The group moved slowly but steadily toward the gates of the port city. Cassius, as usual, held the reins, seated in the driver's place. Everyone else had climbed into the carriage. It was rather cramped, yet no one complained—all eyes were fixed on the view beyond the windows.
A gust of wind carried the scent of the sea. The cries of seagulls and the distant roar of the surf reached their ears. Here and there, masts and flags flashed into view.
The twins, seeing the sea for the first time, let out cries of excitement. Their skin prickled with goosebumps, and their hearts quickened. It felt as though the world had suddenly grown wider, more vast than they had ever imagined.
"So beautiful…" Grace breathed dreamily.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Aika and Chris tried to appear composed, yet the same childlike wonder flickered in their eyes as in the twins'. They, too, were seeing the sea for the first time.
Only Catherine and Kaguya studied the walls of the port city with wary eyes, as if preparing for something.
Stormdale, located on the southern border of the continent of Alaz, was the largest port of the Magical Empire and the destination of their journey.
King Orion had invested enormous sums into this city. The project had taken many long years to complete. Hundreds of outstanding mages—from water sorcerers to masters of rune-weaving—had labored over the construction of the harbor. Thousands of workers had taken part in building the city. Millions of gold lyres had been spent.
But every effort had been justified. The city had become renowned throughout Eridania. Stormdale was now rightfully called the heart of maritime trade.
From its harbor, hundreds of ships set sail each day—some carrying rare crystals and alchemical potions, others loaded with grain and textiles. Merchants, warriors, mages, and travelers flocked here to stock up on rarities and hear the latest news.
Here and there, one could see representatives of the most diverse races. Elves, barbarians, beastfolk, dwarves, and even orcs mingled in a strange harmony, driven solely by their interests.
They had barely approached the city when they were stopped. A group of armed men blocked the road.
Catherine tensed at once. This was a major city. There was certainly an enforcer at the Sky-Dweller level stationed here—most likely more than one. That meant she had to raise her caution to the highest degree and keep a low profile. Fortunately, she had anticipated something like this.
Without wasting a moment, Cassius took a defensive stance and called out loudly, "Who are you? And what do you want?"
"Routine inspection. We ask for your cooperation," one of the men replied calmly, clearly the leader of the group.
"Oh? Are we under suspicion? I don't recall carriages being searched upon entering the city," Cassius answered, not yielding an inch.
"You are correct, sir. The decree arrived only a week ago. We are searching for fugitives, so we must inspect all carriages. Please step aside. It is for your own safety."
The guard did not wait for a reply.
He gave a short signal to the others and stepped toward the carriage, completely ignoring Cassius. At that moment, something was thrown straight at him. Instinctively, he raised his hand and caught the object before it could strike his face.
At first, he thought he had been attacked, but when he looked at what he was holding, he froze…
In his palm lay a small shield-shaped plaque. Carved upon its surface was a roaring lion—a symbol he recognized at once. His fingers trembled involuntarily, and a flicker of fearful respect crossed his eyes.
"Do you know what that is?" a lazy voice drawled from inside the carriage.
The guard narrowed his eyes and saw a fair-haired young man lounging carelessly by the window. On either side of him, comfortably settled, lay two girls with cat ears. An expression of condescending superiority rested on the young man's face.
An unpleasant stab pierced the guard's chest. Beningham… The single thought was enough. Even if the plaque might have raised doubts, the presence of the beastkin girls dispelled them completely. Only that family could afford such blatant arrogance.
He immediately changed his tone, straightened his back, and spoke with marked politeness.
"Sir, please forgive the delay. We did not realize we had the honor of welcoming a guest of the ducal house."
Chris let out a lazy yawn and, without even looking at him, tossed out, "Can we go?"
There was impatience in his voice, the petulant boredom of someone accustomed to the world parting before him on its own.
"Yes, sir, but why does your carriage bear no insignia?" the guard ventured, daring to clarify in order to ease his concerns. He had no idea his question would sour the young man's mood in an instant.
"Damn it, what business is it of yours why my carriage has no insignia? But since you're so desperate to know—listen. We were in a hurry on urgent business and took a shortcut through the Deep Forest. We were robbed. The carriage was destroyed. I was robbed."
He emphasized the last word as if striking with it.
"Perhaps you'd like to enlist in a cleansing squad and go look for the idiots who dared to do that?"
"Sir… forgive my curiosity. Of course, you may pass!" The guard's voice wavered noticeably. He straightened abruptly and shouted, turning to his men, "Let them through! Let them through at once!"
"The plaque. My pass," Chris reminded him imperiously, waving his hand in irritation. "What exactly are you taught here?"
"Yes—yes, at once!" The guard nearly dropped the plaque in his haste as he hurried to return it to its owner.
Chris gave a careless nod, like a man accepting an apology without even granting the other a glance.
The carriage rolled forward. The guards hastily stepped aside, letting it pass as though the very road itself had to clear before its wheels.
When the carriage disappeared around the bend, the guard let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his brow. His heart was pounding as if he had just finished a chase. He had been terrified that his name would end up in a report for mishandling a noble representative.
"Damn him," he muttered under his breath, not daring to speak louder. "These young masters of the tenth generation… just don't let them file a complaint. To hell with all of it—I never signed up for this!"
He could not have imagined that, at that very moment, the people inside the carriage were breathing with the same—if not greater—relief.
"The news has already reached Stormdale. I need to be more careful acting in this city," Catherine thought, gazing out the window.
"Ahahaha, that was so refreshing," Chris laughed carelessly.
Aika immediately gave him a light smack, her eyes flashing.
The carriage entered the city.
The city pulsed with restless life. Representatives of countless races and cultures crowded the streets. Like all cities of the Magical Empire, it was divided into four districts, and at its center rose a towering magic spire.
Stormdale's defining feature was its rhythm—the city never slept. Its name spoke for itself: storms frequently raged here, yet they did not hinder trade. Instead, they lent the city a distinct atmosphere—noisy, intense, unpredictable.
The houses were built in a wide variety of styles.
Elven tree dwellings with graceful arches stood beside the heavy stone buildings of dwarves. Wooden barbarian huts were set next to luxurious human mansions. It was a strange and colorful city, yet life here boiled without pause.
Merchants strode along the streets, arguing over wheat shipments and the hiring of laborers. In the squares, mages staged demonstrations, showcasing their abilities to potential clients.
Not far away stood a group of slaves in shackles. Each bore a plaque hanging from their chest with a price written upon it. And in an alley, a young aristocrat hovered persistently around an elven girl, attempting to strike up a conversation.
As they approached the central square, they saw a large crowd gathered there.
A town crier proclaimed loudly across the square.
The carriage slowed slightly. They wanted to hear the latest news.
"Clashes with barbarian tribes continue along the eastern borders of the Empire. King Orion has dispatched additional troops to defend our lands. General Lewis De Clare has taken command of the expedition and promises a swift victory over our enemy."
"In recent times, cases of deception involving witches from the continent of Velnor have increased. Be cautious when entering contracts—read the terms carefully! Also, avoid contact with demons and witches whenever possible. They cannot be trusted!"
"The angels have assumed governance of the Neutral Continent. For the next ten years, the continent promises to remain peaceful under their rule. Before stepping down, the vampire delegation from Nightingale passed a bill recognizing the legitimacy of blood vengeance. The bill has received approval from the Demons and will take effect immediately."
"ATTENTION! Reports have arrived from the Roman Empire regarding the awakening of the 'Child of Darkness,' destined to bring ruin upon the human race. The god Apollo has taken decisive action but was only able to partially strip him of his power.
According to our allies, the 'spawn of devils' has fled to the Magical Empire! Act with caution and report any suspicious individuals.
Posters bearing the images of the 'Harbinger of Night' and his accomplices will soon be displayed in crowded areas. If you encounter them, notify the authorities immediately.
The reward for information reaches 100 gold! And 500 for capture!"
Grey, who had been cheerfully looking around just moments before, buried his face in his mother's chest and tried to cover his ears with his hands. The boy's mood sank to the very bottom in an instant.
Kaguya sat nearby. She lowered her head, lost in her own thoughts, her face drained of expression. In her pensive state, she did not notice the atmosphere inside the carriage growing increasingly tense.
"We need to hurry. We'll stay at an inn tonight. Cassius, hire a ship with a questionable reputation. Don't pay attention to the price. Make it look like we're nothing but a fat sheep waiting to be robbed. We must leave the city as soon as possible," Catherine instructed.
The trio had never seen the woman so serious. At that moment, she seemed like an entirely different person.
"So, it's time to say goodbye, isn't it?" Chris said with a trace of reluctance.
Although he was not as close to the family as Kaguya or Aika, he had grown attached to his companions after surviving a life-and-death ordeal together. He had also noticed how deeply his sister-in-law had become attached to them. His innocent question seemed to strike Kaguya to the core and jolt her from her thoughts.
"Chris, Aika, we need to have a serious talk when we arrive at the inn," the girl said in a resolute tone that sent a chill down both their spines.
"YES!" came the immediate reply. The newlyweds' synchronization instantly rose to the level of the twins. They knew that when Kaguya spoke in that tone, she would accept nothing but "Yes" as an answer.
When they arrived at their destination, the inn was empty. It was daytime, and all the patrons had gone about their business. Only a sweet-looking girl of about fifteen was wiping down the tables.
Seeing the guests, she tossed aside her rag and greeted them in a syrupy voice:
"Welcome to Stormdale! We're delighted to have you at our humble inn. Would you like lunch, or would you prefer to rent rooms?"
"Greetings," Catherine replied politely. With Kaguya's silent approval, she handled the lodging arrangements.
"We need two rooms. One for two adults and two children, the other for three adults. Include meals in the bill. We will also require water in the mornings."
"At once, ma'am. How long do you plan to stay with us?"
"Two nights, no longer."
The girl immediately began fumbling with the accounts. She was clearly inexperienced and still learning how to calculate. Her diligence earned a nod of approval from Catherine. It was rare to encounter commoners who could read and write at such a young age.
"That will be ten silver, my lady," she finally said a minute later.
"Here. I've added fifty copper. Study just as diligently, and I'm sure you'll go far," Catherine encouraged her with a smile.
A smile bloomed across the girl's face like a spring flower. She quickly completed the paperwork and escorted the guests to their rooms.
"I want to follow Cassius and his family," Kaguya said bluntly, without beating around the bush.
"Sister—Kaguya!" Chris and Aika leapt from their seats in surprise.
Though they knew of her feelings, such a decision seemed far too rash. Not only were they fleeing the Beningham family, but during their journey they had clearly seen that Cassius did not share Kaguya's affections. On top of that, their intended destination was entirely different.
But Kaguya pressed on, not giving them a chance to object:
"I've realized that I love him. I love Cassius and the children. I know we had planned to go to the Neutral Continent—you've heard that the Angels have taken control there for the next ten years. And that would have been favorable for us.
But I'm asking you to let me be selfish. Just this once.
I can't part from them. I can't.
When I saw the city, the first thought that struck me was that I wanted to return to the Deep Forest immediately and stay there forever. The thought of leaving twists me inside. Will you support me?"
Kaguya spoke without holding anything back, revealing the depths of her emotions. By the end of her words, her eyes were glistening. She looked at them like a puppy abandoned on the street.
Aika sighed and glanced at Chris. Deep down, she had already decided that she would follow her sister wherever she went. She had to.
When they had decided to flee from the Beningham family, Kaguya had supported them without hesitation. She had planned the entire escape—from the route to finding a master capable of nullifying slave contracts. All her life, the older sister had cared for her without ever asking for anything in return.
Could she say no now? What kind of person would she be if she did?
"We didn't realize it was this serious," Aika said, shaking her head with a small smile. "We'll support you. Have you talked to Cassius or Luvia about this yet?"
"Not yet. I wanted to hear your thoughts first," Kaguya said, her cheeks tinged with pink.
"What are you waiting for, silly big sister? Go tell Cassius everything you're feeling. We'll be with you."
In the next room, the exhausted children slept peacefully on the bed.
Catherine sat in the adjoining room. Before her stood a figure cloaked in black. From its outline, it was impossible to determine its gender or race. Their conversation was not meant for children's ears.
"Fufufu, so we are here. Those two did remarkably well. Especially Gray. What did he say? 'Mama, I always want to be with you! Even if I remain mortal, I will never become the monster everyone talks about.' How sweet. There are surely some interesting words hidden there.
They both know how to talk. Fufufu! We'll see. But for now…"
Her expression suddenly turned cold. She snapped her fingers, and a second faceless figure materialized before her.
"You called?"
"Charlie, report."
"We haven't found a trace. According to our data, the fourteenth Draconarii squad entered the Magic Empire a month ago. Thirty specialists joined them. Presumably, King Orion and the senate reached an agreement, but the details are unknown to us."
"And the port?"
"Three Skyborn are stationed in the barracks. Their exact powers remain unknown. There is also the mage tower, overseen by Archmage Carius. Rumor has it his power equals a third-tier Skyborn. The city is full of travelers. We simply cannot tell who is who."
"Good, that should suffice. Go! Tell Crespo to return immediately; she has a task awaiting her. You will take her place," Catherine ordered.
"Understood," Charlie replied before vanishing alongside his partner.
Cassia emerged from the shadow of her mistress.
"Ma'am, can these agents be trusted? They are human and may believe in the prophecy. They know all of our movements and have followed us directly for the past few months. Perhaps they've already contacted the authorities."
"Fufufu, even if they believe in the prophecy, they wouldn't dare betray me," Catherine said confidently.
"If you believe so…" Cassia lowered her head.
"Daring to reach for something so precious to me, daring to hunt down my children? These imperial dogs must be craving death," Catherine said, her beautiful face twisting into a grim expression.
She closed her eyes and began planning her next moves.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, followed by Kaguya's hesitant voice:
"Cassius, may we talk?"
The maid, dressed in men's attire, threw a pleading look at her mistress, silently asking for guidance.
"Go," Catherine said firmly. "Resolve this once and for all. You should have done it long ago. By dragging it out, you're only causing her more pain. She's a good girl, but unfortunately, she cannot accompany us any further. Staying would only ruin her life. However, you must not reveal your disguise."