The dragon then deftly positioned her tail, forming a ramp-like incline that extended, ready to serve as a launchpad for their imminent journey.
"I won't bite now hurry along, we don't have all night," thundered Mavislin, with her voice deepening several octaves.
The Viceroy looked on with evident admiration as he carefully climbed onto the dragon's back.
Meanwhile, the bunny sighed contentedly and approached Mavislin's snout, gently stroking her. The dragoness whimpered in pleasure, a sound that made Zenos liken the scene to a cowboy comforting a loyal steed.
With a nimble leap, the rabbit mounted the dragon's crown, gripping her horns for balance. At the same time, the Viceroy positioned himself lower down on her neck, marveling at the juxtaposition of softness and firmness in her scales.
With a powerful flap of her wings, Mavislin lifted off the ground, and the trio soared into the sky, ascending through the clouds.
Heliomald was closer than its counterpart but was still quite far south from Valokia. However, with the dragoness' help, they got to their destination in less than an hour.
As both passengers hopped down, Mavislin reverted to her usual form but her wings remained though slightly shrunk.
Solaris' Throne was like a pagoda. It loomed against the night sky, a towering silhouette of elegance and power. Its multi-tiered roofs, each layer slightly smaller than the one below, stacked like the rungs of a celestial ladder, reaching towards the moon.
The eaves curved upwards gracefully, adorned with delicate chimes that tinkled softly in the cool night breeze, like whispers of old secrets.
The structure was crafted from dark, polished wood, with accents of gold that glimmered faintly in the moonlight, giving the impression that the pagoda itself was woven from shadows and starlight.
Each tier was lined with ornate lanterns, their soft, warm glow flickering against the dark, casting intricate patterns on the stone path that wound its way up through manicured gardens of night-blooming flowers.
Solaris' insignia, a blazing sun with elongated rays, was etched into the wooden panels of the pagoda's entrance and shone dimly as if the very structure bore the entity's indomitable will.
"Don't you want to keep your wings?" quizzed the Viceroy, readying his scythe.
"I'm flying to the third floor from outside. I trust that the two of you are mature enough to handle things alone. We will meet on the highest floor to fight Solaris together," whispered Mavislin, getting ready to fly to the top.
"And how shall we infiltrate the pagoda? Even though there isn't much security, I don't think there's a nice little door for us to head in and end them all..." quizzed Zenos, noticing how the place lacked guards.
"There isn't any security because this place is no longer categorized as a normal town. Ever since Solaris took over, it has been overrun with monsters," replied Matt as he nodded toward Mavislin, indicating he was right to move without her.
"As for a way in, allow my girl to guide you through," mentioned Mavislin, allowing a strand of her hair to turn into a medium-sized snake.
The snake darted forward in an instant, coiling around the Viceroy's torso with an affectionate embrace. Zenos shuddered, clearly unsettled by the idea of attracting such creatures.
Mattheos, however, found the situation amusing. He clicked his tongue, calling the snake over. It complied, slithering up onto the rabbit's arm and facing him with curiosity.
Meanwhile, the dragoness smiled and ascended swiftly, vanishing into the third level of the pagoda.
"Well then, lead the way... Little snake..." ordered the Viceroy, wondering if each snake had a name.
"Her name is Virgo and she shall lead the way in now," said Matt, allowing the snake to go off to the back alley.
They followed Virgo in silence, who had ensured they took a path free of wandering monsters. Soon, the two men were guided to a small tunnel, reminiscent of a ventilation shaft, with an opening just a third of the Viceroy's size.
"I sense a problem here..." remarked Zenos, tilting his head to the side at the snake.
"Not one for me," said Mattheos, as he snapped his finger.
A flash of black and orange light illuminated the tunnel, turning the Fifth Seat into a small brown bunny with fiery ears. The Prince of Darkness nearly crushed the little creature underfoot but hesitated.
Mattheos twitched his nose in annoyance and hopped into the shaft, continuing his journey and leaving the Viceroy behind.
"So... I hope you have another way for me, Virgo..." said Zenos, glancing at the slithering creature with a displeased expression.
The snake, terrified for her life, darted towards a larger entrance that led directly to the second floor via a broad flight of stairs. The Viceroy sighed with relief; it was certainly preferable to navigating the tight tunnel.