Ikrei P.O.V.

Coming out the luxury ship and delivering our pleasantries to the staff we stepped down into the port city of Clariun. The port looked vast and the buildings in the distance looked completely different from anything I had ever seen before.

“Welcome to Wanei!” Iru said with a pat in the back.

We kept following the princess’ entourage and our leader. It was explained to me that the Wanei trading zone encompassed three main cities and many small towns including this port city. The haven of easterners in the western continent and the stronghold of the eastern continent. One of the richest, wealthiest and developed places in Turgan. Many of the buildings had clear eastern architectural influence. For a boy, who had never left a forest and a couple of towns this was too much to take in.

“A little piece from the land of the cultivators my man.” Krigsain said as he was pointing me in the right direction.

I was looking around everywhere so he had to nudge me a bit. I was truly impressed.

“I forgot to tell you, cultivators are awakened practitioners. We are all similar but they have their own peculiarities and intricacies in their methods. Don’t call a cultivator an awakened, it is considered an insult.” Iru went into teacher mode.

“Why is it that I don’t see a bustling amount of easterners then? Shouldn’t all easterners in the continent come here?” I questioned my bookworm colleague.

“They control the area but just because you are an easterner descendant that doesn’t mean they will help you straight out. This is a place of cultivators, merchants, courtiers and politicians. There are many considerations at play, hell, even Orlum has a small palace here.” Iru answered adjusting his glasses.

I never knew when he was going to wear them and when he would not. An artifact of some kind maybe?

“So how you feeling after ten days of pummeling chicken coop? That is how you call it, right?” Ciel was being an annoyance while adjusting her bow for the hundred time.

“Don’t make me sigh. That last day was terrible, directly sparring with our rapacious leader while following the training regimen almost broke me.” I told them honestly.

Ciel nodded, Krigsain snickered and Iru laughed.

“This is far from over my man.” Krigsain supplemented.

“Pick up the pace, you can do a tourist run later.” Freslia’s voice loudly echoed.

“By your order.” We all answered simultaneously.

We pushed through the waves of people and the many buildings following the princess’ lead. After about half an hour we reached and ornate and exquisite entrance. A six story building stood before us. An elaborate golden plaque on top of the doors read, ‘Wanei Merchant Association’.

“Be on your best behavior everyone.” We herd the princess’ voice from the front.

A tall bearded easterner man opened the doors. He was elegant, classical easterner court clothing. At least that is what it looked to me from the descriptions I had gathered from Teng.

“Welcome princess Asara, lady Freslia.” He was very polite giving a slight nod.

“It’s been quite a while Jin Jin.” The princess saluted back.

“The chairman is not available at this time but we have taken care of everything as requested. Please follow me.”

“I would like you to keep these four in mind for the future. They will be around for quite a while.” Freslia worded her request very politely.

“Krigsain, Ciel, Iru and Ikrei.” The princess introduced each one of us.

One glance at our clothing, and a smile later, “You may call me Jin, young Andurin.”

His eyes felt like a beast measuring his prey. His eyes were similar to the Claimere’s, just dark brown instead of blue. The strange glow was there. After some small pleasantries we followed him inside the building and down several levels of underground floors.

There were many guards and security checks we walked through until we reached a device. A very wide metallic arc, it had orgon embedded into it. I couldn’t recognize the metal. It had several run engravings in a language completely foreign to my knowledge.

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“This is a portal gate, Ikrei.” Iru told me pointing out the device’s activation.

The area vibrated and a liquid like substance materialized under the arc, a half-moon watery portal. The portal was wide enough for transporting large quantities of goods. Why is this in an underground floor? Why are we allowed to see this? I guess this is not as special as I think. Putting my thoughts aside we stepped forward to pass through the gate.

“The coordinates have been set to our branch in the mountain range near the castle as per your instructions. See you later princess Asara, lady Freslia.” Jin waived goodbye as we were suctioned in.

After going through the motions again at the Merchant Association’s branch there were carriages waiting outside the merchant building. The carriages had the Will of wills sigil sign. The blue phoenix body with a raven head. The hybrid feathered beast representing the Andurin.

Once inside the carriage prepared for us, we were sitting with the group of five. The princess had a couple of more carriages for herself and her retinue. I was curiously looking out the window trying to take in the vistas. The mountain range on the backdrop and a properly built road leading to Malaktaraf castle. Our troublesome trip finally at an end. Snapping me out of my thoughts, the Claimere spoke.

“The eldership has made preparations for you all. I don’t know all the details, but Iru and Ikrei should be especially happy about the arrangements.”

Obviously Iru and I perked up like little chickens.

“Elder Tanin will be directly responsible for you Iru. I hope this pleases you.” She explained.

“Of course it does, the Head Magi elder teaching me? This is auspicious!” Iru was grinning from ear to ear.

“Your master has come as well Ikrei. Get ready to meet him once we settle in our quarters inside the castle.”

I was surprised by the news. I didn’t know how to feel. My master from my previous life? Do I get to avoid this beastly woman from now on? This is great news!

Sensing my surging excitement Freslia added. “Don’t place the cart before the horse, you will still be training under me for a while longer.”

My jubilant mood damped considerably almost immediately. The rest of the group just laughed at the circumstances, at me or both. I couldn’t tell. I wasn’t happy.

“Monsters, yes monsters you lot.” I whispered as I looked out the window again.

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The castle appeared before us on a hill. Three very thick, tall towers were clearly visible from the distance. Two wide dark rock walls connecting the three visible towers. The length of the walls stretched far enough to fit hundreds of men on top of the walls at first glance. The entrance was under the first tower, right in the front of the structure. The other two towers to the side and behind the first. The walls connecting the other two towers forming a square. Seeing my perplexed look Freslia spoke again.

“This used to be the home of ancient Magi, even the terrain was magically changed by them. The three towers were repurposed into the castle you see before you. There are plenty of amenities inside, you’ll like it.”

“So, a corner of the square is the entrance? Defensively that’s odd to say the least.” I said.

“The rock is a special orgon infused mineral rock brought from the mountains behind it. It can withstand sieges from kingdom level armies. Nevertheless, you are right. If forces strong enough to break its defenses come, there will be no castle left. The true defense lies with the magic wards, mechanical artifacts and the people within it.” Freslia continued to explain.

“In the era of magic, awakened and cultivators most fortifications can only protect you to a certain level. Sphoria, Luz and Lemuria being exceptions to this rule due to how they are constructed and reinforced constantly. There are a few other places in the Turgan continent but such places are very special as well.” Iru chimed in.

Although I lived in the Malgrunian kingdom all my life I never stepped into its capital, Sphoria. Neither have I have ever even read about Luz, the home of the Zurians. Hopefully, I’ll get to see Lemuria with my own eyes after all this is over.

“If the castle can be wiped out by powerful foes then the safest place for an Andurin is the capital of Lemuria, right?” I voiced my thoughts.

“The resources here are also very valuable, Malaktaraf has changed hands throughout the ages several times. Elder Tanin and Elder Akathos are here, they are not here alone. Let’s wait and see what the eldership has in store. Be patient Sachear, I want to know too.” Freslia concluded.

The sun was coming down, the beautiful backdrop and the sun’s reflection on the castle made it look welcoming. I was looking forward to meeting my so called master at last.

“Everybody just follow the Kotari to your assigned lodgings. The eldership will address everyone tonight. Dismissed.”

“By your order.” Our foursome saluted.

The door of the carriage opened at the entrance of the castle. Freslia glided off to the interior with other similarly hooded people. She disappeared from our view before I could even turn.

A pair of stylishly cloaked individuals stood before us as we disembarked. Deep blue cloaks with sky blue borders and Andurian symbols beautifully embroidered throughout the whole fabric. The proper Andurin cloth.

“You are the last group to arrive. I am brother Darin and this is sister Kuyun.” The pair gave us a warm welcome.

Darin was as tall as me but not as tall as Krigsain, he had a strong presence behind those brown eyes, nice black beard. Kuyun was another black haired beauty just not at Ciel’s level.

“Are all awakened beautiful? That wouldn’t be fair for the normal people, now would it?”

Darin’s gesticulation snapped me out of my dwindling fantasy.

“Krigsain, Iru and Ikrei you are with me. Miss Thresen you are with sister Kuyun. We are in a hurry, let’s go.” Darin ushered us inside to the left as Ciel vanished with the thick eyebrow beauty to the right.

We were hastily placed in our new quarters, a small four bed chamber with its own bathtub space. Small according to castle measurements, the place was bigger than my room back in the woods.

“Krigsain, in about an hour Lord Sarkan will come for you. Iru, the direct Kotari of Lord Tanin will come fetch you as well. Ikrei, you are to come with me now.” Darin expressed his intentions, before I could say anything we were heading somewhere else.

“Where are we going?” I managed to ask as we were speeding up and down the castle.

“We are going to where our master is. Lord Akathos is waiting for you.”