Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

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It was well early in the Evening when the Dinner table was set and the Mansion Workers called on the Guests to join Father and Daughter in the dining hall.

Evian was dressed in one of his noble (in design and material) robes which he had stowed away into his Spatial Ring before donning the Larnak Military Guard uniform he used to skulk around the Larnak Estate.

Daria changed out of the gown she had worn to aid the Resistance but what she changed into still showed off her cleavage and was still in her favorite color of black.

She had a natural smile on her face. The issue of the illegal Arcane Manuscripts was a matter she and Evian would handle at a later time.

Walking side by side, Evian, and Daria were a foot from the door when they heard voices coming out of the dining hall.

"And you SAY she's an Arcanist?" asked a silky male voice just steeped in curiosity.

"Yes, Father," Came Ember's voice in response.

"And you are sure, my dear?" asked the silky voice Evian now believed to belong to Erik Lockheart.

"Of course I'm sure," Ember replied.

"Interesting," Erik Lockheart said and Evian imagined he was rubbing his chin.

When they arrived in front of the Dining hall doorway and looked in, he found he was correct. A redheaded man was standing beside Ember stroking his jaw with a amazed look in his eyes.

Erik Lockheart was a man of average height. His body shape was between well well-rounded to portly but that just gave him a look of affluence that was furthered by his choice of clothing.

He wore purple robes with garish designs that reached all the way to cover his feet and hide his shoes from sight. At least three of his fingers on either hand held a bejeweled ring.

He had a thick red beard that suited his looks. Every hair on his head and face was red just like his daughter's and without any sign of aging grey strands. However, he did have crease lines at the corners of his eyes that not only showed him as a joyful person but also teased he was of advanced age or heading quickly to that stage.

The moment Evian and Daria were at the doorway, Father and Daughter looked at them with smiles of different connations.

Ember looked mostly at Evian and blushed when she remembered in what state she had seen him hours before.

Erik however, looked mostly at Daria. He eyed her respectfully, admiring her looks, and awed by what he had just recently confirmed she was.

"You must be Miss Daria," Erik Lockheart said, taking a quick step forward and holding out a hand.

"Indeed, I am."

Daria's expression was haughty but she still smiled as she held out her hand and allowed Erik Lockheart to take it and plant a small polite kiss at the back of it.

"Wow, an Arcanist," Erik said as he raised his head while still holding the delicate smooth-skinned hand,

"You know, I have met a few of your kind."

Daria raised a brow.

"'Of my kind'?" she repeated.

Erik looked confused for a few seconds before he understood how his words could have sounded rude.

"Oh no, I didn't mean it like that. I meant I've met other Arcanists. You know, during business trips outside the City.

I have to say not all have looked quite as fetching as you."

Evian rolled his eyes secretly.

'Easy there, Old man,' he thought with a mental chuckle.

Almost as though Erik heard Evian's thoughts, he looked away from Daria and finally laid his eyes on him.

"Evian Stygian," he said as he gently let go of Daria's hand and stretched out to shake Evian's.

Evian took it with a smile.

"I am him."

As the two shook hands, the Redheaded merchant looked Evian over... Taking in his looks, his cheeky yet charming smile, and his peculiar hair.

'I can't sense any aura of Spiritual energy from him,' Erik noted.

Just as he was being studied, Evian studied the Man as well.

Erik had no actual cultivation base. At least not enough to be notable. He was barely at the Third step of the First Order.

(In reference, every Knight Order or Arcane Circle has Nine steps.)

"Ember has told me a lot about you," Erik said as he and Evian shook hands, "Shs claims you fought- Gallantly."

Evian glanced at Ember, red-faced as she was and then he looked back at Erik and chuckled.

"If she said so, it must be true."

*Pitah* *Pitah*

Gentle footsteps sounded from behind and all eyes went to the new arrivals.

Gillert, Gryon, and Carleine had arrived with Gillert leading them looking weary.

The three had changed out of their dirtied clothes but underneath the Gryon's sleeveless attire were bandages. Vestiges of his recent injury.

He looked tired but well on the path to recovery.

"Evian," Gillert said almost immediately they all crossed eyes. He stepped forward and grabbed Evian's hand, shaking it with gratitude,

"Thank you!" he said in a low voice deep sincerity.

Evian clapped him on the shoulder,

"Don't mention it."

Gillert nodded with his lips pursed and then he looked at Daria to profess his gratitude to her. Gryon and Carleine followed suit.

With all pleasantries and appreciations sorted, Erik Lockhart graciously led the way to the large table prepared with all manner of delicacies and the dinner began in full swing.

At first, there was silence only occasionally broken by the clinking of cutlery and the sound of pouring drinks into finely crafted goblets.

"Lockheart, thank you for giving us refuge in your home," Gillert said causing the meal eating to pause.

Erik laughed uncomfortably.

"No, dear boy. Certainly not worth a shoutout," he said with his palms raised while glancing over at his daughter.

Gillert shook his head and insisted,

"No, no, you have always been a big help to the Resistance. I'm grateful. We all are."

Gryon and Carleine nodded in agreement.

Erik looked from them to Ember whose expressionist soured and her frown was getting deeper by the second. He hated this topic. It always- always turned his daughter against him.

"Well, I was born there. Started my business on the streets of Doreen District," he said with his lips twitching uncomfortably, "I will always have a soft spot for that part of my past. It's a shame what Larnak has done to the Territory. Real- Real shame."

*Bam*

Ember slammed her hand on the table causing Gryon to flinch while all sounds ceased. Including the clinking of cutlery to plate.

"If you actually cared, you would have convinced Lordess Renan as I begged you to," Ember said slowly and concisely.

Erik looked abashed but he covered it up with a sigh,

"Ember-"

"It used to be our home!" Ember snapped causing him to stop, "When things got tough, you just up and left!"

"I invited you along..." Erik started calmly but Ember interrupted again,

"And do what? Hide away? Stay by your side and watch you pathetically try to woo Mom's replacement?"

"Dear, you're making a scene again. No one is replacing your Mother."

Two seconds passed before Ember started talking again, her eyes just a tad misty.

"Mother loved Doreen. She'd be ashamed of how little you've done to help it."

Evian and Daria were seated beside each other, watching the scene unfold before them as though on the sidelines. Both were detached from the issues and not entirely sure how or if they should interfere.

"Ember-" Gillert started to say but Erik raised a hand and shook his head to get him to stop.

He then took a deep breath and addressed his daughter himself,

"Ember, I'm not trying to replace your mother, no one could ever replace her.

As for Frida, I HAVE tried to convince her to help but she just won't budge. She's a stubborn one and likes to be left alone."

'This seems like a good enough point to join in,' Evian thought.

"Who's Frida?" he asked, drawing all attention to himself.

It wasn't Erik who answered him though. It was Gryon.

"Frida Renan. She's the Lordess of the Renan Territory." the Large man said, smiling for the first time since his stint with death.

The giggly smile on Gryon's face looked funny when taken in the context of his very visible tattoos and maturely large face.

"Oh," Evian said. He knew of the Renan Lordess already, just hadn't known her first name, and of course, who better to learn it all from than her biggest fan.

"Oh she's perfect," Gryon said, "She's so beautiful that she seduced an Angel and bore him a child.

Such magnificence."

Erik shook his head,

"Not an Angel," he said, "She seduced a Spiritfolk. But an impressive feat nonetheless."

That finally got Daria's attention.

She sat up with her eyes widened.

"Wait a minute, Spiritfolk... Renan? As in Astrid Renan, The Golden Child?"

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