“So, we’re in the grave of that mountain…,” Kidd said.
“Who knows how much of that is true,” Ewan said.
“More importantly, are we below the ocean level?” Nana craned to look at the soaring greeneries and the slanted woods rooted on the rising perimeter behind her.
“Seems like so,” Ewan muttered, glancing around the place.
The apex of the citadel’s construction lay below the peak of the palm trees that lined the sides ahead, their leaves rustling from the morning breeze, and a hint of coconut tickled his nose. They’d just come down the port, so this must be the entrance plaza.
“Is this really safe? What if a high wave hits us, it won't take much to drown this place,” Kidd said, lingering a step behind the others while eyeing the perimeter of the crater.
“It has stood tall for so many years, they must have precautions in place for such emergencies,” Lance said. “What we can think, they can think of too. And none of the locals look worried.”
“Where do we go first?” Nana asked, holding hands with Ewan, her squishy soft fingers rubbing against the rough skin of his palm.
“Let’s head to the guild,” Ewan said, leading them through the streets that woke up with each corner they crossed, the trams too embarking on their daily itineraries after a night’s rest. “The sooner we earn, the sooner I can brew more potions. I’m almost done with the tests.”
“Sir, are we continuing that?” Lance asked. “I haven’t had any problems so far; my weapons look good too.”
“What I gave you was highly diluted, I need lots of data to confirm its effect,” Ewan said. “Short term and long term.”
“Boss, I’ll split here,” Kidd said once they reached a busy enough lane, the whistling shift in the tram’s speed resonating with the bells it rang for every stop. The directions they had from the stubbled man at the port put the guild just beyond the roundabout up ahead, adjoined to the pub’s wall, and the wafts of the astringent yet sweet ales already reached for them.
“Remember to map the area too, don’t mess around,” Ewan said. “And keep your distance if you spot any kid like yesterday, try to look into it without attracting any eyes.”
“Got it, Boss,” Kidd said and pulled away from them, soon fading into the crowd without even leaving a shadow.
….
Lance lined along the humble queue before the front desk, barely inching forward by the courtesy of the languid staff-in-charge, as a gaping yawn followed her parroted sentences, while Ewan and Nana took to the lounge on the side, plopping down on the velvety furred sofa. He watched the guild, observed the teams present, their distance, their rapports, and their not-so-subtle dissension, as the mirrored tiles and the designed walls riveted Nana.
“Will you be needing something to snack on while you wait, sir?” The uniformly dressed and well shaved waiter, though with a few wrinkles on his vest, came over and asked. “Anything for the ma’am?”
“Black tea for her, hot,” Ewan said, and paid him a couple of Crelith coins. “Water for me.”
“Make it iced tea, with milk and extra sugar, and add ice cream on top, vanilla.” Nana broke away from the allure of the lounge and jumped in.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“No ice cream, and make it hot,” Ewan said, locking both of her arms and holding her back. “Weather’s still chilly, drink something hot.”
“Very well, sir.” The waiter took the order and bowed out with the coins.
“You’re really like an old man, sometimes I can't tell which one of us is the older one,” Nana grumbled.
“Given your mental age, it’s definitely me,” Ewan said with a smirk, and got a hard poke in the ribs in response, flinching away with a cackle.
“Sorry for disturbing you, may I have a moment of your time?” a bald man with shaven eyebrows and clean face came over and asked, sitting on the sofa aslant Ewan.
“Don’t disturb if you’re sorry,” Nana mumbled, clicking her tongue.
“I was hoping to invite you two to join our team, if you don’t mind,” the man said with a stiff smile, and a twitching eye.
“I apologize for her, she can be willful,” Ewan said. “Is that your team?” He glanced at the group sitting at a distance to his left. “That one’s been glaring at us for a while now, is this how you invite someone?”
“That is indeed my team,” the man said, staring back at his group, his jaws clenched as his eyes breathed fire. “He’s a young blood, it tends to boil too much. Please don’t worry, I’ll have a good talk with him. And I hope you consider my invitation seriously.”
“Can I know the reason?” Ewan asked. “We aren’t the only unregistered ones here, why did you pick us?”
“For your other identity,” the man said, gazing at him. “My team is strong, but we need a good Potioneer to complement our strength. You’ll be most welcomed if you join us.”
“That is intriguing indeed,” Ewan said with a smile, caressing Nana’s tensed hand. “May I ask how you came upon that information?”
“Join us and you’ll know everything,” the man said, leaning forward.
“I’ll have to disappoint you then,” Ewan said, getting up with Nana when Lance came over with a question mark above his head, looking at the bald man then looking at Ewan. The waiter had readied their order too by now, so they had it packed for the road. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to take our leave.” And he walked away with Nana and the still confused Lance, glancing at the boy no older than himself who’d glared at them before.
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Status: Healthy
Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]
Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist
Name: Ewan Ayres
Species: Human
Vitality: 7.0
Spirit: 25.6
Anima: [Fire – 25.6 | Ice – 25.6 | Blood – 25.6 | Mystic: 25.6 | Dark: 25.6]
Astylinds: 5 [Potential: 0]
Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]
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Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]
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Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]
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Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]
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Necros-Crow [Ghost]: Step-0 [Level-6] [Grade-D]
Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].
Storage: Journal; Elementalist—The Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon’s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.
Novas: 24,285
Anima Crystals: 7,160 grams