Part II (the city of Fendal)

‘t-hen why aren’t we running!’ Carrion steps back after declaring shakily.

‘because, there’s something else…’ I squint ahead, where the land seems to rise in a blurry slope.

‘h-hey. Are you joking or---‘Carrion is about to ask but he spots a dust cloud from where I’m watching. I can’t see it too well but I know it’s there, and steadily approaching.

Hopefully, we don’t encounter a caravan, slave traders are difficult to deal with.

‘something’s exerting a presence on the environment. Warding everything—oh, it’s just uncle Jim’ I mumble the last part out just as I recognize the disturbance signature but carrion seemingly only hears the earlier parts as he begins to panic.

He backs away as the dust clouds thumps closer. His face is contorted in fear, exhaustion, reluctance and others. Hah, so much for setting up a good atmosphere.

‘if you can’t handle this. You’ll suffocate in front of the serpent god’ I speak to both of us as I begin waving away.

Using my Ure like an unreadable megaphone, I send a message…

[UNCLE JIM!]

Then I wait, my arms steadily quaking. Each breath slowly becomes a struggle as the dust cloud approaches with mildly frightening speed. Speed that no human at least in the main world, can possibly outrun.

Live and Aaron, the twin patterned velociraptors I named appear as blurry dots that pull a heavy wagon. Leading them is a man I identify regardless of sight.

Jimonora, my other worldly savior. It’s definitely him--- definitely.

And yet, I’m still shivering.

It seems that ultimately, I can’t withstand the terror of this world.

One cut and I’ll bleed out.

Poor vision and a few other unsavory issues to deal with.

I could easily—EASILY die here.

But I always come here. Alone or with a temporary party member with the aid of a ring from god knows where that grants me access to this other world. Either for the sake of money or experiencing something entirely different.

Reinforcement successfully applied. Let’s do this!

I exhale slowly just as the heavy wagon comes to a hard stop in front of me. Dust and grime spur from the raging winds generated by somehow I’m swerving past them.

Hmm, I wonder how I look right now. With my hair blowing and my protecting frame, the only anchor for the witless Carrion.

[Is it cool?] I nearly cringe thinking of how Veronica would laugh at me with such thoughts in my head.

[Enough —work and life are separate ideals. Don’t get them intermixed.] I remind myself.

I walk ahead as steadily and as fearlessly as possible using my enhancement training (looking at a picture of my grandmother’s sinister smile) as back up for my steadily depleting courage.

‘Yo, uncle Jim’ I greet the burly, middle aged man clad in a cloak that fails to hide his frame. Obviously as friendly and officially as possible.

After all, he’s someone not only probably older than my ma (who’s 69 this year), but a regarded figure in this world who could easily sunder my existence where I stand. At least that’s by my perception of it.

‘ahh, Seth—with his obnoxious clothing. And you brought a friend’ he glances at Carrion unsurprised but pleased as well.

[this pathetic loner] I nearly sigh but I withhold myself for now.

I chuckle slightly.

‘need a lift’

‘ah yes’ I turn to the shy customer who wattles forth at my nod. Sigh, I’m somehow still alive.

I guide Carrion past the curios raptors. Aaron sniffs his butt and Carrion moan wheezes as he nearly faints. A more aggressive Live wants a head butt but my presence between the two suddenly halts them. They snap their head back and glance at me with in bred hostility before settling into their previous positions.

Gosh! For fuck’s sake be less irritating you bipedal worms!

‘your bad Vibes are as creepy as ever’ I turn to Jim a bit annoyed by his familiar’s actions.

‘you’re the creepy one’ I retort as I get on the carriage of sorts. Carrion joins, taking a seat in between Jim and I.

[OH, I expected him to be wary but I guess curiosity wins in the end…]

I still don’t understand what’s wrong with me. I’m as normal as the next person and yet…treacherously, in a world were familiars are man’s best friend, every creature I’ve ever encountered is beyond warry of me.

Sigh…

Jim shifts and the velociraptors begin to trot steadily, increasing their pace towards the rising ground while the village looms too far for me to actually see but I can tell. From memory and using my Ure.

[one kilometer more, gives me more time…]

‘you mentioned something about the serpent god…details’ Carrion initially kept his voice low but I gave him the go ahead to speak normally and Jim over hears us. Not like he couldn’t in the first place.

‘uh… I don’t remember much but I know that it’s a massive titano boa. The region we’re in, which is a few thousand miles wide…is apparently believed to---‘

‘it’s not a belief, it’s actual fact’ Jim childishly chimes in. As one of the many worshippers of the serpent god, he’s highly protective of his deity. I simply ignore it, relaxed as now Jim will play the role of exposition master.

‘that what?’

‘Ameruse, the legendary descendant of the omega dragons…is indeed circling the Deriual region’

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

‘fuck’ Carrion instinctively blurts out. Catching some questioning gazed from the raptors and Jim.

[I already told him to watch his language!] I want to face palm so hard right now.

An oppressive aura seems to have restrained him but it’s all in his head. The curiosity of the people here can stimulate such a phenomenon and it’s not easy to overcome the first time.

[Direct contact with Ure]

‘ahh, is that also something you guys say from where you come from’

‘w-what? —ah yes’ Carrion cuts in on himself. The pressure seems to have left him as the sweat clinging to his skin is slowly breezed of.

Close call.

Carrion, not dissuaded by this, continues on and an eager Jim answers all his questions. The former is wisely not asking as many questions as to make him seem clueless and the latter is on an answer role, portraying himself as an all-knowing saint.

This loner…

All the while the village city of Fendal looms closer.

First, it’s a large zone of surrounded by a fairly large wall made of reinforced earth by the name of gole. It’s looks like normal earth but depending on who funnels Ure into it, it can be as hard as diamond.

And the person currently funneling it is sitting with me.

It’s also shape changing depending on the instruction giving to it through Ure.

All matter is like this but it’s usually more (incredibly) resistant to commands by Ure unlike gole. Only beings by the widely known name of mages come close in using Ure in such a manner.

Carrion eyes the city that resembles the stating towns from adventure games with its large size. He gulps.

I watch him as we steadily head through the entrance of the gate. All the while Jim and I have been periodically throwing words at each other through the telepathic like skill derived from Ure.

[

Jim; your Ure form is expanding

Seth: again… seems like… I’m not doing so well too…

Jim: control it, otherwise

Seth: I know. Misfortune will follow.

]

I try and sooth the threatening nausea I hide while we pass through the gate.

Recognizing Jim, the loitering guards dressed in leather armor respective of their time arrange themselves accordingly and salute him.

Carrion seems to gloss over this fact as the market looms in front of him.

It’s huge…a mall would never even stand a chance in terms of vibrancy and size.

While we pass through on the cobble stone roads that segments the market we receive waves and bows from the common populace---meant for Jim of course.

But, compared to Carrions intrigue in all that surrounds him, it is vastly underwhelming sitting with the leader of this city.

He stares, then glances away, taking into account the familiars around.

One in particular, resembling a salamander but nearly thrice as large fires up the grill of a stall owner as he cooks tender smelling meat that would put earth’s best brood to shame.

The aroma nearly kills me and I catch Carrion drooling but he snaps to the side once he sees a crowd of children running playfully after a blue and white feathered eagle that sprinkles snow on the children.

‘frost eagle’ I cut off carrion and pat him. Control man, control.

Jim seems to want to ask a question but a normally taciturn character like him doesn’t even dare.

We proceed, seeing all kinds of whacky, strange and awe inspiring creature in the local citadel but this is just the beginning. Of this doomed city.

All the while, celebrations for a festival to be celebrated later today are reaching their climax. I finish explaining this to the curious Carrion just as I suddenly want to hurl but I restrain it. Jim sends a wary look to me.

[control it, we’ll be there soon]

[sure…easier said than done] I send back, sighing. All the while something within me is trying to breach out.

A curse…

The city of Fendal is more or less modernly designed. Past the market places which permeates through the border district (otherwise referred to as the slum by those of higher standing), the houses are usually one-story made of wood in such a way to remind one of a cottage.

Around these lands as well are greeneries and small pastures where familiars graze through. These are owned by mostly the pure natives or guards and such.

Going through, the wealthier section has two or more story buildings which are well painted and adorned, also bearing a large park and lake where familiars spend their time.

The dressing of the people is frankly similar regardless of status but you’ll occasionally meet a warrior with a leather coat with an insignia of the guard branded on them.

These are the high ranking ‘officials’ of sorts. What we would term as nobles reside in this space but don’t fumble your mind with the trope of the wealthy. I’ve met them before at besides their mildly warped thinking that they are to protect the weak, they’re actually chill. I even sparred with one, I tell an excited Carrion but I obviously lost.

At this point he already knows Ure can be used to give superhuman like qualities as he’s seen some already.

His gaze is still unsteady as he saw a ten-year-old break and carry a tree. It wasn’t so big but it wasn’t so small either.

He eyes the obscenely fit men and deadly curly women who could probably kill him bare handed for his ogling but he’s unknowingly seated by the chief.

I sigh for the umpteenth time.

‘and what’s wrong with you’ Carrion finally asks but I shake my head. Every time my limit is reached, I sigh.

It helps. even if only slightly.

Otherwise that demon from somewhere and that tailed beast would come and kill me. Or worse. The serpent god will…

My vision is suddenly blurrier than usual as my arm begins to shake. Crap it---

Jim taps me, I calm down and take a deep breath of the purest air I will ever take in.

Carrion looks at me, puzzled. But as I rub my head, I can only wonder when we’ll finally get there.

‘so…um. Where are we headed’

‘that…um…there’ now that we’ve rounded a corner I point straight ahead. towards the green landscape that marks the region of stay for the city head.

'What?!' somehow he manages not to use the f word.

In the great distance ahead lies the lush planes that mark the center of the city. Surrounding it is a gate that sets its own demarcation from the space the common folk and other wise are supposed to live.

‘it’s big…we’re really heading there?’ Carrion turns to me and I simply nod. He looks a little anxious probably seeing my worn out expression but currently, there’s nothing in particular I can do about it.

‘it looks so but it’s not that far, we’ll be there shortly’ Jimonora declares as he orders the velociraptors forth.

In no time, they cross the barely guarded border and we’re soon on the path towards the mansion.

The route is surrounded past a lush garden that hold several familiars which move toward Jim as we pass through. As if greeting him, those familiars that can, blow their trunks or caw majestically. It’s a good thing the tailed beast and demon are restrained, for now…

Carrion is left in wonder while I’m left in pain.

The mansion, which is more modern than anything else in this world was specifically raised for familiars. Boasting its own grand collection of books and records that make up part of the mansion and even below it. It’s also for aesthetic just to give it the look of where the head of a city would live. Or at least someone as capable as himself, Jim is that kind of person.

Jimonora’s habit, is collection and breeding of unique familiars around the region, something someone of his standing shouldn’t do but he does it anyway.

Due to that, he takes fairly long trips and leaves most of the work to the vice mayor, at least that was the case.

However, soon after I arrived, I ended up changing all that.