Chapter Twenty-Six

As soon as they stepped off the platform, Ione recoiled.

Panicked, Elysia sent a flurry of images asking what was wrong. In response, a potent blast of disgust hit her through the bond.

A flashback to Mezo caused her to scan the wide street edged by stone buildings. Dozens of meters away, she spotted a group of familiar white-haired people waving their arms surrounding an open gap between two buildings. That gap didn’t stay open for long as the stone piled nearby lifted and formed walls, then slid into place.

After forming a roof, they cut window and door holes in the front facing wall, then they stumbled back, exhausted.

Another group of Changed took over to perform intricate details like carving a logo and name above the door at the direction of a human standing next to another Changed who seemed to order the others.

It only took them a few minutes to finish the building, answering Elysia’s question about how a city formed so quick. They had plenty of stone around and with enough Changed, absurd building times were possible.

The reason for her treatment clicked as she took in the surrounding people cheering on the exhausted Changed, who bowed, then climbed onto a truck, probably to their next job.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about the discovery. While they seemed to earn a lot of goodwill for their hard work, they worked themselves to exhaustion. Though to be fair, not everyone wanted to fight to improve, so building might be their only option. She would rather fight to protect her family, not that risking one’s life was any better.

If she turned into some generator or whatever a lightning element Changed would do, she would be at the mercy of others. She would likely stagnate too. Even with her dangerous life, she couldn’t see herself return to a safe life hiding away in a city.

Though she might have to perform some service if she wanted to improve Umbra. Her talents laid in striking things down with her lightning, and if she had to smite a few things, she would do it.

Her eyes gravitated down to Ione, who was backing toward the platform, ears flat. Why did these Changed bother her so much? Hundreds surrounded them on Mezo. While she didn’t like it, she didn’t react this badly.

As they backed toward the platform, Elysia focused on their surroundings, finding the reason immediately.

Unlike Mezo, the city practically radiated elemental essence. She supposed it made sense since the Changed built everything.

Needing to find out more but not wanting to subject Ione to the city, Elysia sent images telling Ione to head back to Umbra to let them know the city should be safe. Sure, she could send a message to Sereia, but her twin may not wake up until after they arrived. They didn’t even know how to get to the city. What if they sailed right past?

Elysia sent a glance over the edge down at the harbor and the stone gate. Several Changed were visible in guard houses at each end of the gate. It seemed like a security precaution as they allowed every ship to pass.

Odd how she didn’t see ships earlier. Maybe they traveled south. There wasn’t much for hundreds of kilometers to the north, after all. Plus, going by the size of the ruined city at the entrance of the canyon, that was what remained of the bay area cities.

She needed to find out more, and that meant staying in the city for now. They couldn’t continue blindly sailing south until they stumbled upon something.

Also, this city seemed well defended. The elementals may think twice before attacking, giving them time to escape or hunker down.

No way to know if it was safe, but nothing she saw worried her. Even if they closed the gate, locking them in, her divine lightning may break them out. Not that she thought it would come to that. From what little she saw, the city seemed pretty neutral.

Between Sereia and Ione, she doubted anything could endanger them, anyway. When she watched the Changed, all of them felt much weaker than her. Weaker than any Changed she met on Mezo.

She was sure there were stronger beings in the city, but her instincts told her she should be safe as long as she didn’t make trouble. It was a risk, but Ione looked about ready to jump off the ledge leading to the harbor if she stayed any longer.

Elysia flashed back to the last time she went off on her own, then nodded to herself. As long as she didn’t use her divine lightning, she would be fine. She was a grown woman who didn’t need a babysitter.

Unfortunately, upon relaying her plan and jumping off Ione, she found the feline unmoving. Her ears twitched in discomfort.

A hardness in Ione’s eyes told Elysia her plan of sending Ione away failed before it even began. Ione’s desire to keep her mother safe outweighed her discomfort.

Elysia released a sigh, then stroked Ione between her ears. Since her bond refused to leave, she may as well continue. She strode down the sidewalk, trying her best to ignore the many curious looks directed at her. Well, not her, but Ione.

No one blocked their way as they traveled at a casual pace. With each passing second, the temptation to sprint built, but they didn’t want to give away their capabilities in case things turned south.

The street seemed to go on forever, prompting Elysia to stop and scan the surrounding people, looking for someone to ask for directions. Just as her eyes locked onto a group of girls around her age hanging off one another while giggling, she spotted a sign with an arrow pointing down a street to the left.

After glancing both ways, she trotted across the street, then followed the sign saying information center. She didn’t have to walk long as she soon found herself in front of a one-story stone building. Unlike her hometowns information center or really any information center she had seen, the place was packed. So packed that there was a line traveling a block as if they were waiting to get tickets for some concert.

She took her spot at the back of the line, eliciting a whine from Ione. Said whine caused a domino effect. When the first person noticed Ione, they cause the next person in line to look back. Soon the line parted, allowing Elysia free access to the building. Despite her elemental nature telling her this was as it should be, she fidgeted hesitant to take the offer. However, before she had a chance to back out, Ione nudged her forward, tail raised.

Upon stepping inside, she froze for a moment, then stepped aside to observe. Instead of the typical endless racks of brochures, all the single room building had was a counter with an orb sitting atop it. A bored-looking teenage girl not much younger than Elysia sat on a stool behind the counter, barely paying attention as each person rested their hand on the crystal.

Each person spent several seconds staring off into space, probably seeing something system related before stepping away with a smile. Each person that left seemed to walk with purposeful steps, as if they finally knew what they needed to do.

Instead of approaching the crystal like everyone else, Elysia walked up to the girl and tapped on the stone counter to draw her attention away from whatever she was staring at in her system. The girl jumped, then sent a glare at Elysia, only for her expression to immediately shift to one of respect. A shift so fast it only caused Elysia to frown. Something was off.

With an almost too friendly chipper voice, the girl broke the silence. “What can I do for you, miss?”

Only then did Elysia notice another detail that bothered her. Despite dozens of people standing in line for the orb, they were silent. Each one of them stared forward patiently waiting their turn in an almost automated fashion that sent a shiver through her.

The temptation to back away hit her, but with the girl’s attention already, she may as well find out what she could. Hopefully without triggering something.

A quick scan of the surrounding people told her a single-strand lightning bolt with some ball bearings would decimate everyone. She doubted any of them even reached their first evolution. Some might not even have a class.

Before any wild theories took root, Elysia returned her attention to the girl. “I’m looking for somewhere to repair and upgrade my boat.”

A frown formed on the girl’s face, causing Elysia to tense, ready to escape at a moment’s notice, but her next words only brought confusion. “Why did you come to the induction crystal then? As a blessed you should know, the crystal is useless to you.”

Elysia’s eyes gravitated toward the crystal then snapped back to the girl wanting to leave as soon as she could. “I just followed a sign saying information center.”

The girl gave her a look as if the answer to her question was obvious, though her expression shifted back to one of respect inhumanly fast. “Yeah, when someone inducts themselves into Arcadia, they receive all the information they need.”

Did she stumble upon some massive cult? Her fingers itched to shatter the crystal with lightning, but her rational side fought back control, knowing that would be incredibly stupid. Most likely she found herself in a place under the control of some faction like Mezo was now. She didn’t care how others ran their territory as long as they left her alone, which seemed to be the case so far. Much better than the last time she found humans.

“Could you point me toward someone who could help me repair my boat?”

There was a few second pause as the girl stared off into space before she answered. “Of course, but even if you are a blessed, you aren’t a citizen, so you must put in a request at our local Freelancer Guild branch.”

The girl froze for a moment, then her expression shifted apologetically. “With your status, I’m sure they would give you priority treatment.”

A headache formed as Elysia imagined all the hoops she would need to jump through just to fix Umbra, let alone upgrade her, but seeing no other option, she asked, “where is this Freelancer Guild?”

The apologetic expression vanished in place with an almost giddiness. “Return to Arcadia Way, then follow the signs a few blocks down from our street.”

Elysia flashed back to the street signs she put out of her mind earlier to realize the wide street off the levitation platforms was Arcadia Way.

Not wanting to stay in the building any longer, Elysia gave the girl a thankful smile, then made her retreat, trying to look as casual as she could despite speed walking. Once outside the building, she jogged down the street back toward Arcadia Way, fortunately not having to dodge vehicles as the narrow street seemed to be pedestrian only.

As soon as she reached Arcadia Way and took a left on the sidewalk, the crowded streets silenced. Elysia’s head snapped up, automatically grasping at one of the few lightning strands she had left. Her eyes locked onto an extravagant looking SUV with dark tinted windows rolling down the street. As if an ambulance with its sirens blazing rocketed down the street, any vehicles and people stayed off to the side, giving the SUV a clear path.

A sigh of relief escaped her as the SUV rolled right past her, though it slowed down for a moment, probably to inspect her before it continued on its path to the levitation platform.

Despite her curiosity, Elysia didn’t stay to find out who the obviously important person was. Instead, she made her way through the crowds of people made harder as she was moving against the flow, being the only ones not staring at the SUV.

Fortunately, after a couple of blocks, the traffic returned to normal, allowing her to reach the street with a sign denoting it as The Guild District.

She really hoped all of this went smoothly. The longer she spent in the city, the more on edge she felt and it wasn’t from the elemental energies.