'This is it.' Seth, Muta's older cousin, exclaimed as he halted their flight. With his power over air, he allowed for both of them to soar high above the clouds, unable to see the ground below.
'How can you tell?' Muta asked, both curious and preplexed, since to him it was almost like they were levitating in place the whole time. Well, time was the only thing that changed, as they began their flight when the sun was still high, and now the night was coming to an end with the sun once more peeking from beyond the horizon.
Seth's plum lips curled upwards, 'Trust me, I know.'
Muta nodded, as who was he to question his cousin who traveled the world more than anyone in his family, close and extended. 'I still have to ask, where is "it"?'
'Did The Monarch tell you alone where exactly you were to be banished?' Seth asked, his lips curling upward even further. To this Muta simply shook his head. His exile only specified where he could not be, not where he was supposed to go.
'Or do you perhaps have some other place in mind?' Seth asked while reclining himself against the air. Muta after thinking it over a bit, realized that he didn't even know any other location aside from the Crown Mountain and its very immediate area.
'No, but...' Muta scratched his head with discomfort, '...I mean, did you have a reason for bringing me here?' He still couldn't even tell where "here" was, as the thick grey clouds continued to obscure his vision of the soil.
The look in Seth's eyes grew gentler, as his lips bent downward, 'I have to admit, I was unsure on how to proceed, when they assigned me for this. Do I just abandon you anywhere that officially doesn't belong to us or our vassals and force the harsh circumstances to bring out your natural instincts? No, I thought better of it. I'll be damned before I allow one of the Prides' descendants to live like a dirt-licker.
'Below us is a city that is not our direct vassal, but you will be in their care, so do not hold back in treating them like they deserve to be treated.'
'What is the city's name?' Muta asked, and Seth replied that he didn't know, but he called it Q-98 due to its location on the map.
Using the same power that held Muta in the air, Seth brought him closer for a hug, 'I am not willing to go lower myself any further lest I catch the stench of the ground. Take care and come back to us.' Feeling Seth's aerial and literal grip loosen and disappear, Muta and whatever little belongings he brought with him began to plummet to the ground.
Before hitting the cloud, Muta just barely managed to shout back his thanks and wishes of good fortune, but without Seth's air shield his words were at the mercy of the wind.
Hmmm, Muta thought as he continued to pick up speed, the sharp cold air slashing his sensitive eyes and ears, Before it was big brother Seth who would catch me when we used to play "fall-tags", so what now?
As Muta got out of the cloud, he saw landscape cut in half, one dark, other also dark, but shimmering. Quickly he realized that his destination was near a coast. Hmmmm, now that I think about it, when I used to fall into the pool, it barely hurt even if I fell from quite high, but when I slipped and fell to the ground it hurt a whole lot more. Perhaps I should aim to fall into the ocean? I was told that it was salty and filthy though... well perhaps that is better than hitting the ground, where it could very much hurt more anddust would make me just as filthy.
With his mind made up, Muta tried to get himself to fall towards the water, but all his efforts amounted to was pointless flailing of his arms and legs. Well, I guess I'll have to tough it out.
Suddenly, he noticed a large flash coming from now lighter ground. Like reverse meteors something seemed to be flying upwards as they left trail of fire behind. And it seemed they were coming right after him.
Several men dressed in red armor with white trimming got close enough for Muta to see the white of theirs eyes. He noticed that the flame came from their elbows and feet, which was a bit odd, but before he could inquire they bowed their heads and pressed their hands together, 'Prince of Pride Muta, it is an honor. We are here to help you land safely, do we have your permission?'
Mother always told me that allowing myself to be touched by the inferior was insulting, but to be honest I'd rather allow them to help me here than to have to "tough it out" and get dirty. Muta nodded, agreeing. The men using flames pushed themselves closer, and surrounded him, but rather than grabbing Muta by the waist, or shoulders, used poles to create a makeshift carrying platform, but it was only after they placed a large pillow that they brought it close enough to sit.
As soon as Muta took his fluffy seat, the fall grew slower and then to a halt. Rather than taking him to the ground, they pressed on forward. In the distance as the sun grew ever higher was able to see a town huddling to the coast. Is that where I am to begin this exile?
Looking at the man who addressed him previously, he noticed that he had a spike on his helm, distinguishing him from the others by just a little. Noticing Muta's gaze he rose up slightly from other men.
'Do you have any request, Prince Muta?' he asked fearfully, "Unfortunately, at this very moment we are a bit limited, but if you wish I will go on ahead and procure whatever you desire."
How nice of him. Muta thought, however at the moment he didn't have anything he really needed. Still, to request nothing after he so gracefully offered, would be rude. The only thing that he felt he needed was an answer as to why didn't they come up to get him in the first place, rather than being forced to perform such acrobatics. Once he asked them, the man seemed to grow a few shades lighter.
'A thousand apologies, however your brother, forbade us to climb into the sky while he was around.' He said curtly, while his arms trembled.
'Oh yeah, Seth really doesn't like when others fly around him. Especially dragons.' Muta said.
'D-dragons?' The man asked.
'Right. The tirades he would go onto once he got home from his travels are quite famous back home. He would always talk about how much he hated when they flew without his permission and how they had the gal to lash out. I believe that he's killed around 10 of them.'
The man's skin continued to grow lighter, and his hand trembled even further. Unsure as to what he said to make him so upset, Muta tried his best not to look at any of them, in fear of another misunderstanding.
As they got closer to the town, finer details about it became clearer. It was divided by multiple layers of walls, and a river delta that ran through its center. The buildings closer towards the coast and the center were built out of gleaming ivory rock, whereas the buildings nested between them and the poorly crafted wooden sheds felt dismal with grey stone being its main material.
All in all Muta couldn't help but wince from the sight. Compared to Crown Mountain with the sprawling architecture that would require years of exploration for one to fully see and appreciate, this settlement was remarkably ugly and plain.
Is this where loam-livers, live? Pride, help them, even our slaves live in greater luxury. Muta thought as he averted his eyes. Luckily the center of the city was a significant improvement for his eyes, with greater variety in architecture with three buildings that stood out both in size and design.
The first one had was the most lavish, with statues, and intricate paintjobs adorning its exterior. However this one also had a whole lot of people gathered around like a swarm of ants.
The Second, smaller one, was simpler in its design, with far more wall openings for windows. There was also a lot of people, but they mostly stood in ordered lines.
Third, though smaller than the first one, was placed in a larger walled off area, with several other smaller buildings and a park filled with trees and a pond. Though he could see few people, walking in small groups, there didn't seem to be a whole lot of them.
It seemed, that they wouldn't land near any of them and were headed towards one of smaller buildings and that disappointed Muta as it didn't pique his interest enough compared to others. In the garden, a small group of decently dressed people stood, with a large clearing in the middle. That is where they finally landed.
The welcoming party was barely larger than a dozen men, but Muta actually preferred smaller crowds. The man that stood at the front and center was not only better dressed, but he also wore a golden brosche the size of fingerless hand on his breast.
'Prince of Pride, Muta, the city of Sa-Ven-Ia welcomes you and grows ever radiant thanks to your presence.' His words and tone were kind, though his bow was a lot shallower than others, 'The one who has the honor to welcome you is named Xin-Ubert, The 3rd Doge of Sa-Ven-Ia.'
For a moment Muta wasn't sure how to respond. For one, his beige skin clearly distinguished him from being a member of the Pride dynasty, and he was always told to never match the humility of the greeting, unless it was a family member. But now he was an exile and he was unsure if he even had the right to follow such customs.
Before his brain was reduced to ashes from overthinking, Muta realized that he was technically a guest and that he had to show respect to the host, so he bowed just a few degrees deeper as he thanked him.
As soon as he raised his head he noticed that everyone in attendance looked at him with eyebrows raised and mouth agape. Well everyone except Xin-Ubert.
'Ahem.' Xin-Ubert coughed, 'Would it be to your pleasure if we held a small, yet three-day long feast in your honor?'
Muta felt that three days was a bit short of a celebration, but realizing that they perhaps were too impoverished to hold it for any longer, nodded and allowed himself to be lead away from the humble garden.