Orion's Seat was a vast castle located on the far outskirts of Dorafeir. It had been built on high ground, allowing the broad structure to overlook the sea of houses and establishments which lay ahead, and a huge stone wall had been erected to keep out any unwanted intruders, forming a giant ring around the main construct. A single knight stood guard over the palace gates.

After passing through the main part of Dorafeir, which in itself had been enough of a voyage, Erin and Casius finally made it to Orion's Seat and proceeded up the steep flight of stairs which led to the main gates.

Though the venture was indeed taxing, rendering Erin's legs sore and rigid, it didn't take them long to reach the top. Accepting a moment to respite, the magus looked ahead at the lone knight standing beside the open gates and grinned.

'Okay,' she whispered, grabbing Casius by the hand and escorting him towards the entrance. 'Follow my lead.' Donning a smile which almost touched the corner of her eyes, Erin prepared to walk straight past the knight. However, she hadn't taken more than two steps past the gates when said knight moved to the side, blocking her path.

The magus' face instantly darkened when she looked up and noticed the sea-blue eyes staring at her through the slit of the knight's unpolished visor.

Still, she acknowledged him with a curt nod. 'Tobias.'

'Erin.' He returned the gesture.

'Okay. Now that we've got pleasantries are out of the way, let me in.'

Tobias' armour creaked as he straightened up. 'I'm afraid I can't do that,' he said, though his words were muffled by the dense steel of his own helmet.

'And why in the heck not? I'm a Maelstras! This is technically my property you're keeping me out of, you know!'

'Actually, the property of Orion's Seat belongs to Sir Elric Maelstras,' Tobias' eyes narrowed in contempt.

'Who happens to be my biological brother! We both came out of the same woman! Now, let me through!'

Tobias paused for a moment. 'What is the purpose of your visit?' he asked at last.

The magus blinked. She certainly hadn't been expecting that! 'Uh...pardon?'

'What is the purpose of your visit?'

'Do I need one?'

'Yes.'

'I, uh. Um...well...' Erin looked round at Casius, who was still holding her hand. Curiosity bubbled within his dark eyes, though an idea soon sprang to mind when she saw the bulging cloak sitting across his back. 'Here!' she proclaimed, pushing Casius forward. 'This man is a herald who has come to warn the people of Serandore about the upcoming, uh...apocalypse! Yes, that's right. The apocalypse!'

'Apocalypse?' Tobias' eyes shifted over to Casius, who took a moment to examine the steel-clad man standing before him. 'Is this true?'

Casius offered the knight a vague smile before sparing Erin a glance. She nodded, her eyes widening, silently urging for him to say something that would back up her false claims.

Instead, his smile fell and he inclined his head to the side. 'What is this apocalypse you speak of?' he inquired, though his casual tone failed to keep Erin's form from drooping like a deflated balloon.

'Hah! Apocalypse my great behind!' Tobias shook his head and waved the pair away. 'If you're done trying to deceive me, I suggest you leave, for Sir Elric is currently engaged in his civic duties.'

'W-what about the Code of Chivalry?' Erin exclaimed in a desperate attempt to hold her ground. 'Section 16 of the Knight's Oath? Thou shall not piss of thy leader's sister.'

Tobias stiffened. 'How dare you insult the Code of Chivalry?'

'Thou should refrain from picking on thy leader's sister, unless thou wishes to receive a spear up thy's-'

'Enough!' The knight's harsh stone struck without warning, causing Erin to raise a hand to her ear. He took a threatening step forward, forcing her and Casius away from the gates. 'You are testing my patience,' he hissed. 'Now, I kindly suggest you leave, or I will be forced to remove you from the premises myself.'

Erin raised a single brow. So Tobias was resorting to empty threats, was he?

The corner of her lips twitched in a devilish smirk. Well, two can play at that game...

'Hey, Tobias.' She offered him the most innocent, genuine smile she could muster. 'Do you know what I've been reading lately?'

'What?'

'Poetry.'

The knight's plated armour creaked as the man wearing it flinched. 'P-poetry...?'

'Yes. Poetry. One particular poem that got me was this one: a flower left untouched shall be allowed to grow...'

'Stop...'

'...for within its petals lies the purest glow...'

'Stop!'

'...a rose like the freshest blood, lavender like sympathy's heart...'

'OKAY, STOP!'

Erin grinned when she caught a glimpse of Tobias' maroon coloured face from behind the slits of his visor, which he then pushed up, disclosing the set of pulsing veins against his forehead. His entire body shook and he moved aside, granting the magus and her winged companion a clear path.

'You can go through,' he muttered, gesturing with a trembling hand. 'Please, just...go!'

'How kind.' Erin's lips quivered, and it took everything in her power to keep from laughing. She of all people knew just how much Tobias loathed poetry. It was a weakness among men, something she could use against them in a time of need.

And it had worked yet again.

The knight said nothing, even as Erin seized Casius' hand and pushed past him. The two continued across the main courtyard and towards the bronzed doors on the other side, where two knights, both of who were unfamiliar to Erin, stood guard. However, unlike Tobias, they did nothing to stop her in her tracks, choosing instead to acknowledge her presence with a polite bow before stepping back and opening the doors.

Erin gave a slight nod, a gesture both knights returned, before accompanying Casius into the building officially known as Orion's Seat.

* * *

Elric Maelstras was occupied with paperwork: a menial task which he preferred to avoid at all costs. However, his duty as Champion involved more than knowing how to lift a sword and how to cast a simple spell. That much he was perfectly aware of. Still, he couldn't quite keep from sighing, even as he dipped the tip of his quill into the ink pot beside him and scribbled his name against the rough parchment, which he then set aside.

He went to retrieve the next document when someone knocked, prompting his gaze to wander towards the doors on the far side of the room.

'Come in!'

The door opened on cue and a tall, muscular man clad in thick plated armour entered, carrying a stack of papers. Elric watched cautiously whilst the papers clenched between the knight's hands threatened to collapse, swaying and wobbling with every bounding step the other man took. However, he was able to prevent them from spilling across the floor by placing them on the polished surface of Elric's desk, which was enough to stabilise them.

'More paperwork, sir.' The knight grunted and wiped at his sweaty brows.

'Lovely.' Elric couldn't keep the disappointment out of his voice, though he acknowledged the knight who had brought the papers with an appreciative smile. 'Thank you, Darrius.'

'Of course, sir.'

Darrius was a handsome man, endowed with dark, rugged features and short, tousled hair. He walked over and took his place alongside his superior, who resumed upon his task of picking up documents and signing them off.

'Any news today, Darrius?' Elric asked, although he was only half-listening whilst he proceeded to read through the long roll of parchment in his hands.

'Well, sir, Elder Zephilae from the Imperious Domain informed me that the Imperial Council agreed to the trade negotiations you set up. Also, Lord Blasius from the kingdom of Ezatros has finally given the time to respond to your suggestion regarding the Concordia Treaty.'

'And? What are his thoughts?'

Darrius took a moment to respond. 'Well, I get the feeling he still doesn't trust us,' he confessed at last.

Elric raised a curious brow. 'Really?' He then dismissed the knight's words with a low chuckle. 'Well, it's only to be expected, isn't it? After all, Serandore is the only kingdom in this region which is ruled by a family of magicians and, with the exception of the Imperious Domain, by magic as a whole.'

'Maybe Lord Blasius is worried we'll stab him in the back with a magic spear, sir.'

The Champion gave a hearty laugh. 'Well, only if he's courageous enough to strike first.' He set down the parchment and leaned back in his chair. 'But in all seriousness,' he continued, 'I still can't comprehend Lord Blasius' reasons for not wanting to go through with this treaty. It would surely benefit both of us.'

Darrius shrugged. 'Maybe the stubborn Lord has something to hide.'

'Maybe so. But whatever the case, it isn't any of our business unless he attempts to attack us directly.' Elric's gaze flickered over to Darrius and he smirked. 'And even Lord Blasius isn't that foolish,' he added.

The knight was able to match his smile. 'Of course not, sir,' he replied. His steel armour glistened in the presence of the late afternoon sun, which poured through the window, illuminating the entire room and its rich contents.

After a few moments of joking around with his friend and ally, Elric continued with what he had previously been doing. Dabbing the tip of the quill into the ink bottle, he scratched at the worn parchment in front of him, marking it with the rough signature that was his name.

The Champion reached out to grab another document when a muffled crashing noise sounded outside, causing him to pause. His brows furrowed in a look of bewilderment when he heard a lone voice cursing the very existence of the Gods and he looked up at the doors before sparing Darrius a glance.

The poor knight looked just as confused as him. 'What on earth is-'

Before he could finish that sentence, however, the doors burst open to disclose a woman who was all too familiar. She held the same chestnut brown hair as him and possessed the same vibrant green eyes. His features mellowed when he caught sight of his little sister standing in the doorway, a wide, slightly crazed smile plastered across her face. Trailing behind her was a man, who Elric failed to recognise.

'There you are!' Erin exclaimed. She started towards him when Darrius rushed forward, placing himself between her and the desk Elric was situated behind.

'What on earth do you think you're playing at?' the knight demanded, his plated armour creaking as he placed his hands against his hips.

'I'm here to see my brother,' Erin replied. 'What are you playing at, Darrius?'

'I am simply doing my civic duty. As the Head Knight of the Champion's glorious army, I must advise that you-'

'Ohh, pish posh,' Erin muttered, dismissing the knight's words with a simple wave of her hand. 'By the way, your armour looks like it's rusting.'

Elric couldn't resist a heavy sigh, especially Darrius gave a shrill, feminine shriek and looked down at his armour. The plated steel, despite Erin's words, continued to glisten, even in the sun's short absence. 'Stand down, Darrius,' he muttered.

'O-of course, sir!'

The flustered, red-faced knight retreated back behind the desk, taking his rightful place beside Elric, who scowled when he noticed his sister struggling to contain her own amusement. However, his features quickly softened when he realised that Erin hadn't changed, that she still lacked the proper maturity needed to succeed as a saviour.

'Good afternoon, Erin.' An ample grin pulled at Elric's lips, and the giggling quickly ceased. 'Tell me,' he said. 'How may I be of service to you here today?'

* * * *

And so finally Elric Maelstras, the kingdom's Champion, makes his debut appearance. Any (early) first impressions? :D Feel free to comment!

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