Raegar felt the water was hot, putting a smile on his face. He scooped a handful, splashing it over his chest, the liquid trailing down his torso, washing away the sweat of their passionate sex. As he scrubbed his skin, his thoughts drifted back to the palace. Those towering walls that loomed in his mind as much as they did on the horizon.
His fingers worked the soap into a lather, scraping under his nails and across the corded muscles of his arms. The Aether in his veins hummed faintly, sharpening his senses, making every droplet feel like a pinprick, every sound amplified in his ears. Alice's voice cut through the haze, teasing and sharp, calling him to hurry up.
He glanced over, catching her silhouette through the steam, her curves slick and glistening as she towelled off, causing his lust to explode once again. A smirk tugged at his lips, but it faded quickly. 'There's no time for distractions now,' he thought, grinning. 'I'll spend the night making love to them.'
Raegar dunked his head under the water, letting it wash through his hair, the cold shock fully waking him up. He emerged gasping, shaking droplets from his face like a beast, and grabbed a soft towel from a nearby rack and dry off. He moved to a small crate in the corner, where their gear had been stashed.
He pulled on a pair of trousers, the fabric snug against his thighs, and a tunic that hugged his broad shoulders. The clothes were practical, unadorned, but they felt comfortable. The Aether pulsed faintly in his eyes, casting a glow as he caught his reflection in a cracked mirror.
When seeing himself, he barely recognized the man staring back, hardened, wary, no longer the boy who'd dreamed of glory. The Carrier lurched slightly, a signal that they were nearing their destination. After realizing this, his pulse quickened as his excitement soared, and he could not wait to see Dahlia again.
Following that, Raegar left the bathroom and bumped into Dominique walking toward the lounge with Yuki. The two women beamed when he appeared. The catwoman gave him a warm hug before kissing him, her hands using his shoulders for support as her body pressed against his.
He felt a shiver run down his spine, but he quickly returned the gesture while holding her waist. Soon enough, Yuki broke the kiss, a big smile on her face as she greeted him. ''Afternoon, young master, I'm glad you got ready because we'll be landing soon.''
''I know, I got carried away with Selene and Alice,'' he explained.
''What about me and Za?'' The Vampress asked.
Raegar glanced at the grey-skinned beauty and nodded. ''I'll spend time with you both once we're at the palace.''
When Dominique heard this, her green eyes widened in shock, but she lunged at him. The young woman gave him a tight hug as she whispered. ''Thank you, Rae. I assumed you forgot about us.''
''Never Domi,'' he reassued. ''I care about you both so much. Like I said, I got carried away with the others.''
The Vampress nodded in understanding, her eyes glinting with desire. She leaned closer, her cool fingers gently cradling his face. As her lips met his, the kiss began softly and quickly deepened into something more passionate. Dominique's tongue slipped past his lips, teasing and exploring, igniting a playful dance between them.
Their breaths mingled, growing heavier with each passing moment, as the air around them seemed to pulse with heat. The kiss, now a fierce tangle of passion, drew them closer, their bodies pressing together as the world around them faded, only to be dragged out of it when the Carrier lurched downwards.
Raegar leaned back, grinning at Dominique as her face was bright red. Yuki giggled off to the side as she spoke. ''Come on, you two, let's get to the lounge and wait for the others to finish getting ready.''
The trio stepped into the lounge and settled in, waiting to land, each finding their own space. He chose a seat by the window, his gaze immediately drawn to the view beyond. The airfield stretched out below, an expanse of dirt not far from the walls of the palace that loomed in the distance.
Moments later, the setting sun bathed the scene, casting a radiant glow over the intricate spires and turrets that adorned the royal stronghold. His heart quickened with a mix of awe and curiosity. The airfield was eerily empty, not a single person or aircraft in sight, save for the Imperial Guards.
Raegar grew curious but spotted a carriage racing toward the airfield, causing him to think. 'Looks like Dahlia couldn't wait, at least she's happy to see me.'
He grew mesmerized by the landscape until a thud ran through the Carrier, bringing him out of his daze, only to see Selene and Zahara sitting there. A wide smile appeared on his face as he greeted the young woman. ''Hello, you two, sorry I was just zoning out. I've only seen the Central Region once when I was four, and it caught me off guard.''
They giggled just as Zahara commented. ''Yes, father told me the capital does the same thing to people who have never visited it.''
''Papa comes here to sell his best pieces,'' the Demoness revealed, a proud smile on her pretty face. ''The nobles go crazy over a good sword or some random artifact, it's crazy seeing those auctions.''
''They must be popular?'' he questioned, his curiosity on fire.
Selene got excited when she saw his expression and went into all the details she's heard from her father and siblings. By the time the Demoness finished speaking, Drusilla, Alice, Dominique, and Yuki were ready to disembark. Raegar chuckled at their amused expression before falling them off.
They moved to the side as Dahlia approached, a bright smile on her face as she stopped in front of him and gave him a tight hug. She soon whispered. ''It's good to see you, handsome, and thank you for helping out the western part of the empire.''
''Did you capture the people behind it?'' he replied as they broke apart.
''Some yes, most escaped before we could figure out what's happening, but the Lion and your big brother are cleaning up down south, getting rid of the major cults that attack weakened the local garrisons,'' Dahlia revealed.
Soon enough, she waved his concerns away. ''Thanks to your involvement, the majority of cult members were killed once you cleared out the Devils, a blue flash crossing great distances while killing fiends left and right.''
Raegar chuckled at this, but Dahlia turned to the six women behind him and greeted them; her smile grew even wider. ''Girls! It's good seeing all of you here. Do you mind having a ladies' night tonight? I'd like to get to know you lot better.''
Yuki was the one to answer as the others looked at her, and the catwoman nodded. ''That sounds interesting, we'd love to join you, empress.''
''Don't call me that while here,'' the older woman said. ''We are going to be harem sisters in the future, I'd like to get along with all of you.''
The group of women was shocked, but Dahlia ushered them all into the nearby carriage as the soldiers looked at them in awe. Raegar held in a chuckle as the brunette glanced at him. ''I hope you don't mind me getting closer to them, it's lonely on the throne and not many people would talk to me like they do.''
He waved her away, smiling. ''Don't worry about it. You seven have to get along, and spending time together is the best way to get to know them.''
Overjoyed, Dahlia beamed as the group climbed into the carriage, which soon rolled toward the palace. Twenty minutes later, they reached the grand gates, where the Imperial Guard stood ready to usher them inside. Raegar's eyes widened in awe at the sprawling gardens, rich with colorful blooms in every direction, tended by gardeners.
Just then, Raegar was hit by a vision of himself fighting an enemy that eclipsed everyone he knew in power. The sight of this Devil, the leader of the race, sent his heart racing, but soon he realized he was older and turned around only to see the seven women along with three more whom he couldn't make out.
''Little Fusion King, you kill many of my kind, and those women will die when I get my hands on them,'' the Devil Emperor mocked.
''You can try, but you'll die,'' Raegar answered, determined. ''Even if that means I die as well, a being like you is cruel, I've seen what your fiends do! And I'll keep killing them until I find you!''
The fiend hurled something at him, jolting him awake from the vision. He blinked, finding the women staring at him. Drusilla's blue eyes narrowed sharply. ''Who were you talking to?'' she demanded.