Laylania (Completed)

Chapter 13

After a few days on the road, we finally reached Shanyao. The giant gates that were shaped as two angels whose wings intersected in the middle were beautiful and breath taking. I gaped up at them as our caravans went past them. I looked at the capital and saw a ton of people walking about and talking to each other.

As our caravan entered the city, people stopped and pointed at us.

Nervous, I asked, "Why are they staring at us?"

Cleite winked at me and replied, "You'll see!"

I gazed back out at the people and they reverently bowed to us. In confusion I looked at Cleite for an answer but Dao answered my unasked question, "Since we kill demons, the king as granted us royal status. So the regular folk have to bow to us in respect, although I think they would bow even without us bearing a royal status" He then winked, "Aren't we extremely famous?".

I looked up as I heard someone yell, "Hail the ones marked by angels!"

One by one, others took up the call and I felt weird. I've never had people clap for me because of my marks. Cleite and Dao were waving cheerfully at the crowd and I looked around at the other caravans and saw that other members were waving back to the crowd too.

"C'mon Kasai, wave!" Cleite ordered as she shoved me closer to the crowd.

With a trembling hand, I waved at the crowd. I could hear them ask, "Who is she?" "Is she a new member?" "What's her power?"

I pleaded to Cleite and Dao, "Can I go hide? Please?"

Cleite and Dao looked at each other and grinned evilly and they both replied loudly, "Nope!"

So for the next few minutes I stood at the back of the caravan with Cleite and Dao while waving at the people who were still cheering.

How are they not out of breath yet? I thought as we left the outer city behind. I looked towards the front of the caravan to where Kuma was guiding the horses. I stepped around the boxes and crates carefully until I was standing at near the front of the caravan. I saw the second wall that separated the outer and inner city of the capital in two. The outer part of the capital had the lower class while the inner section was where the nobles and royal family resided.

As we past streets, we gradually got closer and closer to the palace.

I gasped and asked Cleite who had come to stand next to me, "Are we going to the palace?!"

She nodded and I felt my jaw drop.

"You're serious? We're going to the palace?"

"Yes and yes," she replied a bit distantly.

I waved my hand in front of her face and said, "Hello? Still with me?"

Her attention snapped back to me and she replied, "Of course!"

I felt like she was hiding something but I'll let it slide. For now at least.

The palace seemed to glow from the inside as if it was powered by magic. The palace was at least seven stories tall and all the houses of the nobles seemed so tiny compared to the palace (and the houses of the nobles were huge!).

"Why are we going here?" I asked.

Dao answered, "We have to give our greetings to the king of course! And Rida and Gadalka tell the king what's been going on outside the capital. Sometimes the king gives us missions to fulfill which we need to carry out. Also, Rida's apartment is in the palace".

I gasped, "So we get to stay in the palace?"

"Yep," Dao replied popping the 'p'.

I felt faint.