The carriage arrived at the main hall, pulled by a magnificent white mane. The golden evening sun glitters on its bright purple linings, accentuating its pristine white surface. Two knights of the Razenheir house lead the carriage, each on their fine horses. Their pristine black uniform, the RazenHeir crest, the symbol of a phoenix, etched onto their breast plates.
Click! Clack! Click! Clack! Right behind them, the sharp knocking sound of the steel core of a giant's heels against the paved ground. Her long dress, silk scarf and silver hair fluttered in the wind. Her radiant skin lit up against the dimming sunset.
Hikari bent over, very slowly and carefully pinched the door handle. During the rehearsal she had actually yanked the door open, fortunately on a dummy carriage. This time, she got it right, pulling the door in an arc around its axis.
Ria steps out of the carriage. She was in an elaborate light pinkish silk dress. A fresh white four petaled flower with a subtle fragrance. Along with her scarlet hair and bright blue eyes and fair skin, she was confident she would be melting men's hearts tonight.
A grey haired butler walked up to Hikari. "Hey! giants are not allowed! How did you get into the estate grounds!?" he bellowed.
Hikari was slightly startled by his rather direct attitude. "Apologies. The guards let me in."
The butler turned to a guard with an extra strip on his collar compared to the rest. " What are the guards doing?"
The Guard captain back faced him, pretending not to hear. The butler placed his hand on his shoulder and forced him to turn around.
When he realized that the man was sweating in his helmet, his crotch was bulging and wet, he bellowed angrily at him, "What is this disgraceful conduct!? Go fetch your crotch guard if you can't control yourself! The headmaster will hear of this. "
The butler turned back to Ria while bowing slightly. "I deeply apologise for this disgrace."
"You should apologize to my knight whom I have trusted my life to for insulting her size." Ria replied in a stern but calm voice
The old butler straightened his back, looking Hikari in the eye. "Please accept my sincerest apologies honorable knight. I shall trouble you no more. Please enjoy your evening."
Having apologized, The butler positioned himself on one side of the carpet, making the way clear for Ria to enter the main hall.
Ria turns to Hikari, her neck used to the steep angle by now. "I'm afraid you will have to stand guard now. I'll be sure to get some nice food for you afterwards."
"Enjoy yourself." Hikari responded with her usual very minute smile.
Ria smiled back and walked into the main hall.
"Ria Razenheir!" The bellboy announced. Ria walks into a buzzing hall. It was an evening for the youth of the day. Merchants, squires, junior officers, apprentice sorcerers all convened in one place.
The occasion was reasonably grand. The long tables filled with mostly finger food and wine as some of the guests receive their first taste of booze in their lives to commemorate their first steps into adulthood.
Then there was dim cozy light of oil lanterns together with a soft, soothing ambient music, creating a warm atmosphere conducive to creating societal bonds.
The crowd paid little heed to Ria's arrival and continued with the evening dance. Ria walked very slowly towards what many mocking refer to as the waiting rack, quietly hoping that she would be picked up before reaching the rack.
In the meantime, she listened out to the sounds in the room. Her acute hearing was one of her few talents, much like how rabbits relied on theirs to make up for their lack of strength. It was astounding how many private conversations were held in a public setting such as this.
"The grain yield of Herdial is way below the forecast … they just haven't published it yet … buy the grain claims now before it's too late … " Another conversation. "The northern front is somewhat holding … I have a good mind to buy up the land before this gets out … " And another conversation. "House Vultorian can't stay in the northern front much longer … but house RazenHeir seemed to have thoughts of pulling out …. We must come up with an excuse before they do … "
She stores all that information for later in her head. But for now, a bigger crisis seemed to have befallen her.
She had reached the waiting rack.
Despite all her efforts to be appealing and dragging herself as slowly as possible to prolong her exposure time, she was now properly condemned to the waiting rack.
A row of chairs with round tables of refreshments placed in even intervals. There was one other girl there, about three times the mass of Ria. She was stuffing herself with the sweets on the table. It appears she was not particularly displeased with her situation.
Ria couldn't help but turn her head to look at her. Then she touched her own chest in self reflection. It appears that the girl was on the waiting rack for having too much of what she lacked.
Grabbing the biggest glass on the refreshment table, Ria gripped the bottle with both hands and poured. She then entered into a deep state of contemplation.
As she finished her wine, she heard the sound of heels rushing towards her, getting louder and louder.
Before she could respond, A plump tall girl ambushed Ria from the other side and hugged her tight.
"Ria! I'm so glad to see you!"
"Camilla.. mmmmfff" Ria was smothered against her voluminous breasts for a brief moment.
Camilia Windranger, from a house of beastkin revolving around their use of metamorphosis to allow them access to superhuman strength. Roughly in the same league as the RazenHeir house which is how they could get along. For better or for worse, she is very noticeable with her pointy furry ears.
A boy in white tux, black bow tie followed her. Zark Rotbenmore, a house specializing in magic dealing with necrosis. In plain terms, they are highly advanced coroners, morticians and corpse carvers. An extremely unappealing career that is lately rising in demand.
He probably has the oddest appearance of the entire evening. His dark eye circles were so thick that it gave the impression that he never sleeps. His hair had so much gel that appeared as though he stole it from one of his clients. And then there is his general zombified demeaner like make he appear as though he had risen from the grave. There were countless incidents where a passing priest of light would blast him with purification out of reflex.
"Uh... "
"I'm so glad to see you guys again."
"Purrr… me too. I'm so glad that Ria is safe. I couldn't sleep when I heard you were attacked!. Zark! Aren't you worried as well!?"
"Uh..... I guess…."
"Show some more feeling will ya?Meow." Camilla rubbed his expressionless cheeks against her blossoms.
"I'm lucky to have survived. Were you attacked too?"
"hmph, I was grounded, meow. They sent out a decoy maid and got her killed. I cried for her"
"That's unfortunate."
"Waahhh… I should have been there. I would have kicked those cultist butts. Isn't that right Zark."
"If .. you .. say .. so .."
"By the way, where is metharia?"
Camilla's face saddened. Her magnetic energy appeared to abruptly drain out of her.
"Her estate was attacked. Her parents burnt themselves out to defeat the cultists. And Metharia just went missing. Waahhhh…. "
Ria patted her shoulder gently as she started tearing.
"But on the bright side, we'll be at the academy soon! Purrrrr….! We will become super strong knights, won't we Zark?"
"Uhhhhh….."
"Ahhh, Zark! Don't you die on me too!?"
Camilla grabbed his shoulders and shook him back and forth violently.
"Tsk. Tsk. What a noisy bunch." A young woman, normal height and finely dressed but nothing outrageous approached them. Her arms folded, her expression contains a hint of contempt. "Ria RazenHeir, looks like your circus of freaks is still expanding. Heard your house had taken in a giant and trained her to be a knight."
Ria turned to face her, pinching both ends of her dress with her fingers and then performing a slight bow.
"Greetings, Veronica PureVain. It is true, we had been training a giant into a knight."
"Looks like the RazenHeir's last ditch effort to get onto the rankings."
"It's nothing of that sort. She protects me and our estate. That's all there is to it."
"Purr..! You are been too dull, Verty! Cheer up a little!" Camilla rushed to hug her.
"Argh! Don't hug me you vulgar barmaid! "She pressed her palm against Camilia's face, holding the boisterous cat girl at bay.
"Purr! Don't be like that, Verty!"
"Don't call me that! My name is Veronica. We are not that close!"
Veronica takes a deep breath, suppressing her anger." Anyway, it looks like you decided to attend the academy after all, Ria Razenheir."
"Yes. I look forward to the semester."
"Well, good luck then. Hope you have more of it than your siblings."
"Good luck to you too."
Veronica coldly turned her back and walked off.
"Nom* Nom* mmm these dumplings are good stuff. Hey Zark, eat some! You need all da strength for the academy."
Camilla starts stuffing herself with dumplings. Her positive energy was completely unfettered as she began stuffing herself.
"Nom* Nom* Hey Ria! What's her problem?"
"Well, it appears my siblings scored an upset against them in one of the arena rounds against her house. We did lose overall though, but that round ended up costing them dearly in the final rankings."
"Nom* Nom* what a way to step on their toes. Hey, You too Ria! Have some dumpings"
"Wai- Mmmmmmmmmfffff." Camilia stuffed a dumpling into Ria's mouth which wasn't big enough for it to go all the way in. Instead, Ria had to bite it off chunk by chunk as Camilia held it up for her.
"Good girl." Camilla pats Ria on the head.
"Say Ria. Nom! Nom! Looks like you've been growing some muscle. Nom. Been working out haven't you."
Ria blushed "Umm Yes. You could say that."
Camilla grabs Ria's arm, removes her gloves and begins running her furry paws up and down her arm.
"I'm not imagining it. You really have grown. Haha! Good job Ria! It's really quick too. Wanna share how ya did it?"
"Ummm… sure. It's just basic sword drills though."
"Hmm.. yes… puurrr…. You have been using your arms a lot. But hey, ya muscle usage seemed a bit uneven."
The beastkin pressed her nose against Ria's face and sniffed, "Hmm.. odd, your face smiles a bit like feet … " Ria's face began blushing red.
Ria pushed Camilia's face away. She grabbed a glass of wine to soothe her nerves. Meanwhile, camilia seemed to be in deep contemplation. After a few moments, she blurted out,
"Hmmm….. I know! You've been practicing crawling!"
Ppppptttfff. Cough cough. Ria spat out the wine and choked.
Camilla : "Aha! I'm right aren't I"
Ria wiped her mouth " You are sharp as ever, Camilla."
"Did that fatty make you do it. I'll go beat him up for ya.
"Not exactly… ah… thanks for the advice. I'll ask Sir Parkel to revise my training accordingly."
Camilla stuffs another dumpling into Ria's mouth "Aha! That's the spirit!"
"mmmmmffff…. ."
"Nom. Nom. Say, what happened to all the cute boys? They didn't all get kidnapped by the cultists. Didn't they?"
Ria paused. Then she was hit with an epiphany.
"I think I know where they are."
The trio went outside and bore witness to an incredible spectacle.
Boys crowding around Hikari's pedicured feet in sandals, sucking on it like a school of fish and bowing their heads to the ground.
"Oh! Mommy Hikari! Please take me in. I'll be a good boy!" "Oh please, I'll worship at your feet!" "Name your price! Just let me suck on your tits!"
At the side, there was a brutal bar brawl. Fists were flying as were curses in fairly refined language.
"You dare court a lady while you jizz in your pants!!" POW! Oof! "I fail to see you out do me in that regard!"
The girls were on the side lines, looking on with the utmost disgust.
As for the guards and guardian knights, they have all quite literally turned their backs to the affair. Not wanting to partake in the embarrassment.
Camilia : "ooh my- , that body, those curves … I.."
Ria : "No! No no no no no … No! Ria forcefully pushed Camilia back into the main hall.
Ria : "Zark! Help me!"
Zark : "Uhh… what's going on?"