Two days flew by quickly as Lando and Ina found themselves standing in the bustling plaza at the heart of the city. The plaza had expanded significantly since the revolution, with numerous buildings demolished during the fierce battles. The government had made a tremendous effort, mobilizing earth magicians to transform the area from a war-torn battlefield into a more presentable space. Rubble was cleared away or repurposed for hasty reconstruction work. While there were still many empty spots, the remaining structures were hidden behind massive banners which displayed the symbol of the new republic — a cross formed by a sickle and a hammer over a gleaming gold coin.
In the southern corner, a grandstand adorned with depictions of a magnificent battle stood tall, overlooking the entire crowd. It took the form of a six-sided prism carved from stone, and Lando saw it as more of a monument than a mere stage, its purpose hinted at, only by a balcony near the top.
As a figure gradually emerged on the balcony, the crowd's excitement reached its peak. The man, with his short, curly white hair and ornately adorned white robe, exuded an air of both superiority and tranquility.
Raising his hands, the man effortlessly silenced the roaring crowd. After gauging the volume to be suitable, he began his speech, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Antonio Licinus, the new governor of Goldhaven and the mayor of Goldton. Today, I proudly declare our triumph over the old nobility and ruling class on behalf of the New Age Republic!"
The crowd erupted with thunderous cheers, and the new governor basked in the invigorating atmosphere. It took several minutes before the noise subsided, allowing him to continue, his voice projecting clarity and determination. "We, the common people, have finally risen and achieved victory against our oppressors. However, this victory did not come without a heavy price. Many of our fellow citizens have lost their loved ones in the fight for freedom or amidst the tumultuous times that followed."
Almost instantly, the cheerful atmosphere turned somber as the man continued, "While we cannot bring back those we have lost, it is our duty to bring them justice. As we eradicated our enemies among the nobility, vile creatures took advantage of our struggle for freedom, committing acts of robbery, rape, and murder without consequence. We will not allow this to go unpunished. However, I must acknowledge that our manpower is currently lacking. But fear not! We have reached out to our allies, the space-time council, and their formidable magicians. Renowned for hunting down criminals, they will ensure justice is served for our fallen comrades, friends, and families who suffered at the hands of these lawless individuals."
Right on cue, a council member stepped onto the balcony, greeted by thunderous cheers and demands for justice. Without uttering a word, he stood there, his mere presence instilling a sense of security among the common folk. Throughout the continent, the council was revered for their ability to uphold law and justice.
Many had feared a prolonged period of lawlessness following the coup, but the council's presence alone calmed the majority of concerns and deterred potential criminals from acting.
Governor Licinus continued on, highlighting the new opportunities awaiting the common folk before concluding his speech with a unifying call to rebuild, reconstruct, and prepare for potential invasions from neighboring nations.
‘This new governor is undoubtedly a skilled politician,’ Lando thought to himself. However, what intrigued him most were the mentions of unrest at the border. Reflecting on it, he realized the logic behind it. While he had no profound understanding of the political dynamics between neighboring kingdoms, a revolution would unquestionably signal weakness to external forces.
What did this mean for Lando? It meant that the majority of powerful individuals in the new republic would be stationed at the border, deterring and possibly defending against invasions. Cities like Goldton, which were not border cities, would likely have significantly reduced forces. High mages would be rare, and most of the remaining personnel would consist of mages and lower-ranking individuals, just enough to maintain order within the organizations and guilds.
This situation seemed advantageous to Lando, as it meant fewer opponents to avoid. However, it also created the perfect conditions for the council to establish and expand their influence in these cities.
***
Over the next few days, the city fully awakened from its slumber. With the council's reassuring presence, the people began the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation. Thanks to the assistance of magic, progress was made swiftly, and the essential structures necessary for the city's management were soon functioning again, albeit sporadically.
Meanwhile, Lando entrusted Ina with the management of the Stormshadow company while he focused on his own training. His primary objective was to improve his ability to sense the mana in his surroundings from both his elements and more importantly the absence of it.
The sensation of blindly phasing through darkness when he used his space magic to pass through the ground was something he despised. Thus, mastering this skill became his top priority before delving into any new techniques.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Feeling mentally drained, he found a spot on a dry patch of moss and leaned against a tree, allowing himself to rest.
"I can already sense the mana in my surroundings quite well, but identifying the shapes formed by repressed mana is proving more challenging than anticipated," he thought, feeling a hint of frustration despite his rapid progress in the technique. "I suppose it's a ,just gets better with time, thing."
Suddenly, he remembered the collection of artifacts that he had yet to test in his black ring. "Time to have some fun," he mused searching through his black ring.
The rest of the day was dedicated to experimenting with magical devices and accessories. By the end, he had sorted them into four distinct sections within his ring.
The first pile consisted of artifacts that held no value to Lando, items that he would likely sell or trade in the future. It mainly included low-level magical weapons suitable for magicians below the level of a mage. There were also some odd and seemingly useless items, such as a Sneezing Snuffbox that caused anyone who opened it to sneeze.
‘What the … who would even build such a thing?’he thought as he couldn't imagine any situation where he would need it. Thus, it was promptly placed in his "trash" pile.
The next section was reserved for utility items, similar to the ring he had received from his father, which allowed him to start a fire with a simple spark. This collection contained objects like a bottle of water that never seemed to run dry, now also known as the "Endless-Hydration-Bottle," or a magical quill that transcribed everything that was spoken. Lando believed the latter to be quite valuable, considering it was likely crafted using multiple elements.
"Hmm, maybe Ina could make use of this one. It seems highly practical," he pondered as he surveyed the stash. The utility artifacts were nearly as plentiful as the trash pile, as they could prove invaluable in various situations, particularly for soldiers, mercenaries, or whoever the old Archmage had encountered and killed on his journeys.
Lando planned to keep them all, recognizing the usefulness of items like a blanket with a perfect temperature or a laundry box with super wash- and drying speed capabilities.
The third section contained pieces of equipment that were good but didn't quite meet the standards to be placed in the fourth and final pile, Lando's personal equipment. These items could be useful for Anthony and the rest of his team, or even other employees.
"Perhaps I could distribute them as bonuses in the future if they perform well," he contemplated. The stronger his team became, the better their chances of success.
The items in this section ranged from various types of magical weapons to armor and enchanted jewelry. Although they appeared somewhat worn and used, a skilled blacksmith could easily repair them, as their enchantments remained just fine.
Finally, he reached the last items in his personal equipment pile. It was enough to outfit three men, but why be cheap when it came to his own gear? As he tried on everything, he couldn't help but feel like a noble displaying his entire armory.
"I guess I have to make some cuts here and there," he thought, feeling a bit embarrassed at himself. But the problem was that there were just too many good things to choose from.
He carefully lined up all the items on the forest floor and examined them one by one, considering how they might work together. After much deliberation, he came up with his final set:
- A light leather armor set with elemental resistances, though it had no defense against space and time magic.
- Boots that would silence his footsteps.
- Leather gloves that concealed his enchanted rings behind some kind of intangible, invisible barrier.
- Armguards that were impervious to even the slightest cut due to their metal enchantments.
- An amulet from his father, capable of blocking attacks from solid stage mages.
- A ring that created a wind pulse / explosion, pushing enemies away.
- A ring that could form a protective cocoon using earth magic.
- A ring that generated a bubble around him, regulating the temperature to a pleasant degree.
- A ring that created a shield made of water.
- A ring that caused a fiery explosion all around him.
- Three identical rings with light-based healing magic, capable of healing minor wounds (larger ones yet to be tested).
- Super comfortable socks that seemed to clean themselves.
- Black pants that were miraculously resistant to cuts, making him feel lighter as he walked, even though his weight remained unchanged.
- A black shirt made from the same material as the pants.
- A black coat that allowed him to glide a short distance in the air.
- A super sharp dagger that returned to his hand when paired with a ring, forming a set.
- A sturdy rapier, thin yet strong enough to block heavy attacks.
"Quite the setup, in my opinion. And it looks good too, which is definitely a plus," he thought to himself, admiring his reflection in a summoned mirror from his black ring. The outfit was predominantly black, except for the jewelry. But that certainly didn't affect his assessment, definitely not.
He focused primarily on practicality, defense, and escape equipment, recognizing that survival was his top priority in every fight. Another point that pleased him was that the amulet he received from his father proved to be just as useful as some of the other defensive gear, making it still an essential part of his arsenal.
As for his choice of weapons, he was satisfied. His dagger now served as both a close-combat weapon and a throwing weapon, while his sword allowed him to block heavier attacks. They may not have possessed super powerful enchantments, but that was alright. Lando knew that as he continued to improve his control over his elements and achieve high mastery, he would imbue his weapons with his own mana and create his own unique attacks. Therefore, superior mana conductivity was more valuable to him than most enchantments and this was certainly the case, as both were made out of orichalcum, a magical metal that was famous for exactly that.
With the daylight fading, Lando decided it was time to return to his inn. "I should ask Ina if she can provide some sort of identification," he thought to himself as he phased through the city walls. Given that the council was now permanently stationed in Goldton, he knew it was maybe not the best decision to use his real documents when entering the city.
Once back at the inn, he changed back into his usual clothes, settled onto the sofa, and enjoyed a cup of tea while he awaited Ina's report. Their daily briefing was about to begin.
True to his expectations, it didn't take long for Ina to enter the room with a serious expression on her face. "I believe I have found our first competitors," she declared a bit concerned.