Fine wine and finer meats were arrayed between the two royals and the duo from Safeharbor. The room that they were in was pleasantly lit, just barely dim enough for Lenna, and just bright enough for the royals to still be able to see everything clearly. The small dining room was tucked into the side of the main manor and looked like it was usually only used when the royals wanted a personal meal with each other. The table only had eight chairs as it was simply a large square. Isaac and Lenna sat side by side across from the Royals with Isaac and the king sitting directly across from each other. There were two guards stationed just inside of each of the two ways in and out of the room. The royals seemed comfortable enough around Isaac and Lenna but that didn't mean that they weren't going to be heavily guarded at all times.

"Your fight with Jallen V'Nova." King Edwin began between small bites of food. "The report was not very precise. The field of combat was apparently as vast as it was dark."

"I suppose it was." Isaac agreed. "I must confess that I rarely notice how dark a place is, only how bright it can be."

King Edwin nodded. "As I would expect."

"Would you like to hear about the fight from my perspective?" Isaac asked the king. He was decently sure that King Edwin was trying to get him to talk about that specific event but was seemingly unable to make a request.

"It has aroused my curiosity, yes." King Edwin replied.

"Well, as I was only level ten at the time, I needed gear at least as good as his to even the playing field." Isaac began. Their conversation lasted well into the evening as the king and queen took turns asking Isaac and Lenna about their various escapades. Lenna's stories ended up taking longer than Isaac's as Queen Eris was perfectly fine with asking questions in order to pull actual details out of Lenna. At first, it looked as though Queen Eris was not sure how to handle Lenna's brand of storytelling, but eventually, she realized that she needed to prod Lenna in order to get a full story out of her.

"This has been an enjoyable meeting." Queen Eris told them and started to get up from her small throne that sat at the head of the table next to her husbands. Servants pulled all four chairs out as the duo and royals rose.

"Indeed." Isaac agreed. "I am afraid that a proper gift from us will need to wait until our next visit. We only stopped by this time because it would have been rude otherwise."

"We did not expect a gift from you, though it is customary." King Edwin replied. "From everything we have read, it seemed unlikely that you would volunteer anything of value to someone that you did not know."

"You have been very well informed." Isaac complimented him. "That is correct. Especially when it comes to what gifts we have to give." Isaac didn't specifically say it, but it didn't take a political genius to put together what Isaac was leaving between the lines. If his gift was protection related, which it most definitely would be, then it meant that he wanted them to live out the entirety of their natural lifespans. If the gift was monetary then it would be a wish for prosperity, and so on.

"We will look forward to it." Queen Eris said with a smile. "For tonight, if you would like, our guest house is open to you."

Isaac raised a questioning eyebrow. "Is that safe, for you?" Isaac wondered. "I know I brought this up before, but Lenna and especially myself are not your loyal guards. We like you both, and I believe that you feel the same in return, but housing someone like myself overnight is dangerous."

"Why is it dangerous?" Queen Eris questioned him in return. "Do you mean to do us harm?"

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Isaac shook his head. "No. But I am more than capable of walking through this place as if the defenses weren't even here, maybe even during the daytime." Isaac countered.

"Do you lose control and go on a rampage once the sun fully sets?" Queen Eris questioned him further.

"No." Isaac replied.

"Then I see no problem with you staying the night." The Queen insisted. "As for our defenses, if you can take the pen from my study, I will grant you a wish, as long as it is within reason."

King Edwin looked at his wife with obvious surprise on his face. That was apparently not something that they had agreed upon. "If even one of the defenses triggers, it could kill him." King Edwin reminded his wife.

"He would just need to succeed." Queen Eris calmly replied.

"I do not think that I will take you up on that offer, this time." Isaac told her with a slightly apologetic look. "We cannot risk our journey being delayed any more than necessary." Isaac may have given a valid excuse that alluded to a demigod's ability to reconstitute themselves after death, but he really did not want to be proven wrong and end up dead, again. No, one death was enough for him. This was not a challenge with a clear enough reward to be worth putting his life on the line for it. Especially when he was not at full power.

The Queen shrugged slightly. "Well, if you ever change your mind, let me know." She told him. "If there is anyone capable of challenging our defenses, I am positive that it would be you."

"Have you tried Lady Jikan?" Isaac joked.

King Edwin shook his head. "One of my predecessors did, a long time ago, and it was a disaster. She set off every single ward and trap. The repair cost was astronomical."

Isaac laughed. "I can imagine." He then returned his gaze to the Queen. "I think we would like to take you up on your offer." He told her. "Lenna and I have not used a bed in weeks and a proper bath would be spectacular."

Queen Eris smirked. "Wonderful." She replied. "Erik will show you the way." She continued and gestured towards one of the guards who nodded and took a step forwards.

The four nobles said their goodnights and then went their separate ways. Erik, the royal guardsman, led the duo to a large five bedroom rectangular mansion, that was staffed with half a dozen servants who greeted the duo upon their entrance. Like everything else in the royal estate, everything was immaculate and extravagant. Marble, silver, and gold were everywhere. Isaac and Lenna were finally able to enjoy a nice bath and relax. A few hours later, Isaac and Lenna were laying in a bed even larger than their bed at home in robes made of the finest silks.

"The robes are a good idea." Isaac commented. "We should get some for home."

Lenna nodded. "They'll make it easier."

"Make what easier?" Isaac asked and looked over at her.

"Undressing." She replied simply and then smirked at him.

"In the Royal Estate?" Isaac questioned her. "I mean, I'm game if you are. I bet that there aren't many people that can say that they've done the same."

"And you had better not be one of them." Lenna warned him with narrowed eyes.

"What about in a hundred years?" Isaac asked with a smirk like he knew something that she didn't. He did not, he just liked giving her that look.

Lenna's eyes narrowed even more. "Fine." She conceded. "But only if you live that long to tell about it yourself."

—

Isaac and Lenna had an amazing breakfast before they got ready to leave. They had been up before the servants had been properly prepared for them, so they had to wait for breakfast to be cooked. The King and Queen sent their regards but were apparently too busy that day to see them off so the pair were escorted to the front gate like any other visitors would've been. Once they had left, Isaac had the idea to drop in on Lucius while he was at school, but Lenna shot it down instantly. They needed to stop getting sidetracked and there was no guarantee that Lucius was both awake and available. Instead, they went directly towards the teleportation circle, with only some light help from the locals.

The teleportation circle was nestled in a three sided building with a domed roof. Inside the building there were two mages and two guards stationed to act as both senders and receivers of goods and travelers. Isaac walked up to one of the mages. "We need to go to Nualt." Isaac told the mage. "When and where do I pay for the trip? And how soon can we leave?"

The mage gestured to a set of scales next to him. "Put your payment there. If it is correct, the scales will balance out. Once they have, we will key the teleportation circle for Nualt and then send you on your way. It is that simple. Just make sure any of your magical protection items are dormant or removed first." The mage informed him.

Isaac nodded in thanks and did as he was directed. A full one thousand gold later and they were ready to leave. Isaac and Lenna stood in the middle of the teleportation circle. It was their first time using long distance teleportation and it made Isaac pretty nervous. He had a lot more faith in the shadows and darkness itself helping him when he shadow-stepped than he did with spatial magic as a whole.

"Ready?" The mage asked the duo.

Isaac and Lenna nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be." Isaac commented.

The mage laughed. "First-timers are always funny." He commented and nodded to his partner who started making minor alterations to the ritual with platinum dust infused chalk. After a minute, the first mage checked over it all to make sure it was right, and then he nodded to Isaac and Lenna. "We are ready." He told them and then looked back at his partner. "Go ahead."

Magic power started building until it reached upwards of a sixth level spell. Finally, the power surged as the circle activated and Isaac and Lenna were whisked away to a far away place.

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