My Waifus in Another World

Makima, always so unshakable, suddenly stopped as she exited the dense forest, and for the first time, her expression revealed genuine surprise. Before them stood a city so vast it seemed to have no end. The walls were tall, made of stone and reinforced with dark metal that reflected the sunlight. Towers rose at regular intervals, guarding the perimeter, while flags with unknown emblems fluttered in the wind.

Kael, standing beside her, widened his eyes and let out a low whistle. "This... this isn't a city. This is an entire empire."

The entrance gates, made of reinforced wood with iron strips, were so large they could allow the passage of giant creatures, perhaps even larger than the goblin they had fought earlier. The activity in front of the gates was chaotic: merchants with carriages loaded with goods, soldiers in gleaming armor inspecting travelers, and weary-looking villagers trying to enter with their burdens.

Makima tilted her head slightly, her spiral eyes analyzing every detail. "Interesting... this place doesn't seem to have been built by ordinary human hands. Whoever built this had resources and knowledge beyond what we're used to."

Kael took a step forward, still trying to process the scale of what he was seeing. He pointed upwards, where winged creatures—resembling smaller dragons or griffins—were flying around the towers, ridden by knights in full armor. "They have... air forces? This is something I only saw in stories. How are we even going to get into a place like this?"

Makima smiled faintly, returning to her usual air of superiority. "Simple. We enter like anyone else. Or do you think I'm going to let you try something foolish like jumping the wall?"

Kael muttered something incomprehensible but followed Makima as she walked confidently toward the gates. The contrast between them couldn't have been clearer: Makima, regal and confident, walking as though she owned the place, while Kael looked like an inexperienced traveler, trying to appear less out of place.

As they approached the entrance, one of the guards, a burly man with an ornate helmet, raised his hand to stop them.

"Identify yourselves. What is your purpose in the City of Astralis?" he asked, his voice deep and authoritative.

Kael froze for a moment, unsure of how to respond. He looked to Makima, hoping she had a better idea than he did. To his surprise—though perhaps not—Makima simply smiled, exuding an air of absolute control.

"We come seeking refuge and information. We are travelers, survivors from the wild lands," she replied, her voice firm yet charmingly persuasive.

The guard hesitated for a moment, clearly captivated by her confidence. However, his eyes soon fell on the weapon Makima carried—the giant goblin's broken axe. His eyes narrowed, and he pointed at the weapon.

"That weapon... doesn't seem like something any ordinary traveler would carry. Explain."

Kael tried to intervene, raising his hands. "It's... it's a souvenir! We found it in an ancient ruin. We don't even know how to use it properly."

Makima shot Kael a deadly glare but kept her composed posture. "He's right. We found the weapon in an ancient battle and brought it back as a trophy. But if it's a problem, we can hand it over to you. We don't intend to cause trouble."

The guard seemed to ponder it, but before he could make a decision, a shout from the crowd caught everyone's attention.

"Hey! That's Grozz the Butcher's axe!"

The voice came from a hooded man who pointed directly at Makima and Kael. In seconds, the crowd began to murmur, and the guard raised his spear in alert.

"You... killed Grozz?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief and threat.

Kael felt panic rise in his chest, but Makima didn't lose her composure. She stepped forward, letting the axe fall to the ground with a heavy thud.

"Yes. And you should be grateful. Or was Grozz under the protection of your city?" she asked, her tone challenging.

The guard hesitated again, but this time it wasn't out of respect or attraction. It was fear. Makima's words made the crowd fall silent, and he finally lowered his spear.

"Follow me. You'll explain this to the captain of the guard. Don't try anything stupid."

Makima merely smiled and gestured for Kael to follow. "It looks like we managed to get an audience after all. Let's go."

As Kael followed behind Makima, observing the vast city before him, something began to happen. The air around him seemed to grow warmer, and a strange sensation started to spread through his body. He felt a wave of heat, an internal burn that seemed to scorch him from the inside. His muscles involuntarily contracted, and he brought his hand to his forehead, feeling sweat forming unexpectedly.

Makima, who had taken a few steps ahead, suddenly stopped, sensing that something was wrong. She looked back, seeing Kael staggering, his face contorted in pain.

"Kael?" she called, her voice now more serious. "What's happening?"

Kael tried to speak, but the pain prevented him from forming words. The heat inside him was rising rapidly, making his skin begin to glow in an unsettling way. He looked at his hands, now reddened, and the smell of burning flesh began to fill the air.

"Shit... I... what...?" Kael whispered, confused and desperate. His vision started to blur, and he felt a growing pressure in his head, as if something were about to explode.

Makima, ever observant, finally realized what was happening. She looked at him with a slight irritation, but also a hint of understanding. Then, without another word, she quickly stepped toward him.

"Damn, I didn't think this would happen now..." she muttered, quickly moving toward him and pushing Kael to the side, out of the direct sunlight.

Kael, still dazed, was shoved into the shade of nearby trees. Immediately, the burning heat in his body began to ease. He took deep breaths, trying to control his breathing, but the shock and pain were too intense.

"You... You're still a vampire," Makima said, almost as if it were obvious. "You didn't realize it yet, did you? That heat... it's the sun trying to kill you."

Kael looked at her, confused and irritated. "Shit!"

Makima crossed her arms and watched him for a moment. "Sometimes I feel like a real idiot walking around with you... and I'm supposed to be the smart one."

Kael closed his eyes, feeling the shade around him but still feeling the heat inside. The pain was subsiding, but the feeling of being a monster haunted him again. "This is... a nightmare..."

Makima looked at him with a cold expression, but there was no malice in her gaze. "Welcome to reality, Kael. You can't escape it now. But at least you learned an important lesson: Vampires don't like the sun."

Kael breathed deeply, trying to calm down. He didn't want to admit it, but she was right. "Tch... get me a hooded cloak..." he requested.

"Here, Kid." A tall soldier in armor tossed him a black cloak. "I figured this would happen... were you recently turned?"

"You could say that..." Kael replied.

Makima observed the exchange with a cynical look, her expression as unflappable as ever. She didn't seem surprised by the soldier's offer, but Kael noticed a slight tension in the air. The soldier, with his gleaming armor, seemed like someone used to dealing with creatures like Kael, or at least familiar with what was happening.

Kael, with the black cloak now over his shoulders, felt an immediate relief. The shade protected him from the sun's heat, and the internal pain subsided considerably, though not enough to erase the mental discomfort he still felt.

The soldier, still observing Kael closely, stepped forward, adjusting his stance. "This isn't a place for someone like you, you know? Better keep your wits about you here. There are plenty of eyes in the city, and not everyone has the same patience for... how should I put it... people who aren't exactly 'normal.'" He paused, seeming to reflect on what he was saying. "You could've been a little... less subtle when you arrived, but since you dealt with Grozz, maybe you have some value."

Kael turned to look at Makima, who still seemed unfazed, as if none of this mattered to her.