Chapter 1: Beyond the Borders
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"The place's a waste of time. Huff"
A young man said as he passed through a ruined archway, leading to an empty, queer small cavern. He sat down nearby and took his mask off, revealing his youthful face. He had no striking appearance or anything that would make Royal Princesses fall to his heart.
He looked more like your ordinary Blacktown somebody.
He took a breather and warmed himself with his Fire Magic. He was exhausted running from the scythe that haunts the Warm within. He had to run as fast as he can or else he would find himself under the dusty mantle.
It was a good idea to use every mana potion he had in store.
And it was a good idea to leave right after the Old man had finished the story, else he finds the scythe.
The dark cavern was lit up but it was not enough to expose the dangers of the lonely cave. It was still darker than the night, perhaps, much darker with all the windy howls roaming about his ears.
He did not shudder in the presence of the dark; lest he dies from the fear.
It felt much safer here, that he knows.
The young man looked at the ruined Archway once more.
The Gate had opened a long time ago but it had no signs of being activated nor a picture that leads the eye would appear in its place. It is just a Hollowed Archway. It had no striking appearance that would fathom others of its mysteries.
... But its structure would be out of place in such a lonely cavern such as this.
'Tis a mysterious structure. An imposing one back in its day, perhaps.
It is like a crypt. Or some sort of. Maybe it is as it brings one to the land of the Night? The young man ponders once more about it.
He had many questions about the mystery behind the Arch. Was it made by a lonely archmage to meet his beloved past the hereafter? Or a haunting menace looking to overlive his date and hunt the day once more through the gates he had established?
Even with that thought, he wished that he never knew the reason. For it would haunt his dreams forever.
... Because businesses with the dead are unjustified.
The Gate would open once every week of the Season of Ice and after, it would return next cycle. It was fortunate of him to catch the Gate's opening or he would've spent a long, dangerous time withering inside the Night.
... Or it was thanks to Joaquim for warping the story much shorter than it had.
Had he told the rest of it... The young man shook his mind in cold.
Once the young man had regained a portion of his Mana and stamina, he gathered himself, wore his emotionless mask, and moved towards the exit of the Cavern and looked from afar- searching for the nearby town.
He looked far and wide. Before he knew it, he had gone farther from the vicinity of the cavern.
He did not stop looking and at last- he had caught a glimpse of light. It was a fast-moving one, a tower of smoke follows in its wake; not a horse, nor a stampede of monsters. It had a distinctive metallic sheen that would scare even the most formidable adventurer standing in its wake.
"Over there."
The young man whispered to himself as he took off from the ground and strengthened himself with Tier 3 Wind Magic; Lightened Steps. A Magic that focused on asking assistance from the wind to give the user leverage over movement.
Even though Tier 3 Magics require a considerable amount of Mana. The young man still chose to expend his stock without hesitation.
He followed the Train without hesitation.
He needs to hang onto it.
Else he finds himself emptying his pouches for paying the absurdly expensive ticket.
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*CHOOOOOOO-*
The steam engine left out one last blaring whistle before it departed into the next station, leaving behind a blow of gust and tower of smoke. The sun has just begun to break, leaving a purplish-red into its shimmering steel body. The beauty bears fruit, the train was indeed a masterpiece to blend the dawn into glamorous paint to taint its features vividly.
He watched the iron wall pull its carriage into the horizon, easily as if some Goliath that could fell even the mightiest city.
This iron titan is one of the prized inventions of Humanity long before the end of the Second Uprising of the Demon Lords that happened three thousand years ago. It played an important role in delivering the required rations and siege weapon munitions for the Frontier cities and Forts.
Although it looked tougher than any knights. Sure, the exterior is enough to take a blow from a mighty wyvern... But... It was fragile. Its sloppy engineering would cause it to break down here and there, and unlike horses, it required a rail that would take several thousands of slaves to build a hundred mile. It was also costly due to the Steel frame and the upkeep that is required as coals are highly in demand due to the upcoming Season of Eternal Ice.
The train was impractical.
"But give it more time, it will become as strong as any fortresses around." A young lady beside him- who noticed the young man looking at the metallic sheen surface of the goliath- said in a joyful manner.
"... Excuse me?" The young man said as he faced the young lady.
"I can tell that you were making a mental documentation of the train." The lady said as she inched closer to the young man. "A documentation wouldn't be enough without the voices of others, so I added a little of my voice in there. Very good, eh?"
"I appreciate it." The young man said slowly. He looked at her from head to toe and felt assured. He did not saw a slight scar in her body. She had a good body, although lacking in some areas, it was enough for men at his age to fall down to their sorry knees and offer flowers to her. Her brownish, golden hair, and a scarlet eye.
It was a good sight. The young lady never noticed him due to the mask.
"So? Do you need any more voices? I can offer you one."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Surely, you're not talking to me due to that reason. No?" He said with a straight voice.
"Strange. I thought you'd never realize." The young lady said while smiling. "Most of the men here would keep acquiring words and words, and until I tell them what I need would they ask."
"From the looks of your attire. You did not come from the Dragnact Principality, am I not right? The locals would always wear Yukata's and Kimino's regardless of the towns they visit."
The young man gave a nod as a reply.
"I have a good offer for you." The young lady said as she rummages through her bag. "My mother runs an inn nearby, you can go there by checking this map. I'll give you a silver discount, just for you~! So make sure you come there, alright? We really need costumers as of late."
A good timing. The young man whispered within his mind and took the paper pamphlet from the young lady's hands. He hid it immediately within his person to secure his discounted lounging.
"The name's Altisse Mareroriver, well, see you later~"
The young lady, who named Altisse, waved as she walked into the distance. The young man rechecked the pamphlet hidden in his pocket once more before he looked into the crowds.
"Now then... Where will I find you?"
And searched for a certain man amidst the crowd that filled the exit. He was an important asset if at all, a person that would help him go beyond the border. He was sure that the man operates within this town and looks for his costumers through the Train station or else he wouldn't get that much of money through bypassing the local border.
Unless that man got caught, the young man could only look for another one.
He began his search by looking for a familiar name through 'Identification'.
... Though... The young man looked all around him.
There are... Difficulties. In searching for that specific man.
"Looking for Maria! Maria! Are you there!?"
"Liliaaaa~~~! Long time no see!!"
"Oh, what a surprise! You've grown taller now, sonny!!"
"Cut it out, dad!"
The train station is crowded and noisy.
The lack of air around the place, coupled with the sour sweaty smell and the lingering heat of the steam engine that is enough to make everyone unprotected by air magic, feel light-headed. The young man who had expended a vast majority of his Mana would be feeling the same.
He only nudged the feeling as if he is entering the Night once again.
... It wasn't different except for the living soulless husks of men that thirsts for warm bodies welcoming you at the door's steps.
The Man he was searching for was the very same person who took him out of the Grimayus Valley with a bit of an underhand change. He was capable enough to pass-through the Church's patrols unscathed or without even having his face postered up with a bounty in the Adventurer's Guild unlike the newbies or the much capable ones who grew arrogant and ended up being bought out by their peers. Unlike them, the man he was searching for, had no promises over mistakes nor he accepts the change from the moment thereof.
The young man doesn't know how long the man is doing his job as an illegal migrator, but one thing for sure, He will be very needed for his operation.
The search was a hassle, a noisy bunch of scrawny rags and dimwitted adventurers all around the train station make the searching nigh impossible. Adding in the civilians that creak in tight spaces. It was very chaotic.
But after taking some time, the young man had finally found the man.
After a long time of looking at each of the people's faces in the crowds and dismissing their status profile. He found him, a very familiar name for him.
He was a shady one, to be precise, someone who looked a lot more like a bandit than a civilian.
Everything tells the young man he should know about this man. Through his face and through the status window that is only unique to gift holders who were blessed with 'Identification'.
[LV3][Mintoro Livingdale: 23,403 / 23,403][Status: Normal]
He had received this Gift years ago. Although he could no longer remember how. He still knew he got it was when he was 10 years old.
Non-holders of this Gift can still see their statuses, but it is only limited to themselves, unlike him who could take a peek at everyone with available data his Identification could give.
"Mintoro."
The young man called out, taking the attention of the man who, still, had his eyes set on the encroaching people.
"Ja..? Oh. Yes?" The man jolted in surprise while scratching the back of his head. He took a second to search for the speaker who called out his name. He had a face of panic for a moment until he realized it was the masked young man who was standing idly by his side. He feigned an aloof look into the young man and spoke in a joking manner.
"Well... Hahaha, forgive my short-sightedness. Erm, my good sir? Have a moment to this old fellow?"
"I have a queer business with you. I hope you'd entertain this poor fellow for a moment? Let us speak while we take a walk." The young man said as he gave a bow ere gave attention to his surroundings. "Tis place is crowded, noisy and unwell to have our businesses be spoke of."
"Speak to me? Uh, that is rather... Sudden, I presume. May I have the liberty to ask who you are, my good sir?"
"It will be quite troublesome to introduce ourselves in this place." The young man abruptly added with caution. "There are too many ears in this place. Hopefully, you'd agree to go with me, since it deals with the lines..."
"Hmm. That's surprising. Quite. That is really unheard of. Really. Perhaps, my good sir is taking me for a fool?" Mintoro said while laughing. "This might be an issue... Considering you're well unknown to me, my good sir. I've been known to this place as someone terrible and scary- enough to give my good dear sir an unpaid installment plan to the local hospitallers. I say yes?"
"That is intriguing, perhaps, you'll fill the void between people's entertainment 'round here if you start telling it to the locals of how mighty you are? Your humor might be scant of use and earn more than you do right now. I'll give you that, Mr. Cross-over-the-line."
"You're hilarious. I wonder how your mother groomed such a rude young fellow like you? Oh, schnei-... Excuses. That is very indeed rude of me. Now, that is somewhat of my scary side, I say."
"I may say rough things but as the olden ones speak, if it hurts, it is most likely gives a good ol' damn impression to both your heart and mind. So give me a good laugh on my behavior, shall you?" Mintoro said while smiling.
"Silly enough." The young man exhaled heavily as he slowly calmed his heating expression of his mind.
Mintoro's sudden argument nearly made the young man back into giving such an aggressive manner. He wasn't used to being made fun of as he only knows how to look down upon the low leveled masses due to his considerably high level. The young man wouldn't back down in any fights unless it is a higher leveled person, but this man- Mintoro - is just a mere level 3. He could beat him into a pulp if he wanted but he chooses to stay calm and acquire this silly person's help in crossing the border.
After all, getting into the borders of the Church is difficult even for him.
... He was nearly caught when he entered the Grimayus Valley.
And there were high-level knights lying in wait nearby. Seemingly waiting for a troublemaker to beat their sore muscles into. Getting into a fight with other people would mean seeing either the dungeon or the coffin in the heat of the moment.
"Hark. Closely. Your face is familiar. I doubt you'll remember someone beyond the borders once the pouches' had a fill." The young man said monotonously. "But I do remember you. Consider it a final word in this place."
Mintoro's smile withered at the spur of the young man's words. He did not speak any further and seemingly reaching out for something well-hidden in his belt. He looked surprised with sweat falling down from his forehead. Though he did not leak any further emotions nor a bloodlust.
The young man could tell that this very man in front of him is skilled in hidden businesses that deadmen only count. His intention, however, is very obvious. It lacked the skillfulness that one would require when making a quick clear of a person without the attention of the said subject.
It was as if he's making the other party a fool of them, or, a vividly showing his action through a large swing that could be seen from afar.
But he never released an inch of bloodlust or hostility. He still had that gaudy expressive face of his.
The young man gave Mintoro points on his lucidity.
"Enough." The young man said before Mintoro had reached the handle hidden behind his belt. "Your old steel friend at the back of the belt and the angle of your wrist... You were planning on throwing that blade of yours into the right angle to make it look like some sort of, well-executed, far-away assassination, am I not right..?"
"My good dear sir has good eyes. It is precisely the action I'd take in this regard," Mintoro said, seemingly saddened by the fact his actions were exposed. He returns his gaudy expressive face of his in the instant he lowered his hand and gave the young man a wide smile. "However. That was not the case I'm going after."
Mintoro gave out a slight curve of his lips and swiftly took the handle behind his belt immediately and threw it to the young man. "I remember that mask, my good sir. You pay dearly. I would not miss the chance of acquiring more wealth from someone like you, no? Meet us in that marked location in the night."
"We'll leave candles before the dawn. Keep a time of it now."
The young man gave a nod before he left for the depths of the town. Mintoro turned his head over to the crowd and stood to wait, seemingly searching for more costumers drag along onto his business.
The young man took out a pamphlet and made his way to his lounging.