To The Kingdom

Once the group started their travel not a single one of them knew where they were headed only Kanied himself knew

"So where we going now?" asked Eredeti

"Were headed to the kingdom of Zoldivolk to speak with their king about their participation on the war especially since we already ran into so many disasters, After the meeting is over we shall head over to a elven city ran by a close friend of mine" Kanied explained

"I doubt the elves would remotely enjoy the idea of letting outsiders get a glimpse at their architecture" Balderic said

"And why not?" Steve asked

"Simple the elves are even more xenophobic then the hobbits since we don't fear outsiders we simply chose to not participate in foreign disputes however we still allowed visitors and trade amongst the outside, unlike the elves who hate visitors and only trades with certain nations" Balderic explained

"Why is that?" asked Eredeti

"Well to put it simply my boy, the elves haven't always been that way however after aiding human nations for so long but they chose to fight each other instead of the impending doom named Emanthel and instead pointed their swords towards the elves they detested the war and simply chose to shut themselves off from the rest of the world and would only lend support to those who stood against Emanthel the kingdom we are headed to the Zoldivolk kingdom is one of the few nations who have their support" Kanied said

"Well it makes since if the elves who tried to help the humans would be thanked and praised but they instead dragged them in their bickering who wouldn't be a little distasteful" Steve said

"Aren't you human?" Balderic asked

"Yeah! and that only makes it worse that I'm the same species as the fools that fight over land and money instead of the true evil!" Steve stated

"I agree instead of seeing the true danger they ignored it and instead chose to weaken each other" Eredeti said

"Well elves live much longer than humans my boy, so it was only natural that not many were left who experienced the disaster and power of Emanthel lead by the dark lord himself" Kanied said

"Well that's why this time we must succeed in weakening Emanthel or at least impede its rise otherwise I fear it may be even a worse fate then last time" Balderic said

"And how is Zoldivolk going to help?" Eredeti asked

"Well once we have a audience with the king he promised support on our adventures he said he shall give us 3 masters of their respective fields" Kanied said

"Sounds like a lot of support for a simple scouting mission" Steve said

"Well now don't forget about the plague bringer...." Eredeti said before he realized Steve lost his family to him

"As if I could forget about that demon, you bastard!" Steve said with a raging voice

"Woah, sorry Steve I was just trying to say we were going to need the help" Eredeti said trying to calm him

"Hpmh I guess so but still Kanied you look down on us if you think were not worthy" Steve said

"That's not what I was trying to say I'm just saying we need the numbers if we wish to take the plague bringer down" Kanied said

"I agree the sheer number of bugs is disastrous if you truly wish to take that demon down we need support" Eredeti said

"What?! you wish to take down the plague bringer too! you truly are fools if you believe we won't need the help of the Zoldivlok kingdom" Balderic said

"What do you mean too?" Eredeti asked

"Kanied care to explain?" Steve asked

*cough* *cough* "By whatever do you mean Balderic, I am just as confused as you my friends" Kanied tried to explain

"Well enough talk we should get ahead on out travels" Kanied said as he tried to direct the conversation elsewhere

Kanied then dragged Balderic to the side while they continued walking out of the forest he then grabbed him by the shoulder and just before he could talk Kanied covered his mouth with his hand

"Balderic whatever you do you mustn't tell them just yet for only the highest ranking officials of the Zoldivolk kingdom know of the request the king will give us if they were to know prematurely that would cause suspicious stares from the king's council" Kanied said

"What?! why didn't you tell them first, actually before that why didn't you tell me you wished to slay the plague bringer!" Balderic said with his face turning red from anger

"Calm down my old friend I was going to tell you while we traveled the land I didn't think they were going to bring it up now" Kanied tried to explain

After their little conversation Kanied and Balderic moved back to Eredeti and Steve's side although Eredeti heard every single word

'What does he mean he cant tell us just yet?' Eredeti thought

'Well if it could cause problems then I guess it's a good thing we don't know just yet' Eredeti thought to himself

"So what were you 2 talking about?" Steve asked

"We were discussing a certain problem but worry not it has been resolved" Kanied said

"Hmph no wonder I could see Balderic about to burst out in anger" Steve said

"It was just a little disagreement we had nothing to worry about" Balderic said

'Wow they're good at lying' Eredeti thought

Balderic and Kanied looked both equally unfazed at the fact that they were concealing such a big secrete from their allies almost like they were used to lying

'how suspicous' Eredeti thought to himself

Although Eredeti wouldn't think much about it now in the future it would haunt him like a burning sense in the back of his conscious

"Well let us hurry after all we don't want the king to await for our arrival, now do we?" Balderic said

"I agree I would hate for him to be distasteful of our long arrival" Kanied said

"Alright I guess we should get a move on then" Steve said

The group started to travel faster and periodically run while taking short breaks every now and then and after nearly 11 days of traveling and passing by villages and cities small to large they finally reached it the capital of the kingdom of Zoldivolk they could see how wonderous the capital was as a large castle sat atop the hill that the capital resided on

as they traveled across the forest and onto the paved roads they could see dozens of people leaving and coming across the wonderous roads merchants and hunters alike while their were guard stations to restaurants and motels, bakeries and all the necessities

"Woah how impressive is this place" Eredeti said

"I know the first time I went here was when I had to meet with my mates but still it excites me every time to see such a luxurious place" Steve said

As they traveled the road they were getting unusual gazes from everyone that passed them as Eredeti realized one thing

"Uhh shouldn't we bathe after such a long journey?" Eredeti asked

"Of course we shall my boy in fact I know just the place for it" Kanied said as a grin appeared on his face

Once they started to near the gates of the capital where a long line of people was seen waiting for entry the frequency of restaurants, vendors and even houses were increasing

"Hey Kanied why is their such a large amount of businesses running out side of the actuall capital? Heck I'm even starting to see more houses" Eredeti asked

"Well my boy the capital is already packed full so the next best place is outside of the gates and walls, while the population increases so will the housing and shops" Kanied explained

"Well that's obvious" Eredeti said

The group then headed over to what appeared to be a golden raven on a rather large bath house

"This my friends is called the Golden raven it is a rather respectable bath house with plenty of services" Kanied said with a wicked smile

As they all went in they all went to the counter and a young lady around her early twenties with a rather fir body and round in certain areas that sported brown hair and red eyes she then looked towards them and greeted them however Eredeti felt like something wasn't right like here soul was weirdly ominous however he didn't pay much attention to it

"Why hello gentleman, What can I do for you today to aid your services on this fine day" She said as she took a slight bow

"Why thank you young lass, We would just like a regular wash" Kanied said

"Why of course sir, Right this way" The young woman said

The group of 4 then started to follow her she then lead them to a large changing room with several rooms of small to medium baths to their left and a rather large open one to their right

"Excuse me gentleman but would you prefer a private bath or the public one" The young lass inquired

"The public one is fine" Steve said

"Very well that will be 2 gold coins 3 silvers and 15 coppers and keep in mind we discounted the final pricing a little lower than normal due to this being your first time" She said

"Why thank you miss" Eredeti said

"Of course, sir" She said

The young woman then collected the coins from Kanied and as she walked off Kanied had a weird smile on his face

"Kanied you didn't have to pay for all of us you know" Steve said

"I agree you old bastard" Balderic said

"Don't worry about paying me back, for this is my treat for toady" Kanied said

Eredeti just nodded and turned to get changed into the robes that were provided as the rest followed however when Eredeti turned back and saw how Kanied wasn't all wrinkles and bones he was quite surprised to see him in a rather fir body

"Wow Kanied I didn't know you actually had a body under there" Eredeti said

"Please my boy if I didn't at least keep up my body I would never have been able to move that far that fast now would I?" Kanied said

"Hmph I guess your right" Eredeti after hearing his answer dind't think much of it

"Now my friends onto the bathing" Kanied said

When Kanied burst the door to the public bath opened they were all equally shocked to see that it was a bath filled with pleasantries like plates of grapes and wine and a multitude of women dressed in white dress collars with a black vest over it and of the men who looked rather rich all from old to young and fat to fit all getting washed and treated like kings in here

However Kanied's sudden entry caused everyone except the attendants to look and while some scoffed it off others were quite upset for interrupting their pleasantries and were rather enraged at whoever it was until they all looked to see Kanied and all looked away in defeat as if they knew who he was

Eredeti on the other hand felt like punching the old man in his gut for inviting them to such a place however he held himself back after sensing the air it felt like he just walked into a place filled with a small scent of ill intent and death and now Eredeti knew something was going on however he didn't pay attention to it because he knew if he did it would cause trouble

Kanied then looked and saw Eredeti's face of discomfort

"You sense it to my boy?" Kanied asked

"Yes I do, what is this weird smell that keeps assaulting my senses?" Eredeti said

"I'm sorry my boy but for now ignore we shall speak when we leave" Kanied said

"Very well then" Eredeti replied

Soon after Kanied took off his robes and took a dip in the huge bath and soaked and soon after they all followed while they washed all the dirt off themselves and cleansed in the water after a little while Eredeti decided to get out and put his robe back on and as he was about to go back to the changing room one of the woman standing on the side walked up to him

"Excuse me sir would you like to have a full rub down of our unique scented oil?" She said

Eredeti then smelled himself once again and pondered on the idea for a little while before reluctantly accepting as he thought it would look strange to not accept such a offer from a beauty

"Very well then" Eredeti said

Eredeti was then lead to sit at a chair where he had to lower his robes and layed down cozily with the option of eating the grapes that were provided and sip on the wine and as the lady took off her gloves and spread the oil on her hands and started to massage his back it was a pleasuring experience to him until he heard a ring

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A being in your proximity is attempting to peer into your soul

-Due to unique trait ?????? the being was blocked

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'What the hell?! what is she trying to do to me' Eredeti thought as he looked towards the lady massaging him

The attendants face didn't even change or twitch in the slightest as she continued her work without fail although her mind was telling a completely different story

'What?! how did the blessing not work? Oh well the poison should work'

Little did she know that poison that would effect his mind and show her the strength of Eredeti would never work on him since his unique trait canceled it out

After the massage was over Eredeti got up from the chair and pulled his robes over himself once again and headed to the changing room as the others were just getting their massage started once he picked up all his clothes and gear he headed outside

Eredeti didn't have to wait for long as all the others finally came out after a 20 minutes time spand

"ahhh I've never felt more relived before" Steve said

"I feel like my muscles have been cleansed of all impurities" Balderic said

"Hah that's why I told you this spot was my favorite spot" Kanied replied

Once Eredeti saw Kanied he pointed to the left and leaned his head that way Kanied then walked towards him as they went a ways they started to talk

"Kanied what is wrong with that place that attendant, She was trying to do something to me" Eredeti said

"It seems you noticed it to my boy, Well to put it in simple terms she was trying to gauge your strength and peer into your memories" Kanied said

"What?! why would you take us to that place if you knew that would happen!" Eredeti said

"Calm down my boy I placed a spell on all of us beforehand" Kanied said

"But still why would you take us even knowing all of that" Eredeti said

"Simple I was trying to see who they corrupted and how far their advancements have taken them and it seems their hostess has gotten stronger over the time I was gone" Kanied said

"Who's they and what advancements are you talking about?!" Eredeti said in a aggravated tone

"Not now my boy we must talk else where, here is not safe" Kanied said as he looked around

"Alright, however you must tell me everything!" Eredeti demanded

"Very well" Kanied replied