A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

"How do you know?" Enkai asked, frowning, as he stepped up next to him. "I thought you hadn't been here before?"

He saw nothing special or interesting about this building. It was large, imposing, and ornamental, having likely been intended for something important by the city's creators, but also clearly abandoned and empty. It stood alone, surrounded by a neglected garden and a low wall.

"Use your omnisense," Erik smirked, hands on his hips as he looked at the building with satisfaction.

Enkai's frown deepened. His eyes flashed. Then, they widened. "There's some kind of barrier I can't penetrate!"

"Right," Erik nodded. "More than that, though, I can feel Nora and Anne are inside."

Erik stepped up closer to the gate leading to the inner garden, but suddenly halted in his steps.

"By the way, old man," he told Enkai over his shoulder, his voice taking on a low growl. "I'm not sure what we'll find, but you might be shocked and feel the urge to argue or complain. Fight that urge. When we're in private, I don't care if you disrespect me, but if we're in public, I will have to assert my authority. Whether you like it or not, I am your emperor."

They stared at each other for a moment. Erik's gaze, filled with confidence and authority, challenged Enkai's ornery defiance. His words were a clear warning, as well as a suggestion that it might better for Enkai to leave now if he couldn't abide by it.

Eventually, however, Enkai gave in. Unwillingly, he bowed his head and nodded. "I'll remember…"

Satisfied, Erik nodded. Wasting no more time, he confidently strode through the gates, into the garden, and towards the front door.

Before he even reached it, however, the doors swung open and Anne greeted him with a bright smile. As usual, she wore the servant outfit designed by Elora.

The elegant, predominantly blue robe, sleeveless and form-fitting, possessed a high collar and keyhole opening at the chest to provide tantalising cleavage. Cinched below the chest and waist with a golden belt, the robe flowed into a loincloth in front and a long back panel, revealing short, fitted black pants.

Black knee-high boots paired with matching socks and fingerless gloves extending past the elbows—all accented with gold. The covenant symbol—a howling wolf head with fairy wings—appeared stitched in gold on the belt, loincloth, and above the collarbone.

"Master!" she greeted excitedly as she walked up to him. "We've been waiting for you! Nora is reading scripture right now, but she'll immediately stop if you wish to judge the unrepentant right now!"

Erik couldn't help but grin a little wryly at the clear worship in her eyes. He felt like it had gotten even worse since last time… Not to mention his two enterprising servants apparently had scripture now.

"Scripture, huh?" Erik murmured as he extended a hand to caress Anne's blond hair. "You girls are really leaning into the divinity thing…"

Like a pleased cat, Anne nuzzled into his hand. Her smile dimmed, but now radiated with comfort. "Are you unhappy, Master?" she purred softly, despite a tinge of fear in her voice. "It's a great way to increase your authority, and many people are receptive to the idea…"

"I wouldn't say unhappy," Erik chuckled as he retracted his hand. "A little sceptical, maybe, but I'm willing to see what comes of this. Why don't you show us around? No need to interrupt Nora yet. In fact, I'd like to hear what she's saying."

Momentarily disappointed at the retreat of her master's hand, Anne quickly recovered. Then, when Erik mentioned an 'us', she finally noticed the other man there. "Ah," she muttered, her eyes quickly gliding over Enkai's form, as if judging him.

The grumpy warrior folded his arms and stared back at her. Truthfully, this talk of scripture and divinity made him antsy, but Erik's warning still rang clear in his mind.

Anne's gaze only lingered on him for a moment, however, before giving her full focus back to Erik, seemingly completely ignoring Enkai's existence now. Her smile brightened again. "Sure! Nora is speaking in the main hall, just past the doors."

She turned around and walked back inside, Erik and Enkai on her heels.

As soon as they passed the doors, the air shimmered, as if stepping through a bubble. Instantly, they were hit with a flood of warm light, previously hidden by the illusory barrier. Suddenly, the building didn't seem so abandoned anymore.

They stepped into a stone hallway extending left and right, with a luxurious rug on the floor. Along the wall hung lit, clearly magical torches, spreading warm light. A few steps straight ahead were another pair of heavy doors that Erik could hear some murmuring behind, but seemed to be mostly soundproof.

Anne, however, led them to the right, through the hallway. "The main hall is through those doors," she explained readily. "But it wouldn't do to have you enter through there, Master."

Erik, being a simple man in many respects, didn't quite see how that mattered, but he was willing to let Anne take the lead here.

Soon, she opened another door, which hid a set of stairs leading up. Before letting them in, however, she narrowed her eyes at Enkai, as if unhappy he'd be going up here.

Smirking, Erik shrugged. "He's my guest today, Anne. He's allowed to go where I go, at least for now."

Surprisingly, Anne still seemed a little reluctant, but she nodded nonetheless. "As you wish, Master."

Enkai's nose wrinkled. This wasn't the first time one of Erik's second-rank servants treated him, a third-ranker, with disrespect.

He didn't like it…

Unfortunately, he could only suck it up lest he incur Erik's ire, which was not yet worth it.

Thus, they entered the door and walked up.

As they climbed the stairs, the murmuring Erik heard earlier became louder, and he recognised Nora's voice. A few more steps, and he started distinguishing words. Soon, he was able to listen to several lines of Nora's scripture… and he raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"And lo," Nora's voice echoed with bombastic fervour, "when the shores darkened with foes innumerable, Erik Wolf-Sire, First of His Line, Flame of Honour, Paragon of Battle, lifted high the Silver Hammer. His voice, fierce and clear, called forth the bravest, whose hearts burned to prove their worth."

Her tone was domineering and filled with the zeal of a preacher believing every word they spoke. "In dominance, He led; in submission, warriors knelt willingly! With the hammer's sweep, invaders were cast into the sea, their spirits shattered beneath His might. Thus spoke the Sire of the Strong: 'In strength we find our purpose; in bravery our honour; in family, our eternal bond; in sex, our comfort. Kneel, rise, and fight as one—such is the path to greatness in His name."