C15 - Greetings Winter

It took the better part of the day to reach our destination. We had departed around the second chime of the city bell, which rang at sunrise, and it was well after dark when we arrived. The journey was eerie, with the city of Sampagnanoli gradually emerging on the horizon as we traversed the choppy waters. Its silhouette stood out starkly against the fading light of the day, appearing almost ethereal, nestled between imposing cliffs and a looming mountain, as if protected by nature itself.

The trip was challenging, both physically and emotionally. Once the initial banter had faded, a tense atmosphere settled in. Mona appeared increasingly anxious and meek as the day wore on, her unease palpable in the air.

Selahe had only briefly relinquished me to Mona for feeding before requesting me back. He handled the other end as well. I had thought myself immune to humiliation, but having my lower end changed and cleaned by this attractive beastman with my fantasy parents and a nervous Mona watching was so embarrassing, I thought I might die a second time.

The usual conversational mood was replaced by a cold, tense feeling, as if we were sailing to the gallows. We spent most of the trip in silence, interrupted only by the captain's quill scratching away at his paperwork.

I felt relieved when we finally arrived, as it would necessitate everyone speaking to each other again.

The city's port greeted us with an ominous air, its cold silence enveloping us like a shroud. Even the bustling streets did little to dispel the unease that had settled over us. The city appeared to be roughly three quarters the size of our home city, the name of which still eluded me.

At the end of the harbor, a plain carriage awaited us. We climbed inside and felt it lurch forward, the clip-clop of the horse's hooves echoing in the quiet streets.

Any hope that our arrival would spark conversation was quickly dashed. We disembarked from the ship in silence and walked inland off the pier, the Duke not even exchanging words with the carriage driver, merely nodding in acknowledgment.

We traversed through mostly desolate streets lined with warehouses, the only signs of life being the occasional passerby. As we ventured further, the invigorating scent of the sea gradually gave way to a pungent mixture of sewage and fish, a stark reminder of the city's industrial underbelly.

Amidst the overpowering odors, I noticed Mona becoming increasingly nervous, her unease palpable in the carriage.

Exiting the urban sprawl, we entered a residential area where the houses stood like sentinels, their warm glow offering a stark contrast to the encroaching darkness outside.

Our arrival seemed to coincide with the approach of nightfall, indicated by the last bell chime of the day, some time after sunset. Without clocks, the last bell, or seventh chime in this case, marked the general bedtime. 

I had heard servants at the manor refer to the seventh bell as the time they retired to their rooms, although it was more of a suggested action than a strict rule, similar to lunchtime being at the fourth bell.

As we passed the last cluster of houses, the dwellings began to spread out, interspersed with more frequent patches of trees.

The Duke's villa seemed to be nestled deeper into the forest, and as we neared our final destination, Mona appeared to be on the verge of panic.

She fidgeted incessantly, her eyes darting around, silently pleading for reassurance. Her anxiety was contagious, and I found myself growing increasingly uneasy about the situation with Mona.

The Duke and Mona had alluded to danger before we embarked on our journey. Could Mona herself be the source of this danger? It had also not escaped my notice, nor hers apparently, that Selahe had been unusually protective of me.

The journey through the forest was not lengthy, but it was predominantly uphill. It seemed the villa was perched high above, offering a commanding view of the town below. As we continued, the carriage eventually leveled off, and I realized we were skirting along the edge of one of the cliffs to the north.

Suddenly, a dense wave of mana passed through us, causing both my fantasy parents and Selahe to visibly relax. We continued for a few more minutes before the carriage slowed and eventually came to a stop.

We disembarked in solemn silence. The villa loomed before us, a grand mansion perched atop a hill, overlooking the sprawling city of Sampagnanoli. The city below was a mere blur in the distance, its details lost in the haze.

The only feature I could make out was an extremely large lighthouse on the opposite cliff. The light silently spinning around slowly, as if being driven by a giant.

My attention was drawn back to the group. Mona appeared resigned; her head bowed. The ducal couple matched Selahe in their stoic demeanor, their expressions unreadable.

As we entered the villa, we were met by a retinue of staff and the Duke's personal guards, who had evidently been dispatched ahead to prepare for our arrival.

Led by the staff and flanked by guards, we were ushered into a sumptuous sitting room. The air was thick with the aroma of tea and refreshments, laid out elegantly in anticipation of our arrival.

Seated and tense, the group awaited the first words to break the silence. I sat in Selahe's arms, positioned behind the Duke, facing Mona, who sat opposite the Ducal couple.

It was at this moment, amidst the luxurious surroundings and palpable tension, that the Duke's question cut through the air, laced with barely contained anger, "Mona, what the hell is going on?"