Book 4: Chapter 8: Road to the Capital I

Book 4: Chapter 8: Road to the Capital I

The sun had just crested the horizon when a train of carriages left through the eastern gate of Kanion. This was one of the regular caravans ferrying goods and passengers between the capital and the border.

In one of the middle wagons, two brown-haired youngsters sat in silence, intently watching the new scenery. Those two were, of course, Zeke and Leo. They had managed to get a spot on the earliest ride, despite their late arrival. It hadnt been all that hard for Zeke to convince the chief. He even managed to haggle down the price by promising to help out if they came across any danger.

The chief had been pleased to get the assistance of two Mages for the measly cost of a price reduction. Wouldnt he have been stupid to refuse such an offer? Instead of paying them for their service, those two even paid to work as additional guards.

Little did he know that Leo would have fought either way, even for free. So, Zeke was also quite happy with the arrangement. Furthermore, it was very unlikely they would have to do much. The caravan stayed far away from any of the truly dangerous areas, and bandits werent common either. On top of that, the chief already employed three Grand Mages and over 20 True Mages as guards.

Such a force should be able to handle most things, and even if they couldnt, the addition of two True Mages wouldnt make a difference. Zeke had already decided that if they ran into a problem they truly couldnt solve, he and Leo would save themselves instead of honoring the deal. The small price reduction the chief had granted them wasnt reason enough to risk their lives unnecessarily.

Of course, Zeke wasnt opposed to helping out in any other circumstance. Their journey would take them two weeks and it would be too boring to just sit around all day without anything to do at least for Leo. With them now being officially part of the guard crew, they had a lot more freedom to move independently. This was the main reason he had agreed to such an arrangement.

After less than an hour, his prediction came true already as Leo got bored of looking outside. Now that they werent alone anymore, his brother couldnt continue his Magic fusion practice, so there was little to distract himself with. Similarly, the terrain was getting increasingly monotonous. The further east they went the less there was to see. The verdant green woods and grassy fields had long since been replaced by dry soil.

The capital of Korrovan was in the desert, so he was confident this trend would continue. And unlike Leo, he had no problem sitting still. He had enough things to ponder to keep him busy. Even if he were to get bored, hed be able to chat with Akasha or the Dragon.

Alas, Leo wasnt like him. Zeke could already see his brother starting to fidget. Its not even been an hour, Leo. Why are you already getting restless?

Leo turned to look at him. What am I supposed to do then?

Zeke pointed at the other passengers. Read a book?

Leo merely snorted, as if the proposal was ridiculous. Zeke couldnt stop a wry smile from appearing on his face at his brothers reaction. We are not gonna reach the first Danger Zone until late afternoon, so there wont be any fights for a while.

Leos eyes lit up at the mention of the Danger Zone. What level is it?

During their stay in the city, they visited the local Adventurers Guild. They were very surprised by the sparse number of quests. The clerk hadnt lied, there really were no Extermination missions on offer. Apparently, the Guild was forbidden from interfering in such matters in Korrovan. Still, their visit hadnt been in vain as they had managed to access an up-to-date map of the country.

Of course, Zeke knew the geography already, as he had several maps in his Minds Library. However, what made the map in the Guild special was the fact that it depicted the known Danger Zones and even rated them according to the threat they posed. The danger could come from anything, be it monsters, bandits, or even treacherous terrain.

It was exactly those regulations that allowed the Ritual to be used so liberally. Zeke had wondered since back then how he and Celine could both use it, even though she had wished to have her summons engraved on her core while he only wished for a regular contract. Those built-in regulations made it possible for the Ritual to operate differently based on the circumstances of the user, making it seem almost intelligent.

It was no wonder nobody could even come close to creating something like this anymore. The complexity of the construct was something Zeke could hardly grasp. Any minute change to the overall design could lead to monumental changes down the line. It was almost like the Ritual was a living, breathing organism with an interconnected, self-regulating system akin to the organs in a human body.

The title of Grand Ritual was well deserved.

If he was completely honest with himself, he knew that he would have no chance of deciphering the Ritual without the help of Akasha. He was in complete awe of the being who had designed this masterpiece and he relished the chance to study it and deepen his knowledge.

Zeke took a book from his bag and laid it on his lap. This was, of course, just a cover. He had not read a physical book in months, nor would he likely do so ever again. After all, reading in his Minds Library was several times faster. However, he didnt want the other passengers to notice him staring out into nothingness for hours on end. Therefore, he had prepared this method to allow him to continue his research without attracting too much attention.

After his preparations were complete, Zeke no longer hesitated and dove into his Minds Library. Even though this had started out as a way for him to learn about creating his new spell, by now he was more interested in the intricacies of Ritual Magic. It was truly the pinnacle of magical engineering.

Hours passed, with Zeke and Akasha working in his Minds Library.

In the outside world, it looked like he was engrossed in memorizing the mystical symbols in his open book. He never even turned the page once, even after all this time. Many who took notice spoke words of praise. After all, one didnt often come across a young man who could do such a monotonous task for hours with utmost concentration.

However, Zeke didnt even hear their words. He was completely unaware of anything happening outside. At least, until he was rudely shaken awake. As his eyes regained clarity, he was looking at an excited Leo. His face filled his entire vision, entirely too close for Zekes liking.

What is it? Zeke asked without being able to completely keep the annoyance out of his tone, as he pushed his brother away.

Leo wasnt bothered by either his tone or actions, as his excitement remained undiminished. We are almost there!

Looking out the window, Zeke noticed their new surroundings. Even though they hadnt entered the desert yet, the terrain already looked like a desolate wasteland. It was an endless prairie consisting of nothing but yellows and browns.

And where is that? he asked.

Leo pointed toward the front of their caravan, where Zeke could faintly make out faint specks of green. The Danger Zone.

It was then that he remembered. The first Danger Zone on their journey was an oasis. They would have to pass through it to reach their first camp before nightfall. Clearing his muddled head, Zeke took Leos proffered hand and stood.

It was time to get some exercise.