∼ Boreas ∼

Chapter - 049

In the dark expanse lit by wayward strands of arcane-blue lights, Nyx's consciousness floated. His mind had, at last, recovered from the mana lesions. Those wounds of which he had gotten from recklessly exposing his vulnerable mind to the infernal mana storms of the second stratum during his ritual of familiar bonding.

Despite how very well known it was that Nyx loathed the inordinately boring exercise of expanding his [Mind's Sea] and his mind's reservoir, he had jumped right into meditation the moment Aria had allowed it.

Between the sparring and Nyx being on the sickbed for his injuries and inability, a fire had been lit underneath the demon. More than ever, Nyx wanted to become stronger. He abhorred having to rely on others, and the last few weeks had been some of the lowest points in his although admittedly short life.

So the demon had truly thrown himself, body and mind, into training. From meditation to sparring, Nyx had grown considerably and had much to show for it.

[Congratulations, your proficiency in Hand-to-Hand Combat has increased!]

[Hand-to-Hand Combat: Inferior → Moderate]

[Through dedication and hard work, your mind has expanded, and your reservoir with it]

∼Mana: (+1)∼

[Through dedication and hard work, your body's nimbleness and agility has improved]

∼Dexterity: (+1)∼

[Through dedication and hard work, your body's fortitude and perseverance has toughened]

∼Endurance: (+1)∼

Nyx had no idea that it had even been possible to grow in an attribute without leveling up or assigning a point up until this point. But according to Aria and Eric, it was rare and usually required a lot of hard work for a small return. As he would grow in levels, the harder it would be to manually grow each attribute. Therefore, Nyx decided to make the most of it before he reached a point where he no longer could. Just to squeeze out every little bit of potential.

However, the demon's growth had not just manifested itself in power, but also in Nyx as an individual. For he had even gained some semblance of respect towards the human, the demon now referring to Eric by his actual name rather than merely "stupid-human".

That or idiot.

But hey! It was still an improvement...

Opening his eyes, the sounds and smells of the surroundings came slowly rushing back. From the groan of the wagon to the gravel that crackled underneath the turning of its wheels, everything was as Nyx had left it when he started his meditation.

After their emergence from the woodlands, there was no longer any use to staying off the roads as they often came across people, along with the fact that there was not really any convenient stretch of woods or similar to take cover in anymore. Hunters, farmers, patrols, and caravans were all bustling everywhere. In the fields, on trodden roads, and on the main thoroughfare leading directly to Boreas.

It was truly different from the outskirts and fringes, where even taking one step outside the walls could mean death. Here, people were much less afraid, as the promise of monsters was a rarity much more than a certain occurrence.

As Eric, Aria, and Nyx walked these lands, it quickly became apparent that if they wanted to keep a low profile, more than anything, they should be sticking to the roads. Especially since most of the land here was owned and private. So they did so. It did not take them long to come across a friendly merchant who required but a meager donation to hitch a ride for the last stretch to Boreas.

It was no steady ride with the rough road and poor state of the wagon, however, it was still much preferred over travel on foot and saddle after weeks of it through wild, inhospitable, and unwalked terrain.

Sitting across from Nyx, Eric was half-nodding off, an arm propped up by a tucked-in knee as he leaned against the wagon's railing with his head leaning off to the side. At the wagon's fore, Aria sat, looking past the merchant's back and the horses to a sight that engulfed everything else.

Nyx had to rub his bleary eyes as he simply thought they were playing a trick on him, but they were not. Clambering to Aria's side, Nyx noted her unblinking stare of which he also came to share. A massive, horizon-consuming city was unfolding before their very eyes.

Far into the plains and climbing up the foot of the mountain range, the city's expanse was massive. A sea of brown and red houses buildings ran along the ceaseless lake stretching along the range, and as the eyes followed the length of the city, the structures became more and more beautiful with teal, purple, and white colors running through the architecture, a huge ivory tower sprouting from the heart leading further until you reached the end where a castle was raised high above the whole city.

Though the city was a mix of degradation and magnificence, it was overwhelming above all else.

"Is that one of the Pyres?" Eric's voice suddenly sounded. Neither of the two had even noticed him coming up with them in their reverie.

Confused about what he meant, Nyx looked back to see Eric pointing far above the city, towards the towering mountain range that consumed the horizon. Amongst the mountain peaks and as high as the mountain climbed, a light could be seen. Although it was too hard to make out from such a distance, it looked like a flickering flame. But if that could be recognized from this far away, it had to be an inferno of a size unlike no other.

Aria nodded. "It is the Second Pyre, in The Dwarven Convergence."

"Pyres?" Nyx queried.

She turned to Nyx, happy to explain as always. "They are massive beacon fires directly connected to the mana vein running through Argon's Spine. They tell of the mana source's vigor but are mainly used to directly touch on the raw power it expels into our world. If they were to ever go out, it would mean the mana vein would have been exhausted. Which would be only shy of a calamity for all of Argon. However, there is no worry for such a thing, mana veins do not simply go out. So the Pyres are mostly used for monitoring the source's flows and mana surges. This is vital for the rune smiths of the dwarves, the ritualist archmages of Arcanum, and many others. It is even used for-"

Aria's words slowly went silent to Nyx as he was in awe at all of this, his mind slipping to imagine just how powerful he would be if he had access to all of the power that surged through the mana vein. The source of almost all of the mana suffusing this land.

"∼Nyx? Are you listening?" Aria said, a grumpy expression on her face as if she knew exactly where Nyx's mind had wandered.

It took them another couple of hours to actually reach the city that had been long in sight. The closer they drew, the larger the stream of people and their caravans became. Nyx had never seen this many people gathered before. Even Guard's Crossing was greatly outshined here.

And... Nyx couldn't help but briefly wonder just how much EXP was surrounding him. Though he quickly dashed that idea as Aria somehow had some kind of uncanny knack for reading his expressions. He preferred not to be scolded another time for wanting to slay stupid humans, though he did entertain the idea a little more subtly so they wouldn't find out.

But as much as Nyx thought he was being discreet, Aria and Eric simply stared vacantly at the demon that rubbed his hands together while chuckling to himself almost evilly as he would stare at all the humans around, a certain and very distinct gleam in his eyes.

Aria and Eric simply sighed hopelessly.

Pulling up on the expansive wall before them, they all left the wagon, checking all their valuables were in place. "You sure you don't want me to take you through the gate?" The merchant on whose wagon they rode asked.

Eric assured the older man. "No need, we have some business here first."

"Alright then." The merchant nodded. "But do remember to get some thicker clothes. You might not feel it now, but once you enter, the biting winds that run through the city will soon have you regret not doing so."

"We'll do to remember that," Eric said offhandedly.

"The chill of the mountain is no joking matter," The merchant added.

Aria readily spoke up. "Boreas is famous for the frosty winds carried over by the Spine and down into the city, making it colder than most of Argon despite not being in the north."

The merchant's eyebrows rose and he straightened atop his coach. "Oh, yes - that be right, missy. Hmm - you had me believe that none of you had been to Boreas before though."

"We have not. I just... know a lot of things," Aria smiled sheepishly.

The merchant chuckled, "Very well then, you all have a fine day now." He said, gathering his reigns before adding. "And welcome to Boreas!"

Watching as the merchant rode off to join the mass of people lining up against the wide and muddy road leading up to the gate, Eric whistled bewilderedly. "And they call this the Small Gate?"

"It is not in reference to size. This is just the gate used by the common people. The North Gate is much farther up the wall and is mostly used by the wealthier and established merchants alongside the nobility." Aria explained.

Eric just shook his head, as he stared at the massive walls and the enormous gate, dozens upon dozens of armored guards lining its battlements and manning the passage.

Turning around, Aria adjusted Nyx's cloak, making sure he wasn't showing any red. She looked him up and down, the demon being draped from head to toe in a worn but sturdy black-grey robe with a droopy hood. They were hoping for passing Nyx off as some gnome as he had both the stature and height as one. They just needed to keep his demonic features hidden, such as his very red skin. Unfortunately, solving the problem of Nyx's identity wasn't as simple as de-summoning him like the thrasher for he was not a demonic soul contracted from the infernal realms.

"It'll do. We have to get moving, we have little daylight left." Eric noted, seeing Aria fussing over the cloaked demon.