SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

The night air was cool and crisp as Lambu glided effortlessly through the sky, carrying Mohini on his back. Below them, Kent and Sophia were rushing through the night with great speed.

Jabil trailed behind Kent from a long distance. He is happily munching on that silver fruit given to him by Kent.

"Master, that snake is really wise, by choosing young Master Kent, it completely changed its fate. If it stays loyal, one day it can become as strong as me." Lambu remarked, his voice carrying a sense of admiration. "

Mohini nodded in agreement, her eyes never leaving Jabil's shimmering form in the distance. "Indeed, that weak serpent belongs to the seven-headed Nagin race. If it stays faithful to young master Kent, it can reach the apex rank of a seven-headed serpent beast one day."

Lambu's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, then I must befriend this weak serpent. It might help me to get beautiful Nagin beauties one day," he chuckled, a hint of longing in his voice.

But Mohini's expression turned serious. "Don't even try to communicate with it. We will stay hidden from Kent as long as possible," she warned firmly, her gaze focused ahead.

Meanwhile, Kent followed Sophia in silence. A mysterious, joyful smile played on Sophia's lips as she led the way without revealing any details to Kent.

"You kept me shut while talking with that beast. Now it's my turn. I won't tell you until we reach that place," Sophia said with a smug smile, her eyes dancing with amusement.

With a sigh, Kent followed her while enjoying her beauty in the dark night.

During the mid-night, after crossing a big mountain peak, Kent saw a distant, glowing place. He saw one single large building stretching miles on all four sides.

As they approached close to the destination, Kent's eyes widened in awe at the sight before him. "What is this place?" he asked, staring at the entrance, where three golden stars were shining brightly at the big entrance gate.

"Dragon Nest"

On the entrance board, the inn name is written in fiery calligraphy with a dragon head breathing fire over it.

Sophia grinned, pleased with his reaction. "It is the three-star information hub of the Wizard Association. Usually, we only have one or two-star hubs in cities. This is the only three-star hub closest to us."

"Do you have any work here?" Kent asked, thinking about why Sophia had brought him here.

"No… This place is also a big entertainment hub and has the best wine you might ever taste. We are going to rest here for the night." Sophia replied while descending close to the Dragon Nest Inn.

After hearing about her reason, Kent scratched his head and followed her with a loud sigh. But Kent's curiosity surged as he landed close to the inn.

Inside, the air was thick with people, their voices mingling in excitement. Sophia led Kent through the bustling corridors.

At the heart of the inn, a group of cloaked figures awaited them in silence. "Welcome, young master and young madam," one of them said, her voice echoing with respect.

"Take us to the Immortal Wine Palace and also arrange for our stay. We will leave tomorrow morning." Sophia said while showing her disciple token to the lady.

After verifying the token, the lady led the way.

"Immortal Wine Palace," its name emblazoned in elegant, fiery script above the grand doorway, As Kent and Sophia were ushered inside by a servant, they were struck by the lavish interior, where the air was thick with the scent of exotic spices and the murmurs of enthralled patrons.

The servant lady, with a practiced swiftness, led them to a centrally located table that offered an unobstructed view of the ongoing performance. She bowed gracefully and retreated.

As they settled into their seats, side by side, to better enjoy the show, an alluring servant approached with a deep bow. She wore very tight clothes, covering only half of her melons.

"Bring us the Dragon Breath Wine and all the delicious side dishes you recommend."

The servant nodded, her eyes brightening with approval at the choice, and quickly disappeared to fulfill the request.

Onstage, seven dancers moved with hypnotic grace while a lady in serene white clothes elicited soulful melodies from her zither, enhancing the magical atmosphere.

Soon, the table is filled with an assortment of dishes, each more enticing than the last, and a bottle of the famed Dragon Breath Wine.

Sophia took the initiative, pouring the deep, ruby-red wine into a small jade glass for Kent. "Try this," she urged, her voice tinged with excitement.

Kent, caught up in the moment and the intensity of Sophia's gaze, obediently gulped down the wine in one go.

The wine's potency hit him like a wave, and he immediately began coughing, the strong alcohol burning his throat. "Ahh... Ahhh... Strong... too strong..." he managed to mutter between coughs.

Sophia chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Drink slowly, you'll get the taste," she advised, her smile widening as she enjoyed his reaction.

As the night progressed, the servant who had initially guided them returned, placing two jade tokens on the table with another respectful bow. "These are your residence tokens. Please enjoy your stay," she said, collecting the gold from Sophia and departing with a contented smile.

The night wore on, and the air in the Immortal Wine Palace grew headier with each passing hour. Kent, mindful of the wine's strength, moderated his intake, sipping cautiously. Sophia, on the other hand, consumed wine like water, her laughter growing louder and her gestures more animated as she surpassed her usual limits.

"Sophie, slow down a bit," he suggested gently, noting the flush on her cheeks.

"Stop speaking… I'm drinking all because of you." Sophia replied in a crying tone.

"What did I do?" Kent asked with a confused face.

"You approached that dangerous serpent. Wouldn't that be fearful?" Sophia asked while she is pouring another glass of wine for herself.

"That serpent is strong enough... Why would it fear us?" Kent questioned with a confused look.

"Ahhh, not the beast. Me… I'm afraid." Sophia cried out while slapping Kent with her palms. With swollen pink cheeks and drowsy eyes, she looked very beautiful in that frustrated look.

"Okey… okey… I understood. Calm down." Kent held onto her wrists with both hands.

"Ahhaaaa…" Sophia began crying loudly like a pampered little girl.

"Stop crying, everyone is looking at us. People might think I did something to you." Kent whispered in a hurried tone while trying to calm her down.

But Sophia began crying more loudly while pushing herself on Kent. "You are the cruel man. You are avoiding me all the time. I shouldn't have loved you." Sophia said in a drowsy tone while placing her finger on Kent's nose. Even though Kent tried to stop her, she lifted the entire wine bottle to gulp it down.

Soon she fell unconscious, drooling over Kent's lap. With a sigh, Kent paid the bill and lifted Sophia with both hands. After knowing the direction of their residence from the servant girl, he left the Immortal Wine Palace.

_

Thank you... Your's lovingly,

Peterpan ;-)