"Oh the two hours are almost up," Back at the entrance to the Enchanted Forest, the two guards were seated on the ground with their swords on their shoulders. The sun had gone down and darkness had crept upon the land. Night lamps were hung around the perimeter of the Enchanted Forest, providing light so the guards could see, and making it so that anyone who wanted to sneak in due to the darkness would meet with failure.
"Indeed. I reckon that they've got only about 15 minutes left" the other guard stretched his arms and yawned tiredly. He looked exhausted, and so did his colleague.
"Do you think they would come out before time is up?" one of the guards wondered.
"I don't know. People rarely do."
"Our shift is almost over. If they do not come out before we leave the next group might give them trouble."
"That would only be so if the next group doesn't know their backing. Those youngsters are here at the request of the Orange Team. As long as the Orange Team is competing in the Grand Tourney, their status is comparable to the esteemed Predators of our city. So everyone would have to show them some respect."
"True. Plus it was Vital Orange who personally brought them here. I heard he is a Tiger now. He revealed the power of one during the last round of the competition when he fought the Blue King."
"Yeah, I am aware of what happened during the Quarter Finals of the Grand Tourney. After all, the fact that the Blue Team was knocked out once again was the hottest gossip in the city. As the team that knocked them out, information on the Orange Team was shared and spread around like crazy."
"I wonder who those youngsters are though."
"What do you mean?"
"Vital Orange and that other Orange Team member, Black Hand, brought them here personally. And the way Vital Orange spoke to them was unusual as well."
"What do you mean it was unusual?"
"I mean he was a bit too polite for a Predator. He spoke like he treated them as equals. He was very nice."
"Oh that. I don't think there is anything wrong with that."
"You don't? You know Predators don't usually bother about those weaker than them right? Plus that man is a Tiger"
"I know that. I just think that Vital Orange is a polite person. Or maybe he wasn't treating them as equals but wary of the power behind those youngsters"
"So you're saying you agree with me that those youngsters aren't ordinary."
"Of course I agree with you. Who are we kidding? Which ordinary person would have a Predator escort them all the way here to seek permission for them to use the Enchanted Forest when they could have just sent a messenger?"
"I know right"
The two guards spoke about random trivialities to while away time. But they got so engrossed in their conversation that they failed to see that a new group of people were approaching. And when they did, this group was already right in front of them.
"Is that…" the first guard stared wide-eyed at the carriage that was parked right in front of them. Or rather, he was staring at the insignia on the carriage.
"The City Lord's carriage!" the second guard exclaimed as he scrambled to his feet. The other guard hastily stood up as well.
The carriage was a beautiful one, fully plated in gold and pulled by four strong Rage Bulls. On both sides of the carriage were insignia of the City Lord's House – pictures of a Nether Lion! These pictures were made with black diamonds and were gorgeous, yet they conveyed the aggressiveness and prestige of the City Lord. The driver of the carriage was a middle aged man who had a refined air about him. Yet within this air of refinement was a hint of savagery and viciousness that made the blood of the guards run cold from just being looked at. When they saw those black eyes all they felt was fear and dread. They tried to turn their heads away, but they couldn't! Their own bodies had acceded to the will of the man before them.
"Don't scare them so much Rusty," A gentle voice came from within the carriage. Within that voice were several elements of grace, beauty and strength.
"As the Young Lady commands," the driver replied with respect and took his eyes off the guards. Suddenly they could feel strength filling their bodies as they regained control of themselves. Sweat poured down their faces as they struggled to breathe. They looked at each other and could tell what the other was thinking by just the expression on their faces alone.
Rusty the Tiger King!
This man was a legend in Asher City. This was a man who was responsible for protecting the City Lord of Asher City. Rusty the Tiger King was exactly as his title stated. He was a Tiger King! He had power several times stronger than a Tiger because he was a Tiger King. This man was capable of handling four to five Tigers alone and come out unscathed! It was said that his gaze alone could demoralize a troop of warriors and his aura was enough to crush the will of another. The guards like many others thought that this was an exaggeration. After all, how could a person's gaze break the will of another? Yet they had experienced it for themselves today! And now they knew that it was no exaggeration. There were many legends about him. But none was as blinding and famous as the Legend of the Ten Suns.
It was said that when the City Lord was in his twenties and was not yet worthy of the title 'Lord of Asher City', he had been curious about the world. And in a bid to sate his curiosity, he was given permission by his father, the then City Lord of Asher City to travel the world and see its intricacies. His father did this in the hope that his naïve son would learn from what he saw and become one worthy of Asher City. But he didn't leave his son without any protection. He sent the ultimate shield to protect his son – Rusty the Tiger King. It was said that they came across a notorious group of bandits called the Ten Suns. At the time, they ruled the wilderness and anyone who came across them could only bow to them for they had 5 Predators, of which 2 were Tigers. Not wanting to cause any unnecessary trouble, the young City Lord gave them all he had. But they grew greedy. The young City Lord was a handsome man, and they started to lust after the wealth they would gain if they sold him for his looks. They wanted to sell him to the Black Market as a slave and make a large profit. But they thought too highly of themselves. When they tried to touch the young City Lord, Rusty was infuriated. And the Ten Suns were destroyed – completely.
The door to the carriage opened, and the guards hurriedly bowed down. They heard Rusty call the person in the carriage Young Lady. Added to the insignia on the carriage, they knew that this person was none other than the daughter of the City Lord – Lady Mira!
Soon a graceful lady walked out of the carriage. She was dressed in leather armor and had a long bow strapped to her back. She had an intricately woven quiver slung across her shoulder and it was filled with the best arrows that money could buy. Her long hair was tied into a ponytail and her beautiful ear lobes were devoid of any ear rings. She had no ornaments on, but her beauty was even more pronounced without them. Next to Mira was another woman. This woman was also beautiful, so beautiful that no one would have guessed that she was in her middle ages. Her apparel was very similar to Mira's. The difference was that she had a large sword strapped to her back instead of a bow. Her expression was sterner than Mira's, and her aura was that of a Predator! She was one of the guards assigned to the Young Lady of Asher City.
"The Frontier Guards of the Enchanted Forest greet the Young Lady," both guards extended their greetings solemnly.
"Father, how long are you going to sit in the carriage?" Mira turned and looked into the carriage as she spoke.
"Sorry Mira. I can't find my shoes because it is dark. I think they rolled under one of the seats.
"I told you not to take them off," Mira sighed
"Ah! Found it! I'd be right out." Soon the City Lord was out as well, dressed similarly to his daughter. He also wore leather armor for maximum mobility and had a slender yet exquisite sword which had a beautifully crafted sheath as its coat strapped to his waist.
"City Lord!" the two guards hurriedly exclaimed. "We pay our respects to the Lord of Asher City!"
"At ease. I am only here to hunt with my daughter. There is no need to be so stiff." The City Lord didn't possess the grandiose aura Mane had seen him exude through the Record Stone. He looked like a happy and cheery man with no worries in life. Yet anyone would know better than to underestimate the Lord of Asher City.
"Thank you for your pardon, Lord of Asher City!" the two guards expressed their thanks and stood up. Yet they kept their heads bowed as a sign of respect.
"Rusty, wait for us here now would you." The City Lord ordered and started to walk towards the Enchanted Forest with his daughter and her guard.
"I have to protect My Lord," Rusty argued.
"I am strong enough to protect myself. And Mira has Blake here to protect her." The City Lord stated.
"But," Rusty started but was cut off.
"My decision is made," the City Lord stated firmly.
"As you wish, My Lord" Rusty nodded his head and remained seated in the driver's seat of the carriage.