Their carriage pulled into the waypoint, which was a large, gated area with many travelers moving in and out.
White Blades guarded the perimeter, patrolling around the civilians and into some of the surrounding forest.
Many carriages lined up and had passengers setting up camps each chatting with each other around a small bonfire.
The old man stopped and got down from the driver’s seat, taking a well-needed stretch.
He opened a small chest from behind his seat and revealed some travel rations, dried meat, and fruit along with some water.
It was a humble meal for a man of meager earnings.
Aleius watched as the man tended to his horses, feeding them from his hands and releasing the weight of the carriage from their backs.
The man was grumpy, but he was honest, and honesty was all too rare in the three realms. Noticing Aleius eyeing the dried foods, the old man shook his head.
“I’ve only got enough for myself and my horses. Not my fault you soft hands didn’t pack for a trip.” He had a slight smile as he spoke. “Look around maybe someone else will take pity on you.”
Aleius scanned around the bonfire, passengers sat close making meals that left a pleasant aroma drifting throughout the waypoint.
Many different types of people, from those wearing robes designed similarly to his, to those whose robes were of red silk and weaved completely different from his.
There were even a few who wore armored bracers and shoes with a tunic and leggings.
It seemed professions varied greatly, and he and Baltar might not be the only non-natives in the area.
The ones who looked out place was that oversized carriage that caught his eye previously on the road.
The bonfire flickered illuminating the white carriage with a blue lotus.
Strangely, the passengers were all women who wore the same-colored robe, blue with a stylish white trim.
It was in no way inferior to the quality of his own. They wore small white shoes and matching white leggings that flaunted their long legs
‘A higher class.’ he nodded.
Probably nobles in their homeland here for the tournament.
What interested him was the way the mana reacted to the women, condensing into cold thin air.
Three of them sat on white cushioned chairs with small red carpets under their feet.
A servant attended their every move, holding a plate for them while they drank tea, another servant cooked something that smelled like mutton, but it had magical properties from various other ingredients.
Then he saw it.
One of the girls took her finger and conjured an ice cube dropping it into her teacup before taking a sip with her small pink lips.
Aleius’s blue eyes focused, feeling the three women’s presence. He was only 20 feet away, but he had a hard time feeling it.
Not that it was being hidden, but it was just so pitiful from the world-shaking presences of deities and divines.
The others around the bonfire were different. The other families, merchants, and travelers seemed to avoid going anywhere near that white carriage.
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“That the one you were talking about before?” the old man watched his eyes and spoke.
“Hm?”
“That white carriage, that the one?”
Aleius nodded.
“Thems be mages. I don’t know why they are taking the road. Most of the schools fly into Toyo, on those big fancy airships, ya know?”
Aleius didn’t know but he nodded anyway.
“They look like pretty high-class mages, so It’s a stumper, but I don’t recommend going over there unless you’ve got a death wish. The White Blades will easily turn a blind eye to people like them.
Aleius didn’t reply right away, which made the old man step closer.
“Listen I was once young and reckless too. Those girls over there are beautiful, rich, and most importantly powerful. As your senior let me tell you, there is a lot more to live for.”
“I understand.” Aleius raised his brow as the elderly man walked away and started to set up his own tent.
He was touched by his genuine concern, but it was not him he needed to worry about.
As on cue Baltar yawned stretching his arms from the back of the carriage. He stepped off and looked at Aleius sleepily, his long hair was messy, and he had a bit of drool on his robe sleeve.
“What happened to me?” he seemed confused about his state.
“You feel asleep. Your new body requires rest.”
Baltar’s stomach growled and he peered down at it bewildered.
“What in the 9 spirals is happening to me?”
Aleius chuckled, “You’ll need to eat as well to keep your strength up.”
The auburn-haired man looked at him stunned, his red lips hanging open, his hair still a mess upon his head.
“While you’re not aging, you are still effectively a mortal, you’ll have to live like one for now.”
Baltar sighed his arms slumping forward. “Do all mortals have such little control of their bodies?”
Aleius laughed at the question, his fangs showing his delight.
“It’s not funny.” Baltar pouted, “I remember fighting this guy in hell who could move his organs around at will. I tried to stab him in the heart, and he shifted it to the other side of his chest.”
Aleius did not say anything. He believed Baltar usually but that was farfetched even in a hell realm.
Seeing Aleius’s face he tried to double down, but he smelled a sweet aroma that made his mouth water.
Baltar rubbed his chin as he saw the trio of beautiful ladies being attended by servants. The stew they were cooking smelled delicious, but he looked at the blue robes that were high cut at the hip, and white leggings that showed off their elegant figures. He had always been more of a carnivore.
Seeing that glint in his golden eyes, Aleius sighed.
“Notice that everyone is avoiding them, even the grumpy old man was kind enough to caution me against interacting with them.”
“What could possibly happen? There are guards everywhere, it is not like they would attack me in front of everyone.” Baltar shrugged, then tried to tidy up his appearance.
“Apparently mages are above the law. The old man said the White Blades will not help you.”
“Then what use are they?” Baltar laughed. “Well, if they try to kill me, I’ll just break my seal and save myself.”
Aleius grimaced. He knew it.
He knew Baltar could break the seal Balshana put on him, all he needed was a reason.
“Don’t pretend like I don’t know what you’re up to.”
“What?” Baltar smiled innocently.
Aleius sighed. “Your bloodline is not dormant; you just cannot draw from it. Which is apparent from you getting sleepy, but not fatigued, hungry but only after it has been over an entire day, which seems to be longer in this realm.”
He shifted his eyes to the dark sky, “I’ve even heard the term half night and second day which is apt for how long the sun took to set.”
“Dammit.” Baltar cursed, which made Aleius smile as he continued.
“Baltar, your passive powers are still in effect. So, if you die… you’ll rebirth like the phoenix you are so unless you, me or… anyone else we care about is facing a true death that seal cannot be broken.”
Being lectured like a child made Baltar antsy, but it was cute how seriously Aleius took their task.
In the end, he just shrugged, in his opinion, Gose might as well be a retirement home for him to have fun.
Black Cosmic Dragon be damned. If he couldn’t kill it no one could and rallying all magekind was impractical. He didn’t want to shatter Aleius’s hope, but the chances that reality as they know it was about to be erased and remade in those deep red eyes of the Black Cosmic Dragon was quite plausible.
Algamak was the Celestial Archmage.
He consolidated all the power of heaven and for him to be dominated and turned into a slave was concerning. Although he always felt he could defeat Algamak himself, he was the only man in existence who could step up to him.
That dragon ruined everything…
He could no longer be the enabler of magekind to be as self-centered, greedy, and as egocentric as it is.
In all realms the strongest rule, it is the golden law.
A law he defended for his mother, sisters, and friends.
But now that he was defeated, it was different.
His blood sisters and mother aside, Aleius the Raiju was the only comrade who heeded his call.
The only brother in arms that followed him to the Apex of Heaven to challenge Algamak.
He scoffed inwardly.
They dared to call him their hero.
He looked into the night sky, through the countless stars.
He hoped the heavens were burning.
That each star up there was fighting to their last, so in their final moments, they could see how futile their selfishness was.
How fleeting that need to rule over others is, and ultimately how powerless they truly are.
It was time for a change.