Archvel's footsteps carry him further along the path, and his gaze is drawn to a peculiar sight ahead: a small, triangular temple nestled amidst the surrounding trees.
As he approaches the temple, he feels excited as an energy manifests inside of himself.
From what he understood, he can recognize runes and symbols due to his new ability.
His eyes widen with recognition as he examines the architecture and symbols adorning the temple's exterior.
"The small triangle shape, the intricate carvings—this must be the temple symbol of the Eye of the King. I've come across references to it in ancient tomes."
"I believe Eye of the King is pretty important. I have read not much of this but still seen some of the runes on the tomes."
"The Eye of the King, a revered emblem of wisdom and insight, is believed to hold the essence of a long-forgotten ruler's vision."
Archvel thought from within and placed his right hand on his chin and thought.
"But of course, as is expected, most of the ancient knowledge is lost, and there is not much known to the mages."
He slowly walks towards the temple and starts to feel even more overwhelmed.
"I do not have time or guts to enter a temple that I don't know much about."
"If it is dangerous, I would just die, and it would be just a foolish way to die."
Archvel thought and then left the place as he kept on going on the road. Not much time later, he saw something interesting.
Archvel's eyes widen with intrigue and anticipation as he catches sight of the bustling activity.
"Humans ?"
He thought.
Carriages creak along the road, their wheels churning up dust, while individuals laboriously carry loads of stones and wood on their backs.
This is his first encounter with fellow humans in this unfamiliar world.
"I did not have good experience with humanity back at the Earth."
"I don't know how to feel about them."
Archvel thought.
Approaching one of the workers, he strikes up a conversation and seeks directions to his intended destination.
"Could you perhaps direct me to Red Copper Town?"
The worker pauses, wiping sweat from his brow, and turns his gaze towards Archvel.His eyes look at the Archvel's black robes and the mystical air surrounding him.
The worker took a deep breath, and then his eyes changed a little bit as he started speaking.
"Just follow the road, my friend, and in about twenty minutes you should see the town."
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Archvel offered a grateful nod and smiled.
"Thank you for your help. What can you tell me about the town itself?"
"Well, Red Copper Town may not be as grand as some of the cities marked on the map, but it has its own charm."
"The townsfolk are hardworking and resilient, and there's a sense of community that runs deep."
"You'll find a few shops, a tavern or two, and some friendly faces eager to share their stories. There are more than ten thousand people living there too."
Archvel listens attentively, absorbing every word.
"So, basically, a simple town with no secret."
Archvel commented in his mind and then turned his face to the worker again and commented with a smile on his face.
"It sounds like an interesting place."
Worker nodded
"People are hardworking, and they just try to live their lives in peace."
Archvel expresses his gratitude once again and is on his way.
Not much time later, Archvel reaches the town itself.
-
As he reached the entrance of Red Copper Town, two guards stood in his way.
The guards, clad in sturdy iron armor, look at Archvel with vigilant eyes, their expressions giving away nothing.
One guard raised a hand, signaling Archvel to halt, while the other crossed his arms.
"Who are you, traveler? This is the first time I saw you entering the town."
Archvel answered that he believed these kinds of questions were normal.
In the end, it is only natural for people to now give permission to enter anybody.
"I am just a traveler. I need some place to eat and sleep."
The guards exchanged a glance, silently assessing Archvel and his purpose.
After a brief moment, one of the older guards, with a stern yet measured voice, asked.
"I do not think you are a problem, but wearing dark robes that can be only worn by dark mages is not the best action to take."
"Do you have any connection to mages by any chance?"
Archvel smiles and then answers.
His eyes confident, and his words on to the point. It can be seen with ease that he is telling the truth.
"I do not have any connection to the Dark Mage organization. I am a mage."
The guards stopped talking after hearing the words of Archvel.
Archvel, on the other hand, thought as he looked at their behaviors.
"As expected, I was wrong; I expected them to be shocked. But it seems like they are used to interacting with mages."
"Which means that ordinary folk have clear knowledge about the mages and magic itself."
After a momentary pause, one of the guards' tone slightly softened.
"Can you show me something to prove you are a dark mage?"
"It is a fundamental law in the Dark Borders that only mages are allowed to wear robes like you are."
Archvel answers as he smiles.
"Yeah, I understand what you are saying."
Archvel flickered his hands, and a small decay bolt manifested in his hands.
Guards looked at the grayish magic in the hand of Archvel, and then they looked at each other as both of them nodded.
The guards then stepped aside, allowing him to pass through the entrance and enter the bustling town beyond.
"Have a nice time in the Red Copper Town, Mister Mage."
As Archvel stepped into Red Copper Town, his eyes were immediately drawn to a sight that stood out amidst the bustling streets.
A massive cauldron, gleaming in its copper glory, stood at the center of the town square.
"I wonder what this cauldron symbolizes."
Archvel asked, but his focus did not stay on the cauldron too much.
As Archvel's gaze shifted from the cauldron, he took in the sights and sounds of the lively town.
The buildings, with their diverse construction materials, made the town look like it has some sort of soul.
"So, some buildings are clearly more quality-made than others. It seems like, as expected, humans still have nobles and social statuses."
Archvel took a deep breath and smiled.
"In the end, humans are still the same as ever."