As Devin's pale feet reflected on the polished marble floors, Emily's bright amber eyes glimmered with wonder at the grandeur before her. She felt like an ant in an incomprehensibly massive room, dwarfed by towering pillars that tapered to gold at their peaks. The walls, a rich lapis lazuli blue, were adorned with graceful golden accents that seemed to tell stories of a long and regal history, Emily thought.
Tall arched windows cast light onto a polished lapis lazuli path, stretching the length of the room toward a golden dais. Atop the dais stood an intricately carved golden throne, its rich blue backrest rising majestically amidst the towering pillars. At its pinnacle and at the dais's base was a rounded golden engraving—a pyramid crowned by the Golden Sun.
"Wow…" Cassidy breathed, her emerald eyes wide with amazement. Angel and Aidan, stepping into the room, mirrored her awe in stunned silence.
"Welcome to our humble Golden Palace, esteemed guests." A soothingly gentle, feminine voice cut through their astonishment, catching them off guard.
Angel and the others turned to find an elegant woman wrapped in an ornate black dress adorned with elaborate gold patterns, especially around her high collar and shoulders. Her commanding presence seemed to fill the room.
"Damn!" Aidan whispered, his gaze locked on her, mesmerized by every graceful detail. She smiled through glossy brown lips, her sharp yet gentle beige eyes captivating him. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, pushing Angel and Cassidy aside. "And who might you be, beautiful enchantress?"
The woman paused, taken aback. Then, a sweet, melodic giggle escaped her lips, drawing Aidan deeper into his trance. She smiled, her cheeks faintly blushed as the sunlight danced across her chocolate skin, casting an enchanting glow of gold. "I am Valery Ahmose, Head Domestic Overseer of the Golden Palace, at your service."
Aidan flushed crimson, but Angel stepped forward and cut through the moment. "What's going on here? And who are those people behind you?"
Valery glanced back at the fifteen maids standing silently behind her before turning her serene smile toward Angel. "Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to discuss the former with you, but as for the latter. These lovely ladies behind me are here to ensure you are refreshed and prepared."
"For what?" Angel's voice cut through the silence, his frustration barely restrained.
"For the dinner with his highness, of course," Valery said, her tone calm but deliberate. A hush fell over the group as they exchanged glances, the name heavy with implication.
"I see you are all acquainted," Douglas said as he descended the obsidian dais, the dark portal closing behind him.
"What is going on here?!" Angel's outburst startled Aidan, who stepped back in surprise.
Valery sighed softly before addressing the group. "It seems our friend here wasn't as welcoming as he should have been, and for that, I apologize." She cast a disapproving glance at Douglas before bowing to the group.
Behind her, the maids bowed in perfect unison, leaving Angel and the others visibly taken aback. Straightening, Valery's serene voice continued. "You will all be having dinner with his royal highness, where these matters will soon be discussed. I am responsible for preparing you to meet him, while Douglas, our good friend here, was tasked with bringing you safely to us."
Stepping forward gracefully, she closed the gap between herself and the group. "I understand how frustrated you must feel." Her gaze softened as it lingered on each of them—Angel's deep blue eyes, Cassidy's emerald green, Aidan's fiery auburn, Emily's bright amber, and lastly, Devin's deep crimson, where she paused just a moment longer.
"I ask for your patience and that you please follow me," she requested with calm authority.
"Sure thing!" Aidan responded eagerly, earning a groan from Cassidy and a glare from Angel.
"Okay," Angel sighed, reluctant but resigned as the group followed Valery's lead.
"Thank you." Her bright smile lit up the room, nearly sending Aidan into cardiac arrest. "Now then, if you'll follow me." She gestured toward the grand entrance, turning smoothly as she and the maids led the way out of the throne room.
'Always good with your words, Val,' Douglas mused, watching her lead the group away.
Exiting the throne room through a side entrance, he strode down the grand hallway until he reached a set of double doors, crafted from polished ebony and gleaming with rich depth.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Douglas rapped on the solid wood, waiting patiently as the sound echoed. Moments later, a deep, commanding voice answered from within: "Come in."
Gripping the pure bronze handles, Douglas pushed the doors open and stepped inside. The dining room greeted him with all its opulence—shimmering crystal chandeliers, intricately carved mouldings, and maids bustling with plates and platters. Yet Douglas cared for none of it. Ignoring the scene, his gaze remained fixed on the man standing by the tall arched window. His broad back and imposing shoulders seemed to encompass the entire room, and Douglas couldn't help but feel a sense of reassurance in his presence.
"Maids, please excuse us," the man commanded, his deep voice cutting through the clamour. The maids immediately halted their work, bowing gracefully before passing Douglas one by one. Each nodded respectfully to him before departing through the doors.
The air around them shimmered faintly, as though imbued with a hidden energy. Silence settled over the room. The man finally turned, his sharp golden eyes glinting as shadows danced across his face. "How did it go?"
"It went well, Your Highness. The Champions are as your revelations described," Douglas replied, fishing a spherical glass container from his sleeve.
The man sighed, his tone measured but stern. "The Lord's revelations, Douglas—not mine," he corrected, his gaze unwavering. After a brief pause, he added, "What are your impressions of them?"
A curt chuckle escaped his lips as Douglas shared his thoughts. "They're quite intelligent, with a few standing out. Emily, for example, deduced that they were in a new world and that the ritual wasn't over—through analytical ability alone." He removed the stopper on the glass container with a soft pop, the faint aroma of the liquid inside wafting into the air. Taking a measured sip, he continued, "Angel displays solid situational awareness and leadership—above average, with room to grow."
"Hm, is that all?" The man's voice carried a note of skepticism, his sharp golden eyes narrowing slightly.
"The other two—Aidan and Cassidy—seem fine," Douglas began, hesitating briefly. "But Devin… his vampiric features could pose issues. And more than that, I sensed lingering bloodlust in him."
The man sighed heavily. "We brought them into this world, Douglas. That makes them our responsibility." A faint flicker of concern darkened his golden gaze. "The summoning must have taken its toll on you—considering it normally requires a Grand Mage and fifteen Great Mages. Will you be ready for the ritual?"
"I'll be fine, Your Highness. With time, this high-grade elixir should help me recover the lost essen." Douglas took another sip before lowering the glass. "But more importantly, this won't escape the Church's notice."
The man chuckled, his gaze turning back to the arched window that framed the bustling city below. "I'm afraid we've already reached the point of no return, Douglas. The Lord's revelation is a sign that I'm on the right path. If making an enemy of the Church is inevitable, then so be it."
"I never liked the Church anyway," Douglas muttered with a chuckle.
The man's lips twitched into an unexpected grin. "Such blasphemy!" he exclaimed, and the two fell into an easy laugh that echoed through the grand room.
The laughter finally subsided, and the man sighed deeply. "Please rest, Douglas. Recover your lost essen."
"Yes, Your Highness." Douglas bowed deeply before turning to leave.
"Oh, and Douglas," the man called out, halting him just a step away from the door. Douglas turned, his posture attentive. "Yes, Your Highness?"
"Thank you."
A faint, warm smile graced Douglas's pale lips. "It is but my duty, Your Highness." He bowed once more, his steps measured and resolute as he exited the room.
End of Chapter 23