From atop the towering palace, the sprawling medieval city unfurled beneath my gaze, a majestic testament to human civilization.
The sight was awe-inspiring as my eyes swept across a metropolis teeming with life, its scale beyond comprehension.
The city was a tapestry of grandeur, its streets and structures an intricate web that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Its labyrinthine streets meandered like veins, coursing through the heart of the urban landscape.
Majestic cathedrals, their spires reaching toward the heavens, dominated the skyline, a testament to the piety and devotion of its people.
The symphony of bells tolled in harmony, echoing across the vast expanse and adding a spiritual aura to the city's atmosphere.
Architectural marvels adorned the cityscape. Towering fortresses stood as sentinels, their imposing walls a testament to the strength and might of the city's defences.
Elegant bridges spanned across winding rivers, connecting districts and facilitating the flow of commerce and communication.
Crowded market squares bustled with merchants hawking their wares and traders from distant lands who bartered their exotic wares, their voices blending harmoniously with the laughter and chatter of the city dwellers. Stalls and carts overflowed with an abundance of goods.
The air was alive with the mingling aromas of exotic spices, freshly baked bread, and the fragrant blooms adorning balconies and gardens.
Within the city's boundaries, lush gardens and parks offer respite from the bustling streets. Serene fountains played host to ethereal sculptures, their gentle cascades providing a soothing soundtrack to the urban symphony.
Families picnicked on emerald lawns, children's laughter blended with the chirping of birds in a harmonious melody of joy.
From my vantage point, I could see the city stretching to the horizon, a testament to the people's achievement and ambition.
Smoke rose from countless chimneys, evidence of the bustling activity within each household, where artisans honed their crafts and families shared their daily lives.
At the heart of it all, the palace upon which I stood, stands as a beacon of power and authority. Its grandeur is unparalleled, its turrets and battlements a testament to the might and influence of those who reside within.
From this vantage point, you can see the city's intricate layout, a testament to meticulous urban planning and the efforts of generations past.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder from this lofty perch atop the grand palace, I embraced the magnificence of this colossal urban tapestry, forever etched in my memory.
Beside me, a certain Archangel spoke.
"Are you ready?"
Still taking in the breathtaking view, I simply nod, and then, in an instant, the view in front of my eyes shifted, turning into a simple mould-covered brick wall.
I turn to Cephi.
"Where...?"
Before I could continue, they interrupt.
"The market district. Well, an alleyway near it anyway."
I simply nod in response, it made sense, suddenly appearing in the middle of the square would be the opposite of laying low I guess.
That said...
"Your appearance stands out a little...don't you think?"
Looking at Cephi's highly conspicuous form, I couldn't help but sigh inwardly
"Are you going to follow me...like that?" I ask.
They glare at me for a second before responding.
"...obviously not, in the first place our objective is to lay low,"
Suddenly, a bright crimson light emanates from their chest, drowning the surroundings within itself, and briefly blinding me.
Covering my eyes reflexively, I let out a brief groan.
"...could you warn me next time you..."
My jaw dropped as I gazed at Cephi, or rather, their new form.
Before me stood a towering figure, covered almost entirely by a dark cloak that seemed to swallow the light itself.
Every inch of their form was veiled beneath the shroud of this obsidian garment, leaving only mysteries in its wake.
The hood of the cloak obscured the face of its wielder in a deep shadow, making it impossible to discern any features of the face.
Dangling from the figure's neck, a chain hung with an air of weight and significance.
At its end, the symbol of the God of War, a crescent moon pierced by a resolute sword, glimmered faintly.
Its presence evoked the power and ferocity associated with the deity, hinting at the figure's connection to a realm of conflict and martial prowess.
Peering beneath the cloak's billowing folds, one could discern the figure's pants, though largely obscured by the encasement of their greaves.
These protective coverings, an intense shade of crimson, verging on the edge of black, exuded an aura of intimidation.
Their scarred surface hinted at countless battles fought and victories claimed. Adorning their feet, a pair of sabatons, mirroring the colour and formidable presence of the greaves, completed the ensemble.
Though what attracted my attention most, was the vague, but still noticeable bump in the figure's chest area.
"Cephi?"
"Yes?" they respond
"Did you...why do you have boobs?"
"It's closest to my true form," they answer succinctly.
"True form...? Aren't you a four-armed giant clad in impenetrable armour?"
Cephi snorted
"Giant? Hmph. I'll have you know that that form is simply the most appropriate one based on the conception of those present at your birth,"
"I see..." I say while nodding. "Then what about your true form?"
"I'll show it to you some other time,"
Walking past me, Cephi beckoned me to follow them.
"Come on now, we should make our way towards the Eastern Gate quickly,"
"What's the rush?" I ask, "There wasn't a time limit was there?"
"To avoid trouble," they respond.
I simply nod and follow closely behind them.
----------
Gazing down at the capital, Audrey lifts the drink in her hand and takes a sip.
"Are you sure that those dogs are after him?" she asks.
Silvia, who had been standing beside her, answers.
"Yes, Your Majesty; we've already confirmed that they're solely after Adam. Their presence in the capital has already tripled."
Placing the drink on a tray nearby, Audrey turned around and gazed into Silvia's eyes.
"I agreed with your plan because you ensured me that we could wipe them out of the capital for good, should anything happen to Adam..."
Suddenly, Silvia's body convulsed, and a violent cough seized her, forcing her to double over.
The wracking coughs tore through her, each one accompanied by a splatter of warm, crimson blood that sprayed onto her trembling palms.
"...don't think I'll let you die quickly," Audrey continued.
"Yes...Your Majesty." Silvia managed to eke out in a hoarse voice.
Waving her hand, Audrey dismissed Silvia, her eyes never leaving her loyal subject, she watched as Silvia staggered away, one hand pressed against her mouth, trying to staunch the bleeding.
As the door closed behind Silvia, Audrey's attention returned to the capital spread out before her.
"Elric," Audrey said, seemingly talking to the air.
Without notice, a blurry figure suddenly outlined itself, quickly becoming clear.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Elric responded.
"Follow Adam," she ordered in a tone that left no room for discussion.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but His Highness is under the protection of both the Praetorian Gaurd and the Intelligence Service, he even has an Archangel as his companion, " Elric said hesitantly.
Audrey does not respond, continuing to gaze at the capital, however, the surrounding area's temperature began to heat up to an alarming degree.
"...should an attack occur in the capital, even I will need at least a minute to return to your side..." Elric said in a steady tone, despite the feeling of the heat becoming unbearable.
"You've become rather brave, haven't you, Elric?"
Audrey turned around, sweeping her gaze over Elric.
Elric, trembling under Audrey's gaze, swallowed hard.
He understood the gravity of his insubordination, but couldn't help but feel a surge of determination mingling with his fear.
The once serene atmosphere began to crackle with a growing heat, as if the very air was ignited by Audrey's magic.
Seconds pass, and the heat was already enough to completely evaporate the Empress' drink, steam billowing from the now-empty glass.
Feeling as though his blood had begun to boil, despite the numerous temperature-regulating enchantments of his armour, Elric finally relented.
"...I will depart immediately."
Elric saluted, his figure disappearing.
Returning her gaze to the capital, Audrey sighed lightly.
"Adam..."
----------
Walking down one of the many crowded streets of the capital, my eyes continuously shifted from one sight to another.
The main reason for that was the large number of demi-humans that were roaming about.
Of course, I already knew about the existence of demi-humans, but I'd never seen them up close before.
Demi-humans referred to the various races of humanoid creatures that exhibited numerous human traits.
This was different from demons, humanoids who simply had the trait of being highly intelligent, with all other aspects of their race being too different to categorize them as human-like.
Looking up to Cephi, I asked why the Imperial Palace did not employ demi-humans.
"They do, in fact, most of the palace's personnel have demi-human blood in them, however, inter-species relationships have been commonplace in Aegis since its inception."
"In such an environment, it was found that if a human male and demi-human female copulate, the child born from them would appear to have more human characteristics, and vice versa."
"Over the years, those children began intermingling and having children, and thus their demi-human characteristics continued to dilute."
I simply nod to Cephi's words.
"Of course, this doesn't happen 100% of the time, and even though they may look indistinguishable from normal humans, children born of demi-human blood will still display non-visible demihuman characteristics, like being more physically able than pure-bred humans." Cephi continued.
So basically, those employed by the Imperial Palace are the descendants of demi-humans?
"What about those with prominent demi-human characteristics?" I asked.
"Most of them here in the capital are foreigners, well, tourists more like, from places all over the empire, and outside of it."
I see, it makes sense.
As we walked, Cephi suddenly stopped walking.
"Alright, do you have the mask Audrey gave you? Put it on."
Nodding, I equipped the featureless white mask.
There were no openings for vision or breathing, yet once Adam wore it, he did not feel awkward wearing it, as though he was not wearing a mask at all, and his vision was entirely unimpeded.
"Good, we've arrived at our first waypoint.", Cephi said, tilting their head towards to the building in front of them.