Royalty(II)
It was only now that he soared through the skies, upon the back of this gigantic Phoenix of fire, that Amon could understand the dangers of the forest he'd spawned in.
A myriad of avian beasts of all types flooded the skies, their auras so powerful that they left his skull numb as they circled a gigantic tree teeming with exotic humanoid monsters.
The sky was a maelstrom of wings and talons, each creature more menacing than the last, casting eerie shadows over the land below.
The ground was a hellscape, infested by ferocious beasts of every kind. The stench of blood and death permeated the air, a sickly miasma that clung to everything.
Just gazing upon the scene sent waves of nausea through Amon, making him grateful that he had been taken by these two vassals of the third prince, for to be on the ground would mean certain death.
The sounds of snarls and growls echoed through the valley, a cacophony of horror that seemed to come from the very bowels of the earth itself.
Every inch of the terrain was a battlefield, slick with gore and littered with the remnants of countless battles. Amon could hardly believe he was still alive, and yet, here he was, caught in a nightmare made real.
Noticing Amon's awe and terror, Abel didn't say much, chuckling as they soared past the violent blood-stained forests of Tenema, a place known as God's Grave.
"My name's Sarah. What's yours?" asked the red-haired woman, squatting down to meet Amon eye to eye.
Startled out of his daze, Amon looked at the woman with a peculiar gaze. Seeing her face so relaxed and her tone so seemingly friendly left him feeling strange.
This was a stark contrast from what she'd shown so far. After all, she hadn't even tried to be diplomatic when she encountered him, directly opting for violence and intimidation.
"My name's Amon. So, what's the name of this count-...place?"
Seeing their attire, he wasn't sure if they were familiar with the concept of countries, and not wanting to give away his origins, he opted for the broader term.
Who knows if the wider world had a vendetta against humans, and by using the word 'country,' he'd be involuntarily outing himself?
The thought was stupid, ridiculous even, but Amon preferred to play it safe. For some reason, he felt on edge.
"Did you forget?" she asked, her gaze full of confusion. "We were sent here by the Third Prince of Kandria meaning…?"
Amon rubbed his forehead, both in annoyance and embarrassment. He was just trying to make small talk.
"…that we're in Kandria. Yeah, alright. I get it."
"Good boy!"
Abel laughed as Sarah chuckled, amused by Amon's embarrassed expression.
'Mordred, you should've reminded me…'
[….]
***
Soon, though, the atmosphere changed.
After soaring by forests, deserts, oceans, and cities, they arrived at their destination.
There, amidst a desolate wasteland, it stood—a beacon of opulence and grandeur in a sea of desolation.
Suspended in the air, the grand palace seemed to defy the very laws of nature.
Its towering pillars of pristine white and gleaming silver marble supported expansive archways, each passageway a testament to architectural mastery.
The floors shimmered with the luster of pure gold, reflecting the brilliance of the palace and casting a radiant glow that contrasted starkly with the barren land below.
Every detail of the structure exuded luxury and wealth, from the intricately carved cornices to the delicate inlays of precious gems that adorned the walls.
This floating citadel was not just a palace; it was a symbol of unrestrained power and divine splendor, a sanctuary of magnificence that seemed almost otherworldly in its perfection.
Suddenly, from its wide and majestic doors of ancient wood, carved with depictions of dragons and royal calvaires, a young man walked out.
The instant his figure graced the world, Sarah and Abel got to their knees, upon the Phoenix, their heads bowed low as they began to mindlessly murmur chants and hymns of reverence.
Amon felt his mind go haywire, countless voices invading it as from the very core of his soul, he felt the innate desire—no, the innate need to praise and revere the man that'd just walked out.
"Oh my, look at what we have here."
With long dirty blonde hair swaying with the winds, swirling pupils of gold and crimson that reflected a field of endless stars and healthy white skin that tightly hugged a toned and tempered physique, the man seemed straight out of a dream.
Around his body, a mantle of golden energy could be seen as with a single step of his, he vanished, reappearing on the Phoenix of fire, mere inches away from Amon.
Prince Kuwan looked at Amon with a slight smile tugging at his lips, uncaring for the latter's distorted face.
It was a miracle in and of itself that Amon hadn't immediately gone mad upon seeing him.
"I suppose my senses were right, you truly will be useful."
Even amidst the raging storm that occurred within his mind, Amon still had enough clarity to understand these words as a sense of foreboding consumed his being.
Prince Kuwan laughed, waving a hand as a gust of powerful golden energy enveloped Amon.
A portal appeared beside him and without care, he waved his hand once more, sending Amon flying into the portal as it soon closed.
The prince looked at his two vassals.
"Did anyone see you?" he asked, turning back to look into the distance.
Abel lightly trembled hearing these words, tears welling up in his eyes as he struggled to form a coherent thought.
"N..No! No one saw us, your lordship! I've made sure of it!"
Prince Kuwan nodded and began to caress his chin.
"So, you say his body was free of any aether when you originally found him but over the last few hours, he's begun to display signs of aether production?" he curiously asked.
Both Sarah and Abel nodded.
"That's even better. I'd prayed for an adaptable little rat but he grows as well. Fantastic."
Another portal appeared in front of him and with a step, he vanished into it.
"Good job."