《Ashes of Hell》Chapter 14 - Training - part 4
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"I'm sorry to inform you, Mr. Nestor, but your 'key' is of the lowest rank. Thus I couldn't assign you a single room like I did for your companion, Mr. Linneo.
I can tell you more this time. Your key has basically lost all its uses, as you can feel, it already cannot help you in calming your status.
Probably you didn't think about it, but as soon as you arrived here it helped you in keeping your cool after a moment of extreme shock.
After all, this is what low-graded keys do, transporting you here after death and ensuring you don't die soon after due to a panic attack."
Teresa, this time, explained thoroughly why Nestor had to share his room with someone else. She even went out of her way to add more information.
'Is she feeling guilty about last time? A sweet girl indeed, however, I have the feeling that judging people simply by appearances here, isn't very wise.
Nonetheless, I won't throw away my key just like that, it is a keepsake for me. It is both the end of my previous life and the start of my new one.
Plus it is not true that I didn't make a psychological check on myself. Every sane person would do that after experiencing death, key or not.'
After a quick shower, Nestor put back on both his trousers and jacket, which he hoped he could wash up in the following days. Maybe even buy a new set of cloth, since the temperature in Ceres was constant at all times and never went a certain limit, it being from 25 to 20 degrees Celcius.
Thus it was never truly cold, but it wasn't as hot either. Nestor had walked a lot in the past two days, thus he started to feel some sweat smell coming from his clothes.
Soon after Linneo knocked on his door, signaling that twelve hours had passed from when they went into their rooms.
'It's not surprising that I slept for so long, after all, that I went through. I really need to buy a lot of stuff for myself, earlier having some soap to use in the shower wouldn't have been that bad.
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I also need to buy some food and water, even stockpiling some for emergencies could be a good choice.
The problem is that I don't have money, I'll ask teacher for a way to find a job as soon as we'll have our first lesson.
Right, he didn't even tell me when or how we'll get in touch, it's not like I can search for him through the entirety of the academy.
Maybe he even has an office where he studies, but the doors of the academy tend to move, they usually don't stay in the same spot for long.
Damn, so many things to do. Linneo was kind enough to keep count of how much time passed, but I won't be able to always rely on him.
I'll have to buy if not an artifact at least a few candles to be more autonomous for the next few days. I have also yet to sell the jacket, though I'd hope not to sell my trousers.'
A few ridiculous thoughts lingered on his mind, would it really hurt to experience an ounce of exhibitionism? After all, he never attempted this kind of thing his whole life, well now two lives.
Jokes aside, Nestor stretched a bit his shoulders and went straight for the academy, until reaching Teresa's reception office and asking her about his room.
Ten minutes later they were walking on the sidewalk of the perfectly straight streets of the city. Strange floral-shaped street lamps were adoring the main avenue leading to the valley of avarice.
The lamps were giving a bright green light, enhancing the natural shade of the climate in the city. Lush bushes and neatly trimmed trees were also present on the sidewalk.
Nestor could also already see an increased number of shops on both sides of the road.
Many people were also busy traveling the road. Some were running at unbelievable speeds, at least for Nestor standards, many others were traveling by carriage or some strange steed.
"Oh my! This is truly unbelievable!"
In particular, the sight of humongous reptilian beasts, reminiscing him of lizards, was absurdly shocking for Nestor. Before, during his trips between the gate, the academy, and the lodgings he had not seen them.
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Mostly students like him, normal people, and some speedsters were bustling in the academic zone.
But now it was non-other than chaos, so many strange and unbelievable beasts that he was about to collapse. Either from fear of being stepped on and eaten, excitement from them being able to be tamed, or embarrassment from showing such vivid emotions.
Until now the duo had been talking about their past life, sharing some bits every so often.
Linneo showed great respect and admiration toward his ancestors. They had built their city, Ulhul, inside a gigantic glacier, being exceptionally sturdy it had taken them decades only to carve through the ice, even with the use of magical artifacts.
Nestor on the other hand had spoken of the marvels left behind by the roman empire. During his past life, he had visited Rome quite a few times, as it was the beating heart of the religion he professed. He described the magnificent buildings that almost rivaled that of the chained city. Even if here, they were abnormally bigger, some were very similar.
"Nestor, I understand your surprise, however, you need to make your skin thick in front of such occasions. Back In my homeworld, remaining shocked before an unknown fiend would spell death.
I am sure it must be the same here, if not much worse. Keep your composure at all times, that is my motto."
A smile appeared on his face, as Linneo observed Nestor's expression of disbelief slowly changing back to normal.
" Thank you for reminding me. I'm all good now, let's go."
Soon enough, Nestor's straight expression was put to test, perhaps a little too soon for his own taste.
The duo arrived at the far end of the avenue, from where they could see a wide plaza, kilometers wide. Many other streets converged here, channeling a seemingly endless stream of all kinds of humans and sentient creatures alike.
The plaza was packed with stands and merchants willing to sell their goods. The crowded appearance of the place remembered Nestor of the great open-air market back in Florence.
Yet his jaw almost dropped to the floor once he saw what stood in the middle of the plaza.
Sitting on a greyish stone throne, was a giant humanoid figure. The duo was currently facing the back of the sitting figure. However once on his legs, the individual could reach almost thirty meters height.
Nestor couldn't distinguish their features very well from the distance, however, he could tell that the figure was wearing a white hooded robe adorned with golden embellishments.
His left arm was resting on the stony armrest of the throne, while the right one was pointing at the sky.
'That's not exactly what he's doing, He's pointing straight to the sun!'
Even if he noticed as much, Nestor couldn't have been possibly the only one to do so. Many others must have had the same sensation, yet like him, they couldn't know the meaning of the gesture.
"This is a sight to behold, truly. Maybe while we make our way to the giant, we could also check on a few shops to complete our errands."
Apparently, Linneo had already been tasked by his teacher to buy for him a few ingredients here in the valley. While Nestor had already shared his intent to purchase a time-related artifact.
Linneo pointed out that this was the right decision since normal tools wouldn't work properly in the city. The reason being, that here was easy for newcomers to remain scammed out of their few belongings.
Finally, he confidentially praised the generosity of his teacher, as he had gifted him such an artifact, which he used to keep track of time.
'I thought it might have been related to one of his personal skills, yet he has been cheating all the time hah!'
The duo made their way toward the center of the plaza while checking on a stand every so often.
At a certain point, a particular tent caught Nestor's attention. A wooden sign directly announced the owner of the shop and said:
"Levante's exquisite emporium".
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Alternative Reality Vol. 1
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