The quartet soon arrived in front of the Silent branch, their masks on and ready to go. Keen was carrying a box with invisible chains in the air, pulling it behind his back. They entered the branch; the manager saw them and instantly took them to a backroom.
Not waiting long, they went down into a teleportation chamber, several other people were standing around or moving about in the branch, but none of them looked at Alaric’s group, no matter where they moved. Even if they hadn’t had masks on, no one would be able to recognize them outside, silence was truly a core attribute of theirs.
Once they arrived, Keen dropped the box next to the manager, who didn’t look into it but just told a servant to carry it away. The manager seemed like he wanted to say something, but Alaric didn’t give him room “Can we start?”
They went into the middle of the teleportation circle and waited without saying anything. Their luggage? It was carried in their mask, a spatial tool. Void magic had very close relations to Space, of course, space magic would be better, but that was a different affinity.
The Mask didn’t have advanced runes on them, like time slowing effects to conserve, or large space expansions. The Void magic worked differently than Space magic. It didn’t enlarge an existing space and created a space pocket, no, it simply claimed space in the void and used that as storage. In one way, it was better, since expansion was easier than through space magic, but in another way it is worse.
Any magic besides Void magic is, well, void. Void is the state in which nothing exists, the Void Gods created an affinity at one point, so it’s core-point was that Void would reject any other magic. It was fine if you had an anchor and with other ways, but storing something in the void meant that any affinity or magic-runes on the items would rust and fall with time.
This also meant that no other runes could be used in the void. In essence, the mask was a small teleportation-tool which transported things from a place in the void to you. The risks are numerous, and there are many demerits. The only ‘true’ merit was that as long as you had strength, you would be able to store as much crap as you want.
Why did Alaric use it anyways? Simple – everything he had was literally crap without magic runes on them, he only needed it for transportation, but a far larger reason was that he could use it as a defensive measure. Any weapon that comes close to the mask would instantly be transported to the void, where the connection to the owner would instantly be destroyed and it would be the best way to restrict the weapon. If it was something that would hurt Alaric, like an anchor for a curse, then the item could simply be put into the void for some time, making the curse null.
It was easier said than done, but this was still a very good countermeasure, Space magic couldn’t do this, the Space Pocket would still be near to the owner, and the item would still have its innate abilities, making an escape very easy. On the way it would also destroy the space item.
The teleportation circle activated, and particles flew all around, while the manager smiled wryly. He had thought this was a chance for him to make connections, who knew that the other party wouldn’t even give him any room to talk, not to mention flatter.
Sparks and Sparkles surrounded the quartet all around, moving abound. Their bodies disintegrated into particles, not something they could feel at all. Their body felt like it should, it was just as if there was a strong wind swaying them around.
And they swayed, swayed till their bodies fully consisted of particles. The particles made a circular motion, then dived into the centre of the circle.
As if there was a hole in a calm pond. All the water pulled into it, leaving nothing behind. The manager and the servants all around didn’t react. Once all particles left, the teleportation circle’s light dimmed a lot, some words disappeared too.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Alright, clean up everything and repair the circle. Remember, it has to always be ready!”
…
Alaric and his group didn’t lose conscious like one might think. It was just that there wasn’t much to see. They flied through a hole in the plane, as if it was a rabbit hole, all dark around them and their senses didn’t work well either, they only felt like themselves once there was a bright light. Particles formed in a different place and their bodies came to be once again.
There was no discomfort, their bodies remained the same and nothing changed, it was only weird for their senses, it was as if there was a block in front of them for a few seconds, but this was enough for the senses to be confused, like when you twirl around in a very speedy manner.
Ordinary people would feel nausea, but ordinary people wouldn’t use teleportation circles, and all others would be fine after a few seconds of adjustment. That was the case for Alaric’s group, although they had two 0th circles, their quantity of affinity offset their lack of essence.
Once they were fully formed and ready, they stepped down from the teleportation circle. The light dimmed and all around them were several different circles with clerks standing around. One of those came towards Alaric and bowed as he greeted them “Welcome to the Southern Continent’s Central Harbour! Let me bring you to the reception, where you can discuss any further travels.”
Seeing neither rejection nor questions, the clerks assumed that there was agreement, and he went in front of them to lead them towards the reception. It wasn’t far away at all, after just a turn into the corridor, away from the teleportation circles, a few more steps and they were in a large hall with several entrances.
The group was greeted “Welcome! How may I help you?”
Alaric looked at the receptionist and said, “I would like to take a ship to the Central Continent.”
The receptionist, a cute lady, was about to say something with a small frown, when she was stopped by Kendricks movement. He had taken a few important documents they’d need to take out into a small bag. Looking into the bag for a second, he immediately knew where the paper he was looking for was at.
He pulled it out and handed it to Alaric, who then turned it and showed the ‘Special Shop Entry’ stamp on the backside. The receptionist looked a bit confused, but she saw it was their Silent insignia, so she went ahead and looked for the currently managing receptionist.
A minute later, a middle-aged man came to the front and greeted Alaric heartly “Welcome! I was informed that we had a new entry. May I know if you are the owner?”
Alaric said dismissively “I have the paper, that should be enough, right? Take me to the Central Continent. This entry should allow me to go on a free passage with a group of five, right? Sign up five people for the next airship.”
It was indeed true that you’d get a free passage every year with this special shop entry stamp. It was something not often used, but still a good benefit. Additionally, when it was upgraded to a proper Special Shop, then you’d be allowed to have a free passage every month.
They would even get a business-class treatment. Of course, there was still First Class, but you’d have to be more than just a Special Shop to gain a free passage there. At least you were allowed to buy a ticket, most people, even higher nobles, were restricted from buying any First-Class tickets. Alaric wouldn’t do it; he didn’t have the money anyway.
Not to mention how much he paid for the teleportation, a ship to the Central Continent is much more expensive, not even the Laya Kingdom could do that if they didn’t want to live in poverty for the next few years. Only truly rich individuals would do it, and most of those wouldn’t come back after the trip, they would go with all their wealth and start anew.
As for why Alaric said he’d take five and not four people, well, he would take an extra. He played the game so many times, he knew there were several ‘extra’s’ he could take.
1. That dude that didn’t buy a ticket in time, so he is willing to buy a passage from another person
2. The kid that was stranded here because their Parents couldn't afford it last minute
3. Another Kid that came here and is working in this harbour city for a long time to travel away
4. A big-time noble that had an accident and wanted to return
5. Lastly there is a beautiful lady working as a receptionist with the goal of leaving the south
Alaric now has the freedom to choose one of them. The fifth point doesn’t even need an explanation for why it falls down. The first point too, there is no lack of money. The second point is meh, a trauma-ridden child, unstable and such. The child has it’s own future and will be able to make do, but too much time is spent till that point, something Alaric doesn’t wanna give.