Bright sunbeams shone through the sparse canopies of trees at the sides of the road on which rode a lavishly decorated carriage with a big McAlister noble family crest on its doors. A team of mercenaries accompanied it while riding on horses, surrounding the carriage from all sides. They all wore identical armor that was marked with the same crest on their chest piece and were heavily armed with swords, spears, crossbows, and a few magic staffs, which pointed out that they even had several mages among them.

A loud cracking noise heard even above the sound of horse hooves startled the team, but before anyone could react they saw the carriage careening to the side and fall over, startling the horses that kept dragging the carriage over the ground.

 

One of the mercenaries reacted immediately, grabbing the reins of the startled horses and pulling them to stop while calming them down.

“Quick! Help young Master!” Shouted someone as several of them rushed to the turned-over carriage.

“Surround the Carriage! Defense formations!” Shouted the captain of the guard team organizing the people.

“Rangers! Surveil the area!” He shouted jumping up on the carriage and pulling its door open just a fraction.

“Master! Master you alright? Are you hurt?”

“Fuck.” Came a grumbling voice from within the carriage. “I am fine. What’s happening?”

“We are prepared for an ambush. Please stay inside until I tell you, Master.”

A minute later several rangers returned reporting to the Captain that the area was safe before everyone sighed in relief.

“It’s alright to come out now, Master.” Said Captain swinging the door open and stretching his hand downward into the carriage, before pulling out a young man in noble attire. As they stood on the wall of the turned-over carriage, a nobleman passed his hand over his head, setting down his disheveled hair, and looked around. 

“What happened?” Asked the young nobleman that Noah once called his step-brother. It was the same man that almost killed him, poisoning him in the Labyrinth leaving his body to the monsters.

“I am not sure yet, young master Keneth.” Said Captain and they both jumped off the carriage landing on the ground, before walking around it to see what happened.

“Both wheels on the right side broke apart, Captain.” Said one of the mercenaries.

“Son of a bitch. How the fuck is this possible? Were they sabotaged?” Asked Keneth McAlister.

Captain carefully studied the breakpoints where both wheels completely fractured in halves and his face took a grim shade.

“This does seem intentional.” He said glancing up at the young nobleman who clenched his fists in anger. 

“If I find the one responsible…” Hissed Keneth.

“We have other problems, my Lord. If this is intentional we need to get out of here. You should take the horse and…”

“Like hell, I am riding on a horse!”

“My lord, this is not a matter of looking bad, your life might be in danger while you are here.”

“The matter of looking bad?” Shouted Keneth. “Do you even get the situation here? This is the bachelor party of Margrave O’Sullivan’s son. Do you know what it even means?”

“There will be a lot…” Started to say the Captain.

“No! You don’t! Lots of important guests? They are not just important! You lowly nobles don’t even realize it when you copy what high nobles do. From lowly Esquires like you to damn Viscounts, you all like to make bachelor parties like us high nobles but know nothing about what that really means, you bunch of morons. It’s a special event where family heads pass secrets that only high noblemen are aware of to their heir when he is ready. 

That means there will be only heirs to all high nobles in this region. All Counts and other Margraves from nearby states will send their firstborn Sons. Maybe even some Marquse heir would attend if not the Duke's. The gathering of heirs of the high families only! They are not a bunch of important people. They are the very future rulers of this country! Future ministers and generals!"

“And you want me to come to the event where only the most elite and worthy gather, riding a sweaty horse, smelling like horse ass when I get there? Do you even realize the reputation I would get after that? How will my face be tarnished? I’d rather die here in an ambush than be shamed in front of the entire West region!” Shouted Keneth.

“Master I…” started to say, Captain.

“Send someone to the nearby Noble house and ask them for a carriage. We just passed some shitty household not so long ago. Here, show them my insignia and tell them Count needs their favor. Better get a little shame from getting to the party in a nameless carriage than getting there like a dirty commoner.” Said Keneth waving his hand showing that their discussion was finished.

“Alright.” Said Captain, nodding his head. “You there!” He shouted quickly walking toward one of the mercenaries. “Take a horse and ride back. There was some noble house there. Ask them for a carriage as a favor to our lord. Show them this insignia.” Said Captain as he chose the weakest one of their bunch. If he is going to stay here waiting for enemy attack he wants to leave the strongest ones here.

“I understand…” Answered Mercenary.

“What is it?” Asked Captain in a quiet voice.

“Captain. I was riding at the very back when this happened. I could swear I saw something black-like mist flash by between the legs of a horse at the side of the carriage and then between the carriage wheels before flashing into the forest on the other side of the road. I think I saw a cat-like shape momentarily before the wheels cracked.”

“Cat?” Asked Captain, creasing his eyebrows.

“Yes. A big black cat-like half-transparent shape.” Nodded Mercenary.

“Keep this a secret and don’t speak of it again. Especially in front of a young master. If he hears we let some monster slip by…”

“What’s taking so long!” Shouted Keneth. “Hurry up and go! Don’t make me late to the party more than I will already be.”

“I understand, Captain.” Said Mercenary jumping up on the horse and riding off.

*****

Mercenary was hurrying his horse, riding it as hard as the animal could. The horse's health was not an issue when the reputation of their household was at stake. 

It was the road that they just passed a while ago and it should have been relatively safe as they killed all monsters that dared walts in their path.

Even though this was a danger region, they were already in the territory of Margrave O’Sullivan which was quite a distance from the border. This territory was under the influence of another Labyrinth and the surrounding forests had been cleansed for years now, leaving just the weakest monsters still waltzing here and there. Even if bunched in groups such monsters did not offer any danger to any of the guardians of the McAlister family.

“Hyaa! Hyaa!” Shouted the man, mercilessly spurring his horse to run even faster, however as he passed slightly more than halfway to the destination he felt his horse gradually slowing down.

That may not have been the best of the breed but still a healthy warhorse raised on special potions and capable of galloping far more than he traveled, which gave him slight confusion. He tried to spur it harder but the horse seemed to be not reacting to his actions, slowing more and more until it fully stopped a minute later.

“What the fuck, you lazy ass?” Grumbled the man in anger jumping off the horse and walking around it firmly holding its reins. He gazed into the horse’s eyes and his demeanor changed from anger into confusion and surprise as he saw the animal's glazed eyes as if it was in a trance.

He instantly grabbed his sword handle trying to swirl around but a gentle touch at the back of his hand stopped him.

“Shhhh.” Breathed a gentle voice into his ear from behind. “There is no need to be so worried.” Whispered a beautiful gentle woman’s voice. 

“There is no danger.” Said the melodious voice as if singing in his mind. Just from these words alone, he felt his soul tremble as if he felt a love at first sight. He tried to shake his head to clear his confusion feeling the strangeness of the situation, but when the gentle fingers slid over his hand and to his chest gradually nearing his pants he froze trembling with excitement.

“There is only pleasure here. Only joy. All your desires. All your dreams.” Sang the voice into his ear as Dahlia hugged the man from the back gently caressing his body.

“Now dream.” Whispered Dahlia and the man’s body gradually softened leaning onto her and sliding from her hand down to the ground.

“Let me show you a wonderful dream.” Said Dahlia as she sat on her knees near the man and held her palm on his forehead.

The eyes of the man were glazed and empty the same as his horse.

*****

“As I thought, he wouldn’t come…” Muttered a young man with a sigh.

“William!” Said the rough voice walking over to the young man who stood at the side of the room watching the room full of people.

“What are you doing there, standing all alone? This is your day, my boy. And it’s a very important day. Today you will become a full-fledged adult, my son. You have to enjoy it to the fullest. This is all for you.”

“Yes. I know, father. I was just waiting for my friends…” Said William O’Sullivan as he turned to look at his father who was accompanied by two beautiful women in lewd dresses that barely covered any of their intimate places.

“McAlister’s son still did not show up? Don’t worry. It’s his miss if he doesn’t get to have fun with these sweeties.” Said the man, smacking his hands on the half-naked buns of the two women and fondling them in his palms with a lewd smile as the two women giggled and moaned, smiling at him.

“Come on grab yourself a hussy that you like my boy. It’s your day!” Said his father.

“Noah hasn’t come too.” Muttered the young man barely audibly, but his father snapped his head in his direction, erasing a smile from his face.

“He doesn’t deserve to be here. Why would you even bother to invite him? He isn’t a real heir. I told you to forget about him and not meddle with him. You're ruining our face just by associating with that garbage!”

“I am sorry father.” Said William looking down, not daring to glance into his father's angry face.

“Tsk. Ruining my mood with that waste. Come on girls! I need my mood raised.” Said the man walking away with two women in his hand.

William sighed and adjusted his glasses as he looked over the room.

It was full of young men loudly laughing and joking with each other while drinking wine, as women in erotic dresses or fully undressed were entertaining them with dances and seductions.

Here and there he saw women kneeling at one of the young man's feet and stroking their head up and down, giving blowjobs.

Some had the women on their laps as they had their hand between the women's widely spread legs sturmming their pussyes with their fingers as the men stood with their pairs joking and smiling watching the show with lewd faces.

The room was full of moans and sighs of women and laughter of men. However louder noises were coming from nearby rooms where women were screaming their pleasures.

In this hall, men were getting acquainted and choosing a woman for themselves as they conversed with their friends and acquaintances, while inside the side rooms where the most fun was going on.

Some doors were closed as the men in there preferred to have fun with their chosen woman in private. While some had their doors open, as an invitation for anyone willing to join them.

There William saw women on their knees surrounded by several men, sucking several cocks that were shoved into their faces while stroking some more men.

Just at their side, another group stood where a woman was getting fucked in all her holes at the same time, while another bunch of men simply stood at the side enjoying the show with their dicks in the open while being stroked and pleasured by their own women. Jeering and laughter were the loudest in these open rooms that gathered quite a crowd.

There was however another entertainment, that William did not even wish to dwell on. For those who had a taste for darker fantasies, there were stairs to the basement where a bunch of slave women were held.

When William walked by the stairs he could swear he heard another type of screams from that place. Screams that made him shiver.

William had no stomach to even go down to check on things there, so he could not say anything about it. His father was organizing this evening for him and whether he wanted to or not, he had to take part in all these outrageous events.

Sometimes, when William looked at his father and all the people surrounding him in life he would start to dwell on his past choices. Would it be different if he chose his friendship with that boy that he had not met for many years instead of siding with this bunch of hypocrites and trash that sickened him with just their presence alone?

Noah McDaniels was different from them. William enjoyed his time when he called him a friend. They were still kids back then. But even then William knew that that boy was soul mate. Same interests, same kindness. Same righteousness and honor. 

Unlike William’s, Noah’s father was a very honorable man. Sometimes when they visited that region, Guesting at McDaniels house, William thought about how he wanted to have a father like Noah’s.

William shook his head, clearing his head of those thoughts. What’s done is done. It’s in the past. They are no longer friends. Now Noah wouldn’t even acknowledge him enough to congratulate him on reaching adulthood. They were not friends anymore.

With a sigh, William walked into the hall joining the merry crowd with a stretched smile feeling only disgust from what he saw around, while thinking that maybe someday when he becomes the head of this family, he would change this outrageous tradition.