Tiberius swiftly motioned for the guards to escort them forward, and Orion’s group fell into step behind him.
As Orion’s group followed Tiberius and the Tigerkin guards deeper into Valoria, the bustling atmosphere of the outer city gradually faded away, replaced by quieter, more orderly streets.
Just then, Lumi’s voice echoed inside Orion’s head,
[Master, why did Seris leave? I thought she would follow you around.
Orion softly shook his head and inwardly replied, ’Not everyone is made for sothing great. She is happy in her little territory as long as she can keep her people safe. She knew getting involved with our group was troubleso. Her taking us here is already more than enough.’
[I see...] Lumi quietly muttered.
And soon, a tall stone wall ca into view, separating the humble outer districts from the exclusive Inner City. The guards at the gate quickly recognized Tiberius and respectfully allowed them entry without any hesitation, bowing slightly as they passed through.
Once inside, the contrast between the two sections of the city beca strikingly clear. The Inner City was more ticulously maintained, with cleaner, wider streets paved with smooth stone slabs.
Elegant trees lined the roadsides, their leaves rustling softly in the afternoon breeze. Buildings here were more refined, constructed from high-quality stone and timber, exuding a sense of high class, yet even this area couldn’t rival the splendor Orion and his friends were accustod to in Thunderpeak Kingdom.
Orion and his group looked around curiously, subtly noting these contrasts but remaining respectfully silent.
Arya gently admired the simplicity, appreciating the modest beauty, while Emilia and Nyss maintained composed expressions, eyes calmly scanning their surroundings.
Kale and Sylvia quietly observed, their analytical gazes taking in every detail. Felira’s gentle expression was thoughtful, and Elias seed intrigued by the modest yet noble atmosphere.
Eventually, Tiberius led them to an imposing structure at the heart of the Inner City, clearly one of its grandest buildings. A large, ornate wooden board stood prominently at the entrance, bearing bold, ticulously carved letters:
[Duke House: Kaelen]
Orion’s eyes calmly swept over the estate, noting its respectable yet understated grandeur. Compared to the lavish residences back ho, House Kaelen’s estate appeared sowhat humble.
Nevertheless, it clearly represented significant influence within Valoria.
"Please, esteed guests," Tiberius politely invited, gesturing toward the manor entrance. Orion nodded in acknowledgnt, stepping forward with his companions following closely behind.
The interior of the Kaelen estate carried an atmosphere of elegance. Warm, softly glowing lamps provided ample lighting, casting gentle illumination upon simple yet tasteful decor.
Paintings depicting proud Tigerkin warriors adorned the walls, alongside various trophies, scrolls, and portraits of past Dukes, reflecting the house’s long lineage.
Tiberius guided them directly to a spacious guest room. Polished wooden furniture with plush velvet upholstery lined both sides of the room, arranged neatly around a long, beautifully carved central table.
Large windows allowed streams of soft sunlight to filter gently into the room, brightening the quiet, dignified atmosphere.
Orion and his companions silently took their seats on the right side, quietly whispering among themselves as Tiberius respectfully excused himself montarily.
Arya leaned closer to Orion, her violet eyes filled with curiosity, whispering softly, "Brother Orion, what do you think they want from us?"
Orion’s expression remained neutral, his dual-colored eyes thoughtful as he murmured back softly, "Hard to say. Possibly curiosity, or perhaps they need assistance regarding the recent troubles."
Sylvia quietly nodded in agreent, her voice calm. "They clearly approached with a purpose. We’ll soon find out."
Nyss remained silent but attentive, her sharp gaze carefully scanning the room, analyzing every detail.
Emilia, Felira, and Kale exchanged subtle, questioning glances but remained quiet, trusting Orion’s judgnt implicitly. Elias sat quietly, clearly intrigued and slightly bored.
Soon, footsteps echoed softly from the hallway outside, signaling the arrival of House Kaelen’s representatives.
One by one, elderly Tigerkin nobles entered the room, both male and female, their dignified expressions and calm movents reflecting their positions as senior elders of the household.
In total, ten elderly Tigerkin nobles took seats directly opposite Orion’s group, their eyes quietly assessing the unfamiliar human guests with caution and curiosity.
A respectful hush fell upon the room as a middle-aged Tigerkin entered confidently, clearly the Duke himself.
His presence imdiately drew everyone’s attention. He stood tall and proud, with a noble bearing that reflected both strength and wisdom. His fur was richly colored, amber eyes sharp yet dignified, dressed in refined yet functional robes befitting his rank.
Instantly, everyone in the room rose respectfully to greet the Duke. Orion’s group, too, stood out of courtesy, subtly acknowledging the Duke’s status and authority.
The Duke offered a polite nod of appreciation, his voice calm and steady as he addressed everyone, "Please, be seated."
Obediently, everyone sat down. The Duke himself took the central seat at the front, quietly surveying Orion’s group for a brief yet penetrating mont before speaking again.
His voice carried both the authority of a Duke and respect for the strong. "Allow to introduce myself formally. I am Duke Varian Kaelen, head of House Kaelen. On behalf of my house, I welco you esteed guests from the world beyond to our humble estate and the Felian Kingdom."
Orion’s expression turned serious as he could feel that the Duke was a tier higher than the rest of his club mbers—a true Tier 7 powerhouse. He calmly nodded his head and responded, "Thank you for your hospitality, Duke Kaelen. It is an honor to be welcod here."
Duke Varian softly chuckled and shook his head. "What honor? You people have co from high and mighty backgrounds from a higher world. This mansion is probably nothing but a shed compared to that place."
Orion and his group silently looked at each other but none comnted as this was indeed the truth. While the Tigerkin elders softly exhaled and shook their heads in disappointnt.
"It isn’t li—" Just as Orion started to say sothing out of politeness, Varian interrupted him with a chuckle, "These are little things. Let’s talk about why I invited you here."
Orion and the expressions of everyone present in the room beca serious as they looked toward Varian with bated breaths.
"Please, go ahead," Orion said with a calm look.
"Haa..." Varian exhaled a long breath. "Where should I begin? It all happened a long ti ago. A treasure dropped from the realms beyond and pierced the skies of our world. Before that, there were still light skirmishes between both Tigerkin and Lionkin, but no all-out wars like today."
He paused, seeing the sad and disappointed expressions of the Tigerkin elders and the curious and heavy expressions of Orion and his group before continuing. "The kings of both our races were the first ones who decided to go and see what treasure fell. It was a tower—a huge tower that pierced the skies. Both of them were filled with excitent looking at it—looking at the hope of finally being able to ascend."
"However, the two of them fought on the spot for ownership of the tower, but neither could defeat the other, and the fight went on for seven days and seven nights straight before the tower closed itself off into an isolated space. Both of the kings were heavily injured, so they decided to return and investigate it later."
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