-----------------6 Months Later in Vernicus Kingdom-----------------------------------
Luxia looked at the shop just opened by the recently famous “Twilight Company” across the road. Although it was new to the Kingdom the company had taken the Empire by storm in just the last few months. By selling their new powerful healing remedies supposedly crafted by Mages they had found many customers desperate to buy from them. And now they had apparently decided to expand to a country warring with the nation the company had been supposedly founded in. Although many found it unusual it didn’t seem to lead to any reduction in popularity. The line of customers stretched around the corner as they waited patiently for their chance to enter the shop.
Luxia saw the cheerful children wearing shirts covered in Twilight’s purple logo of an elegantly drawn T as they ushered customers inside. Luxia was surprised by just how many children seemed to work for Twilight. Although she could see quite a few adults it seemed at least half of the employees were children in their early teenage years.
Luxia brought her attention back to her current issue as she pulled her focus off of the new store. Turning around Luxia faced four dozen of her Justice Paladins standing at attention. Dressed in silver armor dawned with a white sash and riding thoroughbred white horses even a shut in citizen of the Kingdom would know they were members of Luxia’s Claws. In the five years since their Order's founding, the level of Luxia’s personal knight brigade had risen to that of Mages of the fourth. While most would also be recognized as being sword masters if their skills with the sword were to be evaluated. Luxia’s four squad leaders were even all Mages of the fifth, each a powerhouse that could easily take command of a small dukedom. Besides their personal power, Luxia’s Claws were all battle-hardened, as for the last year they'd been in and out of constant war fronts as the Kingdom's armies continued their war with the Empire of Hervalle.
Luxia turned to one of her lieutenants. “Forga go with your squad and buy some of Twilight’s medicine so we can use it for emergencies.” She spoke as she tossed the blonde paladin a bag that clinked when caught.
“Yes, my Lady.” The paladin Forga answered. Forga led his men to the front of the line which made space for him not wanting to offend the Paladins of Justice.
“As for us, let's ride to the royal palace. I’m long overdue for an explanation from our dear King.”
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
----
Captain Roarke looked at the capital city of the Hervalle Empire from across the bow of his ship. Glancing to his side the image of two untouchable figures burned themselves into his memory. A small helpless looking young girl standing behind and to the side of a grey haired and fit looking older man. They looked to be the perfect image of a girl accompanying her grandfather, but Roarke as well as every other crew member on the ship knew better. These two were walking natural disasters. The terror among the crew had grown to such a fretful level they had dumped all the black pepper on the ship into the sea weeks ago for fear of it triggering a sneezing fit from one of the two and destroying the entire ship in the process. It was seen as common fact a single sneeze from one of the two monsters would reduce them all to dust in its wake.
“Ah after a long year and a half dealing with the Western Isles, it's good to be back.” Bastian spoke with a deep wistful tone before continuing with a hint of anticipation alongside a sliver of fear in his voice. “I just hope my pace of progress is enough to please Master this time.”
Roarke shut his ears to the monster's comment. Over the course of the last few months, Roarke had managed to pick up a few techniques from his compatriot in suffering Davim. Here Roarke exercised one of them by simply voiding the information the monster who became the master of the sea dragon also had some kind of mysterious master before it reached his brain. Nowadays Roarke had become rather proficient in stopping his thoughts from wandering above his pay grade. Every once in a while one would slip through and Roarke would then fill his head with the reliable mantra “I am a sailing plant. I see nothing. I hear nothing. All I need to do is keep on sailing.” After a few repeats, his potentially dangerous thoughts would be quieted and erased thoroughly from his mind.
As the ship drew closer to the city’s seaport Roarke saw far more patrols than when he had last been here. Once docked, the Portmaster visited the ship in a humble manner unbefitting a position where haughtiness was the norm. The man in a red cap and a linen uniform came up to Roarke and helped sort out anything for his stay in the port. Baffled Roarke turned to discuss with Bastian but found that the monster and his terrifying sidekick, the servant who always hid their face, as well as poor Davim had vanished. After saying a silent prayer for Davim. Roarke spotted an odd symbol that had been put on a white flag and raised above the topsail. It was obvious due to the Portmaster’s occasional glances up to the flag that it was this symbol's appearance that caused Roarke and his ship to be received so favorably.
He may be a monster but he can be a true gentleman sometimes, Roarke chuckled to himself as he began readying the ship as soon as possible. His only wish for the foreseeable future was to be as far away from those two as possible.
“Set sail for the Eastern Continent,” Roarke spoke, shooing the Portmaster away after a quick complimentary refill on supplies. The eagerness of the crew to set sail demonstrated their thoughts were well aligned with their captain in the need to go as far away from the Hervalle Kingdom and the monsters that called it home as fast as possible.