"Hey you, you're finally awake."
"...?"
The man who was bundled up with rope on the floor flinched and glanced up to see a room polished by marble.
There was a round-table by the center with many prominent-looking figured sitting around it... Just where-
BLAM!
The Valoratian King furiously slammed his fist onto the marble roundtable, crushing a chunk of marble away.
"Tell me... Who dares commit such acts of cowardice towards our guests-!?"
Amidst the muttering that began in the room, an advisor stepped out from behind the Valoratian King's throne.
"Hah! This is all but a ploy to accuse us, your highness!"
"There's a bunch of assassin corpses in the alleyway junction behind the inn we stayed as well."
"Hah! Nonsense."
Vixella frowned slightly upon realizing her mistake.
The plotters had by now probably cleaned away all the evidence from last night.
"Hah! You...", Ivan pointed at the tied-up man, "Framed, were you not-!?"
The assassin immediately presumed a desperate look.
"Y-Yes!! They- They threatened to slaughter my family so I had to do this..."
A while later,
DUNNN!
The colossal doors shut behind them who were kicked out of the palace.
"Lady Vixella... To think that you would bring up the assassination attempt in such a way... We played right into their hands..."
John who was riding on one of Jessica's arms threw a doubtful glance at Vixella... Did he overestimate her?
"Our lady here was never good with verbal negotiations, to begin with", Xenthur rested a finger on his chin, "Why did she come?"
"Hey... That's a bit harsh, don't you think? Anyways, Valoratians sure have it easy! Don't need to use their brains at all..."
"Ara? But I use my brain all the time?"
"Of course you do, Jessica."
Jessica smiled confidently before realizing that something was amiss in that reply.
"W-Wait... W-What could Lady mean by that-!?"
"Sister... You're what they call... Bimbo?"
"J-John-!? W-Where did you learn such words..."
"I read it in a book...?"
"Just what have you been reading-!?"
"Despite this failure, the Elderian King has rewarded our Lady here a month's leeway for her accomplishments in Katraia."
"Aah, that's right! I completely forgot about that! Yoshaaaa!" ((Yoshaa = Oh yeaaaah! WEEB MODE))
"May I... Tag along..."
"My poor brother still hasn't given up despite being rejected..."
"Silence, Sister! what if she hears us..."
John whispered in a panic into his sister's ears.
Much to their awareness, Vixella wasn't listening as she pumped her fist, letting a slight tear of bliss ran down her face.
"One month's vacation after over ten years of constant suffering... Aah... Finally..."
Everyone then came to a mutual stop by the palace courtyard walkways.
"Ara ara? Are you perhaps talking about the Great War-"
"We're exposed-!? Xiveall, get back!"
Xenthur pulled Vixella behind him before raising his guard against John and Jessica who stood there dumbfounded.
Naturally, Vixella was also confused.
"Aah... What are you doing?"
He struck a slight pose before conjuring a ball of howling shadows above him.
"I must say... You are quite skilled to discover our identity! But this will be your last- ARGHAWIDHJVAWGGHH------!?"
Xenthur collapsed down to foam from his mouth as slight smoke rose from his burnt clothes.
"It's fine as long as these two don't tell others... Anyways, did I shock him a bit too hard?"
Vixella casually walked over with a raised finger emitting extremely intense sparks of electricity.
"No mercy when it comes to your butler as usual..."
"That aside, I guess this is goodbye for the time being?"
Vixella smiled wryly as she slung Xenthur's twitching body over her shoulder.
"Lady, about my contract-"
"I terminated it already."
"...!?", Jessica quickly recomposed herself and knelt, "From the depths of my heart, I was honored to have served under you!"
"Aah, you flatter me."
Xenthur grumbled out from below as they all looked at him.
"As humble... As ever..."
After everything was said and done, John decided to appoint Jessica as his bodyguard.
She was eventually accepted into the ranks of the Enchantian mages after a few trials conducted by them.
It wasn't just for being the archmage's sister but also for the fact that she had put her life on the line for him.
Vixella had also recently sent a letter to a certain someone who they had met by the wizard tower citadel a few weeks earlier.
He who sat back in his quarters reading the letter under the dim candlelight gave off an unsure look out a frosted window porthole.
Enchantia.
Citadel Training Grounds.
The Mage Captain walked out into the open through the archway corridor exit as he tucked up his scarf.
"Our benefactor mentioned that I was supposed to train... YOU-!?"
A taller female knight who stood by the center of the open training field casually looked over.
Despite her intimidating appearance, he looked closer to see that she had quite a fine face.
He seemed a bit reluctant but eventually approached her.
"Hey... Sorry for back then.
"Arara? You came all the way here just to apologize to me?"
"No... I was appointed as your magic teacher... So let us get along...?"
"Hoh... Then get along we shall."
A CENTURY LATER
(Traveling Transition Music)
Vixella's wagon rode away from the western sunset and towards the north-eastern stone mountains in the distant horizons!
The dwarven race resided in underground fortress cities built into the mountains.
Those mountains that foreshadowed them as they got closer.
After arriving, Vixella swung open the carriage door and peeked out.
"Aah, I hope the dwarves are less boring nowadays------- Bruh."
A day of rest was all they took before continuing the journey.
The underground cities, as always, didn't have much to see.
Nothing new to learn.
Nothing new to take in.
Nothing new to experience.
It was surely the ultimate caveman's life.
The life of a dwarf was unbelievably slow and boring.
Hammering metal all day deep inside a mountain?
Can anyone even call that a way of living?
Vixella who was usually content of traveling was for the first time hesitant to once again accept the existence of such a place.
The carriage made its way down and around the steep mountain path before heading out onto some grassy savannah plains.
What stopped them from getting lost in the maze of tall grass was the faint dirt road that had been plowed beneath them.
Fortunately, this shabby-looking road was just large enough as a two-way for wagons and carriages to work with.
The 'Great Expanse'.
Beastmen Tribes.
Thanks to Xenthur who didn't need sleep as a necromancer, their carriage wagon restlessly drove on deeper into the savannah.
Vixella, on the other hand, was able to augment her body with Holy Healing Magic to survive without the need of food nor sleep.
Although this wasn't necessary since they had already prepared and packed food supplies accordingly for the long trip.
It wasn't like that other time where they had to go deep into demonic territory alone with just the two of them.
The days were hot, and the nights were cold.
Heavy rains and harsh winds came occasionally.
Fortunately enough, the road did not become muddy nor sank too deep.
The journey, from certain perspectives, surely went without a hitch.
The carriage's interior seemed to have taken quite the damage after they had reached their destination.
It was all thanks to Vixella who was trying her best to master the elemental magics during their travels.
Xenthur carefully opened the wagon door before gracefully bowing with a hand extended out.
Casually taking his hand, Vixella stepped off the carriage wagon before closing the door behind her.
Parking the wagon by the garage stables, the two paid the manager person there before walking away.
"Xenthur."
"Yes, my lady?"
"Have the beastmen developed that much since I was gone?"
The oriental-looking townscape was bustling with varying beastmen... But mainly dog-like beastmen.
There were also numerous tourists of other races... Although most of them were humans.
"The Shober Faction had recently flourished with trade due to their generous hospitality with other tribes and races."
"Tell me about your sense of 'recent', old man."
Vixella picked up the pace.
Xenthur forced a smile as he quickly caught up to her.
"You surely jest! I am but a young youth, just like you!"
Vixella looked up and away at the curved rooftops with oriental lanterns present throughout the town.
"I'm also basically an old man though? Aah, anyways... I'll assume that your 'recent' is a decade."
The many races of Demi-Humans coexisted in the restless town that was bustling with varying activities.
Guides were leading a crowd of attentive human tourists around each district that all had their peculiarities to show.
A beastman father was out with his child to buy some snacks.
A human merchant ran around as she seemed excited to sample the local handicraft.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
An elf sat up top a rooftop as her sharp eyes idly glanced around here and there.
Everything was...
Well? The usual.
When talking about the town itself, it was the Shober Beastmen Tribe that was governing the bustling place.
They were beastmen who retained normal looks of a human but had dog ears and tails after the Shiba dog race.
Softly pushing open a double-door shutter, a butler would politely guide his lady into the tourist information center.
The two stepped forward to line up in the long queue, waiting for their turn to ask for information.
Upon realizing that the majority of people in the place began to eye her all over, Vixella felt quite uncomfortable.
"Xenthur... Help?"
In return, the butler confusedly glanced over before realizing that all eyes were literally upon her.
"Xiveall, now that I think about it... You've never been out in the normal public as a woman before, have you?"
"Aah, so that's what it is? No wonder women have it rough... Being a woman sure is troublesome!"
Well, eyeing her so much eventually made the crowd saw the Elderian Emissary pin.
Shuffling sounded the tourist center as people began moving aside with some mumbling.
Vixella and Xenthur were then politely led to the front of the line.
"Hey... Aren't the people here strangely nice to us..."
"Thanks to you? Besides, to think you'd put the pin right where most men would look-"
Vixella raised an eyebrow as she began inspecting the dress which was of proper attire.
"I don't understand... What's there to look around the pin... Everything's covered...?"
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/362703793596399618/569170221559054357/unknown.png]
Little did she know of the power of the detached sleeves which revealed her bare shoulders, sides, and back.
It did indeed attract the eyes of many... Men and women alike-!? (YURI TIME-!? NOOOOOOOOO!!!)
"Awoo! Are you... Uh... Is someone important?"
The receptionist was seemingly confused upon seeing them who were allowed to cut the whole line.
Vixella, for whatever reason, decided to brandish what she thought was the 'noble impression' to others.
"Hohoho!", she covered her mouth with the backhand, "If you deem me to be of much importance then it can't be helped-"
"Yes, she is the Elderian Emissary."
Xenthur quickly butted in.
"Emissary... Woof-!? A representative of nation-!?"
The two were then shortly led out of the place by the seemingly panicking receptionist.
They were quickly guided to head up towards the Shrine by the hillside overlooking the town.
Since the receptionist was in a hurry, they resorted to taking awkward shortcuts through people's backyards, and uh- You name it!
Vixella, still wearing the encumbering noble dress, could not perform the parkour feats as easily as the other two.
On the whole way there, she was ashamed after having to rely on them both to lift her over higher obstacles.
"Ah, Xiveall... So here we are! Back on your merry and dreamy days of traveling!"
"Yeah", she smiled softly as the mild breeze went by, "It's quite the good view from up here."
"Indeed! Much better than the view in 'The Mounts'-"
"Don't ever... Mention... That place again..."
She stared blankly at the bustling townscape below to try and bury the thought with the beautiful scenery.
Despite this, both of them had already acknowledged the upcoming presence behind them.
"Welcome to this one's humble shrine... Are you perhaps lost? Awoo?"
"Aah... That 'awoo' sure ruined the feels..."
"Today we came as tourists... Guided here by a certain panicking receptionist."
"Panicking? I see... That insignia pin... WOOF-!? My apologies for being so rude to someone of such importance!"
The Shrine Maiden popped down and suddenly did a seiza to bow down in front of them.
Seiza [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Greeting_when_sitting.jpg/220px-Greeting_when_sitting.jpg]
Xenthur was about to say something, but Vixella quickly stepped forward in a panic.
"Wait! It's okay! Pay no mind to our difference in status!"
Vixella, for the first time without injury, spoke unsteadily.
"Woo-oof? Then... Once again, welcome to this one's humble shrine... Here we offer ourselves to the Shober Doggod."
"Doggod... Doggo God? Aah, I--- Interesting! With our formalities aside, I'm Vix-"
"Lady Vixella."
Xenthur immediately interrupted.
"Yeah, that."
She quickly crossed her arms and nodded a few times.
(Ojousama = Lady)
"Then... Vixella-ojousama! This one's name is Mesa! Now, let us together tour through the Shrine of Humility."
((Mesa Reference? Lol.))
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/455394821364908032/462664635108163584/5.jpg]
The two then began following the priestess who wagged her tail like a happy dog around the place.
"Mesa, what's that for?"
Vixella pointed at the weird bamboo installation which filled itself with water before slamming down to make a sound.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/362703793596399618/561524245981560833/71coe0-hJQL._SX355_.jpg]
"Awoo? Hmm... Repentant... To think this one has also forgotten..."
"This marvelous wonder is used to scare stray animals away from the garden...?"
Xenthur seemed a bit unsure at the end despite striking a confident pose of adjusting some air glasses.
"Sou da! Xenthur-sama! That is what that installation was made for!"
Vixella elbowed Xenthur with a sneer.
"Guesswork, or pure genius?"
"You surely jest...? I know much than the common man!"
"Then, what are my exact measurements? I don't even know them myself so I doubt you'll... Aah-!?"
Groping Vixella's breasts, Xenthur then casually proceeded downwards to feel her waist and hips.
"All but a simple task! They're 87/66/74... So 32 C? Ah... Not bad, my Lady----"
WHAM!
The wooden wall beside them splintered apart as Xenthur's head was jammed straight into it.
"Xenthur-sama...!? Awooo!!"
The three of them, after that slight 'accident', exchanged idle conversations as they went further into the shrine.
Vixella carefully lifted her dress to prevent it from possibly tangling with the bamboo-matted floor.
"Xenthur... Can't I wear a shorter dress... I'm not meeting any significant people anyway?"
"My apologies... Even if that were allowed... I don't have anything for you to change into as of now."
"Woo-oof! That will be of no problem! Let this one bring Vixella-ojousama a new dress befitting of her looks!"
Mesa then began scuttling away with her tail wagging happily behind.
After Mesa returned, they were guided towards a room where they could change.
Vixella glanced at the mirror for the last time before walking out of the changing room.
"Aah, finally... My sides, shoulders, and back won't be cold anymore."
"Awoo! This one thinks it looks great on you, ojousama!"
A black dress that only went to about her upper thigh.
She was also given black stockings for the proper fit.
The dress itself had dark frilly ends, a sizeable crimson bow, and golden finishes in specific folded areas.
((Reference, no she does not have drills... Or does she-!? OHOHOHOHOHO-))
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/362703793596399618/569174020097048576/unknown.png]
Mesa raised her hands to just below her chin and happily wagged her tail.
Vixella immediately understood her intentions and gave her some head pats.
"Good dog!"
The shober priestess twisted her body around in happiness as her tail wagged the more Vixella continued.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/342368327953547265.png]
((Random Furry Emoji LOL))
The week passed by relatively quickly for Vixella as she learned new things about the Shober culture in leisure.
It was just a month or so left before they were to be called back for wartime preparations against Valoratia.
During all this time, she had also been training her mastery for the elemental magics in leisure.
It was quite the burden for Mesa who had to fix the Shrine's courtyard after it was damaged day after day.
After saying their thanks and goodbyes to the Shober Beastmen, the next week was spent traveling to the 'Forbidden Forest'.
Little did they know about the news of a beastman who was killed near the border since the elves thought he was hunting game.
The hostility between the elves and beastmen had already waged into smaller-scale conflicts... Right where they were heading.