Nadyian nodded and frowned at the female Orc that was still staring:
“And where are we now? In Belliersia or Bouria?”
“Neither. This is the biggest Island at the East of Bouria. I sent them here because I didn’t know how to send them back to their World, and I didn’t want people to find out there are Orcs now living in Azurath. I hope that one day they are accepted by everyone because despite what we used to think about Orcs, they are very intelligent and they valour honour and duty.”
From their back, a familiar voice spoke:
“They value family more than anything else, Mister Alex! What are you doing here? Did you miss me already?”
Alex greeted Gabriel Dawson with a big smile and a handshake:
“Mister Gabriel, how have you been? Ghar didn’t get fed up with you yet?”
“What, such a strong and handsome guy like me? No way! I see you brought a visitor, and such a pretty one! Don’t tell me… another one?”
Alex made an awkward smile, completely aware of the shooting-daggers-gaze that Nadyian was giving him:
“Well, it’s a long story, actually, and I don’t have time now for further explanations. To sum it up, she is Nadyian Mithym, and it seems that she was after those Dark Mages that we faced on our last Quest. She is also a Mermaid, and Anika’s cousin.”
Gabriel Dawson looked at Alex and then at the overly serious Nadyia for a brief moment, and he then exploded in laughter:
“Ahahah! Wait until you tell Anika that! She will try to kill you both! Oh, I want to see that!”
Ghar came and placed her strong arm over Gabriel’s shoulders and squeezed his neck a bit. She made a forced smile and snorted. Gabriel flinched from the squeeze and he quickly exclaimed:
“I remember, I was just joking with him! Sorry, Mister Alex, I have to let you face your destiny alone because I have something to do tonight and on the next nights. Ghar is the Clan Leader, and she wants to make sure the leadership stays in her bloodline, and since I am her partner, well…”
Alex widened his eyes and asked:
“No way! Are you serious? You were accepted by them, just like that?”
Gabriel Dawson almost shouted and he walked back and forth while remembering the past few days:
“Just like that? Just like that? Do you have any idea what kind of tasks they made me do? Their society is very strict about the partners of a Clan Leader! I had to prove to all of them, that I was worthy of being at her side! I had to hunt all alone for one entire week, enough food for everyone! I had to escape capture for three days straight, from a group that was trying to catch me! I had to fight four of them, and win at least three! I am sure they let me win because they all like Ghar!”
Alex waved both hands with a smile:
“Alright, sorry if I underestimated what you had to do, but I didn’t know, okay? So, any last advice before I go meet Anika and the others?”
“Try not to die? She will get angry for sure.”
Alex explained:
“I am not so sure. I already told her, Wenammy and Pearl that I had a girl that I liked, and Anika even said that she wanted to meet her. I think she will like to find out that the girl I told her about, is her cousin.”
“Well, if you warned her previously, she might not kill you, but she will hit you for sure. So, how long will you stay? We are having some kind of a celebration today, it’s a special day for Orcs, something related with their Gods arriving at their World.”
“I can’t stay, I need to take care of this business and I have another place to go, but I will come for a visit on another occasion.”
Alex waved at Olive, and she turned herself into a light on Ghar’s necklace again and acted as a translator because Alex wanted to say his farewells to her and apologize for the bother. Ghar made a big smile and pointed with her open hand at the Orcs around, that were watching the torturing that Nadyian inflicted on Hangaku Tokimasa, the one that was the cause for them to come to that strange new World.
Ghar explained that at first, they were angry for leaving their life and family behind, but the moment they realized Azurath was such a peaceful World, they were sad because other Orcs in their previous World would also like the peaceful life that Azurath granted.
She escorted Alex and Nadyian to her house, and when Alex opened the closet, Gabriel Dawson wondered what was that strange light inside. Alex noticed his confused looks and explained:
“That was Shinatobe’s doing. She created a Magical passage as a shortcut for my Castle in Belliersia.”
Gabriel Dawson nodded and Nadyian blinked in a surprise:
“You have a Castle? Since when?”
“Since I inherited my father’s responsibilities and duties. I am also an Earl in Belliersia, so if you or Anika don’t kill me, I can promise you a very good life at my side.”
“Well, our life was already good enough, but being an Earl has a nice ring to it. Maybe enough to let you live, but first, I want to meet those other women.”
Alex opened the closet, and as he was entering, he heard Gabriel whispering good luck. After the other door, Alex was in his room in the Castle. When Nadyian came from the closet, she followed Alex to a bigger closet on the wall right in front of the large bed. He pointed at a few dresses:
“Try one of these. They are all brand new, samples from one of my facilities. You can keep them all or the ones that you fancy the most, but you can’t be walking around in those Earth clothes because you will draw too much attention. There are also shoes in the bottom drawer, samples as well.”
While Nadyian was undressing, she asked the moment she touched the fabric of one light blue long dress:
“Is this made of silk? And it has precious stones in the belt?”
“Yes, it is. Extremely expensive, by the way. My products are sold at a high price, and the Nobles are absolutely nuts about that fabric. I have a lot of facilities and businesses in my lands, and several businesses in many countries. I have a group of keepers that I trust my life with, taking care of everything because I have too many things to take care of by myself. We can make a tour over my lands after talking with the other girls so that you get a glimpse of everything.”
Nadyian slowly nodded and asked as she was putting the dress over her head:
“We can’t stay for long, because I need to go to the rental flats, remember? Or else, everyone will be wondering where we went.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. Time works differently around here, remember? My pendant will take us back one second after we left. We can stay here for an entire month if you want, and when we return, it will still be Saturday night, right after we entered the men’s bathroom.”
“Really? That sure is handy! Wait… You were travelling here while we were in School? Or after we started to live together? Because the first time you invited me for a date at the park, you looked as if you didn’t see me for a month!”
“Well, that was actually because I hadn’t seen you for a month. I was travelling here. I guess that was also why I gathered my courage to invite you because I missed you a lot.”
Nadyian Mithym raised one eyebrow:
“Even with all your women to keep you company?”
“They are not you, Nadyian.”
When she was ready, Alex offered his right arm, which she hesitantly grabbed. He signalled for her to raise her chin as if she belonged there, and to not look so nervous, or the servants would find it weird. As Nadyian was about to ask about the servants, Alex opened the door, and she gulped when she faced the long corridor with several doors on each side. As they were walking, a group of servants came from another corridor, and they all bowed at them, continuing their walk while glancing at the unknown woman near their beloved Earl.
Nadyian whispered after the tenth servant bowed to them:
“They don’t find it weird that you suddenly appear in the Castle? Not to mention your commoner clothes!”
“They are kind of used to see me appearing by surprise. As for the clothes, I only wear my Noble’s clothes when a Noble is around, or when I have a meeting. I like to dress more casually. I never know when I have to go to a facility to get my hands dirty or milk a cow. I normally don’t live in this Castle, I prefer to live in my manor a little to the North of here. This is way too big for my taste.”
“Wait a minute… You also have a manor? How rich are you, anyway?”
Before Alex could answer, a familiar voice came from behind them:
“Way more than you are used to, girl. How did you manage to get here without us finding out, Alex?”
Anika asked while staring at the unknown girl. Alex made a slight smile and explained:
“Shinatobe made a magical passage for us to arrive faster.”
“So, is that the one, Alex? You said she had blonde hair, but I can only see a light blue head, a colour way too familiar for my taste.”
Nadyian Mithym was surprised by the sight of so many frowning women, with one particular Mermaid staring back at her with a tilted head. Alex took care of the introductions, and with the full name of Nadyian, Anika Wright stuttered:
“Nadyian Mithym…. Are you…”
“Yes, I am. I already met aunt Oli, and she was also very surprised to see me.”
Anika approached Nadyian and touched her cheek with tears in her eyes:
“Little Nady… I thought you were dead… We made a huge funeral for you and your parents when my mother heard what happened. Where were you all this time? And… you are the girl that Alex told us about?”
“I was infiltrated for the last fifteen years in the house of the Leader of the Dark Mages. I pretended to be his baby daughter and I spied on him and his friends. I killed so many Dark Mages and their associates together with their security guys, that I lost count.”
Anika had her mouth wide open, and she tried to speak, but no words were coming out. Behind her, Okami, Pearl and Wenammy were as surprised as her. James Macdonald was next to Suijin and Bethany Mathews, and the sound of Suijin’s voice made them all broke from their silence:
“You are indeed amazing, daughter of the sea! You lived under the same roof as that despicable Leader, and you grow up without him finding out? You are a proud to your race! If only all my daughters were as courageous as you are!”
Nadyian raised one eyebrow, wondering who was that big and muscular man. Alex introduced them all, and Nadyian stuttered while looking at Suijin and Okami:
“A-Alex… S-Shinatobe, O-Okami, they are…”
“Yes, they are the Great Four, but Kagu-tsuchi is not here because he is on a mission.”
Nadyan fell on her knees and greeted Okami and Suijin like she did with Shinatobe. Suijin was smiling, visibly happy with her demonstration of respect, but Okami went to Nadyian and gently pulled her up:
“You don’t need to do that, we are all friends around here, and if you give any hint about our true identities, it will be bothersome. Only this group knows who we really are, and it would be better if the servants and soldiers that work here don’t find out.”