Vol.3 Ch.223 Arriving in Tairal.
Under cover of darkness, Quinus and his convoy arrived at the outskirts of the Capital City of Tairal after a series of events that had unfolded over the past eight hours.
As the carriage rumbled along the road, Sir George rode his horse up to the left side and rapped on the window. Quinus promptly rolled down the window and extended his head out, taking in the passing scenery.
<span ss="aiText">"What is it, Sir George?" Quinus inquired.
<span ss="aiText">"We should arrive in Tairal within the hour, My <span ss="editText">Lord<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> We''ll enter through the southern entrance. Make sure thedies are covered up.<span ss="aiText"> We don''t need the citizens seeing them," Sir George instructed.
"I will, thank you, Sir George," Quinus said before closing the window. He then looked over at Dalia, Nieren, Yuliana, and Rya, "We''re almost there. Once we''re inside, you four will have to keep your hoods up until we reach the pce," Quinus told them.
<span ss="aiText">"We understand," Rya replied.
<span ss="aiText">Yuliana and Nieren nodded<span ss="userText"> while Dalia snuggled up with Percy. The wolfkin looked tired<span ss="aiText"> and was trying not to fall asleep.
"Wow, what a long day, huh, Dalia?" Quinus remarked, and she nodded in agreement.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, <span ss="editText">Beta. I''ve been staying up toote with Gamma. I think it''s been catching up to me<span ss="aiText">," Dalia replied with a yawn.
<span ss="aiText">"Well, you can rest once we get to the pce," Quinus reassured her.
<span ss="aiText">"Thank you, Beta. <span ss="editText">I can see why Alpha likes you<span ss="aiText">," Dalia said as she yawned again.
Quinus, Johan, and the other girls couldn''t help but giggle at the sight of the wolfkin.
<span ss="userText">"Hey... Take a nap if you need to<span ss="aiText">, Dalia. We''ll wake you when we get there," <span ss="editText">Percy <span ss="aiText">told her, and Dalia smiled as she nuzzled into Percy<span ss="editText">''s chest<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">As Quinus, Johan, and the girls <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">gazed out the window<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">, they marveled at the breathtaking scenery unfolding before them. The outline of the capital city gradually emerged, captivating their attention. Rya''s elven eyes<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">, with the<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">ir s<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">uperior night vision, allowed her to discern <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">the<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> details of the imposing, high walls and the <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">grand gate, offering a glimpse of the immense size of the capital. She <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">also spotted the massive structures <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">nestled within the walls<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">, their outlines looming in the distance. The buildings<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">, seem<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">ingly taller than they <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">appeared, were entuated by the presence of a colossal hill at the city''s center. This sight evokedparisons to New York City, <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">yet the <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">gothic and medieval aesthetic of the buildings lent the capital a unique and enchanting allure.
<span ss="editText">The sun dipped below the horizon, and they finally arrived at the city''s southern gate. The imposing gates swung open, and the convoy of carriages made its way into the capital. The streets were lined with grand, towering buildings, each more magnific<span ss="undoDeletionText">ent than thest. Enchanted torches illuminated the bustling streets, casting a warm glow on the borate architecture and vibrant banners adorning the stone structur<span ss="undoDeletionText">es.
<span ss="aiText">As the<span ss="editText"> carriage journeyed onward, its wheels ttered over the uneven cobblestone streets, finallying to a halt just<span ss="aiText"> a block away from the <span ss="editText">magnificent <span ss="aiText">Royal Pce. The <span ss="editText">surroundings were shrouded in darkness, with no signs of life near the imposing twenty-foot-tall concrete wall. Suddenly, a solitary guard emerged from a small guardhouse nestled within the wall and made his way toward<span ss="aiText"> the carriage.
<span ss="aiText">"State your business," the guard requested.
<span ss="aiText">Sir <span ss="editText">Richard<span ss="aiText"> rode his horse over to the guard and addressed him, "<span ss="editText">A night sparrow needs a ce to return."
The guard nodded knowingly as he whispered the code phrase, "It depends on the night. The night may not always be a good time to return," he said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">But this<span ss="aiText"> night can be a good time. One just has to know the right bird," Sir Richard answered.
<span ss="editText">The vignt guard was aware that a member o<span ss="undoDeletionText">f the Royal Family was in need of secu<span ss="undoDeletionText">re passage through the conceale<span ss="undoDeletionText">d entrance leading to the Royal Pce.
<span ss="userText">"Very well," the <span ss="editText">G<span ss="userText">uard said a<span ss="editText">s<span ss="userText"> he walk<span ss="editText">ed over to a section of the nk wall and took out a special <span ss="userText">key. He stuck it in a crack that slowly revealed a door that wasn''t there before<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="editText">"You have 5 minutes before the door<span ss="aiText"> disappears again," the guard informed them.
<span ss="aiText">"That''s all we need. Thank you," Sir Richard told him as the carriage moved towards the secret door.
Quinus emerged from the elegant carriage, his presence immediately drawing the attention of the surrounding royal guards. Walking in his wake were his loyalpanions - Rya, Dalia, Percy, Nieren, and Yuliana. Meanwhile, Johan and Tayna remained inside thefort of the carriage as the group made their way forward.
<span ss="userText">"Are you sure you two don''t want to stay in the pce?" Quinus asked his friend.
<span ss="userText">Johan smirked and shook his head, "My family has their own ce in the city, and I don''t want to overstep<span ss="aiText"> my bounds. Besides, the nobles would be furious if they found out you housed amoner," Johan joked.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus smirked and nodded, "<span ss="userText">Well, they''ll be in for a rude awakening once they find out about your secret. Make sure youe by tomorrow. I''ll need your help<span ss="aiText"> to deal with the <span ss="editText">other nobles<span ss="aiText">," Quinus told him.
<span ss="aiText">Johan smiled and saluted him, "You can count on me, my Lord," he said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Lord<span ss="aiText"> Johan<span ss="userText">... Make sure you are ready for your Mage''s training as well," Rya added<span ss="aiText">, and Johan''s smile widened.
<span ss="aiText">"I will, Lady Rya. Thank you for giving me this opportunity," Johan replied.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">And Lady Tayna... I would like to see you for some tea<span ss="aiText"> tomorrow," Rya said as she nced at Tayna sitting next to Johan.
<span ss="aiText">Tayna nodded and bowed. "Of course, Lady Rya. I''d be delighted," she replied<span ss="userText">.
<span ss="userText">"We''ll make sure to bring over all your things tomorrow. Just make sure the guards let us in," Johanmented.
"I will," Quinus replied before looking over at General Dous, who opened the secret passageway into the pce grounds.
<span ss="userText">"Alright, Sir Richard. You''re inmand of the second toon. Escort the Young Lord to his<span ss="aiText"> residence and return to the pce at once," themander ordered, and the knight saluted him.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, sir!" Richard replied.
As the Prince''s group reached the hidden entrance, the dwarves bid farewell and followed Johan''s carriage, disappearing into the distance. Meanwhile, Quinus made his way through the passageway. After everyone was inside, the secret entrance was shut and securely sealed, leaving no trace of their presence.
Rya marveled at the hidden passageway, feeling as though she had stepped into a scene from a movie as she made her way through the cavern. She couldn''t help but notice the enchanted torches that magically ignited whenever someone approached within fifteen feet of them.
Quinus couldn''t help but notice Rya''s gaze fixed upon the flickering torches, and a soft chuckle escaped his lips.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">It''s not like you haven''t seen enchanted torches<span ss="aiText"> before," Quinus joked.
"Nah, that''s not what I''m marveling at... It feels like I''m in a movie... as if we''re on a special mission to save the princess and defeat the evil wizard," Rya joked. Quinus burst intoughter while everyone else looked on, a bit puzzled.
<span ss="aiText">"I don''t understand what a movie is<span ss="userText">," Dalia wondered out loud<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"I don''t understand that term either," Yuliana added.
<span ss="aiText">"Me neither," Nieren whispered.
<span ss="userText">Rya <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">felt a surge of <span ss="userText">panic as <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">t<span ss="userText">he <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">words slipped from her lips, revealing<span ss="userText"> that she was not <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">o<span ss="userText">f their world<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">. Thest thing she wanted was for any of the knights to discover her secret. Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Quinus stepped in to save the day<span ss="userText">.
"It''s like an EchoSphere. Where you can watch someone''s events repeatedly, but it''s mostly for entertainment purposes like ys," Quinus exined.
<span ss="aiText">"Oh... Yeah, that makes sense," Yuliana said.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Huh? I never came across such a thing. Howmon are they?" Rya<span ss="aiText"> asked.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">It''s an artifact that was created by the vampires... It seems over time, they lose their memories<span ss="aiText">. They use the EchoSpheres to record <span ss="userText">memories they don''t want to forget. It''s rare to see these items,"<span ss="aiText"> Quinus replied.
<span ss="aiText">"I see..." Rya muttered as she continued to look at the walls and torches.
<span ss="userText">"Indeed... You''re quite informed for such a young human, Prince Quinus," Yuliana<span ss="aiText">plimented him.
<span ss="aiText">"Well, <span ss="userText">I was a fast learner and picked up reading at an early age. I read almost everything in the Royal Library. The only things I couldn''t read were the books written in a deadnguage<span ss="aiText">," Quinus replied.
<span ss="aiText">"Impressive... <span ss="userText">But do you know why vampires start<span ss="aiText"> to lose their memories after living for so long?" <span ss="editText">Yuliana <span ss="aiText">inquired.
<span ss="aiText">"Not really... But there are rumors<span ss="userText">. Like they get the memories of the people who they suck their life force from,"<span ss="aiText"> Quinus answered.
<span ss="aiText">"Ah... Yes, that <span ss="editText">does happen if they go into a feeding frenzy, which they try to avoid... But there''s another reason," Yuliana said, frowning<span ss="aiText">.
"Are you serious? What''s the other reason?" Rya asked eagerly. Back when she was still on Earth, she couldn''t get enough of the vampire craze that took over in the mid-2000s. Now, in this new world, she couldn''t help but wonder just how different vampires were here on Tertius.
<span ss="editText">"Newly turned vampires struggle to hold on to their memories when they resist feeding. It''s like a battle to hold on to their humanity. But as they grow hungrier, their past slips <span ss="editText">awa<span ss="editText">y faster until they forget who they used to be so their body can survive and feed on the living," Yuliana described with a hint of concern. "But the main reason they lose their memories<span ss="aiText"> is because a vampire''s memory capacity is not asrge as a human''s or even an elf''s. So, the memories fade away over time<span ss="editText">. Being reced<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> by the newer memories," Yuliana exined.
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the information. It all made perfect sense, but Rya struggled to truly grasp the reality of it. However, there were lingering doubts nagging at her. Specifically, she couldn''t shake off the memory of when Hiro had expressed his desire to be a vampire shortly after their arrival on Tertius. Yoona had insisted that vampires were born, not made and that one couldn''t simply be turned into a vampire. Rya was uncertain whether Yoona had lied to discourage Hiro from his pursuit or if it was genuinely impossible to undergo such a transformation. The situation wasplicated by the fact that they were already in the process of turning into Dark Elves, leading Rya to wonder if Dark Elves couldn''t be turned into vampires.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Huh... That''s not what I was told about them... But Yoona could have been lying to me,"<span ss="aiText"> Rya said as they continued to walk through the passageway.
Yuliana was taken aback when she heard Yoona''s name. There were legends about the Dark Elf who had bravely thwarted her father''s armies during the High Elves'' attack on Sorellia. Yoona was feared for her Demi-god-level Vein and her exceptional skill in crafting golems. However, upon reflection, Yuliana found Rya''s golems to be even more remarkable.
"Did you meet Yoona, the legendary yer of Light? The High Priestess of Darkness and Death? And she didn''t try to kill you because she sees your potential to surpass her?" Yuliana asked, clearly surprised.
Rya was shocked by Yuliana''s response, which made her realize that many people were afraid of Yoona. However, Rya''s stay in the citadel was brief, and she never witnessed Yoona''s actions. She had little information about the elf, only knowing that Yoona was involved in bringing her to Tertius.
"Well... I''ve never actually witnessed her using her magic or seen her golems in action... But I have a feeling that she just didn''t care enough to show them off. It''s hard to say, but I remember a friend of mine expressing interest in bing a vampire, and she actually talked him out of it. Apart from that, I haven''t had much interaction with Yoona," Rya revealed, carefully choosing her words to avoid disclosing the entire truth about her situation.
<span ss="aiText">"A friend of yours wanted to be a vampire!?<span ss="userText"> Is he a moron or something?" Yuliana<span ss="aiText"> asked angrily.
Rya made a face before saying, "He was pretty clueless, to put it mildly."
<span ss="userText">"Pff! Listen to me, my daughter. He is asking for a life worse than death if he tries to be a vampire,"<span ss="aiText"> Yuliana advised her sternly.
"Hey, it wasn''t me who wanted to be a vampire in the first ce. That was all him! I just found it strange that I was lied to about how people be vampires," Rya said, defending herself.
Quinus became curious, "What did this Priestess tell you about vampires?" he asked as they could see the exit in the distance.
<span ss="aiText">"She said <span ss="editText">that you can only be<span ss="aiText"> born<span ss="editText"> a vampire, and you can''t be <span ss="aiText">turned into one," Rya answered.
"Huh? Where did she lie to you, Ry? Because she''s correct. We Elves can''t be turned into vampires. Only humans can be turned into lesser vampires. All the other races would be ghouls, bing mindless ves of a master vampire," Yuliana exined, and Rya frowned.
<span ss="aiText">"So, <span ss="userText">she didn''t lie to<span ss="aiText"> us..." Rya muttered, and Quinus looked at her with a serious gaze.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I know what you''re thinking, Rya. There are simrities between the lesser vampires from... You know. But the Master or Higher Vampires can procreate, and the sun isn''t as dangerous for thempared to the lesser vampires<span ss="aiText">. And if a Human is bitten and fed the blood of a master vampire, they will be a <span ss="editText">Lesser<span ss="aiText"> Vampire," Quinus exined, and Yuliana looked at him surprised.
"You''re much wiser than I expected, Prince Quinus. Are you sure you learned all this from only reading books?" Yulianaplimented him again.
He smirked and shook his head. "Like I said, I learned to read at an early age, and the library had a lot of good books on Vampires... I have never met one in real life, so I can''t reallyment on them through experience. And I hope I never do."
Sir George couldn''t help but shiver as he vividly remembered the chilling night when three deadly vampire assassins attempted to take his life and that of the young Prince, who was just a year old at the time. It was a harrowing ordeal, and he barely managed to escape with his life. Although Dous was present in the pce during the attack, he only witnessed the aftermath of the fierce battle that unfolded that fateful night.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Well, technically, he''s been around them," <span ss="userText">Sir George<span ss="aiText"> said, and the others looked at him confused.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">But I was asleep—"
"You were a baby, right?" Rya jumped in as Quinus almost let it slip that he was reincarnated and a fully conscious adult when he was reborn.
<span ss="aiText">"Um... Yeah... I didn''t know that I came across some vampires. It was too early in my life to remember, and I was asleep based on what Sir George told me<span ss="aiText">," Quinus corrected himself, and Sir George nodded.
<span ss="aiText">"Indeed. <span ss="userText">I wish we could have found out who hired them,<span ss="aiText"> but there are still no leads," Sir George added.
<span ss="userText">"Really?<span ss="aiText"> Whoever paid for their services must have known that it was a suicide mission," Rya mused.
"Well, what Sir George is saying about not knowing who hired them is partially true. We suspect that the Kingdom of Marn was involved, but we''re still in the dark about who exactly within their ranks hired them. Weck the evidence to confirm if it was one of their nobles or even their King, Arnaud Dupont," General Dous exined.
<span ss="userText">Rya frowned, "Hm? Well, that''s another reason to destroy them<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">"Agreed," Yuliana added.
The entire assembly of Knights gazed at Rya with wide eyes and dropped jaws, their surprise evident in their expressions. The only ones who didn''t appear surprised were Rya''s friends, and Yuliana beamed proudly at her adopted daughter. The hushed atmosphere was shattered by the sound of Dous clearing his throat, signaling his intention to speak.
<span ss="userText">"Do you mean to wage war on the kingdom of Marn?" Dous inquired.
<span ss="userText">"Only if they refuse to release the enved Wood Elves<span ss="aiText">... And if<span ss="userText"> they don''t, then my golems will<span ss="aiText"> tear down the entire Kingdom of Marn so I can free the ves," Rya replied.
Dous fell silent as he carefully considered her words.
<span ss="aiText">"That <span ss="userText">seems reasonable<span ss="aiText">, but if the citizens are innocent, then there''s no reason to annihte their Kingdom<span ss="userText">,"<span ss="aiText"> Dous said, and everyone nodded.
"Yeah... I would prefer not to kill innocent people. But their Kingdom will be destroyed, and the King will lose his head if I find out that he was the one who sent those vampire assassins after Quinus," Rya rified.
Quinus was grateful that she was willing to seek revenge on his behalf for the wrongs done to his younger self. However, he couldn''t help but wonder if she would actually go as far as to take Arnaud Dupont''s life if she discovered he was the one to hire the assassins.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Don''t force yourself into something<span ss="aiText"> that''s not worth your time, Rya," Quinus advised her.
<span ss="userText">"Keeping you safe<span ss="aiText"> is worth my time," Rya countered.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">You know... It should be my job to protect<span ss="aiText"> you, right? Not the other way around," Quinus <span ss="userText">teased<span ss="aiText"> her.
<span ss="aiText">Rya snorted, "<span ss="userText">Over my dead body<span ss="aiText">!"
<span ss="aiText">"Don''t joke about that!" Quinus told her, and she looked at him curiously. <span ss="aiText">"I don''t want you to die for my sake," <span ss="editText">he <span ss="aiText">told her in a low voice, and the others pretended not to hear them.
<span ss="userText">"Well, you''re stuck with me, babe. Where you go, I go<span ss="aiText">," Rya teased, and Quinus rolled his eyes.
"I guess there''s no stopping a determined Dark Elf like you," Quinus teased as Rya grinned back at him.
<span ss="aiText">"Damn straight!" Rya agreed, and heughed.
<span ss="aiText">Yuliana sighed, "You two remind me of a certain couple that I know."
<span ss="aiText">"Oh? Really?" Rya asked, curious.
<span ss="aiText">"Yeah. It''s the Princess of the High Elf Kingdom and her human knight that she rescued and fell in love with. The two are inseparable, and she always tells him off whenever he gets hurt," Yuliana said, as she remembered how they acted when they were together.
<span ss="aiText">"Wow!<span ss="userText"> I guess there are a few good eggs in the High Elf Kingdoms<span ss="aiText">," Rya said, and Yuliana smiled at her.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, well... The High Elves aren''t the best rulers of their continent... Um... <span ss="editText">After thinking about it. <span ss="aiText">Most of them are arrogant, greedy, and selfish. And they are very strict with their rules. But I have met some that were kind and just rulers. They are few and far between, unfortunately," Yuliana told her.
<span ss="aiText">"Well,<span ss="editText"> I''m sure<span ss="aiText"> there are good people and bad people in every race," Rya pointed out,<span ss="userText"> "But that brings me back to the vampires. If the Master Vampires can procreate, then why do they need to turn some humans into lesser vampires? I''m guessing it''s tough for them<span ss="aiText"> to get <span ss="userText">pregnant<span ss="aiText">, right?"
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Well... Yes... You know how we, Elves, can only get pregnant every ten to fifteen years?"<span ss="aiText"> Yuliana asked, and Rya nodded.
<span ss="aiText">"Yeah,<span ss="userText"> so they<span ss="aiText"> have a longer gestation period than Elves and Humans," Rya deduced.
<span ss="aiText">"Correct. <span ss="userText">They can only procreate when there is a sr eclipse with both moons. It''s the only time when there''s enough negative energy being<span ss="aiText"> released that a<span ss="userText">llows a female vampire to release an egg,"<span ss="aiText"> Yuliana told her.
<span ss="aiText">Rya thought about this new information, "Hm. So, if a female master vampire was impregnated during a sr eclipse then she would be pregnant for <span ss="userText">how long?"
<span ss="userText">"One Hundred years... And the sr eclipse of the twin moons only happens every thousand years<span ss="aiText">," Yuliana answered, and Rya frowned.
"That sounds pretty intense. Being pregnant for that long must be tough. How do you manage to stay sane?" Rya asked while Quinus smiled with amusement.
<span ss="aiText">"It''s not an easy task, that''s for sure. It takes a special type of person to do such a thing. But the reward is great for a Master Vampire, for they are few," Yuliana answered.
<span ss="aiText">"I wonder if vampires would consider it a blessing or a curse," <span ss="editText">Nieren chimed in<span ss="userText">.
<span ss="editText">"For them... Most would see it as a blessing," Yuliana answered honestly. She then looked at Nieren as if she was hinting at her<span ss="aiText"> to <span ss="editText">find a male and<span ss="aiText"> have a child.
<span ss="editText">This caused Nieren to frown<span ss="aiText">, "Don''t even think about it! <span ss="userText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">I don''t want a child for at least 50 years," she dered, and Yuliana sighed.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, I know. I just want you to have a child with the man you love, and hopefully, it''s sooner rather thanter, Nieren," Yuliana told her.
Nieren felt her cheeks grow warm as a subtle flush of embarrassment spread across her face. She stole a quick nce at Quinus, hoping no one would notice her blushing, and then quickly looked away.
"I''ll have children when I''m good and ready. There''s so much I want to aplish before even thinking about it, Mom," Nieren dered, her expression returning to its usual calm.
<span ss="userText">"I don''t me you for feeling that way, but if you are in love with someone<span ss="editText">,<span ss="userText"> then you will want a child soon enough, right?" Yuliana asked her daughter<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"Mom!" Nieren protested, but Yuliana smiled at her.
<span ss="aiText">"What? I''m not trying to rush you into anything. I just want you to have a child of your own before you turn one hundred," Yuliana told her softly, and Nieren<span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> sighed.
<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">"Okay... Fine, Mom," Nieren agreed reluctantly, and Yuliana''s smile grew wider.
<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">"Excellent! Now, let''s continue our walk," Yuliana cheerfully told her, and the rest of the group nodded.
As they approached the exit, Rya couldn''t help but notice the sheer size of the door. It loomedrge before them, easily big enough to amodate an elephant.
<span ss="aiText">"I don''t understand why there''s such arge door here of all ces... This is supposed to be a secret passage, right?" Rya wondered out loud.
<span ss="aiText">"The door was made by dwarven artisans a hundred years ago <span ss="userText">as a gift from Ironside. Plus, you never know when you might need to hide a carriage, Lady Rya<span ss="aiText">," <span ss="editText">Dous<span ss="aiText"> answered.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Huh?... Well, I guess you make a good point<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">," Rya agreed.
Quinus approached the imposing door and paused, turning to face the expectant group gathered behind him.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Well... It''s been a long timeing. But we finally are home. Wee to the Maldura Royal Pce,dies<span ss="aiText"> and gentlemen," Quinus announced.
Rya stood in awe as two of the knights focused their energy, channeling their mana into the ancient door. The intricate mechanisms of the door began to shift and rotate as ifing to life. With a surge of power, the two halves of the door slowly parted ways, revealing the mysterious courtyard beyond. The knights then concentrated even harder, pouring more mana into the door to halt its movement, ensuring that the passage remained open for their party to enter.
As the door swung open, it revealed the magnificent pce courtyard. A broad stone pathway stretched out, leading to the most stunning fantasy castle that Rya had everid eyes on.
<span ss="aiText">"Woah..." Rya gasped, and the other <span ss="editText">three women <span ss="aiText">stared in awe at the pce.
"It''s even more magnificent than I could have imagined. It''s nothing like the Elder Tree," Nieren admitted.
<span ss="aiText">"And<span ss="editText"> here I <span ss="editText">thought I''ve seen everything that humanity<span ss="aiText"> has to offer," <span ss="userText">Yuliana said, as Dalia almost fell backward from looking <span ss="editText">so high <span ss="aiText">up at the pce.
<span ss="editText">Percy <span ss="aiText">caught her before she fell, and Dalia blushed in embarrassment.
<span ss="aiText">"Thank you, <span ss="editText">Gamma<span ss="aiText">," Dalia whispered, and <span ss="editText">Percy <span ss="aiText">smiled at her.
"You''re wee," Percy answered her as he helped her get back on her feet.
<span ss="userText">"Damn... So this is where I''m going to live?<span ss="aiText"> It''s amazing," Rya said, and Quinus chuckled.
<span ss="aiText">"It''s only a fraction of the entire pce. We won''t be exploring it until morning," Quinus told her<span ss="userText">.
<span ss="userText">"Yeah, I''m too tired<span ss="aiText"> to explore the pce right now. But I can''t wait to see my room. I feel like I can sleep for a whole day," Rya said, and she started walking toward the pce entrance.
Quinus watched as the others followed suit, and a warm smile spread across his face as he observed the happiness evident on Rya''s face.
<span ss="userText">"Yeah... You deserve to live in<span ss="aiText"> a beautiful pce," Quinus told her.
The group''s arduous journey back home has finally reached its conclusion. Little did they know that their next test awaited them the very next day when Quinus would receive word of the Prime Minister''s devious scheme.