Chapter 13

The train hummed softly beneath them, its motion so smooth that Eli barely felt the shift from rolling countryside to the outskirts of Brightvale.

It started subtly—the scattered farmsteads and open fields giving way to winding roads, clusters of smaller towns, and industrial hubs lining the route. Then, the skyline emerged.

Brightvale was massive. Not just in size, but in presence.

Towering structures stretched toward the sky, bathed in the neon glow of mana conduits that pulsed in synchronized patterns.

Elevated walkways crisscrossed the buildings like webs of energy, while sleek transport lines weaved through the air, carrying passengers between the different districts.

From a distance, it looked like something out of a futuristic sci-fi film, but up close, the city was more than just technology—it was artistry.

The intricate carvings and embedded runes decorating the architecture weren’t just for show. They breathed with mana, a living system woven into the very foundations of the city.

The streets below pulsed with movement—Fae gliding through the air, Beastkin slipping effortlessly through the crowded walkways, towering Draconids standing like sentinels among them.

The glow of enchanted lanterns mixed with the hum of mana-powered vehicles, and somewhere in the distance, a deep chime rang through the city, marking the passing hour.

Eli let out a breath.

"Ho-ly shit." Eli said in disbelief.

Alira, seated across from him, smirked slightly but didn’t comment.

Eli kept staring, his mind turning over everything he’d seen in the past few days.

Every step through this world had pushed against his expectations.

When he first heard ‘mana’ he was thinking of medieval fantasy—swords, castles, mages hurling fireballs. And yet, here he was, staring at a metropolis that looked like the future and the past woven together seamlessly.

And Alira had seen all of it.

She wasn’t surprised by Brightvale. Wasn’t staring in awe at the technological marvels, the hovering trams, or the mana-weaving networks that pulsed beneath the surface of the city. She just sat there, calm, composed, completely unfazed.

Eli glanced at her, something clicking in his mind.

This world was ancient. And so was she.

"Okay." Eli turned to face her fully. "So. ‘The Grace.’"

Alira exhaled through her nose, already sensing where this was going. “What about it?”

Eli gestured vaguely at the city.

“Look, I don’t know a lot about this world, but I do know that people don’t just get called something like ‘The Grace’ for fun.” He squinted at her.

“That’s not a nickname. That’s a legendary figure name. What does it actually mean?” He asked, with none of his normal sarcasm in his tone.

Alira tilted her head slightly, as if considering whether or not to answer. “It’s just a name people have given me over time.”

Eli gave her a look. “Uh-huh. And why exactly did they give you that name?”

She shrugged. “Because I tend to walk into difficult situations… and make them less difficult.”

Eli narrowed his eyes. “That is the vaguest, least informative way to describe legendary status.”

Alira didn’t respond immediately. Her gaze drifted toward the window, watching the city approach with a quiet sort of weight in her expression.

Eli studied her, realizing for the first time just how old she must be.

Not in appearance—no, Alira barely looked older than her mid-twenties.

But the way she carried herself, the way she spoke, the way people reacted to her name—it was the weight of centuries.

Finally, she spoke.

“I’ve been present for a lot of moments in history. Some that shaped regions, some that decided wars. When people don’t know how to describe you, they create something that makes sense to them.”

She met his gaze, calm and unreadable. “In some places, I am feared. In others, I am revered. But the truth is much simpler.”

Eli blinked. “Which is?”

Alira’s lips twitched slightly, almost like she was amused by his persistence. “I walk into rooms, and people listen.”

He let that sink in.

“…You mean to tell me that you’ve just walked into a room full of warlords, and they backed down?”

Alira gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. “It’s happened.”

Eli exhaled, leaning back against his seat. “Damn.” He pointed at her. “I need to hear all of those stories.”

Alira only shook her head, amused but not answering. “Some other time.”

The train slowed, and the lights of Brightvale reflected in her eyes.

Eli knew then, without a doubt, that whatever history she carried—it was bigger than anything he could imagine.

The train pulled into the Brightvale Central Station, slowing to an effortless stop.

There was no screeching of brakes, no jolt of impact—just a smooth, precise deceleration.

The mana-infused steel rails pulsed faintly, syncing with the train’s core as the car doors slid open with a quiet hiss.

The platform was just as sleek and polished as the train itself—high arches of mana-tempered steel, illuminated signs hovering in mid-air, guiding passengers to their designated areas.

A constant hum of energy vibrated through the air, almost like the city itself was alive.

Eli followed Alira through the terminal, trying not to gawk at the sheer amount of people moving through the station.

This wasn’t like the village, where everything was slower, deliberate, or even Midland, which had an industrial, functional edge.

Brightvale was fast.

Crowds moved with purpose.

Mana-tethered walkways suspended above their heads carried pedestrians effortlessly through different station levels, tram lines wove through elevated platforms, and automated transport units glided silently between terminals.

Floating runic billboards shifted in midair, cycling through advertisements and announcements.

And then his HUD went ballistic.

☰ Item: Mana-Tethered Walkway

☰ Material: Lightened Alloy, Mana Stabilization Runes

☰ Description: Suspended pedestrian walkways infused with Wind and Earth mana to maintain balance and support heavy foot traffic.

☰ Item: Mana Advert Display

☰ Material: Arcane Projection Crystal, Static Casting Field

☰ Description: Brightvale’s primary method of commercial advertising. Displays runic imprints that shift dynamically with scheduled updates.

☰ Item: Brightvale Streetlamp

☰ Material: Forged Steel, Continuous Mana Flow

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☰ Description: Self-sustaining streetlights powered by Light mana cores. Activated at dusk, recharges during daylight hours.

☰ Item: Brightvale Transit Hub – Public Information Board

☰ Material: Runic Interface, Citywide Data Link

☰ Description: Displays live transport schedules, emergency alerts, and regional updates. Linked to Brightvale’s city core network.

☰ Item: Brightvale Currency Exchange Kiosk

☰ Material: Engraved Steel, Automated Mana Reader

☰ Description: Converts regional currency based on current market rates. Connected to the Coin Guild’s official trade network.

☰ ALERT: Your map has been updated! New area information available. Would you like to customize notifications?

Eli stumbled slightly, pressing a hand to his temple. “Oh my god.”

Alira didn’t even slow down. “What?”

“That thing I am not supposed to talk about, just a lot of info all at once.” Eli said as he was rubbing his temples.

“Are you okay? Do we need to stop for a moment?” Never slowing while asking him.

“I am fine, just need these freaking notifications to stop popping up.” He waved his hand in front of his face, trying to clear the flood of pop-ups.

As if responding to his frustration, a new prompt appeared.

☰ HUD NOTIFICATION SETTINGS

Your system is receiving too much new data at once. Would you like to customize notifications?

☐ Blinking Icon Only – Non-essential updates will be stored for later viewing.

☐ Think-to-Request – Information will be logged, but only displayed when you consciously focus on an item.

☑ Vital Alerts Only – Only urgent or new physical interactions will trigger immediate display.

Eli immediately selected Vital Alerts Only, and the onslaught of pop-ups vanished.

“Okay. Much better.” He sighed. “I can’t believe I’ve been walking around with this thing set to max notifications this whole time.”

Alira gave him a side glance. “It’s literally giving you the ability to process the world around you at an accelerated rate, and you’re complaining?”

“I mean, I love my all-knowing Mana AI and all,” Eli muttered, “but if I have to read one more description of ‘how the local streetlights work,’ I’m going to lose it.”

Towering spires lined the horizon, their glowing mana conduits pulsing faintly. Streams of people flooded the streets, moving between shops, street vendors, and transit stations.

Trams zipped past overhead, hovercrafts drifted through dedicated flight paths, and sprawling market districts stretched into the distance.

Brightvale was alive in a way no place Eli had seen before was.

And then, Alira pulled her hood up slightly.

As Alira steered them towards the exit, she stopped at the arrival and departure board on the wall, she glanced at the station’s departures.

“No train to Irondale until morning,” she muttered.

Eli, already distracted by the sheer futuristic-meets-fantasy aesthetic of the city, barely registered her words. “Huh?”

Alira stepped over to a nearby kiosk, pressing her palm against the interface.

The metallic panel glowed, and a small drawer slid open, revealing two thin, engraved metal cards with runic inscriptions. She dropped four silver coins into the slot, and the transaction was done.

She handed one to Eli. “Train leaves at sunrise. Private car.”

Eli turned the card over in his hands. His HUD pinged.

☰ Item: Brightvale Transit Pass – Private Cabin

☰ Material: Engraved Mana Plate

☰ Description: First-class train pass for reserved transport. Linked to holder’s mana signature.

He grinned. “Magic train tickets, never gets old.”

He opened his inventory and discreetly dropped it in.

Alira ignored him and headed toward the inn’s entrance.

Eli followed, but something was bothering him.

“You don’t seem thrilled about this whole ‘spending the night’ thing.”

Alira pressed a palm to another runic panel, and the inn’s doors unlocked with a soft chime.

As they stepped inside, she finally answered.

“We check in. We stay there. We do not draw attention to ourselves.”

Eli frowned. “Why?”

She exhaled, glancing around briefly before lowering her voice.

“Because this is the kind of place where people ask questions.”

“…And that’s bad?”

Alira turned to face him fully, her expression unreadable.

“For now? Yes.”

Eli considered that. Then considered the massive, glowing, bustling city stretched out before him. Then looked back at the very normal-looking inn.

“…You expect me to sit in a room all day?”

Alira didn’t answer.

But her look was answer enough.

Eli paced near the inn window, staring out at the bright, bustling city with barely contained energy.

“Come on, Alira.” He turned, hands in his pockets. “I’m in a whole new world, in one of the biggest cities I’ve ever seen, and you want me to just sit in a room all night?”

Eli groaned, tilting his head back. “Come on. Just a lap around the block? Five minutes.”

Alira exhaled through her nose. “Not a good idea.”

Eli clasped his hands together. “Please. Just across the street, then. Five steps. I promise I won’t touch anything important.”

“You say that now,” she muttered.

He leaned in. “We don’t even have to go far! Just across the street! Look, there’s a vendor selling—” He squinted out the window. “—whatever that is. I don’t even know, but I’m willing to bet it’s delicious.”

Alira sighed through her nose, rubbing her temple. “Eli—”

“Look, I get it,” he cut in, leaning against the wall. “Big city, big problems, people ask questions. But we’re literally right here. Across the street. No suspicious behavior, no wandering into trouble, just food and back.”

She studied him for a long moment, then exhaled sharply. “Fine.”

Eli grinned.

“But,” she added, standing, “we go, we eat, we come back.”

He pressed his hands together in mock reverence. “I swear, O Gracious One.”

Alira gave him an unimpressed look. “First of all, never call me that again, second, if we can get over there get the food and come back with no issues I’ll even let you ask me questions while we eat.”

Eli pumped his fist. “Yes!”

And accidentally put his elbow through the wall.

A solid hole, elbow-sized and cleanly punched straight through the material.

His HUD immediately flared to life.

☰ Item: Inn Wall – Standard Durability

☰ Material: Mana-Fused Clay & Reinforced Timber

☰ Enchantment: Auto-Repair – Structural integrity restores over time.

☰ Durability: 95/100 (-5)

Eli watched, wide-eyed, as the hole in the wall mended itself—the clay shifting and smoothing over, until there was nothing left but a faint, almost imperceptible scar in the surface.

Eli blinked. “Did… Did I just knock a hole through a wall?”

Alira massaged her temples. “Yes.”

Eli exhaled. “And did that hole just fix itself?”

Alira still messaging her temples. “Yes.”

Eli grinned, “That is so cool.”

Alira grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the door. “Come on before you destroy something else.”

As soon as they stepped outside, Eli’s breath caught.

Brightvale was a symphony of movement and light.

The streets were filled with a diverse mix of vehicles—sleek, hovering transports gliding seamlessly along designated mana-tethered lanes. No wheels, no visible propulsion, just pure, controlled mana energy.

People bustled through the walkways—humans, Fae, Draconids, Beastkin. The majority seemed human, but Eli was pretty sure he saw an Elf, her silver hair flowing as she moved effortlessly through the crowd.

He put his hand on the vehicle that was parked on the street next to the Inn they were staying. His HUD flared.

☰ Item: Mana-Glide Vehicle – Brightvale Model

☰ Material: Arcane Alloy, Lightened Mana Core

☰ Description: A common mode of transport in major cities. Powered by contained mana flow, allowing smooth travel without friction.

He turned to say something to Alira, only to completely miss the two massive humanoid figures approaching from his left.

Eli ran directly into them.

A solid thud followed, and Eli stumbled back, his HUD flashing as his body made contact.

☰ Entity: Monster Guild Guard – Silver Rank

☰ Name: Rhett Vaelor

☰ Affinity: Earth Mana

☰ Designation: Patrol Enforcer

☰ Equipment: Standard Guild Armor, Mana-Stabilized Baton

“Watch it,” the guard snapped, steadying himself. He was heavily armored, thick-set, and had the distinct presence of someone who enjoyed authority a little too much.

“My bad,” Eli said quickly. “Didn’t see you there.”

He tried to step back, but the guard wasn’t done.

“Stop.” His voice carried an edge of irritation. “You copper-level idiots need to learn to watch where you’re walking.”

Eli frowned. “Wow, seems like being as ass isn’t isolated to just Earth?”

“What did you say?” The guard grunted.

Then, almost without thinking, he glanced at the man’s HUD entry again.

Silver Rank.

A smirk tugged at the edge of Eli’s lips. “Huh. Seems about right.”

The guard narrowed his eyes. “What?”

Eli tilted his head slightly. “You’re being only Silver, so why are we acting like you are some gold tier badass?”

The temperature around them seemed to drop.

Alira stepped in immediately. “He’s new,” she said, voice calm. “Not used to the busy streets. I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

She placed a gentle hand on Eli’s shoulder and made to turn him away.

The guard wasn’t having it.

“ID.” His tone was sharp.

Alira sighed. Slowly.

She turned back. “He doesn’t have one yet,” she said, voice level. “We’re en route to the Capital to get him properly registered.”

The guard didn’t look convinced. “Then let’s see yours.”

Without hesitation, Alira extended her hand.

The guard pulled a rectangular device from his belt—opposite the red baton. He held it over her palm, and the screen blinked... then went black.

A beat of silence.

The guard’s brow furrowed. He tapped the device. It remained unresponsive.

“What the hell?” The guard looked at Alira and then over his shoulder to the other guard. “Use yours, mine went blank.”

Then, things got worse.

More Monster Guild Guards noticed the exchange and began approaching. People in the street started slowing down, whispering.

A ripple of awareness spread through the crowd.

Then an older woman stepped through the guards walking to the two guards that had stopped Eli and Alira. She had Dark auburn hair, streaks of silver framing her face and had piercing golden-brown eyes that seem to see through everyone.

She was dressed simply, but carried an undeniable presence. There was a brief, almost imperceptible nod between her and Alira.

Then, she leaned in and whispered something into the guard’s ear.

Eli strained his hearing, but for the first time since arriving in this world...

He couldn’t make out the words.

The noise, the city, the sheer number of people—it was all too much interference.

The woman placed her hand on the ID device, Eli noticed subtle mana markings along her wrists, faintly visible under her neatly tailored sleeves and for a moment, there was a shift in the air.

The guard stiffened, standing up straighter.

The other guards immediately took notice. A few exchanged quick glances, then the one that Eli bumped into stepped forward and nodded sharply.

“Apologies. You’re free to go.” The Guard said, never making eye contact with Alira or Eli.

Just like that, the tension evaporated.

The guards dispersed, leaving Eli and Alira standing in the middle of the walkway.

The older woman finally turned to Alira.

“Alira.” Her voice was measured, calm. “This is quite the surprise.”

Her eyes never leaving Alira’s.

Not evening giving a moment’s notice to Eli.

Alira showed no sign of emotion. She simply nodded.

The woman smiled faintly. “Why don’t we find a place to chat? In private.”

Eli, feeling very much like the least important person in the conversation, glanced at Alira.

Alira, with that same unreadable expression, simply nodded once.

Alira turned and headed back to the Inn, Eli just followed behind Alira and the strange lady.

As Alira opened the door to their room, gesturing for her to go in, Eli walked in after the woman and leaned in whispering to Alira, “Does this mean I don’t get food?”

Alira chuckled walking in and closing the door behind her.