Crashing into a party?

[Arin]

Cypher listened to Casey's comments about a succubus inside of the dungeon cells, and how she looked malnourished, crossing his arms as he heard everything "...Probably Asmous' doing, he never was the one to accommodate prisoners with special needs...However, if she was in the dungeon, she had to be there for a reason."

Suddenly, the doors of the throne room opened up, and Sera slithered inside, blushing as she realized that she has 'walked' in on something "Oh! S-Sorry Cypher, your majesty...I did not mean to interrupt a trial." Cypher sighed and smiled "It's quite alright, we were concluding our business and moving on to something else entirely. What did you need my love?" "...Well...It's about someone I met down in the dungeon...When I was searching for the key that the guardsman lost..."

Cypher looked back at Aldari, then Casey, then back to Sera "...This wouldn't happen to be about a succubus, would it?" Sera blushed and looked down, giving a soft nod of confirmation. Curious, Cypher rubbed his chin in thought "...What would you like to discuss about her?" "...W-Well...I think she might be down there by mistake...She doesn't seem like a bad person, not after I fed her some of my mana...Could you please speak with her...Just to try and find out why she was imprisoned, and see if there would be any value in pardoning her?"

Cypher smiled and lowered his head, chuckling softly "Today just seems to be the day for possible false charges, it would seem. I see no harm in doing so, what do you think old friend?" His attention was focused on Aldari, wanting to hear the king's thoughts on the matter.

[Lance]

Aldari frowned when he heard about the succubus in the dungeons, specifically that she was being underfed. "Asmous fails to realize that a starved succubus is infinitely more dangerous, aside from possessing a natural skill in illusion magics and a particular like for shadow elemental spells, they're very strong, having one become feral inside the palace would possibly put the lives of myself, him, and anyone in the building at risk."

Aldari looked at Cypher, giving a short nod, "Bring her before me at once, please." Kaen tilted his head at that, the king had been civil to them, but he had figured that as just common courtesy, but to ask and subordinate to do something instead of just ordering it...this king was interesting indeed.

[Tetsuya]

Things were just getting better and better, according to Casey. If it did turn out the succubus was thrown in the dungeons under false charges, General Asmous would definitely have a more scrutinizing eye placed on him from now on. He tapped his chin while in thought wondering what the woman would say.

[Arin]

Cypher gave Aldari a bow, standing upright and making his way down the stairs "Well, Kaen, time for your first assignment. Please escort myself and the female prisoner to the throne room. Soldiers, all but one of you are dismissed. I need one paladin guardsman to supervise Casey while we are away."

The soldiers all gave a military salute, thumping one fist over their chest plate, before all but one paladin class guard remained, staying near Casey and keeping watch over him.

Sera started slithering to catch up with Cypher and Kaen, grabbing Cypher's hand and intertwining her fingers with his as she smiled calmly "...Thank you..." Cypher chuckled and squeezed his wife's hand, keeping stride with his much lager guard "Since when have I ever been able to deny my wife a request?~"

[Lance]

Kaen led Cypher and Sera to the dungeons, waiting for Sera to make it down the stairs before entering the dungeons proper. When Kaen reached Daemira, he rapped lightly on the bars of the cell. "The king wants to see you." Daemira nodded and stood up, despite her recent feeding, she still looked a bit hungry. "You haven't eaten in a while, huh?" Daemira nodded, "Sera, that Lamia, her mana tasted...good, and I'm still hungry." Kaen nodded, "We'll get you some mana to feed on after you talk to the king, but you can't feed on Sera again so soon, you could knock her out."

[Tetsuya]

Now that he thought about it, Casey wasn't quite so sure he felt comfortable that Asmous wouldn't be here to defend his own actions. 'Ugh, the guys a dick, but it's going to leave a bitter taste if I don't speak up. I hate being nice sometimes.' "Perhaps someone should inform General Asmous of what's about to happen. He should be here to explain himself anyway," he said to Aldari.

[Arin]

Cypher chuckled and patted Kaen's side as he opened the door "No need to be so harsh, she has been starved afterall." He held out his hand, offering it to Daemira "I have some to spare, and I'm sure Kaen can pitch in if he feels generous enough. Better for you to have a clear head than think about feeding while you talk to the king."

[Lance]

Kaen shrugged, "I'm not being harsh, I'm being honest. Succubi are very resilient, and sometimes forget how fragile other species are. As for loaning you some Mana, I'd be glad to if you need it."

Daemira placed her hand on Cypher's, she drained a decent amount of mana, but her empathic abilities told her that any more would make him ill, so she released his hand. "Normally I pay my debts through...physical means, but you're bedding that Sera woman right? You're scent is all over her, and vice versa...though I'm willing to pay you both back at once if you want." Daemira smirked lewdly, making it clear that she was only half joking.

Aldari nodded, "A good idea Casey..." Aldari closed his eyes and chanted a spell, creating a link to Asmous. <Asmous, I would like you to please come to the throne room, I want to hear your side of the story regarding another prisoner.>

[Tetsuya]

Casey watched as the king closed his eyes, quirking an eyebrow when he heard the mutterings of something pass his lips. Was he casting a spell, and what was the purpose for it? To say it intrigued him was an understatement. He then looked at his own hand, wondering if he might have the potential for magic. Then again, if these slight head pains he got were caused by others using magic, he wasn't sure if he wanted to learn magic in first place.

[Arin]

Asmous heard Aldari's voice in his head, requesting his audience regarding another prisoner. He was already halfway through the city, patrolling its streets, when he got the message "I've received word from one of my scouts that a horse-drawn wagon and a small party of strangers was flying toward our northeastern gate. I was making my way to intercept them, in case it was a potential threat."

Cypher, while finding Daemira's flirting amusing, was only half amused, the other half was caution "It is my understanding that succubi are not very good at restraining their draining abilities. While I am more accustomed to mana fatigue, I do not wish any risk to come to my wife. I am not so sure she would agree anyway...Lamia can be...Protective, of their mates." Sera fidgeted a little, trying not to show hostility towards Daemira, since she wasn't purposefully trying to steal Cypher away "...I-I'll have to think hard about it...I'm not comfortable with that right now..."

[Lance]

Daemira shrugged, accepting Cypher's response. "Alright, I ain't gonna force you folks into it and fuck up your relationship. You've got a good thing going on and I'm not gonna mess with that." Kaen nodded in approval, "That is very mature of you, the Succubi I've met tend to pout about being rejected." Daemira chuckled at that, "They're young kids, they feel like they're not doing a good job if they can't make someone feel good. It's less being pouty about being rejected and more being pouty because they think they messed up."

Aldari sighed inwardly when Asmous mentioned the speeding wagon <That is more than likely Lady Aria, I asked that she come as soon as possible, and she had friends and family with her. I need to see you now, you've been accused of starving a prisoner, and I'd like to think that you did not do so on purpose.> Aldari was underselling it, the idea of Asmous intentionally starving someone was preposterous, the man was bullheaded and paranoid, but cruel? Not Hardly. <Please my friend, young Casey of all people wanted me to publicly give you a chance to defend your decision.>

[Arin]

Cypher nodded as Daemira conceded to his and Sera's responses "Thank you for understanding. Perhaps if you are pardoned, I can help you find some worthwhile career in the palace...As long as the king agrees."

Asmous closed his eyes and took a deep breath, left no choice but to heed his king's orders <As you wish, my king. I shall be there as soon as I can. I'll leave a guardsman with instructions should this be Lady Aria's company, to have them escorted to your palace immediately.>

[Lance]

Daemira shrugged, "Maybe, I prefer to keep to myself honestly, but if the king wishes to give me a job, I won't complain." Kaen looked at Cypher, "Let's get moving, the king is waiting."

Aldari smiled when Asmous said that he'd have someone escort Aria to the castle if she was the one approaching the city. <Thank you my friend, I await your return.> Aldari opened his eyes and looked at Casey, "Asmous should be here soon."

[Tetsuya]

"Considering you were sitting there in thought, I can only imagine you were communicating to the general through thought. The concept of magic is more surprising than I imagined," Casey said, "I'm starting to get a little curious about it now. How do people learn magic?"

[Arin]

Cypher nodded when Kaen suggested they hurry, heading for the exit "Agreed, we can talk along the way." As they made their way for the stairs, Cypher was starting to think what kinds of jobs Daemira could do if Aldari agreed to the idea "...It my not be as...'pleasing' for yourself, but what if you were a masseuse. That way you could feed while helping those with sore muscles relax...And I'm sure some of the more single types won't object to extra services, if you offered...But I would request you have a private location for such services, so as not to offend some of the more 'old fashioned' individuals working in the palace."

Asmous stopped one of the soldiers as he was patrolling the gate, giving him instructions to lead Aria and her group to the palae the moment they arrived, and to notify him immediately if it was something different coming their way. He then began hastily walking back to the palace.

The soldier charged with accompanying Casey spke up, when he showed interest in magic "Understanding magic and how it is performed is the first step to learning how to cast a spell. The second is learning your elemental affinity, there are some spells that will come naturally to you, and some that will be almost impossible to master, simply because its element contrasts heavily with your own. The castle study holds many books on how to cast magic, I shall escort you there, when you are ready to leave, and if the king allows it."