Chapter 95: A New Beginning

Abel stood by the window, gazing at the vast expanse outside, his thoughts a swirl of excitement and uncertainty. Over the past few days, he had devoted himself to studying from the wall of scrolls in his lab. The magical archives had proven to be an invaluable source of knowledge, and it wasn’t just Abel who felt this way—every new apostle in the Tower seemed to be engrossed in their personal studies, eagerly absorbing the free-flowing information before being sent out to their station. For the new apostles, this knowledge was a gift, an essential tool to survive and thrive in their new roles.

But today was different. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter in Abel's life. It was time to leave the Tower and head to his new assignment in Reinhart Village. With a sigh, he looked at his silver badge, feeling the weight of responsibility resting upon him. His starry mana swirled around it, activating its magical properties. The badge had already provided him with some valuable contacts, but he had yet to fully explore its capabilities.

Abel packed his few belongings in a small bag, a quiet determination settling over him. He had spent days preparing, but now, faced with the reality of leaving, a strange blend of excitement and apprehension churned in his gut. With a final look around his room, he made his way out. The halls were eerily silent. Most of the other apostles were either still deep in their studies or had already departed to their respective villages. The solitude weighed on him, but he brushed it off—there was no turning back now.

As Abel descended the Tower, he was met by the stoic figure of the overseer who had seen him rise from a mere recruit to an apostle. The Overeer’s expression was, as usual, unreadable, but his eyes held a glint of respect.

"Stargazer," The Overseer greeted with a firm nod. "Ready for your journey?"

Abel returned the nod, though his heart raced with anticipation. "I am, sir."

"Good," the overseer said, his voice low and steady. "I’ll be leading you to your transportation. Follow me."

Curiosity gnawed at Abel, but he held his questions as they walked through the Tower's massive stone corridors. After a few moments, he couldn’t help but ask. "What kind of transportation am I taking, exactly?"

The overseer’s lips twitched, a rare hint of amusement crossing his usually stern face. "You’ll see soon enough."

After what felt like an eternity of walking, they reached the outer courtyard. As the stone doors groaned open, revealing the open sky, they entered the forest and proceeded to walk through the trees, the overseer moved with purpose as Abel followed. This time the forest no longer felt oppressive, and instead, it felt almost like a calm safe place. Nothing seemed to lurk or watch them, as their presence alone made sure any lowly creature would avoid their path. They kept on walking for a while longer until reaching an opening inside of the forest and Abel froze in shock.

Floating serenely before him was a massive, glowing purple jellyfish—a creature unlike anything he had ever seen. Its translucent body shimmered with a faint glow, and its small stingers drifted lazily in the air. It was massive, easily the size of a house, and its small tendrils tick, almost looking like translucent toes underneath. The body was see-through and the clouds in the sky could still be seen through the jellyfish almost like purple-tinted glasses. The grass and stones on the ground beneath the jellyfish reflected the purple light emitted by the giant above.

"What is that?" Abel muttered, eyes wide in amazement, purple light reflected off his face, as he tilted his head upwards.

"The Big Jelly," The overseer replied matter-of-factly. "The Tower Master’s own creation. It’s how you’ll be traveling."

The jellyfish began to descend slowly, making the purple light that reflected off the ground and Abel's face more intense.

Abel stared in disbelief. He had heard of magical creatures used for transportation, flying birds, and underground worms, but nothing quite like this. He didn’t know whether to be terrified or impressed. As he took a hesitant step forward, The overseer’s patience waned. He had other apostles to guide, and he had a schedule to keep. With a swift motion, he pushed Abel straight into the jellyfish’s body.

Abel tumbled inside, his heart racing as he found himself floating within the jelly-like substance. For a moment, panic set in, but the sensation wasn’t uncomfortable—in fact, it was strangely soothing, like being cradled by water. He couldn't feel the wind, or hear the sound of trees rustling outside, instead, his body felt a warmth that covered him in comfort.

Before he could fully comprehend what had just happened, the jellyfish began to ascend. Abel’s breath caught in his throat as the ground fell away, and he was lifted high into the air. He felt weightless, the sensation of flying unlike anything he had ever experienced. The Tower shrank below him as they drifted higher, and for a moment, all his worries melted away as he marveled at the beauty of the landscape. His stomach sunk further as the Big Jelly pierced through the clouds stopping momentarily to shift its body, allowing Abel to witness the clouds moving slowly beneath him like a white sea, as the rays of sunlight covered the clouds in an ethereal layer of gold. Incredible. Abel thought, as simultaneously the Big Jelly moved in a flash above the clouds and towards Reinhart Town.

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Reinhart Town was bustling with life. The streets were paved with neatly arranged cobblestone, and the houses had a distinct charm—a blend of medieval architecture with artful enhancements, each building seemingly crafted with care. The village was alive with activity as people went about their daily routines. In the market district, stalls lined the roads, filled with colorful wares, fruits, and goods from across the region. Vendors shouted out prices, and the scent of freshly baked bread filled the air. There was a sense of prosperity in the town, yet underneath it, a subtle tension seemed to linger.

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In one of the more lavish homes on First Street, a meeting was taking place. The room was wide and furnished with finely crafted furniture covered in floral patterns. Mayor Elliot, a tall, refined man dressed in noble robes, stood before a gathering of Reinhart’s key figures. His brow furrowed slightly as he addressed the room. Next to him stood Burt, the head of law enforcement, a grizzled man with a no-nonsense demeanor. Burt wore durable, deep-gray leather tunics, reinforced at the shoulders and elbows with stitched padding, and a slim leather belt with polished metal buckles carrying basic equipment and a short sword. Bellow the belt he wore dark trousers and sturdy boots, laced high and weather-resistant. Vander, the wealthiest merchant in town, sat across from them, listening intently and so did some of the heads of the other bigger families.

Mayor Elliot sat behind his desk, addressing the gathered nobles with measured authority. "We have a special guest arriving soon," he began. "This individual has connections to an influential organization in Bask."

Vander, the stout merchant, shifted uneasily. "And what does this guest want from Reinhart? We've had one of these before—an 'advisor' someone sent to support our growth at that time but instead, he was someone who drained our resources, then left us with nothing but promises."

Other nobles nodded in agreement, still bitter from past experiences. The arrival of the previous "advisor" had left a sour taste, and they were not eager to welcome another stranger who might meddle in the town’s affairs.

"This one will be different, The previous guest arrived under different orders, in addition to the fact that the last guest was almost two years ago," Elliot assured, though the doubt was clear on the nobles’ faces.

One of the noblemen, a tall, gray-haired figure named Lord Hadrick, leaned forward, his voice low with skepticism. "And what exactly is he supposed to help with, Mayor? These strange occurrences you speak of—random disappearances, sudden outbreaks of sickness. We don’t even know what’s causing them. How is this guest supposed to provide any answers?"

Burt, the head of law enforcement, stood silently beside the mayor, his muscular arms crossed. Despite his stoic expression, he shared the same doubts as the others. The village had been dealing with strange happenings for months now—farmers complaining of livestock going missing, houses mysteriously catching fire, and villagers reporting odd shadows in the woods. But Burt wasn’t ready to jump to conclusions. The very idea of magic might cause many of the townspeople to be terrified it felt too surreal, almost like a fairy tale, even though he had noticed strange patterns emerging, he hoped it wasn't anything that could truly hurt the people of Reinhart.

"He’ll work in one of our departments within my office, I am told the guest possesses keen eyes and would be assisting in certain investigations. He will also take some of his time to help manage the new library in our town," Elliot continued, ignoring the growing murmurs of doubt. "He’s an expert in... well, many things. He’ll help ensure the town continues to grow safely."

"An expert?" Vander cut in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What kind of expertise could possibly help us with the unexplained? We don’t even know what we’re dealing with! For all we know, this could be something natural—a disease, A crazed individual, or a series of unfortunate events. You’re pinning our hopes on a stranger when we can’t even say for sure what’s going wrong."

Several nobles nodded in agreement, and even Burt remained silent, his brow furrowed in contemplation. The mystery behind the town’s problems was still unresolved, and bringing in an outsider didn’t sit well with him either. He had been working in law enforcement for years and had seen the town’s fair share of troubles, but nothing like this. And this "guest" from a Bask organization seemed like another gamble.

Elliot, aware of their growing apprehension, maintained his composure. "This guest will be here to observe, investigate, and provide any insight. We don’t have all the answers, that’s true. But that’s exactly why we need outside help. We can't sit here and remain unaware, and incapable."

Burt finally spoke up, his voice deep and commanding. "With all due respect Mr. Elliot I’m not entirely convinced either. We’ve handled our problems just fine befoe—especially without outsiders meddling in our business. The previous guest promised to fix things too, and look where that got us."

Elliot’s tone softened, but he remained firm. "I understand your reservations. But this time will be different. The town is expanding, and with that growth comes challenges we might not be fully equipped to deal with. We’ve already had several incidents—unexplained, yes—but I don’t believe it’s just bad luck. Something is happening, and we need to be prepared. This guest may have the resources or knowledge to help us. If we don't address these issues now, they could grow beyond our control."

The nobles exchanged wary glances, still unconvinced but unwilling to challenge the mayor directly. They respected Elliot for his leadership and the fact that Reinhart had thrived under his guidance, but their distrust of outsiders lingered.

Vander finally spoke up again, though his tone remained doubtful. "Well, if it’s already decided, we can only wait and see. But mark my words—if this guest turns out like the last one, it’ll be on your head, Elliot. The town can’t afford another misstep."

Elliot nodded, accepting the challenge in Vander’s voice, though his own expression remained neutral. "Understood."

After the meeting adjourned, Elliot turned to Burt as they stood alone. "We can’t let the town fall apart," the mayor said quietly, his earlier confidence slipping away.

Burt sighed, leaning against the desk. "You’re taking a risk, Elliot. The people don’t trust outsiders, and frankly, neither do I. But if there’s more to these incidents than meets the eye… maybe we do need someone who knows what to look for."

The mayor nodded, his eyes distant with thought. "I just hope we aren’t too late."

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As Abel’s journey aboard the jellyfish drew to a close, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. The village of Reinhart appeared on the horizon, nestled among rolling hills and lush forests. The sight was beautiful and serene, but there was a strange energy about it—a sense that something was just beneath the surface, waiting.

The jellyfish began to descend, and Abel’s heart raced. This would be his home, his base of operations. But more than that, it was the start of a new chapter—one filled with mystery, duty, and danger. As the creature touched down gently on the outskirts of Reinhart, Abel stepped out, taking a deep breath as he prepared to face whatever awaited him.

For better or worse, his journey had only just begun.