Vol. 2 – Chapter 40 – Returning to Titan
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Vivian and Paula took note of what Mathias said, and didn't discuss this aspect openly, but the girls were having a conversation on this theme. If they should make or join a guild on their own accord.
@Paula: Vivi, I'll stick with you. If you want to make a guild and you believe it would be fun, I will not mind, the same for joining a guild.
@Vivian: Thanks Paula, I will think about it. I am sure those two blockheads will pester me about why I kicked them from the party and find trouble with me.
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On another hand, Mathias and Vek were talking back and forth, with the young kobold asking the questions, while Mathias was trying to explain to him to the best of his abilities.
It was when they got closer to the forest exit that they saw a lot of players killing wild beasts that Vek looked rather surprised at how efficient the players were at killing the wild beasts in their "parties" as Mathias explained to him.
"Don't worry, little Vek, they aren't fools to act like this when they encounter your tribe."
"I know, the Elder is quite strong himself and will be able to take care of the tribe until I return home from my journey." said Vek, still staring at the players who were fighting the Owls, Boars, and even Dire Wolves.
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Mathias and the group continue on with their journey out of Empar Forest, and when they got on the Stone Road leading toward the unknown for the young kobold, he reacted like how someone who saw fire for the first time would do. He lowered himself to the ground and started caressing the stone road to feel on his skin the leveled stone pattern.
*Giggling* "Mathias, it feels so amusing, As if you took someone from the countryside and he saw a Mall." said Vivian looking at Vek, who was still checking the stone road.
"Let him be, don't make fun of him. I bet you would do the same if you were in his circumstances." declared Mathias, holding his laughter.
"I will never do this. Not even in a million years."
He gave off a small smile, later lowering himself on his knees, to get on the same level as Vek, and tell the young kobold.
"This is the foundation of the Saharan Empire that we are stepping on right now. Is called Via Grenhal, and is one of the principal roads going from Titan and leading to the territory of Duke Grenhal."
"Ohh."
"Indeed, this is quite the feat of marvel. From what I know the amount of paved road that is inside the Saharan Empire would be enough to encircle the planet itself."
"Ohh."
Vek could only make some sounds since he was fascinated with the Via Grenhal and how smooth, flat, the rocks were. It took some convincing work to be done for Mathias to have Vek stop ogling at the road as some crazed person, but then he remembered something, whispering in the chat to the girls.
@Mathias: Kobolds should be obsessed with tunnels, rocks in general, right?
@Vivian: No idea. Paula, you are into that D&D game, help out.
@Paula: Well, it depends on what story you would choose to go with, but it seems the developers implemented the interesting story about the kobolds instead of the dull one. This makes me believe this kobold is really attracted to the road. Ahhh, he started trying to take the roads out, stop him before the Black Guards patrolling the road appear.
Mathias hearing the girls who mentioned about the Black Guards he reacted instantly grabbing Vek by his nape and raising him in the air, in doing so waking the kobold from his spellbound.
"Huh, what happened?"
"You were about to do something stupid by taking off the stones from the road which is a no-no around here. Now let's move before night catches us." explained Mathias the reason he took Vek by his nape, later releasing the kobold from his grip.
Following that, the party began walking the long road toward the grand city of Titan, the Jewel of the Saharan Empire, the seat of power for the Saharan Imperial House. It was a pleasant journey for the group who no longer had to be alert on possible enemies, and with each minute they walked, the distance closed in revealing the shadow of some grand walls standing proud, and immemorial.
{It is exactly as I left it, nothing changed with Titan.}
'I don't know what to say, old man, maybe the outside didn't change but the inside from my perspective and knowledge, changed, enough that it would noticeable at first glance.'
{I am curious to see what changed. Lad, let me take you to my Imperial Palace, we'll solve quickly who is in charge and later we shall start on solving the unresolved plans I left untouched such as fighting the Abyss Empire and also reaching the Eastern Continent.}
'Old Haycien, please no complicated information right now. What's the Abyss and the Eastern Continent? We will discuss those things another time, also, forget about taking me to the Imperial Palace, if you want me alive and kicking.' told Mathias in a calm voice inside his mind, which made the old man raise from his seating position and question why he would say that.
{Son, I might be a ghost, but once I start talking about the secrets they will have to give in and accept my demands.}
'That is if you were alive. Right now it is only me and the power you gave, nothing more. With the addition of a chattering old ghost that makes me at times want to smash my head on a wall.'
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{You say they will target you once they spot you?}
'Old Haycien, the desire for power runs deep in the human mind. The desire for the throne is so strong that anyone would wish they could get to sit on it. But without proving one's power, I would be like a fool who got to the executioner's gallows and allowed them to behead me.'
{You are too passive, lad. It can't be that hard.}
'No old man, it is that bad. The Saharan Empire you left is now filled with corruption from the lowest levels of the Pyramid to the highest level, where your descendants sit. This generation Emperor did something so foolish that I have to wipe his ass clean, so things don't degenerate into a Civil War.'
{Lad, you know you can't escape from me after telling such an interesting piece of news.}
'I'll leave it for the night'
As Mathias and Haycien were holding a discussion inside his brain, Vek could see the city walls appear more grandiose with each minute passing, and with the night starting making his appearance around themselves, they arrived safely to the South Gates that was made of decorated metal and even had some gold inside it.
{Porta Aurea, they maintained the gate at least. I extorted the dwarfs to have them make the gates so much that all my friends looked at me as if I was some sick person.}
'And you had to do it?'
{You bet. Those gates have a magical built system of defense that coordinates with the heart of the palace. I used to protect the city when I fought against the Elves, Orcs, Half-Draconians, you name them. In that war, for Supremacy over the Western Continent, there wasn't the concept of innocence on all sides. Everyone wanted the other side dead, regardless of what motives they might have.}
' I understand. You really have a lot to teach me, old man. I am new to warfare and military aspects. I want to become a Red Knight so I'll be in your care.'
{Sure lad, I will teach you everything I know, from how to court ladies to how you can crush your opponent fighting styles regardless of weapon. At the end of the day, I am not a demon as you called me at the beginning, maybe I scammed you at first, but I had to do it otherwise this old man would have been drained of power, and who knows when I would have awakened or worse case I would be turned into nothingness, something I don't even want to think about.}
'My reaction was up to the stress and pain I had suffered. If I place you in that kind of ordeal, how would you react?'
{Piss my pants probably?}
'Exactly. Nonetheless, it's all good right now, I don't feel animosity for what you've thrown at me. My apologies for cursing you, sir.'
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While the two were talking in his mind, night already settled down in the sky, giving the journey toward Titan a more mesmerizing feeling to it. One could see the lights around the Watch Posts being lit up, with the Imperial Guards watching all the movements of foreigners who approached the city.
Such was the case for Mathias who when he arrived in front of them and was stopped by the patrolling Imperial Guards who still as before in Mathias's recollection were grouped in teams, with two groups on the gate itself and another two groups on the ground, seeming to control the flow of visitors which was considerable.
The amount of chariots filled with goods, or people made it seem as if the city was never sleeping even if the clock showed that it was [21:45] for the Satisfy world.
Then his turn with his group came to arrive at the checkpoint the Imperial Guards were handling, and when stopped the first thing Mathias heard from the guard.
"The entrance cost 250 silver coins for new visitors. The red-head along with the different species of creature. The two ladies can enter, they are inhabitants of Titan. Also, your reason for visiting?"
{What? They charge for entering Titan! How low have they gotten to do such a stupid thing? ARGHHH, my little jewel turned into some brothel.}
'Now, now, don't rush to conclusions, old Haycien.}
"Business-related" replied Mathias calmly gazing directly into the eyes of the Imperial Guard who could see even in the dark, thanks to the fire around the gate, his crimson hair, and ruby eyes, something he never saw in his life.
"I see, as for that creature next to you?"
"This is my kobold familiar."
"Ohh, a kobold, I heard they are quite the barbarian creatures who would attack mountain villages. Let me look at it for a brief moment." said the Imperial Guard who was a level 150 NPC and whose HP he could see, being at 9800, looking down at Vek who was next to Mathias, also looking with curious eyes at the guard with his draconian red eyes.
"Interesting creature indeed. It seems to know his place and not be hostile to humans." mentioned the guard who patted the head of the kobold without hostility, since he wanted to check Vek because of his curiosity.
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Mathias looked at the Imperial Guard whose armor looked cheaper than the Black Knights or the Red Knights, and without shifting his facial expression, he took 500 silver coins from his inventory and handed them to the guard who made way, allowing the party inside.
"I didn't know there was a cost for entering the city since we spawned inside Titan." mentioned Vivian as the party entered the Capital City using the South Gate.
"It is fine, well, from here our journey will diverge. Thanks a lot for the pleasant time, and let's hope we meet again on another occasion."
As he said that, the group reached at a crossroads of the streets where one could go toward the Central Forum of the city where he first spawned, or move around the periphery which was filled with citizens and players alike.
"It was a pleasure for us two, meeting you. All the good wishes to you, and hehe, watch your back."
With the girls and the boys separating after bidding their farewell and sending their good wishes, Mathias started walking in an opposite direction compared to the girls.
Glancing at Vek he released a wide smile, that took the young kobold aback, and what with an excited voice he told him.
"Welcome to Titan, little Vek. This will be your home starting today, and whenever you need my help with something, just ask me without feeling ashamed. Getting used to such big place is troublesome even for me, and I might have to ask around the guards for directions, especially in the Inner City."
"I understand. Then I will not hold back." responded Vek, feeling energized by Mathias's spirit.
Afterwards the two, went along with one direction in mind, the Wallmor District, the place he called his home inside Satisfy, Fayrene's Workshop. Yet, they still did some detouring, with Mathias wanting to show Vek around some places that were relatively close to the South Gate.
They started off by going toward the Grand Market to acquire something he felt he had to get because of the stares he was receiving in the city.
"Tsk, is too annoying being the only one with hair like this. I feel like one of those spoiled rich kids who never got beaten in their lives. And, no I am not talking about you old man, so don't start feeling offended."
{I am not offended at all, I just roll my eyes at how sensitive you could be. You are now a Saharan, be proud of the glorious crimson color that was marked in stone by this great me.}
"Mathias, was that targeting me?" asked Vek, who heard Mathias talk outloud what he intended saying in his mind.
Turning his eyes at Vek, he shook his head, telling him. "Do you remember the Gravelmark Spirit and the story I told you about it? Well, now it haunts me for good, and I have to keep him engaged otherwise my head will get a headache."
"Right, right, the Gravelmark Spirit is with you now. Say my greetings to him and all the guidance he has given me in the past."
{For nothing little puppy, I was bored at that time, so I could only talk it out with you kobolds.}
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Mathias ignored what the old ghost was talking about, and as he arrived at the Grand Market, he navigated rapidly toward a shop he was accustomed to visiting in the Beta Phase, and it was still there. An old lady wrapped with a blanket sitting in a rocking chair, napping, around a booth.
Vek saw the old lady, and later turned at Mathias who had a nostalgic smile on his face, and with each step he was taken toward the booth filled with diverse goods, it made the old woman to slowly open her eyes, and be greeted by the young man wearing a black suit, with a black hat resting on his long crimson hair, where as his ruby eyes watched her in a calm, friendly way.
"Good evening, madam. Sorry for disturbing your nap."
"*Yawn* No problem lad, how can I help you?"
"Can you help me with two masquerade masks? One for this little one beside me, and another for me."