It was dark out when they finally reached the capital's gates. The streets were well-lit but it was quiet and desserted, not single soul to be seen other than the patrolling knights.
It had taken them about three days and a half to reach the capital, despite the several breaks taken in between for meals. Nikolai was adamant that 3 proper meals were essential and must never be skipped. He'd eventually removed Larry's cuffs, realizing that the poor guy couldn't feed himself.
He and Seffa were gradually introduced, to which Larry was baffled as to how such a young child actually lived in that cursed forest, but then soon rebuked himself as he looked at Nikolai. He'd also remarked multiple times on how splendidly well-designed the carriage was and that it could actually compare to the Royal Coach.
Amongst other things like subtle questions about his personal life, Larry was asked to reiterate the changes that had taken place in the empire in the past 15 years.
.
"We've been expecting you, Master Nikolai." a man in a butler's suit bowed courteously with a hand on his chest.
"It has been so long. I'm delighted to see you in good health." he smiled radiantly, welcoming Nikolai as he came down from the carriage.
"Good to...see you...Bastian." Nikolai said as they shook hands.
Bastian Cellion, the Royal Butler. He was an average old man with completely gray hair in a slickback. One notable thing about him is his unusually deep voice.
The old man's smile slowly became one of grief and grieving, tears forming as he looked away.
"I...Forgive me sir, I am aware that I'm being rude, but I'm terribly sorry about Madam Johanne. It's just so unusual for me to not see the two of you together. I apologize that I couldn't have done anything to help—"
"It's fine...Bastian." he said, calling out Seffa.
"She is...her last...gift." the old man's tears were instantly turned into those of joy, his heart fluttering like that of a grandfather.
Seffa looked back at her father, obviously shy, while Nikolai urged her to introduce herself.
"Why hello, young miss. My name is Bastian Cellion, you may call me however you wish." he said with a friendly smile, lowering himself.
"I-I'm...I mean, my name is Azeferil Mein Elliot. Daughter of Nikolai Elliot and Johanne Mein. I am 7 years old." she said, following the introduction with a small curtsy.
Both gentlemen felt flowery at how adorable the obviously practiced introduction was.
"Well, It is an absolute pleasure meeting you, young miss Azeferil. Now it's unfortunate but I musn't hinder you any longer, our leisurely chats will have to wait. This way, please." he said as he lead them down the long marble path.
The Lord's castle was the largest structure in the whole capital, covering nearly a fourth of the entire landmass. There was the marble path outside that continued as an aisle to the throne room from the palace gates. There are four paths facing each of their respective directions, beside each path are a pair of large cannons on display. Around the entirety of castle was the Lord's personal garden, consisting of flora from all over the Continent of Verochka.
The Palace itself was massive. Three floors up, five floors down, and the Lord's personal castle tower. It was the most extravagant stucture in the whole continent possessed by the most powerful and prosperous nation.
Bastian led them through a corridor with a ceiling akin to that of a cathedral's supported by multiple chiseled pillars arranged in an aesthetic design. The floor was covered in a red cloth and golden banners embroidered with the insignia of the empire, a dragon holding the world in it's fangs, was beautifully waving in between the pillars.
And the throne, contrary to the previous grand designs, was a large, red, cushioned couch surrounded by flowers of complimenting colors. Below was a carpet made of the striped fur of a giant Prontul Tiger, a legendary predator of the mountains.
"Are you out of your mind!? If we don't prioritize the evacuation of the citizens of the western districts, a massacre will ensue!" yelled a middle-aged man with an eyepatch. He was wearing a blue coat, leather gloves and knee-high boots.
Dr. Vincent Berith was the head of the Life Arts Division, the empire's leading experts in the study and development of Life Magic.
The court has been gathered with the purpose of strategizing a counterattack regarding the Ghoul issue. They had just heard of Phillis' absurd plan of using the citizens as a lure for the ghouls, explaining that ghouls are creatures of the abyss, creatures who seek life and that a Queen Ghoul was leading them in a coordinated assault.
"Is this why you've asked me to gather the citizens in each of their respective town halls?" asked Amira. Her cold expression never changed, no matter how far-fetched the plans had become.
"Precisely. The concentration of multiple life signatures gathered into one area will definitely entice the queen. We just need to erect a few earthen walls, as tall as the ones in the border, with Earth Magic to confine them into one place. After which, we can bombard them with whatever. Ghouls aren't so tough if they can't immediately replenish their food source, as I said, their creatures that originated from the abyss." Phillis continued his explaination.
"You, sir, are MAD! I do not agree to such a reckless plan of action, my liege. I believe we can find other solutions to this matter without having to endanger the lives of our countrymen." Vincent was adamant, the plan left an awful taste in his patriotic nature.
"Then are you, perhaps, able to provide me with anything 'better'?" Amira's gaze sent chills down the doctor's spine.
"W-Well, I wouldn't say that I can immediately—" he stuttered but was cut short.
"SEND ME." Nikolai's deep voice rattled the halls for a moment, startling the other guests. They were all powerful figures in both status and ability, yet none of them other than five exceptions were even able to notice his presence until he announced himself.
To them, it was a basic yet grievous mistake, allowing a potential threat come so close.
The same could be said to the Lord's Royal Guards who established a line of defense around the lord as soon as they noticed the giant.
A cage of flames was set around him. Multiple wands and other armaments were pointed at him, ready to unleash a barrage. The cage was a military-grade spell called Phoenix Prison, one cast by none other than Commander Yuri Teppen.
"State your business. I'd be careful if I were you, intruder. The following words you utter might be your last. Now speak!" she warned, exuding a hot, intimidating aura.
<'...damn it. I forgot that humans aren't very sensitive to presence.'>he thought.
Nikolai had been in the wild for a long time without any sort of human interaction other than family. He'd developed an instinct to always erase his presence to avoid disturbing the forest around.
He looked at Amira with the 'a little help?' expression on his face, to which she just raised her hands in surrender. The Empress, along with Duke Phillis barely suppressed their laughter at the old scene. Nikolai getting suspected as a threat brought back nostalgic events that pushed their poker faces to the edge.
Yuri, on the other hand, was getting impatient.
"You would dare trespass on royal grounds and disrespect the Lord's authority, such impudence. You shall be executed immediately. SEIZE HIM!!"
She declared, fiery markings apearing on the side of her face as she closed her open palm. The cage lit up, it's temperature increasing simultaneously as it released a burst of flames inside the cage, like flamethrowers from all sides.
The others, including the guests, followed suit. After Yuri finished hers, they each casted their own. Lightning, rock spikes, ice spears, etc, all resulting to a miniature explosion that shattered most of the stained glass in the room. It was a barrage capable of reducing even a Category 3 Fiend to ashes.
A cloud of smoke and dust had kicked up in the room. Everyone had stopped their attacks, but none was letting their guard down. All those present were veterans in combat.
Nikolai came walking out of the cloud, patting off some soot on his clothes and beared. He sighed and looked at the other two idiots at the back.
"Happy?" he said, raising his axe over his shoulder.
Amira was beet-red, covering her face with a pillow to save her grace, while Phillis took off his glasses to wipe off tears with a napkin.
The others, however, couldn't believe their eyes. It was one thing to survive from such an assault, walking away unscathed and unfazed was something else entirely.
"How did he...!?" there was a hint of fear and awe in their whipers.
The commander, however, prepared for such an outcome. Considering how he's nearly bigger than most of the Magic Beasts she's seen, a contingency plan was bound to be useful.
Sun Chariot was a military-grade compound spell of Fire and Wind Elemental Arts. It's original purpose is to fire highly compressed heat that devastate foes in one fell swoop, but Yuri had different ideas.
Observing how he seemed to nullify magic-based attacks, she would instead use physical combat. She used the Sun Chariot spell to launch herself at explosive speeds, her spear aimed at Nikolai.
"AARGH!" the ground from where she atood was pulverized and she cut through the air like a javelin.
It was a highly effective move especially against mages. Nikolai didn't seem like a mage to her.
<'Even if he isn't a mage, this strategy should be just as effective. My spear, travelling at this speed, would pierce even an Earth Dragon's hide!'> was her line of thought.
The only flaw in her solution was the problem itself.
BOOM
Nikolai caught the spear by its tip, in between his thumb ans forefinger. The Commander's momentum took her forward after losing her weapon. She straight into the giant's gentle arms, catching her with ease.
Everybody was speechless. Lord Amira and Duke Phillis were grinning to themselves, an old companion has returned.
Nikolai sighed again. He looked at all those in the room who attacked him and released a fraction of killing intent.
"Noisy."he uttered.
They all sprawled out on the ground. Fainted. And again only Amira and Phillis remained, both retaining their professional moods.
"Welcome home, Nicholas."
.