The guard nodded, and they six escorted Valgius and Sophie through the city, and toward a castle. Upon seeing just the outside, Valgius' jaw dropped. This place was bigger and grander than anything he'd ever seen. Once inside, Valgius thought he was gonna explode from the overload of sights. However, the guards kept the two moving at a brisk pace. One of the guards, along the way, had snatched Sophie's knife from Valgius. The two eventually reached a tall door that was magnificently decorated with gold and silver trim. "The Kuri Royal Family wished to see you two." the guard said, motioning them through the door.

Heh? The Kuri family? The Royal one? They wanted to talk to them?!
Sophie stood in front of the huge door, wondering what it could be. Then she realized.
"Hey! I haven't done anything wrong!" She yelled at the guards.

The guards, however, ignored Sophie as they made their way back to their posts. Valgius nodded. "Whatever it is, they sure don't take 'no' for an answer." Valgius said, conjuring a bit of water and swallowing it. He then nodded. "All we can do is go in and see what they want." Valgius said. He stepped forward, approaching the throne. There, three people were sitting on thrones. Valgius could tell the King and Queen, as they were older looking. The youngest one must have been a princess. She to be around the same age as Vaglius and Sophie. As soon as she saw him, the Princess blushed a bit. Valgius ignored her, and bowed. "Your Majesty, you wished to see us?" Valgius asked.

Sophie stood besides Valgius. She had noticed the Princess blushing when she'd seen Valgius and hadn't thought very highly of it. She glared at the Princess, making it clear she couldn't have him, even though she was so much prettier and smarter and all that.

The King nodded at Valgius. Meanwhile, the Princess returned Sophie's glare with an icy stare. Valgius sighed. "Great... just fantastic..." he muttered. The King cleared his throat. "We saw the disturbance at the Shinboru, and know that one of you is responsible. Now, speak up and tell us what happened." the King said in a voice that clearly was meant to only be obeyed. Valgius shook his head. "Your Majesty, I haven't the slightest clue as to what that fountain did. I don't even know what a 'Shinboru' is..." Valgius muttered. The Queen turned to Sophie. "What about you?" she simply asked, her voice more warm and inviting.

Sophie sighed.
"Valgius, that's the fountain..." She muttered to him. She smiled at the Queen.
"Your Highness, I have no idea what happened. Just, I fell and then this bright light shone and then, well... I dunno." She then took Valgius' hand to show the Princess she couldn't have him.

Valgius shook his head. "How was I supposed to know that!?" he muttered back. The King merely nodded. "I... see..." he said. He then snapped his fingers. An old lady then approached the two. Valgius quickly recognized her. "You... Odd, but somehow unsurprising." Valgius said as the lady removed her hood, revealing herself as the fortune teller from before. She turned to Sophie. "I told you, you are the Child of Destiny." she said. She then turned to the King and explained everything about Valgius to them. The Princess, meanwhile, was glaring daggers at Sophie when she saw him grab Valgius hand, and discreetly winked at Valgius, who pointedly ignored her, except for a slight chuckle.

Sophie glared straight back at the Princess. She was so tempted to just go slap that bit-- But she couldn't. She then realized what the lady had said.
"I'm telling you now, I'm no Child of Destiny!" She yelled at her. She wasn't and never would be.

The King glared at Sophie. "Silence, if you value your freedom." the King said shortly. Valgius nodded. "There's not escaping destiny..." he said to her. "Trust me, I know what it feels like... Not fun, but you can either accept it and go, or deny it and stay here. You going and not accepting it will never work." Valgius said.

Sophie growled under her breath. She hated being told what to do.
"I'm telling you though, you have got the wrong person!" She yelled at them. She then realized she was probably going to end up being punished for yelling at royalty like that but she carried on anyway. "I am no Child and I don't have this "Destiny"! She carried on yelling.

Valgius sighed, clamping a hand over her mouth. "You'll have to forgive her, Your Majesty, but she's not quite used to the idea..." Valgius said. Meanwhile, the Princess was smirking at Sophie before shooting Valgius a look that clearly said that she was better than the screaming girl. Valgius turned to the King. "Now, if you'll excuse us, I have a blade to retrieve." Valgius said. However, the King's look stopped him. The King shook his head. "We know where your sword is. It's located at Shi No Danjon. I'm warning you, it's a dangerous trip." the King said. Valgius chuckled. "If you'll forgive me, Your Majesty, but I'm sure I've seen worse. I laugh at danger." Valgius said. A guard approached, and escorted Sophie outside, ignoring any attempts at resistance. The King then turned to Valgius. "Now, why are you here?" he asked. Valgius shook his head. "My reason for being here is unknown as of yet. However, as soon as I find out why I'm here, I'll do that, and then find a way to return to my own place." Valgius said. The King nodded. "Until I say otherwise, you'll do just that." the King said. Valgius left the throne room, but was ambushed by the Princess.

"You know, you're good-looking. Are you... available?" she asked, pushing herself onto Valgius. Valgius easily sidestepped her. "I don't have the time for games. If you have nothing of importance, then I'll be on my way." Valgius said. The Princess shook her head. "Not if I have anything to say about it..." she said. Valgius made flames flare in his hands. "You don't." he said, before leaving. The Princess watched him go. "I'll have you... one way or another..." she said, before turning and walking away.

Once Valgius joined Sophie outside, he turned to her. "Damn Princess... pushy as hell. I'm making a quit stop by your place to get that blade, then I'm off to this 'Shi no Danjon'. Can't be as bad as they made it out to be." Valgius said, heading back to Sophie's apartment.

Sophie followed him towards her apartment.
"It is that bad! Everyone who goes in there dies! They are taken as prisioners and then tortured most of the time, usually the pain killing them!" She yelled after him. She didn't want either of them to end up that way.

Valgius laughed. "Pain? Please! You don't know pain until you've been struck by all the Elements at once." Valgius said, recalling his fight with the Generals of Barracador. He got to the door, and turned around. "Now... you gonna open it, or am I gonna have to pick the lock?" he asked her.

Sophie sighed. She pulled out her key and unlocked the door, stepping inside. She watched Valgius carefully. He didn't know a thing. They tortured people to death in there! She sat on the floor by the door, waiting for him.

Valgius quickly fetched the sword Sophie had lent him, strapping it to his back beneath the cloak. He then nodded to her. "Let's go. We'll go pick up some provisions, and then we'll be on our way. We only need food, as I can conjure water at any time I wish now." Valgius said, heading back downstairs.

Sophie muttered to herself as she walked behind him.
"We don't need supplies. I have food." She told him, holding up a backpack that she had picked up. She slipped it onto her back and followed him, as they both headed for the dungeon.

Valgius nodded. "Okay, then. Now, you don't have to go if you don't want to. However, I'm going." Valgius said, as they two left the city. He stopped, taking his cloak off, and then his shirt, revealing a lean, muscular body, though he had a large, unsightly burn that glistened in the sun, with a scab in the middle from where he'd been shot and then where he'd cauterized it. His body was covered in other various cuts and scars. Valgius then put on another hunting cloak, and refastened his cloak. "Oh, here... I grabbed this before we left." Valgius said, tossing the knife back to Sophie.

Sophie grabbed the knife. She was still bright red from seeing just how beautiful Valgius was. She smiled and carried on walking until they got to a cave enetrance with a dark metal door. She opened it and climbed inside, noticing the darkness around them.

Valgius shook his head. "So close to a big city... I guess no one bothers anyone, huh?" Valgius asked. He heard a noise approaching, and saw a flock of Imps. They shouted with glee upon seeing Valgius, who rushed at them with a shout of anger. He weaved in and out of them, his sword barely seen. A head was lopped off here, another slice in half there. Valgius wasted no movement whatsoever. He then lept back. "Burn, you scum!" he shouted, incinerating the rest of them. He then turned to Sophie. "That was just to show you that I can handle myself." he said, sheathing the sword.

Sophie sighed.
"Of course..." She muttered.
She glanced around the cave, noticing it was covered in red blood and weapons of many kinds. She grabbed Valgius' arm and held it tightly, not wanting to let him go in such a freaky and dangerous place.