How long had it been since he'd set foot on the familiar cobblestones of Era? TĹŤga lost himself in a reverie of sunrises and sunsets, each painting a new chapter in his whirlwind odyssey across the vast, untamed canvas of Earthland. The city-state, a bastion of order amidst the chaos, had evolved in his absence, its skyline adorned with new spires and its streets teeming with unfamiliar faces. And he, too, had been transformed by his travels, his spirit honed by the trials and triumphs he'd encountered.
He strolled through the labyrinthine streets, his footsteps a rhythmic counterpoint to the city's vibrant pulse. The air buzzed with the whispers of commerce and intrigue, a symphony of human endeavor that both fascinated and repelled him. A cryptic summons had beckoned him home, a clandestine request for a private meeting cloaked in secrecy. While TĹŤga reveled in the adventures his position afforded him, the tangled webs of political maneuvering were a maze he'd rather avoid. With a sigh that carried a hint of resignation, he presented himself at the Rune Knights' imposing headquarters, his rank granting him swift passage through the labyrinthine security protocols.
Inside, the pristine white halls echoed with his measured tread, each footfall a whisper against the polished marble floor. His mismatched eyes, one a warm amber that reflected the light of the setting sun, the other a mesmerizing whirlpool of crimson and obsidian, scanned the surroundings with a languid curiosity. A familiar scent, a delicate perfume on the air, tugged at his memory, and his gaze alighted upon a figure shrouded in shadows, a silent observer in the grand theater of power.
"Oh, I wonder what’s happening in there,” TĹŤga's voice, a playful baritone that belied the seriousness of the situation, materialized behind the enigmatic warrior.
"Come along," he offered, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "You seem curious, so come with me and we’ll find out" Stepping aside, he gestured towards the imposing doors of the meeting room, his senses tingling with recognition. The scent that clung to her, a heady blend of exotic energies and mana, was unmistakable, a signature he'd encountered before on the windswept plains and moonlit forests of Earthland - the essence of a fellow dragon slayer.
"Oooooooi, Saturn-san!" TĹŤga's exuberant greeting echoed through the hallowed halls, a burst of sunshine in the otherwise somber atmosphere. Ignoring the robotic organizer of this meeting, he made a beeline for his comrade, his arms outstretched in a gesture of genuine warmth and solidarity.
“Seems pretty serious – us all being here, don’tcha think?” TĹŤga inquired towards his taller, furrier friend before turning his attention towards the woman he recently invited in. If she joined or not, his next statement would still materialize.
“Oh! This is uhmm….. what’s your name?”
wc: 485
-enter, TĹŤga !