The sun blinded the two girls as they stepped through the door. Camilla looked around and spotted the man waiting next to a fancy horse drawn carriage. She motioned for Aurora to follow her and stopped just outside the door. "So where exactly are you taking us?"
Lord Blackwood pointed to the giant building at the top of the hill, "up to my office of course." he then climbed up to sit next to the driver. "Get in you two, we haven't got all day."
Aurora looked towards Camilla and shook her shoulder, "come on, if he wanted us dead we would be in prison awaiting trial." She climbed into the back of the carriage and took a seat. "WOW! Camilla, these seats are so COMFY!"
Camilla couldn't refute her words about trusting the old man and climbed in after her. I hope we don't regret this choice. After she was sat in her seat the old man motioned the driver to head off.
The journey through the city was slow but the girls observed the better quality of buildings in the lower sections of the city, it was quite surprising to them. Rather than the thatch and wood house they were used to seeing, the people here lived in stone or brick houses. These types of houses were normally owned by merchants and low class nobles, not commoners.
What really drew their attention though was the statue in the main square. It was the same as the statue of the two dragons fighting from the middle of their hometown. Camilla was in shock upon seeing it. "Hey Aurora….isnt that…"
"Yeah it is Camilla."
The old man chuckled from outside, "Don't be too surprised girls, there are 5 pairs of statues just like it. Same with the other statue here. However it seems two pairs of them have been lost to us, a troubling omen to say the least." he went silent after he said so.
The two wondered what mysterious importance some mere statues could possibly have. Aurora shook her head after thinking for a while and decided it wasn't her place to worry about such issues. She wasn't a noble or someone with a duty to others, she needed to live for herself and Camilla. She couldn't see what help she could possibly offer either since all she had were her skills with a bow.
Despite being an elf she was unable to use magic, a condition surrounding her birth according to her parents. It had always been a source of teasing from the other elf children back in her home village, which was why her parents moved her to a human settlement. She was fine with this change though, if they hadn't moved she never would've met Camilla.
Aurora jumped over to the other seat next to Camilla, laid her head on her shoulder, and smiled to herself as she thought about the past. I'm not sure when it happened but she's become my light in this world. I'm not sure what I'd do without her by my side. If only she'd take the next step with me.
Her face lit up as she jolted up once she got an idea. Oh! Maybe I should take her out for a date tomorrow! She squinted her eyes and rubbed her chin in thought as she sat back down into Camilla's arms. Maybe I could ask this Blackwood fellow for some advice on where to take her here since i dont know this city.
With this newfound idea of her she grabbed her friends hands. "Camilla, let's go out tomorrow evening!"
Camilla raised her eyebrow at her friend's weird behavior. Seems like she's plotting something again. "Where exactly would we go out?"
Aurora made a wide gesture with her hands. "Exploring! We need to learn about this place after all!" a big grin adorned her lips.
Camilla felt a blush cross her cheeks as she let out a sight, her lips formed into a thin line. Well it should be fine as long as she doesn't get too emotional. Whatever happened to her as a child is a real pain in my ass.
She thought back to the day 6 years ago when Aurora's parents had told Camilla about how her magic was sealed away. According to them, any sort of prolonged high stimulation could cause a malfunction in the seal, which would release a torrent of uncontrolled mana that would affect the surroundings for miles.
She shook the thoughts from her mind and watched Aurora observe the city with a slight smile. Well I guess this isn't too bad for now. She turned and looked up at the sky and muttered, "I swear I will keep the promise I made, even if I should die."
Aurora turned around a moment later "did you say somethi-"
Lord Blackwood's voice rang out and interrupted her, "Ladies we have arrived!" The carriage came to a sudden stop causing the girls to tumble and land on top of each other.
Aurora rubbed the back of her head after it had hit the edge of the seat, she then noticed a squishy feeling in her other hand. Since when were the cushions so soft? At this moment Aurora looked down to see Camilla's flushed face and her hand firmly pressed into her chest.
She immediately scrambled back her own cheeks turned rosy as she looked down at the hand that was on her breast mere moments ago. She sat there frozen for several moments before Camilla reached out and pulled her into a hug. Camilla ran her hand through her hair slowly as she waited for her to calm back down.
Aurora shivered under her touch before she slowly relaxed, her breathing starting to become steady. After a few moments passed she pulled away, "I'm okay now Camilla. Let's not keep him waiting for too long. From everything we have seen recently I feel something bad is coming."
She slowly stood up and straightened out her clothes, stepping out the door and stretched her back out. As she looked around the wide open garden that surrounded the fountain sat circled by a looped brick path, she ran over and crouched down to sniff the flowers.
She then turned her attention to the statue of the three caged dragons, this one also identical to the one in the noble area of her hometown. After she studied it to look for any differences and found none she turned towards the main building.
On the other side of the fountain from the main street was a large building made of gray marble. It was of intricate construction with sloped roofs. Most of its walls were filled by large stained glass windows and bright lights that illuminated it. The entrance was large double doors that could be accessed by going up the small amount of front steps. Large pillars held up an expansive balcony situated above the main entrance.
Large neat trimmed hedges sat under every window on the front side. Further away from the building were 4 tall hedges trimmed to look like gryphons flying through the sky.
Lord Blackwood called out to her from the front door, "Dear we don't have all day if you would hurry this way!" he turned to Camilla who had followed him unlike Aurora, "Your friend is quite outgoing isn't she. Reminds me of her mother back in the day…." his voice trailed off sounding a bit forlorn. His face softened from nostalgic memories, lips trembling as regretful words parted from them.
Just what were our parents like back then? This sounds nothing like the people I know. She was about to ask him something when Aurora jumped on her back for a moment, which caught her by surprise.
Aurora looked at the man, " I just remembered sir, but you never told us your name."
He let out a short chuckle, "I suppose you are correct, how rude of me. I am Lord Amy Blackwood."
Aurora froze in shock at the information "Y-your name is A-Amy? As in the woman's name Amy?"
"Yes, now if there are no other delays, let's go inside and wait for some refreshments." The trio proceeded inside through a hallway filled with statues and expensive paintings. They stopped outside a door that led into a quaint room with a table with four plush chairs around it and a wonderful view of the gardens outside. On top of the table was a fancy porcelain tea set.
Amy called for a maid and motioned for the two to take a seat, an invite they accepted politely as the maid pulled the chairs back for them. He then sent her off to bring tea and some desserts before taking a seat himself opposite of the two.
He placed his elbows on the edge of the table and rested his chin atop his hands, his expression turned serious as his eyes narrowed. "Now, while we wait, why don't you tell me what you know about the dragons."