It's finally the time, the day I've waiting for, time to visit the empire beneath the sand of Shalahir, Eion.

I dressed in a white suit with matching white trousers, and a pair of white gloves.

Why all white, some may ask?

It's because of the temperature there at the Shalahir desert.

It recommended wearing a light color rather than a darker one.

The darker color tend to make the wearer feel more heat than the lighter one.

Okay, I'm done getting myself ready. Let's go.

At the entrance to the palace, many people gather, all dressed in white.

"Greetings, your highness, the second prince."

One of them greet.

"My name's Dino Tsar."

A tall man speaks, bowing his head slightly.

He's the well known Viscount Dino, the negotiator that never fail.

He's quite old, but despite that, I could feel his intimidating aura around him.

I nod slightly.

"It's an honor for us, having the second prince accompany us on our journey for peace."

He smiles a genuine smile.

I look up to him.

"It's my duty as a second prince of the Eskarnda. I will not let my people and our friends down."

Viscount Dino, looking at me with his grey eyes.

"I understand."

"Let's us depart, shall we?"

He's gesturing me to enter the white carriage pulled by two Dune strider.

The carriage then began to move, along with its escort.

In front of us, a group of fourteen knights In white with blue scarf riding on a Dune strider.

And in the behind, there are six men, riding in a weaponized wagon pulled by a Dune strider.

It's is a very well protected caravan.

I could see a glimpse of George was in the front group. He's struggling to keep the beast steady but managed to do nonetheless.

"if it's okay, may I ask your highness of something?"

Viscount Dino, he speaks.

"Okay, you may ask me."

He looks outside the window to his left, speaking.

"There should be something you require of this trip, right Your highness?"

I did not answer.

He is right. I did have something I need from this trip.

"Look like you've got the answer in your mind, your highness."

Viscount Dino smiles, continuing to observe the view outside.

About a minute, we made it out of the castle, and we're on our way to the Eion.

Then, the caravan suddenly comes to a stop.

I wonder what happen, so I ask Viscount Dino.

"Why stop so suddenly, Viscount?"

He looks outside.

"We're talking a shortcut, your highness."

After he's finished his sentence, the ground shakes.

"W-What?"

"Please hold tight, your highness."

"Huh, W-"

The blue light envelops us along with the other.

A chill ran down my spine.

"Here we are, in the Shalahir desert, at the Migma stone forest, your highness."

Viscount speaks, pointing to the outside.

I follow his finger, and what outside surprised me.

The pillars of stone pierce out from the sea of sand stand tall, touching the cloud.

The wind gathering sand, forming a sand storm.

"W-What is this otherworldy world?"

I voice my surprise out loud.

"Yes, indeed, your highness."

The caravan march.

Come to think of it, I never saw this part of Shalahir before, and the mass teleport too.

I've only known Shalahir for having a vast desert as big as the ocean itself.

To think those natural wonders existed proved how meager my knowledge was.

"Lies beneath the sand, a wondrous city filled with mystical magic and culture, Eion."

Viscount Dino says, looking out to the stone forest outside.

"I've been there for every year. However, I am still not used to this magical scenery, truly fascinating."

Then the light fade as the world outside turned black from the darkness.

I look surprised for a moment before Viscount Dino speak.

"We're taking a descend to the Vjarog, the floor closed to the surface."

"There, they'll be inspecting us."

I could see it, the light.

The carriage stopped, along with the escorting unit and the weaponized wagon.

A man in white, holding a spear, walking to the carriage.

"Envoy from Eskarnda? Excuse for our rudeness."

He said as he's talking to the coachman.

He does some minor inspecting before letting us continue our journey, but the weaponize wagon needed to be left there.

From what I see, the first-floor act like an outer wall, the first line of defense.

There were many soldiers there, even a magical mechanism powered by the magic core.

After a moment, the light shines from below.

I see the sight of a city surrounded by a layer of stone pillar appeared.

In the middle of the city, a giant dome emitting the light into the cavern ceiling, forming a protective golden transparent dome that covers every inch of the cavern.

H-How?! How could they make such a thing as this exist?

The light emitted from the center of the city is so bright. As if the sun itself was shining on the sky.

I look closely at the dome. There are many small buildings on its surface. Each has a small ball of flame contained within the small tower.

Each building linked by the golden threads, connected to the light, and emitted to the cavern ceiling.

As we're descending closer, the clearer the city gets.

The tiny house that seamlessly lies on both sides of the canal is large, at least two stories high.

The canal leads to the dome, connecting with others.

I look closer to the canal. Many boats are floating and sailing along with the current.

Their size is so small, giving me a sense of the scale of how big the canal is.

After almost reached the ground. The bridge of golden light formed for our caravan to traverse on appeared just over the building top.

"The Dune strider was imbued with magic, allowing them able to walk on the Scera, a magical road."

Viscount Dino explained.

"The Scera will lead us to the Aestas palace."

He continued.

I am amazed at how they're able to construct such a wonderful city under the ocean of sand.

I could sense a magic power pulsating from the dome. It's so intense and powerful. However, it makes my body feel warm and it's pleasant.

We get into the dome through the mechanism that opens the surface, allowing us to pass through into it.

Inside, there was a humongous golden architecture built on one of the stone pillars at the middle, shining golden bright.

The surrounding of the building is a magnificent sight to behold. The canal is spiraling into the center, lush green vegetation, and various exotic flowers decorating the ground.

The Scera lead us to the Aestas palace, the ever summer palace of Eion.

We arrived.

A group of people dressed in white with a silver ornament decorating their hair come out from the building, one of them with a red symbol of a sun on her coat approach us.

The coachman opens the door for us as gesturing me to get off first.

"Greeting to the great descendant of our faithful allies, Eskarnda's second prince."

She said, placing her left hand onto her right, bowing her head slightly.

I was about to reply to her, but Viscount Dino touches my shoulder.

He gives me a signal that he'll converse with her.

I nod.

"Blessing to our everlasting peace, the Eskarnda second prince has come to accompany us on our peaceful journey to Eion, to learn of Eion's culture."

The woman in white looks up and replies.

"This one understood, the Eskarnda royalty has such insight."

"The queen was waiting for your arrival in the Solar hall. She would be pleased with the second prince's arrival."

Then the woman leads us into the building with me, and Viscount Dino following behind.

While all the escorting knight has to wait outside, George, as my escort, he has to follow me, behind the viscount.

Upon entering inside, many people lie up on both sides of the hall, on the left, men dressing in white with a red cape, holding a silver spear with a red flag of the sun in it.

On the other side, women dressed in white are holding their hands together, forming a fence.

"Your highness, the one who just greeted you, her name is Ishar Altair."

Viscount Dino whispered, following closely behind me.

"She's the representative of Eion, so please get to know her soon-."

I glace back slightly.

"I understand, viscount Dino."

Ishar leads us to the big giant white door, turning back to us.

" Her majesty is waiting inside, honored guests."

She touches the door. Her hand shines dim yellow, the edge laminating as the door slides open.

Standing before us, a woman with fiery red hair decorated by a golding ornament, and a pair of amber eyes, looking at us.

Her skin is slightly tanned, as most of the peoples here are.

Beside her, a man clad in white armor with a golden falcon helmet covers his head.

We stop about five meters away from her.

"Greeting to the queen of the sand, the queen of Eion."

Viscount Dino announces, doing the Shalese greeting.

The queen smiles, looking at me.

"I'm honored that the second prince of our friends has come to visit this humble place."

Taking a step forward, continue.

"I, Arthisha Shamhan of the Shamhan clan, and the 44th queen of Eion. May I know of your name?"

She's looking at me with her amber eyes, overwhelming with authority.

"It's my pleasure, queen of the great nation. This one name is Edlic Eskarnda, the second born to the throne."

I mimic the Shalese greeting, making queen Arthisha looks at me with surprise.

"Well, enough with formalities. I'm surprised that you came all the way here without any prior notice regarding your presence, young prince."

She shrugs, turning her back to us.

"You're just like him back then, young prince."

"Oh, and please call me anything you comfortable."

Her domineering and authoritative aura vanishes away in an instant.

Viscount Dino then leans closer and whisper.

"Queen Arthisa isn't too fond of formalities, your highness."

"She's always like this, so don't mind her."

I-Is that so.

It's explained why her daughter, Dayne, was so rude and un-fitting for someone who's a princess.

I turn around, looking for some certain redhead.

"Anyway, young prince, may I know your reason for coming here, to Eion?"

She stops, turning back to me once again.

On my side, Viscount Dino sending me a signal 'The one I told to miss Ishar.'

Oh, Okay.

"I-I come here, away from my home, to learn to explore the culture of Eion and make friends outside of my territory, deepen our relationship."

Viscount Dino freeze for a moment.

"Oh, I understand it, young prince.'

She smiles.

"Mentioning a friend, I've got one that could teach you a lot about our 'deep' culture."

Her smile looks playful.

"Ishar, lead the young prince to Amber chamber."

Queen Arthisa waves for Ishar that standing beside the door behind.

Ishar elegantly approaches me.

"Please, follow me, your highness."

As I was following Ishar, the queen says something.

"Please get along well, young prince."

"You? Looking so weak and frail like you is a prince of Eskarnda?"

A girl's shouting at me, her black eyes looking at me with doubt.

She looks just like her mother, except for her eyes.

"Even some kid on the street of Eion look more capable than you."

"Of course, I am. I can prove it to you."

I replied to her with confidence.

I know how to deal with this girl.

Back then, she always argues with me about who more powerful and who should obey who.

The result is, I'm stronger. Because of Aventus, of course.

Right now, we're both yet to possess the artifact.

A knowledge battle would fit.

"Hmpf! Should you deceive me, will face severe consequences."

She leans closer with both her hands on her waist.

"Okay, if I'm the prince of Eskarnda, what would you do to compensate me, princess?"

I smirk, holding my arm over my chest.

"Haha, you may demand one thing from me. I'll do it in the name of the princess of Eion."

She laughs.

"You can't beat me. You can't prove you are a prince."

She smirks, flings her firey red hair over her shoulder.

So the battle has begun.