10 The Harbour city Dawnkiln.

Lofty walls enclosed the harbour city in a tight embrace; the colossal runic patterns that crisscrossed around the surface of the fortifications resembled the bars that held a beast within. Sentry towers equipped with cannons slumbered atop the walls at regular intervals.

Moats were dug up outside the city, where water streamed in from the nearby sea. A large village was built up outside the walls, which followed along until it reached the end of the shore.

This was the harbour city of Dawnklin, the capital of Asnon, the third powerful subordinate nation of the Divine Lightning Empire.

"Is it okay for us to just go right in?" Selena said, looking at the towering gates leading into the city.

"Your father already knows we are here," Vincent said.

"Then!"

"It has already been a month. Well, if he is smart, then he would have already called off the search party," he said.

"Would my father really let us off just like that?" she asked in concern.

"He cannot afford to suffer any more losses, for now at least," he said. "Follow my lead."

They walked past the vigilant guards through the towering gates without a hitch after paying the usual entry fee in gold coins.

"Well, that was abrupt," Nathaniel led the wyvern by a chain and stood beside Vincent.

"You wanted a fight? We can always go back and cause a scene," Vincent said.

"We have enough problems at our hands," Nathaniel shrugged.

"Speaking of problems, then what about you? How long are you gonna wag your tail in front of Selena, hoping that she will sleep with you?" Vincent asked.

"I already gave up," Nathaniel replied.

"What? So you were actually aiming for that before then," Vincent laughed. "Selena! Look! He is finally revealing his true colours."

"I already knew that," Selena said nonchalantly. "But he is lying about the part that he already gave up on me. I have known him for long enough, hehe."

"Sorry for stealing her from you," Vincent patted Nathaniel's shoulder. "But you should thank me instead. I actually saved you from marrying a spiteful woman like her."

"I was never his woman!" Selena said. "Wait!.. what's wrong about marrying me!"

"I will never accept a sister in law like you!" Hertha chimed in from the side before getting her hair pulled by Celeste.

"You little…!" Hertha said as she spread Celeste's two little cheeks.

"Don't be rude to my daughter!" Selena pulled Celeste in her arms.

"Teach her some manners first!" Hertha glared.

Nathaniel stood between the two and said, " Hertha! Don't be disrespectful. She is still the princess!"

"I can't believe you! You just said you gave up on her!" Hertha said.

"Surrounded by buffoons," Vincent rubbed his forehead. "Nathaniel, go reserve a ship for us."

"Where to?" Nathaniel asked.

"The Arcane Empire," he replied.

"But that's our sworn enemy!" Nathaniel said.

"The empire's enemy, not mine," he reminded." Besides, it will be a lot harder for the empire to find us in the enemy territory."

"There has to be a safer option," Nathaniel suggested.

"Look around you. People are watching our every move," he said. "The Emperor would never let us leave unless he was forced to."

A man in rags watched them beside an alley. He took out a piece of crystal, whispered something unintelligible and blended right back in with the crowd.

"See? Just do as I say," he narrowed his eyes. "But then again, no one is forcing you to come with us."

"Understood," he reluctantly agreed and walked away with the Wyvern.

"Now then, Selena, how much did you steal from your Father's treasury."

"I borrowed them!" she rebutted.

"We need to restock on our supplies, and I need to find an actual weapon," he unfurled his fingers. "It's rather inconvenient to be drenched in blood every time I fight."

He placed Celeste on his shoulder, "You also want a weapon?"

She tilted her head in puzzlement; sharp claws grew out of her fingers and toes.

"You have to fight with elegance, not like a beast," he shook his head. "Let's go."

Horses and carriages trotted on roads paved with pure black stones. Men and women in extravagant attires strolled with their heads raised high. The streets were lined up with luxurious taverns, jewellery stores, silk weavers and other amenities sought out by every noble.

They were at the very heart of the capital.

Celeste, now donned in a blue silk gown, dragged a 1.5-meter long club behind her. Her small stature combined with the club twice her size made a comical scene that made the surrounding people look on with gaping eyes.

A spiral pattern of violet light crept up through her hands and flowed along the surface of the club. Bam! Faint cracks formed around the pavement when she made a casual swing with her club. Pieces of stone granules flew out and dispersed among the nearby crowd, causing them to flinch and move out of the way in fear.

"Sorry, sorry, she is just a child," Vincent raised his hands and said with a faint smile.

The crowd fumed in anger and wanted to say something, but their throats turned dry when their gaze landed on his deep-set of azure eyes.

"It's….alright," they shivered slightly and went on their merry ways.

"As expected of my daughter, you are already sensitive to aether," Vincent laughed. "Can't say much about elegance, but it will do for now."

"No! What will people think! It's dangerous!" Selena snatched the club away from her.

"Papa!" Celeste puffed up her cheeks and ran towards Vincent with teary eyes.

"There there," he patted her head. "You can swing it all you want when we leave this place, but for now, listen to your mother."

Celeste calmed down; she turned her attention to the transparent sword wrapped in fine silk linen strapped on his back.

Vincent smiled, grabbed it by the handle and unwrapped the silk linen.

A 130 cm long transparent blade appeared before their eyes. Vincent made a swing to his left. The sides glinted off cold light as it sliced the air while frost formed on the blade's surface.

He then inspected the rest of the sword. The words 'Rusted Ice' was carved on the hilt. A circular pommel with a phoenix inscription was connected at the bottom.

His azure eyes reflected off its transparent surface, which resonated with the frosted runes embedded in between. The elemental sword was forged from the glacial core of an ice serpent.

"Not bad," he smiled in satisfaction.

"We almost spent our entire fortune getting that from the auction," Selena sighed.

"We had to pay a premium to get a hold of this, well can't really complain since the auction was set to take place months after," he traced the blade with his fingers.

"Should have stolen more from the treasury….. I mean borrow, hehe," Selena said.

"Just like how you stole Vincent from me," Hertha sneered from the side.

"Mind your tongue!" Selena said

"Make me!" Hertha said.

"Enough!" Vincent narrowed his eyes. "You two are not allowed to argue about this anymore in my presence? Understood?"

"Ye...s," they said in a subdued voice.

"I can't hear you two," he said.

"Yes!" they both said with feigned enthusiasm.

Celeste took this chance to snatch back the club from her mother and dashed away.

"Celeste!" Selena shouted.

He laughed, strapped the sword on his back and led the two ladies by the waist.

"Let's go by the docks and see what Nathaniel is up to," he said.

They saw him leaning against the wyvern on the side of the road. He had a slight frown on his face.

"I managed a ship, but," Nathaniel walked up to them and hesitated.

"But what?" Vincent said.

"It's a smugglers ship," Nathaniel pointed at the end of the docks. "Travel is restricted between the two empires unless the higher-ups approve it."

"When can we board the ship?" he asked.

"At nightfall," Nathaniel replied.