Sana looked at her partner, they were seated in the carriage, face to face. She had expected to make this part of the journey alone. It was something that made her feel nervous, but now, it didn't. In fact, she looked out the window of the slightly bumpy carriage, powered by two 3rd realm Bloodstorm Mares, speeding down the ancient roads, and wondered what chaos someone like Zahar would cause.
Her mate was amazing. She wasn't sure whether her expectations were too low, or he really was amazing. The zenith emperor looked at her, and smiled. "It's good you are not worried."
"Have I ever asked you- like- why are you here?"
Zahar laughed, and then pulled his concubine closer for a kiss. "I'm here to have a damned good time."
"Really? And what does that involve?" Sana wondered, somehow, those words felt- hollow.
"I'm not sure if the coachman would allow me to do it in his beautiful carriage."
Sana flushed, and playfully pushed him away. "Pervert."
The man laughed, his chuckle was loud. "I'm being honest. I really am here to just have fun, and enjoy my time. Cause some mess, beat some stuckups, fight battles I'm supposed to lose and win anyway. You know, things like that. Shatter expectations too."
She felt like that wasn’t the truth. "So you're going to be showing off all the time?"
"Eh. Not at all." Zahar shrugged. "The key to having a good time is to set low expectations, and then surprise them. I love the faces of those when they see me do what they think is not possible."
"You're just cheating and bullying those weaker than you." Sana pouted, and adjusted her dress. Mother told her to wear slightly more revealing clothing, and that often involved wearing robes with deeper cleavages, since those really flaunted her assets.
“You’re quite right, actually.” She noticed Zahar’s ogling. He wrapped his hand around her waist, and then touched those parts. "I like the tips you're getting from your mother. She understands me really well."
Her face turned red as her plan was exposed. "You knew?"
"Of course. A young woman doesn't become so sweet and seductive without a more experienced woman guiding her every move." Zahar gently nibbled her ears. "But I like it. So keep it up."
Her body tingled, as she remembered their night time together.
"The first thing we'll do in the Roaring Dragon Sect is stain our accommodation with our fluids."
Sana's face paled, horrified at the mess that would create. "Uh- is that a good idea? That- that doesn't sound like a good idea. It'll-"
Zahar laughed. "I kid. We'll just stain the beds."
“Not much better!” Sana looked at the man touching her. The trip took three days at the incredible speeds of the Bloodstorm Mares, passing through cities and all. But they didn’t stop, the carriage would take them to the Roaring Dragon Sect directly.
The Bloodstorm Mares are special property of the Roaring Dragon Sect, and it is only because of the Roaring Dragon Sect of the special treatment granted to former disciples that they would be able to use it.
Invited disciples, they call them. In normal times, they’d have to arrange for normal Beast Mares, and the trip would easily take four times as long. Sana looked at her partner as they traveled in the carriage. When he wasn’t teasing her or fondling her body, there were moments when she noticed him staring at the scenery outside quietly.
All she felt from him then, was a really intense loneliness.
Like someone who re-lived their lives all over again to experience youth once more.
Like someone who did this all over again to regain the spark that was long gone.
Like someone who had regrets that he never quite figured out how to solve.
He may be an immortal of some kind, but why would a man go through the cycle of finding beautiful women for his harem, if not to reestablish some kind of connection?
Sana wouldn’t dare ask the question. She felt it would make him mad, or he would lie.
Instead, she remembered the words her mother told her.
“There will be times with your partner, where nothing needs to be said. If you feel like there’s nothing that needs to be said, but you still need to be there, just sit next to them, hold their hand, or touch them gently. Your father sometimes stews in frustration, and all I do is be there for him.”
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There was another day to the trip. She got up, and then sat next to him. She then rested her head on his shoulders.
She felt him look at her, and then his arm curled around her, pulling her closer, and her head rested on his chest. His eyes continued to look outside, quiet.
His hands felt warm, and slightly fleshy. He gained weight over the past two months, no longer the skinny man when he first barged into the mansion.
***
The Roaring Dragon Sect was a large place, and was somewhere they’d expect to spend at least one to two decades, if not more.
The name of Roaring Dragon Valley was for a simple reason. There was a giant dragon that lived here, and served as the Guardian Protector of the Roaring Dragon Sect.
It was visible from far away, it slept at the top of the mountain that overlooked Roaring Dragon Valley. Its huge, gigantic size suggested it was at least a creature with the strength of someone in 4th, or maybe 5th Ascension.
Zahar’s eyes were glued to the creature the moment the Bloodstorm Mares led them past the first gates.
He breathed a small sigh of relief, when it didn’t go further, or deeper into the valley. They stopped at the outer part of the valley.
There was a city here, built to support the Roaring Dragon Sect’s many deals and transactions.
“We’re here. This is the New Ring City.” Sana said. It’s her first time here, and so she was excited. Her spatial pouch hung by her side, secured by a belt. Her father bought her a new sword, but it was nothing special. He assured her that the Roaring Dragon Sect has treasures beyond compare, so what she needed to bring was just things of sentimental value.
It’s a busy place, and already he could feel the turbulent energies of the Roaring Dragon Sect. There were lesser dragons flying in the skies above them, creatures of the 4th to 6th realm, and some served as the mounts of the elders, core disciples, or personal disciples.
There were a group of officials present, more experienced Outer Disciples and Inner Disciples of the Roaring Dragon sect.
“New entrants, please present your admission slips.”
There was a hectic, confused buzz. There were many others who came by foot, and for them, many arrived early.
The fact that they came by Bloodstorm Mare meant an Inner Disciple came to greet them personally.
“Ah. Sana Eshtar of Koolan- and your partner?” The Inner disciple all wore robes of different colors, the only thing in common was the dragon motif throughout their robes. Sana nodded.
The inner disciple pointed them in the direction of a building.
“That’s where the invited outer disciples go. Please head that way.”
“Thank you.” Sana and Zahar walked to the building, it was a slightly posh, well decorated building. For the rest, there was normally a test of competency, and a trial of some kind. It was an elitist, aristocratic system, where former members of the Sect could write and endorse friends and children for admission as an Outer Disciple without going through the usual trials, though this was still subject to approval.
The building wasn’t crowded, unlike the larger hall for the public trials, but Sana immediately looked tense.
She hoped she didn’t bump into any of the super large clans or stronger families. Those folks tend to be troublesome, and generally looked down on smaller city nobles like herself. Just as nobles generally looked down on the commoners, there are levels even among the elites.
The fact that Zahar accompanied her as her partner was also something she had to manage carefully. If she offended Zahar, that would certainly get into trouble. But if she offended the other side, that would get her into trouble as well.
The hall for the Invited disciples was a large open area, and resembled a cocktail party more than a registration area.
There was a central table, where the administrative staff handled the registration, but the area itself was filled with waiters and waitresses serving drinks and light snacks to the various young masters and ladies.
“Sana!” A lady’s voice came, and Sana turned to see the lady her father mentioned. “You’re here!”
Evin Emmaria was a beautiful lady with medium length black hair with dark blue eyes. While Sana’s beauty was more of a refined, elegant woman, Evin resembled one of those ice princesses.
But neither attracted much attention. Every new female disciple of the Roaring Dragon Sect was beautiful in a slightly different way.
“Ah. Evin! Nice to see you again.” Sana responded, as Evin walked close with a drink. Evin then noticed Zahar close behind and frowned.
“Who’s this?” She asked, her eyes clearly looked at Zahar with disdain. Zahar just ignored her, and walked to the registration counter himself.
Sana turned to watch her mate go away, and then said. “My partner. I’ll catch up in a while, let me get registered.”
“A partner?” Evin frowned, but waited anyway.
Registration was easy. They received a bracelet that allowed them entrance into their respective chambers, and the bracelet itself was linked to the central measurement crystal. Everything they needed was already placed in their own chambers.
The administrative person didn’t give Zahar much trouble, and processed him as if he was just any other noble born. He wore high quality clothes provided by the City Lord, so there was no reason to suspect he was poor.
Zahar looked at Sana, then looked at the rest of the hall filled with mingling young nobles, then asked the administrative person in charge. “Do we actually need to wait here?”
“Oh. For the Invited Disciples, you can go to your chambers and rest. The Elders will conduct a briefing tomorrow. But if you meet some old friends, feel free to catch up, the drinks and food are free, and the siblings are allowed to join.”
Zahar nodded, and then asked for directions to the chambers. Sana looked at Zahar momentarily, wondering whether she should say something. He looked back at her and nodded. “I’ll head back and rest. I’m in Unit 6-4-2. You can stay.”
Sana checked her unit. “6-4-1.”
Ah. Her father’s letter for a shared room didn’t go through. She was partly relieved, but since it was next to each other, she’d be able to go over anyway. Her father said the Invited Outer Disciple’s accommodations are quite plush and large enough for a few people.
“Alright. See you tonight. Have fun.” Zahar said and walked away.