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15 – Lichen

Late June. 4030. Territories of Cohen House

It is 9 years that I’ve been born in this world. Despite the fact, this trip is my first introduction to territories under Cohen House’s rule. For 7 years, my world consisted of Howe village, Sapphire Depth lake, Cohen Mansion and barracks near manor.

I do not think I’ll stay in a big city for a long time to see city-life and its customs. Nevertheless, through my life up to this point I saw that this world has medieval era lifestyle. As people are relying on magic, technology is not advanced. Farming has greater influence in economic life of Cohen territories in comparison to accounting, finance, or any other service sector businesses.

Howe village and permanent inhabitants of it are owned by Cohen House, so I reckon slavery exists in this world.

Jimmy had told me that Cohen family has given exclusive permission and rights to few families who are close to them to mine or import valuable metals such as gold, silver and iron to Cohen territories. Monopoly does not exist in other areas of commerce.

Safety within Cohen territories is of utmost importance so local police forces are kept almost at every big and small city, village or town. Size and force of policemen and army men differs from place to place but they still are effective enough to make sure that trade within Cohen territories is not terrorized by rogue bands.

International guilds operate within Cohen territories. They are Merchant Guild, Adventurers Guild and Magus Guild.

Differing from first two guilds, Magus Guild is kind of a social structure where members of this guild pay yearly fees to subscribe to it. Magus Guild to an outsider like me looks like a continent-wide social network of rich and wealthy magicians. They held yearly continent-wide events and local events quarterly where members meet and discuss state of magic, information about spells and so on.

Most of revenues that local lords and land owners originated from Merchant Guild and farmers.

The system allowed the lords and owners of the land to tax the people and their trades. As trade increased in the area the taxes became excessive. A single person had no chance of making any objections to the rate and amount of tax that the lord demanded. That was the main reason for an institution like Merchant Guild emerged. Merchant Guild was able to negotiate with the lord and the trade levy became regulated. The regulations agreed between the Merchant Guild and the lord resulted in a Merchant Guild charter. The Merchant Guild charter allowed the merchants to pay an annual payment, or fixed sum, to the lord who owned the land where the town was based.

Adventurers Guild came into existence as traders and merchants needed people to protect them and their products during their trips from bandits and monsters. I didn’t get much information about this guild as it was not of much interest to me.

With a background like mine, my new life was socially interactive, mentally challenging and strategically compelling.

I was thinking about stuff like previously mentioned when I hear Jimmy shouting “Kain, Kain”. I was lying down so I turned to face him. “Stop daydreaming.. Get up, its time to get on horses. Another hour of ride and we will meet with Vurm and rest of squad”, he said. I nodded in agreement and stood up. Jimmy called rider of carriage to stop so that we can unbind stallions and leave.

A day ago we met Malik who was traveling to his home village and was going to pass by our destination. So we asked him to sleep on his carriage while stallions walked behind it.

After an hour and half we reached Llyne village. Our squad had already reached Llyne before us. It was nice to see Vurm and rest. I showed off by using “Hurricane” in front of them after being asked to display what Baba had taught me. Their travel has been pretty peaceful with almost no problems at all.

Our next destination was going to be town of Lunaris. We decided to stay overnight at Llyne and travel to Lunaris next day.

It took us almost a week to reach Lunaris. Located few kilometers away from Alpine Cypress Groove, town of Lunaris was built by river Ana which was streaming from all the way from mountains through Alpine Groove. Town itself looks elegant. Lunaris has an improving economy, which is mainly supported by crafting and fishing. But their biggest strengths are elaborate blacksmithing and wood mining. In future, Lunaris may become a big city but that is for time to decide.

Most intriguing thing about Lunaris was that it was a hotspot for magicians who were traveling into Alpine Cypress Groove to hunt magical beasts and monsters.

Meat of beasts and monsters were tasty and had medicinal effect on human body. As a result, price for beast meat was valued highly. However, it was not the main reason why magicians were hunting magical beasts. Magical beasts had magical cores of their own which could be extracted upon killing. Those magical cores had very high value. They were used in wands and weapons to amplify power and force of attack. Moreover wealthy and rich people could afford necklaces, rings and bracelets made out of magical cores of beasts. Likewise they could be used as an investment, because their value didn’t depreciate much and in future could skyrocket if magical core was of the beast that rare.

Actually, my sword had broken 3 times already. Main reason being iron couldn’t handle magical power coming from me and weapon destructing itself after the attack.

5 days after our arrival in Lunaris...

I had finished sparring with Jimmy. Members of squad were talking to us about flaws that showed up during the spar. We were close to western exit of town which was facing Alphine Cypress Groove. Soldier on duty were watching us too when a man screaming in horror blasted off from forest. Vurm was first to react. He run towards person who was screaming in agony lying on ground.

Jimmy and I were the last to reach the man. I noticed that his right arm was chopped off, although there were bleeding at all. “It’s coming! It’s coming!” man was shouting “HELP! RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!”.

“What has happened?” Vurm asked. “We departed two weeks ago.. We were going to hunt for a beast of 3rd rank..Any beast.. 14 people in total.. 3 mages of 3rd rank and rest warriors or 2nd and 3rd rank..” man stopped to breathe. “Water, water please” he asked and Vurm dripped drops of water onto his mouth. “Our scout came to inform us that near a small lake within forest he has seen a 3rd rank snake.. He didn’t know what it was so we all went there to see for ourselves...” he stopped again. “What was it?” Vurm asked while everyone was silently watching. “4th rank Basilisk..” he muttered. “Basilisk? Impossible!” Valery shouted. “Not just basilisk.. A Lichen was sitting by its side” man said and closed his eyes for eternity..”Lichen?” I looked at Jimmy. “Its impossible! No Lichen has been seen in last millennia! It’s a myth told by grannies to scare kids!” Valery spoke looking at Vurm.

P.S: :D

Next: 16 - Agony