high school life to the adventures he had in Tamriel.

"Irina? Are you here?" Xenovia opened the door and blinked like an owl as she saw the sight in front of her. Scattered clothes on the floor and her partner and her childhood friend on the bed fast asleep, both naked. The same golden eagle from before was perched on a nearby chair, looking at her, daring her to disturb them.