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"Eh, same here." Mizu answered, fluttering a little higher to get about chest level with the stranger. Flying into Paz was completely her fault of course, but she would find some way to make it the stranger's fault in her head. "I've never been in here before, so... Guess it was worth checking out."

"Oh yes I have indeed, splendid work, I must say, you are very talented," Malek said to Zhao, even though he had never knowingly seen any of his work.
"A pleasure to meet you." He shook Zhao's outstretched hand vigorously.

Malek turned to look at the odd sight of the partially changed Muurai.
"Excuse me, would you mind settling your raven parts somewhere else? You're disturbing my friend here."

The Entrance Hall

The Sidhe steward fell silent after Kúter's outburst, for the good of all most likely. He just floated, almost vibrating with rage. He began to say something but stopped himself as he decided it would be best not to offend the "honored" guests of the emperor.

"Yes master Kúter, as a representative of your people I must obey your wishes. For now." The Sidhe said with a mischievous glint in his eye. It was clear that something else was at work but at this very moment, it would have to wait.

The Sidhe pinched his brow and turned to the rest of them, though at his size it was hardly noticeable. "As for the rest of you, keep one thing in mind. You could not have entered this palace unless you were invited or summoned. You may not have been aware of it but you certainly arrived nonetheless. He-who-is-blessed-by-heaven obviously sees something in you that I do not. Are you prepared to enter the throne room?" The Sidhe asked the group.

Paz made a 'hmm' noise after Mizu stopped speaking. He was going to say more to her but then the Sidhe asked if they were ready to enter the throne room. "Naturally." said Paz.

Malek's pointed ears caught the last words that the Sidhe spoke.

"Yes, lead on!" the demon said excitedly, eager to leave the hall at last.

Gathering himself so he was again complete, the Muurai smiled. "Apologises dearest demons." He said simply, with that almost acceptable grin of his. His gaze turning to the steward Sidhe. "If to the throne room is better than here, then I suggest we move on yes?" He placed his hand on his Chakram and the chain around it. "Part of me.. is just eager to get back outside."

Mizu was already in awe of the palace interior as it were; she could only begin to imagine the grandeur of the throne room. "Let's go, then!" she said, fluttering around excitedly.

The Shift continued to play with his companion, Alma had his index finger pinned with her foot while contemplating on her following actions. With a sudden move and a peck, a stain of blood started to drench the cloth of his finger. She fluttered a bit and rested atop his hat, looking in curiosity upon his response. With but the small blood he began to write, words and symbols upon the tiles smeared in his own blood. By the time Faquarl finished with his text*, he gave a sigh, then a chuckle, and so he spoke "The day grows old, time moves ever so, can we just stop this gibber jabber and go?"

*The words he wrote were utter non-sense, making neither logical or literal sense. But a reoccurring pattern of words laid present and so it was: 'I who was he who was never meant to be'

"I am prepared to enter." Zhao replied, taking one final, sweeping glance around the room.

"Escort us to him and do it quickly." Kúter told the Sidhe. He had enough of the sidhe and wanted to return to his task of finding the traitor.

"Very well. I suggest you control your tongues around our Emperor lest you lose them." The Steward said to the group but mostly to a certain Dzarg. The little blue man sighed and brought his hands up and quickly weaves them in a semicircle. The air shimmered around him and the doors began to open very slowly. Those in the group closed their eyes due to the sheer brightness eminating from the other side.

When they opened their eyes at last they were not in the entry way, nor was the steward present. They all were standing in a massive ovular room. The air was crisp and there was an intense, absolute silence. The appearance of the room was full of grandeur, in fact there were thousands of carvings each telling a different tale.

Seated on a raised platform was a single man, he radiated a faint glow and was dressed quite regally. It was clearly Rienthas himself. "Welcome, my guests. It is an honor to meet you." He said rising from his seat.

As the steward did as he do, Alma did what she was best. She fluttered about in the air, her recent perch interrupted only to see it twirl in the air. Farqual waved the hat about, as if nagging the steward to hurry up or scurry away. The shift tilted his head slightly where but blurs of sight could he see, but his grin grew wider as the imp's spell neared it's end. He twirled his hat one last time then flipped it into the air, his blood stained hair was quickly patted down as the Raven quickly made nest only be caged by his hat as it fell right upon his head from whence it came. "Wouldn't want you to be shunned by the light now would we?"

As the deed was done, the throne in view, and the group standing about, the lowly shift still laid upon the ground as before with his back still turned. Even in this disrespect, he went so far as to even clean the wax from his ear, or at least pretend to make the gesture

After the intense light produced by the steward's magic, Malek opened his eyes and was aghast to find that he and the others were in another room.
"And I didn't move an inch!" he thought in amazement.

His eyes darted round the large oval room, so much to take in, but rested when he spotted one of the magnificent carvings. He began to walk towards it for a closer look but paused when he heard a voice echoing in the silence.

Turning to see who had spoken, he smiled as he saw a glowing being rising from a raised seat. He knew at once that they were in the presence of the Emperor himself, and Malek bowed in respect to the grand Celestial.

Paz didn't bow but he didn't say anything either. He didn't want to do anything to get himself killed.

Kúter ignored the Sidhe and shielded his eyes from the light by closing them. He opened them and saw the emperor. He had expected him to be wearing armour and surronded by guards instead of a man in clothes. He didn't bow before him and would not bow before him.

Zhao took a low, sweeping bow, his nose almost touching the floor. "The honor is ours, your Excellency." he replied, still bowing.

The mischievous shift removed his finger from the ear, flicking his finger away in a means to discard waste only to quickly resume the action once more. His eyes still dull and his grin still wide, yet his mind still raced "Some will bend, and some shall not.. I wonder which would I be.. or have I simply snapped in two? Comical isn't my dear companion? But let us see a tale to be told, this miserable existence can only progress before it withers in time.. And I for one wish to see if a few others turn in two before this misery ends."

Keler gave a small head bow, signifying his acceptance of the emperor's status, but that was all he gave. "May I ask why you've asked us here?" He queried. He was slightly disorientated by the bright light, his body kept itself still and not tottering like a drunk.

Emperor Rienthas chuckled wholeheartedly at the group gathered before him. "Please, do not bow. I am a man like any other, and there is no need for such formality, we are alone." The man on the dias said taking a few steps down the stairs. He carried himself with a certain.... Confidence? That is the word but it is not quite enough, it was as if the very air danced around him, the gathered group and this whole place. He stopped when Keler asked his question and stopped smiling, looking at the Muurae intently.

"Excellent question, I will answer your inquiry most fully in a moment, but first allow me to introduce myself." Rienthas said bowing with an arm over his chest. "I am Emperor Rienthas Lightwielder, may I ask who I have the honor of having in my home on this most auspicious of nights?" Rienthas asked with a grin, rising from his bow.

Malek was surprised that the Emperor had bowed to them and that he had greeted them in such a humble manner.

Feeling more relaxed, he proudly stepped forward.

"I am Malek Nightwielder. No relation!" He chuckled at the similarity between his and the Emperor's surnames.

"Son of the late Huran Nightwielder of the Snake Clan. Honoured to be in your presence and to be invited to your magnificent abode, Rienthas. Oh, I can call you Rienthas, yes?" He looked at the Emperor for affirmation.

"Oooh, I like this guy." Mizu mused to herself when the Emperor ditched the formalities. She held no love for such things. "Mizu here!" she announced simply.

"Pazu Booker, Author and Travelling Scholar. Wrote the Mako Maki Pentalogy, you might have heard of it." said Paz. He decided not to mention his family in greater detail. His father trying to kill the emperor 50 years ago would probably complicate things.

"Kúter." Kúter told the emperor and cared little for the others.

"Zhao Silver-Brush of the Bat Clan. Artist of the Mist District, and your servant." Zhao stated, his head still slightly inclined. He wasn't going to risk insulting the Emperor.

He did, however, frown at Kúter's continued impudence. The Dzarg would make many enemies before his death, that was for sure.