“Haaah! I can see land,” Embla said, leaning on the edge of the railing.

Beyond the edge of the unending sea and clouds was a patch of land. It was small but rapidly approaching. A large billow of smoke and ash rose into the sky before fading and becoming one with the atmosphere. Embla grimaced. With her enhanced sight, she could faintly make out the lightning and flames within the tower of smoke.

“What’s with the smoke?” she asked.

“That’s Mount Surtr, the largest mountain in the world. It’s also the most active volcano in the entire world. That’s where Dragonkin from the Black Dragon Tribe go to ascend and become Abaddon. The town is based around it,” Red said, walking up to her.

“Wait? The whole city’s based around an active volcano?” Embla asked.

“They use mana devices to regulate the temperature of the City and the overall environment. The city encompasses the entire island and the residents live in the outskirts. Well, the regular ones. The royal family and nobility all live closer to the Volcano,” Red said.

“That’s weird but okay,” she replied.

“Red, Kaguya, and I will be heading to the Crystal Palace which is located directly at the base of the Mount Surtr. The entire thing’s connected to a lava tube which leads to the magma chamber of the mountain,” Yuki said, leaning on the railing.

“Rich people are all crazy. Seriously, living there? No thanks,” Pandora scoffed.

“Well, Dragonkin are highly resistant to heat so living in an environment as harsh as this isn’t really hard for them,” Yuki said. “Just look at Red. He’s pretty much resistant to fire skills and can tank whatever you throw at him.”

“Not true. Some fire skills can burn me. I’m just more resilient when it comes to lower level ones,” Red admitted.

“Milady.”

The group turned around and saw Kaguya standing with her hands behind her back.

“Yeah?” Yuki said.

“The captain said we’re about to land in Muspelheim,” Kaguya said.

“Red, let’s go. We need to get ready to go to the Crystal Palace,” Yuki said.

“Pandora, remember to make sure that Cal and Embla are behaving,” Red said.

“Hey! Don’t lump me with her!” Cal protested.

“Me? You’re the idiot here! Don’t blame all the trouble we get into on me!” Embla said.

“Wanna go right now!?” Cal’s eyes glowed.

“Let’s go! I’ve been wanting to show some things off!” Embla bit back. Black and red lightning crackled around her fingertips.

“Kaguya.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

Kaguya blinked and slammed the sheathe of her katana on top of their heads.

Embla and Cal let out cries of pain and gave Kaguya a teary eyed look.

“Ow!”

“What the hell!?”

“Come on you two. Let’s get our stuff ready to head to the Palace,” Pandora said.

She grabbed them by their collars and dragged them into the ship to finish packing.

“Woah! I’ve never seen black sand before.” Embla ran to the edge of the runway and squatted. The sand glinted like precious gems in the sun. She got up and walked back, feeling the amused gaze of her acting team captain and the piercing gazes of the people who came to pick them up.

She didn’t like their entourage. Embla could not feel a single ounce of hospitality from them. Their prideful, arrogant demeanors. Their snide remarks that they thought they could make without her hearing. Her eyes and ears could catch it all. Her sanguine gaze drifted over to the one next to her in particular.

The dragonkin next to her had oily black hair with tan skin and an arrogant smirk on his face. Her eye twitched as she suppressed the feeling to knock that smile off his twig of a body.

“Humans. Always an uncouth race. Smelly too,” the dragonkin commented.

Embla’s smile strained. She locked eyes with the Dragonkin, who immediately lost his smile. He shrank in her presence as Embla began to radiate an slight wispy red and black aura from her body.

“Don’t.”

The aura died when Cal’s hand landed on her shoulder.

And that was how their trip to the Crystal Palace started. They were escorted into different carriages. Yuki and Kaguya were in a carriage that was meticulously prepared for a political diplomat while they were all rammed into subpar yet still operational carriages that lagged behind a small distance.

Embla looked outside the window.

Dragonkin everywhere. All had inky black hair. All had their draconic features on full display. Their black scales glinted on their tails and their leathery wings were folded. Some of them even had curved horns on their heads.

Her eyes drifted over to the signs on some of the windows of the shops they passed.

Dragonkin only.

No Crimson Dragonkin allowed.

Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, and other Kin are not allowed without Dragonkin.

“Jeez, this place is…” Embla chose her words carefully.

“We know,” Red said, sighing. “But don’t go saying anything that might compromise this negotiation. We need it to go well for Yuki so that she can come back.”

“Right. I got you. Mouth sealed. Embla will not say anything that can even be considered remotely racist,” she reassured.

“I won’t blame you if you say something,” Red said.

“You won’t?” Cal asked.

“Does that mean we can… you know? Talk back?” Pandora asked.

“Come here. Lean in,” Red said.

They all leaned in towards him and in a whisper, Red answered their question. “Only in the room. Don’t criticize the public or the policies of the Black Dragon Tribe out loud.”

The carriage came to an abrupt stop.

“Ow! Can’t they give us a bit of a warning next time?” Pandora barked.

“It looks like we’re here. Look, I’ll see you guys later. Just don’t cause any trouble, okay?” Red said.

“What if it finds us first?” Embla asked.

“Then run. Run back to the Palace and lock yourselves in the room,” Red answered.

They all nodded and exited the carriage.

From an up close view, the true height of Mount Muspelheim could not be done any justice. The mountain towered into the sky, eclipsing the entirety of the high-rise style buildings around it. The jagged stones that made up the rim of its crater made it resemble a very angry god. A spew of ash, lava, smoke, and lightning were constantly pouring from its wrathful maw. Rivers of lava flowed down the mountain side and all manner of hellish beasts flew around the summit.

Still, the sheer might and majesty of the mountain could not compare to the beauty of the Crystal Palace. It was worthy of its name. The large palace was a beauty unlike any other and Embla had seen some old ruins that were considered architectural masterpieces back in its day. The columns that lined the entrance were decorated with red crystals that complimented the blackened marble used to construct the building. There was a dome in the center of the entire complex made of red, sturdy crystal that reflected the baleful light of the erupting mountain behind them.

In the courtyard leading up to the entrance of the palace, there was a statue of a fierce dragon. It had a long snout with a v-shaped crest on its head that split into two horns, followed by a crown of four smaller horns on each side. It had a fierce expression, jaws open and baring serrated teeth for the world to see. On its back were a sharp row of spines and it had massive wings and a powerful tail as thick as a cedar tree.

“Who’s that?” Cal asked.

“That’s Abaddon. One of the Seven Tyrant Dragons,” Red said. “Abaddon is a figure that is worshiped by Dragons as a God of Calamity and Chaos.”

“Edgy,” Pandora commented.

“Come on. I think Yuki’s about to meet the person escorting us,” Red said.

The four walked and stood behind Yuki’s delegation. They stood at the base of the stairs with Dragonkin soldiers, standing on either side of them.

At the top of the steps, a female dragonkin with curved horns and black robes came out and raised her arms. Her wings spread in response and she bowed in an elegant yet condescending fashion. Her voice and tone matched her body language as she opened her mouth to speak.

“Welcome to Muspelheim. I hope your trip has seen you well, Princess of Alfheim,” the woman said. Her voice was sweet like honey yet toxic like belladonna.

“I thank you, Grand Chamberlain Esther. The rumors of your hospitality knowing no bounds holds credence,” Yuki greeted.

“Oh? I never knew the Princess of Alfheim was so polite. Yet, that could all be for naught,” Esther said, placing her hand on her cheek in faux distress.

“I do not understand. What is the matter?” Yuki asked.

“You seem to have brought filth into our palace?” Esther said.

“Filth?”

“Yes.” she raised her elegant manicured talon and pointed at Red.

“You brought a descendant of Fafnir and a blood traitor here.”