บท 52: Secret exploration

It was very quiet in the streets, people walking past. Hurry evident by the quick footsteps as they moved in and past streets.

It was peaceful, a moment that rarely happened in the palace.

Apparently his existence was noticed as a few brats closed in on him, hands threateningly on their swords. Ready for any confirmation and while all else of their needs were fulfilled, their equipment was something else.

Slightly moving his cape, his own sword came into existence and the offenders rapidly stood back.

Face fearful and careful as he walked past, not a change in his steps to show that he was nervous.

Silver hair swayed beneath his coat, head protected and hidden underneath the hood.

A few curious mutters left and right were unimportant as he took in the houses around him, they were strong, another thing his kingdom was doing right as pride rose within him.

And finally the house of interest appeared before him.

Same black, thick stones like all the rest of them yet it towered above them, the other houses had tow stories yet this one three.

As ordered the house was aligned with the stars above and now he just needed to find a way to convince the other.

If that was done, there wouldn't be anything else to really worry about as apparently the building was already a fighting club.

With a huge crowd in front of it, signifying the fame the club had, Acacius made his way through countless people. Unafraid of the cold wind as they had no coats on at all, drinks got passed around and the neighbouring taverns flourished.

Bussy atmosphere left them smiling and dancing, cheers growing as sounds were heard flimsily through the seas of sounds.

He had to admit his eyes strained to take everything in, they all had developed muscles.

All women and men had either large or very defined muscles.

Unlike the past weeks, where he was surrounded with more modesty and rules than he ever was, there was an obvious lack of both here.

It was way funner, colored lights decorated the walls and made the scenery even more magical.

Besides the barfing happening down the streets, this seemed like a party worth happening.

Shaking off his distraction, he went back forward, leaving the fallen, drunken civilians behind him.

They were all rather loud, not even concluding the very sensual acts going on.

''Hey, hey you!''

The woman that stumbled in front of him, blocking his way, was clearly drunk and young, twenty?

Maybe twenty-one or at the very least twenty-three.

And clearly dared to approach him, judging by the group of drunken party go-ers cheering her on at the distance.

A little bluish covered her star kissed cheeks, hair cut just below her chin and it suited her.

The freckles intensifying her emerald eyes.

Her rosy coloured lips opened "Do you like sleeping?"

''Huh?"

"Cause if you do, how about we do it together?"

Her flirty expression combined with the drunken words, left him flabbergasted.

Before laughter escaped him.

His own effort to suppress it, caused the opposite to happen. His laughter strengthened, trying to lessen the heat that rose over his cheek, he waved his gloved hand over his face.

It was difficult to see his face, so how the girl even uttered those words with such confidence was beyond him.

''If that's too soon, how about you come with me and eat what my mom made?"

Interest piqued, he calmed down and a part of him wanted to see what she was going to say next.

''Oh? And what would that be?"

Flirty expression vanished as she looked at him dead serious, mouth moving and her answer hit him like a truck.

''Me.''

This one sure did not keep her thoughts to herself and he was convinced she never did as she quirked her eyebrow waiting for an answer.

''Nicely done, unfortunately I have an appointment."

"That's a shame but can I first tie your shoes-'' her left hand pointed down, eyes clashing down with his''-I don't want you falling dor anything else after all."

Shaking his head at the continuous flirts, he moved past her.

"Go home sweetheart, sleep it off.''

Her friends rushed towards her the moment he went by, intoxicated voices asking how it went and kept her busy. Leaving her unable to follow, even though she clearly wanted to.

Pushing through the crowd, he finally entered the house, picking up the last words from the audacious women.

"-aught his eyes, a soft pretty brown and his skin, just about flawless.

His hair looked so soft, I really wanted to touch it."

The sound of her voice vanished as he carried himself farther inside.

Going over the faces in the crowd, he landed on the two in the spotlight, neither of the two was the one he was looking for.

They were beginners, barely twenty-five and if he was very truthful there was a very obvious lack of the basics. They had some experience yet the distinct lack of it was obvious to anyone with the trained eye.

So either they were not trained as they should have been or they were simply tourists looking for some fun.

Either way, there were a lot of little gremlins drinking, which was why there were at least five to ten fighters patrolling. Keeping a tight grasp on who fought and who didn't.

The ones who didn't listen, were promptly thrown out.

The place was large,far larger then he even had expected, with a staircase going swiftly up in a beautiful twirl.

Two stories up and one stories down, assuming by the numerous arrows leading to it the toilets were down there.

Best thing was the podium for a small orchestra, which really made the place even brighter.

Although he questioned a few things.

One was the fact how the hell was this place so big, in size it was like two houses combined.

The second was the fact he was never invited, a shame really.

Now if only he found the person of interest.

He would go on but loud familiar voices behind him made him venture further, up.

The drunken group of kids, with the audacious girl, made their way over and before he knew it said girl was standing in his place as he looked down, halfway up the stairs.

Her half lid eyes staring around, clearly searching for something or someone.

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, his hand tracing the railing as he went up.

A railing that was decorated with a soft material, a rather perplexed find yet everything he saw was clearly expensive and anything but common.

Too big, too large, too expensive, too everything.

For him it was unexpected but no one else seemed to bat an eye to everything around them. Already so used to this place and its festivities.

Going up, there was a place where he could look over the battle. Much like a balcony, multitude pieces of furniture are placed upon it.

Fingers tracing the fine pieces he appreciated the details of the table and afterwards the chairs, equally beautifully crafted.

They were so fine that it almost looked impossible to make with bare hands.

Striking emerald eyes caught his, same rosy lips that spoke flirting words quirked into a smirk as she just about bolted towards the stairs.

"Looks like you have a fan."

The voice was gruff and from that alone he guessed the owner was about his forties or fifties.

''Tell me about it.''

''How about I take you somewhere else, a place with a few more pieces of furniture to admire.

And it would save you from your fan."

"Sounds like a plan." With all his years combined, he would be twice as old as the girl, probably more.

Acacius had been gone for almost two hours, making him wonder if his little spy was keeping his escapade under the necessary wraps.

Lingering presence behind him urged him to move, fabric swishing as he followed the other.

Flirting women had stilled on the bottom of the stairs, triumph brimming in her eyes as she merely watched.

It didn't escape his notice that there were multiple guards keeping an eye on him, close enough to help if something was to happen.

Not sure the older guy needed it as his muscled back was more than obvious, comparing himself was like comparing a twig to the biggest tree in the world.