"Let's get going!" Almace said with a burst of energy, wrapping her arm around Lilith's in a friendly gesture, ready to head to the banquet hall.
However, Azriel, following close behind, couldn't help but interject. "Almace, let go of our master. Remember, she is your master, not your friend," he said, emphasizing the need for a more formal relationship due to their respective roles.
Almace, unfazed by Azriel's comment, responded with a playful smirk, her hand covering her smile as if to mask her amusement. "My, my. All I hear is jealousy," she teased.
Azriel, upon hearing Almace's teasing remark, couldn't completely hide his reaction. A vein slightly bulged on his head, a subtle sign of his annoyance or frustration. Nonetheless, he maintained his smile.
"Almace, don't get too comfortable! Once I get my human form, our Master will be all over me!" Ragnarok exclaimed, her entire form vibrating with excitement on Lilith's waist. "Right, Harpe?!"
Harpe, nestled comfortably in the breast pocket of Lilith's dress, responded with a hesitant affirmation. "Y-yeah..." she said, trying her best to agree.
Almace, ever the competitor, couldn't resist a retort. "Humph. You won't even get the chance," she said confidently. But then, her gaze inadvertently drifted towards Lilith's chest, where Harpe was resting.
Lilith noticed Almace's gaze and felt a bit self-conscious. "What are you looking at...?" she asked, trying to shy away from her gaze.
"It must be nice, Harpe," Almace commented under her breath, a hint of envy in her voice.
Harpe, caught off guard by the comment, quickly denied it, her voice tinged with a bashful tone. "I don't know what you're talking about...!" she protested, her response revealing her embarrassment at the sudden attention.
Lilith let out an awkward chuckle, unsure of how to respond to the playful banter among her companions.
As they continued to walk, the trio soon reached the front gate of the banquet hall within the royal palace. The scene before them was bustling and grand. Carriages and horses arrived, bringing with them a variety of guests – noble elves, distinguished humans, some accompanied by partners, others arriving alone, and several in groups.
Observing the scene, Lilith remarked, "There's a lot of people," her voice tinged with a growing sense of nervousness.
However, Almace, ever the source of encouragement and support, quickly reassured her. "Nothing to be nervous about, master!" she cheerfully claimed, her tone full of confidence and optimism. With that, she took the initiative, gently but firmly dragging Lilith by the arm towards the banquet hall.
As Lilith approached the gate, one of the guards stepped forward to greet her, a welcoming smile on his face. "The queen has informed us of your arrival," he said. The guard then proceeded to escort Lilith and her companions inside the banquet hall.
Lilith acknowledged the guard's courtesy with a nod of appreciation. "Thank you," she said, her voice carrying a tone of gratitude.
Upon entering the banquet hall, the trio was greeted by an even more impressive sight than what the exterior had suggested. The hall was not only large but also exuded grandeur and elegance from within.
The banquet hall's layout was thoughtfully arranged to cater to various aspects of the evening's festivities. At the very front stood a podium, likely designated for speeches or announcements, set in a position of prominence. Below the podium were numerous dining tables, elegantly set and ready for the guests. Beyond these tables, there was a dance floor.
Intriguingly, there was also a second floor that overlooked the main area. This upper level seemed reserved for more important guests, offering them a vantage point to observe below while enjoying their own feast in a more exclusive setting.
Caught up in the excitement, Almace enthusiastically suggested, "Let's check this place out!" Without waiting for a response, she playfully dragged Lilith towards the self-serve appetizer section, keen to sample the array of delicacies on offer. Azriel, staying close, quickly followed, ensuring he remained near Lilith and Almace.
...
At the same time at another place.
Inside a carriage, two men sat opposite each other, making their way to the same banquet hall. The younger man, Lucas, had dark grey hair and wore glasses that obscured his green eyes. He gazed out of the carriage window, observing the scenery as they approached their destination.
"Quite a grand place the elves have here," Lucas remarked, his voice carrying a tone of admiration as he took in the view of the elfin architecture and the elaborate setup for the banquet.
As the carriage came to a stop, the Carriage Steward promptly opened the door, allowing the passengers to disembark. The older man, named Cedric, who was sitting with the younger Lucas, groaned slightly as he got out of the carriage. He was an older gentleman with a mix of grey and black hair slicked back, and his face bore the subtle signs of aging. As he stepped out, he placed a hand on his back.
"Oh, oh, oh," Cedric vocalized, adjusting himself after the carriage ride. "Of course, they do," he responded to Lucas's comment about the grandeur of the place. "This nation has been standing for more than a millennium. Heck, even the queen is close to being a millennial," he added.
As the two mages, Cedric and his apprentice Lucas, neared the banquet hall, they experienced an unsettling sensation. Their proficiency in magic allowed them to perceive auras and energies that others might overlook, and what they detected emanating from the banquet hall was unusual and disconcerting.
Cedric, trying to convey the strange feeling, said, "It feels like magic... but..." He paused, searching for the right words to describe the sensation. "It feels dark," he finally concluded.
Cedric , with years of experience and wisdom, sensed something even more specific and alarming. "It's like the black dragon and the previous generations of black dragons are all inside that banquet hall..." he muttered. A cold sweat formed on his neck, a physical manifestation of his anxiety and fear.
Driven by a mix of curiosity and a mages's natural inclination to understand the unknown, Cedric made the decision to proceed. "Let's head in," he said.
Cedric , sharing his apprentice's curiosity and perhaps also feeling a sense of responsibility as a more experienced mage, silently agreed. Together, they entered the banquet hall.
Upon stepping inside, they were immediately struck by the extravagance and grandeur of the hall.
However, Cedric and Lucas , their attention was not captivated by the visual splendor of the hall. Instead, their focus was intently set on uncovering the source of the 'dark' magic they had sensed.
Cedric and Lucas , with their keen senses honed by years of magical practice, quickly identified the source of the dark magic they had sensed. To their surprise, it emanated from a woman who was strikingly beautiful, so much so that she captured their full attention.
Her appearance was almost mesmerizing. She possessed a perfect blend of curves, with a balance of slimness and fullness in just the right proportions. Her long, smooth black hair framed her face, complementing her ruby-like eyes. The dress she wore was elegantly designed, revealing enough to accentuate her figure while maintaining an air of sophistication. Her smooth legs and the subtle glimpse of her breasts added to her alluring presence.
"She's human..." Cedric observed, his voice a mix of wonder and disbelief. He seemed momentarily captivated, if not entranced, by her beauty.
Lucas, meanwhile, was more focused on identifying her origins. "Which nation?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued not just by her appearance, but by the power she seemed to possess. "I never heard of someone this powerful from the other nations," he added.
The focus of Lucas and Cedric shifted as they noticed a man standing behind Lilith. The most striking feature about him was his glowing red eyes, which immediately demanded their attention and raised new questions.
"A demon...?" Lucas muttered almost instinctively.
Cedric, however, found it hard to accept such a possibility. "It can't be. The elves would never," he said, shaking his head.
"Yeah... let's keep an eye on them for now," Lucas suggested.