Lizzy Letruiz stood at attention in an office of the highest caliber. The rich, ebony walls sported carvings and bas-reliefs. Twisting ionic pillars framed the open window, allowing natural ambient light to trickle down past the nearest treetops. Lizzy looked past the Queen's flawless, bronzed shoulders to see nearby air traffic in full swing. None of the pedestrians were allowed to fly this high, and there was a buffer zone surrounding the Queen's Hall. The entire structure and lifeform having been molded and grown by Queen Eli Oirel personally. The most similar species other races might be familiar with was a Wisteria tree. The dark trunk was much thicker, the colorful leaves hanging down like glowing pink lanterns from high above, matching the Queen's bubblegum hair.

Magic and mana played a role in everything. Mana made the trees grow. Mana breathed life into Eldens, constructing their nodes and leylines based on their environment and disposition. The more "mana-charged" an individual, the lighter their hair. The Manaless were the only ones with jet black hair, and were heavily shunned. Brown, grey, and other muddy colors were usually the bottom line. The color of an Elden's hair was a status symbol.

Accomplished mages usually had bright aquamarine or emerald hair. Those of the working class had more mundane colors. The length of one's hair was similar. Short-cropped hair was a sign of their recent defeat in a duel. Duels being commonplace and encouraged.

Many areas and businesses had separate spaces for duels to settle disputes. Both participants would stake their hair on the line. It was always a serious affair. The loser would walk in shame for months, bearing a shaved or cropped head. All while the victor grew their hair out longer.

Another tradition was when an Elden nation went to war with another. A ruler would often send a bundled lock of their hair to the offending nation. Signifying the gravity of the insult. The longer the hair a ruler had, the wiser. At the same time, a ruler with short hair was usually incredibly brash or equally young.

Lizzy was still entranced by the queen's hot pink hair that waved down past her rear. It was immaculate and did certain things to her. Lizzy's own hair was currently light lavender color, only a step behind.

But oh, what a large step it was.

The purple hair barely reached her shoulders, her bangs needing to be pulled back to allow her to see properly—a consequence of her last challenge to Queen Eli. Lizzy had never once bested the Queen. It was her life goal to become the best. A national hero that everyone looked up to. If she finally beat Queen Eli, she would have the chance to take her place, though she had no desire to occupy the position. The other lauded but rarely called upon reward of besting a Queen was to have your wish granted. That was what Lizzy had been aiming for ever since she first watched the back of the Queen parading home.

Lizzy wanted to let the moment last forever. She had reached out her weak hands, her goal striding out of reach, leading the way into the future. To be the one to stand at the forefront was her dream. Yet, it also scared her. What would come after?

"Lestruiz? You haven't spoken. What are you thinking about?"

Queen Eli turned her head over her shoulder. Her eyes shone like pink diamonds. The leyline running sideways across the bridge of her nose was blinding and mesmerizing. Her skin flawless and refined.

A Queen.

"Sorry... I was thinking about how soft your lips are."

Eli narrowed her eyes.

"Lizzy. You weren't staring at my butt earlier, were you?"

Lizzy's eyes immediately dropped down to the hidden curves swaying behind pink hair. Queen Eli raised a delicate eyebrow when she kept staring.

"Lizzy Lestruiz. Sweep up any lewd thoughts you're having. You said there was a disturbance near the southern district. If it space magic, then we have something to worry about."

Reluctantly retracting her gaze, Lizzy sighed and nodded. There had been something that tickled her senses. She was more skilled with the Space attribute than the Queen and was in charge of running interference. Like putting up spell wards surrounding the Hall. It wouldn't do to have an assassin to teleport into the Queen's bed-chamber.

Being the one to set up the wards meant that Lizzy had the passcodes, though. So if she wanted to, she could pay a nightly visit and...

A perverted expression came and went.

Shaking her head, she tried to focus.

"There was an anomaly. However, the normal magical signatures were not present. The fact that I picked up on it at all was pure coincidence. I was trying to cast a portal to appear outside the Hall, but my magic wouldn't respond. It was as if it was being used up elsewhere..."

The Queen frowned slightly.

"That is worrisome. What would cause such a thing?"

"A few things."

Lizzy bit her lip. The options were limited. It could just be a malfunction in the Primal leylines—a momentary blip.

"If the anomaly was specifically caused. It could be a separate nation having developed an experimental spell that went haywire. The likelihood of something so massive to succeed is practically nil."

"So you think we have nothing to worry about?"

"Unless it was a god that cast a portal spell, it is likely that whoever messed around with the laws of Space and Time is no longer in existence. Along with a few kilometers."

"There have been no reports of catastrophe."

"I can't explain that. Perhaps the anomaly was an echo? Someone was communicating with the caster, but the connection was cut off? It could be a variety of things simpler than we fear."

Lizzy regretted the fact she couldn't come up with a better answer. A spell of such magnitude would cause a national incident in whatever nation it was cast and every single nation around it. Despite being the foremost prodigy and highest-ranking Space mage currently in existence, she had diddly squat.

"I see."

She winced and the lack of words. Her answer couldn't have been satisfactory.

Queen Eli put a hand to her chin and thought. The populace seemed unaware, and there have been no unusual disturbances. The only ones who knew were currently the two of them. It wouldn't do to panic or move without more information. Wandering in the dark usually caused things to go bump in the night. Worst-case scenario, by poking into the situation, they would cause mass hysteria over nothing. Still, there was nothing worse than leaving a problem to fester.

"Let's go investigate personally."

"Eli?"

The Queen smiled at her named being used.

"No one else knows, and we are the best two for the job. I can leave things unattended for an evening."

"Is... Is this- Is this a date?"

Lizzy's eyes were that of a pet begging to be scratched. Queen Eli could imagine fluffy purple bunny ears drooping out from Lizzy's hair. A little, poofy violet tail wiggling along with her small butt. Queen Eli gave a half-grin at the image. It wasn't far off. Lizzy's purple eyes glowing pleadingly.

"Sure. Sure. If you behave, I'll give you a treat."

A deviant grin changed the image of a begging rabbit to one that was in heat. Lizzy took a step forward.

"Hmm? A treat, you say?"

Eli took a step back but ran into her desk. Flustered.

"Aha~ yes. Of course."

Lizzy reached Eli and brushed a hand across her cheek. The contact was cool against her warm skin.

"Lizzy. Ah-after. After. Okay?"

Her response was another hand wrapping around her waist, bringing their bodies together.

"Kya~"

Lizzy brought her face close. Her breath cooling Eli's ears. She whispered breathlessly

"I think I want my treat now."

Eli's face was flushed. The tips of her ears were burning. Her hands rummaged around for something on her desk to save her but found nothing. She stuttered, pleading.

"I... Liz-Lizzy. I said. After. Yes?"

Eli became overly conscious of their bodies pressing up against each other. Of how Eli was nearly a head shorter, her hair smelled like honey and chestnut. The smell was intoxicating, and she felt her body reacting. The physical closeness, Lizzy's hand tracing the curve of her hips and running down behind to squeeze her butt.

"Ah."

Lizzy ran a dainty finger across Eli's bottom lip, imagining the taste. Eli could feel her heart pounding in her chest, beating loudly, pumping all the blood in her body to her head. The leyline across her face tinted red. Lizzy's chest rubbed against her own. Her heartbeat told Eli that Lizzy was just as excited and nervous. Her face was close. Too close.

Face warm, her lips slightly parted, inviting.

"My Queen... You won't deny me, will you?"

The question was a secret. The way Lizzy bit her lip made Eli go crazy.

"Haaaa..."

She gave in.

=

The pedestrians stared at him as he passed. Whispering and pointing. He vaguely recalled that hair culture in Elden was something different but couldn't recall the significance. Even so, he was attracting too much attention, so Reiss scurried off to a side street. Shaking off a couple of persistent followers.

Now sure he was alone, he sighed. He forgot how large the Oirel Queendom was. It would take forever to walk to the Queen's Hall. Flying would attract more unneeded attention. He didn't need it right now. Right now, he needed to find Lizzy. To make sure she was safe and help her prevent a catastrophe. The longer he waited, the higher the chance he would be too late.

"The only way is to cast a portal."

Reiss sighed and looked up. Small four-story tree homes were separated by the small 'alley' he now resided in. High above were leaves that allowed diffused light to poke through the canopy, casting veined shadows across the forest floor.

"Lizzy should be eating a meal around this time. It should be a good time."

Resolving himself, he pressed his hands together, ready to cast.

"What was the code again? Hm..."

Reiss wracked his brain. Lizzy set up the security codes for the Hall herself. She gave him the code after he kept intruding anyway.

What was it again? Oh right.

Eliz2

Security code offered, his hands separated. Again, the portal was no longer a black abyss. Instead, it was a door leading into an audience chamber. Reiss stepped in. The portal shut behind him, leaving the dingey alley. The Elden version of a throne room was more relaxed but no less grand. The walls were ornately decorated, and twisting columns held up the roof. Unfortunately, there was no one here.

"Hmm..."

Lizzy usually eats her meals here, uncaring it was meant to hold many people. Maybe she finished and was in her office?

Reiss knew the way. He passed by an open entryway and moved through a few corridors, slipping past any guards that would only slow him down, up a small set of stairs and down another hallway. Reiss paused.

He could hear cries. Moaning as if someone was being tortured.

Reiss' eyes widened. Was he too late? Did he not make it in time?

Hurrying, Reiss picked up his pace towards the door at the end of the hall. The study.

The cries grew louder.

Reiss reached for the door. Pushing it open.

"Lizzy-"

"Kya~"

"Haa~"

Pausing. The door halfway ajar. Everyone still as statues. Staring.

Reiss' expression was locked in worry. Then it slowly but crudely morphed into the wry grin of an idiot.

"The Queen, Lizzy? Really? Good for you. I'll come back later."

Reiss waved a hand and closed the door.

He paused outside, facing away from the office.

The idiotic smirk on his face didn't go away even as a loud alarm blared through the wooden halls. He was just about to question why the alarm was ringing when the wooden door to the office transformed into shrapnel.