Chapter 691: The State of the Empire and Journey’s Preparations

Chapter 691: The State of the Empire and Journey’s Preparations

Several weeks had passed since the king of Thameland had pardoned the Fool. Several weeks had passed since Alex Roth was freed from the threat of chains, Thameish priests, and kings.

But he hadnt spent that time resting, contemplating, or celebrating.

Hed spent it training.

By day, hed attended class and studied with Professor Mangal in her tower, preparing for his first relational contract summoning. By night, his time was spent teleporting across the Prinean, the Barrens of Kravernus, or building golems with Toraka Shale.

It became his steady routine until he was finally ready to travel to the Irtyshenan Empire.

Andon the morning of the first weekend after midtermshe prepared for his first journey to find Keldas sanctum.

Waterproof sleeping roll, check. Magical fire producer, check. Back up flint and tinder, check. Magical water purifier, check. Self-erecting tent, check. Potions, check. Alex stood in front of his kitchen table, taking careful inventory of his supplies. Enchanted rope, check. Weeks worth of rations, check. Cleansing supplies, check. Portable timekeeper, check. Mapping kit, check. Snow Blindness-Reducing goggles, check. Alright, I think this should do it. Oh right, and I cant forget you.

He picked up the aeld staff that hed leaned against the table, its many crystalline blooms glowing. A new one would blossom each time Alex introduced new magics into it and much like its wielder, it had grown considerably.

The aeld staff was giving off waves of anticipation, seeming eager for this new adventure, almost as eager as he was.

But not everyone was as eager about the journey as he was.

Are you really not taking me with you? Selina asked. Ill be helpful, Alex. I really will. I mean, look!

His sister was sitting at the head of the tablethe only place not taken over by his supplieswatching him pack as Brutus rested one of his heads in her lap.

The young girl raised a hand and spoke words of power.

Alex felt a tingling warmth as fire-tinged mana surged.

An orb of flame burst into life, floating above her palm. It was a simple first-tier spell, but he felt sheer power and heat emanating from it. The flame shone with a bright light that was barely flickering; it was unnaturally uniform and controlled.

See, I mastered Orb of Fire, she smirked.

I was there when you mastered it, he smirked back.

Yes, but its even stronger now. Look, the orb is bigger and its flickering less, she pointed out. Ive got better control of its heat.

Alex nodded. That you certainly do. He looked at his sister closely. Youve grown a lot havent you?

And she had.

Months had passed since her twelfth birthday party and during that time, Selina Roth had entered a growth spurt. She was eating twice as much as she used to, and was looking noticeably taller each month. Her voice was more mature, her face more angular, and she was starting to embrace most of these new touches of maturity.

Her shape was changing, andto her horrortreacherous pimples had started to erupt on her face like weeds in a flower bed. Luckily for her, Alexs alchemy skills let him craft potions that kept her face from being a complete crater of angry, unwelcome, pus spewing bumps.

I am growing, she said. Thats why I can be helpful. The empires cold, right? My fire can keep us warm.

He frowned. I know we should be spending more time together, Selina, but I dont think the Irtyshenan Empires the right place for that. Its dangerous, from everything Ive learned.

But youre not going into the Empire today, right? she said, pointing to a map spread over the table. Youre going to She frowned. Kymiland, right?

And Kymilands bordered by the Irythsenan Empire on three sides, he said. Its also the most forested realm in the entire continent, and those forests are full of monsters.

He paused, recalling a passage from a book Baelin had quoted from over a year ago:

We tracked the rune-marked, and within the Western Borders of Kymiland, with all of its foul and treacherous barbarians and savage monsters, we lost sight of the light of Mount Titarsios and we slipped from the gaze of The Virtuous Gods within the vile trees, the chancellor had read. For days we wandered, battling the hordes of barbaric elves, savage forest humanity and even the foreign firbolgs. We were tired and our guards were down. Our guideone of the Bloodwalkerscaught the movement before the rest of us. The beast was unknown to us: humanoidas though its form were mocking usstinger-toothed, and with great claws on its fingers. Its hide was like thousands of scabs and turned away good imperial steel. We lost Agreus, Zevchen and Bolg in the first few seconds. Our Bloodwalker went after it, and thanks to her enhancements, she managed to finish the beast off. She did take a mortal wound, and we had to retreat with her before the trolls came: they always arrive at the scent of blood.

If the passage was to be believed, then

Why would thieves need a guild? Selina said.

To organise themselves, Gel-Dor explained. Theyre not so much thieves as they are an organised group who want to obtain and trade goods that might not be exactlylegal. Theyve stolen from one noble and sold to another, they offer protection, but theymost importantlysmuggle weapons. Word has it that theyre getting aggressive, trying to smuggle as many weapons in and out of the Empire as possible before the borders tighten even more. I suspect the guilds going to be in Kymiland.

Right, Ill keep that in mind. Alex prepared cups of hot cider for everyone. Well, heres where were starting, he pointed to the map. Right here, in the town of Tursinki; its near where were going to begin our search.

Ah yeah, thats on the western border of Kymiland and the western part of the Empire, Fan-Dor said. Careful. Theyre a port town, so theyll be used to some outsiders, but war will make them more cautious.

Thanks for that. Alex passed out the cups of cider. Now, for the other reason I invited you here. Lucia, I would like to recommend that Captain Fan-Dor join your company

Oh! Lucia said. We already discussed hiring the Red Siren.

theyre an experienced, brave crew, whove sailed just about every sea there is Alex continued, launching into the speech hed prepared.

Yeah, if she wasnt going to offer, I was gonna ask, Captain Fan-Dor said. Her operations sound like they could work great for us, and itll be steady work.

and Lucias company is one of the best in the region, you wont be able to do better. I think together Alex kept going.

We were already working out a verbal contract and pretty much all we have left to do is get everything down in writing then sign on the dotted line, Gel-Dor added.

then youll be unrivalled on the Prinean and beyond. And Alex finally stopped. Wait, you already made an agreement?

Yeah, I mean we are adults, after all, Fan-Dor pointed out.

O-oh. I wasI was planning this big pitch, Alex said. I thought, it could be likea thank you for how much youve helped me in the past couple of years

Silence fell on the room.

Im sure they appreciate the thought, Theresa stifled her laughter.

Stop, Alex groaned, his cheeks blazing.

You should continue with your big speech, Alex, it was fun to listen to, Selina grinned.

Somebody, please kill me, the young wizard groaned, looking sheepish.

###

Alright, are we all ready? Alex asked, looking at Theresa, Brutus and Claygon.

They were standing on the roof of the bakery, sheathed in protective magics and flight spells. Behind them, Selina was seeing them off.

Iam readyfather Claygon said.

Me too, Theresa said.

Brutus licked his hand.

Be careful, okay? Selina warned.

We will, Alex promised. And well be back by nightfall. If we dont, get a sky-gondola and go to Khaliks.

With that, the young wizard looked up at the clear, blue sky and called on the power of the Traveller

then the wizard, the huntress, the golem and the cerberus vanished.

The journey to find Keldas sanctum was starting.