More corridors. Unlike the ones we previously traversed, these were humanized with sackcloth doors and banners on cavern walls. As I wasn’t having to focus too much on pending doom and being fixed to a line, I was able to observe my surroundings. Hopefully, figure out more of this world.

The red and black banners carried an emblem of a hook beak bird with fierce beady eyes on a heavy looking head and body with oversize wings.

“Over compensating much?” I thought with a chuckle, especially when its stocky body was perched on the head of a lion with majestic airs. Its large talons were clawing into the feline’s mange. Both the bird and lion were bellowing a mighty roar.

“Lord Exacles sitting on the head of Lord Dan,” Zak offhandedly whispered when he saw my eyes cast toward a banner.

He carefully explained that Lord Dan was the High Emperor’s god. However, Lord Exacles belonged to various merchant houses across the Realm of Leinard. To have their bird god perched on the head of the emperor’s deity was a subtle dig and boasting of their immeasurable power over the realm. To those in the Merchants’ Consortium, the High Emperor was nothing more than their puppet.

“Realm of Leinard.” I mumbled and frowned at the familiarity of the name.

“Oh dear. Is your memory loss so terrible that you don’t know the name of our realm?” Kalia huffed, flicking off strands of her hair with her typical highbrow attitude.

“Yah say something, princess?” My mouth twitched with a smug grin.

Kalia rolled her eyes. “Listen hear. Our realm is called the Realm of Leinard. In honor of our High Emperor’s house who had foundered our great lands...”

I listened to her geography lecture as we strolled through the corridors and through connecting antechambers, caverns and alcoves.

The Realm of Leinard was an island realm where the provinces were defined by the High Emperor’s ruling. Under the House of Leinard were five provinces named Armia, Caldera, Gonade, Minoa and Tempra.

“Tempra.” I mused and rubbed my chin with thought. The name sounded keenly familiar to me.

Kalia nodded and added proudly, “That country is renowned for the best chickens.”

Khes and Zak chuckled. And even some whispered laughter could be heard from our henchmen escorts.

“Chickens? Of all the things that desert country is renowned for, and you chose chickens.” Troy sighed.

“Well, you tell me smarty-pants. What’s Tempra famous for?” She huffed.

Troy took over with the geography lesson. Indeed, Tempra was famous for more than chickens. It was a northern desert country where farmers were revered. Especially, those who reared cow and sheep livestock. The bigger the farm, the more power a family had over their region’s governance. Their patron saint was Lord Zezen, who was naturally imaged as a mighty bull.

I glanced at one of our henchmen’s bull helmet heads and wondered if this area was within Tempra’s control. I kept my questions to myself as I continued to listen.

Minoa was a small island past the southern coast. Boats from Port Culcuth could take people to this island and back.

“One of the Regional Emperor’s lives there. It’s known for fishery.” Kalia interrupted when it was clear Troy had no clue about the area.

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Troy frowned and jumped back in to tell me about Gonade and Caldera. Both were strong magic regions and densely enriched with mountains and forests. Although, Gonade held more wild forests and uncharted areas. It was known for magis to disappear within and suspected to perish due to the many magical beasts that dwelled there. Caldera was where the Imperial Magic Academy resided and where magis learned to master a practice and receive their license to use it.

The High Emperor’s house and capital resided in Armia, which was known as the city country with the most civilization and industry in the realm.

“I have no idea where we are,” Kalia whispered.

“You, my child, are in a neutral area called The Zone. Nestled within the underground of the Hellbore region. So any attempts to escape will most likely lead to your death.” A wise old man said behind us when we entered into a chamber.

Obviously, we began to panic and pray that our tongues would remain in our mouths.

However, he ignored our conversation and voices and dismissed the henchmen until only the five of us were standing before him. The chamber was simple and sparse of furniture. Another door was visible behind his back. As I looked at the man, I recognized the elderly magis who had saved us from the Shadow River beasts when we were entering the underground.

“Tis sad to see only five of you remain.” He truly sounded remorseful by the loss as he stroked his silver-white long beard.

His rich indigo robes swayed about his ankles to reveal his dark blue sandals and feet in white socks. The robes covered his entire wiry body; draping down over his wrists and covering his neck in a high collar. I frowned at the sight of silver symbols sewn on his cuffs and hems. They looked like magic words of some kind.

“Still, to see you alive is a blessed thing.” The laugh-lines at the corner of his gray eyes made his smile seem more amicable.

“As a reward. I’ll permit each of you to ask one question.”

We glanced at each other. A question? My mind was rolling with many, but one nagged at the forefront. I raised my hand.

“Yes, child?” He prompted me to speak.

“This mark on my skin.” I showed him the patch beneath my elbow. “What does it mean?”

“Excellent question!”

The elderly magis explained that the mark showed I belonged to the Temple of Anwar and the goddess’s order. He smiled at my expression filled with awe. It felt like a stroke of luck.

“However, you are still slaves to The Zone. So you must know your place at all times. But being devout servants of Our Lady comes with perks.”

We nodded.

He explained on Kalia’s question of who he was. We learned of his name being Master Asuras de Caldera. The ’de Caldera’ signified his right to practice magic. When magis scholars were granted their license, they could forego their family names in honor of their dedication to the craft. Carrying the ’de Caldera’ title ensured they would be unaffiliated to a house ruling, so only required to obey the realm’s laws. Naturally, most master magis adopted this honorary title.

“Thank you, Master Asuras.” Kalia gave him a cordial bow.

“Very good. Keep up these good manners, child, and you’ll be able to survive this place.” He extended this advice to all of us.

From Khes and Zak’s question, we learned that The Zone was a mining city, providing ore for the High Emperor’s military order called the Illuminate Group. This group would fashion all manner of weapons for their soldiers.

“Many of the free-voice henchmen are Illuminate soldiers.”

“Free-voice?” I mused aloud.

Master Asuras answered with a weak smile and gave his attention to Troy.

“How can we live down here?” Troy softly asked. I felt he was asking for the sake of it, then having a burning question.

“Not sure if you recall the red glowing veins along the obsidian rock. But these veins are vital to this place’s ecosystem. As they provide the surrounding chi, which allows the oxygen rich lichen species to thrive!” the master excitedly answered.

I sensed a deep passion to his words. It seemed Troy had triggered the master’s topic of interest.

We were doing our best not to fall asleep to the old magis’s droning about the many wonders of lichen from giant to yellow-toad spotted variants and the water lily kind, which grew on the surface of the many rivers The Zone supported.

Fortunately, he noticed our best to not wander off in our heads.

“For another time.”

He turned to the henchmen and gave orders for our continuation into an area called the Central Hold. Then left the chamber via the other door.