Our journey has taken us far from the castle. We've traveled day and night nonstop. The soldiers escorting us didn't set up camp or rest, allowing no breaks. Our carriage, however, contains enough food and water for the entire journey, thanks to the Earl. He had requisitioned an enchanted carriage from the Capital of Sidra. "Bigger on the inside," as Cole would say. She always had a unique way of describing things she had never seen before. Our carriage had everything we required.
There were two internal doors, each appearing standard-sized, and beside the passenger entrance at either end of the carriage. At first, I wondered why there would be doors inside a carriage. The exterior implied no reason for them, and they seemed out of place. But Cila, always fascinated by magic, was the first to open the door beside her seat without hesitation. To our surprise, it led to a room. A well-stocked kitchen and pantry with enough food to last a whole winter. A full bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a study were on the other side of the door. It was then that I realized why she loved magic so much. It wasn't just a tool to display one's power.
Many things could benefit from the use of magic, including making life more convenient. We discovered four more rooms in addition to the coachman's room. There were four coachmen, which explained why we didn't stop. Yet, it was odd that we didn't let the horses rest or allow Cila to see the world beyond the castle. None of the coachmen provided a satisfactory explanation or attempted to hold a conversation.
As we traveled farther each day, my sister's timid demeanor changed. Cila became more relaxed and less tense in the last day or two. She sat serenely, looking out the window and asking questions about the sights she saw. Her behavior only increased my fondness for her. Today, she wore white ankle boots, white stockings, and a pink sundress that clung tightly to her body, accentuating her bust. The white corset she wore over her sundress ensured her cleavage stayed in place. Although the short length of her sundress gave me pause, I couldn't scold her as I wore a similar yellow sundress with a crimson-red corset and stockings.
The Earl had provided us with a wardrobe containing clothing like what we currently wore. She seemed gleeful as she watched the vast rolling hills in the distance. The sun shined off her golden hair, and for a moment, she was the perfect image of our mother. "My lovely swans," our mother often called us. In Sidran culture, swans were a term used to describe a woman's beauty, a considerable status symbol. Noble ladies of Sidra and its surrounding kingdoms would bequeath their fortunes to wed such a lady. The Earl often referred to us as his daughters of the swan.
I never knew what to make of it, as it wasn't a custom indulged in our kingdom. But in that way, we were like Sidra. After a while, Cila scooted closer to me and laid her head on my lap. Within moments, she had fallen sound asleep. 'All the sightseeing has tired her out?' As I dozed off, I set my head back, watching the rolling hills slowly pass.
Suddenly, an abrupt, rough jolt brought our carriage to a halt, almost knocking Cila and me out of our seats. The jolt woke Cila from her slumber. After days of nonstop travel, we had yet to make a stop, even at night. 'Could we have reached our destination this quickly? No, I did not detect any magic that would have teleported us.'
A gust of cold air blew in as the door opened. A cultist soldier stood to the side, holding the door open, waiting for us to disembark. Despite his armor, he appeared to be a warrior, not the typical Crescent Moon footman. Not a knight, but no less formidable. I decided to make haste and exit the carriage. I helped Cila sit up and straightened her dress and mine. The cultist soldier paid no attention to us, even though he had a clear view of Cila's bounteous bottom from his position.
As we stepped out of the carriage, I savored the scenery. This terrain didn't look like it was on any of the main roads to the Kingdom of Idles. Neither the region nor the architecture of the numerous structures was familiar to me. It looked like we were in the ruins of an old city. Tall grass crowded either side of the road, and massive, sturdy trees grew out of every building. 'Was this our campsite for the night?'
A movement in the corner of my eye drew my attention to someone coming out of the most prominent structure a short distance down the road. A woman dressed in Crescent Moon Knight armor waved at us. For a moment, I felt dumbfounded as she saluted us. Even from here, her enchanting eyes seemed to glow like a predator's in the sunlight. Her blue pearls stood out, a cold but calm blue ocean tint shining back at me. The woman stopped before us and leaned forward as she came within a few feet.
"They're big!" Cila blurted with an astonished expression.
Cila's words disposed me back to reality as I looked at the woman in front of us.
"Cila!" I scoffed as I turned my gaze from Cila to the woman. She simply smiled at my sister's words. My body reacted unexpectedly to her expression, and a warmth tingled inside me. A feeling I was unaccustomed to.
The beauty of this woman was seductively gorgeous, to say the least. Her chest armor clung to her chest and long waist like a second skin. Two thick and long midnight-black bundles of hair hung from her head to either side of her shoulders. She fashioned them into two long, bubbled, braided ponytails with gold and silver bands between each of the fluffy bubbles. Four moderate-sized dangling bells hung at the ends of each of her fluffy bubble ponytails, jingling with every slight movement she made. Her delicate, round face was womanly.
Dark black and prestigious arched eyebrows brought attention to her almond-shaped eyes. The woman possessed slightly angular cheekbones and a long but small, dainty nose. Below that were lush yet firm and savory heart-shaped lips. For a woman, she had an elongated, slender neck. Still, it only made her look even increasingly more attractive as her neck flowed into broad shoulders. One could not question Cila's outburst as my eyes lowered slightly. Sunlight reflected off the white chest plate covering her buxom, well-endowed bust. If I had to guess, Cila must be astonished to encounter any female outside our family with such blessed and full-figured genetics.
Naturally, the word swan comes to mind. A golden crescent moon shined on her chest plate and even with her armor, her bust was equal or larger than Cila's. She carried her helmet on her left arm, clenching it at her side. Her long waist stretched into curvy, broad hips. The long-sleeved golden dress the woman wore under her armor barely covered her hips, if at all. Her dress exposed her amply thick thighs for all to see. A pair of white vambraces covered the arms of the thick cotton-like dress she wore. She did not attempt hiding the black leather padded chainmail panties she wore, which clung to her like cloth.
Most of her height came from her legs. Dainty but shapely, long, and yet has trimmed legs like that of a dancer. No one could question the curvaceous and womanly physique of this feminine warrior. The color of her milky peachy skin glistened and sparkled in the sunlight. Black knee-high boots encased her plump legs, clad in white armor over her footwear. This all contrasted with the red cloak draped over her shoulder, flowing around her body like a living being.
An oddity for a member of this cult. She seemed to carry a greatsword, a weapon that fit her grandiose presence. As the woman leaned back and straightened herself, my younger sister clung even more to my arm. This was another first for her. She'd never seen another female other than Mother and her sisters. Let alone another woman with the beauty gifted to the women in our family. The Earl rarely allowed anyone inside the castle. We didn't even have servants. The moment we came face to face with her, I could perceive the genuine beauty she held. An Angel of pure elegance and radiance.
"I am Knight-Captain Lelandria Laila Verlice. From this point on, I will accompany you in all your business. So come this way, please," the Knight says.
As she turns to lead the way, I notice the symbol on her cloak. It is the emblem of the Order of the August Rose, an ancient sect I read about in my youth. Said to predate the first Virgin Trinity and is much older than the origin of the Crescent Moon. I thought they were nothing but a legend, a myth told to adolescent girls.
Cila and I follow her down a crumbling sidewalk, almost invisible because of the overgrowth.
We walk for more than a few hours, making passing glances at each other. Often, the wind blows the woman's cape around her shapely body, revealing her bounteous butt. Cila gasps at the sight of the woman's bottom fit for any goddess. 'Undoubtedly, this woman must be a descendant of the Virgin Fated or the rumored Royals who recently appeared. Her beauty demanded no question.' Despite our attention, she never once looked back. The confidence in her gait leaves no room for argument. She knows she possesses a beauty that even the noble ladies and Royals of Sidra would find threatening. Before us is a woman who commands all those around her, male or female.
The Knight Captain stops before a monumental building and slightly turns around. Then, with a wave of her hand, she motions for us to follow her. Inside the ruins is a hollowed-out arched dome. There doesn't seem to be anything else in this place. Our new acquaintance stands in the center of the domed chamber.
"I need one of you to come forward, please," she says.
The heavy footsteps of Damascus and Hannibal enter behind us. The two imposing men lock eyes with her. At that moment, they respect her, and her expression shows them respect.
'What does she mean? Why does she need one of us?' Her presence isn't threatening, so I step forward. I feel Cila let go of my waist at that moment. 'She isn't scared either.' A few apprehensive steps later, I am before her. She slowly unbuckles her armor with the help of Damascus and Hannibal. They silently take her armor and step out of sight. Focusing solely on her, I feel a sudden electric sensation as the pulchritudinous Knight looks into my eyes. She comes closer and runs her hands through my golden locks, and I look slightly into her eyes. She is slightly taller than me, but only her gaze matters at this moment.
"This is a necessity. Think nothing else of it. Close your eyes," the Knight whispers.
No one else hears her words but me. The sound of her voice in my mind makes my heart jump. Confused about the nuance in her words, I reluctantly close my eyes. Something clicks in my mind just as I feel her wrap her arm around my waist. The memory pours into clarity as her free hand grabs my right hand. In my youth, I read about places like this. The knowledge comes fully to the forefront of my mind. It is incredible when I feel the softness of her lips against mine. 'Oh my, this is an ancient teleportation circle. Our ancestors constructed this entire structure for this purpose.' My breasts press against her voluptuous bosom as she pulls me close.
I have never felt a heated sensation from the bottom of my belly. Instead, it shoots up from my womb, my spine, and into every fiber of my body. Two comparable magic users need to kiss each other to complete the transmigration ritual. Moments later, she releases me from her arms.
I open my eyes to more ruins. A gaping hole gives a perfect view of the night sky. 'This is a different teleportation altar.' The number of magicules required was one thing. Teleportation magic needed one to be, in a sense, on the same wavelength. It required compatibility with your partner for successful teleportation, basically.
There were other means to activate a site like this, but the Knight's method was the rarest yet most reliable. Her sight never leaves mine. It is only my sister's voice that pierces the silence.
"What just happened?" Cila asks.
"Lady Lelandria, I see you have arrived as expected," a male voice says.
I turn to see more cultist warriors. In my fascination with the ruins earlier, I had missed the other warriors with us who had brought the cargo the Earl tasked us to deliver. We follow Lelandria outside to a dozen carriages waiting outside the ruins. As the warriors load the cargo into the large carriage in the convoy, I watch in awe. I count an entire regiment, including a second cavalry regiment already here. Lady Lelandria waits patiently for my sister and me to board the carriage. 'Another enchanted carriage?' Lady Lelandria takes a seat opposite the two of us. She crosses her legs as she settles in.
'The inside of the carriage appears larger than our previous one.' Instead of two doors in the interior, there are four doors, two flanking on either side of the luxurious bench seats. However, the doors are below the two bench seats and appear to go below what would be the ground outside the carriage. A favorable arrangement allows a passenger a seat directly next to the windows. Accessing doors requires one to descend stairs in front of each entry. 'What could be the potential applications of magic in other matters if we can implement magic in this way?' Damascus and Hannibal enter the carriage shortly after my sister and I. They nod to us before entering a door to the right of Lady Lelandria. Within minutes, a sudden jolt of the carriage marks that the convoy is underway. Our following location is a mystery, even to me.