As the Faenmir family's carriage continued on its way toward the city center, another carriage arrived at the city's gate.
The guards manning the gate narrowed their eyes slightly as their grip on their spears tightened. The closer the carriage got, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
Two massive Earth Salamanders pulled the carriage forward at a steady pace, their heavy steps cracking the ground around them as they approached. Clearly whoever was arriving was putting on quite the show.
One of the guards quickly retrieved a talisman, and after speaking a few words into it, crushed it in his palm. At that moment the carriage arrived right in front of them, the salamanders glaring down on them with a menacing aura surrounding them.
Just then a boom sounded above them and a burly figure crashed into the ground causing the earth to quiver with the force of his impact. As the figure stood upright, he addressed the tense guards first before turning toward the carriage.
"Easy lads, they aren't here for a fight. Ain't that right Clan head Morrin?"
The carriage remained silent, but the salamanders began agitated as if they found being ignored a great insult.
Growll
Baring their teeth, a noxious odor spilled from their mouths as they locked their gazes on the new arrival.
The man raised an eyebrow at the beasts' display, a look of amusement on his face as he seemed to finally notice the two towering lizards before him.
"Oh, Earth Salamanders? And they even have a hint of Earth Drake bloodline within them. How cute."
The surroundings fell into a strange silence as they all tried to process the man's words. He thought that these menacing monsters were…cute?
As the guards' minds were reeling, one of Earth Salamanders eyes shrunk into needlepoints as its aura turned deadly. It opened its mouth, about to release a devastating roar but suddenly, its pupils dilated in fear as an oppressive aura pressed it into the ground.
Before it could react, its raised head slammed into the ground with a thud. The unknown man it had seen as nothing but a bug was walking towards it with a measured gait.
But within the man's eyes, his pupils had turned into slits and his pupils had turned a vibrant red. The other salamander, momentarily stunned by the rapid escalation in the situation, was about to attack when its reptilian eyes met the man's.
While salamanders could not break out in cold sweats, another layer of mucus quickly coated its body, dripping to the ground as it lowered its head frightfully, its entire body raked with terror as it shook like a leaf in the wind.
Within the man's eyes, the salamander saw a sea of blood and death. It saw its own miserable end, an end it knew would come for it swiftly if it even lifted a single claw in retaliation.
"Humph!"
A grunt suddenly pierced the air and the oppressive aura cloaking the surrounding area cleared. The man blinked his eyes, and upon reopening them, the bloody light within them vanished and the previous easy going air around him returned.
"See? We're all friends here! Let's get along and enjoy today's festivities, yeah?"
Finally, the guards by the gate could sense some movement from the carriage as one of the drapes obscuring the inside of the carriage was parted by a hand from within.
A handsome face appeared from behind the drapes, if not for the ghastly scar tracing a path from the man's ear to his chin, he could be described as possessing a celestial attractiveness.
Though even with the scar he was still very handsome, his stoic, stern face left him looking like a disgruntled army general.
"Veydris Thorne, the West Guardian of Skydorn, the Dragon of Catastrophe. Well met."
Veydris put on a smug smile as he tilted his head, "It would seem my reputation proceeds me. To be known by one of the twelve is truly an honor."
Hearing his arrogant tone, Alaric Morrin snorted, "At least the rumor of you being full of yourself is true. Can my entourage enter now?"
Plastering a harmless smile on his face, Veydris spread his arm in a gesture of leading.
"Please, enjoy your stay within Skydorn. I hope you can join us in celebrating our city's young lord."
Alaric glanced at his whimpering, shell-shocked reptilian mules before turning back to the man clearly feigning ignorance.
"Can you remove your bloodline suppression from my beasts? They weren't cheap to raise so I would prefer for them to be unharmed."
"Oh silly me! Of course, we wouldn't want to leave you all with the wrong impression of our city's hospitality would we?"
With them, the cowering lizards suddenly felt the pressure holding them in place vanish, and as if receiving some imperial pardon, quickly rushed into the city.
As the carriage moved past, Alaric gave Veydris a deep glance. The smiling man just met his gaze without flinching, waving his hand as if seeing off an old friend.
A guard walked over to Veydris and bowed reverently.
"Commander Veydris, forgive us for our cowardice."
Veydris' raised hand paused before it slowly lowered. When he turned to face the bowed guard and the others kneeling, the smile on his face was long gone. Replaced by a sharp, calculating glint.
"No, you made the right call. The Morrin Clan head is not an easy opponent, you wouldn't have gotten out of a confrontation unscathed. Not to mention he and his clan are not on the "definite enemy" list, he is still one of the twelve. None of them are simple.
Keep up your guard and stay alert. Some…less than amiable guests should be arriving soon."
Hearing his orders, the guards stood, bowed, and went back to their positions. Veydris stood in the same spot, a hand on his chin as he sunk into thought.
Shaking his head he began to make his way back into the city before his senses picked something up. His head snapped skyward and a large toothy grin creeped its way onto his face.
"Well, well…it seems like they are finally here. Hahaha, hope that stone-faced freak is ready for a family reunion."
[A few miles away from Skydorn City]
A large, luxurious carriage was slowly making its way through the rolling hills of the Elysium fields. The swaying sea of wheat a beautiful view to any traveler visiting for the first time.
Though the occupants of this particular carriage cared little about admiring the scenery.
Slurp, slurp, slurppp
A devilishly handsome man was seated on a plush bed within the carriage, lazily sipping on a chalice of wine. It would be quite the beautiful picture, were it not for the woman kneeling between his legs, greedily swallowing his manhood.
The man sighed contently, glancing down at the woman working him dutifully. Lovingly tracing every vein and patch of skin in her warm saliva.
Sensing something, the man turned to face the adjacent room of the carriage.
"My wife~. Will you not join your sister in satisfying your husband?"
Behind the drawn, thin veil, the vague silhouette of a woman could be seen lying serenely on another bed. At the man's voice, she could be seen briefly lifting her head before returning to her restful position, not even deigning to answer him.
Seeing this, a resentful glint flashed across the man's eyes before his expression changed back to its previous lazy look.
"Fine then, suit yourself."
Suddenly, the man groaned in pleasure as the woman beneath him once more swallowed his length, sucking him deeply.
Just as he was about to drown in the pleasure and comfort. A cold, sonorous voice echoed from behind the veil.
"Sylas. Remember why we are here. I did not come for any reason other than to gather information. We have a task to accomplish, and if you weren't so busy playing with your whores you would remember that. Until we get to Skydorn, do not disturb me. The sight of you disgusts me."
With that, a sound-erasing formation hummed to life around her room as the sultry silhouette turned over, ignoring him completely.
The man, Sylas Karth, glared at the veil hatefully.
'Lunara, you bitch. Just you wait. Let's see if your precious Vairon will care about you now that you are my wife.'
Seeking an outlet, Sylas gripped the kneeling woman's head forcefully. Shoving her head down his length violently as if to vent his frustration upon her.
Gluck, gluck, slurp
The woman's eyes watered at his forceful movement, but not a single cry of pain left her lips due to her fear of the consequences. Satisfied with her service, Sylas pulled his cock free from her mouth and threw her on the bed before beginning to remove his loose robes.
As the scene within the carriage began to heat up. Behind the veil, a woman of divine beauty lay on her side with her eyes closed.
Just then, the city's outline became visible before them and her mesmerizing eyes opened. Staring at the city, her gaze was deep and unreadable. Like an ancient well whose depths could not be seen.
Her thoughts known only to herself.