"Ancestor...." Jennings called for the master after making sure that Bernard walked upstairs.
The master responded without turning towards the other man, he said: "what is it, your majesty?".
Jennings paused before saying:" isn't it dangerous for the nonhumans to be this close to the human population? I mean, they are well behaved in Saka since they are aware of you, ancestor. However, it does not guarantee that they won't go berserk once being out of your territory".
The moment he was done saying that, Jennings instantly regretted opening his mouth, he bit on his lip, swearing and cursing himself.
' oh my god!!! I forgot my place for a second and ended up blurting rubbish! what if he felt offended? I doubted his actions and intentions just now'
The master chuckled as he covered the pan and reduced the fire strength, he turned to face Jennings saying while caressing Maitea's hair:" I understand your majestys' worries, however, you should not pay much attention to it"
"It has been five hundred years since the gates to the other realms dried out of mana. without a way to return to their homes, the nonhumans had to adjust with the humans, the real inhabitants of this realm. To do so, we have created a system to organize the interaction of each race with others, they are working hard and the system is quite successful, so please rest assured"
Hearing the master comforting him that way, Jennings felt disgust and anger towards himself, how could he offend someone who is concerned about his people more than the emperor himself.
Jennings clenched his fist, and said in a low yet clear voice:" my apologies, ancestor. I have overstepped my bounds".
The master fixed Maitea's position on his arms as he said:" I understand your worries as a ruler, you can not ignore a possibility that can threat the peace of your Empire, there is nothing wrong in making the safety of the people your priority".
At that moment the half-awake Maitea groaned to express her discomfort with the way her master was holding her, fulfilling her request, the master fixed her position again as he kissed her forehead then said:" I see it as a beautiful phenomenon when two individuals decide to give their unconditional love to each other despite their race and the many differences they had".
He gently rested his chin on her head, brushing Maitea's face with his hand, the master said with a very warm and passionate tone:" I also am blessed to have met my adorable little Ma, I just can't help but love her more and more".
Looking at the master happily rubbing his face on Maitea's soft cheek, Jennings began forming an earnest smile but was disturbed by Bernard's loud voice calling for him.
" hey you rotten Emperor, move already ".
Master:" ah, take your coats with you, it's going to rain so it's better to return before that".
Jennings did as the master instructed then left the house with the annoyed Bernard.
*******
"This is not something you buy for a twenty years old woman unless you are expecting a granddaughter" said Bernard as he awkwardly stared at Jennings and the doll in his hand.
Jennings:" but it looks just like her!".
Bernard protested:" dude! This is a whole nonhuman market, you can find uncountable unique things that are unknown in Sitia, buy her a magical item or a charm for a good marriage, not a god damn doll for kids!".
Instantly, Jennings glared at the man when he heard the word 'marriage', he said in a strick voice:" marriage? what marriage? I am not giving my child to anyone ".
Bernard sighed: "poor Annasophy, she must be suffering ".
Jennings:" then what will you do if a man came asking for your sister's hand for marriage? I highly doubt you will be open-minded about it".
Bernard scoffed before responding with a smirk:" I don't need to do anything, Master and our second brother Yoon, are enough to open the seven gates of hell. I will just watch and clap".
He paused feeling satisfied with the protection they provided for their sister before asking:" and what did you get for Lennox?".
Jennings tugged the doll aside and began rummaging through the jade necklaces, he said beaming: "I bought him a golden skull of a cursed elf".
Bernard brightened in a second, he said patting on Jenning's shoulder:" Hahaha, now that is something worth pā".
Swish
Booom
A sudden wind crossed above them like an arrow, followed by a huge explosion in the distance. All the stalls were blown away, people were swept like dust while the buildings cracked and shook.
Since Jennings and Bernard were standing close to each other, both of them were slammed heavily on a wall of a sturdy structure. However, the spot where Bernard landed bad a metal sculpture, causing him to bang his head terribly to the extent of bleeding a blood river.
Bernard's sight became blurry, he shook his head few times to clear his mind but the ringing sound kept echoing in his brain, while his vision slowly started to fair.
He could see in the distance an enormous white Griffin, one of its limbs was gashed as well as his left-wing was broken.
The shockwaves just now were caused by the Griffin when it hit the ground. Everything within three kilometres radius away from the monster turned to a lifeless heap.
No.
Not everything.
Couple hundreds of meters away from it, two-storey house was still standing on the top of the hill, protected by a rosey coloured magical shield.
'....master!!'