Cataphrania's streets bustle with life, filled with the almost overwhelming volume of sounds consisting of street vendors, store fronts, and crowd chattering. The trio of newly acquainted party members shuffle their way out of one of the alleyways, back into the light of the kingdom's arteries.
[Lucille]: "I think our first decision when we arrive back home is to get you out of those ridiculous clothes, you stick out like a drake in a flock of sheep."
[Julius]: "Oh, right... Although, I don't exactly understand what that means, I think it's for the best."
Lucille keeps her gaze ahead, not even giving him a look as she speaks, still carrying the creaky wooden box in her arms effortlessly, filled to its brim with paper, ink, and several sacks that emit a clinking sound with every sudden shift in movement.
[Julius]: "Lisa, what can your mother do to help me once we're at the manor? I mean, I have nothing helpful to say about how I got in that alley, or why I can't remember anything before that."
[Lisa]: "It's fine, you probably just hit your head really, really hard or somethin'. A little memory loss is mo biggie, I'm sure it'll come back to you eventually. In the meantime! We can keep you at the manor with us, I'm sure mom wont mind, she's really nice you know. Plus, she knows all about the different continents and stuff, I'm sure she'll know where you're from."
Julius gulps almost audibly, keeping his gaze down as he follows closely beside Lucille, his face painted with an expression of worry. He had always been the kind of person to feel anxious about everything and anything, but the promise of aid for his situation kept his legs moving-- at least for now.
[Julius]: "Feels like we haven't even moved all that far from the alley we came out of, this kingdom is huge."
[Lisa]: "Mmhm! Cataphrania is the biggest kingdom in the world, I always love coming with Lucille on these trips, especially to the sorcerer district, I love how sparkly everything is there."
Lisa closes her eyes with her hands to her cheek, savoring the picture in her mind of the kingdom's inner sections, humming blissfully.
[Julius]: "The Sorcerer district?"
[Lisa]: "Yep! Cataphrania is split into several rings, and each one has its own purpose and function. One of them being, the sorcerer district!"
[Julius]: "Rings? How does that work?"
[Lisa]: "Well, first there's the inner palace, it's home to the royal family, and the very special squad of knights that protect them, known as the royal guard."
He listens intently as they traverse through the crowds, the mere thought of anyone that resides within the palace making him shiver.
[Julius]: "I see... And the rest of the kingdom?"
[Lisa]: "After the palace, is the sorcerer district, my favorite! I'm sure you could guess from its name, but that's where most of the sorcerers live, and all the stores there sell the really really cool stuff."
[Julius]: "I've heard the word sorcerer before, and the way you describe it makes it seem like a really cool place. Hey Lisa... In Cataphrania, what is a sorcerer?"
Lisa points her finger up as she speaks with a proud tone, taking a somewhat strange joy in explaining common knowledge to someone dumber than her, or at least, that is how she perceives it.
[Lisa]: "A sorcerer is someone that can use magic, putting it simply. Everyone is born with the potential to use magic, but only a small fraction of people can, since it can be pretty demanding on their body. Those small amount of people, are sorcerers."
[Julius]: "Eh, sorry, I'm a bit lost still. Everyone can do it, but only a small amount of people actually do?"
[Lisa]: "Think of it like this! Imagine everyone is born with a fire inside them, some have large, roaring flames, while others only have small, weak sparks. Lawrence tells me that there's a lot of things that determine if you have a big fire, or a small one, but ignoring them for now, the people who have those giant flames will be naturally better at magic, and their body can handle it, while the ones with small flames would be extinguished if they tried too hard."
[Lucille]: "That's... Not a very good way to explain it."
[Julius]: "Actually, I think I get it... Somewhat."
Lisa crosses her arms defensively, pouting as she quickly swishes her head side to side, her blonde hair swaying across her features as she does.
[Lisa]: "I tried my best, that's all that matters to me. I'm sure Lawrence will teach you once we're home, but for now, that's all you're gettin' outta me."
[Julius]: "Ah, it's fine, I think I get it for now."
Julius keeps his hands close to his chest as he thinks about her confusing analogy for magic, scratching his head as he tries to picture it as clear as he can.
[Lisa]: "Then after that, is where we are now, the commerce district. It's the biggest part of the kingdom, and where most of its population resides. It's also where almost all the merchant guilds are, and home to all the stores. It's the most lively of all the districts!"
[Julius]: "I can definitely see the lively part of that, there's so many people around here."
[Lisa]: "Even at night, it's streets are still packed full, but it's mostly just people going to the places my mom wont let me see."
[Lucille]: "You're not old enough for those places, it's just bars filled with drunks and lowlifes, you're not missing out on anything."
Lisa chuckles slightly, followed by a smile from Julius at her stern description of the kingdoms taverns scattered around the commerce district in high numbers.
[Lisa]: "Then I guess all that's left is the outer ring, the slum district."
[Julius]: "The slum?"
[Lucille]: "Not everyone is as fortunate as most, it's filled with poverty stricken families, and littered with crime, it's practically a war zone of its own."
[Julius]: "Ah... Right..."
While zoned out, he doesn't notice that Lucille has stopped walking, and he walks into her solid form, stumbling back.
[Lucille]: "Watch where you're going!"
[Julius]: "Ow! S-sorry, W-why... Why have we stopped?"
[Lucille]: "There's a huge crowd ahead, I don't see a way around it."
[Lisa]: "Woah, there's so many people, whatta you think they're gathering around for?"
The three inch closer as Julius tries to look over the mass of people, all cheering and shouting excitedly, the large number of the kingdoms inhabitants is daunting, almost overwhelming, and reminds Julius of his rough treatment since waking up.
"It's him!"
"Let me see!"
"He's out here in the commerce district? We need to get a closer look!"
[Julius]: "What's going on?"
[Lucille]: "I can't see past all these people, but it looks like we'll have to push through it."
Lucille brings Lisa closer, holding her hand tight to keep her close as they reach the dense crowd, producing a loud mix of sounds that borders on painful as Julius follows closely behind them, pushing through the people.
Inching closer and closer, the center of attention finally becomes clear enough to see through the gaps of the masses, and both Lisa and Lucille now share the same shocked look, a rare expression for the always serious maid.
[Julius]: "Who is it? I can't quite see."
Julius struggles to stay close due to the countless people shoving and shuffling against him, but due to his height, he can see over most of them, now catching small glances at two individuals that reside in the middle.
[???]: "Hahahaha! You people at least have to give me a pen if you want me to sign anything! There, who's next!? Why are you so gloomy, this is great!"
One of them shouts with every word, loud and casual as if every sound that leaves his mouth is incapable of being quiet. He's stands at an average height, and wears loose, white robes akin to a kimono, tied together with a red rope tight around his waist, likely the only thing keeping his clothes on.
His most notable features though, come from his face. The man's skin is pale, his hair is a bright blue, matching his eyes, and sways loosely over his face with crossed bangs. His teeth are all sharp and intimidating, and he looks rough and unkempt, more of a rabid animal than a human.
[???]: "Stop signing stuff, we're out here for a reason, we don't have time for all this sappy publicity. I hate being the center of attention."
The second man, the one people seem to craze about more, and definitely the one that stands out the most in the whole crowd, maybe even the whole district right now.
A soft cluttering sound echoes through the air with every movement he makes, produced by the armor clinging to his body, a bright silver metal adorned with a crest on the front chest plate. Julius noticed the crest on several banners around the kingdom already, assuming it must be Cataphrania's personal symbol.
His dark, black hair is straight, parts at the middle and flows down his shoulders, cascading down his back over the red cloak. His eyes are sharp, and glow with a deep red hue. Red eyes aren't incredibly rare in the kingdom, but still, the knight let off an eerie aura, shooting a feeling of melancholy into Julius, who clutches at his gown on his chest, breathing heavily and producing a light sweat.
[Julius]: {What's going on? I feel sick, I feel like, for some reason... I should run.}
His breathing only grows heavier, his grip tightening on his chest where his heart resides, and he stares ahead at the knight who seemingly only gets more and more irritated with the crowd blocking his path.
[Julius]: "Who... Who is that guy."
The knight starts to move, an annoyed look on his face as his partner reluctantly stops signing the parchments that the crowd keeps shoving in his face, and as the two prepare to keep moving, the black haired knight locks eyes with Julius, and the boy's breathing stops, a terrified look on his face with his mouth agape.
Time seems to stop for Julius, and the crowd's cheering fades away in his mind, despite him being already surrounded by it. The only feeling clear to him right now... is an overwhelming sense of dread.
[Lisa]: "Alcard Castellan. The magic king's grandson, and..."
[Lucille]: "The strongest sorcerer of the modern age."
-
[Julius]: {Run. I need to run. I can't move, he's looking right at me, he'll kill me, I need to run... I can't breath.}
Julius feels powerless, as if the man before him were god himself, a being unfathomable by Julius, or anyone from his world, all ants to the man just mere meters away. His strong presence has a clear effect on Julius's weak body. His vision starts to fade, and he's on the verge of passing out, but just as fast as the feeling came, it disappeared as the knight took his eyes off Julius, and started to walk away.
[Julius]: "HAHHH..."
He takes a deep breath, as if he hadn't been able to breath his whole life, now given oxygen for the first time.
[Lisa]: "Julius?! What's wrong?"
[Alcard]: "EVERYONE GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY!"
The crowd snaps silent, and they all pause for a moment, shocked by an overwhelming feeling that no one can quite put their finger on, and after a short moment, the mass slowly parts, opening the way for him to walk out of.
[Alcard]: "Nakada. Come on, we still have places to be today."
[Nakada]: "Jeez, ya' didn't have to yell."
[Alcard]: "Tch."
Lisa turns her attention to Julius, who's still recovering from his sudden panic attack, barely able to stay standing on his own. Lucille glances back at him, still in awe of the very rare event that just occurred, a sighting of two enigmatic figures, two of the four royal guard.
Lisa keeps Julius upright as he coughs violently, slowly regaining consciousness, and she holds him with worry and concern.
[Julius]: "The king's grandson? Just locking eyes with him nearly made me pass out."
[Lucille]: "He's the head of the royal guard, it's completely understandable that you'd be scared of him. But why was he out here in the commerce district? The royal guard usually don't step foot out this far unless they're leaving the kingdom."
[Lisa]: "We gotta tell mom! She'd be so excited to hear about him!"
[Lucille]: "I'm sure she'd be happy to hear about it. Miss Astoria used to work close with him, but he was only a kid when she resided in the palace."
Julius eases back onto his feet, standing up straight and releasing the grip on his chest, still heaving with each breath.
[Julius]: "Your mother... Your mother used to work in the palace?"
[Lisa]: "Mmhm! I was only a baby, so unfortunately I don't remember what it's like in there, but since she oversees all of Cataphrania's trade routes, she's a really big deal!"
[Julius]: "The more I hear about her, the more impressed I get."
Lisa beams proudly, shooting a thumbs up at him as they start to walk again, the two knights already gone.
[Lucille]: "Can you walk? I'd hate to have to carry you, although you don't look very heavy. Are you malnourished?"
[Julius]: "W-What!? No! I mean..."
He brings his hand to the back of his head, rubbing the spot at the corner as he looks down slightly with a saddened look, shifting his weight from foot to foot to test his ability to stand.
[Julius]: "I guess it's just... Something like that."
She holds her expressionless glance to him for a few moments more before looking back ahead, letting out a soft hmph sound, not paying much mind to his answer.
The walk out of the kingdom feels like an eternity, but they finally reach the border, the giant gate that separates the commerce district from the slum district. Walking closer to the gate, Julius spots a man leaning against the solid stone wall, looking up at the palace until he sets eyes on the group, and his expression lights up.
[???]: "Heeeey~! Over here~. Man, I've been waitin' ages for you to finish your trip."
He shouts shamelessly down the street to them, now standing up straight and waving at them, his arm high above him as he smiles.
[Lisa]: "Does he really just sit at the gate until we come back? That's so... Boring."
[???]: "Heeeeyy~! Oh, who's that with you?"
Lucille sighs as they get close enough for him to not have to shout anymore, and Julius gets a better look at him.
The man is short and wears several layers of leather clothes and cloaks. His hair is long and brown, the back half tied up as the rest flows down the sides of his face, pronounced further by his bright green eyes. Julius can't help but notice how feminine he looks for a man, and that even his voice is higher pitched than average.
He runs up to the group, immediately focusing on Julius, forcibly taking his hand to shake it.
[Julius]: {Mh... His hands... Are so soft.}
[???]: "Hey! I'm Yuri, are you with them?"
[Julius]: "Ah, um... Yeah, I'm... Julius. Lisa said her mom could help me, so..."
[Yuri]: "Gotcha, gotcha. Well, I'm Muriel's personal carriage driver, I've worked for her for a very long time now, I'll be taking you outta the kingdom. If you're with Muriel, then please feel free to call me anytime to take you anywhere!"
[Julius]: "T-Thank you, I'll keep that in mind..."
He finally stops shaking Julius's hand, letting go of it and turning to face Lucille and Lisa, taking note of the large crate in the maid's arms.
[Yuri]: "Got everything you need? That looks heavy, want me to take that crate off your hands?"
[Lucille]: "No need, I've got it just fine. Let's go."
[Yuri]: "Ah... Gotcha!"
Now reunited with Yuri, the group moves on past the gate into the slum district, headed out of the kingdom. As they exit the short tunnel through the wall, the bright light gives way to a despairing image.
Beyond the luxurious gates of the commerce district, is a desolate and barely held together city of rubble and dirt. Every house was made of wood and scrap metal, held together by rope and cloth, some groups of people even taking residence in make shift tents. A structure made of stone was rare, and constantly fought over, and even the path through the slums was just a dirt road, with its sides carved down, filled with muddy water.
The slum's inhabitants were mostly victims of poverty, and lived a hard life, fighting just for a meal most nights, the main food source often being stale bread.
[Julius]: "It's so different out here. It's cruel."
[Lucille]: "This is what happens if you're poor in Cataphrania. Most of these people used to live within the walls, but they either gambled all their money away, or got their lives ruined by loan sharks, failed marriages, and some of them, just streaks of bad luck."
Lucille leads the group of four down the dirt path, walking past poor families and dirt covered people sleeping under the shade of rusted metal sheets. The individuals were vast and diverse. There was a lot of demi-humans, beings that shared heavy animal-like qualities that Julius couldn't help but keep his eye on.
In the distance, Julius saw the lively activity of the slums, people building their homes out of scraps, kids chasing each other as they played with deflated soccer balls, and the various beggars along the dirt road they walked on.
[???]: "Heyy! Fancy people, spare some money for me and my family, I'm beggin ya!"
Julius looked ahead as the group stopped, a man clothed in ripped rags and dirt stained cloth blocking the way, holding out a rattling cup towards Lucille.
His hair was brown and long, matching his beard as he inched closer.
[???]: "Not often ya' see a maid out here, you work for some rich pig, don't you? ya gotta! Come on, I got a family that's starvin."
[Lucille]: "Tch, we're in a hurry, so go beg someone else."
She pushes past him, followed by the rest of the group as Julius looks down at him with sympathy, not even able to imagine how rough life must be for anyone in this district.
The man grumbles to himself, as if wanting to yell out to Lucille, but turns his attention to Lisa, reaching out and grabbing her wrist as she walks past, surprising her.
[Lisa]: "Gyah! Hey!"
She snatches her hand away, and Lucille shoots her gaze back to the man, her sharp eyes hovering over the dirt that his muddy hand left on the girl.
[???]: "Just give me some damn change, God dammit! Look at you all, so clean and dressed up in ya' fancy clothes!"
The man's voice grows louder and angrier as he stands up, reaching for Lisa again, only to have his hand smacked away in an instant by Lucille, sending a sharp, slapping noise resounding through the coarse air.
[Lucille]: "Keep your filthy hands off her, you dirty pig. There's a reason your kind belong out here instead of in the kingdom. I said go beg someone else, did you not understand me? It means fuck off."
The man looks shocked, but grows increasingly mad, dropping the cup, making a clinking sound as small bits of metal and buttons roll out of it as it hits the ground.
[???]: "Who the hell do ya' think you are!?"
[Yuri]: "Hey, calm down! It's alright, just... I've got some money, you can have it and we'll leave. No big deal."
A small crowd starts to observe from their make shift homes, peering out from the cracks in the planks, some of them even leaving the confines of their homes to watch directly. Two other old men come out from different places, stepping onto the dirt road as the man speaks again, this time looking at Yuri with a mouth watering expression.
[???]: "What's that? Ya' got money, you say?"
[Yuri]: "Yes, I do, I'm a merchant. You can have some, I really don't mind."
The man reaches back and slowly pulls out a rigid blade, a rusted knife that's been contorted due to neglect, and the group immediately tenses up, Julius reacting the most as he takes a step back.
[???]: "I want all of it! Hand it over!"
[Lucille]: "Idiot, why'd you tell him you had money? You're too nice, Yuri."
Julius stands close to Lisa, noticing his frightened expression, she takes his hand and squeezes it comfortingly.
[Lisa]: "Hey, it's okay Julee."
[???]: "Hurry Uuupp!"
He thrusts the knife forward threateningly, and the group steps back, only to notice the other two men behind them, now also brandishing similar knives with smirks. Lucille grits her teeth in annoyance as the situation grows worse.
[Lucille]: "Jeez, what an annoyance. Julius, hold this."
Lucille thrusts the crate into his hands, and the second she lets go of it, the weight causes Julius to drop to the ground, holding onto it with all his effort.
[Julius]: "Gahh! So heavy! How were you holding this?!"
Now with nothing in her arms, Lucille walks forwards, allowing the group to retreat slightly, Yuri helping Julius move the crate with a loud grunt.
Julius watches with concern as the three muddy and dirt stained men surround the pristine maid.
[???]: "Whataya' gonna do little lady?"
[???]: "Look atcha', all prim and prissy. Ya' owner wouldn't be too happy if those clothes got torn up, would they!"
[???]: "I say we take it off her, such pretty clothes like that would go for a hell of a lot. Plus, we'd get a peek of that pretty clean skin, why don't ya' make this easy for us, little lady, and take those clothes off."
Lucille bites down on nothing even harder, producing a scraping sound as her teeth grind together, her body tensing up as the men make more demands.
[Lucille]: "Tchh! So fucking gross. I have no remorse for lowlifes like yourselves."
The air picks up more as Lucille emits more heat, an invisible aura shooting forth from her, seeping into everyone nearby, sending a feeling of unease and fear into them.
[Julius]: "W-Why don't we help her? They've got knives!"
Despite the dire situation, Both Lisa and Yuri remain calm and observant, both placing a comforting hand on Julius's shoulder.
[Yuri]: "It's alright Julius. Just stay back here, okay?"
Lucille remains unmoving with her hands by her sides, and as the air swirling around her builds stronger, one of the men lunge forwards, thrusting the knife.
[???]: "I hate bitches who don't do what they're told! I said take yer' fuckin' clothes off!"
A loud swishing sound resonates through the air as the man thrusts the knife straight for her chest, but it misses, her first movement being a swift turn, dodging the blade, and throwing a punch to the mans stomach, paired with a deafening sound.
[???]: "GAHHHH!!"
Blood erupts from his mouth, splattering onto the ground as a shockwave blows back from the powerful impact of the maid's fist. The attack was stronger than Julius had ever seen, a punch that emitted such a loud and heavy sound, accompanied by a powerful gust of air, a punch that easily turns the man's ribs to dust, shattering every single one and sending him hurling forwards onto the dirt road.
[???]: "What... holy shit! You're... This bitch ain't no damn normal maid."
Julius's eyes shoot open at the scene, watching in awe at the sheer strength of the maid he had joined forces with. He watched from the short distance away, along with Lisa and Yuri who smiled proudly with a strange sadistic pleasure at watching Lucille's display of violence to those who deserve it-- as if the events taking place were incredibly rare to see.
Lucille's hand emitted steam, slowly fading away as she turned her attention to one of the two remaining men, both frozen and shaking in fear.
[???]: "Gh, you motherfucker!"
The second man gains his footing back, sprinting towards her and kicking up dust with every step as he holds the blade with both hands, gripping it tight enough to draw blood on the rough handle.
[???]: "GYAAAHHHHHH!! GH-"
His lunge is cut short as the maid meets him half way in the blink of an eye, faster than Julius could even see, and delivering a powerful kick to his side that rivaled the punch she emitted moments beforehand, sending him rolling easily ten meters away.
The man coughs up blood violently as he holds his side, shaking as he struggles to stand up again, and the third man runs up behind her, locking eyes with the maid that glances back at him, still showing her back as fear shoots through his body.
[???]: "G-Ghhhnn... Who is this girl..."
His hands tremble, and Lucille turns fully to face him, taking a running stance as she sprints forth to close the gap, easily reaching him in a second and throwing another punch. In an act of subconscious self preservation, the man dodges by ducking, but is still hit by the powerful shockwave of her swing, pushing him back.
[???]: "Ghhyaa!"
He keeps stable footing, and the maid prepares to attack again, her body emitting an aura of subtle steam. Julius and Lisa watch as the second man gets back up, still holding onto his side, and runs for the knife that he had dropped when kicked, picking it up with shaky hands and running for Lucille as her back is turned.
Lucille releases a slow flurry of swings and kicks, each one being dodged at the last possible second, but the man still stumbles back after each one from the powerful gust of air that takes his breath away with each forceful shockwave, knocking him down onto his back, being looked down upon by the wrathful gaze of the maid, the only clear expression on her face, being rage.
[Lisa]: "W-Wait!"
Preparing to deal the final blow, Lucille doesn't notice the man running at her from behind, thrusting the knife forwards. Julius and Yuri watch anxiously as Lisa jumps up, stepping forwards and throwing her arms out.
Before the man's blade could reach Lucille, she turns around to see him suddenly engulfed in flames, a dense projectile released from Lisa's palms that led to instant combustion on impact, setting the man ablaze.
[???]: "AAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!! GYAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Julius covers his mouth as he watches the man drop to the ground, rolling around in an attempt to rid himself of the flames, and Lucille relaxes slightly, glancing back down at the man on the ground, now curled into the fetal position, trembling violently as he clenches his eyes shut tight.
The maid sighs, the sounds of screaming dying down as he falls into the water beside the road, extinguishing the flames, and she relaxes again, walking away from the shaking filth on the ground before her.
[Julius]: "What the hell just happened? Did Lisa..."
Julius waits in shock as Lucille effortlessly takes the crate from his lap, removing the heavy weight off his body, allowing him to regain his breath and focus.
[Lucille]: "We've spent enough time here, we need to get home before sunset."
She starts to walk again, and Yuri pulls Julius up from the ground before dusting himself off, glancing back at the man on the ground as they walk behind Lucille.
[Yuri]: "You okay? Didn't scare ya' too much, did she?"
Julius gulps audibly, staring ahead at the back of Lucille, his mind still swirling about how casual she is about fighting off three armed men with her bare hands, and the sight of her powerful display of strength still burned into his mind.
[Julius]: "I'm... I think I'm okay. I'm great, actually."
Julius marvels at the raw power of this woman, and he can only think of what greater things there are to experience in this new world. Seeing a more up close display of magic when Lisa stepped in only added to the awe factor of his new reality, and there is now no doubt about what is to come.
[Julius]: "I need to meet Muriel."
Yuri and Lisa smile at his wonder and enthusiasm, now reaching the edge of the slum district, where a large carriage sits on the grass, its rear facing the group.
The group stops, and Lucille steps up onto the carriage, setting down the crate with a large thud that shakes the wooden vehicle, and the sudden movement results in another sound, a high pitched squawking noise that makes Julius jump.
[Julius]: "Ahh! What was that!?"
[Lisa]: "Oooh! You've never seen one of these, have you? Come on, I'll show you, he's so cool, I know you'll love him!"
[Julius]: "Him?"
Being led by Lisa to the front of the carriage, Julius's footsteps slow down to a halt, and stares up in shock and awe, looking upon the creature that stands attached to the carriage.
The creature is big, several times the size of Julius. It's claws are sharp and thick, it's whole body covered in hard scales and feathers, and it stares down at him with it's bright orange, curious eyes. The being resembles a giant, bird-like dragon, with a large beak filled with several rows of teeth. Despite its monstrous appearance, it seems to convey a high degree of intelligence.
[Julius]: "Hahh... What..."
[Lisa]: "This is Rauthen, my mom's personal drake!"
Julius remains frozen, staring up at the beast as it locks eyes with him. Without warning, the creature lets out a playful squawk, a deep, yet high pitched noise, similar to a bark, surprising Julius, causing him to stumble back and land on the ground, still looking up at the drake.
[Julius]: "G-Gyah!"
[Lisa]: "Heehee! He likes you."
[Julius]: "Oh yeah?"
His voice is uncertain, but with trembling hands, he pushes himself off the ground, and takes slow, individual steps towards the creature. The drake lowers its head down to Julius's level, and Lisa takes his hand, guiding it up to its neck.
His hand shakes as he feels the contrasting blend of hard scales and soft feathers on the creatures neck, but with Lisa's hand atop his, he slowly gains his courage back, accompanied by the drake's purr of happiness, feeling it gently nuzzle into his palm.
[Julius]: "It's kind of cute... I guess."
[Lisa]: "Isn't he!"
Yuri Hops up to the chair at the front, grabbing hold of the leash connected to the drake's harness, looking down at them with a soft, happy expression as they pet the drake.
[Yuri]: "You two ready? It'll take a few hours to reach the Astoria estate, so stretch while you can."
[Lisa]: "Mmh! Come on Julee!"
The two join Lucille in the back of the carriage, surrounded by crates and bags, all producing their own unique sound as the carriage starts to rock.
[Yuri]: "All settled in back there?"
Lisa sits beside Julius, their backs against the wooden wall of the enclosed carriage. Julius looks out the back, gazing over the full sight of the kingdom in all of its monumental glory, still shining in the sunlight.
[Julius]: "Okay... I'm ready."
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