After a refreshing soak in the pond, Datura reached for the robe left by the cunning woman on the floor. It was a white robe, similar to hers, but larger, as if tailored for a man. He smirked, suspecting it was likely a hand-me-down from her clients. Slipping into the robe, he carried his sword to the temporary chambers.
The peculiar interior still unnerved him-the sliding door, seemingly crafted from delicate paper, and the bamboo mat covering the floor. A small table adorned with cushions held a teapot and a pair of unique ceramic tea glasses. The aroma of chicken stew, brimming with vegetables, wafted from the same table. His hunger hit him like a storm.
"Ydric," Lucas addressed the unseen presence, "you don't mind if I eat in front of you, do you?" He settled onto the cushioned floor, placing his sword beside him. Oddly, sitting there didn't make him feel like a peasant. Despite the minimalist aesthetics, the house exuded grandeur and meticulous tidiness. He could discern the wealth amassed from her courtesan business.
"You're more cruel than I thought," Ydric retorted.
Lucas chuckled, savoring the stew. From nowhere, he conjured petals, infusing them into the tea. The heat didn't faze him."Have you thought about it? "Ydric said. "As for that vicious woman," he replied, "I haven't ruled out seeking her help."
" I'll say it again, she bears many secrets, you don't know what she's done. " Lucas's mind churned, grappling with the enigma of the cunning woman. "I know she's hiding something," he mused aloud, addressing the sentient sword. "But I can't quite put my finger on it."
Ydric's spectral voice echoed, tinged with skepticism. "You've witnessed her magic. You're no fool, Lucas. You know power when you see it."
"Precisely," Lucas agreed. "But that's what makes her dangerous. What did she sacrifice to wield such might? Perhaps she defied even the gods themselves, perhaps she's a divine creature? " Ydric's ancient wisdom resonated. "Divine creatures have either retreated into hiding or faced extermination. Remember the greedy emperor from a thousand years ago?"
Lucas nodded unconsciously and furrowed his brow. "And what of the drake?" he pressed."Guardians," Ydric intoned. "They endure, bound by duty to protect something." A wry smile tugged at Lucas's lips. "Then perhaps she's a spawn of the underworld," he chuckled, savoring the intrigue. The woman's secrets were woven into the very fabric of this peculiar realm, and Lucas hungered to unravel them.
As dawn tiptoed through the white paper of the sliding door, it brought with it a symphony-the cheerful trill of birds. The fragrance of freshly brewed tea stirred Datura Lucas from his slumber, a cocoon of dreams and memories. His spine protested against the unyielding sleeping mat, a stark contrast to the plush beds he once knew. This day marked the genesis of his quest, a plan to unravel the tangled skein of his existence-threads of betrayal, death of both his parents, the unexpected companionship of a talking sword, an unseen power, and the enigmatic woman, Sera.
Pushing the sliding door open, he stepped into the dining room.
There, leaning gracefully on her side, was Sera. Her skin, still supple, peeked through the folds of a red robe adorned with intricate patterns. Before her rested a low wooden table, bearing two bowls of rice topped with thinly sliced pork. A small dish of brown sauce sat on the side, its aroma reminiscent of cinnamon and exotic spices. Intriguingly, a pair of chopsticks lay beside the bowls.
"The king finally woke up," Sera teased, her eyes dancing with amusement.
Lucas settled onto one of the cushions, his hunger overriding any morning grogginess. He deftly wielded the chopsticks, surprising Sera. After all, he had always been a royal, indifferent to the customs and traditions of other kingdoms. Yet here he was, embracing the unfamiliar with each delicate bite.
They sat in silence, their breakfast consumed without banter. Sera rose, deftly gathering both bowls and chopsticks. She stepped outside, heading toward the deep well.Lucas followed, drawn by curiosity. He watched as Sera rinsed the bowls, her movements graceful. "I'm heading to the courtesan house again," she announced.
"I'll come," Lucas replied, intrigued by the enigma that surrounded her.
Sera's playful tone emerged. "Jealous? You can always have me if you just say-"
His retort was swift, laced with indifference. "I'll be exploring the area. Don't get ahead of yourself." With that, he turned away, retrieving his sword.
"Suits you, Datura," Sera murmured, disappearing into her room. Minutes later, she emerged, her hair tied back. Wisps framed her face, and charcoal extended her eye lines, accentuating her yellow orbs and foxy gaze. Her lips, the color of cherry red, exuded allure-the epitome of sultry seduction.
Datura observed her beauty, unfazed yet cynical. He couldn't help but think of where she squandered it.
"I suggest you hide your face, Datura," Sera warned, her voice teasing. "Or else you'll find yourself sold to a brothel."
His reply was defiant. "I can fend for myself."
"Your choice, then." Sera shrugged, tossing him a straw hat and a cloth.
In the recesses of his mind, Ydric's ancient wisdom echoed. "Make no enemies yet, King of Adri. You're not yet prepared for battle." Lucas sighed, donning the veil and straw hat.
In the southwestern corner of Valadri, a bustling city thrived-a hub of seaport traders. The narrow streets teemed with vendors and their colorful stalls, each laden with exotic treasures. Some peddled beast antlers, while others hawked more mysterious wares. A suspicious man caught Lucas's eye; his sack brimmed with mermaid scales, glimmering like forgotten wishes.
Further along, the market unveiled the kraken's bounty: its meat and ink. Whispers claimed that writing a wish with kraken ink would make it come true. The air hummed with anticipation, as if secrets danced on the breeze.
Beyond the vendor-lined streets lay the Sanguine District of Valadri-a realm where fantasies and pleasure intertwined. The transition was palpable: the chaotic market gave way to serene, zen-like buildings. Red lanterns adorned the thoroughfare, casting a warm glow. Women, clad in robes of myriad hues, graced the streets. Their faces bore delicate makeup, accentuating their allure.
And there it stood-the grandest, most unique courtesan house: Seraphine's Ember Veils. Its exterior exuded opulence, the vast paper doors beckoning a multitude of men seeking pleasure.
As Sera stepped inside, the women lining the entrance bowed their heads in deference. Male servants escorted her, presenting a trove of papers and documents. Numbers and sales tallies, letters of request, and reservations-all whispered secrets that only she held.
Datura Lucas, his face concealed beneath the brim of a straw hat, wore a white robe adorned with delicate blue accents. His sword hung at his left side, its blade swathed in makeshift cloth. As he scrutinized the elegant facade of the courtesan house, a snort escaped him. What a deceptive front for the viscous affairs that unfolded within, he mused.
Turning away, Lucas returned to the bustling traders. The products on display intrigued him, and the people-clad in similar robes-possessed unique features he rarely encountered back in Adri. His gaze shifted to the newly docked ship at the port. Men unloaded crates filled with mermaid scales and tails. Yet, it was the clear rectangular box that captured his attention.
Within lay a creature of wonder: a half-fish, half-human— a mermaid. Her skin, pale and muted gray, contrasted with the color of salmon flesh in her hair. Her tail, the lightest shade of blue, twitched nervously. Fear and wariness danced in her eyes as she surveyed her unfamiliar surroundings. Travelers gathered, already bartering for this extraordinary being. In this bustling city, secrets swirled like the sea, and Lucas sensed that Sera still held more mysteries than the mermaid itself.
Amidst the tattered whispers of the marketplace, the ragged man's words hung like gossamer threads-fragile yet laden with secrets. "Mermaids," he murmured, "said to bring fortune and fertility."
Datura Lucas, once a prince and king, now a wanderer, felt the weight of curiosity settle upon him. The mermaid-a creature of divine and mystery-beckoned. Regret gnawed at him, for he had squandered riches and dismissed treasures in his heedless youth. Now, the allure of the unknown tugged at his soul.
He resolved to seek the mermaid, to barter for her blessings. Gold, perhaps, or whispered secrets. But as he retraced his steps toward the dreaded courtesan house, he wondered: What price would he pay for fortune?
Sera, the cunning woman who wove her web around him, held answers. She, too, was a mystery-an enigma wrapped in silks and shadows. Datura's path led him past pew stalls, where a modest sign proclaimed "Information." Within, maps sprawled like forgotten dreams. Each parchment whispered tales of distant lands, trends, and delicacies.
But it was the map of Adri that seized his breath. Pinned scrolls revealed an article that struck him like a blade: his green glass garden, tended by the late queen, harbored secrets and deadly plants. Witch blood was said to flowed through her veins, and her potions brewed from poisonous blooms. Yet the lie cut deeper-the late king, too, frequented that forbidden sanctuary.
Datura's wrath surged, a tempest of betrayal and blood-soaked history. The tangled threads of his lineage bore the weight of deceit, woven by hands that sought to drown truth in ink and shadows.
Daemon, the usurper, wielded treachery like a blade. His brother's lifeblood stained the throne he coveted-the crown snatched from fraternal bones. The court whispered of murder most foul, and the people, blind to the puppeteer's strings, mourned a prince lost.
And then there was Daemizio, the serpent in Datura's garden. Trust shattered, bonds severed, and the blade of betrayal plunged deep. The venom of false loyalty coursed through veins, until the final act-a blade unsheathed, a heart silenced.
Datura Lucas, once a prince, now a wanderer, vowed retribution. The lies would crumble, the truth rise like a phoenix from ashes. His family's legacy, tarnished but unbroken, would reclaim its honor. The path ahead was treacherous, but the fire in his eyes burned brighter than any crown.
Sera, the enigma veiled in silks and secrets, wielded her allure like a blade. Her eyes-dark pools of mischief-held her client captive, ensnaring him in a dance of chance and desire. The games of generals unfolded, but it was not the cards that held his attention. No, it was the luscious curve of her chest, daring to burst forth from the confines of her robe.
"You claimed victory, my dear," Sera purred, her voice a velvet whisper. "1500 gold-a fortune lost to your cunning." Her gaze met his, and he felt the pull of a thousand tides. Was it the cards or the sorcery of her skin that left him spellbound?
His cheeks flushed crimson, a smile etching across his face like a sunrise. "I-I can't help it," he stammered. "You are certainly too distracting."
Sera's eyes rolled, a silent rebuke. "Diligence, my dear captain," she teased. "Playing diligently is not the same as playing wisely. Your good hand remains elusive."
He coughed, flustered, and the room seemed to shrink around them. The ship captain, once a master of cargo and currents, now navigated treacherous waters of a different kind. He had sailed to Valadri, not for trade or adventure, but for a glimpse of the legendary Courtesan. Sailors whispered that she was more than mortal-a siren, a nymph, a goddess in disguise.
And so, across the table, Sera leaned closer, her laughter a siren's song. The map of her skin held uncharted continents, and he longed to explore every inch. The mermaid's scales, the nymph's laughter, the goddess's grace-all swirling into one bewitching hypnosis.
He was not bad himself, for he finds a flock of women on the port whenever they see his familiar ship on the dock. But men like someone that can't be theirs, and the proof was him.
The ship captain-had been ensnared by Sera's beauty, just as sailors were drawn to sirens on moonless nights. But their shared moment fractured when a stranger stormed in-a man cloaked in white and blue, face hidden beneath a straw hat. His pain etched lines on his features, and his presence radiated danger. "Get out,"
The captain's anger erupted. "Where are the guards? How dare you interrupt our room?"
Datura, a mess of fury and confusion, snapped. "Get out," His hand met the Captain's cheek-a resounding slap that echoed through the room. "Defy my orders again, and your carcass will feed the whales."
Sera, ever the enigma, chuckled. Her servant ushered the disgruntled client away, leaving Datura disoriented. His face obscured, he trembled with rage. But then, like a storm surge, he pushed Sera onto the bamboo mat. His body pinned hers, hands caging her head. The air thickened, charged with unspoken words.
"Sera," he implored, voice raw. "Help me."
Her eyes held galaxies-secrets and promises. Datura's resolve wavered. "I'll reward you," he vowed, "with the world's fortune. Jewels, treasures-all yours." His gaze bore into hers, a pact forged in desperation. "Even my body," he confessed, heat flushing his ears.