Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

After exchanging a few words with him, Cynthia shifted her attention back toward the duke.

"Your Grace I believe you are already aware of the intention behind my visit so I will not beat around the bush. I wish to borrow your Air Engine to travel back to the capital".

Her indifferent words did not induce any reaction from the duke as he simply closed his eyes and pondered for a bit.

"Well, I guessed that much the moment you decided to enter my territory. It is not a problem to lend you my Air engine to travel back to the capital; however, as you know it is very difficult to manufacture and there is only one in my entire territory. You see this young man also came to me with the same request as you and I had already promised him to lend the Air Engine".

Duke Montford said pointing at Lucas who was currently lost in his own thoughts. Cynthia made a difficult expression when she heard those words, she had entered the territory of the duke hoping to utilise the Air Engine he had to travel back to the capital.

But now that he had already promised to lend it to someone else, she cannot just tell him to go back on his words. Just when she was brooding over what to do, Lucas who had thought something up, suggested.

"If I may princess... how about we travel together since our destination is the same? As you can see, I am also in need of the Air Engine to participate in the 'Battle of the Finest' held in the capital. The Air Engine his grace owns, can only carry less than twenty people and excluding the driver and the members who will operate it, we only have twelve seats available".

"Fortunately, if we include his grace, myself and some of his personal guards there are still five seats available. What does her highness think?".

Cynthia fell into an intense contemplation and weighed her options. She cannot simply travel on a wagon as it would be too dangerous and takes up a lot of time. Then was her only option to travel with them? But then again her convoy consisted of more than twenty-five people who came with her all the way from city of Mountmend from the remote northwestern corner of the Kingdom.

Seeing that the princess had fallen into deliberation, Duke Montford couldn't help but speak out.

"There is no need for your highness to make a decision now. The Air Engine will leave tomorrow morning from the south field of Castledor city. Take your time and think over it".

Duke Montford stood up and Lucas after throwing her beautiful face one last glance, exited the hall.

Alvara who was similarly pondering over their options, asked "Princess what shall we do now? If we don't take the Air Engine, we wouldn't be able to reach the capital before the coliseum opens".

To those words of hers, the princess of the Kingdom of Ellesmere, simply smiled "Let's go back, we can decide what to do after we get back to the hotel. Also, contact the branch office of our Serene Palace Merchant Guild located in this city and ask the person in charge to come meet with me as soon as possible".

<br/>                                                                  -----

The time was noon; Simon who was forcibly pulled out of his room to stroll the market of the Castkedor city by Adalinda, was coming back to the inn after spending loads of money on foods and other various attractions.

Of course, All this money went from his pockets, the little girl acted as a freeloader all the time without spending even a dime. There was a moment when Simon asked her why doesn't she pay for her own share of food? The reply he got was absurd to say no less. She felt it was a waste of space to carry these trinkets of metals that held next to no value to her.   

Just as they approached the hotel, he sensed a sudden tension coming from within. Curious, he opened the entrance only to be greeted by the members of the convoy who were currently assembling in one of the halls.

'What is going on?' Simon wondered, he was about to follow them when from the corner of his eyes he spotted Chuck. It seemed that the latter had also spotted him as the adventurer greeted with a simple nod of his head before hurriedly excusing himself.

Simon creased his brows, for the past few days some reason he felt like the adventurer was consciously or subconsciously avoiding him a little.

"Hey let's go, there seems to be something interesting going on over there" Adalinda called out and before he could even ponder further, he was pulled along.

In one of the large halls of the Centre Point Hotel, a group of people gathered. Standing in front of them was Cynthia her guard commander and a few new faces.

"I believe everybody is gathered here? If so then let me tell all of you the reason behind assembling here".

The Mistress of the Serene Palace went on to detail how they would travel from here to the capital and also revealed the Air Engine that they would use to travel. When everybody heard that there are only a few seats available and they all cannot go, many of them became disheartened.

After travelling with each other for a while and overcoming numerous dangers, they all developed a sense of camaraderie. They started treating each other as good friends and people they could trust, the news of them not being able to travel together came out as quite a shock.

"The Serene Palace Merchant guild keeps its words and rewards those that have worked hard and have incurred heavy losses in the process. Although I believe this isn't enough, I have prepared your rewards with your achievement in mind" .

"Additionally, for your help this time I would like to give you all a position of honorary member and this badge that shows your position in our guild" Cynthia signalled with her eyes and the middle-aged man behind her swiftly brought out numerous boxes containing items and pouches of gold.

From amongst the group, Simon squinted his eyes. The woman was quite calculative, although the circumstance didn't allow her to bring these adventurers along with her, she nevertheless, didn't want to lose these powerful and loyal warriors and wanted to keep having them as her pawns. The honorary member and the badge was just a decoration.

Seeing that the rewards were handed out appropriately she further added.

"Other than myself and the guard commander there are still three vacant seats available. Relating to these three available seats, I will select three individuals based on their achievements from our travel up until this point".

"Of course, you have a right to reject this spot in which case, you will still receive the promised rewards and benefits from my guild. The vacant seat will then be filled by the next suitable candidate".

Cynthia's eyes roamed across the crowd and swiftly landed on the three people she had decided to take with her. 

                                                                        ----

Southfield of the city was a wide area of land specially used for holding military drills and training for soldiers of the duke's personal army. The field was mostly empty with only a few instruments here and there used by the soldiers during their training.

This part of the land of the Castledor city was restricted for most people, hence only soldiers, could be seen walking around. The morning light of the sun began to fall onto the land and brightened the place, an airship in the shape of a blimp more than a hundred meters big and completely covered in black could be seen stationed in the middle of the field.

A group of people could be seen coming and going out of it, investigating every corner of the airship. The airship owned by Duke Montford called the Air Engine had numerous windows and a single wide gallery for people to view the scenery outside.

It had four huge engines, two located at its bottom and two at its rear end. Loud noises echoed out whenever the engine started and powerful vibrations travelled through the ground.

Seven people observed the air engine from a place not very far away. Out of the seven, one was Duke Montford and the other Lucas Blackwood. The rest were soldiers and adventurers appointed by them to guard their safety.

At this moment, they were discussing some important issues when out of the corner they discovered a group of five people approaching near.

"Hmm… they have come," Duke Montford said focusing his attention on the other party. He then stepped forward and walked towards them, following behind him was Lucas and the others.

"It seems her highness has made her decision. In that case, let us not wait any longer, the air engine is ready to take off" duke Montford greeted the beautiful woman walking in front.

The group that just arrived was none other than Cynthia and the members of the convoy. Lucas too greeted the princess of Ellesmere Kingdom with intoxicated eyes and sweet words. He then roamed his eyes on the people that she had brought along.

His gaze first went over to the female warrior with short black hair and having an alluring body, closely following behind Cynthia. She was the very same person who had followed the princess yesterday too.

Then he observed the burly adventurer fully decked out in an armour made out of blackgold. When his gaze went over to the remaining two person, he couldn't help but frown.

Lucas who prided himself for reaching a high level and his achievement of becoming a branch manager of Adventurer's association at such a young age looked at the young man with pith black hair who appeared to be similar to his age.