Iluthath

Coming to a halt, Aurelia stared at the two knights and squire patrolling the entrance. Their silver armor, blinding those that dared to gaze upon them. However, unlike the intimidating knights, the squire wore a simple blue tunic and trousers without a weapon.

"Halt! State your noble house!" A nameless knight demanded his iron helmet covering his expression.

"I am from House Blackwater," Aurelia shouted, pointing behind her towards the young lord with a pale grimace rinsing his mouth out with a cantine of water. "He is Duke Zireael Blackwater."

"Duke Blackwater! You're! Wait here while I confirm your status." He commanded, turning to his squire standing by his side. "It's her. Inform the commander that Aurelia Morningstar just arrived." The Nameless knight muttered within the ears of his squire.

Spitting out the foul-tasting water, Zireael turned to Aurelia speaking to the Knights. He approached, walking past her, not worrying about the Knights. He was, after all, a duke.

"Duke Blackwater, please wait till we confirm your status."

Sending the knight, a glance ZIreael waved towards Aurelia, "Come, let's go, next time ignore them. You are from my house. If they need to confirm, they can do that after we are gone. However, I am sure they know the consequence of interfering with a Duke?"

Slapping their chest with their right fist, they saluted the Young Lord, "Of course, please proceed, your grace."

"Good, also tell your commander if he wishes to take what is mine; I do not mind killing everyone here." Zireael cruelly said, pressing on with an amused expression.

"Is something wrong?" Aurelia questioned, a little unsettled, glancing back at the knights.

"Not for you at least, but those knights sure got lucky." Governor Cor shouted out from the air. Landing in a flamboyant manner, gathering the attention of every prominent family within the area. "Duke Blackwater, it's an honor!"

"Cor? Why are you here?"

"For Talia, of course, that idiot Cyrus wishes to warn her of her mother's plot." He whispered for only Zireael and Aurelia to hear.

"Is that how you talk about your king?" Zireael asked with a smile. Amused by the strange Governor.

"Of course, I talk shit about everyone!" Cor shouted, laughing to himself. "Why do you think I live in Valmor?"

"And what of me?"

"Lord Blackwater, how could you think that?" Cor shamelessly shouted, slapping his chest, "You are my god! How could I ever dare? No, I would not even have the courage to speak ill of you!"

"Wow!" exclaimed aurelia shocked at the display of Cor. "Aurelia needs to Learn from you!"

"No, please don't!" Zireael weakly stated, imagining an enthusiastic woman acting shamelessly like Cor running wild in the realm.

"Come, let me lead you to the girls, Duke Blackwater. I spotted them before I landed," said Cor leading. Zireael, however, shook his head,

"You go on ahead. I will catch up." He said, walking towards the still lake without a single ripple.

Scrunching her brow Aurelia turned to follow, but a hand pressed upon her shoulder, "Leave him; Zireael would have taken you if he wanted you with him."

Bitterly nodding, Aurelia pursed her lips, following after Cor towards Talia and Innis. Zireael, however, kneeled on one knee, pressing his palm within the lake of reflection.

"It's quite amazing. Who would have thought such a place would exist within a pocket dimension. You can enter the Astral Sea with this lake." The Ethereal voice of the Master sounded.

"For what? To die a quick death?" Lord Blackwater said, "But I do find it strange such a thing exists here. Do you know why it's here?"

"No, but judging by the amount of Astral Energy here, I would say someone meditated over this lake to connect to the Astral Sea. This realm was probably a part of the main continent of Iluthath once before." Said the Master, with profound interest echoing from his mysterious voice.

Removing his hands from the lake that somehow didn't wet his hands, a magical smile appeared upon his lips, "If it's from Iluthath, then this Realm must be insanely large!" Zireael praised, recalling his time upon the most significant realm within the universe. It was said by many scholars and sages that Iluthath was the focal point of all domains standing within the middle of reality.

"This realm Alos is indeed massive," The Master confirmed, "It would take thousands of years just to reach the other side of this world. Not to mention the endless other pocket dimensions one could fall into."

"A realm within a realm within another realm. " The Young Master joked, "It will seem Aurelia will indeed have an enjoyable journey."

Hesitating for a moment, Zireael grew silent, glancing towards the heavens, "Master, I am thinking of having Aurelia work as an adventurer. What are your thoughts?"

Hearing silence Zireael shook his head dismissively." never mind, it was foolish of me to ask."

"Sorry, my boy, I was simply surprised. You don't usually ask for help... even when your mother died." The Master whispered, "But I think it is a good idea, also I want you to make her a knight."

"A knight?"

"You disapprove?" The Master question.

"No, simply don't see a point to it but fine. I shall have Talia fill out the paperwork and get it all taken care of." Zireael said, walking towards the camp prepared by Innis and Talia.

"Zireael, my boy, I do not mean a title, but rather train her to protect you. Give her a mission in life for now till she figures out what she needs." He stated, bring a shine to Zireael.

"Are you Zireael Blackwater?" Baron Calen Aylmer suddenly asked, startling the young lord. A nobleman known throughout the Kingdom of Ferrum for his artifacts collected from all across the realm.

"Duke blackwater," Zireael corrected, observing the young nobleman covered in gold and silver.

"My apologies then, your Grace, but would you be interested in a holy relic of her graces and our goddess Azalea? " Barron Aylmer religiously announced, pulling out an elegant neckless depicting a dragon with five heads connected to a single body just over the shoulders, its wings spreading wide, revealing a rather noble grace not seen in many of the usual trinkets.

Scrunching his brow Zireael stared at the dragon staring back at him, he scuffed, dismissing the man, "Not interested in some dragon, nor some goddess I have never seen before. The hell do I look like bowing towards some random bitch?" he said, turning his back.

Baron Aylmer, however, was rather outraged, widening his eyes, his body trembling. Pointing his trembling finger, he hollered, "Godless! You're a non-believer begone beast! Your kind needs not to exist within our kingdom! Begone!"