Beyond those massive pearlescent gates stood the city of The Galebrook, with its towering spires and distant music. Off to the side, Ella shifted from side to side, looking about ready to jump out of the carriage at any moment.
As we approached, the huts came into view, and one by one the carriages began to slow until we came to a complete stop. "Why are we stopping?" Ella whined. Then, a moment later, she pulled her head back in, visibly shivering from whatever she saw.
Beyond the carriages, rows of people stood. Yet it wasent just a couple; the further I looked, the more people I caught sight of. From all sides, children and adults alike stood, staring at us with that same glassy expression.
Shivering, I followed Ella's example and closed the curtains, but as I sat there in utter silence, I couldent shake this strange feeling. Then, as the caravan lurched forward, we entered the city beyond. Only to be met with a jarring swap as people moved from place to place, selling whatever they could. Even as we entered a large unloading yard and came to a stop.
With a sigh, I opened the door and stepped down, immediately having to stop as a cart rattled past my knees. Someone shouted for space, crates scraping across stone close enough to make me flinch. I turned back to make sure the others were still behind me when a sharp voice snapped out from the side of the yard, already calling orders before I'd even found my bearings.
"You six, go move those grates over there." A sharp-looking attendant announced, and with that, she marched off.
Exchanging tired glances, we got to work.
By the time we were done, I wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed and just sleep through the next couple of days.
Amelia, however, had none of it. Adjusting her coat, she spoke up. "Alright, listen up. We've got two days before the caravan heads back to StormWatch, so let's not waste it."
Following her lead, we moved beyond the yard and into the streets. Where the masses of people began pushing us from the dockyard and into the city beyond. With six people, it became a struggle to stay together, as we had to weave around groups of people who stayed put for no good reason other than to gawk at the architecture all around us.
Soon enough, the crowds thinned, giving way to a more refined space that put Stormwatch to shame, with elegant storefronts and outdoor seating where people lounged with their fancy drinks in hand, laughing over meals that would cost a fortune.
Then that's when Amelia suddenly slowed her pace. "Alright, we're splitting off for a bit. The girls and I have some errands to run."
I turned toward her, frowning. "Already? Don't you think that's a bad idea?"
Seeing my expression, she tried to ease my mind." It's just a couple of errands. Besides, if you're really that concerned, just head to the guild, and you'll find me."
Then Grace stepped forward and placed two golden coins into my hand, smiling. "How about not stressing so much and having some fun?" she motioned outwards. "After all, it's a whole new city, so explore a bit."
Looking down at the two gold coins in my hand, I shook my head, but when I looked up, the girls were gone, leaving nothing more than a parting gift.
Henry raised a brow. "Well, that's not suspicious at all."
Benjamin shrugged," Don't worry about it too much, Amelia will keep them safe."
Sighing, I tucked the coins into my pocket and followed their advice.
The deeper we went, the more I noticed the terrain gradually sloping upward. The climb was so subtle at first that I barely registered it, but over time, the incline became more noticeable. With every turn, we were rising higher, the city falling away behind us bit by bit.
High above, framed by the sky, the castle shone with gleaming white stone, catching the light as if carved from starlight itself. It dominated the skyline, perched on the hill around which Galebrook spiraled.
Eventually, the narrow streets opened into a wide, level terrace. From here, I paused, taking in the view from an expansive overlook that gave us a clear glimpse of the city sprawled out below. Rooftops shimmered in the afternoon light, and the distant hum of street life echoed up from below.
But it wasn't just the view that caught our attention.
Lush green gardens lined the path ahead. And just beyond them, at the castle's outer edge, stood two metallic giants that resembled knights of some sort with their massive palms resting on the hilts of giant swords.
At first, I thought they were statues. But on a whim, I tried using Identify, not really expecting anything to happen.
But above its head, glowing letters spelled out the name: Argent Warden.
Blinking in surprise, I couldn't help but size them up. I could probably take a hit or two.
Shaking the thought off, I moved on, continuing through the expansive garden and along the overlook that curved around it.
From this height, the view stretched endlessly. Rows of grand buildings tumbled down the hill below us, leading to the massive outer walls. Beyond them, farmland rolled toward the horizon under a sky painted with slow-drifting clouds that flowed with the breeze.
Up here, the air was different. The kind of air that made you breathe just a little deeper without realizing it. For a moment, I simply stood there letting it all settle in.
Then a sudden squeal broke my thoughts, followed by excited voices. Dozens of them. I turned and spotted a wave of younger kids spilling onto the garden path like a burst dam, all of them dressed in blue-and-white uniforms that fluttered with every step.
Laughter echoed as a pair of boys shoved past each other, one of them calling, "I know I'm getting a fire attribute core. My dad said it runs in the blood!"
"Oh please," a girl chimed in. "Your dad works in the granary."
Snickers followed, and the boy's ears turned red.
Another cluster passed by, all wide eyes and breathless.
"I hope I get a white core," one whispered.
"Pff—everyone hopes for a white core. I just want something with lightning. That lets me speed around."
Further along, a group trailed behind the rush, clearly taking their time.
"I heard dark cores are cursed," one of them muttered.
Another kid, more serious, added, "No, they're just… broken. My brother said someone in the lower district got one, and their skills wouldn't stop leaking."
"What? Like, they just randomly set things on fire?"
"Not fire," the kid said dramatically. "Shadow."
That got a few uneasy laughs.
"Bet you'll get one," someone teased the speaker.
"Hey, I'm not the one who put a bunch of trot growlers in the head master's desk," he shot back.
I found myself smiling without meaning to.
By now, the tide of bodies had pulled us around the curve of the overlook, toward a massive open-air arena built into the cliffside. Stone archways framed the entrances, while tiered seats filled with spectators ranging from working folk, nobles, guards, and travelers alike.
I spotted Henry leaning near the entrance, watching the crowd with a mild smirk. When he noticed me, he raised an eyebrow as if to say we walked into something interesting, didn't we?
"Looks like some sort of bestowal?"
He only shrugged. "Eh… you never know."
I took my place near the edge of the arena, resting against a wall as the kids rushed in like a storm.
Once everyone had taken their seats, an older man in a finely tailored robe similar in style to the students stepped into the center of the space and began calling names, one by one. Each child stepped forward, in turn, the man would wave his hand, and a core would materialize in his palm. He'd then hand it to the student, who accepted it without hesitation, the bond forming instantly.
Then, after bonding, each youth would walk to a silver pedestal to test their own cores.
As time passed, I crossed my arms as yet another yellow was handed to a clearly middle-class child. One after another, yellow, green, grey, blue, and so on. Where were the purples or whites?
Then a well-dressed boy stepped forward with an arrogance that could only come from a lifetime of pampering. And with a flourish, he bonded with his core and approached the pedestal.
A second later, a flash of deep violet pulsed from the liquid as he touched it.
But instead of surprise or pride, the boy just looked... annoyed. Like he'd expected it or maybe even wanted more. The crowd, however, erupted with whistles, cheers, and congratulations…
As the sun began its slow descent beyond the rooftops, golden light stretched long shadows across Galebrook's streets. Before long, we found ourselves in an open square where the foot traffic slowed to a crawl.
Trying to see over the mass of people, I edged forward, then finally gave up and pushed my way through a cluster of priests, their flowing white robes nearly tangling around my legs. I muttered a quick apology as I slipped past, earning a few odd looks in return.
Ignoring them, I squeezed through the last of the crowd and stepped into a clearer view.
At the center of the square stood a small vendor's stall draped in red and gold banners that swayed in the breeze. But instead of food or trinkets, a tiny golem sat perched on a raised platform, childlike in shape, one arm resting neatly on a red cushion.
Above it, a hand-painted sign stood, proclaiming in bold font.
"Test your strength! Beat the Golem! Prize Pool: 3 Gold, 28 Silver!"
Raising an eyebrow, I slowed.
At the front of the stand, a man in a garish red vest stood beside the golem, arms spread wide as if trying to sell the crowd on a miracle.
"Step right up!" he bellowed. "Who among you dares test themselves against the reigning champion? All you have to do is beat this simple golem, and the grand prize is yours!"
Before I could step forward, a hulking man shoved his way through the crowd. Popping his fingers with a loud crack, before dropping into the seat across from the golem.
"Oh-ho!" the man at the stand grinned. "Feeling lucky today, my friend?"
The man answered with a grunt and slapped a handful of silver onto the table. To which the old man quickly scooped up, and with a flourish, chimed a bell three times.
"We have a contestant!" he roared, to which several people around me grimaced. Noticing the strange reaction, I couldn't help but scoff.
The size difference was absurd. The man's hand was practically the size of the golem's chest. Let alone its whole arm. When they clasped hands, the giant of a man's hand swallowed not just the golem's hand but a good portion of its arm as well.
Then came a sharp pop.
Grinning, the man pushed against the golem, forcing it back as steam hissed from its joints. Further and further it was pushed back until, suddenly, the man began to falter, growling as his face flushed red and he leaned in, veins standing out along his arms. His muscles bunched and flexed beneath his skin as he poured his weight into it.
And yet…The golem began to gain ground.
I tilted my head, frowning. Even from here, I could tell the man was giving everything he had.
Curious, I, letting my senses reach out to identify the man
[Level 34.]
Not weak by any means. But still…
Then, slowly, it was as if all the man's strength drained from him. In moments, his hand was forced down into the cushion with a solid thunk.
However, not many in the crowd looked surprised.
The hulking man stared at the golem in disbelief, shaking out his arm.
Off to the side, someone whispered. "There goes another one."
A woman next to him nodded, then turned to leave.
My eyes narrowed as I studied the tiny construct more carefully. It couldn't possibly have that kind of strength.
"Come on, Atlas. Let's go," Henry urged, tugging at my arm.
But I was already stepping forward.
"How much to enter?" I asked the old man.
He gave me a practiced smile and held up three fingers. "Three silver."
I cocked my head slightly, still eyeing the golem. "Can I use my powers?"
He nodded. "Long as you're not blowing up the square, feel free."
I sat down across from the little golem, slipping my arm into position on the platform. Up close, I scanned its body again, looking for enchantments, inscriptions, something? But nothing stood out.
The bell rang, and I pushed with all my might, to which it reacted with an immediate release of pressure that caught me off guard for a split second before I regained myself and pushed back the ground I had lost.
It was impressive, but nowhere near enough to beat that behemoth.
Even the immense strength it had exhibited at the beginning only lasted for a couple more seconds as the power it used to hold its ground began to wane.
But then something else caught my attention. As I pushed further, a strange numbness began creeping up from the pad beneath my forearm. It was subtle, but there was no doubt about it.
Poison.
Leaning forward, I smirked. If that's how he wanted to play, be my guest
Right before my arm lost its strength, I tapped into a little trick I'd been refining during Henry's training. I summoned a thin void band around my wrist, letting it expand into a dark exoskeletal brace that wrapped around my arm and shoulder.
And with a bit of will, the pressure reversed.
I grinned as the golem's advance stalled, then slowly began to slide back.
The stone arm trembled under the strain, faint creaks echoing as I forced it to neutral.
Then past it.
All the while, the smug smile on that bastard's face began to fade. With a final surge, I slammed the golem's hand into the pad.
For a heartbeat, the world went still.
Then one person clapped. Then another. Cheers burst from the onlookers, laughter and shouts rippling outward as people nudged one another and stared with wide eyes.
I looked up and locked eyes with the old man.
Any hint of excitement vanished from his face, replaced by a sour, pinched expression. His gaze flicked from the crowd to the dark band encircling my hand. Before schooling, his features and forcing a thin smile.
"Sorry, son," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Prosthetics aren't allowed. If you'd like a rematch without it, I'll gladly let you try again."
"What?" I growled.
"The rules are the rules," he continued smoothly. "Artificial limbs like that aren't permitted."
"That's not a prosthetic, that's a power!" someone shouted.
"Yeah! You said powers were allowed!" another voice snapped. "That's theft!"
"Someone get the guards!"
Shouts piled on top of one another, anger spreading fast as people pressed closer. The stand creaked under the weight of bodies.
Seeing things slip, the man raised his hands, trying to calm the chaos. "Now, now, there's no need for all that. All he has to do is try again without the handicap."
"That's a load of crap!"
More voices joined in, louder now as the crowd was getting ugly.
Then Henry stepped up beside me, looking between the stand and the shouting mass. "What's going on?"
And that's when it clicked.
I glanced at Henry. Then back at the old man.
A slow grin tugged at my lips.
"Hey," I said, tilting my head. "How about this? If my friend wins, you give us the prize. But if he loses, I walk away from the grand prize. No complaints."
The old man frowned, following my gaze to Henry, who looked just as lost.
"What?!" Henry hissed, staring between us.
The man's eyes lit up.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "If you insist, I think that's a very fair trade."
Henry spun on me. "What are you thinking?" he scowled. "That's a horrible idea. Did you see how that giant lost? How am I supposed to do anything against that thing?"
Still grinning, I gave him a friendly pat on the back. "Hey. Give it a try, and I'll buy you something."
He hesitated, then finally sighed. "You're the worst."
With a heavy groan, Henry took the seat, much to the old man's obvious satisfaction. Around us, the crowd muttered and scowled.
But I had a sneaking suspicion the old man was about to be down three gold.
"Now, just remember," he announced loudly, projecting for the crowd, "you may use powers as long as they aren't prosthetics, golem craft, or enhancements."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Henry waved him off. "Let's just get this over with."
Returning to his usual showman's flair, the old man chimed the bell, and with that, Henry and the golem clasped hands.
"And begin!" he shouted.
Henry pushed outward with all his strength, muscles tensing as he strained against the golem's grip. For a fleeting second, he forced it back. Then the construct responded, steam hissing from its joints as whatever powered it surged to life. Inch by inch, Henry's arm began to slide back.
Grimacing, I watched him dig in, pouring more effort into the push. It slowed the golem's advance, but the steam only thickened.
"Come on, Henry!" I shouted. "Just a bit more!"
Seeing him struggle, the man leaned back, fully settling into his smug bravado. "Oh, you were so close…" he murmured, leaning forward again, eyes gleaming. "So… close…"
Henry's hand came within a perilous distance as he strained with all his might, his face turning bright red, but all he managed was to hover inches from the cushion.
Sinking back, I sighed and closed my eyes as the last of his strength seemed to give out, his arm inching downward…
But the moment passed, and no chime sounded.
I opened my eyes just as the steam sputtered out. Mere moments from losing, Henry had stopped the fall.
Relief flickered across henrys face as he steadied himself, but the vendor didn't seem worried. After all, Henry's arm should have been flooded with paralyzing poison by now.
Then his eyes widened a second later as Henry pushed back.
Slowly at first. Then steadily. He passed the quarter mark. Then halfway. And with a shout, Henry slammed it down onto the opposite cushion.
Then, as if a dam had broken, the crowd erupted into cheering, clapping, and shouting Henry's name.
I thought the man might faint. He swayed, catching himself on the edge of the stand, staring in stunned silence. With no excuse left and the sight of silver-armored guards pushing through the crowd to see what the commotion was about, he let out a long, defeated sigh.
Wordlessly, he tossed a coin pouch my way before slumping into his chair, utterly beaten.
Smirking, I looked to Henry, who was sweating profusely, and patted him on the back, nearly knocking him over. "I know you could do it," I smirked.
With that, Henry looked at me with a deadpan expression. "You're lucky I'm immune to poison."
"Yep," I grinned. "But hey, dinner's on me."
A few minutes later, we found just the place within a cozy restaurant tucked into the corner of a narrow side street, its entrance marked by a gently swinging sign carved with the name The Vineglass Hearth.
Inside, the lighting was low and welcoming. A large fire burned off to the side of the room, driving the night's chill away from our seats. I collapsed into one of the plush chairs and had just reached for the menu when the door slammed open with a sharp crack.
A second after, a man staggered inside, dressed in a Black-and-silver uniform that had once shone proudly but was now dulled by grime and wear. He leaned against the doorframe as if the weight of the world bore down on his shoulders, his boots scraping messily across the floorboards.
He muttered to himself, his speech slurred and fragmented. "It's… It's all lies, y'hear? All of it… they don't know what I've seen… they don't tell you what's real… what's underneath…"
His gaze scanned the room as if trying to remember why he was there. As he drifted through the space, he brushed up against a young man sitting near the bar, nearly knocking the plate from his hands.
"Watch it," the young man muttered. "You almost made me drop my food."
The older man stopped as if listening to something far off, then His glossy eyes slowly rolled back toward the young man, utterly unfocused.
"Wh-what… what'd you say…? Y'talkin' to me?" he mumbled.
"Yeah," the young man scoffed.
There was a strange pause as the drunk stared at the man as if in a stupor.
Then, without warning, the man snapped.
His fist shot forward with terrifying speed, slamming into the young man's jaw. The blow launched him across the room, sending him crashing into the far stone wall with a thunderous crack. The entire building shuddered, a cloud of dust shaking loose from the rafters above.
Gasps echoed through the restaurant, followed by an eerie silence.
The man just stood there swaying, his gaze unfocused, his lips barely moving as he muttered, "Don't… no… he's not one of us… they aren't from here..."
His nonsensical ramblings kept on, but I was just too stunned by the sheer force of what I'd just witnessed. I rose halfway out of my seat, ready to intervene, but a hand clamped down on my forearm.
"Don't," Benjamin insisted as he nodded toward a small group of uniformed figures who began making their way toward the drunk.
"We're placing you under arrest," one of them announced, stepping forward and grabbing the man's arm.
Just as I identified the drunkard as Nolan, he twisted and landed a gut punch on one of the men, sending him flying into the ceiling. The impact shook the building again, sending a chunk of plaster crashing down nearby.
The other three officers moved forward, trying to bring him down, but they might as well have been flies.
With terrifying ease, he tossed one aside into a table, slammed another head-first into a column, and caught the third by the throat. The man's feet kicked helplessly as Nolan lifted him off the ground, fingers tightening around his neck.
He's going to kill him, I realized, and without another thought, I shot forward, naturally enhancing my body as I slammed into him, sending him crashing through the bar and into the wall.
"Thanks for that," one of the men wheezed, clearly relieved to be alive. As I tried to catch my breath, a stone flew at me so fast all I had time to do was summon a shield before I was thrown from the establishment, landing on the street where stunned onlookers watched.
Struggling to my feet, I saw Nolan emerging from the building, now clad in stone armor. "You? You're one of them!" he bellowed.
"I have no clue what you mean, psycho," I spat.
Without another word, I braced myself as Nolen charged at me with astonishing speed, wielding a massive hammer. The ground crumbled beneath us, forming a crater as he swung the hammer down. I leaped back, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow.
A split second later, I summoned a bolt of lightning, unleashing it towards him. Though it did little to nothing against his armor of stone.
Cursing at the futility of that attack, I barely had time to react as the ground beneath me warped, launching several jagged spikes forward.
I twisted my body, narrowly dodging the first barrage as the spikes shot past me and into the air. All around us, panicked cries rang out as bystanders fled in fear.
Sidestepping another strike, I seized the moment to charge another bolt of lightning.
But I didn't unleash it just yet, as I dodged left to right, looking for an opening I could take advantage of. However, each failed attack only fueled Nolen's rage.
"Stop running and face me?" he bellowed.
"Fine by me," I shouted back, closing in and delivering a powerful punch that shattered a layer of his stone armor. With his skin now visible, I unleashed the charged bolt directly at his exposed side.
The explosion that followed hurled both of us in opposite directions. My back slammed into a splintered support beam, and I collapsed to one knee, coughing through the smoke.
When I looked up, his side was blackened and scorched, muscle torn open from the blast, and for a second, I let myself believe that might've been it.
Then his body twitched and began to grow.
Nolen roared, in a primal and inhuman way. His muscles expanded, his form doubling in size as steam hissed from his wounds.
Before I could react, he charged.
He grabbed me mid-step and flung me across the street and into the diner like a rag doll. My body tore through chairs, shattered a wall, and crashed hard into the far side of the building.
Sucking in a lung full of air, I grimaced as a sharp pain radiated from within my ribs. But with a grunt, I launched myself forward, crashing through the shattered opening of the diner and slamming into Nolen shoulder-first. The force rocked him off balance, but he recovered fast.
He swung. I dodged left. Gauntlets formed over my fists as I danced around him, slipping past his wild strikes and delivering sharp, focused punches to his sides, jaw, and gut, every hit crackling with raw lightning.
But then something strange caught my eye: below us, the ground seemed almost spudgy, as if it were made of some kind of liquid.
However, I realized this far too late as my foot sank into the ground like quicksand. I struggled, but before I could escape, his hands clamped around my throat.
He lifted me like I weighed nothing. Squeezing harder till I could no longer draw in another breath. Kicking did nothing, so I began channeling everything I had. Lighting searched through my veins. And with each building second, a deep thrum began to build within me. And just as my vision began to falter, I let loose.
Boom!
The shockwave hit with brutal force, tearing me from his grip and hurling me through the air. I slammed into a stone pillar and tumbled through falling rubble as the building groaned around us.
Dazed, I barely managed to look up. But what I saw made my heart drop. Though his body was scorched and covered in deep, ugly bruises, he was still able to keep moving.
Yet all around him, a strange green mist swept through the street, curling around Nolan till it enveloped him in his entirety.
Then a shadow flashed within, and another; it was like watching two shadows fight within an ever-shifting tapestry of fog that briefly outlines the shapes with every clash. Somewhere inside, a furious roar echoed through the street.
I clenched my jaw. Every instinct screamed at me to charge in, to put myself between Henry and the monster he faced. But the cloud stopped me cold.
Seconds dragged by, each one heavier than the last, until the mist shuddered with a violent impact. A dark shape burst free, skidding across the street before slamming into the wall of a nearby building.
From the settling rubble, Henry lay crumpled and bloodied, coughing as he struggled to push himself upright.
A heartbeat later, Nolan stepped out of the thinning cloud.
At first glance, he looked furious. His veins now dark and swollen beneath his skin, pulsing like cords as he stalked forward. But as he took another step, his pace faltered.
He blinked, confusion flickering across his face. Then he doubled over, a harsh cough tearing out of him. Then another followed. And another.
He dropped to one knee, retching violently. Something slick and dark spilled from his mouth and slapped against the stone.
A second later, it moved.
A black, worm-like creature writhed on the ground, its body glistening as it twisted in on itself. Dozens of tiny eyes covered its surface, blinking independently, their irises a sickly yellow that caught the firelight. The thing squirmed, letting out a faint, almost insect-like rasp.
Frozen in sight and slightly curious, I instinctively used identify on the creature.
But nothing happened.
Nolan coughed once more, dragging in a long, shaky breath as if surfacing from deep water. For a split second, his gaze cleared.
And then in an instant, he was on the ground and not a moment after, I was too, my vision going dark as an immense pressure enveloped us, and just before I passed out, I caught sight of a heavily armored individual encased in what looked to be silver approaching us with steady steps…