I’m not being presumptuous but usually I would be at the helm for three months as the leader of group but I guess this was to be expected. The Inheritors are groomed to be the next generation of the Constitutional Oligarchy for Athryshiayl, so I’m not surprised on how initiative they can be but what I didn’t expect was that Herkaloi would take the lead.

I thought Aeriasus would as she was now radiating an aura like a benevolent queen: graceful and approachable.

Herkaloi on the other hand was exuding a formidable presence like a seasoned warrior but he doesn’t possess the bearing of someone with authority.

While Stryklos had maintained his carefree appearance except there’s a bit more of regal demeanour.

Perhaps it’s just my point of view.

Along the way, the woman separated from us as we reached a certain quarter. She told us that she had some relative nearby. We didn’t know her problem or how grave it had to be till she actually had to swim into that river but Herkaloi, out from some Action Movie Protagonist or a White Knight, reassured her that he would help her and asked for her where-about so he can further listen to her problem later on.

Only August and Aeriasus expressed their desire to tag along with. Surprisingly, Stryklos opted out as I thought he would be very on board with this type of situation. It’s kind of out of character moment but I had my suspicion that Stryklos is not what he seems to be.

For me, I don’t feel like I need to help her as I felt I already did my part. There’s no such person who is an overly helpful Samaritan, only doormat idiots.

“Here we are.”

The representative had led us to a many windowed building with a dome.

“This office is actually the Regional Controller’s office but ever since honoured summoned had come, this will be your headquarter.”

The representative gave a servile bow when he turned towards us.

Without answering, Herkaloi nodded and walked past the representative. We followed suit but muttered our thanks to the representative.

Entering inside, we were in a large hall with a set of furniture’s and two vertical stairs leading up and three doors, one on the left and right while one was in between the two stairs. The whole room made me feel like it was from a colonial era and strangely, there was no Basic Home System as there was no bounded tree in the centre of this building.

I can live with that.

The representative entered right after we did.

“Honoured summoned, the Regional Controller will be here shortly. Please, make yourself comfortable. You can choose the room you’ll be staying on the second floor in the meantime.”

All of us nodded and went upstairs. There were two halls and there were signs on top of the hall entrances in the Eoumic Alphabet. Two languages derived from this alphabet, The Low Eoumic and High Eoumic. Unlike Athryshiayl, Symokiva and most of the Endless Reach who uses High Eoumic, The Valvakea uses the Low Eoumic.

It seems that sooner or later, we would absorbed the language as though it was our mother’s tongue after one last forbidden level spell but damn, learning to write in a new language is difficult for an adult.

“Huh, so it is segregated into male and female.”

“The left side is for men and the right side is for women.”

Akujin commented with an amused expression while August pointed out the obvious.

“Wait, there’s only Aeriasus here and all rods, will there be enough rooms for us?”

“Checked, nope, there are only four doors.”

Stryklos, with a worried expression was panicking exaggeratedly while August peeked through the entrance and confirmed the numbers of room.

“I think we can solve this by making a vote of who amongst us is the most feminine. For me, I vote for August for his daily use of the bathroom for more than half an hour.”

“Hey, I only use the bathroom at least twice or three times per day. I condensed all the bathroom activities so that is why my bathroom time is long!”

Akujin disinterestedly posed a solution and August groaned unsatisfyingly.

“Alright, I also vote for August too because by the rule of thumb, in a group decision, once a scapegoat is picked, everyone in the group should vote for him or her for convenience.”

Stryklos with an absent-minded tone mumbled something dark. What the hell was that line of thinking?

Herkaloi sighed, obviously familiar with the antic of the Summoned. He went straight to the hall entrance, ignoring our dilemma.

“Maybe you guys should ask a real woman to judge who is the most feminine amongst you five?”

Aeriasus playfully stokes in the fire while smiling slyly.

I naturally found some amusement as the silent participant but at some point, this shenanigan should end sooner or later.

“Guys, Instead of voting, I’ll volunteered myself but if we were to really vote, then August and Stryklos are the best contenders as they themselves had worn actual dresses before.”

“Ruigne, WE DIDN’T KNOW!”

August was flustered as I was nearly on a brink on telling the others about their embarrassment. On the end of that day, they only realized the fact they wore a real dress when they saw an actual ‘Wariya’.

“August is correct. We were tricked but it was done in non-harmful manner so we all can laugh about it but bringing it up again just leave a bad aftertaste, hmph!”

Stryklos with a pursed lip snorted.

“Right, whatever. You don’t mind right, Aeriasus?”

“Well, your lust is already sated with two flowers so I feel secure enough.”

“A normal yes would have sufficed but I’ll take that as well and by the way, a man’s lust is never satisfied for long.”

“Ah, I should double lock my door lest a man turned into beast and invade my sanctuary.”

“Don’t bother to double or even triple lock in place without Basic Home System since there is a spell to unravel crude mechanism in Light Black Eomancy. It’s better to lock with a chastity belt powered by Eo energy. I think Ghiscra can make one.”

Both Aeriasus and I got into a full playful banter as we walk side to side. It’s always like this every time we met but as always, she seems to keep an unconscious distance from me and something feels strange when she stares at me.

All three of August, Stryklos and Akujin rolls their eyes hearing our banter.

“You womanizer, I’m telling Vefal and Rino on you.”

August muttered under his breath but it was loud enough for me to pick it up.

Ignoring it, we both picked room which was on the last row and opposite of each other.

--

“Welcome to Feniv-Korvi and to that extend, Valvakea! There are four other major settlements along the coast but Feniv-Korvi is the largest amongst them and as the Regional Controller, I once again bid you all welcome!”

An almost rotund figure of man wearing a Wariya with a grey draped garment announced to us jovially. He had a grey cropped hair but some exquisite trimmed black moustache.

“Thanks for your hospitality, Sir Adkav. Can you explain to us the state of affair happening in Valvakea.”

Herkaloi asked with business-like tone.

“Of course, Honoured Sir Herkaloi. Nowadays, tension is brewing due to the coming of the Grand Incursion which will happen roughly three years from now. Valvakea will face an invasion from the sea Mal’eurs. They differed from the land Mal’eurs as they have overwhelming advantage inside the water and most of us have severe lack of maritime technology even though we Valvakea have a standing army of Sea Marines, against them, we’re nothing but standing target.”

Adkav lamented with a sigh. I never faced an aquatic Mal’eur before but from my understanding of them, each and every one of them was born to fight and survive, ready to do battle even in their nascent.

“What about races that has affinity with the sea? Are they also in severe disadvantage?”

August with a serious tone, inquired.

“The Sea Marines here are mostly consisted by the Sea races but even so, The High level Mal’eurs like Twelve-tentacle Kraken and Sea Dragon can summon maelstrom and tsunamis, overpowering even our most powerful. Battle records from the past showed that we can never fight majorly offensive battle against them and so we would wall up the shores and erected bastions while launching guerrilla attacks at some crucial points to reduce the pressure of their assault. We kept a defensive battle majority of a time but it is already consider a victory if we managed to get by without too high of losses in life and properties.”

Adkav solemnly explained and pause while looking at us.

Seeing that we all seemingly understood, he continued-

“One of the major factors that will tremendously assist us during those battles would be the honoured summoned. While we wouldn’t know who will be assigned here at that time, we-especially I- would do our best to accommodate all the needs and inquiries to make sure you will understand the layout of our defence and the capabilities of our Sea Marines.”

Afterward, we asked him more questions till a dot of Ethka had passed.

“Alright, I have briefed everything there’s need to know. In three days, we will make a trip to the shore and visit the designated command centre.”

After he left, it was still considered afternoon so we had some free time.

“So you guys have any plan?”

“I’m going to visit that girl. You two said you wanted to come?”

“Yeah okay, what about you guys?”

Herkaloi calmly told his plan with Aeriasus and August following.

“I’m gonna watch the house just in case. Whole day of traveling from Tchekaz is tiring.”

Stryklos with his signature of exaggerated manner was sitting on his chair messily and showed a fatigued expression.

“I’m checking their water-smithing art. It seems like a branch from Alkhemia but it’s the art of refining crystals with liquid into jewelleries, trinkets and even weapons.”

With a rare smile, Akujin stated his intention.

“What about you, Ruigne?”

“I… have a business to attend at the Reravir Pavilion. Someone asked me a favour to send an item.”

After everyone had stated their plan, everyone left on their separate way except Stryklos who stayed.

--

Arriving at the pavilion which was like a twenty minutes trip with a few question asked, the pavilion was a part of the Alkhemist Guild of Valvakea and eight clans claimed the spots with Reravir was one of them.

“Huh.”

But something is wrong about it today or maybe I’m exaggerating but that crowd of people standing just outside of the pavilion is seemingly protesting and… flinging some colourful fabrics towards the area of the pavilion?

Maybe it’s not a protest but some sort of… cultural ceremony?