The Capital of Diospyro was a beautiful city. Actual horses trotted down the cobbled streets, pulling caravans full of exotic goods from all kingdoms.
Smelling the fresh baked goods from the local bakeries made Orias drool.
“Bread? My sister, we must acquire the sacred bread.”
His eyes were glued to the stand in front of him, where a large man was selling the golden loaves of heaven.
The price on the sign made him reconsider.
Orias sighed and walked away from the stand, his stomach grumbling. It had been nine years since he ate a bread that wasn’t rock solid and full of swamp water.
Walking through the market, they got a good look of the city. The people were different compared to the Ashfen, they wore colorful clothes and had clean hair. Most were humans too.
“Say brother, why do you think that man has no teeth?” Isabella pointed to a man slumping on the side of the road, his jaw slack and his mouth empty.
He brought a hand to his mouth and stroked his own chin.
“Probably lost them to a tooth fairy,” he said, nodding to himself.
Bella chuckled and shook her head.
“Where do you come up with such ridiculous ideas?” She asked, her arm linked with his.
Orias smiled and looked up at the sky. The sun was shining brightly and a few clouds dotted the blue sky. It was a good day for a walk. Yet they still needed to return to Ashfen, but he wanted to enjoy the capital one more time.
Glancing at his wrist, his mana crystal was low.
“We need to find a mana core, or we won’t be able to fly back home,” he said, looking at his sister.
She nodded and rummaged through her bag. Taking out a small coin purse, she counted the money inside. “We have enough to maybe buy an extra small mana core, but it won’t be enough for the journey back.”
Maybe they had to steal a core after all.
The two walked through the busy streets, their eyes scanning the shops for a store that sold mana cores. The smell of food was tempting, but Orias held back, reluctantly.
They passed a store that sold weapons, another that sold clothes, and finally they found what they were looking for.
A small shop with a sign that read ‘Core Emporium’.
Entering the shop, a bell rang, announcing their arrival. The walls were lined with shelves full of cores, each one a different color and size. Tens of shades of red, blue, green, yellow, and even white.
The shopkeeper was an old man with a long white beard and a hunched back.
“Welcome, how can I help you today?” He asked, his voice raspy.
Orias walked from the door to the counter, his eyes on the cores behind the old man.
“Cheapest core you got,” he said.
The shopkeeper raised a brow and looked at his wrist. Seeing the faded mana color, he hummed and turned to the shelf behind him.
Grabbing a red core, the size of a fist, he placed it on the wooden counter.
“This one will do ya. 10 silver,” he said.
The prince looked at the core and then at his sister.
“That’s too pricey for a medium-small core, isn’t it?” Isabella asked, her tone polite.
The old man chuckled, his hand stroking his beard. “Tax has gone up, lassie. It’s 10 silver or nothing.”
Orias frowned. They only had 8 silver. Then he glanced at Bella, looking at her red eyes, seeing the message she tried to convey.
Nodding to her, he turned back to the old man.
“On second thought, could we buy a bigger core?” He asked.
The shopkeeper raised a brow again but went to the back of the store, where the larger cores were kept. The twins looked at each other and grinned.
A moment later the old man returned with a large blue core, his legs shaking under the weight of it.
“This one is 10 gold,” he said, placing it on the counter.
The man looked at the place where the medium-small core was and his eyes widened. It was gone. The twins were nowhere to be seen either.
“Damn rats!” He yelled, banging his fist on the counter.
Outside the shop, Orias and Isabella ran through the alleyways, the red core in hand. They could hear the shopkeeper yelling behind them, but they didn’t stop until they were far away from the shop.
Panting, they leaned against the stone wall of a building, laughing.
Bella was clutching her stomach, trying to catch her breath. “Are we that broke to steal a ten silver core?” She asked between gasps.
Orias stood up straight, walking to Bella and reaching for her wrist before pressing the core against her mana crystal. Once it turned blue he smiled.
“Never forget, dear sister, we are poorer than the homeless man with no teeth.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled. Passing the core to him, he absorbed it until his mana was full as well.
Finally they made their way to the city gates. The guards bowed as they passed and the massive wooden gates opened for them. The fresh air of freedom greeted them as they walked out of the capital.
On the stone road, were a group of carriages: a prince’s entourage. It was the Snake Province. Basil.
There was a woman in the carriage who rushed out when she saw Orias.
“Ori! Darling, how long has it been?”
Before Orias could respond, the woman had pulled him into her chest and was smothering him with her large milky breasts. The smell of her snake venom was strong on her breath.
His sister was laughing behind him, her hand over her mouth.
Orias recognized the woman. Basil’s mother. Cassandra ante Divina. She was the ninth mistress of the king and a snake demi-human. He liked her boobs.
Pushing her off him, he wiped his face from her lipstick and greeted her.
“Good to see you too, Casssandra. Still wearing the same outfit as always I see.”
She smirked and patted his cheek. “Oh, you know me, Ori, I never change. But you on the other hand, you look different. More handsome than ever.”
Slapping his ass, she giggled and her long snake tongue flickered out.
A shiver ran down his spine. That tongue was going to wrap around him one day and suffocate him, he was sure of it.
Bella stepped forward. A glare on her face.
The snake woman ignored her.
“My little Basil told me about the king’s announcement. It’s so tragic, pitting brothers against each other,” she said, her hand on her chest.
A few merchant carriages passed them by, the drivers not even glancing at the prince and the crazy snake woman.
“Yes, very tragic.”
Cassandra put a hand on his shoulder. “You know, Ori, if you ever need any help, you can always come to me. I will support you in any way I can.”
Removing her hand, he stepped back.
“I know, Cassandra. You’ve told me that since I was born. I’ll keep it in mind.”
She pouted and her tail thumped on the ground. “Oh, Ori, you’re more cold blooded than me. You used to call me Auntie Cassie all the time when you were young.”
Isabella coughed.
Orias put an arm around his sister, pulling her close.
“Times change, Cassandra. But I’m glad you and Basil are doing well. We have to be on our way, the swamp is calling for us.” He said, trying to end the conversation.
Then, a shadow passed over them. Looking up, a black dragon was flying over the city. It roared and flew towards the mountains in the north.
“Looks like Prince Reginald is having fun,” Cassandra said, her eyes on the dragon.
His gaze lingered on the flying lizard for longer than he meant to. Another brother with a powerful blessing. He nodded.
But another voice came from behind the caravans.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Swamp Rat?” Basil’s mouth was full of venom.
Orias turned to face him, his expression neutral.
“Speaking to your lovely mother, brother. Don’t you have a stick up your ass to attend to?”
The snake prince hissed and stepped closer, standing between his mother and Orias.
Bella pulled on Orias’s sleeve. “Brother, remember the rules. No fighting in the capital.”
He sighed.
Basil narrowed his eyes. “You’re lucky you have that bitch of yours to remind you.”
A vein popped on Orias’ forehead. He stepped forward but Bella held him back.
The snake prince smirked and got back into his carriage.
“See ya neighbor. Hope the swamp swallows you whole.”
Cassandra gave Orias a sad wave and followed her son. Orias sighed. How did a woman like that give birth to a guy like Basil?
Turning back to his sister, he kissed her forehead.
“Let’s go home.”
Isabella nodded and took out the notepad.
The two transformed into birds and flew away from the city, their destination the Ashfen.