The Dragon Empire

New experiences are always a welcome to a person's life…especially to me who's a new visitor to this world called Astra.

I've experienced a lot of things in this world.

From magic which was something I did not believe at first, to monster like goblins who only ever came from fairy tales, to trees that were as hard as steel and fruits that seemed too surreal to even considered eating, and I even got to see a blacksmith do his work, making a sword that breaths fire.

And out of all the things that made the most impact, the biggest one yet was the wall that stood in front of me now.

"T-This is way bigger than the great wall of china if you ask me…" I said out loud as we got closer and closer to the wall.

When we were now at the front, I nearly had to tilt my head at a ninety degree angle just to see the top of this wall…its no joke to consider why did they even built it this way.

When I dropped my head back up front, I saw the guards to the entrance of the empire, looking at me with a curious tilt on their heads.

"Oy, the guards are calling you up, we should move on ahead." said Josy as he tapped on my shoulders.

"...Y-yeah."

As we moved forward, we stopped just right before the gate. As the guards came in close to check on us, Josy went up to reveal his face to the guards.

"I'll deal with the talking, just sit tight while the guard and I work this out." he said as he looked to the guard and started waving his hand as if to greet the guard.

"Oh, if it isn't the Old man." said the guard as he happily smiled at them meeting. From his tone, it sounds like the two of them knew each other.

"Hmm, it has been a long time Loyd."

"And who's the kid? Did you hire a coach?"

"He's a friend."

"Hmm, is that so? I see…What brings you here anyway? Did you come to deliver another stock of weapons?"

"No, not this time."

"What do you mean?"

".…You'll see soon enough." smiling over his confidence, Josy looks to Loyd with nothing but a smug look on his face.

"Hmm?…Wait...Did you actually!?" and Loyd quickly caught up to what this actually meant.

"Hmph! Of course I did!"

"I see…its amazing that you actually finally did it, but how!?"

"...Hmph, I blacksmith never reveals his techniques! Never!"

"...I see, well, since the boy is just bringing you in, I guess I can let you both pass. But you have to tell me his name first. This is the first time I'm actually seeing this boy so I'm going to need to see some ID and also, I'm kind of worried…especially with how big the horse is that his handling." said the guard as he noticed that this particular horse was about half a meter taller than most horses that passes through.

"I mean, I've never a horse this big before." said Loyad as he was in awe of how strong-looking the horse was.

"Hmm, Boy, do you have an ID with you?" asked Josy

"No, I don't have one." I said.

"Well, you can at least tell me your name." said Loyd.

"Its Shay, Shay Winston."

"...excuse me? Did I hear you right?"

"What?"

"Your Shay Winston?"

"Why? Whats the matter?"

"...Hmm, I better get this checked. Hey John, come here for a second!" calling out to another guard, one rushed out of the gates to meet with Loyd.

"What's up?"

"Its about the orders given priority by the captain five days ago, am I wrong or is the guy in front us the person who we were looking for?" he asked.

"Hmm…blue eyes, black curly hair…and a horse that's unusually big."

".…"

"Hmm, yeah it checks out." he said as he stares at the horse with a rather keen eye.

"Okay then, by order of the decree of the king, we hereby request you that you follow us into the Dragon Palace! Any form of decline will be meet with heavy force, so please obey and follow." Loyd said this while looking at me with a glaring eye.

"W-what's going on?" asked Josy as he looked to Loyd with a rather worried expression.

"Sorry old man, captains orders. Shay Winston, if you comply we wont have to apply force in pushing you to the Dragon Palace, so follow John as he guides you to your destination."

I don't know what was happening, but since it involves under the orders and words of the king, I should try to follow through with it. See where this situation takes me. Luckily, it seems as though they weren't forcing me to do anything other than to actually follow them. I have to comply, and the only other problem is the matter with Josy. It would be best if he were to stay out of trouble.

"Old man, I think its best if you wait here. I don't know whats going on, but it seems pretty important." I said as I leaned back to look at him.

"No, I'll go with you and try to sort out this problem. From the looks of it, you don't even know why you are being sent to the palace, but its better to have a friend go with you." he said, reassuring to me that he's ready to stand by my side.

"Okay then…"

And so with that, we made our way to the inside of the empire, and technically the first part of our tour starts off with the grand view of the palace.

While we were riding our horse there, Josy had to ask a few question with the Guard named John.

"John, what's really going on here? It doesn't seem like the boy has done anything wrong at all."

"Hell if I know, but I do remember that this particular order was given about five or six days ago by our captain…it was given right after news of the princess being kidnapped and held hostage by the Hearts Kingdom was told all over the empire. Right now, the King is preparing to start a war to fight against them and take back the princess and all the other hostages."

"A war!?"

"Yeah, you can already tell that the Empire is lacking about a few thousand men to guard the surroundings because they've already sent 3,000 men in advance to the heart's kingdom five days ago . It'll take about 15 days to reach the hearts kingdom, and by now they should have reach the second village right after Ace village. They'll even send more right after they could prepare another batch. "

"...this is getting crazy. And what does this have to do with me?" I asked.

"Beats me…I'm just following orders." he said.

With me and Josy looking very worried, we looked ahead to see what was to come of me.

I can't even enjoy myself in touring the empire with all that is happening right now, so its really bad the way things are going.

I wondered if this involved me with helping out Serena and Shirley with passing through the Flat Bioma…

I just hope they didn't gave me a bad name if they did involve me in something.

After a while, we finally reached the Dragon Palace…and by shock, I couldn't believe how grand the Whole place was. As it was five times more beautiful than the Buckingham palace, seeing as how it exemplified what a true palace actually is.

As we made it to the gate, I was meet with the gaze of Marquess Toral watching over from a flight of stairs from a distance. I can only ever wonder how he came to figure out that I was coming today, but either way, I was slightly less nervous to find a familiar face.

"..." I could only ever guess that he was here to handle me and tell me what it was that lead to this situation since we've meet before.

"...Welcome Mr. Shay." he said as he stood with his arms around his back, standing like a true formal man of a kingdom. His strict stance and cold gaze already tells me that to a certain point, this was serious.

"Can you tell me whats going on? I'd like to know if its serious or not." I asked.

"Now now, your not in trouble, in fact you are needed Mr. Shay for an important mission."

"Mission?"

"...Please, come with me."

"Can the old man come?"

Toral turned his gaze over to Josy and was somewhat surprised to find him with me.

"...Hmm, I'm curious as to why you're here Mr. Josy, but either way, yes, you are welcome to accompany Mr. Shay." he said as he turned his back and started walking to the palace.

"..."

"..."

Both me and Josy were silent as we passed through the halls, nervous for any sense of heaviness there was on this place.

With Josy who carried Bruneheart on his arms and me who was defenseless. We both did not know what was to come. Although I can understand if Josy were to turn back, I'm quite surprised to see him looking ahead, almost ready to face anything.

After walking for what seemed like an hour, we finally came to a stop at a white door that was about five meters tall. Seeing it, I could feel that somewhere behind that door was the reason for me being called out to this place.

"You are about to meet the Emperor of the Dragon Empire."

"W-what!?"

"Once you go inside, follow my every action and only speak when you are spoken to. Do you understand me?" he asked.

"Ah…y-yes."

I said, nervously as I began to sweat from the tension of this whole situation. I could not fully process the situation of having to meet an Emperor…if anything, I feel like I was going to collapse behind all these.

But I had to stay strong…cause if I don't, who knows what will happen.

*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

Knocking three times at the marble like door, it was opened by two well built knights of the empire.

And there it began, from a distance, I could see the sight of a moderately 50 year old looking man sitting at a throne with his face resting at his hand. Withhis golden hair and red fiery eyes that spoke with a tinge of fury and his presence felt heavy as if I was under the weight of a giant's weight. Without a doubt, the man in front of me was none other than the Emperor of the Dragon Empire.

"...Lets go." said Marquess Toral as he began his first step into the grand living area of the palace. And me and Josy readied ourselves as we too made our steps, following him at his back. Each step we made, it echoed all across the corners of the room.

Along with the Emperor, a few other people were also in this room. Some wore a formal dress and attire which I expected were nobles. I did my best giving a cold gaze to the front, but as I got closer, I noticed another familiar face. Somewhere at side, Serena Meldova and a male noble who seemed like Serena's father, was standing by and waiting at the presence of the emperor.

And another group that stood at the right wore a uniform that excels in gallantry and was standing at the right side of the emperor. These people on the right side, reminded me of the simple image of what an aligned military soldier was. Their strong gazes, seemed to over haul the idea that they themselves were strong…and two of these people were none other than Shirley herself and Tofan. She and Tofan only gave me the idea that the people on the right were probably knights who had a special rank of some sort.

"..." as we stopped, we now stood in the most important place of the Empire. In front of the Emperor himself.

If I see this in a another way, guess I'm pretty lucky to find myself face to face with the Emperor in just my first day here at the Empire…man…how lucky am I?

'...Ahh…I wanna die.'

AN: HI EVERYONE, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS LUCKY ENOUGH OR NOT SO LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THEY CAME TO FIND MY BOOK…I'M WORRIED THAT IF ITS EVER GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE PEOPLE WHO READ IT.

IF YOU LOVE THE BOOK, THANKS.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE BOOK OR MY WAY OF WRITING, JUST COMMENT DOWN BELOW.

IF YOU WANNA KNOW IF I HAD A GREAT TIME WRITING THIS BOOK, JUST ASK YOUR MOM.