his love {laurance zvhal x reader}

1 - Dragon's Peak Village

laurance pov

- - -

"Land Ho!"

They had been sailing for days, everyone had started to get antsy and the cramped quarters were starting to cause some tension. It had been almost a week and they still hadn't found the island they were looking for. To Laurance, it looked like they had gotten lost and that Travis was leading them on a wild goose chase. However, the Shadow Knight was just happy to have stable ground beneath his feet again.

"Oh my goodness, this place is freezing!" Aphmau commented as she emerged from below deck. She greeted Laurance with a toothy grin, walking up to his side where he was viewing the shoreline. "Hm, I've never seen this place before. I wonder where we are."

As soon as the question left her lips, Chad had appeared next to her, shaking excitedly. "This is the village of Dragon's Peak! It holds the tallest mountain in Ru'aun, I wonder how the people have adapted to live in the mountainside! No time to waste, there's knowledge to be gained!" The scholar exclaimed before promptly diving into the water and beginning to swim his way to shore.

"O-kay. I don't think I'll ever get used to that." Laurance admitted, brows raising as Chad swam through what seemed to be ice cold waters. "I think we should wait until the dingy is set up, then we can check out what Dragon's Peak has to offer." He suggested, turning to Aphmau who was shivering at the temperature.

He wrapped a warm arm around her shoulders, he had always run hot since becoming a Shadow Knight. She looked up at him gratefully and nodded in agreement, calling for everyone to prepare to depart the ship who was planning on getting off. "Thanks Laurance. Wow you're like my own personal furnace." Aphmau giggled.

- - -

Upon entering the marketplace, the group quickly found a clothes shop and purchased more appropriate outfits for the climate. Aphmau, Aaron, Katelyn, Lucinda, Chad, Isabell, and Laurance had all decided to stretch their legs and explore the new village. Travis had decided to stay on the boat to allow him more time to focus on deciphering the tomb, while Vylad chose to stay in order to keep an eye on Sasha and Michi.

Once they had changed their attire, the group split up to explore the town. Aphmau, Aaron, and Laurance went looking for the Lord of the town to attempt to inform them of the alliance. Meanwhile, Katelyn, Lucinda, and Isabell gathered supplies and information from the villagers. Their arrival had garnered a lot of attention, so it had been decided that splitting up would be the best course of action.

Surprisingly, Chad had been right about the villagers adapting to live in the mountains. As they climbed winding and steep paths, Aphmau's group passed by many houses that were either connected to natural caves, or built into the rock itself. Laurance could only imagine the studies Chad was attempting to conduct, wherever he was. When they reached the end of the path, there was a castle-like structure that was shadowed by the peak of the mountain, clouding the area in cold and darkness despite the time of day.

"Hello m'lady! I am Chad G. Augustine Au'Leopold the Third! It is a most wonderful pleasure to make your acquaintance, now tell me. How do your people make their homes along side the mountain? I must know for scientific purposes!" The loud mouthed man exclaimed, earning a groan from everyone in their group as they rounded a corner to find him talking to an elegantly dressed woman with indigo hair, tan skin, and a silver tiara.

The woman laughed at Chad, giving him a sweet smile and shaking his hand with delight. "A pleasure to meet you as well Mr. Leopold." She spoke to him with kindness and a soft voice, her smile entirely genuine. She looked behind Chad and saw the group approaching, gaze flittering between the three newcomers. "I take it these are friends of yours?"