Gala was in a panicked daze, scrambling for some idea of how she can keep this date afloat. Dian looked as if she was about to commit a murder, and the load of bread was only going to last another minute at this rate.
But in a sudden moment, as if some divine intelligence had blessed her on this moment; she saw him...
The Walking Abyss.
"Duke Soverin!" Gala called out after getting out of earshot of her date. She was quickly halted in her tracks as the Duke's star-skinned knight stood in her way.
"You dare approach nobility in such a barbaric way?!" He shouted, startling Gala.
"Calm down Daimon. I know this one." Soverin stated gently pushing his knight out of the way.
"Daimon? What happened to Damos?" Gala questioned.
"Their twins. It's Daimon's shift and he's a bit more protective than is older brother." The Duke let out a slight laugh. His knight responded with a huff through his nose as he spat on the ground at Gala's feet.
"Charming as always Daimon." Soverin muttered. "Anyway, you called for me, my fine feathered female?" He reached down and grabbed Gala's hand and gently kissed her knuckles.
"Oh, well, I have a favor to ask." She said a little embarrassed, still not use to noble greetings.
"A favor you say?" The Duke's curiosity was peaked, though one could never see it on his face. "Pray tell, what is it you want from the great Duke Soverin?"
Gala hesitated for a moment, knowing she just might end up shattering this man's dreams.
"You wouldn't happen to know some good places to take a refined woman for a night out in this town?" Gala asked accidentally in her usual coy manner.
"Very much so! The Soverin house has an investment in just about every major business in all of Arkheim!" He boasted. Even through his void-like body, Gala could tell he had a prideful smirk on his face.
"Good, cause I need a list of places to take my date as soon as possible." Gala said nonchalantly.
"What?"
"Yeah, she's just over there and I'm running out of things to stall with." Gala pointed over to Dian who was still swarmed with ducks, the last few pieces of bread in her hands.
"Oh." The Duke gasped in surprise.
"Oh..." He continued in disappointment.
"Oh!" He shouted in newfound purpose.
"Tell you what, Lady Gala. I will help you with this date of yours, and if it works out; You owe me a favor in return." He said with a joyous tone.
"Deal!" Gala said excited.
"Alright, here's what you do..."
XXXXX
Roughly the same time back at the Palace
Ag and Ave
XXXXX
"I've not seen many Lizardfolk in my time. Are they all good at sigilcraft?"
"They are not. I am."
The two had spent about an hour circling the perimeter of the Palace grounds fixing holes in the wards and barriers. But every time they got one complete it seemed as if the rumored Beast had destroyed one on the opposite side of the grounds.
Ag stood growing tired of the waiting, as well as his constant mana usage. "Listen, I'm sure the palace guards can deal with it just fine. We need to lea --"
Ag stopped as Ave grabbed tightly to Ag's forearm, but didn't look at him. Instead Ave stood blankly forward. "It's leaving." He muttered, still monotone as ever.
"What do you mean it's leaving? Have you been divining it this whole time?" Ag questioned.
"The beast is moving into the city. How could I be such a fool? It wasn't tracking me, it was going for simpler prey... The Gnoll female." He concluded as he started rushing for the front gates of the palace.
"Hey! Answer me!... Dammit." Ag rushed to match the lizard's pace. "Well, at least we're leaving the palace." Ag grumbled getting what he wanted, but not in the way he wanted.
Ag grabbed onto Ave's cloak stopping both in their tracks just outside the main doors of the palace. Ave turned and snapped his jaw at Ag as if actually trying to bite him. "Do not halt my pursuit, or you won't live to regret it."
"Calm down and think. We don't even know where Yoona is. The capital is a lot of ground to cover for two people." Ag reasoned.
"I can just use magic to find her."
"And risk losing your focus on this so called 'beast'? And what about how much mana we've been using since this morning? We're going to have drain sickness before we even have a chance to put it down!" Ag argued. The points he was making were quite reasonable, but Ave wasn't having any of it.
"That has never been a problem before. Now cease this quarrel and follow, or not. I will hunt both alone if I have to, as I have no use for tools who serve no purpose." Ave turned away from Ag heading into the streets of the city.
Ag's internal flame was in an uproar of anger. "A Phoenix Knight does not follow, we lead." He growled barring his teeth.
"I didn't know the esteemed dragon prince could be so prideful..." A feminine voice called out from behind him. It was Vanity standing at the door. "...But I guess it's what to expect from someone raised by a red dragon."
Ag stood stunned for a moment, gazing upon the devilkin woman before him. Dress in her usual corset and skirt combo that showed off her hips and collar, she held a small parcel in her hands.
"My apologies Queen Vanity. I let my zeal get the best of me." Ag bowed.
"Remember, it's just Vanity while we are here."
"Again, my apologies."
"It's fine. Now, you two were having a heated conversation about Yoona. Something I should be concerned about?"
"Actually, yes. Ave seems to believe some malicious creature is hunting her, but even I don't know if his claim is true."
Vanity's eyes got wide with concern. "Good thing I know where she is then."
XXXXX
Gala and Dian
XXXXX
"So, any insight on where we are off too now...? No, let me guess..." Dian started.
"It's a surprise!" They said in unison.
Gala got a dismissive look. "Well, I'm sorry. I thought mystery was alluring."
"And what gave you that idea?" Dian asked in jest.
Gala stopped for a moment. Dian stopped a short distance ahead. She turned to face the bird. "What?"
"B-because you're mysterious... and... and alluring." Gala stammered out, not daring to look at the elven Amazon in her beautiful lilac eye.
Dian had originally been pretty uninterested in this date. She was a more straight-to-the-point kind of woman, but seeing this flustered, feathery flirt genuinely trying to impress her awoke something in Dian. Something... predatory.
Dian grabbed Gala by the wrists and pulled her into the nearest alleyway. Gala let out a surprised yelp as she had her back pressed against the wall of a building. Her wings splaying outward to get comfortable, as if they knew what was about to happen to their owner.
Dian pressed a hand unto the wall above Gala's head to support her forward lean. Getting her face to face with her prey. She was going to have some fun teasing her. Gala cowered away sinking more into the wall, turning her head, and closed her eyes.
"So I'm alluring, huh?" Dian whispered, moving closer to the bird's ear.
Gala let out in affirmative whimper. Nodding her head slightly. Her body tingled as she felt Dian's breath on her neck.
"What's so alluring? Please, I want to know." Dian put on puppyish voice hoping to pull out more from the bird. Gala nervously shook not knowing what to say. She wanted out. Well, she really wanted in, but not yet. Her heart couldn't handle it right now.
Unfortunately for Gala, Dian didn't like waiting for an answer. Dian grabbed Gala by the chin with her thumb and index. Forced, yet gentle, Dian turned Gala's head forward. She opened her eyes in surprise.
"I'm waiting."
"B-before I answer... can... can... can you do me a favor?"
Dian let out a coquettish hum to go with her devilish grin; tilting her head slightly.
"..."
"Hmmm?"
"Can you..."
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me how a bank works?"
Dian's face went dull, as she asked deadpan. "What?"
"A friend said I could get some gold from his account so I could buy you some nice things, but I've never been to a bank."
Dian reoriented herself with a dead stare. She let out a heavy sigh. "Where's the bank?"
"We were actually almost there." Gala pointed out of the alleyway and across the street.
"Give me the account details and wait here. I'll make it quick." Dian reluctantly took the small slip of paper from Gala's hand and walked across the street.
She was back to hating the date.