'Even I'm having a hard time from restraining myself and pinching her.' A casual thought crept up as she saw Andrew pinching it. "Ahh! If this is your idea of a present then you have a terrible taste in gifts."
"Haha! Come on, did you really think that it would be that simple?" Andrew laughed as he drunk in Ashley's puzzled state. Sevyn had a small smile as she saw it.
It wasn't long before someone took the initiative to approach them. By looks alone, it was clear that they held a respectable position. They took the initiative to start the conversation.
"My Queen, I didn't think that we would be graced with your presence." He spoke as he made a slight bow. Sevyn was pleased as she glanced at the person in front of her. It was Zulgar.
His frame was rather short. his face was covered in a burly beard with his eyes radiating a faint blue spark that shimmered. What was more eye catching was his ears. They were sharp and pointed far out. It was evident that he was a dwarf.
"Please follow me." He added to which the three shortly after, the three were led straight to a huge building which was hard to miss as it stuck out amidst the other smaller buildings. Several eyes were thrown at them however they did not care.
Zulgar briefly chatted with the secretary before they were permitted. "Welcome to the Starlight Harbor." The lady behind the desk mused with a warm smile mused as the three walked past.
"Thank you." The party said simultaneously as they made their way to the elevator. Instead of their figures being shot up, they disappeared in an instant as they appeared right in front of a luxurious room.
Zulgar kept on leading them as he maintained his professionalism before opening the door that was behind him. "Please, welcome." He said warmly as he stepped to the side.
The three walked in with Sevyn taking the lead and the two following right after only to be exposed to a large and expansive room. It had a majestic view below the shores beneath and a thick scent of luxury clung in the air.
At the end of the room was another dwarf who seemed calm and reserved as he saw the three. He shot to his legs as he welcomed the three starting off with Sevyn.
"My Queen." His tone laced with reverence and admiration as he seemed entranced with her beauty. "Haldor, it is a pleasure to meet you." Sevyn responded warmly as the two conversed with each other.
They seemed like old acquaintance's meeting once more. Ashley took a seat as she fell passive, brooding it was as Andrew walked ever so casually to the windows as he took a more detailed look outside.
He was rather impressed as he saw it all. The ports below were full of people who were all bustling about their activities. Numerous ships sailed in as others seemed ready for departure, some hauling goods such as fish among others while others hauled people.
A mixture of races could be seen from here. The harbor had a different types of ships, with a blend of modernity while others seemed rather a bit outdated. 'Sablestone is known for being the lead when it comes to products such as fish which is rather a staple commodity with dwarves and a huge component with the other kingdoms.'
Andrew concluded as he saw all of it before shifting his attention back into the room. "Haldor, I have two special guests to introduce you to." Sevyn added as she gestured her hands towards Ashley and Andrew.
"Hello Haldor." Andrew mused passively as his attention landed back to Ashley. On the other hand Ashley remained indignant to Haldor's greeting as she seemed wrapped in her own world.
He was rather baffled by this encounter. 'It seems that the queen seeing her demeanor holds these two in high regard and yet this is how they are?' Haldor couldn't help but think.
"Haldor, this is Miss Ashley and that is her husband, Andrew." Sevyn added to clear things a bit for Haldor however it seemed to have achieved the opposite effect. 'The Miss Ashley! But this is nothing like her cold and distant self that Sevyn had informed me prior.
Regardless he still had to pay respect to them. "It is a treat to meet you two." It was as if his words landed on deaf ears as Andrew was engrossed on Ashley. His figure was crouched down to her level as he tried to comfort her.
Seeing her turn to face the other way, Andrew's interest in Ashley broke as he looked at the dwarf in the room who had a confused look on his face. Sevyn found the situation rather bizarre as she hadn't thought that Ashley could stoop this low.
"Haldor, since you seem have an expansive set of watercrafts on your hands, you wouldn't mind we borrowed one." Andrew finally addressed Haldor who was rather insulted.
'Sure making idiotic moves like demanding respect is something that I can't do but at the very least, can they at least show me some face?' He sighed helplessly at the scene unfolding in front of him.
"Of course I can." Andrew looked back to Sevyn. "Can you arrange Ashley's boat and have it ready for travelling?" Sevyn responded rather calmly as she was at a loss for words.
She was wondering whether Andrew was intentionally trying to provoke Haldor or this was his usual self. "Very well. I'm on it." Haldor finished off as his figure left the room.
Andrew was growing rather weary of her theatrics as he prepared to leave. "Come on Sevyn." He finished off as his figure left the room. Sevyn could only follow his orders as she tailed Andrew.
The two came down to the lobby and left before they went out further to the docks to which several men were carefully loading the cabin boat into the waters. With a bit of mana, it was rather easy.
"There it is." Haldor mused with a slight smile on his face however his mind was elsewhere. Andrew boarded it as he helped Sevyn on board. His eyes landed back to Haldor.
"Thanks." Was the only word that came out of his lips as he revved it up before the cabin boat shot freely into the waters leaving a splash of water behind.
Sevyn was rather perplexed that Andrew had left Ashley in such a manner. "The more you spend time with her, the more you'll understand." He explained as the boat shot out into the open waters.
He got off the steering wheel as he went out into the cockpit where Sevyn was seated patiently. He sat opposite of her as a glass wine appeared in his hand. He glanced at her before shifting his attention back towards the glass wine.
"There is a constant nagging that has been plaguing your mind. The crack to which the demonic spores seemed to emanate from. Your worries are justified but seeing that you are peculiar, I don't mind helping you."
He took a light sip to which he manifested another glass for her. The skies were clear and the sun was bright, a perfect day for all kinds of outdoor activities.
Sevyn stretched out her hand as she picked up the glass wine before taking a light sip. A cool and reinvigorating sense ran through her senses as she gulped it down.
She looked at it before her attention shifted back to the point of the subject. "There are numerous ways of dealing with it. Seal it, guard it and many more however there is another way of going about it."
"Do you wish to grow stronger?" He posed a question at the end of it all. "Yes." Wasn't it the natural way of life for beings to yearn for strength and maintain their frivolous lives.
"Very well. There are creatures that are beyond that crack that can shatter this world with a few breaths. By then the prestigious tier seven will devolve into a thing of the past and new beings will rule over."
"If you want to be strong by the time this happens, you will have to do something rather simple. I want your undying fealty." He finished it off with as devilish smile. "Very well, I accept."
It wasn't a huge consideration for her as her loyalty was already with Ashley. Offering it to Andrew was something she didn't need to worry herself over. "As for the, matter with the demon queen attending the meeting a month from now, I hope that it sits well with you. She won't do anything outlandish."
He gave a light chuckle to which she recalled that Ashley had given her such an instruction. With her trust fully embedded in her, she didn't consider much about it. She experienced a bit of friction with her nobles however it wasn't something that she couldn't contain.
The atmosphere seemed to grow grimmer and grimmer as they drew closer and closer to the crack. A sharp sting of corrupted mana density was present in the air however Andrew casted a barrier to shield Sevyn.
They drew closer and closer till they were right above it. Sevyn felt a chill all over her body as it yearned to leave this place at once. "Your main form of export will take a hit as this corruption will keep on spreading till it reaches main land."
"The aquatic beasts will be corrupted and it will keep on getting worse from there. I'll give you a bit of assistance however for your kingdom, you'll have to deal with it personally. If you need a bit of help, I'll send it over."
The engine fell silent as the gnawing feeling of fear only kept on growing. It seemed that Andrew wasn't in a rush to relocate elsewhere as he stood up and walked to the stern.
He stared at the deep red crack that seemed to stare back at him as a slight maniacal smile came across his face. He glanced far into the distance and his eyes landed on something of use.
Stretching his hand, the water seemed to move which drew Sevyn's attention closer to the stern. Looking at the shadowy creature that was rapidly approaching. She sensed a faint threatening presence from it however it wasn't something that she felt that her life was in danger.
*Whoosh*
Gallons of water seemed to wash off the creature that her eyes finally pieced together what it was. "A HYDRA!!" She couldn't believe her eyes as she saw it. However it wasn't in its full splendor as it was once was.
Two of its three heads seemed to be missing not to mention it no longer had any radiation of its tier emanating from it. The only thing that could be seen were faint sparks running across its only head.
It was now that Sevyn realized something. "She devoured it and gifted you its tier. But it seems that she had refrained from doing it properly and lost something that made it all the more potent." Andrew sighed as he looked at the Hydra.
*Snap*
The missing two heads seem to grow in place as much more developments seem to happen. The scaly back spurted out four magnificent wings however the creature was still lacking its life.
"Hah..." A small sigh escaped his lips as he suspended it in mid air. He cracked his neck as he took the glass from Sevyn's hands which was already empty with a casual snap.
"I can't believe that you left me!!" An enraged voice came from both of them which was more directed at Andrew. Looking back, Sevyn quickly made out that it was Ashley. "Great. Now can you transfer a bit of soul that you managed to devour from this hydra."
"Andy!!!!" Ashley grew all the more mad as she brushed off Andrew's comment. Andrew drew closer to Ashley as he cupped his hands onto her face. A look of rage was evident on her face as her crimson eyes bore deep into Andrew's jade green eyes.
"Chuuu~"
A soft kiss came from Andrew which tool Ashley by surprise. "Even though you're a great kisser, that still doesn't make you clear of leaving me in such a manner!" Her earlier rage seemed to have simmered slightly as she was still intimate with Andrew.
"I still have your present perfectly waiting for you. It's just a matter of patience, my beloved." He mused with a small smile to which Ashley's meltdown seem to melt away.
"Fine. I'll wait." Her cheeks bloated as Andrew drew closer as he bit her nose lightly. "Hah! Okay..." She regained her vigor and perkiness once more.