Dragon King: Throne of Demons and Gods-Chapter 160: Castella

There it was, Castella.

The city rose from the earth like something out of a story. Tall white stone walls formed a perfect circle, and a wide ring of water shimmered around it, reflecting the sun’s light.

Several bridges connected the city to the land, each guarded by soldiers dressed in silver and blue.

"It’s... so beautiful," Lyraen whispered, her voice almost lost in awe.

Crest nodded slowly.

"I heard a lot about it when I travelled with my father. But I have to admit, it’s more than I imagined."

Inside the city walls, buildings were stacked in layers, some narrow and tall, others wide and decorated with carvings, murals, or polished tiles.

Bright domes and towers reached for the sky, each more unique than the last. At the heart of the city stood the Citadel of Light, a spire of glass and stone that reflected the sky like a mirror.

The streets were alive. People of all races and colors moved along wide boulevards and market roads. Beastmen with thick cloaks, elves with silver tattoos, and dwarves wearing metal-trimmed robes mingled freely.

Merchants called from beneath bright tents, musicians played flutes and drums, and dancers moved through the plazas like flames in motion.

Castella was not just a city; it was a gathering place for the world.

Aurus rode at the front, his eyes fixed on the city’s gates. As they neared one of the bridges, a man in a neat blue uniform stepped forward and raised a hand.

He looked to be in his thirties, with dark brown hair, a kind face, and a scroll tucked under his arm.

"Welcome!" he called, bowing low. When he noticed the Sacred among them, his expression changed; he looked surprised, almost nervous. "You must be the royal convoy. We were told you’d come, but I didn’t expect so many honorable guests."

"We’re here on the king’s orders," Aurus replied simply.

"Of course, of course," the man said quickly. "I’m Tomar, aide to the city governor. Please, allow me to guide you."

The convoy crossed the bridge and entered the city. As they moved, Tomar began to point out famous areas, the Merchant Quarter, home to rare goods from every known continent; the Artisan’s Ring, where blacksmiths, painters, and enchanters crafted wonders; and the Glass Gardens, a massive open theater made of crystal arches.

Lyraen leaned forward to see more. Her eyes sparkled with every new detail.

"It’s so beautiful," she whispered, eyes wide. "The most famous stage in the kingdom. Maybe even the world... Well, after the Elf Kingdom."

The structure shimmered in the sun. Light danced off the surfaces, casting colored patterns onto the cobbled streets.

Everyone knew the legends who had performed there, singers, dancers, and comedians whose names echoed through history. It was the pride of Castella, a place where dreams met reality.

Crest followed her gaze, struck by its beauty too. But then he noticed Airi. Her expression was tight, her lips pressed into a thin line.

She wasn’t watching the architecture or the crowds; she was watching the spaces between them.

Her eyes scanned every shadow, every alley.

Crest leaned a little closer.

"Something bothering you?"

Airi didn’t answer right away. She groaned, looking around with a hint of frustration.

"Everything feels off," she said. "This place is too calm. Too perfect. We’ve seen villages destroyed by the curse of this damn demon, people should be worried. But here? Nothing. Not even a scratch or a sign of danger. They’re too busy celebrating to notice?"

In another carriage, Tomar, Astros, Regulus, and Aurus were having their own conversation, separate from the others, but on the same topic.

Tomar thought about the mention of the curse and looked concerned.

"The curse? Do you mean the strange deaths that happened lately?"

Aurus nodded.

"Yes. When Midas died, his curse spread. We already confirmed it killed more than a hundred people."

Tomar frowned deeply.

"I heard about something like that... but I assure you, nothing like that happened here. No strange deaths, no sickness. Everything’s been peaceful."

The carriage went quiet. Even Aurus looked uneasy.

"That’s... strange," Astros said, his brows furrowed. "The curse was spreading like wildfire everywhere else. It makes no sense that Castella wasn’t touched."

Aurus glanced toward the window, his voice low.

"I thought Midas’s deaths would affect every corner of the kingdom. Why not here?"

Regulus, sitting across from them, looked thoughtful.

"Maybe the city’s magic structure protects it somehow? Or there’s something or someone shielding it in secret?"

Tomar shook his head slowly.

"I don’t know. But Castella’s always been... different. It’s where cultures meet. Maybe that’s why."

As the convoy continued deeper into the city, cheers and clapping echoed from the sidewalks. Children waved banners, and acrobats performed tricks in their honor.

Inside their carriage, Crest watched the happy faces with a strange mix of emotions.

"It doesn’t feel like we’re in a kingdom at war," he murmured.

"That’s Castella," Lyraen said softly. "It holds onto hope. Even when everything else breaks."

Eventually, the streets widened into a beautiful district filled with polished stone paths, elegant gardens, and glowing lanterns floating in the air like gentle stars.

"You’ll be staying at the Hall of Harmony," Tomar announced. "A royal residence prepared for honored guests. From there, you can contact the Citadel."

The convoy finally stopped. Knights unloaded bags and crates, while the Sacred stepped down onto marble paths. Some stretched, others simply stood and breathed the ocean-scented air.

Lyraen turned in a circle slowly, drooling over the scenery. Airi remained still, thoughtful. Crest, however, felt something heavy deep down. Because somewhere within this city was the Hero, Maël.

And they were getting closer.

Aurus gathered the group near the Hall of Harmony.

"You’re free to rest or explore the city, but stay alert. We still don’t know how the Crimson Bloom will act. I have somewhere I need to be."

Kardrax crossed his arms and smirked.

"Let me guess: off to meet your brat?"

The words landed like a slap, and for a second, silence filled the air. No one spoke like that to the Hero.

But Aurus only laughed lightly, brushing it off.

"Even I don’t know where Maël is exactly," he said. "But I think... if I walk alone, he’ll come to me."

His voice carried a quiet certainty that silenced any objections. Still, some of them looked disappointed; they had hoped to see Maël too.

Astros, ever alert, stepped in.

"Then let’s make good use of the time. We can explore. Clear our heads. I think we need it."

Lyraen’s face lit up.

"Yes! There’s so much to see here."

Crest agreed, eager to learn more about the city. Regulus, on the other hand, announced he’d rather catch up on sleep.

Airi scoffed.

"I’ll go my own way. I don’t need babysitting."

Crest insisted, a little too eagerly.

"You should come with us. It’s safer."

She raised an eyebrow and shot back a mocking smile.

"Safer for whom? Oh, I get it. You just want another meat wall to stand between you and danger, right? How greedy."

Before Crest could stammer a response, Astros stepped in smoothly.

"You’d make the walk more interesting. Come with us. It won’t hurt."

Airi blinked, caught off guard by the casual charm in his voice. Her annoyed expression softened for a second.

"Hmmm... Alright, fine, if Blondy is asking..." she muttered, crossing her arms. "But only because I want to see what you can do."

Crest flinched. The smile she gave Astros was different, genuine, if only for a moment. He looked away quickly, jaw clenched.

With that, the five of them left the Hall.

Their time in the city was filled with little moments. Lyraen darted from stall to stall, trying on rings and scarves, while Astros stayed close, occasionally rolling his eyes. Crest tried to talk to Airi but barely got more than a few words before she turned to joke with Astros instead.

At one stall, Lyraen had to pull Airi away from arguing with a beastman vendor. At another, she stopped Crest from wasting gold on a charm that was clearly fake.

They ended up sitting together at a small food stand, eating hot skewers of meat while watching a group of children dance with glowing ribbons.

At that moment, they weren’t warriors or Sacred. Just people enjoying the city’s light.

As they sat, they talked about their time in the city.

Lyraen said they hadn’t even done half the things she wanted to try. Her excitement was obvious, her eyes bright, and her hands moving as she listed the places she still wanted to visit.

Kardrax laughed, shaking his head.

"You’re way too happy for an elf. Aren’t your people supposed to be all quiet and elegant? Right now, you look more like a cheerful grandmother."

Lyraen rolled her eyes and smiled.

"I’ll pretend I didn’t hear the ’grandmother’ part. Back home, I’m the youngest of my whole village. Compared to humans, I’m still a baby."

Airi raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"How old are elf babies, then?"

Lyraen stuck her tongue out and smirked.

"About as old as Kardrax’s mom."

That earned a loud snort from Kardrax and a playful shove. The group laughed, the tension gone for a moment.

Then, the distant ringing of a massive bell echoed through the city. They turned toward the sound. The bell rang from the tallest tower clock in Castella.

People started moving, walking in one direction. Curious, the group followed the growing crowd.

From a raised balcony, a speaker’s voice rang out.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today’s main event! A special performance for all to enjoy! Today, on the stage... witness the epic tale: The Hero versus the Demon King! Starring none other than the rising star, the Hero, Maël!"

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