Lord Geoffrey said, looking at me closely, "Hmm... It wasn't working correctly, was it? My spell on you. It was supposed to seal your qi, but not to the point that it'd weaken you that much. Furthermore, it doesn't explain that burst of qi when you fired the rifle during the battle, which was spectacular, by the way."
I was surprised to hear that. He thought me firing that rifle was spectacular? I personally thought the rifle itself was awesome. Not me.
Caleb asked, "So you didn't put a high-level seal on him, then?"
Geoffrey shook his head. "No. Just enough to contain the qi and confuse dark beasts." Then he said to me, "I guess we'll have to let Noah examine you when we get back to the palace, Alfie." He clasped his hands together. "Now then, I see I've forgotten to introduce myself. How ill-mannered of me." He stepped forward, picked up my hand, and brought it to his lips. Then he gave my skin a light kiss, which made my tummy flutter. With wicked emerald-green eyes, he said, "Lord Geoffrey Lancaster at your service."
To my left, I heard Brenna sigh in delight as she watched us. Beside Lord Geoffrey, the blond warrior lord rolled his eyes and said, "Stop flirting with the boy, Geoffrey, and we should get going already."
Felix grabbed for my hand and pulled it away from Lord Geoffrey's clutch. He said darkly, "You're as sly as ever, bastard Geoffrey."
Lord Geoffrey, ignoring Felix's words, turned his attention to the man beside him and said, "This is Lord Aaron Lancaster, my younger brother. One of the head warriors of Acaedien."
I wanted to salute the man again, but Felix held me tightly and wouldn't let me move an inch.
Once all was settled, we—Lord Geoffrey, Aaron, Caleb, and Felix, along with Leona, Aria, Brenna, and me as well—boarded the aircraft. I must admit that I felt rather excited. After all, this was my first time on something this spectacular.
Inside, I noted that the decor was majestic and immaculate, with soft carpeting and chairs and sofas with grand furnishings. It felt like a five-star hotel instead of inside an airship. There was even a bar with a butler and three maids on hand to serve the lords. The butler bowed while the maids curtsied low as the lords passed them. I assumed that this was probably one of the lords' airships, while the others were all for military use.
The lords, Geoffrey, Felix, Caleb, and Aaron, headed over to another room, perhaps for a meeting, while Brenna and I moved to the side of the aircraft and took up a comfortable position there, enjoying our time watching the scenery as we flew across the sky and, of course, the food and drinks that were being served.
Most of what I saw below was farmland, dotted with cottages and farm animals. Now and again, there were large woodlands. Then there were villages and towns where the buildings were unique and beautiful. Brenna, who was beside me, pointed everything out to me and explained what the kingdom had to offer. If I had to compare, this kingdom would be similar to the European countries back in the Edwardian era, though mixed with very modern technology and the use of magic.
When we reached the capital of Acaedien some three hours later, I stared in awe at the majestic sight before me.
The city was charming and magnificent, with beautiful buildings, along with neat and clean streets that were packed with citizens going about their day. Up on the hill to the west resided a grandiose palace, so big and wide with tall towers that I felt my breath taken away. This was a sight like nothing I had ever seen before.
Aria came over and said, "That's our home."
Behind her, Leona said, "Been standing there for a couple thousand years. It took the lords some fifty odd years to complete it, but it's worth it."
Come again?
I asked, "If you don't mind me asking, how old are the lords?"
Brenna said, "Oh, they're pretty old. Lord Geoffrey especially."
"Pretty old?" I hazarded a guess. "Like in their early or late thirties?" Because that was what they looked like, around that age range, which wasn't really that old to me.
Aria chuckled while Leona said, "Lord Geoffrey and Noah are about the same age as Lord Aslan, the king of the Forbidden Forest. They're just around three thousand years old."
Three...? Three thousand years old? What the hell?
Brenna said, "Lord Felix and Caleb are about the same age. They're just slightly under the three thousand mark."
Leona said, "Lord Ethan and Victor are of a similar age as well, just slightly younger than Lord Felix and Caleb."
Brenna said, "Lord Aaron is the youngest."
"I see," I said. That must mean that the people living in this realm must have a very long lifespan, then.
I asked, "How about you, Aria? How old are you? If you don't mine me asking, that is."
"Oh, not as old as the lords. I'm exactly two hundred years old."
Leona said, "Same here."
"And I'm one hundred and ninety," Brenna said.
Oh dear. And here I had thought that they were all in their twenties and thirties. Well, they looked that age anyway.
"How about you, Alfie? How old are you?" Brenna asked.
I chuckled nervously. "Well, you see..."
How the hell am I to explain this?
"If I hazard a guess," Lord Aaron said, which drew our attention the him. "Alfie would be around eighteen or nineteen years old."
Leona nodded her head. "Well, Alfie is human, after all."
Aria said, "Humans don't usually have long lifespan like us, and they grow much faster."
Thanks for explaining without me having to ask and ending up looking like a fool, Aria. I grinned at her in appreciation.
Lord Aaron came and plopped himself comfortably right next to me on the sofa. He even put one arm around my shoulders as he said, "So, Alfie, I heard some very interesting stories about you. I must say that I'm intrigued." He cocked his head to one side and smiled, not unlike the way Lord Geoffrey smiled, one-sided.
Damn, but this warrior, Lord Aaron Lancaster, looked enchanting with his short, pale-blond hair cut stylishly, along with straight nose, emerald-green eyes, and firm lips. The Phantom of the Opera-shaped mask added to the ostentatious image, as well.