The convoy came to a precise halt just outside the towering gates of Drachenhalm Palace. The steel‑plated APCs rumbled softly as their engines idled, while the black Aurion state car's doors opened in unison.
Out stepped Ambassador Lucien Ward, adjusting his suit jacket as the Aurion flag pinned to his lapel caught the sunlight. Flanking him were two senior diplomats—Envoy Cassandra Mireille and Trade Specialist Victor Salazar—along with several security agents in black suits, their eyes scanning the area calmly but alertly.
At the gate, Captain Ser Aldwin of House Greystead and a small honor guard awaited them, visibly tense but trying to appear composed.
Ambassador Ward gave a slight bow of courtesy—not too low, not deferential, but respectful.
"I am Ambassador Lucien Ward of the Aurion Republic," he said in clear, deliberate speech, his words carried through the interpreter beside him. "With me are Envoy Cassandra Mireille and Trade Specialist Victor Salazar. We are here under the orders of President Elias Velez to continue the diplomatic talks between our nations."
The interpreter repeated his words in the Drakensport tongue.
Ser Aldwin nodded stiffly, eyes flicking briefly to the strange metal wagons behind them. "You are… welcome to Drachenhalm. I will escort you to His Majesty, King Aldred IV."
Before the gates opened, Ambassador Ward gestured toward the convoy and added, "For simplicity and respect for your customs, only this vehicle and a minimal escort will enter. Our purpose is diplomacy, not intimidation."
The nobles watching from the palace walls exchanged murmurs. The gesture was unusual—an act of restraint rather than overt display of power.
Finally, with a deep creak, the gates of Drachenhalm Palace swung open. The Aurion delegation stepped forward calmly, their security detail falling into a tight protective formation around them.
The medieval guards and nobles looked on, uncertain—unable to decide if these foreigners were being humble… or subtly reminding everyone that even without their war machines, they carried an aura of quiet power that no knightly armor could match.
As the black Aurion state car door opened again, Foreign Minister Elena Choi stepped out gracefully, her formal attire sharp yet unassuming. The sun glinted off the polished black vehicle as she adjusted her coat, her expression calm and composed despite the hundreds of curious eyes fixed on her.
A tight ring of Secret Service agents in black suits immediately formed around her, each moving with practiced precision. Their movements were subtle but deliberate—hands close to concealed holsters, eyes scanning the battlements, towers, and crowds beyond the gates.
The medieval nobles watching from the palace courtyard whispered among themselves.
"Are these their knights?" one scoffed quietly.
"They wear no armor. No swords," muttered another. "Do they expect to fight barehanded?"
"They look like merchants playing at war," sneered Lord Brenwick.
But Lady Arlenne, standing further back, frowned in silence. She noted the way the black‑clad guards moved—how they constantly shifted their formation around Choi, how their eyes never rested in one place for more than a heartbeat.
"These are not merchants," she murmured to herself. "They are predators."
Elena Choi, accompanied by Ambassador Ward, approached Ser Aldwin, who bowed stiffly once more.
"I am Elena Choi, Foreign Minister of the Aurion Republic," she said through the interpreter, her voice steady but courteous. "I come at the request of our President to strengthen our dialogue and build mutual understanding between our nations."
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances. The sight of yet another high‑ranking Aurion official—escorted by unarmored, swordless men who carried themselves with quiet confidence—was deeply unsettling.
As the gates were opened wider to allow the delegation inside, murmurs rippled through the crowd of peasants who had gathered outside the palace.
"Who are these strangers?" one villager asked.
"They came from the sky," another whispered nervously.
"Perhaps they are gods," an old man muttered, his voice trembling.
The Foreign Minister walked with calm steps through the courtyard, her entourage forming a precise protective bubble around her. Even without swords, shields, or banners, the Aurion delegation exuded a kind of power that made several nobles shift uncomfortably in their ornate armor.
The arrival of Elena Choi, now at the forefront of the talks, marked a clear signal: Aurion was no longer just "observing." They were here to negotiate as equals—and possibly as superiors.
The herald stepped forward, bowing slightly to Foreign Minister Elena Choi and the Aurion delegation.
"My lady," he said through the interpreter, his voice careful, "the royal banquet… is not yet prepared. It will take several days to arrange a feast worthy of honored guests such as yourselves."
Elena exchanged a brief glance with Ambassador Ward, then simply gave a polite nod. "We understand. We appreciate your hospitality regardless."
King Aldred IV, seated on his high throne, raised a hand to silence the murmuring nobles. "You will all depart," he commanded, his tone sharp. "See that the banquet is prepared without delay. I want nothing less than perfection for these guests."
The nobles bowed deeply, though several scowled as they turned to leave. Lord Brenwick muttered something under his breath about "groveling before outsiders," while Lady Arlenne quietly observed the Aurion delegation, her mind already turning toward what kind of power they truly possessed.
As the nobles filed out of the grand hall, the atmosphere shifted. Only the royal family, the interpreters, and the Aurion envoys remained.
King Aldred stood and descended the steps of his throne, his heavy robes trailing behind him. "Until the banquet is ready," he declared, his voice carrying a forced warmth, "you shall be entertained by my court and my family. You are free to explore the castle, learn of our history, and be treated as honored guests."
Princess Elara, standing beside the queen, stepped forward gracefully. "We will personally see to your comfort," she added, her tone polite but tinged with curiosity. Her eyes lingered on the Aurion delegates' strange attire and mannerisms—so utterly foreign, yet exuding quiet authority.
The Secret Service agents subtly shifted positions, forming a protective half‑circle around Elena and Ward as courtiers approached to offer greetings.
Behind them, servants hurriedly moved about, clearing the hall to prepare for the massive undertaking of hosting a royal feast for such unprecedented guests.
Though the nobles outwardly obeyed, whispers already began to spread beyond the hall—some laced with resentment, others with awe, and many with fear of what these "steel dragon riders" might bring to their kingdom.
As night fell over Drachenhalm, the grand halls of the royal castle glowed with torchlight and chandeliers.
The Aurion envoys, led by Foreign Minister Elena Choi and Ambassador Robert Ward, joined the royal family for a modest evening of music, food, and storytelling—an impromptu gesture of hospitality while the grand banquet was still being prepared.
Elena and her team listened attentively as court bards sang of legendary Drakensport heroes and ancient battles. In turn, they shared small details of Aurion culture—its art, its music, and simple games the people played—carefully avoiding any mention of modern weapons or past wars.
Even Princess Elara, initially reserved, found herself curious, asking questions about Aurion customs and marveling at how different yet strangely relatable some of their traditions were.
Outside the castle gates, the mood was more tense. Aurion soldiers in APCs patrolled the outer perimeter alongside Drakensport knights, who rode on horseback, their armor glinting under the moonlight.
At first, the two groups eyed each other warily—steel blades and rifles ready—but over the hours, a quiet camaraderie began to form. A knight handed an Aurion soldier a wineskin, and in return, the soldier shared a ration pack, to the knight's confusion and amusement. mirroring how the medieval delegates had once been welcomed in Solaira City, learning and laughing in a world far different from their own.
While the Aurion APCs remained parked near the castle gates, a group of Drakensport merchants and opportunistic nobles approached cautiously, eyes fixed on the massive armored vehicles.
One merchant, clutching a bag of gold coins, whispered eagerly to another, "If we could just buy one of these steel beasts, imagine the caravans we could protect. No bandit would dare approach!"
Another, far more ambitious and reckless, muttered under his breath, "Or capture it. Tame it like a warhorse. If we control these beasts, we'd be unstoppable."
Several knights overheard the discussion and exchanged uneasy glances. They knew what Aurion's "steel monsters" could do even without knowing the true power of it. The thought of anyone trying to seize one was almost laughable—yet dangerous if the merchants pushed their luck.
The Aurion soldiers, inside the APC, watched the group gathering nearby. Through the armored windows, one soldier raised an eyebrow. "They're staring at us like we're prize cattle."
His squadmate smirked. "Let them try. They don't even know how to open the door without blowing themselves up."
A knight on gate duty stepped forward, glaring at the merchants. "Step back! These machines belong to the envoys' guard. Show some respect."
The merchants reluctantly dispersed, but whispers persisted through the capital's streets—rumors of schemes to steal or tame the "steel monsters" spread quickly among those blinded by greed or ambition.
Inside Drachenhalm Castle, the Aurion delegation retired to the lavish guest chambers prepared for them. The ornate stone halls were a stark contrast to the modern architecture of Solaira City, but the secret service remained on high alert. Men in suits with earpieces quietly secured every corridor, checking every entry and exit point with practiced precision.
Unknown to them, Aurion Special Operations Forces (SOF)—brought discreetly alongside the delegation—had already infiltrated the castle grounds. Moving silently in the shadows, they patrolled rooftops, narrow hallways, and hidden vantage points with night‑vision equipment and suppressed weapons.
Their presence was so well‑concealed that even the secret service agents were unaware of them. The SOF operatives had been ordered to remain invisible, their sole mission being to neutralize any threat before it could reach the envoys.
From high vantage points, they watched the medieval guards performing their rounds, noting their predictable patterns and lack of advanced tactics. To the SOF, the castle felt centuries behind in terms of security—its massive gates, heavy wooden doors, and guards with torches were almost quaint compared to the silent electronic surveillance they were used to.
Meanwhile, Princess Elenora—curious about the visitors—watched from her balcony as the Aurion vehicles remained parked near the courtyard. She couldn't see the hidden soldiers, but she noticed the men in black suits standing calmly by the car, exuding an aura of confidence despite wearing no armor.
"Are they truly unafraid of death… or are they just that capable?" she wondered, feeling both intrigue and unease about these strange yet composed outsiders sleeping inside her home.
The night passed quietly, but in the shadows, Aurion's invisible guardians ensured that nothing—not even the most ambitious assassin—would get close.