With his arms stretched wide, Cliff let out a tired yawn as he stepped down from the platform prepared for his arrival. The journey had been exhausting, with so many creatures encountered along the way that there was little time to rest.
After thanking everyone for their warm welcome, they began dispersing, returning one by one to their posts. Taking this brief moment, Cliff allowed himself to be guided to the quarters they had prepared for him.
After walking for a few minutes, he stopped in front of a large wooden house, its design rather fanciful in Cliff's eyes. He knocked firmly on the door, which soon swung open.
"Welcome, my lord! I trust your journey was safe."
A beautiful woman in a long white tunic greeted him with a radiant smile. Her skin was fair and flawless, and her beauty was striking, but... she was very small.
Cliff, standing at six feet tall, had to lower his head to meet the gaze of the petite woman speaking to him.
He returned her smile and quickly stepped inside.
"My name is Taryl, and as a member of the dwarf clan, it is my honor to serve you, my lord!" she declared with a determined expression, immediately taking Cliff's coat and weapon, leaving him slightly baffled.
"Don't be confused, my lord," she reassured him, her calm blue eyes lingering on Cliff's well-built frame. "Your bath is already prepared."
Cliff nodded in response, though he felt uneasy about being treated this way. Despite having experienced similar treatment with the Ibara and elven clans, he had spent so much time with the Orleth that he still hadn't gotten used to it.
While his family's financial situation back home had been somewhat stable, it was never at a level that warranted being treated like a young master. This sudden shift—being treated almost like royalty—made him uncomfortable. Being called "master" at every turn was more than he could bear.
He had tried to grant permission to the clan chiefs and a few others to speak to him more informally, but they had formally refused, insisting that as their master, they could never do such a thing.
Taryl led him through a corridor, showing him the various rooms in case he needed anything, casually mentioning that she would be absent for a time.
"And this is your room, my lord," she said, reaching for the door handle.
As the door opened, Cliff was struck by the contrast in culture between these clans, even though they were only separated by short distances. "How did that happen?" he wondered. "Could it be the influence of the summoned ones?"
The room was quite luxurious—a large bed, a wooden wardrobe, and all the necessities to make it comfortable. Unlike his stay with the Orleth clan, where he was treated well but modestly, here he was served like a noble.
"I'll start with the bath," Cliff said. "And I'd like you to prepare something suitable for tonight's event."
"I understand, sire. Allow me to ask what you would prefer to wear for the occasion," she replied.
Cliff hesitated for a moment, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He averted his eyes slightly.
"I'll trust your judgment. I imagine a pretty woman like you would know how to dress me appropriately for a banquet, right?" he said, hastily making his way to the bath.
With quick steps, Cliff entered the pool of hot water. As he submerged his body, a larger wave spilled over the edge. The warmth against his skin felt soothing, like drifting into a restful sleep. The bath had a restorative effect, too—his small injuries from the journey began to heal.
He circulated his mana beneath his skin, feeling it settle gently. It was one of the things he had learned during his training—a brief but informative lesson.
Cliff sighed in relief, gazing up at the ceiling. The structure was unfamiliar to him, but he found himself oddly intrigued by how they had built it.
As he soaked in the bath, Cliff lost track of time. It was only when Taryl pointed it out that he realized how long he'd been there. Quickly, he got up and dressed in a fine black outfit with intricate embroidery.
When Taryl opened the door for him, a group of people was already waiting to escort him to the banquet.
"Why are they making such a big deal out of this?" Cliff muttered under his breath, grinding his teeth.
"Well, I'll just deal with it once we get to the banquet," he resolved, smiling as he followed them obediently.