The courtyard of Aethelgard was a world of its own.
A sprawling garden of blackstone and silver marble stretched as far as the eye could see, adorned with luminous trees whose leaves glowed faintly blue in the misty air. Canals of floating water snaked between the walkways, suspended by telekinetic fields that shimmered like glass. Above them, the shadow of the floating citadel's upper tiers drifted across the courtyard, massive platforms alive with runic light and distant movement.
Thousands of armored figures moved in disciplined silence, telekinetic knights, their eyes glowing faintly behind their helms. Some floated gracefully between the towers, others stood sentinel on hovering platforms, while a few simply walked across the air as if it were solid stone. The air thrummed with psychic hums and unseen power.
Ethan and Ria, along with the surviving humans, were carried by invisible hands through the open gates. The goblins followed behind, struggling and swearing, their armor clinking as they were lifted like puppets.
When their feet finally touched the courtyard ground, awe and fear rippled through both groups.
"This place…" Ria whispered, staring wide-eyed at the shimmering crystal obelisks, the towering statues of winged warriors, and the rivers of light that coursed across the floor. "It's like heaven and hell mixed together."
Ethan nodded slowly. "No… like something humans could never build. Not even in our legends."
The goblins, however, saw something very different.
Mudhand's yellow eyes darted across the courtyard, greed gleaming in his gaze. The goblin chief's thick green lips curled into a smirk as he drank in the sight of treasures, crystals, gold-lined walls, hovering vessels carved from luminous ore, and the sight of beautiful women walking among the knights, many of them humanlike but unnaturally graceful.
"Beautiful creatures," Mudhand muttered, licking his lips. "And they live surrounded by gold. A kingdom worth taking."
His second captain, Gnar, leaned close and whispered in their guttural tongue. "Captain… what do we do? This place reeks of power. Even the air is heavy."
Mudhand's grin widened. "We wait, Gnar. For now, we act humble. Let them show their hand first. We'll make a deal or take what we can and maybe even invade them from within."
He puffed out his chest, striding proudly even as the Esper knights watched him with cold, emotionless eyes. "The great kingdom of Gnarlak will not be cowed by floating rocks and parlor tricks."
The courtyard suddenly fell silent.
At the far end of the grand plaza, a broad stairway ascended toward a marble platform ringed by luminous pylons. Upon that platform stood five figures.
Four were armored in shimmering black and gold, their faces hidden behind helms of sharp design. Power radiated from them like heat from a forge. But it was the man in the center who drew every gaze.
Kyle.
His appearance was calm, regal even. Clad in dark attire with silver trimming and a cloak that shimmered faintly in the sunlight, he stood tall and confident, his eyes steady but unreadable. His presence carried weight, not of fury or arrogance, but of something deeper, an unnatural authority that made the air seem heavier.
Myrith knelt beside the platform, her spear resting upright. When Kyle raised a hand slightly, she spoke aloud. "Bring the leaders of both group forward."
The Esper knights moved instantly.
Mudhand and his second captain were escorted, though mudhand tried to make it seem like a proud march and Ethan and Ria were escorted gently, though they still looked tense.
As they reached the center of the courtyard, they found themselves standing on a glowing sigil that pulsed beneath their feet. The air shimmered faintly, sealing them inside a dome of psychic energy.
Kyle stepped forward a few paces and studied them silently.
For a long, heavy moment, no one spoke.
Then Mudhand broke the silence with a guttural laugh. "So. You are their lord, human?"
"Ha!" Mudhand then barked, his tusks glinting. "You absolutely smell like a human. Weak and soft. But you hide behind strong warriors. Clever, for a worm."
Ethan flinched, but Kyle only watched him calmly. "And you must be the leader of this army of goblins."
"I am Mudhand of the Gnarlak Kingdom," the goblin declared, puffing his chest out even further. "One of the captain of the western legions. You have attacked my warriors and interfered in my hunt. This act could be seen as a declaration of war."
Myrith's eyes flashed, but Kyle raised a hand slightly. "War? You were chasing what seems like ordinary civilians, farmers on the wasteland. I simply wanted to save my kind on whatever conflict is happening."
Mudhand grinned wide, showing rows of sharp teeth. "You speak as if you do not understand this world, human lord. The weak are prey. The strong are kings. Those creatures like you humans are cattles, nothing more."
The word hung in the air like a blade.
Kyle's eyes frowned. "Cattle?"
Mudhand turned his head toward him and laughed. "huh? Why are so confused human? But it's been a while since I've seen one of your kind speak without trembling."
Kyle's eyes narrowed slightly. "Explain."
Mudhand tilted his head mockingly. "You mean you don't know? The war ended two centuries ago. Humanity lost. Almost wiped out. The survivors crawl through the dirt, breeding and hiding like rats. The rest of us hunt them when we please. Their flesh is sweet, their bones make good broth, and their women breed strong children."
Even Gnar, the second captain, laughed crudely beside him.
Myrith's knuckles tightened around her halberd. "My lord, permit me to silence these vermin."
Kyle's voice was calm. "Not... yet..."