Julius halted cold in his track, his eyes wide in disbelief. Could the sight unfolding before his eyes be true, was it a fignt of his imagination, or a lucid dream painting his expectations in surreal strokes?
He shook his head, his heart pounding and breath hastening. No. His imagination wasn’t good enough to create massive ships groaning on flying rivers, their immaculate sails flapping in the sky like shifting clouds.
They entered the city, the cold river splashing like rain on the surrounding fields and providing fresh water to the population, while sailors discharged imported rchandise on broad docks.
Though impressive, he could accept the clever flying river, but how in the realm did they build a city inside a crater? Stationary towers hovered above, so converting sun rays into energy, others using it to deploy a see-through mana barrier at least four tis denser than the college’s.
Flat houses constructed against the crater like rice fields extended to the most lavish palace he had ever seen. Even the Franca Empire’s didn’t co remotely close to its curved archways breathing mana like a living being, intricate facade shifting colors like a galaxy of its own, or the grandeur of the materials he assud to be no lower than the seventh tier—perhaps even the eighth!
Youths flew on flat tallic devices, their feet strapped by sothing like chains, or even on soft carpets woven in all colors and patterns. That was the part that shocked him most. Those people defied gravity as if it were natural, and he doubted they were all powerful arcanists.
As he gasped at the sight, a firm hand suddenly gripped his shoulder. His wandering mind snapped back on a guard.
Covered in shining plates lding gold and silver and holding a broad war hamr on his shoulders, he glared at Julius, his voice coming out frustrated. "I don’t have ti to waste with a brat. It’s my last reminder: show your identification badge or scram!"
Julius’ eyes darted to the frowning crowd behind him before he scratched his head. Had he been so absorbed that he didn’t hear the guard? Well... the city was just too dazzling, and now that he had snapped from the initial shock, his face burned in eagerness to discover it.
Without wasting a second, he handed his rcenary card with an apologetic bow, noting the sa griffon emblem engraved on the guard’s torso. However, an intricate golden crown surrounded the creature this ti indicating this was a mber of the capital or royal guards, perhaps. In any case, he suppressed his trembling legs, waiting for the guard’s reaction.
"A C-ranked rcenary from the countryside?" The guard passed his shimring gauntlet over the card, a brow raised.
An ethereal window burst between them, the mana shifting into a lifelike depiction of Julius and rows of texts. As Lana had told him, every known information about him lay bare to the guard, even his empty mission record. But more than that, his depiction moved toward him as if alive.
He shuddered as it phased inside him, fitting perfectly. He could feel how it reached for his elental affinity and mana, scanning if their signatures were identical. Then, like a dream, it dissolved as the texts shifted to green.
The guard nodded. "Julius. Everything seems fine on my side." He stretched his hand out. "The entry fee cos to one gold. The kingdom will wave it if you take up residence in the capital and pay your taxes on ti."
Julius produced a dull coin so worn that the sides were indistinguishable, nodding. Of course, he had done it on purpose to hide its origin. "Thank you, sir."
Before he could leave, the guard leaned closer, slid a piece of cardboard into his chest pocket, and patted it with a grin. "You’re still green but seem like a young man full of hidden potential. Contact after sharpening your spells for a year or two. I’m sure you’ll make a decent royal guard in training."
With their military dying on the northern front every day, the capital needed fresh blood. Though Julius’ mana was nothing worth ntioning, the tap on his chest revealed sothing quite shocking. He had a powerful body. Forget about the C-rank, it was inching toward the middle of the B-rank.
Even better, he was around fifteen and could learn a few supporting spells. By playing on his strengths, bulldozing his way through the hierarchy was a real possibility. And as his recruiter, he already rubbed his hand at the hefty reward he would get.
anwhile, Julius’ lips curled into a soft smile. He waved his hand, stepping toward the towering gate. "I’ll contact you when I feel worthy to serve the royal family. Thank you for the opportunity, and I wish you a good day, sir."
Julius’ steps echoed under the dod gate. Finally, he’d group with his friends, who had entered the city yesterday, and explore its wonders as they had in Alkemia Al-Nur almost four years ago.
However, he halted the mont he left the gate, his hand blurring in an upward arc. Frowning, he observed the round yellow fruit he had caught and the sweet juice dripping down his fingers, then the hooded youth leaning against the wall.
"You took your sweet ti, didn’t you? I almost thought you lost yourself or the guards denied you entry." The man lowered his hood, revealing his erald eyes and mischievous smirk.
"Hee?" Julius returned the smirk, his eyes sparkling. "I didn’t know you’d miss after a single day, Arun. Be careful. Asha might beco jealous if you spend more ti with than her."
Arun coughed in surprise, then passed his arm around Julius’ shoulders, exploding into laughter while walking toward the inn they resided in. "She’d even be jealous if I adopted a cat anyway, so who cares?" He tucked his fingers around his chin. "Yeah, no, she’s not like that anymore. I an, we all changed with... everything that has happened, you know?"
Julius sighed. "I know. But this nightmare is behind us now." He pointed at the flow of well-dressed citizens strolling on the terraced streets, smiling at their fair complexions and soft auras of vitality. "Let’s forget about it, learn, have fun, and... Why don’t we beco a renowned rcenary group?"
"Hahaha. Sotis, I wonder if we share the sa brain or if you just read my mind. Let’s do it!" Arun’s fist cut overhead, trembling in excitent. "We aim to beco the capital’s best group!"
Chuckling and their heads full of dreams, they joined Louise and Asha, ready to live their new lives in the capital to the fullest.
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