The discussion continued for a while longer. Covering logistics and emergency protocols. And then, as the night deepened, the crew dispersed. Preparing for their respective routes.
The next morning, the predawn air was cool and crisp. A faint mist clung to the cobblestones of the Grandmoon City docks.
Jack, Reina, and Aella stood on the pier. The Ocean Wanderer, their disguised ghost ship, bobbed gently in the harbor. Looking like an ordinary trading sloop.
Reina's hands moved with practiced grace. Weaving a complex illusion. The mist around the dock seemed to thicken. Swirling, obscuring the vessel from prying eyes... not just with the fog, but also with her powerful illusion.
Under the shroud of her illusion-fog, Jack focused his mind and extended his will. Rune glowed bright purple. The Silent Mermaid revealed its true form. Responding to the recall.
With a silent shudder, the massive ghost vessel shimmered. Its eerie physical form dissolved into the sea. In moments, where the Ocean Wanderer had rested, there was now only empty water.
Reina's illusion-fog slowly dissipated. Leaving no trace. It was a seamless act. Witnessed only by themselves.
The other three groups had already departed just a few minutes prior. Fading into the early morning gloom in different directions. Each group had their own methods of travel. Chosen to best suit their cover and destination.
Jack took out and activated his steamrune hoverboard. A sleek, polished platform buzzing with contained energy.
He had summoned his [Lightning Hoverbike] before. And now, Reina, with Aella nestled securely behind her, had mounted it. Its dark frame gleamed in the pre-dawn dim light. And faint currents danced across its surface. Giving it a subtle hum that was softer than the hoverboard's buzzing.
"Ready, Love? Kid?" Jack asked in low voice.
"Always, Dear." Reina replied. Her grip was firm on the handlebars. Aella gave a soft nod. Her determined eyes seemed to reflect the nascent dawn.
With a silent surge of power, Jack's hoverboard lifted him smoothly into the air. Reina followed. The hoverbike effortlessly keeping pace. They ascended quickly. Moving above the city's waking sprawl. Leaving the still-silent port behind.
They traveled east. Following a well-worn road that soon turned into a dusty trail. Winding through rolling hills and sparse forests. Grandmoon City, with its towering structures and bustling markets, quickly receded into the distance.
Jack kept his [Eyes of Judgement] active. Scanning the landscape. He detected occasional transcendent signatures. A lone hermit meditating in the hills. A small group of traveling merchants with low magical abilities. A stag with a surprisingly potent magical aura.
They were all not really a threat for them though. Nothing overtly hostile. Nothing that warranted their immediate attention. Not yet.
The air grew cleaner. Smelling of pine trees and damp earth. Then, after several hours of travel, the rugged landscapes gave way to scattered farmhouses and vast stretches of pastureland. They could hear the distant bleating of sheep and the mooing of cattle. Marevale Town was emerging.
By early afternoon, they had already seen the town. The roads were less paved. More dirt tracks. The houses were mostly timber and stone. Their roofs were thatched or made of simple clay tiles.
There were no towering factories, no complex steamrune contraptions spewing smoke. Marevale Town presented itself as a sprawling collection of ranches and open fields. Dotted with low-slung buildings and large enclosures. It felt grounded. Rural and almost idyllic.
Jack brought his hoverboard down gently on the outskirts of town before putting it in his [Spatial Backpack].
Reina parked the hoverbike beside him. After she and Aella jumped down from it, Jack immediately placed the vehicle inside his system inventory.
Rune floated silently beside Jack. Her warm orange glow seemed to be in harmonious contrast with the vibrant greens of the pastures.
"This is Marevale, huh?" Reina observed. Taking in the scene.
"Definitely much nicer place to stay compared to the city." Jack commented. His [Eyes of Judgement] were still active. Observing everything.
As they walked to the town, he saw more animals than people. And some of those animals had faint auras of transcendence. Some were unnaturally large. Others moved with an unusual grace. There was a sense of raw, untamed nature here. Even amongst the domesticated.
He detected several transcendent individuals. Mostly of lower rank. Scattered throughout the town. Almost everyone of them had the class he had never encountered before. Beast Tamers.
He had heard about this class though. They historically came from transcendent mystic scholars who focused on animal affinity magic.
After using several specially designed rituals, they internalized the beast-taming magic spells. Turning it into a sorcery-like power. However, as a consequence, they were unable to learn normal grimoire-based mystic spells.
"Let's find an inn." Jack suggested. "And then we start looking around."
Not even a minute afterward, they spotted a sign with the words... the 'Galloping Mare Inn'. The sign depicted a sturdy horse mid-stride. It looked clean enough.
Inside, the common room was dimly lit by oil lamps. Even in the bright afternoon. A plump woman with rosy cheeks greeted them from behind a counter. "Welcome to Marevale, travelers! Looking for a room?"
"We need two rooms." Jack stated. "For three nights."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Two? We have family suites if you prefer."
Jack shook his head. "Two rooms. One for me and my wife. And one for our sister."
He glanced at Aella, who observed silently. Rune zipped around her head. Emitting a soft green glow. The innkeeper didn't even look at her. Unable to perceive the little fairy.
Elara shrugged. "Alright then. We have two on the second floor. Side by side. Good views of the pastures. As for the cost..."
She named a price, which Jack paid without haggling. This was not a place to draw attention.
They were given heavy iron keys. The rooms were simple, clean, and unfurnished... beyond a bed, a small table, and a wardrobe.
"Let's go out and explore." Jack told Reina and Aella. "Then we'll find some lunch."
...
Marevale Town was a pleasant change compared to the Grandmoon City. The pace was slower. People moved with purpose but without the frantic rush the city people seemed to always show.
They saw blacksmiths working in way smaller scales than the ones in the city. Their hammers were ringing rhythmically, but not excessively overwhelming.
They also saw a general store stocked with farming implements and basic goods. And a small market square where vendors sold fresh produce, eggs, and homemade cheeses.
The atmosphere here in this town was surprisingly... pure.
Jack observed everything. The construction of the buildings, the clothes of the people, the types of animals in the enclosures. No steam power. No chaotic duels of the transcendent beings. It was just honest, rural life.
"What about there, Dear?" Reina asked. Gesturing towards a building with a painted sign of a ram and the name... the 'Grazing Ram Tavern & Eatery'.
It looked cozy. Smoke curled lazily from its chimney. And the scent of roasting meat wafted through the air.
"Perfect." Jack said. "What about you, Kid?"
Aella nodded rapidly with wide smile. She loved roasted meat. And the smell had already whet her appetite.
They entered. The interior was robust. Built for comfort and durability. Thick wooden tables, benches covered with animal hides, and a large stone fireplace dominated one wall.
The air was warm. Smelling of savory stews and ale. It wasn't crowded. Just a single patron, an old man, was there. Enjoying his late lunch... or probably early drinks.
A man with a wide smile and an even wider apron approached their table. "Welcome!" He had a booming, friendly voice. "I'm Ogordon, the owner. What can I get for you?"
"Something hearty." Jack said. "And some local specialties, if you have them."
"You've come to the right place!" Ogordon beamed. "Our specialty is roasted venison, slow-cooked with fresh vegetables. We also have mutton stew, and for the lighter palate, fresh trout from the Mare River. And what about drinks? Fresh spring water, or some local cider?"
"Roasted venison sounds good for all of us. Add one bowl of mutton stew too." Reina decided. Looking at Jack and Aella. Aella nodded, her eyes were wide and eager.
"And water, please." Jack added.
"Excellent choice!" Ogordon said. "I'll be right back with some bread while that's warming up." He bustled off to the kitchen.
As they waited, Jack scanned the room. In a corner, hunched over a steaming bowl, sat the old man. The only patron other than them. His clothes were worn but clean. A long, white beard cascaded down his chest. And his old eyes seemed to sparkle with an intelligent glint. He had a small, leather-bound book beside his bowl.
Ogordon soon returned with a basket of crusty bread and a pitcher of water. "The stew will be out shortly!" He announced. "You folks aren't from around here, are you?"
"No, we're travelers from Elrush." Jack confirmed. "We're heading to Sweetmoon City for the tournament."
"Ah, the Battle Moon Tournament!" Ogordon's eyes lit up. "A grand spectacle, that. Marevale also sends a few good folk to compete this time. Mostly in the non-transcendent categories though. Strong lads they are. Good with animals and their hands."
He paused, then gestured toward the old man. "Old Gerath here... He's a font of knowledge about the tournament. Been to every single one since he was a boy."
The old man Ogordon indicated looked up. Acknowledged Ogordon with a nod, and then turned his gaze to Jack's table. His eyes lingered on Rune, who was now quietly glowing a soft yellow pulse on the table beside Aella.
Jack immediately activated his [Eyes of Judgement]. As he expected, the old man was a transcendent being. His class was something Jack had never heard of... the Fable Keeper.
"Tournament watchers? Or participants?" The old man, Gerath, asked. His voice was a gravelly whisper.
"I might participate." Jack replied calmly. "But we need to see the situation first. It's our first time here after all."
The old man walked over. Leaning on a gnarled walking stick. "A prudent approach. Mind if an old man shares a moment of your time?"
"Not at all." Jack said, indicating the empty seat opposite him. "Please join us. We're Jack, Reina, and this is Aella. And I'm sure you can see our guide... Rune."
Gerath settled onto the bench with a sigh that spoke of long years. "Gerath, a pleasure. So, it's the first time for you to see the Battle Moon Tournament, eh?"
"That's right." Reina said. "We've heard a little, but not the full history."
Gerath chuckled. "The full history? Ah, that's a tale as old as the moons themselves..."
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