Chapter 755: Era (1/2)

Ilea craned her neck, biting her lips as a light moan escaped her. She started breathing faster as she grasped the sheets with her hands, her legs twitching slightly before she felt her muscles flex.

Felicia held her legs, looking up a few seconds later, a sheepish smile on her face. She moved up, stopping with her face above Ilea’s.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Ilea said in a whisper, trying to turn to the side.

Felicia put a hand on her shoulder, stopping the movement before she went down and kissed her neck. “Not so beastly anymore,” she whispered.

Ilea looked back with a grin, ashen limbs moving out from her back.

Felicia sighed, both of them lying next to each other, utterly exhausted. “We should probably get back… the suns will set soon.”

“So very responsible,” Ilea mused but the bite wasn’t there. She wasn’t entirely focused. “I’m hungry.”

“Me too,” the wind berserker said and stretched. “Do you have a bath in here?”

“I usually use the ocean,” Ilea said as she slowly sat up. Her legs were still shaking. “But I do have a bath… yes. Might be nicer.” She moved them both down and past the enchantments, the tub filling up with heating water a moment later. She helped it along with Embered Heart.

They soaked in the heat for a few minutes, Ilea relaxing her head on a perfectly shaped pillow of ash. She opened her eyes. “Let’s go raid Keyla’s kitchen. She’s in the town hall.”

Felicia sighed. “You want to show up there together, like some ravenous beasts?”

“Exactly. We might not even miss the ceremony,” Ilea said.

“I’m sore,” Felicia murmured.

“If only you knew a healer,” Ilea mused and used her spell on both of them, quickly bringing them back to life. They stayed in the water for a few more minutes before she stood up and stretched.

Yellow eyes followed her every movement.

Ilea smiled and went down to kiss the woman, teleporting both of them out in the next moment.

“Ilea! At least warn me,” Felicia exclaimed, covering her chest before a set of armor appeared over her body.

Ilea laughed and moved in close, herself still not wearing anything. “Who’s going to see? The swordmouth tigers?” she asked, turning to the cave. Black wings spread on her back as her mantle formed in the shape of her dress. The same design she had gotten in Yinnahall, with a far more comfortable and durable material.

“Do you ever wear anything below that?” Felicia asked as she took flight as well, not wearing a helmet but otherwise ready for battle.

Ilea looked at her as she moved her wings. “That’s non of your business, Redleaf,” she said with a smile.

The woman rolled her eyes and followed, the two soon flying over the patches of forest in the valleys of the southern mountain chains.

Morhill was cast in shadow by the nearby mountains when two hungry women entered a busy kitchen near the town hall.

“Code black,” Keyla said after taking a single glance at Ilea.

All the cooks tensed up and finished what they were doing, resuming their work in a sped up manner.

Ilea got her first plate thirteen seconds later, sitting down on the kitchen floor with the armored Felicia next to her. She wolfed down the seared fish fillets in seconds as Keyla approached.

She crouched down. “I can set up a table or something too. Are you okay?” She glanced between the two of them.

Ilea nodded, both receiving another plate by one of the cooks. “I am, thanks Keyla. I love you.” She chose telepathy due to her occupied mouth.

The dragonlike woman laughed before she patted Ilea on the head, one of very few people allowed such a gesture. “You two eat your fill,” she said with a toothy smile, looking between them, her reptilian eyes lingering on Felicia for a few seconds before she stood up and got back to commanding the kitchen staff.

“Code black?” Felicia asked between bites.

“No idea. That’s her,” Ilea said.

“Suppose you have to have an emergency plan for a hungry Lilith,” Felicia mused.

Ilea didn’t reply. She didn’t care, entirely absorbed by the continuous stream of marvelous dishes. Twenty minutes later she sat in the kitchen with her entire system focused on digestion, her mind dulled and happy. I should fund some restaurant award system here in Elos. Keyla wins everything.

Someone opened the door to the kitchen and found the two women sitting on the floor. Claire took in the sight with one raised brow. “Took my advice to heart, did you?” she commented. “Greetings, Lady Redleaf. The ceremony starts in a few minutes, central town square. Would be nice to have both of you there.”

“I just ate,” Ilea said, looking up at the woman.

Claire crouched down slightly and offered a hand. “I can see that.”

Ilea grasped it while grumbling, Claire straining as she helped the woman up.

“You’ve grown again,” Claire said.

“More dense, yes,” Ilea replied. She offered a hand to Felicia, helping up the Imperial Major and head of House Redleaf.

“You should be there too,” Claire said to Keyla but the cook waved her off.

“Have to prepare for the next round,” Keyla said. “I have a reputation to uphold. Unlike some people.”

“Yes, yes,” Ilea said and straightened her hair, checking herself through her domain. She looked fine. “Let’s go then,” she said and teleported the four of them out, including all the cooks.

“Ilea what are you doing!” Keyla gasped.

“Just blame me if someone complains. Lilith sanctioned closure, for an hour or two. Come on, you all did a wonderful job the past few days, and before,” Ilea said.

Keyla sighed. “Very well. Everyone, suits and dresses,” she handed her storage ring to the group of cooks, each one in turn changing into a well cut outfit in their own style, the ring making the process incredibly quick.

The head cook herself changed into a set of light scale armor, black and yellow complimenting the beige colors of her own scales.

Ilea smiled, watching it all. “Wait, what about the wait staff?”

Keyla whistled towards the town hall, a group of fifteen people rushing out a moment later. They joined the waiting group with a casual demeanor, as if everything was planned.

Sentinels and Shadows, not at all the true beacons of power in the south.

“Where do you find staff like that?” Felicia asked.

Keyla gave her a look. “You train them yourself, pay them well, listen to their complaints, and provide the best working environment that you can.”