House Keresa & House Ausar
[Achlys Keresa]:
Achlys, escorted by a handful of House Luminaris noble guards met up with her mother, whom had a few noble guards with her from House Keresa.
Natalie Keresa was latin tan, like her daughter, but with light purple eyes and long, black, flowing hair. She wore a gothic style, black slim dress, with matching high heels and black crystal earrings as well as a black, obsidian necklace made to look like the Scepter of Hades.
It is said that the progenitor of House Keresa was a demigod son of Hades, who was quite powerful in his own right — So much so, in fact, that he achieved godhood on his own, without cultivating once in his life. Whether or not that was true, House Keresa uses the Scepter of Hades as their House crest to honor their ancestor, and the god responsible for his birth.
Upon seeing Achlys approaching, Natalie steeled her face, letting nothing show, not even the joy at seeing her own daughter, though Achlys was used to this, so it did not bother her much. Her mother has always been about business and family matters first and foremost. Everything else, like pleasantries and emotionalities can come later. She had hardly any time for affection — She was, after all, the matriarch of House Keresa.
"You asked to meet before I go to see House Ausar, Mother Matriarch?" Achlys bowed to her mother in respect.
Natalie nodded, as they watched the locals interact below the hill of sand and dirt they stood atop. The late autumn air of Alexandria was warm, barely 80° degrees out — A perfect afternoon for a picnic, if Achlys ever saw one. The clouds hung scattered in the skies over the city, but the Sun was beginning to set, so the sky could be seen in an array of colors including blues, purples, reds and pinks, all over the horizon of the city of Alexandria.
Why was Achlys in Alexandria and not Cairo? Well, there are various entrances to the hidden city of Osirium, all over the world and the galaxy, too, but especially concentrated across the continent of Africa — Most are collapsed, though and many more are ancient and unstable, otherwise considered unreliable. The one in Alexandria is a special one —- It leads directly into the city of Osirium, closer to the Palace of House Ausar than any other entrance found on the known Mortal Plane… At least, that is what Achlys has been told.
"We both will be meeting with the matriarch of House Ausar," Natalie answered Achlys, after a moment of studying her daughter in silence. "The matriarch wishes to unite our two houses — She has for quite some time now. I have finally agreed to have you marry her son."
Achlys was quiet. She might have thrown a fit if she wasn't certain it wouldn't have any effect on the situation. 'The outcome would be the same no matter what I do,' She thought, long past thinking of winning an argument with her mother. She learned long ago that she can win an argument with anyone else if she wanted, but her mother? She'd have better luck winning a fight against a full fledged dragon in one on one combat. 'She wins every time. I did think, however, the patriarch of House Luminaris was gonna get his daughter with the heir of House Ausar, though. Were they intending to give him two wives?'
In this world of cultivation, gods, demigods and monsters, it was not uncommon for some men to have numerous wives — or for some women to have numerous husbands — Especially for the nobleborn. Achlys just was not sure how she'd feel about sharing a man, even if that man was supposed to be an arranged marriage. She wasn't known for her likable personality, that included her ability to share… Or lack thereof.
"Hmm," She hummed, as they reached a five star hotel.
Waiting for them in front of an elevator were two House Ausar guards, and a tall lady bearing the crest of House Ausar: A miniature circle with the Djed Pillar in the center, strapped to her breastplate. She wore classic ancient Egyptian inspired armor, and as did her guards, whom held a shield in one hand and a spear in the other, along with a Khopesh at their sides. She wore a cape behind her and had a khopesh to each of her sides, a spear and shield strapped to her back and she had coffee brown sin, dark eyes and an ancient Egyptian warrior helm that covered her head of hair that Achlys could not see.
"Welcome," the stranger said. "I am General Juliet Ausar, of House Ausar. I assume you two are our guests of honor"
With a curt nod, they entered the spacious luxurious elevators, big enough for everyone present to enter ad then some. Commander Juliet Ausar pushed a few button combinations and a hidden compartment revealed itself, showcasing a digital screen with a digital keypad. Juliet swiftly entered a series of button numbers before turning to her guests.
"Sorry, precautions," she said, though neither Achlys nor Natalie paid her any attention.
And they were off, as the elevator began going up before vibrating and shifting forward as if thrusted by an unseen force, before slowly descending again. It descended for two minutes before its doors opened up to reveal a magnificent and wondrously vast hall, glass windows looking out to a navy blue city the size of a, well, city, with the tallest buildings the size of office buildings and the air so navy blue there was no way this place was still earth. Street lamps lit with glowstone enchanted to glow a relaxing blue-white hue, and various noble families walking the streets and the hotel they appeared in, which was blue-er and much more compact with legacies to still be considered Alexandria. There were no lies here, only stalactite cavern ceilings miles higher up above the tallest buildings. Tiny, luminant lights floated throughout the city, like fairies, and many other beings than legacies walked these streets, from vampires to beastkin — Achlys even spotted a few Sphinxes[A/N: Not Chaos Sphinxes — Regular Egyptian styled sphinxes, from ancient Egyptian mythology] flying about here and there, which, remembering her experience with the Chaos Sphinxes, Achlys had to consciously force her body not to flinch at the sight of.
Commander Juliet led them from the hotel to a luxurious manor the size of the Luminaris Estate, but made with sandstone and has a very Egyptian style to it, with a drive through entrance and a pool in front of with a fountain in the middle. And, at every end of the estate, House Ausar noble guards patrolled, wielding a khopesh and a shield; these guards were highly trained guards — Some Achlys even sensed to be at the Legacy and Demigod ranks, similar to the Luminaris House noble guards. Only the Great houses, and very few medium tier houses, had the resources to nurture such talents!
Seeing these guards, Achlys was reminded that, though considered "new," House Ausar was still one of the 8 Great Houses of the Legacy cultivation world. She supposes that if she were to marry into any house, House Ausar wasn't the worst option…
Keeping her head high, she, and her mother's party, followed Juliet inside and through a labyrinth of corridors before reaching the great dining hall.