Chapter 276

As Arran approached Amydon, he saw that the city’s ruins extended even further than he had realized . He’d thought Amydon was surrounded by rocky terrain, but with a closer look, he saw that the rocks and boulders that littered the town’s surroundings had once been buildings .

He recognized the remains of a wall, too . Even with everything but the foundation gone, the wide ring of stone was unmistakable . And it was thick, as well — a good thirty feet, which meant the wall had been massive when it still stood .

But clearly, it had failed its purpose .

Whoever had brought down the city, mere stone had not been enough to stop them . And that, Arran knew, meant they must have been mages . Yet he could not Sense any remaining Essence within the area, which suggested that the city had fallen long ago — centuries, if not more .

Arran furrowed his brow as he passed the outer ruins, his curiosity growing stronger with every step .

While the outer ruins were little more than rubble, closer to the town the remains of the old city were more recognizable . Half-fallen walls and lone pillars stood amid the rough terrain, many of them overgrown with moss or vines .

When he finally reached the edge of the town, Arran saw that most of its buildings were ruins as well, though they had been inexpertly repaired with rocks and stones — likely plundered from the outer areas .

Yet neither the extensive damage nor the shoddy repairs could conceal that this had once been a prosperous place . The streets were wide and paved, and even in their current state, many of the buildings still showed traces of splendor .

The people, however, were a different matter . There were plenty of townsfolk out on the streets, and if they didn’t exactly look poor, most weren’t very far from it, either . Whatever wealth the city had once held, it was obviously long gone .

Still, the town was livelier than Arran had thought . From the ruins, he’d expected to find a ghost town, with just a few stragglers eking out a living amid the graves of their ancestors .

But instead, he saw that the streets were filled with traffic and commerce, with many of the people he saw clearly having come from elsewhere . And if most seemed far from rich, he spotted several well-off merchants among the crowds, as well .

Arran walked around for some time, observing the people as much as he observed the buildings . And as he approached the center of the town, he saw signs of wealth appear on both the people and buildings he passed . Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www . webnovel . com for visiting .

The damage here wasn’t nearly as extensive as at the edge of Amydon, and many of the grand buildings held well-stocked shops and stores . There were more than a few inns, taverns, and restaurants as well, and after a short look around, Arran entered one of these — a restaurant that looked simple but clean, and not too busy .

Inside, he ordered grilled meat and flatbread from a matronly woman with a stern face, and when she brought him his meal some minutes later, he asked, “Mind if I ask you some questions?”

The woman responded with a weary sigh . “If you’re looking for work, head over to the iron mines . They’re always looking for new workers . ” She narrowed her eyes and gave Arran an appraising look . “Should be plenty of work for mercenaries, too, if you don’t mind travel with the caravans . “

Arran shook his head . “I’m not looking for work . I have some questions about the town’s history — back when it was still a city . “

The woman raised an eyebrow . “You a treasure hunter?”

“Just a curious traveler,” Arran replied . “When I saw the ruins, I couldn’t help but wonder what happened here . “

“Not much I can tell you about that . ” The woman shrugged, and continued, “Place has always been like this, as far as I know . And my great-grandfather was one of the first to settle here, so I know more than most . “

“Is there anyone else who might know anything about it?” Arran asked, unwilling to give up his search just yet . “Anyone who’s studied the town’s history?”

She frowned, then said, “You could try old Kimon . He lives a few streets from here . Thinks himself a scholar . ” With a laugh, she added, “Best be careful with that one, though — give him half a chance, and he’ll talk the ears right off your head . “

After Arran finished his meal he left the woman a generous tip, then quickly headed out, eager to get answers to his questions .

He reached his destination some minutes later, and was surprised to find that it was one of the grander buildings within the town, large and lacking any visible damage . And through the glass windows, he could see that it was a jewelry store, with various precious gems and trinkets on display .

When he stepped inside, he was greeted by half a dozen suspicious looks . There were several guards and shopkeepers in the store, and they appeared to have decided with a single glance that Arran didn’t belong — no big surprise, given that he’d disguised himself as a mercenary .

Arran did not let the cold reception deter him . He looked around, then asked in a loud voice, “Is master Kimon here?”

An old man dressed in black silk robes with gold embroidery stepped forward from the back of the room . “What is your business here?”

“I have some questions about the town’s history,” Arran said . “And I was told you were its foremost scholar . “

The flattery had the intended effect, and a large smile instantly appeared on the man’s wrinkled face . “A seeker of knowledge!” he said in a delighted tone . “Tell me, what is it you wish to know?”

“I’d like to hear about Amydon’s history,” Arran replied . “Especially about the fall of the city, and what came before it . “

“That’s quite an expansive subject,” Kimon said . He looked at Arran with a hesitant expression . “Explaining it all will take me several hours . Are you sure you have the patience for that?”

“I have as much time as you are willing to spare,” Arran said . “Naturally, I will compensate you for your efforts . “

“Nonsense!” the old man said, excitement now clear in his voice . “No compensation is needed . If you are willing to learn, then I will gladly share my knowledge . ” He shot a glance at one of the others in the store . “Thouk, take care of the store . Young man, please come with me!”

At once, he turned around and headed to a small hallway at the back of the room, where he guided Arran to a small but well-furnished office .

Even before Arran had fully sat down, Kimon asked, “Is that an imperial accent I hear in your voice?”

“It is,” Arran confirmed .

“One moment,” the man said . He hurried out of the office, and returned several minutes later with a pot of tea, from which he poured Arran a cup . “Where in the Empire are you from, exactly?”

“Silvermere,” Arran lied . He took a sip from the tea, and was surprised at its quality .

“Silvermere! I’ve heard of that city,” the man said . “That’s the home of the Wang Clan, correct?”

“The Jiang Clan,” Arran corrected him .

“Of course!” the old man said, nodding as if he’d known the answer all along . “Tell me, are you affiliated with the Academy?”

Arran frowned, feeling some unease at the question . “I’ve had some dealings with the Academy,” he said, “But I am not affiliated with them . “

“A shame . ” The old man sighed regretfully . “It’s said that their libraries are unrivaled, with histories dating back tens of thousands of years . What I wouldn’t give for a chance to study there…”

“But about Amydon…” Arran interjected . He was already beginning to understand why the woman at the restaurant had warned him . If given the chance, he feared the old man might talk until nightfall before ever even mentioning Amydon .

“Of course, Amydon,” Kimon said, the interruption bringing an end to his musings . “Our city has a long history, one every bit as illustrious as the Empire’s . For thousands of years, it stood at the heart of a kingdom unmatched in both beauty and wealth . And if the Shadowflame brigands had not wickedly attacked it, it would still stand today . “

Arran looked at him in surprise . “The Shadowflame Society did this?”

“Of course,” the old man replied, with an expression that suggested he thought the question a stupid one . “Who else possesses both the power and the malice to do such a thing? Whenever an act of great evil occurs in these lands, you can be certain those vile mages had a hand in it . “

He gave Arran a studious look, then added, “With you an imperial, I should not be surprised that you don’t know these things . But heed my words, young man — do not get involved with those mages . Those foolish enough to do so inevitably suffer for their mistake . “

Despite the unexpected information, Arran maintained a neutral expression . In a calm voice, he asked, “So what happened to Amydon?”

“That’s a long story,” Kimon said . “Let me pour you another cup of tea, and I’ll start at the beginning . ”