True to its name, the black sands were a vast expanse of black sand, glassy black boulders, and the distant shape of black stone volcanoes ominously spewing smoke into the air. The processes of magic made the volcanoes on this world more stable and less likely to cause a mass extinction, but as a tradeoff they were also a more consistent threat to the nearby towns and cities.
The volcanic Range of the Black sands, called the six sisters, regularly disgorged magma, ash, and even had a habit of launching flaming house sized boulders into the air to bombard unsuspecting towns. But on top of that the Volcanoes also had a unique ability of building up fiery magic and then releasing that power in a mini-monster wave.
It was supposed to be quite the sight to behold. The mountains belching smoke, fire and lava spewing out, and then a massive aurora of rainbow light would envelope the mountains to create hundreds of volcano themed monsters. As well as enough essences, awakening stones, and quintessence to draw in crowds of adventures.
The volcanoes each had their own cycle of activity and fortunately known of them were in a monster wave stage. So as Seras and the Caravan crew hugged the coast they were mostly left alone, there was the occasional monster, but Dustin and Flint handled any bronze rank monsters, and the iron rank ones were weak enough for the normal rankers to handle.
It was still a week long march through arid coastline, with admittedly amazing views, and little else to do.
Seras spent her time reading, she had finally made it past the fifth volume of Dundee, and she had decided to branch out into other subjects now that she had enough background to actually comprehend other magic specialties. The many magic fields were just as intricate and varied as the many fields of science. There were theories on magically generated storms, monster formation, magical metallurgy, alchemy, astral magic, soul magic, magical healing, and even magical botany.
To her surprise the various texts she skimmed were peppered with concepts and numbers she was familiar with. They had a way of calculating Pi out as many places as they wanted, understood why the golden ration appeared so often in nature, and understood the basic idea of thermodynamics. Though they curiously lacked any concept of conservation of energy.
It had impressed Seras more than it should have, she thought she knew better than to underestimate these people’s knowledge. They had been studying bizarre phenomena for millennia, they were bound to discover certain fundamental truths.
Then she read a theory on why the tides occurred. The author believed it to be grand field of fluctuating mana, but others had posited things like perpetual motion thinking that one large initial splash got the waters going and that they’d been rising and falling ever since. It had her scratching her head. They were so advanced in some areas, and then in another Seras was embarrassed by proxy for their ignorance.
A week and a half of trekking down the coast and away from the Six Sisters the crew arrived at Florin.
The Wolfram was a major highway for goods and people leaving the continental interior, unfortunately the river didn’t open into nice deep waters. Instead, the rivers delta was all marsh, wetland, and estuary, none of which were ideal for a port. So from Briaxis traders needed to decide weather they went west for Draconian ports, or within spitting distance of six active volcanoes for the next closest port.
There were certainly better port locations closer to Braixis, unfortunately all of them were too close to the Six Sisters and their volatile tantrums to be viable. Which made Florin the next best option. After the lock and canal system had been completed along the Wolfram River the sleepy little fishing village quickly grew into a major trade port. On top of trade Florin was also a hub for adventurers seeking the fortune and challenge offered by a unique environment like the Six Sisters.
The grey walls of the city rose up high and created a protective cup around the harbor, and rising above the walls were several towers with floating sky ships anchored to them. Each tower had several levels of gantry arms to link up with the incoming sky ship and a magically powered freight elevator to move goods up and down.
“I’ve been meaning to ask.” Seras said as they got closer to the front gate. “Why bother with overland travel when presumably a sky ship could do the same thing in a quarter of the time?”
Dustin gave a curious glance “Now don’t go invalidating my whole profession.”
Seras shrugged “No offense, I’m just curious about why I haven’t seen a single sky ship until now.”
“Theres a couple reasons, but the easiest is that the magic density and quality is just too low. To get any where in the deserts Sky ships would need to burn spirit coins like there was no tomorrow. The second is that while there is a demand for goods out of the deserts its not valuable enough to justify a sky ship. Ships like that have high running costs.”
“Then there’s the shrikes” Petra said.
Dustin nodded “The shrikes are the final reason. Huge flocks of monstrous Shrikes and Razor Starlings make crossing the deserts over air a risky endevor.”
“And that’s not an issue here?” Seras asked. They had seen a flock of flying monsters on the horizon just yesterday.
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“Not enough of one to deter business here.” Dustin corrected.
“Makes sense.” She said.
The guards at the gate were professional, but they didn’t inspect the cargo with the same thoroughness that Karstess had. They were quickly checked and then waved through the gate. The city had three main thoroughfares that all lead directly to the warehouses and port facilities. They had entered the city through the north gate, which was the side that received the most incoming traffic and had a whole district dedicated to caravansaries and open-air markets. Within the district Seras got to see all the varied and strange races of this world in a whirl of activity. Groups of dark skinned Smolders like Dustin, hulking Leonid’s like Petra, Humans in every shape and color, as well Celestines.
During their journey people had often mistaken Seras for a Celestine, so much so that she decided to stop correcting people. This oddly gave her a odd sense of kinship with the exotic and stunning race.
Seras even saw a new kind of people she had yet to encounter. “What are those, with the blue skin and cool tatts?” she asked.
Dallas looked over to where she was pointing, “Oh, I think those are Runics. Not many of those in the five deserts.”
“Runics. Neat.” Seras said. It was then that she noticed that Dallas was gaping about with the same awe as she was. “I take it this is your first time see Runics as well.”
The cracks of fire on his skin burned a little bright, a smolder blush, “Yeah, back home I had only ever seen other Smolders’ as well as the odd Leonid. I remember thinking that humans looked so strange the first time I saw them, even though there are more of them in the world than Smolders.”
Seras looked at the humans. “Honestly, the humans here look pretty boring compared to my world.
Dallas looked intrigued. “What were your humans like, do they all look like Celestines as well?”
“Some. My look is a bit unique. Typically for people of means modding your body to look less human is the preferred style. I knew a women with an eye implant in her forehead, and man with four arms. I’m a little weird in my sleeker more understated chrome. But I was always a fan of the saying ‘less is more’. With everyone trying so hard to be unique someone who doesn’t look to be trying so hard actually stands out more.”
“That still sounds awesome.”
Seras smirked. Most of the Caravan crew found Seras’ stories from home either sad or disturbing. Dallas was the only one who actually seemed interested.
She stayed with the crew until they found their caravansary and got settled in. But even as she brushed down Buck she was planning her route to the Divine district of Florin. She had gotten her metal essence ability ‘Structural reinforcement’ to 97% and knew it was only a matter of time before she got it to its next rank. The pain from her last one had never gone away, and she dreaded putting herself in further agony.
The Temple of Healer had to have the answers she was looking for, and Florins Temple was well regarded for their fair and even treatment of everyone who entered its halls.
Only once all the Heidels were in their stalls did Dustin come to get her. He had been to this city before and would be her guide to the divine district. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Seras said with a confidence she didn’t really feel.
“Alright then.” He said evenly.
Seras followed him out and down the street of the block they were on. Half of Florin’s business was tied to the trade going out of the five Deserts. Much of that would find its way to the Storm kingdom Rimaros, but more found its way to other ports along the coast of the southern continent.
The locals had built a much of their livelihoods around the trade flowing through their city and the moment they stepped out of the warehouse and caravan district of the city they entered into a bustling market with tall shops lining the walkway. They sold everything a passing traveler could want, from supplies, to home made food, to the luxuries that the life in the saddle couldn’t afford. Like fine liquor, hot bathhouses, and even the company of young beautiful men and women.
Seras felt her gaze drawn to that last one more than she’d care to admit. It had been a month and half since she came to this world and in all that time Seras hadn’t gotten to let off some pent up feelings. She might try and sneak away from the crew at some point to work out her frustrations, but that was a thought for later.
Splitting the semi circle of shops around the trade district was the Divine square. There Seras saw the monolithic and varied architecture of this worlds many living gods. She saw the imposing and gold capped dome of Dominions temple looming over the square, the priest of which were dressed in fine purple robes with gold and silver embroidery. Then she saw the large mosaic murals of extremely erotic art that made up the exterior of Fertilities temple, which made her double down on her plans to sneak out and relieve her budding frustrations.
Seriously, what kind of priest/priestess willing dressed like they were in a low brow porno?
Then there was Healer’s temple. It was almost humble in its appearance compared to some of the other eye-catching temples. While the building had a simple elegance, it was still one of the tallest buildings in the square, second only to Dominion’s temple that had apparently built a tower on the dome of their temple to stand above all the others.
With her target in sight Seras felt herself pick up the pace as she strode forward, Dustin trailing behind her. She was so set on reaching the temple she almost didn’t noticed the brown robe priest that had stepped out to meet her.
“Miss Cross?” the elfin women said, her hair was pulled up behind her head in a practical looking bun, and while she looked physically young Seras recognized the look of age in her soft brown eyes.
Seras blinked in surprise. She had been in the city less than a day and someone already knew her name. “Um, yes?” she answered hesitantly.
The women nodded as if that had been the answer she was expecting and had only asked the question out of curtesy. “My lord is aware of your problem, and sent me to come greet you.”
Seras blinked again “Your lord? As in-”
“Lord Healer. Don’t be concerned, he knows all the woes of the people who would seek his aid.”
“Okay” Seras said hesitantly. Mentally she was reevaluating her opinion of this world’s gods. “Then can you help me?” she asked eventually.
The women shook her “Unfortunately we do not have the answers you seek, I was sent here to guide you towards a different deity.”
Seras tried to not let her disappointment show “Which one?”
“The Lady Knowledge.” A strong male voice said to her side.
Seras turned to see another priest. A Leonide man with a well groomed dark main of hair wearing only a white skirt around his waist.
“And who are you?” Seras asked, though she suspected she already knew his identity.
“I am the head priest of the Florin temple. Lennias Garth. Well met Seras the Outworlder” He extended a massive paw forward.
Seras shook it. “Okay, and how exactly do you know my name?”
He quirked an eyebrow “My goddess is Knowledge, she knows all that is of this world.”
“All as in-”
“Everything” Dustin answered. “Every book, every event, every nook and cranny, and even our minds. Her divine domain is knowledge.”
Seras was… very unsettled by that.
“It is not an uncommon reaction.” Lennias said, apparently having either read her expression, or her mind. “But the Goddess does not lower herself to spilling every dark secret within her domain. She only answers the questions of outsiders if she chooses to, and her priests know how to respectful of a persons private matters.”
“Riiiight” Seras said slowly. “So your saying she has the answer to my… issue.”
“She has answers to everything.” The priest said.
Seras turned to the Preistess of healer “And your god can’t help?”
This rankled the priest. “He is the god of healing, but he knows that sometimes his aid isn’t what a patient needs. What you need is answers, and that is what Knowledge offers.” She said sharply.
Seras tried to piece out the logic in that statement. “Okay” she said slowly, she turned back to Lennias “Lead the way I guess.”
“Of course, and please Lennias is too formal, call me Lenny.” With that he turned and strode away.
Seras balked at the Leonid. Because she hadn’t said Lennias out loud, only thought it. “This is going to be a pain in the ass” she murmured under her breath.
“I guess I’ll just wait out here.” Dustin said as the priest led her away from Healer’s temple and towards the Temple of Knowledge.