Vol.1 Ch.39 Returned to Kishin.

Vol.1 Ch.39 Returned to Kishin.

Rya, Quinus, and the rest of the group made their way to the main gate of the village. It was closed at this time at night. Everything seemed fine until they were stopped by the town's guards.

"Oi! Who the hell are you lot?!" A guard shouts atop the wall to the city. He was having trouble seeing whoever was approaching the gate.

"You are not wanted here!" Another guard shouted out next to the first guard.

'Wow... Talk about a warm welcome.' Rya thought as she looked up at the wall.

The captain of the knights walked next to Prince Quinus and held his magical torch up in the air. So, he could show the Town's Guards who they were speaking to.

"You, MORONS! You're speaking to the Crown Prince of Fiafyr! Open the gates this instant!" yelled Sir Menns, captain of the Knights who was staring at the two guards with anger in his eyes.

The captain of the guards, a large man, with a full brown beard, looked down at the knight and then at the twenty-year-old boy with his fancy armor that looked like it had seen better days, "Tch! He doesn't look like a prince to me," He muttered to his comrade.

"Yeah, they might be pulling a fast one on us. And look... There's a Dark Elf with them. They are probably up to something bad. I've heard about the dark elves, they are nothing but trouble. I bet this one is planning on taking over our town."

The Captain of the Guard took a step forward and leaned over the wall.

"If that boy is the Prince, then why does he have a Dark Elf and a Mutt with him!? No respected Royalty would ever be seen with a dog or a dirty elf." The guard said, spitting on the ground as he looked down at the group.

Rya was dumbstruck. 'What the hell?! Is this how every new person I meet is going to treat me? Is this how it's going to be for the rest of my life? GAH! This sucks!!!'

She wanted to slouch in defeat, but her pride wouldn't let her.

*Growl!* "Looks like we're not welcome here, Alpha!" Dalia says with a glare.

"You better sheath your tongues!!!" Sir George snapped back at the city guards.

Quinus looked cool and calm at a glance but if you could see through his façade, you would notice his clenched jaw and fists as a fury was building inside him. He could shrug off insults being thrown his way but when they started insulting Rya and the rest of the group... Well, he was starting to get mad.

"I'll deal with this, Sir George," Quinus said to his retainer while he pulled out an amulet that glows when he pours his mana into it.

"Ahhh, what is this?! A Royal Sigil!?" One of the guards asks as he leans over the wall trying to get a better look at the Royal Sigil.

"My patience is wearing thin!" Quinus replies angrily while staring up at the guards.

The Captain of the Guard felt a pit form in his stomach. He knew the Prince and his Party had come through their village about a week ago to deal with the goblin menace. Everyone thought it was a suicide mission and the Prince was only coming by for lip service. But here he was, alive and well and the guard couldn't deny that the goblin numbers have dropped dramatically. He would be an idiot to continue his insubordination.

"OPEN THE GATE! NOW!" Shouted the Captain of the Guard. He was yelling down to his guards on the ground level.

"Yes sir!!" They all yelled as they moved towards the rope that raised the portcullis. Four of them grabbed the rope and started to pull with all their might. It didn't take long for the four guards to raise the portcullis before Quinus and his comrades could come into the village.

"Hmph... Should we discipline them, my Lord?" Sir George asked Quinus.

"As you wish, my Lord." Sir George said with a bow.

"I would rather you live, Rya," Quinus teased her with a smirk.

"Yeah, Beta is right, Alpha! I don't want you to die over a bed," Dalia says with a concerned look.

"Hehe. Dalia, it's a figure of speech," Rya laughed.

"Figure of speech? I don't understand, Alpha?" Dalia said with confusion.

"She meant it as a joke, Lady Dalia," Percy said with a smile.

"Aww. A joke... I still don't get it," Dalia said with a bashful face.

"Don’t know? Maybe they did? Wait a moment, isn't that a Wolfkin and a Dark Elf? What the hell are their kind doing here?" Another townsfolk questioned as they saw Dalia and Rya trying to hide in the middle of the group.

"Don't worry. They're probably just the Prince's slaves or something," One of the men reassured his fellow townsman.

"Huh? But the King outlawed slavery in the realm... Well, we can't take any chances. Let's get some more guards so we can protect our homes from them," the townsfolk said as they left the town square.

***

Quinus led the group toward a big-sized house, which was probably a mansion, with a wall around it. It was hard to tell, with how dark it was. While Rya was taking in her surroundings, she noticed a man running toward them at breakneck speeds from the large house. He was an older man wearing an official uniform of some sort.

"My PRINCE! My apologies!" The man cried.

"Aye, the Mayor's minister. I guess Tomas is too busy to greet His Highness in person. Or maybe he's too scared to show his face," Sir George said with a chuckle as he glanced at Quinus for a quick moment.

"Which one were you again?... Tomas was the one who did all the talking with my cousin the last time we were here," Quinus asked with an irritated tone.

"And how is the situation here?" Quinus asked.

"Our people are doing well. Since we haven't had a monster attack for almost three days, my Lord. It is all thanks to your bravery," Marko said with his head still down on the ground.

"I'm sure your people are pleased with that, but I'm not pleased with the welcome we've received, once we returned from the Labyrinth, Mr. Aitken. I'm sure that was Tomas' doing," Quinus stated.

"You will do no such thing, Marko. I am going to speak with Tomas myself," Quinus said with anger.

Marko bowed his head in defeat. "O-Of course my Lord. I'll see if the Mayor can receive His Highness this instant!" Marko said as he quickly turned around and ran back towards the mansion, in the distance. The building was about three hundred yards away from their location.

"Hmm? No reason, in particular, young one," Dalia said with a straight face but her tail was wagging.

"..."

"Well, let's pay the mayor a visit shall we," Quinus said in a serious tone.

They all followed the prince as they walked towards the mayor's estate.