After Aeric proposed the race, Rosette and Misty exchanged quiet glances. Misty didn't know what to say while Rosette, who was still peeved, appeared completely uninterested. She signaled her Owlbear onward and the beast obeyed.
Misty nervously avoided eye contact with Aeric as she also signaled her Horsesparrow forward. The two sisters took off, leaving Aeric behind. But he was not at all disheartened or anything like that. He smirked, eyes gleaming with amusement at his sisters' apparent dislike for him.
"No one's interested? No?" he muttered sarcastically. "Fine. I'll race them anyway."
Aeric adjusted his cape and leaned forward, patting Sylver's sleek neck, feeling the raw power coiled beneath the wolf's silver fur. "You hear that, Sylver? What do you think about a race?"
The beast barked softly, showing his excitement.
"Alright, now." Aeric smiled, bracing himself. "Take me to the Royal Institution!"
Sylver understood exactly what to do. The Silverwolf's muscles tensed, and with a quick burst of silver motion, he shot forward. When he ran, his paws barely touched the ground, they seemed to be hovering just above before he suddenly warped through space, as though the fabric of reality itself bent to the creature's will.
"Whooooooohhh!!!" Aeric exclaimed as a breeze brushed past his face.
The wind roared in his ears and Sylver leapt into the sky. The moment the beast's legs flew up, the ground vanished beneath them and they hung in the air for a while, weightless, before a shimmering silver road appeared beneath the wolf's paws.
"Woah, that's cool," Aeric thought out loud.
This magical pathway, ethereal and glowing, wound its way through the clouds, sparkling like stardust under the midday sun. Aeric held tight as Sylver sprinted across the road, his paws leaving trails of silver light with each rapid step.
Looking down, he saw his sisters flying on their beasts in the air, but he was higher than them.
"Hey, sisters!" he called tauntingly. Rosette and Misty lifted their heads to see him smiling widely and mockingly at them. An angry frown was on Rosette's face as she watched him ride past them, Sylver's magical road disappearing after him.
Aeric rode above the entire Starlight Region, crossing the boundary and moved to the center region where if one crossed the next boundary, they would see the Elysium Plains.
The Royal Institution was built in the Realm Core, as it was called. The Realm Core was the very center of the realm where the most magic was possible. The Elysium Plains shared a bit of the Realm Core, which was why it was the most magical of all regions.
Higher and faster, Aeric and Sylver raced, the air thinning as they climbed. He glanced ahead, and through the clearing clouds, he could already make out the towering spires of the Royal Institution of Divinity.
'Wow,' Aeric thought. 'It's beautiful.'
Even from this distance, the place radiated power and grandeur. It stood tall and magnificent, the structures it possessed cut through the sky like a spear. Birds were flying above its spires and the flags of all the Regions were dancing in the wind.
Unlike the rugged, ancient castles of other lands, this building was elegant—almost too perfect to be real. It was carved from gold stone, with particular designs woven into the depth of the walls.
It was made of gold and silver, two colors that perfectly contrasted with each other. The domes crowned the spires, reflecting gold and catching the sunlight, and the towers seemed to float, suspended by some unseen magic.
As he rose closer and closer, he could now make out the sacred sigils of the Regions of Erothyria inscribed on the flowing banners of different colors draped down the sides and on the flags.
From their elevated vantage point, Aeric could also see the vast grounds stretching out below, filled with lush gardens, sparkling fountains, and winding pathways.
This place was even more beautiful than the Castle of Starlight. And who the hell has that fat ass!!!
Aeric squinted his crimson eyes and he could now make out the shapes of other Daughters of Eros — curvy, voluptuous shapes.
They were all arriving on their own magnificent beasts. Griffins with wings of fire, Nightmonkeys with manes of flame, and creatures Aeric couldn't recognize talking more of name flew and galloped toward the Institution, their riders sitting tall and proud.
Aeric got more excited and he urged Sylver to descend faster and closer to the ground. As the obedient beast did so, he noticed some of the Daughters turn around and look up. Some of their eyes widened in surprise and others were frowning from jaw to jaw.
The silver road cast a shadow upon all of them, and his entrance caught their attention. And why wouldn't it? He was, after all, the only boy. The only Son of Eros.
Sylver ran down the silver road with effortless grace, and soon the glowing pathway descended, curving down toward the grand courtyard of the Institution.
As they neared the ground, Aeric straightened, letting the wind whip through his dark hair. His Silverwolf touched down lightly, and then howled proudly, a howl that echoed through the morning and caused birds to flutter away.
The sun shone on the prince. His regal clothing, his dark hair, his fair skin, masculine structure and then his powerful beast. All around them, Daughters turned their heads, and the courtyard, filled with the hum of conversation and activity, quieted.
Aeric of Starlight knew how to make an entrance!
The prince sat atop Sylver, perfectly calm with a chad expression on his face, surveying the crowd of girls gathered around. As they glared at him, the Daughters of Eros whispered amongst themselves, their voices like a rising tide of curiosity and gossip.
"So that's him?" one with orange hair whispered, her gaze fixed on Aeric.
"An actual boy in the Institution?"
"Look at him… with the Silverwolf. That's one of the rarest Beasts in existence!"
"Rarest? It's a Four Star Legendary! I can't believe Mother Guinevere allowed him to have such a creature."
Aeric's eyes flicked across the sea of faces, listening to what they were saying, noting the mix of expressions, but still appearing calm and nonchalant . Some of the girls seemed taken aback, while others glared with thinly veiled distaste.
The fact that he rode the rare Silverwolf only fueled their intrigue. He smiled slightly, his expression one of bemused arrogance.
'That's just what they're saying,' he thought pridefully. 'Now, let me see what they really think.'
He activated his [Insight] skill and began to look at all the Daughters, each one his gaze landed upon, he would read their thoughts briefly.
His eyes first found Melina of Moonlight, the last daughter of Mother Selene, who had a white hair similar to her mother and although she was slimmer, her large round breasts were certainly reminiscent of her mother's.
'He's just a boy,' the girl said in her thoughts. 'I will treat him the same way as I treat my sisters. Though I must be careful, he is from Starlight.'
'Hmm,' Aeric thought. 'She seems very patriotic.'
He looked at Elara and Celestia of Dawn who were a few years older than him.
'He is quite handsome. I've never seen a boy so... magical.'
That made Aeric smile. 'Well thank you, Celestia.'
'Oh now I see why Mother was so curious about this boy. I've never seen someone so charming.'
'Wow. The Dawn Daughters are actually nice, eh? And what is this about their Mother taking an interest in me? Perhaps I'll pay Mother Aurora a visit. I've heard plenty of things about her bountiful... blessings.'
"Why are you all outside here staring at the abomination?!" a sharp, female voice suddenly announced itself.
The girls all gasped as they turned around to the large front door where Aryanne of Moonlight was standing. The girls had gasped because they had all been warned not to call Aeric that.
Aeric lifted his brow at the Daughter. She was tall, at least at 5'10 with a slender body and very round hips. She had dark long hair, designed in bangs, dark eyes and small but full lips. Her breasts swelled out of the black and blue gown she wore as she folded her arms beneath them, and on her face, was a crude, irritated expression.
"What?!" she looked at the other Daughters. "Are you all afraid to call him what he is? He's an abomination and we should not give him any more attention than he deserves. Now come with me and leave this garbage outside where he belongs."
She spun around and her small but swollen ass bounced through her gown, then she walked deeper into the Institution. The other Daughters followed after, including Rosette and Misty who had just arrived.
When they all left Aeric outside on the courtyard, he remained still and silent, still bamboozled at what had just happened.
"Who the hell was that?" he thought out loud.
However, the Depravity System replied;
[Player Profile: Aryanne of Moonlight]
[Title: Second Daughter of Selene]
[Region: Moonlight]
[Class: Enchantress]
[Level: Master]
[Rank: Platinum]
A cunning smile stretched on Aeric's lips. 'So she's Mother's Selene daughter, huh? The Moonlight family keeps catching my interest, don't they?'