Chapter 10: The Velvet Ward
After the fight, they approached Koga Miyazoko. He looked their way and then spoke as soon as they came close enough. "You’re a Dragon Warlock too, eh?"
Sam’s eyes widened. "How could you tell?"
"I could sense it. Dragon blood is good at that," he explained. "And I’m assuming you came here to seek training?"
Sam nodded. "Right again."
Koga shrugged and gestured forward. "Okay. Follow me."
"Oh! Okay!" Sam said as he followed along. Lazula and Calista were right behind him.
They walked a few blocks and then came to a house with a large backyard and its own smaller fighting ring.
"This is my house. I need some time to set up for a new apprentice. Be here tomorrow first thing in the morning. Then your training will begin."
"Okay! I’ll be here!" Sam promised excitedly. "Thank you, Master Koga."
The swordsman nodded and waved them off. As they were walking back towards the Inn, Sam looked at the girls. "So, what do you want to do for the rest of the day?"
"Oh! Let’s go to the Velvet Ward!" Lazula said excitedly. "It’s so much fun there!"
Sam and Calista nodded, and they headed to a section of the city that had magically-animated floating holograms and glowing crystals. The brick streets were much nicer than the other roads and everything was clean and pristine. There were multiple lounges, brothels, nightclubs, theaters, etc.
There was also a park and a lake nearby. Sam was especially shocked to see dozens of men and women walking around completely naked except for sandals, selling their sexual services. People were also swimming naked in the lake.
"Wow, they’re so open about it," he said quietly.
Lazula nodded. "Yep. And this is where the city makes most of its money. That’s why it’s so much nicer, too - gotta invest where the money is."
"I guess so," Sam replied as he watched a very attractive naked elf woman walk by and wink at him. He grinned and his head moved as he watched her walk down the street.
"Are you... Are you gonna do anything with her?" Calista asked shyly as she watched his gaze follow the other woman. She blushed as he turned back to face her.
"Nah," he said. Her face lit up for a second at his response, which made him grin. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. "You two are good enough for me... for now!" He added that last part in a joking manner.
"So, what to do first?" Calista asked.
"Maybe we could see a play there?" he said as he pointed to a music theater. A huge sign above the front doors listed the show as Betrothed to the Enemy. There was also a picture displaying a human man and an elf woman in a tight embrace as soldiers of both races stood around them.
Calista nodded. "Oh, okay! That sounds fun!"
"Yeah! I haven’t seen that one yet!" Lazula added.
They walked over to the theater and Lazula paid admission with a few Silver Scarabs, which were less valuable than Gold Scarabs but more valuable than Copper Scarabs. They stopped by a counter that was offering drinks and snacks, where they ordered goblets of berry juice. In front of the stage were rows of plush chairs with little tables in front of them. They found three empty ones together and sat there.
As the musical play started, humans and elves came out and began singing about a great war. They were dressed in armor and acted out a major battle. Then the story shifted to the human man and elf woman from the poster out front. They were forced to marry to end the war, but they hated each other at first.
Gradually, over the course of the play, the characters fell in love. The final number was an emotional duet. Sam looked over and saw tears running down Calista’s cheeks as the female elf hit a high note in her singing. He held her hand tightly. She turned her head to face him, smiled, and then looked back at the stage.
After the show ended, everyone stood up and clapped energetically. The cast came out and bowed to another round of applause.
"That was so good!" Calista beamed as they walked out of the theater.
"It definitely was!" Lazula agreed. "I’m so glad we came to see it!"
"Yeah!" Sam added. He then turned to Calista. "You really seemed to like the elf woman singing."
She nodded. "Her voice is soooo beautiful! It made me think of my mother - she used to sing to me when I was little. I miss her so much. I wonder if I’ll ever get to see her again..."
"Maybe someday we can return to Luminary’s Landing, at least for a visit," Sam offered.
Calista smiled. "Yeah, maybe..."
They were looking for something else to do when a male dwarf poked his head out from a lounge.
"Oi! Lazula! Come get your boy!" he called out. "He overdid it again and won’t leave!"
Lazula groaned and rolled her eyes. "Sorry, Kerrik! I’ll take care of it." She then turned back to Sam and Calista. "My stupid catfolk friend Sid has a catnip addiction."
They all walked into the lounge and heard retching in one of the bathrooms. Lazula knocked on the door. "Hey buddy, you okay?"
"Yeah! Totally!" the cat replied, his speech slurred. He rushed out of the bathroom, but his movements were wobbly, like a drunk bird or something. He was a short humanoid cat with black fur and yellow eyes, clad in a little pirate outfit. "I wassssssh jusssht making room for more catnip! It’ssssh sssshoooo tasssshty!"
"I think you’ve had enough for one day, dude," Lazula replied with a chuckle. "Let’s get you back home."
"Nonssshense! I feel fine!" He stumbled towards the cashier. "I sssshaall have another of your finesssht catnip milksssshakessssh, good sshir!"
"I’m cutting you off, sorry," the cashier said firmly. Sid whimpered.
"Then I ssshallll return tomorrow!" Sid said before walking towards the door and slamming right into it with a loud thud. "I meant to do that! Had to make ssssshure thissssh door wassssh sssholid! Yessssh, yesssh! Very sssshound! Good craftsssshmanssship!"
Everyone just laughed as they guided Sid out the door and to his tiny house a few blocks outside of the Velvet Ward.