《Ashes of Hell》Chapter 17 - Training - part 7
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Nestor was holding a piece of bread in his right hand, smelling its fresh scent, which reminded him of the wheat fields back in the countryside in Florence.
If it wasn't for its green shade of color and the few red stains over its surface, Nestor would have already taken a few bites.
"I see that the bread is making you hungry, why don't we go to the great banquet and grab something to eat. I have some spare change with me and I think you could utilize some food to refill yourself.
Tomorrow you'll have your first training, and I have some errands to execute for my mentor too."
Linneo's offer was well accepted by the happy monk.
"If you say so, who am I to decline haha!"
Nestor and the trusty knight had just got out from Levante's tent, as Nestor was observing the two articles he had picked up.
One was the piece of bread he was holding onto his right now, as from what Levente said, it wasn't anything like a normal piece of bread. Firstly one had to say that it would slowly regenerate as you eat it, thus one shouldn't eat it all at once.
Obviously, to regenerate itself, it consumed your very stamina. Yet eating it before cultivating your soul would amplify the effects of your training.
For the second gift, Nestor chose a one-time use soul scroll. Activating it didn't cost much soul power and its effect was quite simple yet effective in a difficult situation.
It would teleport him back to a pre-assigned location, given the fact that he wasn't using it further down than the first underground ring.
However, the best thing about it was that it could transport up to two other persons, who had to be in direct contact with the user.
Thus the duo planned to keep on their stroll through the many shops. While Linneo gave a few glances to the various stands, Nestor was already implementing the promise he made to Levante. Thus he wasn't even bothering to check his surroundings.
While speeding up their pace, since the banquets were in the opposite direction of the valley of avarice, a new question sprouted in Nestor's mind.
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As he could now see the dark eyes of the colossus sitting on the stone throne in the center of the plaza. The hooded giant stood still, his right arm and finger pointed straight up to the white sun.
He wasn't anything handsome, he held a serious and impassive expression, firmly looking ahead. His eyelids were unflinching, his skin was light gray and his hair black. His body thought seemed to be in good condition, even boasting firm musculature.
"Do you perhaps know anything about him? Is he even still alive?"
Many questions were lingering on LInneo's mind too. As this giant was the first thing that made no real sense to him. In his homeworld, mysterious powers were quite common, as they used them to constantly fend off the cold and monsters that tried to claim his and his people's life.
However, from the rumors he heard til now, this person shouldn't be existing.
"I think I heard something about him, not much though, mostly from the merchants explaining to other newcomers like us.
They said that this giant exists since the people of the chained city have memory. So we are speaking of tens of thousands of years.
He never left his spot, always pointing at the sun. They say that he's still alive even if he doesn't appear to be breathing, some claim to have seen his eyes stare at them, however, there is no proof.
He never speaks or moves and he is unbreakable. From what I understood by the rumors, he might as just be a statue, a remnant of the ancient times, from before anyone can remember."
To Nestor it was all extremely fascinating, this giant might as well have been an important piece of history so ancient that nobody can grasp his origins.
'How can he still be alive, as a living being he must have some sort of metabolism keeping him running. He must eat, drink, and secret feces somehow right?'
However, none would be able to respond to his answers, as the titan came from a period that nobody still remembered.
Yet in form of such a behemoth not everybody behaved in the same way, while Nestor could ponder all he wanted about it, Marco preferred to take action.
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The young athlete was now climbing over the giant's legs with the help of his spiked gauntlets. Which were now, in fact, two.
'How hard can his skin even be, I seem to be hitting at rocks and not the flesh of a living being. However I must thank the big bro here, he's giving me so much free training, maybe I should climb him up more often.'
As he kept advancing, Marco had to make way for the various little bird clinging to the giant's long robe. As he switched to the robe, his slow rise had cranked up the pace.
"Woah! What a view, I can truly see the whole plaza from up here. Although, my man, you could clean yourself more every so often right? There is so much dust and filth over here, these damn birds don't give you enough respect uh?"
Marco was currently standing over the titan's left shoulder, mesmerized by the view.
"I can feel why you keep pointing at the sun, it is so beautiful yet unreachable. You know, bro, is this what freedom truly feels like?
One day I'll make it here too, and I'll come back to make you company.
It must be quite depressing to have nobody that really tries to put himself in your shoes. I bet the pipsqueaks down there never really bother coming up here."
Finally, he turned around, to take a better look at the black eyes of the titan, as dark as the abyss.
For a moment he seemed to almost remain sucked inside that deep darkness, however as he stared more, for a moment the giant eyeball suddenly moved. The contest of stares lasted an instant, as Marco magically found himself at the southern edge of the plaza.
'He could have at least said something, am I still too small even for some advice? At least give me your name, it's not like I asked him his phone number.'
A bit disheartened by the rudeness of the giant, Marco resumed his stroll around the citadel, with still his new barbell tightly tied around his back.
More than an hour had passed before they finally reached their destination. An arched entrance preluded another tall building of Ceres, although this one was generally much simpler than the others Nestor had the pleasure to visit.
The columns were much more naked, fewer ornaments were present around the windows, and so on. The floor was made of dark grey stones, while red bricks were left naked to see from the walls. The general architecture didn't resemble as much either the gothic style or the roman one.
Over the entrance was written " A banquet for all the accursed ", which seemed almost a gentle reminder for Nestor, that this city must not be as simple and peaceful as it seems to be on the surface.
Inside the structure, Nestor noticed various halls filled with long, dark wooden tables and chairs. Many empty plates, cutlery, and glasses were already prepared for eventual guests.
At the same time, he could see various humans, and humanoids alike indulging in filling their bellies.
Although the service-related personnel seemed to be composed of little devils.
"They are called imps, don't let your imagination run wild. They are but creatures from below that have been tamed to run tasks such as these.
There is still some more intelligent staff placed around the halls, they make sure to keep the situation under control.
Now, let's eat!"
Not letting his friend repeat himself twice, Nestor quickened up his pace toward the reception area.
'Linneo sure knows a lot, how is that. My master didn't give me much advice, while Cole barely spoke to me.
Is it due to his key being superior to mine? Or maybe Imps existed even back in his homeland.
Time will tell, although I should be less suspicious toward my only true ally.'
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