"Just a few more hours, and we'll be within the border of Barou." Gale raised his hand and spoke to us.

"If it's only a few more hours, shouldn't we see it already? The trees here aren't as dense." Lukia questions Gale. He gives her a smirk before continuing to lead the party.

"Don't you remember what they said about the Guild Hub town Barou, which has a magical tower in the center?"

"I think I heard something like that."

Gale's smirk grows, and he rubs his nose as he speaks, "That tower was made using some pretty awesome magic that some grand mages of Detoria had crafted hundreds of years ago. They worked with Gnomes and Dwarves to craft a machine that creates a cloak of invisibility in a set radius. Barou so happens to be very important to Guild trades, imports, exports, and secrets that one of few of these towers were built in these Guild Hubs."

"A tower of both magic and science? How is that possible?" Lukia was left amazed and jaw open at the mere mention of the tower's creation. I hardly could laugh, given my condition, yet I still grinned.

"Detoria, the land of great mages of various crafts and inventions, craft many unique things that have slowly begun to show up on our side of the world."

"But why did it take so long to show up here?" Lukia rode next to Gale to listen further. I kept pace with Herk; he didn't mind my company. Ivian and Yann stayed further back to watch our flank.

"I've been to Barou once before. Just before making it big with this group, I used to know people in Barou who let me in on some secrets and knowledge of other countries. It was the most I could do here since I wasn't really registered with a Guild or party to be kept long. Detoria is across the sea to the far west. It would take several months on a boat or just a few days on a skyship, but getting on that is impossible for us."

Skyship.

That word caught me off guard the moment he said it. "Gale, what is a skyship?" I interjected; my own thirst for knowledge overcame my barriers.

"You too, huh? Apparently, this skyship was made using magic stones and steam-powered machinery. Gnomes, with their infinite creativity for inventions, and the Dwarves ingenuity and robust crafting knowledge, designed this one all on their own. Using the machines, they use the heated steam from the magical stones, which powers the ship to take flight. It looks like a fancy boat on water but only in the air." As he continued on with his words, I kept drawing closer to Gale. Hearing of such marvels irked my mind to know more.

"You're telling me something that big can fly in the sky?" Bright stars filled her eyes as she fawned over the idea of riding a skyship; the concept fried Lukia's brain.

"The Gnomes and Dwarves who crafted the first one years ago said it took them years of planning and even longer to build a working ship. With enough time and innovation, we might be seeing skyships become a normal way of travel before long."

Gale continued for the next hour, detailing a lot of what he found out during his time in Barou and what his connections gave him information-wise. Most of us initially started to doubt his ramblings as his imaginations, yet he spoke with such certainty that we couldn't hold that suspicion for long.

The lords and ladies of Detoria were so greedy and prideful that they wouldn't share any of the technologies for many years. Information I already knew in history books told me that many great mages who graduate from Coldhenge Magical University, within the continent near the Empire and Duldat, are given invitations to Detoria to use their talents for future innovations and technology—much of anything else I couldn't find in the books I had in my room.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Barou should be visible shortly. The guards should be waiting for us at the front gates." Gale turns to me and slowly rides back to match my pace. "I know everyone here has accepted you regardless of whether you have Demon magic or not, but Barou has some guests that might treat you unkindly for your hair. Keep your hood up until we reach the temple to avoid the trouble."

My eyes were heavy with exhaustion. The curse had slowly continued to spread. I felt tired and weak much more during the day. Gale gently lifted my hood over my eyes, only leaving my nose and mouth in view. I patted my head and looked down to avoid anyone's eyes.

As we passed through the barrier, I felt a weird wave of warmth envelop me. Raising my head to see the new scenery, the direct reaction of seeing a massive city with a large mechanical tower with magic stones fitted onto the top had made a transparent bubble of magic over the entire place. A few mutterings of awe escaped me and Lukia as we reacted similarly. Everyone else besides Gale looked with wonder.

"Halt! Who approaches?" Awaiting us were several armed guards. Massive suits of armor and helms, their designs were simple city guards with the Barou crest upon their left shoulder. Gale raised his hand for us to stop and got off his horse alone.

"We come from the mountains east of here. We are the adventuring party from Saiana village taking on the Platinum quest that was posted in Barou. If you need proof, I have the entry papers in my satchel." The head guard nods and requests Gale to hand it to him.

Upon reading the paper with the signed signature of the Guild Master Nana Xei, he returns the paper to Gale. Meanwhile, the rest of the guards slowly flank us in protocol. One of such gets close to me and examines my face closely, his eyes peering at my features.

"Phantom Blades? That is your party?" The guard asks.

"That is us, Gale Lurick, party leader, at your service."

"Hmph, you seem kind of small to be taking on such a quest."

"We may not be bigger than most parties taking this quest, but I wouldn't harm my companions if I knew we weren't ready." Gale takes the papers back from the guard, who looks at us and spots me.

"You there, take off your hood! I need to see your faces if you want to gain entry." I freeze as the guard next to me reaches for the hood. It might cause problems if they find out who I am. I begin to reach to stop him, but Lukia steps in and leaps off her horse. The guards draw their spears on her, who stops the guard.

"What are you-"

Gale steps in and puts his hands up. "I'm sorry, captain! Our young companion was inflicted with a curse on our journey here to Barou. Nasty witchcraft, we planned on taking the opportunity to use the temple within the walls to cure his affliction. It's spread to his face, and to avoid scaring anyone, we hoped to avoid removing the hood until we purified his body." With his smooth tongue, Gale comes up with a reasonable lie.

"Is that so? Is the curse contagious?" A small sweat drips along the guard's forehead.

"Very much so, my companion might be a bit too aggressive, but she was only protecting your men from being affected by the same curse. Excuse her impoliteness, and we shall care for him as soon as possible."

The guard swallows hard before clearing his throat. "Let them be! I permit entry to the Phantom Blades. Make sure you visit the temple and sort him out before some unlucky soul catches whatever witchcraft that has taken him."

"Will do, sir! Thank you, we shall be swiftly on our way." Gale's voice is much softer and higher. Forcing such a personality had some of us wanting to laugh at him.

"Are you okay, Caleb?" Lukia asks after letting the guard go. I simply nod and refrain from speaking a word in order to keep up the guise. I didn't intend or envision that my first time in such a city would be sneaking in for my sake, but here we are.

Slipping past the guards without issue, Gale sighs and smacks Herk on the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?" Herk responds while grabbing at Gale.

"Just needed to let out some steam. I reallllyyyy wanted to punch that captain so hard in his stupid face. And I also saw you snicker at my voice! As my friend, I think just punching your arm is a blessing punishment."

"Hey, none of us seen you act so friendly to a prick like that," Yann says while chuckling. Ivian joins in with Yann. Lukia holds onto my hand as we continue to ride toward the temple. We dodged that issue just fine, but the temple will need to see my hair to treat my curse. Knots filled my stomach just thinking about the possibilities and outcomes that might arise if word gets out...