Chapter 617 The Underground City Of Maero I

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~~~(POV: Cera Adamo)~~~

~~~(Location: Desert, The Continent Of Alforza)~~~

~~~(Time: 6:44 AM)~~~

Sally and I are standing in our carriage as a large mountain range is coming into view. Xilo and her have been having long conversations in my absence. I don't particularly feel any way about it. We won't be staying with the Des'merta for very long.

The mountains we're making our way toward are brown and rocky. Covered in dust and dirt. The wind of the high elevation has eroded the tops of the mountains into stubs.

It's clear this place has been here a long time, and while I'm curious to learn more. My first priority is learning more about the Radueriel Identity. Anything more comes after that. Once we're done with that, Sally and I are leaving to do what we set out to do.

"You're telling me an entire city that can hold millions of Des'merta is under that mountain range? It seems a little unbelievable. But we've been to underground cities before."

Sally and I had some fun in that underground city. I can't remember its name, but it was an important part of our developing relationship.

Xilo stands up, too, and looks at the mountain range with a sense of longing. The Des'merta spend a great deal of time traveling the desert. I would be happy to see a place where I can rest. The life these people lead is a testament to their wills.

"The City Of Maero is almost as old as the Des'merta people. It was the first city built by our people. There is an ancient river that runs through the mountain, and our ancestors dug into the mountain to get to the river. After that, it was a settlement."

From the sounds of it, this was before Spice was discovered. The Des'merta value Spice more than they value water. Back then, it was probably different. Digging into a mountain to get water is what desperate people would do.

Building a city under that mountain are what a satisfied and driven people do. Which is weird since satisfied and driven are opposites of each other.

"Where do I go to find answers about Radueriel and his story?"

A small sigh comes from Xilo, and she takes a seat. It'll be about 20 minutes or so before we reach The City Of Maero. So she can explain some general directions to me. I know I'm being impatient. Sometimes, you need to rush things along.

In my mind, learning more about this Radueriel character is important. It'll suck if I can't find anything out, but I'm prepared to let the pieces fall and learn about it in my other journeys. Someone as important as Radueriel is being made out to be will be found in other places.

The Last Of The Leviathans, Rahab, said that Michael and him talked about The Fall Of The Empire Yelized. The Des'merta might be connected to all of it, but there is no way for me to be certain. Nothing was said about the Des'merta from Rahab.

"There are many places you can visit in Maero if you're looking for answers. If you can't find any in the library, head to the temple. We'll help you. Perhaps some of the knowledge in our collection has answers you seek."

Xilo doesn't want to talk about this anymore, from the sounds of it. I get it, though. She's looking forward to being home, and giving a tour isn't something that she's wanting to do.

I lean back in my spot and take a breath. Closing my eyes and clearing my mind. Time passes, and eventually, there is an entrance that we're going through. Giovanni's carriage has to stay outside since he's not Des'merta.

This will probably be the last time I see Gio, and I can say we're parting as good acquaintances. As we are led through the tunnel, a significant number of lights fill my vision, and we enter a magnificent city.

The light being produced is from various colored orbs near the top of the dug out mountain. It gives the city a bioluminescent glow. The stones used to construct the city are glowing too. It's not a sight I've ever seen before.

"Wow... It's so beautiful in here... Gio is missing out..."

Sally stands up in the carriage again and starts looking around. I'm not able to help myself, and I stand up too. People stare as we pass them on the street in our carriage.

"Where are we going first?"

All my questions are starting to annoy Xilo. I can see it on her features. She's been very level-headed and calm the entire trip. Perhaps the nervousness of coming home has consumed her rather mellow side. She's far more on edge.

"That stables. The caravan will be stored there until it's time to move out again. But that'll be at least 3 years from now. The caravans only move when the desert permits it. Most of the time, the Des'merta are in their underground cities."

Another little piece of Des'merta history that I didn't know. Once we make it to the stables, I hop out of the carriage, and Sally follows with me. Xilo doesn't even say anything before heading off in the direction of a giant temple in the center of the city.

It looks to be a 25 to 30-minute walk from here. Sally holds my hand and grabs my attention. Her finger points toward a large building in the opposite direction.

"10 gold says that's the library Xilo said we should visit."

I'll not bet against that. We start walking through the city, and the darker-skinned people of the Des'merta are looking at us funnily. We are outsiders. However, they know we wouldn't have been allowed in if we weren't Des'merta.

"What do you think the city is made of..."

Her adoring voice of the glowing city isn't lost on me. I admire it greatly too. I don't know the stone, and I don't know how they're able to make it glow. My best guess is some magic, but I can't be sure. It could be something she looks into.

"I don't know. Magic, the natural state of the stone, something else, maybe. I bet you can find answers at the library just as I want to."

~~~(POV: Saliandra Orvello)~~~

~~~(Location: The Underground City Of Maero, Desert, The Continent Of Alforza)~~~

~~~(Time: 7:38 AM)~~~

We're walking next to the river, and it's glowing like the rest of the city. I dip my hand into the water, and as my hand leaves the water. The glowing water in my hand stops. It's like it's transforming into actual water.

Xilo didn't mention any of this. Cera is waiting at the top of the bank for me. I wish he'd come down here and check it out. But his mind is somewhere else. Not that I blame him, either.

He's got a lot of questions he wants answered. Mostly about Michael and the possibility that Cera is actually Radueriel. Personally, I think it's likely he is Radueriel.

"Sally. When do you think you'll be done?"

I can't help looking at the glowing water with a solemn look. I feel for my boyfriend. He's unsure of everything he's been led to believe his entire life. He thought he was from Earth. His home. His parents. Then it might all be a lie...

That would get into anyone's head. No matter how resilient their mind actually is.

"Come down here and check it out, Cera. You're missing out."

I want him to loosen up just a bit. A short sigh comes from him, and I hear him walking down the bank behind me. A smile graces my lips as he squats next to me. Looking into the water too.

"It really is beautiful..."

His hand glides through the water, and as it does. A new path of gold streams down the rivers starting from his hand. I look at him with concern, but he looks like he doesn't even care.

I wish I knew what was going on in his head...

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A/N: Below this line, I'll be keeping Cera's player information. That way, I won't have to place it into the story above anymore. It takes about 180 words up.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.237][Tier-4]

[Exp: 72/100%]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden)]

[Stats] [Strength - 7095][Endurance - 7045][Dexterity - 7215][Speed - 8240][Focus - 19,660]

[Mana aura control: 6/100%]

[Health: 76,560,000,000/76,560,000,000] [Mana: 216,600,000,000/216,600,000,000]

[Stat Points: 440] [Armor rating: 500]

[Inventory] [Dice of Wayland (Divine)] [The Witness (Legendary Sword)] [Fenrir's Whistle (Divine)] [Camping gear] [Fishing poles 2x] [Festival Garbs 2x] [4x EXP Boosts] [Princess Saliandra's Panties (Black Lace)] [Desert Warrior Nomad Set (Rare)]

[Passive Perks]

[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver] [An Overachiever]

[Active Skills]

[Heaven's light Lvl.74 325/7400] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.74 225/7400] [Slash Lvl.92 4600/21000] [Parry Lvl.68 85/6800] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A] [Winged Glory] [Angelic Flight] [Divine Pressure Exertion] [Divinity Pulse] [Controlled Fun] [Aspect of Transportation (Legendary)]