Chapter 23: A Medieval Sanctuary

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: A Medieval Sanctuary

Seraphine’s gaze remained on the building for a long while as she and Michael stood side by side in complete silence.

Kwack!

The sudden screech of a bird echoed across the sky, breaking the silence between them.

Seraphine finally tilted her head up to look at Michael. He, too, looked down at her adorable yet mature face as she smiled slightly.

"So, want to go somewhere else?"

"You have other houses around?"

Seraphine smirked and swept her arms in a wide arc that took in the entire domain of floating islands, chained peaks, and distant temple structures.

"You seem to have forgotten, Michael. All of this is my territory."

She paused, a spark of recollection lighting her expression.

"Ah. Right. I still need to take you somewhere."

"Where?"

"I told you, didn’t I?" She raised a finger, her grin still in place. "You would need your own squad."

Placing a hand beneath her chin, she pondered for a moment.

"I think it’s best we get the squad while looking for a good resting place for tonight."

It was currently the middle of the day, perhaps one or two o’clock, so Michael was sure they could find a good place before the sun set. But finding a squad was another matter entirely.

That was unless she planned on giving him a preselected squad.

Seraphine nudged him with her elbow so he would focus on her before extending her hand toward him.

The daytime light caught her soft skin and bright smile, making them glow with a faint golden hue.

Michael’s eyes ran over her body, from her nightclothes, which could barely be called clothing as they clung to every curve, to the hickey he had given her yesterday.

Then he placed his palm against hers.

The moment his palm touched her delicate skin, he felt a strange warmth spread through his hand.

Then, without warning, a rush of spirit energy flowed from her palm into his.

Michael’s fingers twitched as the energy traveled up his arm, spreading through his body before slowly wrapping around him like a thin, invisible layer.

His pupils widened.

"What—"

Before he could even comment on the bizarre sensation, their bodies dissolved into streaks of pale gold and shot away from the ruined peak.

Wind roared past Michael’s ears. His eyes narrowed slightly from the force of it, but he forced them open as he took in the magnificent sight around him.

’We’re... flying?’

Not just hovering in an empty void or using a sword, platform, or artifact. This was true flight.

Michael could barely hold back the smile on his face as he tried his best to take in as much as he could. Islands blurred beneath them. Chains linking the floating landmasses gleamed under the sunlight. Cold, clean air filled his chest until he felt almost light-headed from it.

Seraphine glanced sideways. The unguarded excitement written across his features drew a small smile from her face.

’Hehehe, I knew he’d like it.’

Although flight wasn’t part of her main skills and consumed a lot of energy, especially when moving with someone else, she didn’t feel like it was a bad trade if it meant getting to see this expression on his face.

Her lashes lowered. A private, thoughtful smirk curved her mouth. ’If this kind of thing makes you happy, then...’

She didn’t finish her thought, and she felt like she didn’t need to.

Without so much as a warning to Michael, she shot their bodies downward, descending toward the central temple island he had first seen upon entering the domain.

The section they landed on was near the outer edge of the central island.

Several clusters of sturdy wooden buildings lined the streets, their sloping tiled roofs layered neatly above one another. Wooden balconies and narrow awnings extended over the roads, while rows of hanging lanterns swayed gently beneath the eaves.

People moved in steady streams along the narrow streets paved with worn stone—men and women wearing layered robes, short jackets, practical trousers, and long skirts, their clothing belonging to an era that seemed centuries removed from the modern world.

Children darted between adults, laughing as they chased one another through the narrow streets and market stalls, while older men sat beneath the shade of wooden storefronts, talking among themselves.

There were no cars.

No towering glass buildings.

No glowing advertisements or humming machines.

Instead, there were wooden signboards hanging above shop entrances, cloth banners fluttering in the breeze, and the constant clatter of footsteps against stone.

Everything about the architecture, clothing, and daily life spoke of a deliberate, living medieval aesthetic.

Yet somehow, it was sitting right here in the middle of Seraphine’s territory.

Michael’s eyes widened as he took in the sight around him. "There are ordinary people here?"

Seraphine released his hand and started walking, the residual glow of her energy fading from around them.

"Yes, although they aren’t from our dome. Most are summons or refugees from territories that suffered partial collapse."

’Right, there are other domes besides ours.’

Michael nodded slowly, saying nothing more as his gaze moved around the crowd, tracking their movements.

It was then that he noticed something strange.

Not a single person turned to look at them.

Despite the clothing they were wearing—and especially the revealing clothes Seraphine had on—it was almost as if they were invisible to everyone around them.

Michael opened his mouth to ask about it, but Seraphine spoke first.

"We’re here."

The building standing before them was a broad wooden tavern. Warm light spilled through its paper windows, while the low murmur of voices and the occasional clink of cups drifted outside each time the saloon door swung open.

Seraphine pushed the door wide, then turned back to smile at him.

Michael’s brows drew together as he felt a warm energy escape from his body.

In the next moment, Seraphine disappeared from his sight.

Not just her body.

Her scent.

Her presence.

Everything about her vanished as if she had never existed in the first place.

Michael raised his gaze toward the bar and immediately froze.

The low murmurs, clicking glasses, and casual conversations filling the tavern died one after another.

Then came complete silence.

Dozens of eyes locked onto him.

Not curious.

Not surprised.

Hostile.

A man near the bar slowly set down his cup.

Someone’s chair scraped sharply against the floor.

Another person stood.

Then another.

Hands moved toward weapon hilts as spears, staves, and short blades caught the lantern light. Several people shifted their footing, subtly spreading out and positioning themselves around Michael.

No one spoke.

No one needed to.

The entire tavern had gone from a room full of ordinary people to a room full of armed opponents in the span of a single breath.

"Fuck..." Michael muttered under his breath, changing his stance and raising his guard.

"Don’t worry. They won’t kill you. So prove your worth to them."

Seraphine’s faint whisper reached his ear, her hot breath ghosting against his neck.

Michael’s clenched fists loosened a fraction. ’So it’s one of those tests, huh.’

A slow, sharp grin spread across his face, causing the men and women nearest to him to tense even further.

’Heh. I was just looking for someone to test these new abilities on.’