We are at Fiore the only port actually calling it a port would be a disservice to actual ones out there, a jetty would be more appropriate. Accompanying me is the princess, Kayla as her travelling attendant and Hubert whom to this day I can't figure out why he sticks around or whether he's aware of his work in the council.
Just as I've been contemplating over my visit to the city oasis cities , a giant of a man or rather a beast stood before me.
"Why are you here Otto?."
I expected it to be just us on this ship but it doesn't appear to be that way companion preference aside I jock my head to the side and notice Sara following behind accompanying her was Ruen i presume a tiger beastkin.
"Ahaha, why so cold dragonkin. I'm not following you if thats what ye have in mind, your Princess invited us along besides our boat capsized."
"You did Reifa? Wait what do you mean by Capsized?."
"Ruen and Otto were sparring intensely, the ship couldn't handle the stress and capsized with us onboard." Reifa gave a quick summary with an exaggerated sigh, glancing over i at Sara i notice her facepalm at the absurdity of her colleagues.
I give her a sympathizing nod before turning to Kayla and Hubert
"First of all let me say as usual you're look stunning Ms.Kayla, though i have to remind its a few days trip from Fiore to R'ual city oasis. Are you sure you can handle it?."
"I'm well aware its nothing like a horse ride, besides I'm here as the Princess attendee and I'd fulfil my duty regardless."
"You hear her Reifa , sure makes me wish I got someone as cute as her to look after me."
Reifa glared daggers at me just as she elbowed my gut. I heard of the saying "if looks could kill" hers however could do worse.
"Oooof."
"U-umm Mr. Zephyr a-are you ok."
"I-I'm good, don't you worry about me."
"You've ought to keep your mouth shut Zephyr."
We shall be departing soon your highness." Flin addressed Reifa without ever looking my way.
"Let us depart Kayla, oh and someone carry that fool onto the deck."
"All onboard the ship!!."
the whole gang walk past me, except my heroine/idol i mean Sara the dual blade mistress hovering above me extending a helping hand.
"*bluuurgh* , i can't take it anymore!." I yell out in defiance
"Wait don't do it when i'm right next to you!."
"Bluuuuuurgh, t-too late heh."
"Of all people I had to share a room with you."
"It was either me or those warriors from the oasis."
"Not that your company is any better."
"Haha, you flatter me hubert. If I weren't nauseous i'd have tested how far my fist go up your ***."
"*sigh* what do you think the Princess and Kayla are upto, the fairly maidens are surely gossiping whilst sipping tea and discussing maidenly issues!!."
"I'd expect it from those two but Sara shares a room with them so I'd rule out the maidenly things."
-meanwhile-
"Its been 5 years hasn't it Sara."
"Indeed it has, my father would be delighted to see you again Reifa."
"He had not the single clue of who I was at that time you brought me into your house, how is he doing by the way?."
"He's doing great and he asked me to invite you over dinner once we're done with the meeting."
"Do you still live down the bazaar ?."
"No we moved, as to where i'll leave that as a surprise."
Sara winked playfully as she answed Reifa's question.
"Sara , enough with the teasing."
"Enough about us for now, I'm sorry to have left you out Kayla, is this your first time out of Oraia?."
"Yes Princess, as a minor noble household we never get the opportunity to travel outside often. this is my first time going abroad I'm afraid that I'd make some foolish mistake around foreign royalty."
"Don't worry Kayla , our Sultan isn't your typical ruler don't concern yourself with etiquette and the like."
"To reiterate, we are just to discuss border clashes and demarcation of the Southern line with force if need be."
"Its a tough path ahead Reifa." Sara adds
"Princess , are you sure I worry for Mr. Zephyr safety." said Kayla looking unsure
"I believe that Zephyr will triumph no matter who stands in his way."
"Y-you're right he's too stubborn for his own good." Said Kayla fondly
"And the reason behind your confidence stems from?."
"He's our hero." Said the girls in unison
It was a week long journey from fiore Harbor to R'ual the capital oasis port , our ship had just docked and we boarded off, rather I was the first to be off kissing the floor in gratitude and vowing to never set sail again unless it was urgent.
"Zephyr behave yourself!!."
The others have followed Reifa accompanied by Sara, Kayla and Hubert , the latter hissed at my awkward display of gratitude. Too exhausted to even feel somewhat embarrassed i laid my all fours on the floor and kept the exaggerated gestures.
"Your majesty?."
Suddenly we hear a voice calling ahead of our position, its a beastman or rather a halfman in the shape of a mouse.
"You must be the welcoming envoy." Said Reifa donning a regal mask
"You may follow me madam, his lordship awaits."
With our luggage taken care of , the envoy escorts our party to a caravan of carriages one stood out being entirely in gold. I'd assume that is meant for Reifa , Kayla and Sara behind it another carriage stood looking quite unremarkable compared to the former.
We split ourselves into two groups as we hopped on our respective carriages, the distance between the city of R'ual and the harbor wasn't long as we're shortly greeted by an expanse of tall two to three stories buildings the oasis city was quite remarkable wealth emanating from the expanse of bazaars and the resident vendors vying to grab customers with their exotic wares.
"What do ya think of our capital oasis Zephyr?."
"Its sophisticated , hard to believe boneheads like you made those structures."
"Our economy stems from the strength of character whether in trade or battlefield we yield not to anyone." Adds Ruen in a defiant tone
Something tells me I hurt his feelings, a rare occurrence from the looks of it.
"Ahaha, don't get offended Ruen. The boy meant no harm, there's plenty of ways to end this the arena being my favored choice." Otto's mana oozed in that tight space as he eyes me up.
Such a battle junkie, though I won't deny that I'm dying to settle the score as well.
"Consider our feelings mutual." I say returning a gaze of my own
As we sized up each other the carriage ahead of us that being Reifa's suddenly stopped looking out the window we saw a commotion outside guards surrounding a building in the middle of the market along with curious passerbys dying to find out what had just happened.
Sara dashed out her party's carriage and rushed towards the buildings the guards saluting her on the path right until she disappeared from our sight.
-Sara's Perspective-
"This can't be!."
What greeted Sara was a heinous sight , bodies tilted in unnatural alignments, intestines spilled out some, limbs strewn accross the floor and what appears to be an impaled body belonging to ....
"I'm sorry Sword mistress , the victim was indeed Joseph Albaraia your father."
The Captain of the investigative unit a human male confirmed her suspicions , shock prevailed over her emotions she couldn't believe that the impaled corpse looking at her with vacant eyes once belonged to the man that had once raised her.
"Leave me be at once."
She ordered leaving little to no room for retort. The captain saluted his mistress leaving the room along with his assigned unit.
Sara moved towards her father's corpse touching it gently removing the sword that was used to pin his body against the wall.
She took the sword in her hand memorizing its owner's scent , a feline sense of smell is said to be magnitudes better than that of humans from the odor she'd deduce that her father's killer has to be a dragonkin and as for which one specifically she'd have to be in their vicinity to detect the resemblance.
And once they meet she vowed to take vengeance even if its the last thing they'd do.
"Sara are ok?."
Reifa's voice echoed from the door, her tone suggested worry. Sara clicked her tongue inwardly for having failed to perceive her presence.
She looks down a moment out of embarrassment and noticed a photograph of her along with Reifa except that her face had been cut from the photo. Taking into account the circumstances and scarcely believing in coincidences she tucks the photo into her pouch before answering Reifa with a reassuringly fake smile.
"I'm fine. Lets hurry to his lordship."
To be continued