Chapter 62 - A Voyage at Sea

Magierstadt is a direct language of Mystisch translated into "Mage city" or "Magician's city". It neither belonged to the two continents, making it an unabhängig, an independent land. Earthland is divided into two continents, namely Zuerst and Zweite. Zuerst is a continent located in the west, whilst Zweite is majorly integrated into the east. The war between the two continents lasted for 300 years; the was won by Zuerst with the leading three kings of Feuersturm called "The Great Three" who all can utilize the Opus. Along with them are the Opus' users of different countries. It was clear that Zuerst had the upper hand—but then instead of claiming Zweite, they established an armistice with them.

The Union.

A cold peace between the two continents—an agreement to never affiliate ever again in each's business; a decision to never engage to battle anymore.

Earthland's first continent is subdivided into seven countries: the first country, the "heart" of Zuerst, Feuersturm Empire; the opposite of Feuersturm, covered in glaciers and ice, Eissturm Empire;

the country of spring, the land of peace, Grönland Kingdom; the three countries of culture and arts, the Elizabethian, Victorian, and the Antonettian Kingdom; and lastly, the battlefront country of Zuest, Verteidigerin.

The second continent is divided into five countries, namely Kabbalah, Atziluth, Beriah, Yetzirah, and Assiah. Kabbalah is a large oasis turned into a country; Atziluth being the land of active volcanoes and labeled as the "Feuersturm of Zweite" by some who studies its geography; Beriah is a tropical archipelago almost separated from Zweite which harbors almost all of the Magicians' researches and top institutions in the country; while Yetrizah is a flourishing land filled with monsters, modified dungeons, and hybrids (half human-half animal races—the Agins). It was also said to be the home of the adventurers; Assiah, on the other hand, is an island almost detached from the continent—it is located too far south that makes in closer to dungeons and the continental cliff and the dark ocean. It is said that Assiah is harnessing "unscrupulous" transactions and quests and it is almost isolated, almost not considered as a 'country'.

And then there are the unabhängig, the independent lands who do not belong to continents.

In the middle of the to continents, there resided islets and lands scattered across the seas, one of them being Lotherlien. Besieged by vast ocean water is Magierstadt, the magician's country. In this nation, the continents can settle their differences for the pursuit of knowledge. Magierstadt welcomes mages both from Zuerst and Zweite alike, making it the country that has a stabilized set of prestige and social relations to the two continents. The other unabhängig is Alte Stadt, the ancient city, which is by far the furthest among any destination; this is the home to the Council, the highest of all courts.

The continental cliff is beside Alte Stadt, and descending in would mean to go down into the Endless Forest. The continental cliff is surrounded by the Dark Oceans, the habitat of sea monsters and the Atlantic; the barren terrain of extinct mermaids and other sea creature-human hybrids.

May this serve as your guide.

Sincerely,

Alexander Octavius Ein Feuerkrieger IX.

**

It was years ago when Faustina dreamt of going to the capital. She had history books jam-packed with descriptions and images that display the beauty of the heart of Zuerst. The history books Eula brought her were made for children and were filled with vivid pictures of the places that highlight the capital of Feuersturm.

She remembered reading and reading books like that over and over again—fascinated with a place exploding with thousands of different colors. She barely remembers how it exactly looked, but Faustina knew that there were bright hues of yellow, orange, red and black.

Visiting the capital was the promise Eula made with her. She stared at the horizon, thinking of Eula. Where was she now?

"We will be arriving at the capital in two days," Orwell says and went beside her.

"That fast?" Faustina asks.

"We're still in Feuersturm," Orwell replies, chuckling. "Of course it will be fast."

"O-oh. I see."

"Are you nervous?" Orwell asks as he went towards her.

"Quite," Faustina replies, and then from her peripheral, she noticed a pair of red—almost pink—colored eyes fixated upon her. In the corner of the boat's darkened crook, there sat a man clad in a uniform that made clear of who he was;

One of the high knights of Feuersturm.

And the color of his hair and his pale complexion loudly spoke of his race—the fact of "who" he was.

The vice-captain of the High Knights coming from the race of the Albino, the one they called...

"Abe," Orwell mumbles beside Faustina. "He will be your guard, but he cannot be with you on the exams. Magierstadt is strict in terms of things like those. But we will be in Magierstadt's city."

Faustina nodded.

"Anyhow, I just wrote your list of what you'll need for school. Honestly, I feel like I have a child already,"

Faustina forced a smile.

"Are you all right, Faustina?" Orwell asks. "Do you feel unwell?"

"I'm okay," Faustina answers, assuring Orwell. "It's just that I'm going to the capital. My master promised to take me there,"

"Hmm." From his spectacles, he eyed Faustina, and then the high knight.

Orwell smiled. "I see." He handed her the map. "In a few days, we will arrive at Feuer capital and stay for at least a day before we would head to the central harbor."

Faustina nodded and then slithered her fingers to the necklace in her pocket. She stared at Orwell, and then to Lucas Feuerlon.

The grey hair she had now was swaying on the sudden breath of the cold ocean breeze dancing around the whole scope. She closed her eyes briefly, letting the wind surround her entirety. When she opened her eyes, she met the sapphire skies staring right at her like his majesty's gaze. In her other hand was yet another letter sent to her by the king.

"Fulfill your duty, Faustina." She remembered his stoic voice, a command.

And she heard Eula's voice as well.

"Sustain the king's life."