Karyea's home was one of the few stone structures we'd seen when we'd been flying on Rath's back, and from the similarity of the color to Delorn golems, I assumed he had been the one of make it, which was impressive if he'd made it in one go, since it was a two story bundling, and quite wide.
Karyea led us inside and to the cozy living room area which was set up in the same way the tent her father had been in, with comfy looking rugs, cushions and furs covering the floor along with a small table at the center.
"If you wait here then i'll go brew some tea and get supper ready." Karyea bowed once then left, presumably towards the kitchen area of the home.
"I wish we could have just gone back to the palace," Asara said as she ast and leaned back on a large cushion. "Your summon, what was his name? Knov, he can make portals can't he?"
"He can," I replied. "But there really is no need. It won't kill us to stay here for the night, and it would be impolite to decline their offer."
I took a seat close to her and pulled a few of the cushions togher to rest on. I had to admit, whatever the rugs and cushion were made of, it was very comfortable, even more so than my bed back at the palace, which was saying something since that bed was made for a king.
"There not what i expected," Asara said after a long moment of silence.
"What did you expect?" I asked.
"Savagery… I expected them to be like animals, beasts, who just killed and didn't care about anything else."
I sighed. "That's probably the old memories talking. When you're a child your mind tries to rationalize things and often exaggerates events or paints things in a worse picture, although perhaps some of the other tribes are like that. If we ever come across the tribe that raided your village, and there are as you say, then we'll see what we can do. I'm not going to attack innocents or people who had nothing to do with the attack, but if we can find the people, then I will give you justice, or at least my version of it."
"Thank you, your majesty."
"I didn't think I'd miss the palace so much," I said. "This is exciting in its own way, but I do miss my office and even speaking to Richrad and Susana, which is a surprise since I only ever talk about business with them."
"I-" Asara cut ehr words off and I glanced over to see a frown marrung her face.
"What?"
"What happens when you get stronger?" Asara asked in a surprisingly soft tone. "Do you plan on taking the Tyrofell empire?"
This was a conversation I hadn't expected, although I was confident I could tell Asara.
"That's just the beginning if I'm being honest," I answered. "I plan on reaching high, Asara, higher than the sky, and stars, and heavens themselves."
"Why?"
There was no anger or accusation in her words, just curiosity.
"At first it was to go home and it still partially is, but now it's something more. I'm not fully sure, but it's this drive to reach the pinnacle, to reach a level where I will be able to do as I wish and have no limits. It sounds like a damn fairy tail or a pipedream, but I will do it, probably sooner than I expected if all goes well with my escalation plan."
There was nor reply for a time so I looked over to see a worried look on Asara's face.
"Asara?"
"What if you forget us," She blurted out. "Forget Larra, the riders, and… me."
I laughed which caused her to look over at me in confusion. "You should know by now, I'm not that type of man. I'm not the type who forgets people. All those caravans I sent out to help the people of Larra, well I sent a few over to a village near the kingdom borders where two friends of my are staging, two beastin, a wonderful father, and a lovely littel girl. I plan on visiting them when I can, but until then I sent as much help as I could, and even asked Danzo to have clones watching them at all times to make sure they're safe.Once i have the empire i'll make sure the father is reunited with his wife and daughter with her mother. I only knew them for a few days, but they're friends, and look what I'm doing for them.'
I gave Asara a wide smile. "You are more than just a simple friend so what do you think I'll do for you? Do you really think I'll forget you?'
"No," she whispered as she tried to hold back a smile. "I supp-"
"Tea's ready!"
Asara words were interrupted by Karyea bustling into the room with a tea tray that gave off quite a nice smell.
"It's a special blend that I made myself," Karyea explained.
She poured a cup for both me and Asara and left before we could even thank her.
"Wow." Asara looked surprised. "This is the best tea I've ever had."
"I have to agree," I said as I took a long sip. It was somehow a perfect temperature as to not be too hot or too cold, and the taste was a perfect blend of tart and sweetness. "Definitely the best."
I raised my cup. "To our future."
"To our future." Asara and I clinked cups.
As I took another sip, I couldn't help but feel excitement at the things to come. Soon I would have three new summons and potentially a farming spot that would allow me to gain a ton of exp. Whatever happened, when I returned back to Larra and across the mountain range to the west, things were going to change in the Tyrofell empire, that was sure.
King sounded good, but Emperor sounded better.