The room was filled with a presence of dread and agony as Cassiel and the others walked inside.
As they completely enter the room, they look towards the city lord as he sits in his chair, as if awaiting for anyone's arrival.
"Dear me, where are your manners?" Sebastian, the city lord says as he rises from his seat.
Fully standing up, Sebastian walks around his corner table to meet them face to face.
Despite ruling one of the most profitable cities in the realm, Sebastian has displayed little to no greed, which explained why his own office is smaller and more cramped than one would expect.
"Who are you to enter my room without knocking? This is unacceptable, even for you, Elysia."
Elysia and Albus' face goes numb, looking at Sebastian in horror.
"Did I say something wrong?" Sebastian says, glaring.
"T-This... is the..." Elysia stutters out, before being cut off.
"My name is Cassiel Aeternus. Perhaps you weren't aware of my late arrival as the new king." Cassiel says, brushing past Sebastian to take a seat.
Sebastian freezes in place, darting his eyes straight to Elysia for a response, only to then see feared expression.
Sebastian clears his throat before turning towards Cassiel.
"Ahem... my king..." Sebastian immediately gets on his hands and knees.
"I'M SO VERY SORRY MY KING, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!" He yells out at the top of his lungs.
Shocked, Cassiel sits there, staring at him, the same goes with the others.
After several moments of awkward silence, Elysia quietly took Albus by the arm and led him out of the room, giving her lord and her king some privacy.
"Get up, Sebastian, and take your seat." Cassiel sighs.
Sebastian immediately returns to his seat, so fast in fact that Cassiel had barely noticed.
Now, finally, Cassiel was getting a better look at Sebastian.
From head to toe, the man was dressed like a peculiar jester, with a small red top hat striped in black that hung on the side of his head, paired as a set with some thin, black circular shaped glasses that had a tiny chain dagger hanging off the side of the rim.
His short black hair tied it all together. Below that he was wearing an elegant suit, colored after his small top hat, his pants being identical, and to complete it all, he wore a necklace with a red heart on its chain.
Although his entire outfit was off putting, as if he had just gotten out of a magic show in the Victorian era, his entire demeanor pulsated a feeling of nobility, despite him not having red eyes.
…..
Finally having the chance to talk, Cassiel makes sure they're alone before finally opening his mouth.
"Sebastian, what are the current predicaments of Altanisar?"
Sebastian hesitates for a second to gather his thoughts
"Altanisar... is currently the second safest city in all of Rampiel, falling only behind Armatia." Sebastian responds, giddy and excited to answer.
Cassiel pauses for a moment at Sebastian's tone, before palming his face and sighing.
"The city of warriors, it only makes sense they'd be the safest..." Cassiel sighs.
"Then answer me this, your city is obviously safe, why didn't you head to save Bagnion?" Cassiel demands, glaring at Sebastian.
Sebastian returns his glare with a blank stare.
"What is it you mean, my king?" Sebastian questions.
"I sent an envoy down towards Bagnion just a couple days ago." Sebastian continued.
This sends a quick chill down Cassiel's spine.
It took just one to two days for Barakiel, the vampire hunter, to kill the entire city off, which also meant he was most likely exhausted during their encounter with each other.
"I... see..." Cassiel mumbles, looking down.
Lost in his own thoughts, Cassiel doesn't hear Sebastian as he tries his best to get his attention.
"I'm so weak... what the hell is wrong with me, I'm supposed to be a warrior, one of the best, but here I am, shivering at the thought that it took a human to beat one of our cities in a day?" Cassiel thinks to himself.
"No longer. This world isn't how it was all those years ago, I need to regrow my strength, I'm far too weak to return to my natural habits." Cassiel thinks to himself once more, finishing his thoughts.
"Sebastian, I need you to recall the other noble, let him know of my reappearance and tell him to meet me in your castle's training room." Cassiel orders, getting up from his seat to leave.
"My king, what about the state of Rampiel?" Sebastian worries.
"Rampiel isn't as much of a threat anymore as it used to be... I met an old friend on my way here, and I more than likely got through to him, so don't expect any more defensive measures for a while." Cassiel says, finishing the conversation
As he leaves the room, he's met by Albus and Elysia as they were waiting outside the office.
"You two, you're gonna come with me." Cassiel says, walking past them.
Albus quickly follows behind as Elysia hesitates, taking a second to look back at Sebastian as he gives her a nod of approval.
As she turns to follow behind the two, Sebastian turns, sighing as he re-enters his office.
Taking a seat, he glances over to a framed picture, one that had him, a young girl, and a young boy in it.
"I really do hope this man the king praises is strong enough..." Sebastian says, turning around to grab an old history book of Rampiel, flipping the pages to read.
…..
Entering the training room, Albus finally questions Cassiel.
"So, Cassiel, why is it you brought us here..?" Albus asks nervously.
Cassiel responds by turning around with a frustrated look.
"First, you two are going to spar, three rounds. After that, the other noble should be here by your finish." Cassiel says, walking off to the side.
"Once he gets here, you're all going to be training with me."
"Now, Elysia, Albus, go to your positions and draw your weapons." Cassiel orders.
"Understood, my king." Elysia says, walking past Albus and to her position across the room.
"Neither of you is to go for a killing blow", Cassiel adds "but I need you to fight as though your lives depend on it." He orders, his voice stern.
The order leaves Elysia and Albus a bit confused, although they still agree to it.
Pulling the blade from his sheathe, Albus steadies his blade, understanding already that Elysia is more focused on her agility than power. Lacking any knowledge of Albus' strengths, she just assumed he is overpoweringly stronger than her, based solely off the fact he follows close to Cassiel, the king himself.
"Now, fight!"