Chapter 81: Outward Adventures

Ty paused, considering how to explain their quest to the tiny creature. "It's more than just a sword," he began, his voice low and steady.

"It will help us stop a bigger threat than anyone here can really fathom. I don't mean to bother you with our issues, but if something about this world is going to teach me anything, I'm going to guess you aren't just going to up and leave us for a while."

The Spirit, a bit perplexed, simply stated, "Why do you want the Cross Link Sword? That's such an old weapon, old even when I fell asleep forever ago."

Ty, equally perplexed, thought to himself, 'You know about the sword?' before asking aloud, "How do you know about it?"

"Of course, I was around when the first user was still around, though it wasn't anything too amazing," the Spirit replied with a hint of nostalgia.

"It was great at forcing one-on-one fights during wars and was kind of like a way to isolate threats. But outside of that, there have been much stronger weapons that can "Reshape the world if used rightly or wrongly," the fairy creature concluded. Ty nodded as he absorbed this explanation. "That is what our reports told us," he confirmed, his voice carrying a hint of resolve amidst uncertainty.

"I don't know anything about other weapons, but for all intended purposes, this is the only weapon that can be of direct use against our enemy," Ty added, his gaze steady and focused.

The fairy, looking a bit perplexed, inquired, "And who is this enemy? Is it the Calamity Dragoon? Or perhaps the venomous Raptors? Oh, could it be the Ancient Sword God user who lost his mind?"

Ty, a bit confused by these fanciful names the fairy was tossing around, yawned as he glanced at Nana. She had already passed out, with the fairy perched quaintly on her head, adding a surreal quality to the scene.

"I'm not sure what those people or things are, but the man we are hunting is responsible for a lot of damage," Ty explained, his tone suggesting he was treading carefully around the details. "He's the reason I'm here to begin with, without going into too much detail."

"Feel free to tag along with us if you like, but do be careful, as I have no idea what to expect. I don't see a future where a lot of bloodshed isn't spilled," Ty said, gazing past the small fairy and staring into the wall, his expression distant and contemplative.

"I would very much like for things to go smoothly, but everything up to this point has been rough, so I beg you, if you are going to be following us for a while, to at least ensure Nana stays safe in whatever fights emerge," Ty added, his tone earnest, underscored by a sense of responsibility.

Todd, packing his giant blue and green sack along with a new green shirt pieced together by a bunch of the soldiers, thanked them. The shirt, a patchwork of 10 shirts sewn into one to fit Todd's size, was a token of appreciation from those who had come to respect him.

"Drinks will be on me next time," Todd said with a hearty laugh, expressing his gratitude. The soldiers also thanked Ty for his time and expressed their hopes that the group would find what they were seeking.

Nana, stretching her arms out as they departed the small town, remarked, "This place was comfortable, and I'm glad we stopped by."

She offered Ty a warm smile, while the fairy gave him a slight look of annoyance, its tiny face a mirror of complex emotions.

The rest of their trip passed quickly. Three days into their walk, under a shining sun that melted away the cold snow, they approached a large bridge.

It gleamed in the sunlight, a formidable structure spanning a vast expanse. Two guards, wearing armor emblazoned with the symbol of (1) on their right plates, noticed Ty and the group approaching.

They stepped forward, blocking their path, and questioned, "What is your business, and why are you on foot?" Their tone was wary but professional, a testament to their duty to protect whatever lay beyond the bridge.

Ty, stepping forward, stated, "We have business at the Citadel Church. We are delivering Lady Nanako and accompanying my friend Todd."

He spoke with a clear, assertive tone, ensuring the guards understood their purpose. The guards whispered amongst themselves before responding, "We received news of her arrival. Please, move on in."

As they walked past the guards, they passed through a small bubble that seemed to burst upon their entry.

Inside, they were greeted by a bustling scene: hundreds of horses and carriages moved with goods, and people worked along the large bridge way that spanned 2 miles across and stretched straight for about 4 miles to a giant mainland that rose in height.

Suddenly, a loud roar overhead drew their attention. Ty and the others looked up to see a massive railed structure floating among a cloud of blue energy. A train, with steam emitting from the front, passed overhead.

The sight was a blend of the fantastical and the industrial, a vivid testament to the advanced technology and magical prowess of this world. The train's passage cast a brief shadow over them, a fleeting moment.