Chapter 97: Zorin - Town Of Rainbows

Chapter 97: Zorin - Town Of Rainbows

The journey of ten days may have been uneventful, but that didnt mean it had been easy. Hot desert days sapped Vir and Bumpys energy, but traveling at night posed its own issues. Bumpys degraded eyesight and uneven terrain gave them no choice. Vir had risked traveling at night before, but now realized how much of a risk he'd been taking back then.

When the desert heat finally gave way to rolling grasslands, and eventually, breezy coasts, Vir had rejoiced. While he and Neel had plenty of food, Bumpys hay had nearly run out, making the greenery a welcome sight.

The North Legion Mountains had dazzled Vir when hed first laid eyes on them. Hed never seen such impressively tall mountains in his life, but that wasnt saying muchhe hadnt seen any mountains. Hiranyan land was defined by its flatness, with the Dahan Steppe being the only elevated ground in the entire kingdom.

Even now, on the tenth day of southward travel, the snowcapped mountains continued to loom, majestic and imposing. To his left, they ran like a finger pointing north, with the range dividing the sliver of western Rani from its eastern counterpart.

To his right, the vast Runean ocean stretched out to the horizon and beyond. Either way he looked, dazzling views greeted him.

It was almost enough to forget the hunger. The tables had turned compared to the beginning of the trip. Now, Bumpy ate like a king while Vir rationed whatever he had for himself and Neel. The dried loaves of bread were long gone, leaving only a handful of nuts and dried berries.

Neel hadnt caught anything for himself in days and the wild edibles Vir picked had done little to sate his appetite. The bandy kept wanting to jump off and run beside the Ashva, but Vir stopped him. Expending energy like that would only burn through their food faster.

The frequent snowmelt runoff meant rivers and streams were common, so at least water hadnt been an issue.

That was to sayit hadnt been an issue for staying hydrated. Vir had to coax Bumpy to ford several rivers, making for some harrowing experiences. Hed had to detour several times to find a narrow, shallow spot to cross. But narrows meant faster currents, and that spooked the timid Ashva, forcing Vir to dismount and lead him through, braving slippery smooth stones.

Only his agility had kept him from falling and being carried away by the current.

So while no pirates or highwaymen had bothered him, the journey had nonetheless been an arduous one, and Vir was glad to be nearly done with it. Another half days ride would put them at the coastal Ranian city. Another half day to the comfort of a pleasant inn with a hot bath and a soft bed.

For most of his life, such luxuries had never tempted Vir. Sleeping on the ground was normal. Going unwashed was expected. Riyan had spoiled him silly. Having experienced the grotto and comfortable beds, Vir doubted hed ever be happy sleeping on dirt again. And despite the occasional river baths, he was sure he reeked.

Though monotonous, the days of travel had afforded Vir time to ruminate. About the dizzying array of events that had just unfolded. And about his own power. If his experience in the capital had proven anything, it was that one could never have enough power in this world.

While hed learned Empower, there was another Talent he coveted. One hed lusted after for a long time. Blade Projection. The Rare Tier Talent that was the dream of many a Talent wielder. But Vir had soon understood that Blade Projection wasnt the Talent he ought to seek right now.

That was an advanced Talent. One that built off of a more basic ability. The Uncommon Tier Prana Blade that allowed one to wreath their blade in a prana-like coating sounded more than just useful; it sounded deadly.

Of course, Vir knew it wasn't just prana-like. It was prana, though since no one believed Talents ran on prana, the name was somewhat ironic.

Vir located a good campsite for the night, just as the sun approached the horizon and the shadows became long. Trees had been nonexistent for most of the journey, but grew more numerous as they neared Zorin. The terrain was still largely sparse, but the occasional copse meant firewood was an option.

Using his legs to stomp down dead branches and his stolen knife to prepare them, he had a fire going in short order. While he couldnt cook his dried food over the fire, it still helped to ward off the midnight chill. Ranis climate was generally temperate and dry, but the nights could sometimes get chilly. That, and there was a mystical aspect to fire that helped soothe the nerves.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Bumpy appreciated it too, folding his legs beside the fire.

Vir laid out his bedroll in front of the Ashva, leaning his back against the beast as he sat beside the fire, then reached into his fabric sack and stuffed a handful of cashews into his mouth.

Neel eyed him with big beady eyes. The bandy had already had his share, but if there was one truth in life, it was that bandies were never full. Theyd simply eat and eat and grow themselves so fat they could barely walk. Neel, while not emaciated, had definitely lost a few pounds.



Vir hadnt expected to be impressed by Zorin. It was a small coastal town on the very edge of the Rani Queendom. What could it have that Daha didnt? And Saran was the first major city Vir had ever laid eyes on. What could beat the novelty of a first experience?

He was right in some ways. In others, he was wrong. They called Zorin the Town of Rainbows, and hed wondered why. After all, this side of Rani wasnt known for its rain.

Vir now understood why.

The town was an explosion of color. Its red brick buildings boasted tapestries of all colors and designs. Tile roofs were painted over in pinks, greens, blues, yellows, and reds. Wherever Vir looked, color burst.

If there was prana to support them, Vir was sure hed have seen hot air balloons in just as many hues as well, flying above the city. As it was, the skies remained empty, and yet the city still felt more lively than Daha.

Everyone had said Hiranya was a poor kingdom, and Vir thought he knew what a rich one would look like. Clean streets, a minimum of slums, and well-constructed buildings. Zorin had all of that, but Vir realized hed been dead wrong on everything else. A single glance at the Rainbow Town showed him just how rich the Rani Queendom was.

The architecture might have set the tone, but it was the people that completed it. Not only was their clothing as colorful as their town, they wore designs Vir had never seen, chatting with one another and even strangers greeted himthat shocked Vir the most.

Zorinfolk bustled about contentedly. Some even outright smiled. People moved with a purpose. Empowered. Full of life that Dahans sorely lacked.

Where in Daha, most wore gray, brown, or black cloaks, here, women wore dresses of a thousand designs, while men sported vests, shirts, shorts, pants, and even kilts. Some bore intricate embroidery, while others kept their outfits basic.

Even those who dressed modestly looked good in a way Vir couldnt place. Well considered, he decided. The clothing design, proportions, and color all matched in a way that pleased the eye.

The cobblestone roads, while not wide, were clean. They were neither crowded nor empty. Enough traffic bustled around to make the town feel lively, yet not to where it felt packed like Daha had.

It was all even more impressive when Vir remembered Zorin was even more remote than Saran had been from Daha. But if this was a backwater, he really wanted to know what the Rani capital Avi was like.

Once again, Vir felt like a country bumpkin as he rode in on Bumpy. He wondered whether each new city would make him feel this way, or if it was a Ranian thing. He hoped it was the latter.

Shaking himself out of his reverie, Vir remembered his priorities. Highest of which was weaponry. Right now, all he had were the two iron knives hed swiped from Brij. He needed something better. Ideally, a katar. Given the towns vibrancy, he held hope he just might find one of the exotic weapons here.

Hed intended to consult the convenient street signs placed at every intersection to find a reputable blacksmith, but the local population stepped in to help instead. A well-dressed man wearing a fine hat hailed him, asking if he needed directions.

Instead of telling him where to go, the man actually walked with Vir, all the way to an impressive looking two story brick building.

Just when Vir suspected the man would ask for payment in return, hed bowed and left.

Guess people here really are that nice. It would take some getting used to.

Vir tied Bumpy up outside, commanding Neel to guard him. The two made a good pair and had long ago grown comfortable with the arrangement. Neel paced around, on the prowl for anyone who might dare lay their hands on his bigger cousin.

Then his eyes popped, and his jaw hit the floor. From wall to wall, racks of the most beautiful weapons Vir had ever laid eyes on greeted him.

Vir feared hed be walking out with a much lighter coin bag.