"Oh, Milady, it appears you've come the wrong way," the green lizard woman said as a long tongue stretched out her mouth and licked his wide eyeballs.
"Ha-have I?" Rori bursted out a fake laugh as her bone chilled, trying to avoid turning to the invisible man who had stilled beside her.
"The central palace is east of this. Come right this way, I'll lead you there." The lizard woman said without blinking as she licked her eyeballs again.
Rori breathed out in relief, thankful that the lizard woman had not noticed Zanister.
"Oh, alright. Lead the way," Rori answered trying to force a smile, which ended up coming out awkward.
The lizard-woman merely turned around not saying a word and began walking away. Rori took that as a sign to follow her.
The two followed the woman outside the kitchen castle and into the garden side. The walk was silent until they reached a tall white wall. It had no sign of a gate to get to the other side.
Was this a trap? Rori questioned in her head.
Then she saw the other people present getting through to the other side by simply pushing their bodies into the surface of the wall.
She began worrying whether or not she could imitate something like that. After all, she was no High Qira that could perform such a feat.
The lizard lady pointed to the wall with a clawed finger. "Go straight ahead, you will see the other ladies moving in a straight path."
"Tha-thank you," Rori responded with a smile.
"Goodluck. If you're lucky, we will meet again. Do not forget my favor today, alright?" She said.
"I won't."
The lizard lady smiled as she waved before turning her face away to walk back in the direction of the kitchen castle.
Roriana waved her goodbye until the lizard lady was far.
"This is were we part, I'm afraid," Zanister said, breaking the silence.
"Now?"
"After that wall is the inner palace. I won't make it passed there."
"And you think I will. I am a low Qira as well."
"The inner palace has never been open to anyone that isn't apart of the High Court. I doubt all those people are from the High court." Zanister pointed.
"Doubt? That's a gamble!"
"Pardon me then. I am sure not all of these people are from the High court. The protective-curses have been suppressed tonight for a reason. And it seems to be favourable towards women. See," Zanister said, causing Rori to gaze towards a group of people walking to the Wall. Upon reaching there, the men of the group stopped as if avoiding the smooth wall like a plaque, while the pretty glittering ladies walked right through it and disappeared into the other side.
"You understand what I'm saying now?"
"F-fine," Rori sighed. "It is not like I have any choice."
"There we go." A light pat on the back urged her to start moving forward.
Quietly she began inching closer to the Wall. A strange feeling told her to look back at Zanister one more time, but she fought it as it would seem too suspicious. Thankfully Nobody payed much attention to either of them as everyone was busy doing their own thing.
As she approached the crowd of goddess-like women who appeared sophisticated and focused, Rori resisted the urge to shrink and run away. However the weight of everyone depending on her pushed her forward.
Rori felt like the ugly duckling being surrounded by so many beauties. The women were all gorgeous. Some strolled with a man at their side, a bit older looking. Qiras aged very slowly so it was hard to tell if these men were their fathers of partners. But, the men stopped by the Wall and took off their head scarfs and headpiece before going through another path. While the women passed through the unguarded wall on the own.
It soon became Roriana's turn to pass through the Wall. She took a deep breath.
"Here goes," she whispered to herself
Her eyes shut as she walked straight to the wall, not stopping. Her forehead was already sweating thinking that her body may just end up bumping against the surface.
To her surprise, her body slid through the thick walls as if she were passing through soothing warm water. It felt nice on the skin, relaxing even.