The first time Keith had met Derilla Vane, he’d escaped the not-so-careful watch of his Godmother while she was lounging in a hot spring.

He'd been five, and sitting around scratching scales for a few hours was not his idea of fun. So he'd wandered off into the caves to hunt frogs. Instead of frogs, he'd been met by eyes, many many eyes.

Unbeknownst to many, the Arachne had settled in the mountains; silently spreading their webs through the deep caves beside Thistlecrick. In his meandering, Keith had found one of the caves and a young Arachne boy. Derilla's two regular-sized and six smaller emerald eyes peeked out from inky black hair, as he paused in the middle of practicing web spinning. He stared at the strange black-clothed human child that had entered his cavern.

The two had stood there, taking each other's measure, before launching into battle.

The boys fought to a stalemate, fang vs magic, until both swore an oath to let the other go free - if only because waiting for the other to fall had grown boring.

Instead, they decided to catch frogs together… Until said Arachne elders discovered them. Keith was only permitted to live so as not to make Derilla an [Oath Breaker]. He’d fled back to his Godmother.

The dragon had accepted the Arachne into her domain after she was promised 50 bolts of spider silk per year. Feliwyn very much liked pretty things.

Shortly after that, Chloe or Rufus were picked up and tasked with keeping him alive until he was old enough to fight off assassins and Arachne and worse.

Derilla Vane had grown up strong enough to claim the title of General of the North. Keith probably should have informed Henrietta about Derilla’s race - but he was used to her unfazed appearance to all things evil.

Including himself.

"Oh my." Ria breathed. "It's a spider."

"He," Keith chastised, squeezing her hand. "He is a spider."

"I am, and I always have been." A deep chuckle sounded throughout the hall.

Elder Clarissa, having finished escorting them, politely excused herself.

The General of the North was of average height for the intelligent races, and his head came up to just below Keith’s chin. He had jet black hair - cut short and swept back with winged sides - and his eyes shone the same green as in his youth. He wore a fine white spider-silk tunic, fastened around his waist with a brown leather belt. Below the belt was his spider body. As far as Keith understood, the carapace held the Arachne’s intestines, sex organs and thread spinners, while the upper anthropoid body held the heart, lungs, kidneys and other important organs required to keep his fleshy bits functioning.

"Hello my friend," Keith reached out and locked forearms with the Arachne.

Derilla's fangs flashed in a grin, "Well met. And who is this tasty morsel?"

Ria looked distractedly at the General and didn't immediately reply.

"Someone who could wrestle you into submission faster than my Godmother." Keith mused. "Henrietta, Derilla. Derilla, Henrietta."

Hearing her name, Ria finally recovered herself. "It’s nice to meet you."

The princess crept forward and offered her hand. Derilla, in his usual flare, scooped it up and bowed low for a kiss.

"Charmed," the Arachne said, he held Ria's hand slightly longer than was polite and she frowned, snapping it back.

"I thought you said that you'd tell me if you were uncomfortable?" Keith teased. There were still moments when she revealed that she came from another culture.

"Be nice," Derilla moved back, giving Ria space. "I am pretty terrifying by human standards."

"I'm not afraid!" Ria blushed, her eyes truly focusing on the Arachne for the first time, "I'm just wondering why my Sword Aura is telling me that you're flagged as an enemy?"

Derilla threw back his head and laughed. "Because I am."

Keith felt a headache coming on.

Henrietta's hand went to her sword, but Derilla only laughed again. "I will not attack you here, Princess. You’re under my hospitality."

"Then why?"

"I might ask you why you have your class skills active while in my home?" Derilla crossed his arms.

She shrugged, "I used it enroute and never bothered to deactivate it. And assassins are everywhere these days. Though I wasn't expecting the notification to warn me about you, General Vane."

She stared pointedly at the Arachne.

"He wants to be king of the Dark Enchanted Forest." Keith explained. "He hasn't figured out how to kill me, or rule without needing to take a nap in the cold. Oh, and I'm just more powerful and better at fighting than he is."

"For now." Derilla gripped a fist and then pointed a finger at Keith. "I may rest in the winter, but you have stagnated while I grow stronger. As you tinker with toys, I train in darkness. I will drink your blood and feast upon your corpse until Chloe wrests it from my [Mana Drain Web]."

"He's also fun at parties," Keith deadpanned. That particular Perk had been an inconvenience the last time they’d fought. "And keeps his hospitality. He won't kill us while we’re visiting - but every few years he challenges me for the kingdom."

"Can anyone challenge you for the kingdom?" Ria let go of the hilt of her blade and turned big eyes on Keith.

"Technically?" Keith shrugged.

At the same time Derilla said, "No."

"Anyone from Nilheim may challenge me," Keith pushed up his glasses. "During the Winter Solstice."

"It's most inconvenient." Derilla Vane sighed, then waved the two of them over to the veranda door. "I am at a disadvantage. But the higher my level, the easier it is to ignore my physiological needs like torpor."

Keith took Henrietta's arm again and escorted her outside. A light rain had rolled in, dripping off the curved roof overhang above them. A merry fire flickered in a brazier, providing enough warmth that the cool air wasn’t uncomfortable.There was a short table with cushions laid out around it, and Keith let Ria take a seat first before he plopped down beside her.

"What level are you now?"

Derilla smiled, revealing all his sharp pointy fangs. "71."

Henrietta started and stared at their host over her shoulder. Keith raised an eyebrow.

"Congratulations." He took off his glasses to wipe them as they fogged up from the cool damp. "I suppose we'll be seeing you at the castle again this Solstice?"

"Count on it."

Keith enjoyed the misty afternoon aesthetic and settled in for some moon-shaped floofpoof egg cakes and lotus tea.

He had his mouthful of the dessert when Ria asked, "Will I be fighting beside you this winter… or do I get to compete?"