Gabe had not stopped with his Upgrading business, he hadn't gone to the city yet but he had acquired enough junk through the low grade treasure land already that he could pour Spirit energy into. And after eight months of on again off again work he had turned over half of it into somewhat Valuable items. Including his sticky Fire doll which he had actually fully enhanced into it's Highest quality form it could no longer be increased in value. But he planned on keeping that one, along with a small number of other things he had found and Enhanced. Like the Giant's tear he had around his neck which was actually one of many artifacts that couldn’t be enhanced no matter what you did to it. But just as it was it was almost as valuable as the anklet he’d won in the Channelers test. The rest of his stash was worth quite a sizeable amount, most of it was high grade Treasures now with his power to upgrade them. This Treasure land making it so much easier to Purify energy. And his Eleven Beasts cutting the time down to barley anything now that they were almost all powered up. Even the low grade beasts like his poison frog had undergone such a change when he ate that pill that they were at least a little stronger than his death boar had been when he first bonded with it. They were by no means indisposable, but out of all of them the giant who had not been enhanced with a purple stripe was the weakest, and the strongest was the death boar and the nexus wasp, with Sisfar now following close behind, his ability to purify spirit energy also among the best now for reasons that were still a mystery. Gabe wondered if all the money he would make from his stash would add up to a gate scroll, though he doubted it. Unless he sold one of the things he valued most like his anklet. Simply flying the distance to the Yellow belly mountains with Sisfar would take over six months with his low power realm from here. But if he could buy a used low range teleport scroll that only had two Jumps left in it he might be able to get there and get back in just one month by jumping must of the way. He could just wait the year out, but he saw this Flight Trait almost like another sign. He was finally ready to see if the treasure store was worth all the anguish he had suffered to get to it.
Gabe put all his treasures into a space pouch and asked one of the household Acolytes to fly him to the city. He could make the journey himself now, but that would take more time and he would have to hide it since no’one knew about Sisfar. The Greenwood family City was a large one. Ten times the size of the Farming city Gabe had been in just a year ago. Most of those inhabiting the city were Greenwood family members. Some lowly, some high ranking, but all taken care of if they had that last name. Spread among them were the talented and wealthy Channelers who had been welcomed into the city because they were masters at their trade. Blacksmiths, alchemists, doctors, and Beast breeders. If a channeler was an expert or just really really rich he could buy his way into these much higher quality Family cities and make a good foundation for his family. Even marry into the low standing members of the Greenwood family after they came here. It was a good place to live with very little poverty or crime. And There were also some members from other families that were allied with the Greenwoods living here. As well as some traveling merchants who wouldn’t stay too long with permits to trade in the city. It was very busy and diverse place but not quite the mixing pot of people and money that a farming city was. Gabe and the Acolyte leading him whose name was Silmen who kept mostly to himself, entered through the city gate. This gate was a Simi circle of runes drawn on the ground ending at the wall. These runes kept all beasts away and scanned the Channelers souls as they stepped through the well decorated gate and into the city. The streets were busy, and congested. So Gabe had the Acolyte fly him over it all. Flying was forbidden over the city unless you were an Ancestor Realm Channeler or above. Which Silmen was. The buildings and shops and high mansions zipped by until they came to one of the cities larger market squares. There were shops, and tables, and stalls, all selling and buying in the crowd. Gabe found a well kept shop building and stepped in while Silmen stayed in the street looking over some of the traveling Merchants for deals. The man seamed very uncaring about Gabe’s business or having to come here. He didn’t seam like he cared about having to spend his time to escort some punk or anything. He just seamed to be thinking about other things, and not at all concerned with the outside world.
The inside of the shop Gabe entered was clean and tidy with tables and shelves filled with mid grade and high grade Treasures and rare treasures, nothing in here could be described as junk. Gabe walked up to the very thin man sitting at the counter, using a Fog stick to clear his mind. The fog stick was a white small stick of Chalk. Made by Alchemists it relieved headaches and small pains when stricken across the forehead like a match. It also helped ones focus and concentration and the chalk left on the face would absorb into the skin and fade quickly. The young man who was only a Tyke realm Channeler but was at least two years older then Gabe, stopped rubbing the chalk on his face and put it down. "How can I help you?" He said. Gabe observed a pair of scares on his inner elbow, that were strikingly familiar to scars many in the farming city had in similar places on their body. it was almost a sure sign this man was hooked on Gore honey. Which was a type of drug that would last for weeks at a time and was more addictive then almost any other substances. It was injected into the blood by placing a red powdery pill under your skin by a small incision and then it would slowly enter your blood stream. At first it was a bit painful but that stopped the moment the pill started to kick in. "I'd like to sell fourteen Treasures of high quality." The man looked a bit surprised but nodded. "Okay let's see what ya got." Gabe reached into his Pouch and began to pull out one treasure after the other. They were all good quality and worth just as much as anything else displayed in the shop, he’d thought it would be a waste of time if came to the city with just the same old junk he sold in a farming city. That stuff would be hard to sell here. The man held back a smile and began to examine each and every one very carefully. "Mmmmm..." He said his frown not very convincing. "Where exactly did you get all this stuff?" He looked at Gabe suspiciously. Gabe smiled. "It's not mine." He said leaving a pause just to play with the man. "It's my father's. He can Channel his Perfect spirit energy into Junk and upgrade it." The man kept looking at him as though he didn't believe it. "And you won't mind then if I call the Authorities to check you out." The man was playing a game, trying to trip him up and make him want to dump the stuff for cheep. "No need to do that, My family's Acolyte can attest to my story." Gabe turned to start for the door. The man coughed into his hand he didn’t know Gabe was from a family. "No, I believe you. I'll give you Seven gold for the lot." Gabe rose his eyebrows. "Well that's a surprise. Dad won't be happy with anything less then Twenty five gold rings. I'll have to take them to another shop." The man waved his hands holding as firm an expression as a drug head could hold. "You don't have to, I'm willing to come up. Say, twenty." Gabe shook his head. He was well aware that twenty five was a good deal. A bulk deal for the lot. That away he didn’t have to sell each piece individually. "Dad said twenty five was the lowest I could go, I just thought I would start with it to try to save time. I hate haggling." Gabe made to start picking the stuff up but the man stopped him. "Twenty Five it is then!" He said and ran into the back to go get it. He came back quickly with a small purse and handed it to Gabe. Gabe counted. "This is Twenty four." Gabe said, wondering why he had to pick this shop of all places to sell to. The man grunted. And slid another gold ring across the counter. Gabe thanked him and headed for another place where hopefully the owner wouldn’t be an addict. It was really sad to see that even in a wealthy city like this, people still weren’t happy. and drugs still had their grasp on people.
Gabe sold twenty Two items in all and made Forty Gold rings, over half a years worth of work for the small money pouch he held. Ten times that amount of work for anyone else. Then he walked to the higher more expensive part of the Market. Where he went from one shop to the other looking for a cheep Teleport scroll. The only ones he could afford were one time use only. And just barely that, short range as well which would not take him anywhere near the place he needed to be. On the celestial continent where most of these scroll were made they might be slightly cheaper but here they were way out of his price range. He spent an hour searching before giving up And calling Silmen on the Ring Matthew gave him. He flew back to the Greenwood family House much richer then before, but still feeling empty handed. He really didn't want to ask the Greenwood family for a scroll, they had already given him so much. But Perhaps he could buy one from them. It would reveal his plans for leaving temporarily but he was willing to do that.
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"Where exactly are you wanting to go?" Gelgar asked at this month's Family dinner. Everyone looked at him waiting for an answer. "Well sir, I can't tell you why but I need to get to The Bone dust dessert." The Bone dust Desert was only a few thousand miles from the Yellow belly mountains, Gabe had looked at it on several maps. The whole area was a no man's land. And was dangerously close to a powerful Demon hoard Known as Hell's legion. Demon hoards were Very large groups of Demon's ruled by the most powerful of their kind. If not kept in check they could grow to uncontrolled amounts of power and cause great wars. There were many known demon hoards on the Chaos continent and all were watched and guarded by more then one Powerful Family house. No'one wanted to just expend resources to destroy the massive kingdom like hoards, but the consequences of letting one get too large had been witnessed many times throughout history. The hoards would run amok and destroy whole Family houses, decimate Treasure lands. Cause cities to burn. It was always a danger with hoards of the evil little beasts. Some had High level avatar Realm Demon's over them. And Hell's legion was famous for being ruled over by a Deity Realm Demon. Demon's like all beasts Ascended when they reached the Deity Realm. It was really rare to see one that chose to stay on Primeway stuck at the same power level like a butterfly too afraid to come out of it’s pod. it was also looked down upon by most unless there was a good reason for staying like an acolyte contract or a war, or the ancestor wished to set things right with his family before leaving. "Well, that shouldn't be too hard." Vernon said with a grin. "I can fly you there in no time." Vernon was on the cusp of his ascension. He'd lived for over four million years. Taking longer to Pass blocks then most Channelers. One time he'd almost died after spending so long at the Master Realm and aged to look like he did now his body never recovering it’s youth. But he was a ninth level Avatar and one of the most powerful Channelers in his family, not counting the Acolytes. He was a god compared to all others at the table and Gabe was very curious as to why he chose to cultivate here in this low grade treasure land when he could go wherever he pleased. At the snap of his fingers he could kill everyone sitting with him, or destroy an army of Totem realm Channelers if he really tried. "No sir, I couldn't ask you to do that for me." Gabe said respectfully not expecting such an exclamation. The old man scoffed. "Who said you had to ask. Young man are you going to turn down my offer." Gabe shook his head vigorously realizing he wasn’t above taking hand outs and really changing his opinion of this old geezer. "Absolutely not sir. I am honored. You don't know how much this means to me. But I have to ask you to allow me privacy when we get there. This matter is very personal." Vernon rose his eyebrows. "Alright, as you wish. When would you like to leave." Gabe shrugged. "Any time this week if that fits well with you." Vernon nodded “I need a break from my meditation anyway so a trip to get out of the house sounds nice. Just have someone send for me when you’re ready.” Seygo frowned across the table from Gabe. "How long will you be gone Gabriel?" She asked. The little kids also quieted with that question, they didn’t say anything to anyone but Gabe knew that after losing so many of their direct family they all had anxiety about people leaving the house, even someone who hadn’t been here that long. Gabe shrugged. "It shouldn't take longer then a week at most to take care of my business. And with Such a powerful man as your ancestor Flying me I will be back within the month for sure no matter what problems arise."
Seygo looked at Gabe and let out a little breath. She had been worried for a moment. She knew Gabe didn't plan on staying much longer the whole family knew he only wanted to stay for a year since he’d said so not long after he got here, but he'd already become part of the family. Playing with the kids, attending Family dinner. He didn’t seam to get it but to the youger generation he was already a Greenwood. And There would be yet another empty seat at the table when he was gone. Her stomach twisted at the thought. She was glad he would be coming back soon this time, she didn’t feel ready to see him leave for some reason. their weekly training session would have to be put on hold while he was gone as well, but she would make it up when he got back. When it came to his training with the sword He had already advanced faster then she'd seen anyone learn. At the rate he picked it up she almost could not believe he didn’t have a high blooded Giant for a soul-beast, if not for hers she would not be the master of the sword that she was. As the conversation continued around the table she found herself staring at the handsome young man against her will. Her eyes drifting to the musicals he had gained since coming here. He worked just as hard as Matthew did, sometimes it seamed even harder. It was almost like he was showing off with just how much work he put into everything he did. And it challenged her to keep up with his pace. She caught him staring back at her with her next glance and forced her eyes away.
Vernon had an interesting Move called Pegasus's glide. It could only be learned by High leveled and skilled Avatar Channelers. It summoned a Pegasus from the heavens that he could ride. It also allowed him to summon an army of the beasts but he only needed two, they were not made for fighting but they were much faster than other beasts of their realm. Gabe looked at the white furred Creature with awe. The horse with wings and a large ploom of tail feathers stood perfectly still. It was powerful, almost as powerful as Vernon. It allowed Gabe to mount it and Vernon grinned mounting his own. With the snap of his finger they took of like a Bolt of lightning leaving a trail of white light behind them. The Pegasus barely ever flapped it's outstretched wings, and there was no wind at all going by as they rocketed at such a speed that the land miles beneath them blurred. Vernon laughed at Gabe's awe and smiled at the young man. "There's no better way to travel then to ride. I can't ride my own Soul-beast so this is the next best thing." Gabe nodded. Most Channelers never acquired the trait to ride their soul beast. He was a one in a hundred thousand lottery winner.
One single hour later they stopped above a Farming city in the middle of a giant dessert . Gabe found Nothing but irony in how quick and easy it was to travel this far when it would have taken him and Colin over a Century to get here on foot from the Greenwood family house. Vernon didn't even enter through the gate, he just flew through the beast shield on the top of the city like he owned it himself. It was impossible to stop an Avatar Realm Channeler from doing what he wanted, so the Shield only scanned him. And alerted the City officials just who had arrived. Vernon set Gabe down on a street where Thousands of onlookers stared at the two, not every day did you see an avatar realm channeler in a small farming city. And one who just left his power unhidden for all to see and fell was even rarer. "I assume this is where we part ways?" Vernon asked with a raised eyebrow as Gabe unmounted his Pegasus and it disappeared. Gabe nodded. "I’ll be busy for a week or so. Will you stay here or fly back?" Vernon shrugged. "I'll probably look around the territory, I haven't been out in the world for a while. But don't worry I'll stay close enough to come and pick you up when you call me young man."
When Gabe left Vernon watched him walk far down the street heading west and suddenly he felt… very alone. He was old, and he was strong, and he’d seen his family live and die around him. Losing far more than his share of loved ones. Especially in this last war when he had been unable to protect his family in an enemy ambush and lost over a dozen of them. All except Gelgar, before that day he had been very active in the Greenwood family. Volunteering his branch for missions, Counseling the Family head with his long lived wisdom, meeting allies, making business trips to the Geo continent. Helping out during fights and wars… the memory of too many deaths kept him from lingering on this train of thought and on the way he felt right now. He turned to the east and flew away from the city. He’d find something to do while he was out here, but nothing dangerous. He’d also had his fair share of danger in his day. All he wanted in life right now was to enjoy it.