Chapter 25: The City Where Heroes are Forged

When that moment comes do you dare?

When their armies are at your door and your children are starving do you dare?

When your heroes fight a losing battle do you dare?

Do you dare?

Do you dare?

DO YOU DARE?

I do!

Excerpt from Tales of Dragons and Gods. A Biography on the life of Apollo Kan.

“Ya, identification an reason for visitin’?”

I looked down at the dwarf in confusion.

“Identification?” I asked hesitantly. Even when I had my backpack, I never had identification on me.

“Ya, da Empire came up wit some genius tech da can register a person’s magic signature.”

The confusion on my face didn’t dissipate and my stomach growl at the smell of food coming from in front and behind me. Their where peddlers selling their wares to people entering the city and merchants with all manners of strange beast were doing trade even before entering the city.

“Ya, been livin’ under a rock the past 2 years?” the dwarf asked, and I looked up in confusion at the vast ceiling of the cavern. The dwarf looked up with me before bursting out laughing.

“Ya, you hav’ been huh, Joecin take over for me ya? New registries.”

“What’s been going on the past 2 years?” Ryna said eyes wide looking around widely.

I looked at Ryna and shook my head. We would be having this conversation later. The dwarf beckoned us forward out of the line, and we walked into a guardhouse inside the left wall of the massive gate. It was pulled up now but combined with the walls the gates where anywhere from 40ft to 50ft tall and covered in every available in of rune script.

“Ya, Bossim we got some new registries. Take a seat and she’ll be with ya in a few minutes.”

I thanked the dwarf before sitting and gave a small wave to the secretary he spoke to who nodded in my direction.

“What has been going on these past few years? Redcoomshi is a city-state aligned with the dukedom, but I’ve never seen some of the things that’s been traded outside.”

“I think… we have a lot to catch up on.”

I had seen some objects myself that I could have mistaken them coming from earth. Like the small cannon strapped to the dwarfs back it had a futuristic feel to it, and I would be finding out how it was made.

The room we were in was a small waiting room and gave me the feeling that I was in a doctor’s or dentist office. Mage lights powered by mana stones lit the entire room in a soft yellow-orange glow reminding me of the sun. it had been so long since I felt its rays on my skin suddenly, I grew anxious and the realization that I finally made it to Redcoomshi hit me all at once. My shoulders sagged in relief, and I settled into the comfortable chair. I did it. Two maybe 3 years had passed since I began this journey and I finally made it here. My bloodline had grown stronger and could last longer and now I would take some trial my ancestor did and become even stronger. My aura swelled in anticipation before brushing against something that could only be described as vast.

A woman walked in wearing intricate plate armor covered in runic patterns reminding me of Ryna getting the System. She was enchanting just as beautiful as my mother. She was ranked.

“You should control your aura better its rude to just let it loose amongst people you don’t know,” she smiled as she looked down on us. “I’m Gin, the guard captain of Redcoomshi follow me to my office Aegis Kan.”

My heart skipped a beat and for a second, I thought about escaping. Then I calmed down. Redcoomshi was a city state aligned to the dukedom and I had been missing for 2 years. If I knew anything about my mother especially in that strongly worded letter it would be that she would have covered all routes. My heart grew warm at the thought, and I stood shortly followed by Ryna who kept shooting glances at me. I think she forgot who I was at times as I in no way projected that I was the son of a duke. I kept my composure cool as I followed Gin but I’m not sure it mattered as my aura had rippled out beforehand.

We entered her office, and I appreciated its dark but regal look with a massive bookshelf behind her chair and a fireplace to the left with couches and small tables. Two chairs where prepared in front of her desk and a servant delivered us some tea and pastries before excusing themselves. Gin pours the tea for us herself before any talks began.

“I’m a firm believer in showing off the Redcoomshi hospitality. It was surprising really when I received the report of a young couple trying to enter the city without identification cards and after I received a report on your looks I knew for certain.

That and because of this.”

Gin removed a small medallion from her desk, and it let it go. I watched as it slowly floated over before bonking me in the chest.

“So, Shadow made it out alive?”

“Yes, and she is on her way here now. I’ve had to entertain her the past few months as she decided to wait here until your arrival. I must say however she and even the city sent guards out along the main routes how did we not spot you until you delivered yourself to us?”

She leaned forward curiously, and I had to catch myself from starring to closely as I studied her. She was human and honestly on the shorter side of our race standing around 167cm. She had short amber hair that curled its way just past her head. Her eyes where pure gold only showing hints of outlines where her iris was. Her tan skin glistened in the mage light as she leaned forward.

“Did anyone else make it out.”

Before I could answer Ryna spoke up quickly before shrinking back slightly as the Gin eyes focused sharply on her before softening. “You are Ryna Rohan, yes?”

She bowed her head slightly. “I’m sorry for your loss. All but one…”

Ryna slumped down in her chair and a shudder ran through her body.

“The one?”

“I’m sorry I do not know.

Their souls… are lost from Arva.”

“She spoke to you?” Ryna asked looking up hopefully.

“She has and is very interested in you and your journey, but we will discuss more on it later,” Gin said as her eyes refocused on me.

I was nervous especially at their conversation in the end, but I needed to trust that the System couldn’t be revealed so easily.

“We came from a jungle.”

“Stop!” Gin said holding up her hand with wide eyes.

“How are you alive? That is the domain of the-.”

Gin abruptly stopped talking before regaining her composure and settling down.

Sweat dripped down my forehead and Ryna coughed as in that brief moment her aura had been exposed to us. Vast and untamed was all I could pick up from her nature and I wondered if the person in front of me was just a façade.

“Let me introduce you to the city and get your identification cards. We have booked chambers in the best inn in the city.”

We all got up and Gin led us to some stairs, but my mind remained on the scene that just happened. What level of power was that? That the slight leak of her aura could have us chained to our seats ready for slaughter. Yet I didn’t dwindle on these thoughts for long as we stepped out onto the wall and saw the city in all its glory. I could tell how lively the atmosphere was from up here as I watched the people move about their day. The gave off a retro magical steampunk feeling as people rode on floating platforms to get from place to place and island to island. Others walked or rode atop of massive beast chattering and laughing all the way.

“It’s wonderful,” Ryna said eyes still red but with a spark of fire hidden within.

“That it is. Welcome to the city where heroes are forged.”

***

Shadow calmed her nerves and held back from spreading her aura across the city just to make sure her charge was ok. She held the backpack in her hands as she rushed from rooftop to rooftop. Cursing her luck that she was on the opposite side of the city. Close to the main gates where most of the travelers should be arriving. She glanced at the huge mountain in front of her and at the centermost island where those who wished to be forged would go to complete their pilgrimage. Men who went either came out a hero or didn’t at all and her charge was to undergo that test next. From her knowledge only one Kan fail their pilgrimage, but it was hushed secrets kept quiet by the family.

Shaking the thoughts from her head she moved to one of the rental shops placed all over the city for a discus. Fly with the help of the device would be much faster than just using her physical body to sling herself from roof to roof. She could go faster but that would start causing damage to the city and there were several ranked at the Land God level working as guards for the city state. The captain was a Sky God as well as the city lord and a fight against them would be like fighting against the sky itself. Pointless. She wondered if the Young Master would be upset at her refusal to listen to him as she thought back to that fateful day.

Only she and the two members of the Blue Team that had lifesaving treasures survived the city of Comb was consumedoff the map. As if a giant beast had taken a bite out of the area and the necromancer who started it all was nowhere to be found.

Nar’nazak the Hunger. A God worshiped by the greenskin races. Shadow shuddered at the thought and gave praise to the suns. It had been a while since she underwent a worship session as it was best to do them in the presences of day light. Having been underground for close to 3 years did not help. She paid the fee and zipped off around the city dodging others on the discuses, mind occupied and worried.

***

Gin stepped back allowing the kids to get a view of the city she grew up in. She smiled and answered any questions they had but her mind remained on the topic from earlier. If Aegis Kan, and Ryna Rohan truly came from Restricted Area 34 then how were they still alive? That forest was guards by Rashkin the Ancient One. A twice ranked beast that had been in that area longer than the Empire existed and he made it very clear that non beast wasn’t allowed in his forest.

Several times by tossing the broken remains of trespassers in the direction of the city. The last time a body slammed into her city gate was a year ago in fact. When some young and very dumb adventurers ignored the warning signs and entered the tunnels that lead to the forest.

Her eyes lingered on Aegis’s back as her expression turned curious. What did the boy have that would make something ancient leave him alone? She shook her head. If he had been some random traveler maybe she would detain them for a while. This was son of Duke Vasu and Gin was not stupid. Plus, their city was allied with the dukedom and Xaivon would whine off her ear if she did anything before handing her over on a silver platter. That was part of the character that she fell in love with however and she would not be alive today or make it this far in life if not for him.

The city lord would most likely host a welcome party and as a follower of Arva she would have plenty time to discuss their journey with Ryna. Her mind decided she reengaged with the kids.