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After three days of traveling, Aurora City was finally in sight. With the exception of the run in with Uvaris in Catkell, the group haven't had any problems. Crystal was still shaken from the Uvaris captain she killed, though Dusk's advice and assurance has helped it not hurt as badly, with Vergence and Genesis helping her also. As they neared the city, Crystal noticed that Dusk had his hood pulled up. "Why do you-?" She started to ask. "Rivals." He replied, cutting her off. "Oh. So some of them are from Dragis?" "Yeah. Rather not deal with the trouble that would come from someone recognizing me." Vergence overheard the exchange and honestly felt suspicious as it very much seemed like Dusk wasn't being completely truthful with Crystal. Yet what could he be actually hiding? Admittedly the raptor didn't know, but he intended to find out. Sure he didn't like the idea of doubting one of his best friends but at the same time it felt like Dusk knew more then he was letting on. He made a mental note to talk with the dragon later and try to get some answers. The group entered the city and several of them couldn't help but stop and admire the full grandeur of Dragis' capital city. Crystal felt enthralled, her father had always said that Scarlett City was the crown jewel of Voval, but now she had to disagree after seeing Aurora City and wondered what the other capitals looked like. Kasey managed to find a patrolling guard and related to them what had happened in Kalmarsh, how Crystal escaped and that they sought the aid of Dragis. The guard gave them directions to the palace and Kasey asked Hera to take their group to go find lodging for their stay in Aurora City while him and Crystal headed to the palace to speak with King Winterfang. Genesis, Vergence and Coby ultimately insisted on going with them and Crystal ended up asking Dusk to tag along as well. With it decided, the two groups split off, with Hera saying she'd head to the marketplace afterwords to browse for supplies that they'd no doubt need in the future. On the way to the palace, Dusk had a whispered conversation with Kasey about something that the others were unable to catch.

\\\\\\\ Crystal POV /////////////////////////////////

When I first saw the palace from the outside in Scarlett City for the first time, I was awestruck by how impressive it was, but seeing the Aurora palace made it clear that when it was first constructed, the dragons had ensured to make it stand above the others in every possible way. "Pretty impressive isn't it Crystal?" Genesis inquired. "Yeah. Ours back home pales in comparison to Dragis'." She nodded in agreement and I honestly couldn't believe that I was actually here. Putting my amazement aside, I pushed forward with the others and apon reaching the main entrance with a pair of royal guards, me and Kasey explained our situation to them and they allowed us inside, with one of them leading our group to the throne room. This was it, we were about to meet King Winterfang and we needed to do everything we could to ensure that he pledged his support to help oppose Uvaris.

The throne room was rather sparsely decorated but at the opposite end of the door was the throne which was probably about ten or eleven feet tall, colored dark grey with gold finishing and covered with several exotic looking furs. Seated on it was King Winterfang himself, dressed in black and red colored clothing, a long dark red cape, an elaborate gold and pearl studded crown, dark blue scales, a dark red stripe over his right eye, two large grey horns, a long whip like tail, and a pair of pale red eyes that watched us as we approached. "Milord, presenting Princess Crystal Stoneback and her escorts, here after escaping the invasion in Kalmarsh." The guard announced. "That will be all." He replied in a deep, gravelly voice. The guard bowed before leaving the room. "So, Princess Stoneback." "Yes my Lord." I replied as I bowed. "What brings you here?" "Uvaris. They have invaded Kalmarsh and forced me to flee here to Dragis." "And those with you?" "Citizens of Kalmarsh who aided in my escape." I turned to face the others when I noticed that Dusk was absent. "Guys, where did Dusk go?" The others looked and seemed to also notice his disappearance just now. "Huh. Where could he have gone?" Vergence pondered. "I'd guess to find some extra help for us." Kasey remarked. "Is that what he was telling you about on the way here?" Coby asked. "Yes. Mentioned getting in contact with some of his fellow mercenaries that he met in his travels, hoping that they'd be willing to help us fight back." "Tch. Typical Dusk." Coby scoffed. "Making plans and not informing all of us." "Tell me more about this Dusk." The King remarked. "A dragon from Coastal City in Kalmarsh. He's an accomplished mercenary from what I've heard." "Is that so?" "Yes. He's traveled all over Kalmarsh and partially into her neighbors, including Dragis." "Rather rare that a dragon chooses to settle in Kalmarsh. In any matter, I will think over your proposal and in the meantime those raptors can be relieved of your company and some of my own guard can take their place. No doubt they would rather be at one of the inns fornicating." I was stunned at the rather racist remark that the king made. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Vergence's anger and as he went to say something Genesis stopped him, the two having a quiet argument obviously about the king's remark. I quickly spoke up before Vergence said anything despite any attempt from Genesis to stop him from doing so. "I appreciate the offer sir, but I must decline. They and the surviving members of Kalmarsh's guard will do so and I trust them to keep me safe from harm." "If you say so. Very well, you all are dismissed." I bowed before turning and heading out with the others.

Once outside and away from the palace, Vergence let out his irritation. "That asshole! Is that all he thinks that raptors are good for, sex?!" "Maybe he'll change his mind once we prove our might, prove that there's more to you and Genesis then a stereotype." I suggested. "Doubtful." I ended up yelping in surprise as Dusk, once again appeared out of thin air. How was it that a 6' 6" tall dragon was so freaking stealthy? I turned to glare at him in annoyance. "Any luck finding us some extra help?" Kasey asked. "I've found some couriers who were willing to deliver letters to some and I actually encountered my friend Milo here in the city. He's already met Hera and the inn he's staying at isn't too far away from the one Hera found for us." "And why exactly did you decide to keep this a secret from the rest of us?" Coby asked, his tone irritated. "I don't need to inform you of everything I do Coby. Besides, I knew you guys could handle the king and we are in need of extra fighters." "But Dusk, how exactly are we going to pay them to help us? We have very little coin to pay them with and even then, we don't know how long this war will drag on and at the end of it, they'll still need paid won't they?" I inquired, addressing the problem of hiring these mercenaries. "You don't need to worry about that." "Why is that?" Kasey asked. "The mercenaries that I messaged are all folk that are willing to put aside a payment if for the right cause. Some of them are fellow Kalmarshians so I have no doubt that they'd be willing to fight with us free of charge." "Really? I thought that mercenaries only fought for coin." I remarked, a bit confused. "It all depends on the kind of mercenary you want to be. For example let's say a local noble hires you and tasks you with eliminating some people who have been hiding out in some ruins not far from the town. You head out there expecting bandits or possibly a necromancer and instead find a family forced to abandon their home, sell everything they have and forced to squat in a set of ruins. What do you do?." I was kinda caught off guard by the question and immediately started running the hypothetical scenario through my head. "You do the job as asked." Coby replied. "We have to eat and a noble's coin is still coin." "You'd be more interested if the promise of a quick fuck was part of it." Dusk coldly replied. "Offer them some coin of my own and try to point them toward a place to stay and find a job to again sustain themselves." Genesis remarked. "And maybe use my own status as a noble to get them a job even as a gardener or messenger." "The former is good and what I kinda expected from you Gen. As for the latter, it would only really work if said mercenary was a noble still and not striped of their titles for becoming one. Not everyone can be as unfortunate to end up befriending us plain folk and being disillusioned with a life of luxury." "Unfortunate my ass. My life has honestly been a lot better since I met you and Vergence. Regardless of what anyone or my father say." "And we're both all the better for knowing you, Gen." Vergence replied. "Don't you regret not sticking with it? It might not have ended up as bad as you think." Kasey asked. "No regrets. Even at nine years old I could see that the life I would have lived would have been pretty unhappy and unfulfilling. Everyone around me wanted to get on good terms with me just because of who my parents were and not actually interested in getting to know who I really was. At least until I met Dusk and Vergence and they overlooked the fact that I was a noble and treated me like an actual person. And I honestly couldn't be happier." I was kinda speechless. It made me look back on my own interactions with not just other people, but Dusk and Vergence as well. It was a fairly big contrast and wasn't sure which I wanted more of and I was left wondering and hoping for King Winterfang to help us and wondered when we'd next hear from him.