Kingdom of Zuland, Elegliss, Present day.
"It's about bloody time," exclaimed Nell after Xeto mentioned he'd leave for Beswind by the end of the new day.
They were all near the pofu orchards, watching and playing close attention to Ren's instructions on how to travel via crimson pearl.
"Any questions?" said Ren.
"Right here," answered Roy, with his hand up. "You said all we have to do is think of the place we wish to go and it'll happen. Feels a bit odd, what if something else comes to thought in the middle of it?"
Ren nodded at him. "You're right, something could alter your destination if you're not focused."
"Can I transport myself to a person if I think of them?"
"They don't function in that way sadly," said Niolith as she handed one each of them.
"What a waste of pearls," exclaimed her sour-faced sister from their rear.
Anaria held it gently in her palm. "Thank you for everything you've given us." Her gaze jumped from Ren to Niolith.
"Think nothing of it, sweet sarp." Niolith handed her a small basket. "Some simple foods to keep you going on your travels."
Roy held his pearl against the sun. "As beautiful as a ruby." He cleared his throat. "Is it perhaps…as valuable as—"
"That pearl is worth tenfold that of your pathetic rubies," said Nell red-faced.
Ren turned to pat her shoulder. "Calm yourself, Nell. It was a jest."
She scoffed as she rolled her eyes.
"Now then." Ren met Xeto eye-to-eye. "You said you've been to Beswind before?"
"Once," answered Xeto. "Though I can barely remember my time there."
"Was there a place in specific that you could picture better than the rest?"
"Well…yes," he answered hesitantly. Xeto remembered the sign of the establishment clear as day. A cat made of gold-painted steel beside a well-carved wooden plate with silver lettering. "The Gold Feline Cortigiana." His cheeks grew warm as the words escaped his lips.
Ren nodded with thin smile. "Oh, the Gold Feline, I can understand why."
Roy's eye bounced between them. "There's something here, isn't there." He snickered with a wide grin. "What's the Gold Feline?"
"It's a brothel in Beswind. Well-known actually for its luxurious… entertainment. Only the rich can enter in a place like that."
Niolith leaned on her husband's shoulder. "How is it you know that, darling?" she teased with a smile.
Roy burst out laughing. "Better yet. How is it Xeto here found himself in place of such luxurious entertainment?"
Xeto looked away from his friend in attempt to hide his flushed expression. "I was uh—it was for a military assignment."
Roy took ahold of his shoulder. "Is that what you call your conquests with the opposite sex? You sly fox, you."
Xeto sighed and for the first time, Nell had smiled. Naturally the one that was able to clean up her sour expression would be his discomfort.
Roy leaned in closer. "Come on, lad, transport us to this oh-so famous brothel of yours."
"He's right," said Ren, his smile now gone. "If it is the only place you can picture, then it's your best hope."
Of course it is… "Is there no other way?"
Roy walked in between both of them. "Only Xeto would carp at the thought of entering a brothel free of charge."
"Fine," exclaimed Xeto as he bit his lip. "I'll try my best."
Anaria took hold of his wrist. "I'm sure you can do it. I have faith in you."
"Faith won't be enough," said Ren. "Beswind is a far destination, it'll drain you of your aura. Just be prepared for it."
Xeto felt a boost of morale as Anaria's soft touch rested on his wrist. "I understand."
"Then I think you're ready." Ren wrapped his arms around his wife, hugging her from behind.
She smiled as she waved them off. "Fortune be with you all."
For the first time Xeto felt a wave of discomfort in his gut. The reality of leaving impacted him more now that he was at the edge of the decision. Niolith had a precious smile, like one he'd picture his mother having. Knowing them now, he regretted the way he acted hostile towards Ren in the barn. He eyed the pearl in his palm as the elven siblings tightened their grip on him. He crushed it slowly as he met Ren's gaze. "Thank you for this."
Ren nodded as Niolith waved.
The red flash blinded him as his ears rang from the sharp sound. This was it, Elegliss was now memory.
~0~
Xeto felt the warmth of the Cortigiana's silk cushion wrap around him, breaking his fall.
Rose-colored smoke filled the area as the heavy scent of incense hung in the air.
He struggled to keep his eyes open as the ringing in his ears came to a halt. His vision cleared as a second glance revealed his location. He had landed on the large bed wide enough for three people.
It was set at the center of a fairly wide room with lavish red rugs, shined pine end tables with a stone bath built into the corner. If those details alone weren't enough to confirm his whereabouts, there was a series of moans and panting echoing through the walls of the neighboring rooms.
He sighed as he thanked the goddess for his fortunate place of arrival; an empty room of all places. Had he landed in the middle of lustful engagement; the embarrassment alone would have killed him. He stood only to have his balance thwarted by the side effects of the pearl, sending him tumbling back into the soft bed.
The women's moans grew louder, challenged only by a man's heavy grunts.
Xeto's face was burning hot, was it another side effect of the pearl? Not likely, rather it was sheer ineptness.
On the opposite side of room was a series giggles from the adjoining room. A man laughed, though muffled, it was familiar.
Don't let it be. Xeto pulled himself up using the thick bedpost. On shaky legs he trudged for the exit. He leaned on the walls of the hallway as he neared the next room.
A middle-aged courtesan with a short cut dress walked blew a kiss as she walked by. "Out of stamina?" she mocked. She bit her lip as she leaned in beside his ear. "If you would have invested in me, I wouldn't have let you out of my bed." Her voice was lined with lust though it sounded like a distant echo.
Sweat formed on his brow as the world spun around him. He continued for the entrance of the next room.
"Your loss, darling," said the woman.
Xeto put his weight against the door as he turned the knob. Gravity took over as he fell against the room's inner rug.
The giggles stopped, replaced by light gasps and women's murmurs.
"Who is that?" said one.
"He's wearing armor, is he soldier?" asked another.
"He's quite handsome, wouldn't you say, Diala?"
Xeto slowly craned his head up to find Roy with both arms wrapped around attractive courtesans. Goddess, I must be dreaming…
One had golden locks while the other had shined brown curls. Both wore exposing dresses with their bosoms bulging from their tight corsets.
Roy smiled. "Don't be afraid, lasses. This here is a dear friend of mine." He broke away from the women's grasp as he offered his hand. "Let's get you on your feet, lad."
Xeto took his hand as the gold-haired woman placed herself under his arm and supported his weight.
Roy grunted as he helped seat him on the bed. "Where's the girl that left you like this, I wonder."
Though partly out of breath, Xeto managed to let out a chuckle. "Why am I not surprised to find you here? Where's Anaria?"
"I would've come to find you sooner, but there were other urgent matters that needed my attention."
The gold haired girl giggled at the comment.
"Right, Diala?" he said as he slapped her backside.
"Roy." Xeto scoffed.
"Ease up, lad. Anaria is fine. We ended up in this room together and the head mistress found us. Would've thrown us out to the street if it wasn't for Kis here— told the mistress that we were her special clients."
Kis' river of brown hair spread down Xeto's chest as she leaned into him. "You can be my special client as well." She leaned in for a kiss.
Xeto craned his head aside, causing Kis' soft lips to land on his cheek instead. He blushed as he cleared his throat.
"Oh, are you spoken for?" she asked.
"He's not," answered Roy. "He's just a bit nervous is all. You see…" he lowered his voice to a whisper. "It's his first time."
"Oh." She looked back at him with pitiful eyes. "Don't worry, love." She caressed his hair. "I know all the steps."
Xeto pulled away from her grasp. "I know the steps, thank you." He kept his gaze away from hers. "Roy, can you stop with the antics?"
"'Fraid not," he mocked.
The door to the room creaked open.
Anaria came through, her lips curved into a smile as she met eyes with him. "Here you are. I was looking all over for you."
Xeto immediately shuffled to the end of the bed. "This isn't what it may look like."
"Oh, that explains it," whispered Kis behind him.