The woman that just landed was dressed modestly, letting a waterfall of long black hair drape freely over her shoulders. Her face was undoubtedly gorgeous, with a small scar adorning her left eye. On her left shoulder was a mana imprint in the shape of a kitchen knife.
She seemed to be looking for something, idly playing with her bangs. Underneath them was bold, black text. The inscription on her forehead read:
'MEAT'
"Lugotynt? Lugotynt, do you copy?"
The woman tapped a small piece of metal, something akin to a bracelet, that was producing the sound of a masculine voice, then said:
"Yeah, yeah, I copy, Nyev. Nothing here. There are four weaklings passed out around me, but I think that was me. My landing probably knocked them unconscious."
There was silence for a few instants before a sound came from the item again.
"That's certainly strange. Dad's array definitely located someone saying his name multiple times."
"Eh, the weaklings probably stumbled on some text that had his name in it and just said it out loud. It's not like they know the Emperor."
Paryl's core reacted to the boy's fear, releasing a tiny amount of mana.
The woman's head whipped around, staring at the location of the two.
A few seconds of silence ensued, interrupted by the man's voice.
"Lugotynt? Are you okay? Should I send someone?"
Indom's grip tightened on the boy, who was hyperventilating. A sheen of sweat consumed Paryl's being.
"Yeah, it's nothing. I thought I felt something."
Lugotynt said that dismissively, she clearly just wanted to finish her assignment.
"Can you please consume the four's minds first? Just in case?"
Lugotynt groaned loudly at the man's transmitted words.
"But I'm full already! Plus, I really want to meet that new kid! Thols was his name, right?"
"Yeah, he's a good kid. Seems to like me quite a bit."
"That's why you should let me come back home, so he can like me too! Please, Nyev?"
A deep, exasperated sigh was heard.
"Fine. You have permission to come back."
She smirked happily, then pushed herself off the ground. She was gone in a second.
The ground where she stood bubbled with her residual mana.
Indom finally let go of Paryl. The man seemed enraged.
"Uh... Mr. Indom, what was that?"
Indom was shaking with barely contained anger. His eyes were narrowed, sharp teeth clenched together so hard they cracked, then healed due to his immortality. Veins popped up on his usually handsome face. His usually lithe arms bulged with previously unseen muscles, scales slowly covering them like crimson armor. Sharp claws protruded from his fingers like knives.
Paryl's eyes widened. His instinct to run flared up again.
"Vile Utbrus's spawn. I'll rend her apart with my bare hands...!"
Paryl flinched at the harsh words, taking a half-step back.
At the boy's reaction, Indom's features softened. The scales slowly disappeared, and the claws retreated into the tips of his fingers. He slowly turned around, a fake, wide smile on his face.
"Sorry, it's just that my brother and I got into a particularly nasty argument a while back. That seems to have been my niece."
His tone was soft and pleasant.
Paryl could see behind the mask he was putting up. He saw an ocean of indescribable rage boiling within him. He decided to not say anything, answering with a short nod.
"Kid, don't say my name again. Ever."
He suddenly exclaimed.
"Huh? Why not Mr. Ind—mister?"
"That lady came to hunt us down because we said the word I-N-D-O-M."
"What? But how did she do it?"
Indom seemed to ponder that question, then answered with:
"My brother, her father, is a prodigy of mana inscription. He probably made some complex set of three-dimensional inscriptions to track down whoever says my name, then murder them in cold blood."
"But why would he do that, mister? He's your brother!"
Indom looked at the child, an empty smile finding its way onto his face again.
"Because he's a traitorous wretch."
Paryl's expression grew confused, but he decided not to press further. This couldn't have been a pleasant topic for the red-haired man. Instead, he switched the object of conversation.
"So what should we do now, mister? What should I call you?"
"Call me by my last name, Ordin."
"Ordin? Your full name is I-N-D-O-M Ordin?"
Indom scowled at the boy's words, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you implying something, kid?"
"Of course not... I just never heard of such a name before."
The emperor smiled at the boy's words.
"Unique, right? The name is one of a kind. It holds meaning, y'know?"
Paryl looked interested in Indom's words.
"Cool! What is it?"
Indom's smile widened earnestly. He stood proudly, his chest puffed out and back straight.
He said the following, his tone painted with exuberance:
"I have no idea!"
"Huh?"
Indom settled back into his normal posture, saying in his standard tone:
"My father would always say it held some 'secret and special meaning.' However, he never managed to tell it to us before croaking."
The boy's face fell. He felt saddened by the man's loss.
"My condolences, Mr. Ordin."
"Ah, I had a couple of thousand years to work it through. Don't worry, I'm fine."
The boy went to ask the obvious question but was interrupted by a wave of the man's hand.
"Never mind that, kiddo! You asked a lot of questions about me, but I don't even know what your name is!"
"Oh, excuse me for my rudeness, Mr. Ordin!"
"My name's Paryl."
Indom's eyes widened.
"Paryl?! Who names their kid Paryl? That's just a bad omen!"
The kid smiled sheepishly.
"Yeah, I get that a lot... And with everything happening around me... I'm starting to believe my parents were dumb."
Indom laughed a bit, then pointed towards what seemed to be a random direction.
"Let's go, then!"
"Go... where?"
"Where else? We're going to the capital of the Dormalia Empire, Lutingen!"
"The human...what? I know other humans have a democratic republic west of here."
"Please, kid. I know my countries."
He said, with a scoff.
"We're currently on the utmost west border of Crown's territory... So we go further west."
"But mister—"
"Shush, child! I know my countries!"
Paryl gave up.
"Why are we even going to Lutingen, Mr. Ordin?"
Indom pondered as to what the best lie would be in this situation. Suddenly, he blurted out:
"We're going sightseeing."
"Sightseeing...?"
"Yes, yes! Seeing different cultural backgrounds is very important for growing a young boy's character! Now stop bickering and start walking."
Paryl was completely wordless. He just sighed. This was going to be a long journey.