Drake Helkar's Point of View
We've arrived... we've finally arrived at the place of my dreams, the place for which I started this journey. I thought conflictedly due to the feelings invading me, since, on one hand, I felt excited about the place I was in and about knowing if that dream would also come true, but, on the other, I felt a clear concern for the last words I heard in that dream, from several years ago... Words that sent a shiver down my entire body. "We'll see each other later, new Dragon God."
Despite my thoughts, I couldn't help but be a little infected by the joy of the rest of the group, since, after all, we were all at the lookout post, watching with open mouths the incredible and majestic metropolis built on a gigantic cliff that dropped sheerly to the sea, with hundreds of thousands of wooden and stone structures and bridges connecting the different parts of the city, defying gravity itself. The festive atmosphere was palpable even from a distance, thanks to the countless colorful decorations hanging from every building, which, by the way, looked a bit like those from the eastern part of my previous life. The streets were flooded with people, something I hadn't even seen in the parades that took place every so often in the center of Birton.
Once the caravan stopped at the main station, we all got off, stretching our legs after so many days of travel. Almost immediately, Zoe, Markus, and Kaito headed to one of the offices to sort out the matters of our contract as guards, as this would be the last trip we would make together, because Kaito and Jael would be leaving for the central continent.
Being left alone with Jael, the unease I felt was growing more and more because of the atmosphere that surrounded us, since, as I had spoken with Zoe earlier, this was the city.
Ahh… I really wish I could go out and investigate! To find out what exactly is happening in that stupid dream I had… but, on the other hand, I can't leave Jael alone… Damn it, what do I do? I asked myself, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye.
For most of the trip, Jael had been very shy with the entire group of guards, except for Kaito and lately with Zoe and me.
"Jael, do you want to take a walk around here while we wait?" I said, looking for anything that would allow me to move through the city as soon as possible.
She hesitated for a second, her gaze shifting towards the wooden building the others had gone into.
Guessing what she was thinking, I went ahead, saying. "Don't worry, we won't go too far. Besides, Zoe will tell them where we are if they come out and don't find us here." And she surely will, since, knowing her, as soon as she sees we're not here, she'll look for us withPerception.
Calmer from my words, Jael finally nodded with a small, shy smile on her face.
We started walking without much trouble to a higher level, easily blending in with the enormous crowd.
After a few minutes of looking for the perfect spot to see a panorama of the city, I noticed that we were starting to separate due to Jael's shyness, as with so many people, they pushed her further and further back. For her part, unable to say anything, she just resigned herself while trying to follow my trail.
Seeing her in that state, I let out a sigh before taking her by the hand and stepping to the side of that large street, then climbing some stone stairs carved into the rock that I saw on the side. In silence, we continued climbing until we reached a more open area, a place where many people were eating seafood dishes I had never seen in my life. Astonished, I turned my vision until I found a corner on a wooden platform in the distance that seemed a bit more open than the rest, this being the perfect place to see a large part of the city, or so I thought.
"Look, there. Let's go." I said, still holding her hand until, seeing her a bit uncomfortable with a flushed face, I let go. Shit, I think I should have let go sooner…
Once we arrived, I leaned against the wooden railings that separated the platform from the abyss, only to be left breathless by the incredible view that rose before us, as, just as I had imagined, this was a great city, because I could only see a fraction of it, before it was lost around a curve that the cliff took.
"Wow…" I shouted, with a genuine smile spreading across my face for the first time in days. Wanting to share that joy with someone, I turned to her. "Jael, don't you think this view is incredible?"
She, smiling too, came closer to look, before answering in a low voice. "Yes, it's beautiful."
Huh? Just that? But it's incredible! I thought as I continued to watch the sun shine brightly thanks to the clear sky the city had at that moment, moreover, the blue sea crashed against the rocks of the cliff hundreds of meters below, creating a white foam next to the rocks that were there, making it clear that this was indeed the sea.
Looking more closely, I could see hundreds of thousands of people moving across the bridges and platforms, a sea of heads that was lost on the horizon. The entire city was decorated with colorful banners, and on every corner of the center, there were thousands of merchants selling souvenirs and food from the festival, all with a storm and storm-walker theme.
We stayed like that for a couple of minutes, observing everything in a comfortable silence, simply enjoying the view. However, seeing Jael with a calm gaze set on the horizon, my mind couldn't help but wonder one thing, something I had wanted to know for a while.
I stepped away from the railing and approached her.
"Jael." I began in a casual tone. "Soon our groups will go their separate ways, so I wanted to ask you something… and forgive me if the question is too direct, but… Kaito is your father, right?"
The question took her completely by surprise. She took a small step back, almost as a reflex, and began to shake her head nervously with her hands. "No, no! Not at all, that's not it."
"Really?" I continued, trying to sound regretful for the question I had just asked her. "Because I really thought you were father and daughter, because well… you look like it, the way he takes care of you and all that. But, sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."
She swallowed, her cheeks a little flushed. "Y-you don't have to apologize. You're right, sometimes we act like we are, but the truth is I met Kaito just four years ago."
What? Only four years? Curiosity pricked me. "I-if so, what were you doing before you met him? Because I really thought you had known each other for several years now."
Upon hearing my question, her expression changed. The small smile she had vanished and her gaze was lost again in the landscape, as if she wanted to prevent me from looking at her after bringing memories of the past to her mind.
"The truth, Drake, is that I lived in the Kingdom of Mitian, with my family." She said in a low voice. "Like the other elves of my clan, we all lived in the extensive mountains of the range, but, eight years ago the snowstorms started to become more and more frequent, ruining all the crops we produced. Being very far from the cities, a great food shortage began. Many had to leave for cities or other kingdoms to survive, while others, like my family, still had hope that the situation would improve."
She paused, her tone changing to a clearly painful one. "I… I was the eldest of my siblings, so, after thinking about it for a while, I decided not to be another burden on my family and to leave. Now that several years have passed since then, I feel it was just a cowardly decision, because after living through so many things away from home, I feel like I abandoned them, and that they wouldn't forgive me if I tried to go back." She said with a cracking voice.
As she spoke, I realized that this was the longest conversation we had had on the entire trip.
How strange, she's talking a lot more now that we're alone. I thought. Maybe it's because Kaito isn't around to answer for her, or she just feels more comfortable with me.
Not knowing what to say, I offered her a handkerchief to dry the tears that were starting to well up in her eyes. "Don't blame yourself so much for that, Jael. Remember you did it thinking of helping your family, not running away as you think. That's why, I'm sure that if you go back, they will be happy to see you again."
She accepted the handkerchief, drying her eyes before speaking. "Thanks, Drake... Maybe you're right about my family." She said, pausing briefly, her gaze still lost in the painful memory of her journey. "Sorry if I overdid it, but the months I spent alone… well, I think they changed me, as I got to see a very cruel side of people."
She looked up at me, and in her eyes I saw a deep and ancient fear. "In fact, if Kaito hadn't found me when he did, I don't know what would have become of me. That's why, since then I've been traveling with him." She added in a whisper, as if it were a shameful secret: "That's why I don't hang out with people much… I'm afraid of them, of them making fun of me, of them hurting me and deceiving me…."
The way she says it is strange… but it makes sense, when you go through tough situations caused by other people, it's hard to trust again, even your family.
I felt a pang of pity for her.
"I'm sorry if I made you remember all those moments. But at least you don't have to be afraid of Zoe and me." I said sincerely, before a comment slipped out to lighten the mood. "Although… be careful with Markus." I added at the end with a slight joking tone.
To my surprise, she let out a small laugh, a clear and genuine sound I had never heard from her before.
Without saying anything for a moment, she completely calmed down, and asked me, breaking the warm silence that had formed. "By the way, Drake, why did you think we were father and daughter? If we are not of the same race."
"Ah, that." I scratched the back of my neck, feeling a little embarrassed. "You see, a while ago Kaito told me a story from his past, where he confessed that he had an elven wife. And well, since you behaved like father and daughter, I thought you were the fruit of that, haha." I said with a clumsy smile at the end.
"Are you serious? Just for that? But it's impossible to have offspring between people of different races." She responded to my strange suspicion. "Yes, it's true that's what they say, but you see, although it is said that people of different races cannot have children, that is not entirely true. Because in fact, my sister and I, we are children of a Dragonkin and a Demon, so I thought maybe you were a case similar to ours."
Jael processed my words, her expression changing from curiosity to surprise, and finally to evident doubt. "Is it really possible…? Interesting, I think this information will be useful for the future. By the way, you have a sister? I remember you said you were an only child."
Shit, shit, that detail slipped out. Panic invaded me, since in the story we had told, I said at different times that I was an only child, just like Zoe.
"Y-yes." I replied, getting a little nervous. "But… well, what I'm about to tell you is a secret, so… support me by keeping it." I said making a silence gesture with my fingers touching my lips. "The truth is we separated when I got married, because, in our race, when one gets married, you can no longer acknowledge your siblings." I blurted out, it being the first silly excuse that came to mind. I saw her confusion grow, but before she could ask another question, I looked towards the wagon station, which could be seen in the distance from where we were.
"Look! It seems they're already coming out. We'd better go down to meet them before they get worried."
Confused by my sudden change of topic, Jael could only nod.
We decided to go down another way, one that was more direct than the one we had come by. The atmosphere had become a bit awkward again after my clumsy lie, as we walked in silence.
"Sorry." She said suddenly in a low voice.
I looked at her, confused. "F-for what?"
"For… being weird." She replied, not looking me in the eye. "Sometimes my emotions change very quickly. That's why I don't like talking to people much. I'm afraid they'll judge me for it."
Hearing her, I felt strange at her sudden words, because this Jael was very different from the one I had been forming an idea of in my head.
After this whole thing in Skipton is over, I wonder what she will do now… I said to myself, realizing that I already considered her a comrade, and even a friend.
…
Once we met up again, we went to some lodgings that were near where we arrived, so we could leave our things and enjoy the storm festival as a group tomorrow.
As we walked, I saw a huge poster with a drawing of a person with strange boots sliding down the side of a gigantic tornado. The Storm Festival, as I had read, was a unique meteorological event in the world. It occurred on a specific date every ten years, when the accumulated icy winds in the north, in the Empire of Ballian, traveled across the Dead Sea until they collided head-on with the warm currents from the south of the Kingdom of Flok. This clash caused a massive precipitation that was accompanied by brutal tornadoes and electrical storms for an entire day.
Normally, any city in the center of such an event would be annihilated, but Skipton had become famous for it. The entire city was protected by a network of magic crystals that, when activated, created a powerful barrier that covered every house and every person inside, turning the cataclysm into a spectacle. For a few decades now, this event has been taken advantage of by the 'Storm Walkers', people who competed by surfing the tornadoes. A sport as extreme as it was spectacular, where a single mistake meant death.
Over time, the news of this sport spread throughout all the kingdoms, and the popularity of the festival, and the city, skyrocketed even more.
After settling in, Zoe and I went out to find a place to eat and agree on our plans. As we made our way through the tide of people, she told me something she had heard.
"You know something, Drake, Markus told me that more than eighty million people of different races are expected for this festival, honestly, I don't remember seeing so many people since we left the capital of Clifland."
What!? Eighty million? The figure seemed so absurd to me that I almost stopped in my tracks. That's too many for a single city… because even where I come from the largest cities barely surpassed ten or twenty million.
"Y-yes that is a very large number." I said, still amazed.
Despite being in this world for several years, I still find things that surprise me… I concluded, before focusing back on the path with Zoe. This amount of people… it's truly insane.
A few minutes later, we finally found a small café with a free table next to the railings. Once we ordered something to drink, the casual atmosphere disappeared. It was time to talk about our real mission, the main reason we came to this city.
Zoe leaned a little over the table, changing to a serious expression, similar to the one she put on when we talked about our parents.
"So, Drake, were you able to recognize anything?" My sister asked directly.
"Sorry, not yet, I couldn't find the exact place from my dream, but as I told you when we entered the city, I'm sure this is the city."
"I understand… just remember to be on your guard at all times, because we don't know exactly what might happen in a place with as many people as this one."
Nodding, I started to recall some blurry images from that dream.
Come on, I have to remember it. I told myself, due to the poor memory I had of something that happened many years ago. This is the city, there's no doubt about that, since the design of the houses, the decorations and the sea are the same, but… I haven't gotten to the moment of my dream yet, since the atmosphere was… dark. Dark? Does that mean it was getting dark? Or that the storm had already started? Well, either way, what followed in that dream truly worries me.
"Easy, Drake." Zoe said suddenly, noticing my restlessness as I rubbed my hands together. "Whatever happens, I'll be there with you, supporting you."
"...T-thanks, sister." I ended up saying at her words.
"By the way, Drake, there's still one thing I don't completely understand about the dream you had. I remember you told me that after a girl tried to kill herself by jumping into the sea, the scene changed to one where we were all kneeling, including me. You know, to be honest I doubt something like that is possible, because there's no reason for everyone to kneel, even if the King of Flok himself were in front, since, at least for me, I have no loyalty to the leaders of this Kingdom."
"Haha, yeah, you're right." I said, calmer from my sister's words. "To me, that part is also the strangest of all."
We continued talking until night finally began to fall. As we retired to the lodging we had reserved with the others, we managed to see how the great city of Skipton revealed millions of lights as we climbed the stairs.
As we were about to arrive, I had a small premonition, as if someone were watching us. With maximum subtlety, I activated Perception, managing to see what was happening around me with a radius of tens of meters.
Feeling nothing unusual, I let the strange feeling be forgotten by a tug from Zoe, who was pointing at an entire street with different souvenir stalls near our lodging.
"Drake, look, they have various ornaments, jewelry, figures and magic stones with a local theme! We have to come tomorrow, for sure! Understood?" She said in a way that was a little cute and weird at the same time.
"Huh? But why don't we go now?" I asked, while confirming that there were many things with just a glance. "Naah… we can't, even though I'd like to, because remember we said with the others that we would meet at nightfall at the lodging. So hurry up so we're not late for our last dinner with the group."
"Yeah, you're right… besides it's not like this whole street is going to disappear tomorrow." I replied with a smile as I followed her.
.
.
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Joshua_Goose: I'm sorry for not being able to upload a chapter last week, I was sick T-T Remember to follow me on my instagram, there I will be uploading two images, one of when Drake sees the city for the first time with Jael, and the other from the next chapter.
@joshua_goose