“All roads eventually lead to the Capital. Just make sure you’re not on the wrong ones. Travelling to the Capital can be full of adventure, and also full of death. Many things may happen on the Royal Road, of some only legends tell.”
̶ Myths of the Forgotten, unknown, unknown
----------------------------------------
We have finally reached Hadron, at last. This journey seems to not be as difficult as I thought, as we haven’t encountered anything along the way. I can only hope the rest of the travel will be as peaceful, but only fools hope for peace in Dralarag. At least someone will get a workout in case things go wrong.
I’m sure our patrons have received the Quickverns I sent yesterday, our rest here shouldn’t be interrupted. Hadron isn’t known to be a dangerous place, but anything can happen, especially during the night.
The town guards open the gate and the convoy is lead through the winding streets of the town. Hadron hasn’t changed much in recent years, but the town is noticeably more busy during the evening, I can hear chatter from the nearby taverns along the way. Peace has arrived to Dralarag after a century, and people are no longer away from their homes.
Sophia is keenly observing the town streets, her blue eyes darting around, exploring every corner of the small view the window of the carriage allows. She hadn’t left the castle in these three weeks, and I mostly left her to her own devices at times. I am trying to give her space and be patient, as I can only imagine what she had been going through these past few months.
Maybe this small trip brings us together in a way. I am looking forward to explaining everything in the Capital, their Palace looked almost nothing like ours. Such differences are sure to be at least entertaining in her mind.
But one thing at a time, let us rest at Hadron for a while first.
----------------------------------------
The town is lively, if anything. I never imagined that the Demon towns looked so… ordinary. There are your usual street vendors, your usual houses along the stone-paved streets, the chatter present in the taverns, nothing remarkable at first sight, all the things you would expect when walking into a town in Leonia.
The carriage slowly trudges past the small brick houses, stopping in front of what seems to be a manor. It could hardly be called that however. The black rock of the building reflected almost no light provided by the lamp posts on the streets or the various lanterns hung from the roofs and walls of the buildings. The manor itself had several of those around the walls, the lanterns seemingly floating in mid-air, the blackness of the wall impenetrable to the light they provide.
The place seemed to look more like a fortress than a manor, with the high walls, guard towers, and banners dropped down. The sigil on them depicted an upright lance with a serpent slowly coiling around it, with the lance running through the serpents head. It screamed hostility, but the meaning could actually go anywhere. The sigils actually have a sentence written underneath, but my knowledge of their written word is still not up to par, especially since the letters on the banners are purposefully distorted.
“What do the words on the banners mean?”
“It means ‘We crash with the Darkness within’. It’s the sigil of the Hadron’s Kolider family.”
As soon as the carriage halts completely, Cerolus is walking out of it, and a figure could be seen exiting the manor. I stay in the carriage unsure if I’m to come to my husband’s side or not.
“Well come on outside, we will be staying here for this night.”
I slowly step outside the carriage, finally able to see the figure that came out earlier. It’s a tall Demon with broad shoulders, two short horns on his head, with almost coal like skin that seems like it would crumble to dust at any moment. The clothes he is wearing imply stature and dignity, while also portraying some aloofness.
“Lord Cerolus, my father apologizes for not being able to greet you. He has business in the Capital, so I am here in his stead.” The Demon bows curtly towards my husband, apparently signaling the difference if status among them.
“Wait, you’re the little Cernol? You’ve grown so much, I still remember when you were a little kid that played with wooden swords. How time passes. So, your father finally allowed you to take care of the estate in his stead? I know the old bastard rarely set foot outside these doors.
Stolen story; please report.
Allow me to introduce you to my wife.”
Cerolus pulls me to his side, the Demon right in front of me now.
“Cernol, this is Sophia, my new wife. Sophia, meet Cernol, our host for the evening.”
The Demon sets his eyes on me, his gaze perplexing to my mind. He seems apprehensive of me for some reason. I remember what I was like when I first learned of the matter of my marriage, throwing a fit in the Palace. His first reaction seems much more composed though, I wonder what he thinks of us Humans as a whole.
His face brightens somewhat, as if forcefully, and he takes a small bow towards me.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sophia. I am Cernol Kolider, the heir to the Kolider house of Hadron. I am delighted to be your host for the night. This would be my first time seeing a Human, so I must apologize for any misconduct in advance.”
Unsure of how to respond, I stand silently, silently expecting for Cerolus to help me out. When no such thing happens after a while, the Demon starts eyeing me curiously, as if a bit insulted by my lack of response.
“It’s a… pleasure to meet you as well, Lord Cernol. You have ummm… a wonderful home.”
The Demon brightens up at a topic he can continue the conversation with. “Oh you flatter me, I’m sure it’s nothing like your homeland, or your castle here. This ugly thing has been here for centuries now, and some things do need to be changed.
Now come in, you must be famished from the travels, we have prepared everything for your arrival.”
Several servants exit the manor and start taking the luggage with them, others start leading the Firemanes and Triforces away, while we are led by Cernus towards the doors.
The inside of the manor is as gloomy as the outside, the winding corridors barring great resemblance to the ones I somehow got almost used to in our castle.
The dining area is not nearly as nice as ours, the room being lit by a large number of torches on the walls. Cernus sits at one end to the table, while Cerolus heads over to the other one, the two seated men setting their eyes on me now. I slowly move towards Cerolus, taking a seat on his left side, looking for any kind of response from him. When none is given, I assume I must’ve done something right at least.
The dinner starts as soon as we are seated, the servants carrying large plates of food to the table. Cerolus makes himself at home, starting up a conversation with our host.
“So, how is life in Hadron? Your old man giving you trouble?”
“My father is having me learn everything about what he does, he plans to retire soon, and I’m the only child he has, so all the responsibilities will fall on me when he does so.”
“It will be nice, having responsibility, looking for a lovely bride to start a family with, being young. Ah, the joys of youth when you don’t live as long as I do.”
Did the Demon… blush at the mention of marriage? His skin is coal black, but his cheeks have suddenly adopted a slightly reddish, almost smoldering queue. His serious persona has all but disappeared by now, it’s a bit funny to be honest to myself. But I can’t exactly laugh at the dining table, especially at our host, it would be anything but appropriate.
“Or is it that you already have a woman in your mind, boy?” Cerolus winks at the Demon, the young Lord almost sinking in his seat. “Love is a beautiful thing to have, don’t be ashamed of it.” Cerolus then looks meaningfully at me, a completely different demeanor than what he had a moment ago. I can’t tell if he’s trying to tell me something or not, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to understand what is happening behind those pitch black eyes of his.
His words do spark a line of thought in me, though. Is he trying to like me, and more importantly, can I try to like him back? I still don’t know what I’m feeling for him after this time. I’ve certainly grown past the hate I had when I learned of my marriage, and definitely don’t think he’d actually want to hurt me in any way now, but can I end it at that? Would it be easier to fall in love or stay like this?
“Do you know of the Legend of the Hadron Lurker?” The question seems to be directed at both me and the young Demon across the table. I have never heard of such a story, which isn’t surprising, considering that I haven’t heard of many stories at all. Cernus gives a vocal response that aligns with my own.
“Well, it is an old story, usually passed down by mouth. I’ve heard it a long time ago, and if I remember I heard it here…”