They circled around the city looking for a safe place to land, but anywhere that wasn't dense foliage was a crumbling building that just so happened to be barely held together by the vegetation that grew between the bricks and mortar.

When Kai suggested they gain some altitude and have a better look, Arnella shot the idea down as going any higher than they were currently cruising would expose their position.

Thinking back to the Greater Speckled Strike, Kai agreed that their long, slow tour of the fallen city of El'alora might be for the best.

Arnella revealed they were supposed to meet at the old palace, and that the palace grounds should be clear enough to land. But, she was also deliberately avoiding the easy landing location. She was wary of an ambush should the plans for the meeting been leaked. Which she clearly believed, with all the moving parts, was a distinct possibility.

That's when Syl, in her typical faction, appeared to offer her assistance.

"Give me a second. I can scout things out from above and no one will see me," she said as Alicia dropped into the seat at her side.

"As long as you are certain you won't be seen…" Arnella started as she slowed the skimmer to a stop, but she trailed off mid sentence, her head flicking about looking for Syl.

Syl must have altered her form, as she, from Kai's perspective, shifted slightly and lifted off from the deck of the skimmer to float like she did whenever she was in her old incorporeal spectral form.

Both Arnella and Alicia looked to Kai; Arnella, for clarification, while Alicia was trying to hide a sly grin. as Despite no longer being able to actually see her, she knew Syl was still there because of their party interface.

"It's up to you, Arnella," Kai said with a shrug. "You're the highest level person here. Can you detect Syl?"

Arnella looked to the spot where Syl must have disappeared from her sight and squinted.

"I think I can just about detect a slight distortion," she said after a moment of internal deliberation.

"Well, I'm behind you, so I am going to take that as permission," Syl said from where she had drifted.

A moment later, Kai's vision was filled with a dozen marked locations in the city all around them.

"You see anything interesting from up there? Any movement? Any other airships?" Arnella asked as Syl settled in to the seat beside Kai and snuggled into his shoulder.

The show of affection causing Alicia to fidget as she realised she might have missed an opportunity.

"Quite a few good landing spots that have open paths leading to what I think are the palace grounds. No real movement besides the people working to clear the area and the guards making up a light perimeter force around the area or guarding the ships that have docked? Or should I say landed? In the grounds."

"Hmm, the people, was it a mix, or mostly humans?"

"Good mix, why?"

Arnella sighed. "Unless they are using the Forgotten, a mix of races is not the Shattered Kingdoms' standard operating procedure. Though they might be trying to hide their involvement by using mercenaries again. Honestly, things would be so much simpler if they just stopped with all of their sloppy cloak and dagger shit."

"Are the Shattered Kingdoms really our only concern?" Kai asked out of curiosity more than anything else. He was getting a little tired of the Shattered Kingdoms.

Arnella seemed to think for a moment. "Yeah, I don't think we have to worry about any of the syndicates or big crime families getting involved. They tend to stay in the big cities. And almost every nation this side of the planet stands to benefit from Union activity and what's planned here."

"They do?" Kai asked as he realised Arnella clearly knew more about this meeting than she had let on.

Arnella peeked over her shoulder as she took control of the skimmer again. "Yes…" she said, drawing out the word as she chose not to say anymore than that.

He chose to let it go. Arnella had been good to him so far, helping him sort out the proposal. Keeping what he now knew was an open secret was no easy feat. If she thought he didn't need to know, he would trust her.

"Can you three change into your smartest, functional combat gear? I'm going to take us to the palace grounds," she said as the skimmer hummed back to life.

"Didn't you just say you were worried about an ambush?" Alicia asked as her clothing changed and most of her armour layered itself perfectly into place as she retrieved her soulbound gear that her raiment couldn't absorb and equip for her, and she started to put it on with Syl's help.

"I'm trusting Syl's report. Ambushers wouldn't be clearing the area, they would want the cover."

Kai saw the logic and started on his own gear. It didn't take him long before he was ready.

Besides the self repairing, extra durable, self fitting arcane boots Kai had received from The Sage before he entered the dungeon and the dragon scale gauntlets he had fused with all Kai's armour, it was mundane and it took just a thought to equip everything perfectly.

If he hadn't seen a couple of minor issues with Alicia's arcane armour that he stepped over to adjust for her, he would have thought the armour skill books he had used in the dungeon had gone to waste with his raiment.

But that was an issue of hindsight and thinking back, he still would have used the skill books.

Though, now that he had dragon scale armour on demand covering most of his arms, he did wonder if he would ever have any use for the skill beyond helping others. Getting a set of arcane armour seemed pointless to him at this point, as if what Trengor had hinted, his scales would eventually turn into a full set of perfect armour.

Seeing Syl check the earrings of greater mana regeneration she had taken back for herself now that she had a physical manifestation to equip them too, Kai realised arcane armour might actually be one of the best ways to feed his scaled gauntlet and expand their abilities outside of just feeding them scales.

Syl had tried to have Kai absorb her earrings. It was the obvious thing for them to do, considering when he had absorbed his regeneration ring and mana storage cuff, their effects had multiplied when they merged with his Draconic side, making them both part of a far superior growth item.

But while he could wear and use Syl's soulbound items, he could not, for some reason absorb them.

Which was a shame because if he could, there was a high chance the extra mana regeneration they gave would become something they could amplify over time, something that would be a boon for the both of them, bound as they were.

He would just have to keep an eye out for a mana regeneration item of his own and hope there wasn't something they were missing and he could easily absorb them.

With his mana cuff and runic regeneration ring absorbed and his gauntlets fused with him, he only had his Spectre's Shroud, his arcane boots, raiment and his cloak and hood set left as actual soul bound magical items.

Luckily, as he adjusted his cloak and hood, his scaled hands showed no interest in consuming the items.

He was still on the fence about trying to absorb the Spectre's Shroud. He thought his scales may permanently take on the spectral items, still obscure and somewhat unknown effects. But that could potentially curse him with the effect permanently and wanting to remove the shroud in the future depending on the situation was still a distinct possibility.

He was pulled away from his thoughts as Alicia pulled back from giving him a chaste kiss on his cheek.

"I told you that would work," Syl said from his other side.

Alicia suddenly hissed.

"What is it?" Arnella said as she gripped the control crystal, prepared to change course in a without the slightest hesitation.

Alicia pointed to the far side at one of the airships that had landed in a cleared space with dozens of guards around it. "I know that ship. It's the imperial yacht…"

"And that means?" Kai asked.

"At least one of my sisters… or worse, my mother, is here," Alicia said quietly, her eyes slightly wider than normal.

Kai's stomach sank. Out of all the things he had been anticipating for this mystery meeting, meeting his in-laws after what was effectively eloping with a Princess of the Empire.

He was jabbed in the ribs. "The guards are flagging us down and Arnella wants us to let her do the talking for now," Syl said, after getting his attention.

"Keep quiet and don't react to anything thing. Just try to act like you're meant to be here."

"I thought we were meant to be here?"

"You are…" Arnella said, "just act confident."

"Now you're just making me nervous."

Syl leaned in and kissed him on the other cheek before straightening up, "You'll do fine."

Kai felt a few forceful examinations wash over him as Arnella expertly brought the skimmer down in the middle of the guards.

"Identify yourself!" one of the guards barked.

"I present, Lord Kai, Master of the World Wonder, and his chosen, Lady Sylph and Princess Alicia Dellacletra Sietra."

Appropriate title detected. Do you accept the title of Master of the World Wonder? Yes / No

'Accept the title for now, and do your best not to hide it,' Syl communicated silently through their party system. 'This whole meeting is to sort out the world wonder, so it is best that people here don't dismiss your importance.'

Kai thought it was a little wordy, but he accepted it anyway.

Title set Master of the World Wonder.

"I have them, captain. Guests of honour, sir," a guard off to the side said as she looked over a piece of paper that had appeared in front of them.

The guard captain turned to address Arnella directly as they slapped a fist to their chest in salute. "That must make you Captain Arnella."

"It seems my promotion precedes me. But that is Retired Captain Arnella, so it's just Temra from now on," Arnella said.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"Ah, yes, Temra, I see… posthumous promotions are difficult when you're still, in fact, alive," The guard captain said as if it was perfectly normal to them.

Ah, Kai could see how calling her 'Arnella' might be an issue if she had a reputation. He mentally shrugged off the thought. It wouldn't matter much as she would be leaving their company at some point in the near future.

"If you will follow me, there is someone waiting for your party. The guards will see that your craft is stored somewhere secure."

They all alighted and one of the guards moved to get on the skimmer, but the moment they were all clear, Kai stored it away safely in the domain.

He couldn't help but smirk as the eyes of the stoic guard flashed in a moment of surprise.

The guard captain just shrugged and turned away to lead them through the overgrown palace grounds.

They passed several smaller ships as they were escorted. Each of the ships were guarded by their own unique cadre of guards.

Kai saw guards representing the many races of Alea; dwarves, humans, el'viairen, gnomel, goblins, orec'kien and even a few varied but distinct members of the race he only knew as the beastkin. Their fluffy tails and animal ears all made for a distinct sight, so much so, that Kai had to be careful he wasn't caught gawking.

While it was clear they all had their own factions by their varied attire, many of them were working together to carry out their duties.

It actually comforted Kai to see that the world he had found himself on was far more homogeneous than Earth, despite having a significantly greater number of actually distinct races.

Doing his best to look like he belonged, Kai tried to pay everything as little mind as possible.

But he wasn't very good at it. There was just so much to see, the different people, the different ships. It all pulled at his attention.

After the fourth time someone caught his eye, he fixed his focus on the guard captain that was leading the way.

'That's the Lord Commander of the Imperial Guard,' Alicia whispered through the party system.

'Why are you whispering?' Kai asked. 'No one but us can hear this.'

'Force of habit, I have never seen her out of her dress armour…. If she is here…' Alicia sighed through the silent connection, 'I know who she is taking us to see.'

'Who?' Kai asked, praying it wasn't her mother. He didn't know if he was ready to meet her, especially after he technically superseded her authority by pushing his relationship with Alicia beyond that of a technical engagement.

'Her mother.' Syl answered.

Kai felt the pit in his stomach turn into a hole.

'Relax, it's not like her father's going to be there to threaten you if you ever so much as look at her wrong.' Syl said, somehow sensing his discomfort.

'I am not even sure who my father is. The records were sealed, I got thrashed for just asking. Which, to this day, annoys me. Out of all of my sisters, there are only four of us with sealed records.'

The party system fell silent as Syl and Kai gave each other a knowing look, just out of sight of Alicia.

They were guided towards an archway through a massive wall that seemed like it might just go on forever on each side if not for the uncontrolled foliage that seemed to consume the stone.

The four guards standing at the arch gave a variety of different salutes before stepping aside to let them through.

While the city they had flown over had been mostly collapsed ruins, the building they were led into was surprisingly intact.

Apparently, the magic that had been placed to preserve and reinforce the palace was significantly more robust than anything that had been used on the other buildings of the city.

They reached a large heavy door that had to be forced open by a massive musclebound orec'kien male that seemed to be stationed there purely for his physical built to open and close the door, which once opened and closed on some now defunct arcane mechanism According to the enthusiastic guard.

Saying goodbye to the rather jovial pink giant of a man, they entered the palace proper. The corridors and halls opened up to be significantly larger than Kai thought any room should necessarily need to be, unless, of course, one was entertaining giants on a regular basis.

They were eventually led through a massive chamber, the high ceiling a glass dome that cast daylight down on an intricate mosaic floor that was currently being vigorously being cleaned and repaired.

The mosaics pattern, somehow amorphous, shifting every time Kai tried to get an idea of what he was looking at. By the time they had made it across the hall to a side door, Kai's assumption was that there was something magical going on, and he guessed the mosaic would only reveal its true pattern when repaired.

Moving through the door, they stepped out onto a massive platform that hung from the side of the building.

Kai didn't even know how they got up so high as they had not once used stairs or even a sloped corridor, but from their new elevated position, they could see out over most of the city.

Towards the centre of the platform there was a small gathering, and as they drew close to the group, Kai was surprised when he realised he recognised a few of them.

They were a mix of races, something Kai was coming to think was perfectly natural.

Off to one side, there was a familiar wolf curled up, one amber eye cracked open to watch them walk by as Aniceia was again curled up on top of them, sleeping.

Towards the edge of the group, Mistress of the House, Estelle was having a heated discussion with a pair of younger looking dwarves, the bearded of the two catching most of the Mistress's ire as the other gave Kai's group a calculating look before she returned to practiced nonchalance.

The Lord Commander came to a stop at a respectable distance, and then, clearing her throat to get the others' attention, announced, "The Master of the World Wonder and his party have arrived." Then, with a stomp of her boot, she saluted and immediately walked off as if she had just delivered a package.

Orrick Stormvairn was the first to turn around. The familiar man, catching Kai's attention as he rubbed his beard and squinted at him.

A moment later, as clarity came over him, he quickly approached with a look of horror on his face. "Your beard! What have you done to your beautiful beard?!"

Kai rubbed his clean-shaven chin and shrugged. "I needed a change."

Orrick's eyes went wide, then he grinned, reached up to grab the front of Kai's armour, and pulled him down into his thick, heavily accessorised beard. Orrick wrapped his powerful arms around him in an inescapable hug.

A few heavy pats drove the air from his lungs before he was released, only to receive a hairy kiss on each cheek and then for Orrick to rest his forehead against Kai's.

"Brother!" Orrick declared in a thick accent before stepping back to slap a rather confused Kai on the shoulder as everyone looked at him with a mix of expectant looks.

"Brother?" Kai asked in cautiously.

Almost everyone gathered seemed to relax with his question, but no one moved to give him an answer.

The young bearded dwarf Kai realised was the spitting image of a younger Orrick, grunted and spat to the side, then turned on his heal and stormed off.

Estella turned to Kai, gave him a nod, and then stormed after the young man.

Kai looked at Syl and Alicia for clarification about what had just happened.

Syl just smirked as Arnella's eye twitched.

Alicia stepped forward and gave everyone a curtsy. "Please, forgive him. He parrots the divine dragons too, all without noticing his use of the arcane dragon tongue. We have not found the time to bring him close to understanding a fraction of Alea's customs, our use of language among them."

"I used the Thick Tongue again, didn't I?"

Orrick grinned, "that doesn't matter much, we are family now."

"If I remember correctly, there was a variation of the Thick Tongue for friends… not family."

"Aye, that is the custom. But these are indeed times for change. Since ye speak the Thick Tongue with the grace and elegance of an elder, I thought it fitting to declare something new. An omen of great things to come," Orrick winked as he stepped further back to look him up and down.

Running his hand through his braided and beaded beard, he said, "Speaking of customs, I see you've let yourself be braided. Honestly, little brother, they would be a damn sight more impressive in a beard. Having braids hair is but a pale imitation of our customs. Might I convince you in a tonic to grow it back? There be no shame in it, especially if a beauty tricked you into shaving it off."

Kai saw Alicia's ears twitch.

He ran a scaled hand over each braid. "I have grown accustomed to these. They keep my hair out of the way in a fight, and I enjoy the time spent having them redone."

"Yes, Master Orrick, I hear Lord Kai is making his own customs, both him and my daughter. I have a recording of a rather interesting exchange…" a tall woman dressed all in black, said as she elegantly drifted over, her face hidden by a veil.

An El'viairen man in similarly dark plate armour, with a helmet held under one arm and a black cape rolled back over one shoulder, followed in the woman's wake.

With his light blonde hair cut short and his familial features, all Kai could see was the sibling similarities to Alicia. It was like he was looking at her male counterpart, only his nose was different, his ears came out at a slightly different angle, and his eyes were a deep green.

"Yes," the armoured man said, "It was quite a shock to the family to see their youngest give herself away to not one but two complete strangers so faithfully, so romantically. It was so beautiful that I almost lost my dinner."

"It was recorded?" Alicia asked.

"Yes, dearly departed daughter, it was."

"Departed?"

"Yes, can you not you see? I am in mourning," she sighed theatrically.

The el'vei man behind her chuckled as he stepped forward to enter Kai's personal space. His breast plate just a breath away as he gave him a stern look.

"Yes, my dearly beloved little sister, killed with her otherworldly lover on the night of a strange elopement. Were the man still alive, I would find him and kill him myself for his impudence."

Kai held his ground. He had stood before a black dragon that turned out to be a god. The waves of pressure this man was pushing over on to him were nothing.

The man smirked and stepped back, "Still, I have seen the recording my mother speaks of. It is a shame he is gone now. You should have seen the things he did when he took command of the situation, the damage he wrought. It was impressive for one so young. He would have been a fine officer under my command, clay to mould into something truly worthy of my little sister." He reached out and touched the cuff on Kai's ear. "If my sister had not claimed him so soon, I might have been tempted to take him for myself."

"Kardain, brother, please," Alicia hissed from where she stepped to Kai's side.

"Relax, I have no intention of hurting him. At least so long as he stays in line." He bit his lip, "but one foot out of place and he is mine."

The woman dressed all in black lifted her veil to reveal a pair of silver eyes that glinted in amusement as she gave Kai a long, assessing look.

"Empress Sietra," Kai bowed, "I see how your dear departed daughter received her impeccable beauty. Alea will truly mourn such a loss once the word spreads," he said, playing into the political double speak.

Kai wasn't lying. He couldn't place Sietra's age at all, but trying to pin someone's age was something he had long given up on trying. One thing was for certain. Despite Alicia being unmistakably beautiful by even Alean standard, it was obvious she had yet to mature.

"Kardain," Sietra said with a smile curling her lips, "I suggest you show your departed brother-in-law some respect. Were he still alive, I might just have approved of his contract with Alicia. It is such a shame. I had heard so many good things from reputable sources, and I trust things will go as planned."

Kai received a smack on his back. "Aye, you should have seen him when he told Caradin to fuck right off. Offered Kai gold, women and power, and he just say no, fuck off, it was glorious."

"That's not exactly how I remember it," Kai said diplomatically.

"Well, it's how I do, but I drank so much ale to your health that night that things are a little fuzzy. But to say your actions inspired an expansion of our plans is an understatement."

Kai wondered what did that meant? It sounded very ominous.

Sietra drifted forward and Kardain bowed respectfully as he drifted back in a well-practiced manoeuvre to stand clear for his mother to approach.

Just like her son, she reached out and gently touched the cuff Alicia had placed on his ear, her eyes thoughtful as she held it for a long time.

"Kai, son, you should know Thanric once tried to give me these. They are a priceless family heirloom, of an ancient empire long lost," she whispered, her eyes glimering as she smiled softly.

"I didn't know. I simply asked for something fitting, his permission and help with Alean customs. He gave them to me… pulled them from his desk and handed them to me as if they were nothing…"

"He has tried so many times to give them to me, but I could not take them. To think he would pass them on to you to give to our only daughter," she chuckled sadly and smiled. "It is good that he now knows."

Kai gulped and said, "he want's acknowledge her," in a whisper.

Sietra's smile grew broader, "He will have to wait. He sent me a recording, so I think I will send him one in return."

How these recording were being made, Kai didn't know, but he knew he was going to find out. He just needed to find time to ask.

Sietra's grin softened, and she continued, "He may seem like a flighty man. Jumping from one interest to the next. But he has always been slow to trust, I mean truly trust. You see, he has suffered much in his long life, so if he trusts you, I will do the same."

Kai felt her gentle grip tighten. "But as I raise you up, never forget that I will not hesitate to tear you down." The empress stepped back and her veil dropped without her even touching it as she turned to the dwarf, waiting patiently off to the side.

"Orrick, I wish to spend some time with my family before tomorrow's meeting. I accept the House's proposal on good faith, as it seems we both now stand to be connected as family and such an agreement should only strengthen the Union in the days to come."

She tilted her head to where Estelle was prodding the dwarf that had stormed off. "I suggest you retire to see that your son does not cause a political nightmare for both the houses and your line."

Orrick grimaced and nodded, then, giving Kai a cheery wink, turned and beckoned to the other young dwarf woman nearby to follow him.

Sietra turned to the crowd that seemed to be waiting a respectful distance away, "If that is all I believe you know my opinion on the matter by now and we will take our leave."

Then she turned to the sleeping beast kin that had not moved the entire time. "Aniceia, as always, it is a pleasure. Take care of your charge."

The woman's slick black cat tail lifted from where she lay upon her giant dire wolf and it flicked lazily in recognition of the Empress's words.

Seeing the acknowledgement, Sietra then turned, walked up to Alicia and Syl, taking each in arm as she passed by to lead them both away.

Arnella, for her part, had taken the opportunity to wander off towards the sleeping dire wolf for some reason.

It was then that Kai saw Gift. The black ball of fur was curled up in the beastkin's arms as if he belonged in there.

'Er, Alicia, do you know our kid's run away?' Kai asked through the party chat.

'Leave him, he is negotiating for the wolfs form. He is also curious about how the beastkin get their forms. You could not drag him away if you tried. Arnella has agreed to keep an eye on him.'

Happy that someone had an eye on Gift, Kai turned to follow Alicia, Syl and Sietra, when he felt a gauntleted hand clasp his shoulder, "No little brother, you're with me. I would like to see what my sister sees in you. And please, tell me more about those delightful scales of yours."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.