4. Arrival to Martlock

Chapter 4: Arrival at Martlock

A day had swiftly passed, and Damon and Emily approached the imposing gates of Martlock, one of the five proud nations of the Aoki continent. The continent, a vast land of diversity and power, was divided into Lymhrst, Martlock, Forsterling, the Demon Country, and Aoki Central. This year, Martlock stood in the spotlight, preparing to host the renowned Bloodline Awakening Ceremony, a sacred event reserved for the most talented practitioners of the righteous path. The entire nation buzzed with anticipation, as only the most exceptional geniuses would grace the occasion.

As the siblings neared the gates, Damon turned to Emily, mischief twinkling in his eyes. "Sister, why bother flying down? Am I not a strong enough man to simply waltz through these gates?" he teased.

Emily chuckled, though her voice carried a note of caution. "Damon, stop joking! The powerhouses here are no trifling matter. If anyone senses your energy—so pure and distinctly demonic—we might not live to see the ceremony. Suppress it, now!"

Damon raised an eyebrow, but with a flicker of intent, his aura vanished. The sudden stillness left Emily momentarily stunned. "He concealed it entirely," she marveled inwardly. "Even I can barely sense a trace."

As they descended, Emily tucked her mist raven into her beast pouch, and they proceeded on foot to the grand gates of Martlock.

Entering Martlock

Upon arrival, they found themselves in a queue, each entrant required to sign a contract pledging obedience to Martlock's strict laws. The siblings complied without hesitation and soon made their way to a nearby stable to rent horses for their journey deeper into the city.

A young stable worker greeted them with a curt nod. "Two fourth-rank horses? That'll be 500 low-grade spirit stones."

Emily gasped. "What? Why so expensive? Can't you offer them for 100 spirit stones instead?" she pleaded, her tone a mix of shock and hope.

The worker's patience wore thin. "Why do women always argue about pricing? Guards!" he barked, motioning for two armored men to remove them.

Before the situation escalated, Damon stepped forward, tossing a bag of 100 mid-grade spirit stones onto the counter. "Will this suffice for your finest horse?"

The worker froze, his demeanor shifting instantly. "Young lord! Forgive my earlier rudeness—I didn't realize someone of your standing was here," he stammered, his tone now dripping with deference.

He gestured toward two magnificent beasts in the stable. "We just received these two fourth-rank horses. This one, with a lightning attribute, is calm and swift. The other, pitch-black with a fire attribute, is untamed and dangerous. It's killed two commanders and a king's realm expert."

Emily paled. "Brother, don't even think about it! We can't afford any mishaps before the ceremony!"

But Damon, undeterred, stepped forward, his gaze locked on the fiery steed. The horse stomped and snorted, flames flickering around its hooves.

"Relax, it's time for you to behave," Damon said softly, releasing a fraction of his suppressed aura.

The horse immediately stilled, retreating into the corner of its pen. Its fiery defiance melted into submission as it recognized Damon's overwhelming presence. He extended a hand, and the beast approached hesitantly, lowering its head in surrender.

The stable worker gaped in disbelief. "This horse resisted taming for months, yet a mere boy of fifteen subdued it in seconds?"

He recovered quickly, his opportunistic instincts kicking in. "For such a feat, young lord, I'll offer you a discount! Just 400 mid-grade spirit stones for the pair."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Ah, so you mean five mid-grade spirit stones, right?" she quipped.

The worker shot her a glare. "400," he repeated firmly, though he smiled nervously at Damon.

Damon laughed, tossing a pouch into the man's hands. Without counting, the worker hurriedly pocketed the stones and handed over two high-quality beast pouches for the horses. He led the siblings to a discreet exit, even recommending a nearby inn.

As Damon and Emily departed, the worker retreated to his office, greedily opening the pouch. His eyes widened as he counted 500 mid-grade spirit stones and three high-grade spirit stones. The sight nearly brought him to tears. "What a generous young lord!" he exclaimed. "I'll remember this day forever!"

Trouble at the Inn

The siblings arrived at the inn recommended by the stable worker, drawing immediate attention. Emily's ethereal beauty, accentuated by her delicate veil, captivated every onlooker. Damon, exuding an air of quiet authority, kept his focus on securing their rooms.

As they waited for their keys, a towering man approached, his arrogant smirk revealing his unsavory intentions. His gaze lingered on Emily, and without warning, he reached out to grope her.

In a blur, Emily unsheathed her blade. The man's hand fell to the ground, severed cleanly at the wrist. He screamed in agony, clutching the stump as blood pooled at his feet.

The inn fell silent, the patrons frozen in shock. "Ahhhh! Guards!" the man wailed.

Before chaos could erupt, a commanding voice cut through the tension.

"My doors are not open to hooligans," declared a striking woman who stepped forward. Her presence exuded authority, her voluptuous figure and icy aura silencing the room. With a wave of her hand, she unleashed a burst of ice-spiritual energy, freezing the air and driving most of the guests into a panicked retreat.

Emily remained calm, while Damon watched with mild amusement.

The woman, Chu Milan, turned her sharp gaze to Damon. For a moment, her instincts screamed at her to tread carefully. Something about him unnerved her, though she couldn't pinpoint why.

"I apologize for the disturbance," she said cautiously. "May I ask your family name, young master?"

Damon's expression remained unreadable. He offered no reply, his silence a deliberate act of dismissal.

Milan's composure faltered, a mix of irritation and indignation flashing in her eyes. "Have I not shown enough respect?" she thought, her frustration barely contained.

But as their eyes met, the icy confidence she wielded faltered. Damon's calm gaze carried an unspoken threat—a reminder of power far beyond her understanding.