Chapter 9: Urgent report
They rode farther and higher until they reached the peak of a small mountain pass the road they were following curved through. The sun would soon disappear over the horizon and occasional howls and cries could be heard from behind them from the distant forest where they had been just hours before.
Nobody talked, laughed or made any noise other than the occasional cough or heavy breathing. Each of the people in the caravan had their entire concentration focused on their surroundings.
However slight joy and anticipation could be seen on everyone's faces when they reached the peak of the mountain pass.
In the distance many faint lights lit up the sky and stretched as far as the eye could see.
Alex in particular was very surprised at the sight that lay a few dozen kilometres ahead of him.
'This city is huge!' Gét latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om
So huge that it covered more area than his entire asteroid colony combined.
"Valentis city is within reach, another two hours of riding and we will arrive!"
By now it had been over 5 hours since Alfred had passed out from overusing his abilities by constructing that huge dirt dome out of thin air. He had only regained consciousness an hour prior but still he was very weak and could barely keep himself upright.
The horses were utterly exhausted and were even struggling to breathe, the lack of oxygen at the peak of the mountain didn't help.
But they seemed just as determined to reach the city as the men sitting atop them.
Alex looked dazedly into the distance, gazing upon the skyline of the city.
However his thoughts still kept going back to the moment Alfred unleashed that powerful attack against the Galephant.
That was the first time in his life he had ever seen someone use their abilities in person, and he could barely keep his emotions at bay.
'It's never hit me until now just how unreal this situation is...'
He had just been living his normal life as a miner until one day he was dragged into this place called the Primordial Expanse, which even after hundreds of years the Federation still had little information about.
"Please tell your captain that I, Alfred Wynter, have an urgent report!"
Alex looked at the man, Alfred from the side.
'Now that I think about it, this is the first time I've heard his full name.'
The guards simply ignored Alfred's words and carried on their inspection, laughing along to each other occasionally.
Alfred was being polite at first, but seeing the soldier's reaction, his patience had run out.
He jumped off his horse and made steady strides over to the nearest guard, who finally turned to look at him, a sneer on his face.
However Alfred didn't stop walking when the guard took notice of him. He simply kept his pace, as if the guard didn't even exist.
When he stood less than a foot away from where the guard stood with his hand resting on the sheath, he stopped walking and...
Thwack!
The guard hit the ground hard.
Alfred just sighed and looked towards another nearby guard, who now had his sword unsheathed.
He may still be heavily injured, but dealing with a measly guard like this one was nothing to him.
With all prying and astonished eyes on him, he simply reached into an opening in his armour and took out a small pendant, raising it in front of him for all nearby guards to see.
"I said, tell your captain that Alfred Wynter, Peak D rank adventurer, has an urgent report!"
This time, the other guards took him much more seriously.
Even the guard he had just headbutted on the floor replaced his anger with seriousness as he heard what Alfred said.