Galgan breathed in the cold air. His eyes were wide open, staring up at the endless mountains. The expansive forests. Pines as far as the eye could see. A lake, glittering with light. He shuddered, feeling the cold winds whip at his warm cloak. And yet he smiled, feeling the warmth on his cheeks, his beard, his hands. The suns were more beautiful than he couldve ever imagined. And they were bright! By the gods were they bright.
He had to squint just to get a glimpse, and now he could barely see anything. He blinked, looking at the lake, panic stricken for a mont as he considered the ailnt permanent. Dots remained in his vision as the edges sowhat cleared.
Youre in the way, a grumpy voice spoke.
He saw soone clad in armor walk past, Galgan stepping aside as he heard a few chuckles from near the gates. Likely from the guards he had seen before. His vision cleared more and he made sure not to look at the two shiny orbs in the sky in a direct manner. The white stuff on the ground and on the mountains was bright enough as it was. Snow. Garath had told him about it a few tis. When the surface was colder, snow fell from the clouds. Just water apparently, but in a different state.
Bowing down, he scooped up so of it into his hand, moving it closer to his eyes. He felt the cold. Galgan watched as the white flakes slowly lted, water rolling down his arm. He smiled.
Welco to the surface, another voice said, a smiling woman dressed in dark green leather armor, a bow strapped to her back. She was tall, like many of the people here.
Thank you, he said, checking his helt before he started towards the city walls. Machines designed by his predecessors stood atop it, their green eyes familiar to him. He gulped, stopping in his tracks for just a mont. Its gone. Theyre with the Sentinel of Akelion now. A deep breath and he continued, his smile returning as he looked at the massive five ter high cannons interspersed on the walls. Steel monstrosities, larger than an Executioner, surely filled with intricate machinery and enchantnts.
He had heard about the technology in passing. From a few dwarves in Io. Stationary, which made them only useful in a defensive manner, but the power they packed was apparently strong enough to crack a Praetorians shield. And those were just the ones in the Pit. He had yet to hear that Ravenhall had added them to its defenses. Looking up, he saw the mountain side, squinting to see more of the cannons built into the stone.
Galgan joined the people walking towards the city gates, glancing behind and onto the snow covered field, the road leading down into a valley, towards Morhill he knew. For a mont he imagined the demon hordes streaming out of the city, mages and warriors of the Shadows Hand facing them right here. He imagined what these cannons would do to a horde of the monsters now, how well the walls would hold up against an army of Guardians, or even elves!
A hypothetical interest only of course. The defenses were there to protect the people inside the walls, and to caution anyone from attacking in the first place.
He couldnt see past the adventurers before him, the group equipped with massive swords and hamrs. But soon it was his turn, Galgan reaching the open city gates. He glanced at the Centurions standing guard at each side, five people dressed in black armor, so in leather, so in steel, talked to and checked the people going into the city. One of them motioned to him, an alert expression on the mans face.
Na and reason for entering Ravenhall? he asked, no weapons on his belt or back.
[Light Mage lvl ??]
Galgan Brefort, he said. I want to see the city.
The man raised his brows. Enjoy your stay. If you need anything, ask the guard.
I thought there was an admission fee? Galgan asked.
Youre Taleen. Youre part of the Accords, the man said and gestured for him to enter.
Right, Im holding up the line, he thought and moved past. Thank you! he called out, glancing at the guard who now smiled slightly.
Galgan felt the air change slightly when he moved past the thick city walls. He could feel the magic. Enchantnts, thrumming with power. Looking up, he saw the back of so cannons, straight lines and edges. This ti he stepped to the side, letting the busy people of Ravenhall pass by. He had to press himself against the wall of a house as a wagon passed, several wooden crates stacked on it. The slls were strange, overwhelming even compared to the city itself, though he wasnt unfamiliar with busy places, loud chattering, and children running around.
It wasnt so different to the confines of Io, though the light of the suns changed everything. That and the fresh breeze of cold mountain air. He flinched when a group of black winged people flew past above, so fast he wasnt sure if he had really seen them. Sentinels, he thought, rembering the day when Lilith had flown down through Io. He had been lucky enough to see her descend, though only briefly. For many it had been a wonderful day, but he had been scared of what it ant, all the machines departing, and a being clad in ash descending towards the Guild Hall.
The Sentinels were one of the options. One of the places he considered. They would offer fantastic Classes for healing and fighting, but he heard few applicants were considered. The Shadows Hand only let people above level two hundred join. Galgan was very far off that threshold. Perhaps one day. He smiled, walking down a random alley as he tried to stay out of peoples ways. His stomach grumbled, reminded of the stew he had declined.
Walking through the city, he saw street vendors shouting about their wares, humans and dark ones cooking at their stalls with interesting slls intermingling. Few of the stone houses were colored but there were so. Still it felt to him the architecture was alive. He deed the effects of sunlight had not at all been exaggerated. Soon he reached the second set of walls, passing without any of the guards taking note. Once more he felt the magic, once again he saw cannons atop the high reaching defenses.
The streets remained busy, but there were fewer stalls here. Restaurants and stores dominated the main road he was on and he quickly found a nice looking place with a few tables outside. The only other patron was a large dark one covered in full plate armor. He wondered how the being ate and drank but decided it would be rude to bother them. Instead he sat down, soon ordering sothing off the nu.
A hearty dish with potatoes covered in herbs, a sauce made of what he assud to be cheese, and small bits of green vegetables he had never eaten before.
Full and ready to explore more, Galgan made his way to the most central wall, soon coming onto a massive square. He stepped aside when a group of ard and armored people landed, wings and magic vanishing as they started making their way towards a large four story building made of stone and wood. Letters etched into a long wooden board inford him that it was the local adventuring guild. He looked away when sothing shiny caught his eye. Three people were casting spells near the center of the square, illusion and water magic, sparkling light accompanied by music, chatter, and the sound of steel hitting steel.
Quite a few people stopped to watch, more simply passing by, towards one of the governnt buildings, the guild hall, or one of the many stores and smithies. Galgan watched the show as he passed, stopping in front of an open storefront. Weapon racks were set up, everything from daggers, to spears, to war hamrs was present. Four adventurers and one woman dressed in black were browsing the wares.
You look a little lost, ca a voice. A broad woman wearing a leather apron. Her skin was black, her hair long and gray. Need advice?
I Im just looking, Galgan said and smiled. Thank you.
She nodded. Nice helt, the smith said and moved her gaze to soone else.
Galgan grabbed a shortsword and looked it over. Well balanced, he knew, though not the best for his height, and not what he wanted to use anyway. Not a sword. Maybe an axe. Or just magic. Magic never fails you. Weapons can be lost in a fight. He rembered the words of his grandpa. The smith hadnt been wrong however. He was lost, walking aimlessly through the central part of the city.
He found a small park after ascending a few sets of stairs, sitting down on a bench before he looked out onto the rooftops. Leaning forward, he could see a large space cleared out, fresh earth and young trees covered in a light layer of snow. At the center of the space, he saw a large three story building, at least a hundred ters long and near as broad. Perfectly cut white marble made it stand out even more, each floor smaller than the one below. The roof was flat and he could see people standing near the railings. Glass windows lined the walls in regular intervals but he couldnt see inside from the distance. Galgan squinted when he saw flashes of red light from one of the windows. Magic, though he didnt know what kind.
He heard steps from the right, glancing over to see a group of three young humans sit down on a bench. One of them glanced his way and smiled.
Youre Taleen, right? she asked.
[Nature Mage lvl 45]
He nodded. Is it that obvious?
Its the excitent on your face, the woman said and pointed. She had bright red hair, like fire, her eyes green like the forest. She wore leather armor, a small curved knife strapped to her belt. Dwarves from the Pit arent that impressed with Ravenhall, or the Academy for that matter.
I thought that was it, Galgan said and glanced down at the building. The Ravenhall Academy. Another option. Perhaps a more realistic one. He was part of the Accords after all, and admission wasnt expensive for those who didnt co from a rich family. Do you study there?
The woman stepped over and sat down next to him. I do, yes. About trees, grains, herbs, that kind of thing, she said. Im lina. Nice to et you.
Galgan. The sa, he said.
So, you ca to study as well? Or will you join the Shadowguard? she asked, an inquisitive look in her eyes.
Im not sure yet, he said.
A free spirit, she mused. I like it. Well, if you join the Academy, you can check out a few basic classes. Tons of people co and go, looking for the subjects and magic schools they actually enjoy. Ive seen so many would be adventurers beco architects or enchanters. So even smiths, she said.
There are smithing classes? he asked.
Yes. Theres pretty much anything you could want, she said.
Theres no smoke rising, and I cant hear any hamrs, he said, trying to find anything on the building that would suggest there really was a forge in there.
She chuckled. Most of it is underground. I could show you around later, how about it?
That would be great, thank you, Galgan said as he checked his helt. He relaxed, knowing he didnt have to make a decision instantly. There were a lot of opportunities around, he wanted to make sure he had a glimpse at all of them.
_____________________
Ilea watched the fighting comnce, spells flying all over the hall as the inexperienced students tried to handle both the stresses of a bout and the presence of Lilith and Kyrian. The higher level Sentinels didnt give much of a shit anymore who was watching, only interested in testing themselves against higher leveled beings to get pointers.
You can tell how excited they are, Kyrian sent through the established connection. Its a different energy entirely to the other three new groups.
Right. Theres sothing carefree about them. Reminds of myself, she sent, a smile on her face.
Lots of applications lately. One thing many of the most successful Sentinels have in common is their background as refugees of so kind. The Baralia war and subsequent split, the demon summoning here, Elven attacks in the west. Anything that left them with little to lose, he said.
Ilea looked at him. Sounds like were so assassin order buying up orphans.
They found a new family here, and all of them ca here with a purpose, sothing that pushes them through the grueling training and pain. Many of them have lost everything. Helping them find confidence in themselves and expertise in their magic is why Im here, he said.
So whats different about this bunch? Ilea asked, seeing both dwarves and a few dark ones in the group of twenty four students, most of them watching from the sidelines.
They just really enjoy fighting each other, fighting monsters, and training their resistances. Most of them dont co from a background that pushed them towards more. They simply wanted to find excitent. The interviewing process was much longer however. Hard to gauge soones character if all they want to do is train, he said. We did base most of the admissions on how well we know you.
? she asked.
Yes. Trian calls them the Battle Unit, he sent. Really more inclined to fight and train than to beco healers. But send one of them into a dungeon and they either die down there or clear it out.
Wonderful prospects, Ilea said.
You would know, he said.
She thought about it and shrugged. I suppose I would.
Theres sothing else Id like to show you, Kyrian said as he pushed himself away from the wall and vanished.
Ilea latched on to his spell, the two moving down until they ca onto the lowest floor.
If you would, Kyrian said, pointing downwards.
Ilea raised her brows before she transported them into the previous research facility of Iana and Christopher.
The Core remained as they had left it, so mugs even still on one of the tables. The lights were out.
Kyrian touched one of the enchantnts on the wall, light flooding the facility a mont later.
Ilea walked past the white halls, finding various large chunks of tal, crates with monster parts, herbs, tals, and dozens of other materials. Did you take over?
Not just . Its a nice facility, and private. Claire cos down here sotis, Sulivhaan and Dagon too. And so of the Sentinels if they need a well enchanted space to test sothing, he explained. Nobody here today.
So what did you want to show ? Ilea asked, walking to one of the large tal slabs. She put the palm of her hand against it and pushed a little, lifting it off the ground slightly.
Kyrian walked over and summoned sothing into his hand. This.
Ilea let go, ignoring the loud impact as she looked at the root held out in his hand. The slight shimr was familiar. The magic she felt from it was familiar. It looked a little like ginger, but with a blue tinge and much less voluminous.
[Bluemoon Root Ancient Quality] [Arcane Elixir]
They did it, she murmured. Why did nobody tell ?
Kyrian offered for her to take it. Theres been versions before. The adow has been working with Lucas and Christopher. The problem with everything so far was that they couldnt determine the danger it posed. This is the first iteration that should be safe.
Should be? Ilea asked.
Thats the thing. Testing it poses significant issues. Compared to the Healing Orders and nobles who have developed Elixirs in the past, nobody here wishes to test one on soone below level thirty, he said. The adow said it should be safe, but a risk remains, with everything that would incite change to the sa degree you went through.
Why cant I just eat it? Ilea asked.
You can. And it would be a mild poison to you at worst. For an elixir to take effect, the user has to be malleable. Weak enough to be affected. I got this one yesterday. You were out hunting, and I suggested Id tell you about it myself. I talked to Trian a few hours ago. Were not sure about what to do.
Ilea looked the root over. We could just not use it at all. If theres a risk.
There will always be a risk. Even the adow says so, he said. Its not the Elixir itself, its the impact it has on soones body.
I dont think either or you should make that decision. Lets et up with Trian and the rest of the faculty to have a chat, she said, handing the thing back to him.
Arcane healers. Wed basically be resurrecting the Azarinth Order, or at least the power they used to wield. She made a fist, feeling the magic of her auras flow through her before she teleported the both of them up and out of the facility.
They appeared in front of Trians office, the man himself still out on an exercise. She sent him a ssage through her mark, receiving an answer a few seconds later. He still needs so ti. Should we join him?
We can, if youre teleporting, he said. Let get the others.
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