They continued with their descent down the Gates. On each side stood soldiers in uniform, each wearing a violent expression, as if their very eyes said, "Try something. I dare you."
After a few moments, they found themselves approaching the residential areas. The houses had a unique design—elevated, none of them touching the ground. And unlike the usual square structures James had seen, these were oval. Most were painted white, decorated with gold and silver ornaments, and their stained glass shimmered with scenes of unfamiliar art.
Even the people's clothing carried a strange elegance; every outfit had some form of jewellery woven into the attire.
"How odd…" James murmured.
"Odd…?" Cedric raised a brow.
"Yeah. I mean, look at those houses—they're floating, but I can't sense the source of the Sar anywhere. And their shape… what an unusual design."
"Hahaha… it would seem that way, wouldn't it? People who see the houses here all marvel at their beauty." Cedric laughed, though his tone had something bittersweet beneath it.
It wasn't only the houses that seemed different. Even the vegetation felt foreign. All around, James saw tall trees that reached toward the clouds.
"The Clovatus… I thought they were extinct," James whispered, placing a hand on the tree's trunk.
"Oh… how brilliant. Nobel education surely is different; they even teach you useless things like ancient trees," Cedric said, his gaze drifting upward toward the leaves.
They travelled quite a distance before approaching a section filled with a row of similar houses, each one forming a straight, perfect line.
"Here we are…" a soldier said, the same one who had been escorting them ever since they entered the country."You will live here until the permit is issued. The capital is all yours to explore—but let me warn you, if you venture beyond it… There will be consequences." He tapped the pistol at his waist, making the threat clear.
Every just kept quiet, their eyes fixed on the pistol. A young boy who had come with them took a big gulp, frightened.
"Oh, come now, brother, we are law-abiding traders," Cedric spoke, reaching towards his waist.
"We are so grateful that you managed to lead us all the way here, and for your troubles and ours", Cedric replied, slipping the soldier a small bag of coins.
The man's horrid smile spread across his face as he accepted it, gave a short bow, and walked away.
James saw the entire exchange but chose to stay silent.
"Boys, see to yourselves," Cedric said. Then he tapped his cane three times."Come on, James. Let's see what they've given us after scamming us so much."
Cedric stepped forward into a rune sigil etched into the ground. James followed and stood atop the strange marks.
Moments later, the ground began to tremble. A small circular platform detached itself from the earth, rising steadily as James felt his stomach drop. The platform carried them upward toward the floating houses, and as they approached one, the silver door slid open on its own, inviting them inside.
The house itself was a marvel—much bigger on the inside than it appeared from the outside.
"H–how… what the hell is going on here, Cedric? F*ck, this makes no sense," James rambled as he checked every inch of the massive interior.
"What technique did they use? I wonder if they'd ever tell me," he muttered, wandering into the kitchen."What's this…?" He touched a faucet, turned the wheel, and hot water streamed out.
"Ha…" He exhaled softly as he shut the tap. "The world is such a big place. Who knew there would be so many interesting things? Celestia… what an incredible place this is."
Cedric simply watched him and smiled; it was like watching a child leave the house for the first time.
The rest of the day was spent with Cedric explaining how everything worked.
"So you're telling me this country developed a technique that instructs Sar automatically?" James asked.
"Yes. This land used to be filled with scholars—people who chased innovation. They experimented again and again, risking their lives just to create these wondrous inventions," Cedric said, walking into the other room.
"Get ready. We're going out," his voice echoed back.
"Yeah? And where exactly are we going?" James called back. "You still haven't told me why you came to this country anyway. It can't be because you want to make money." His tone dripped with sarcasm.
"Just come along. You'll know in due time — then you can choose for yourself if the current world is worth fighting for," Cedric said, stepping out of his room. His hair had shifted back into his usual appearance, the disguise gone.
"Take my hand," Cedric added, extending his palm toward James.
"What! What are you trying to do to me?" James gasped theatrically, hugging himself and teasing him.
"You know what? I might as well leave you here," Cedric muttered, his face flushing.
"Hahaha — okay, okay," James laughed, placing his hand in Cedric's.
The moment their palms touched, James felt a sudden pull — a rush of force that dragged him forward as Cedric strode out of the house and glided into the sky. It wasn't quite flying — more like floating, carried by the moisture suspended in the air. The wind and gravity pushed Cedric forward, while droplets of water gathered beneath his feet, forming invisible steps only he could control.
All James could do was hold on.
They drifted and twisted, the world below them shrinking, bending, changing shape as they soared higher.
James shivered at the dizzying propulsion, stomach twisting, half nauseated…but mostly in awe.
At the speed they were moving, not even the guards could catch a glimpse of them.Soon, they were far beyond the capital. The houses below began to change — though they still floated, they were nothing like the pristine structures of the inner city. These were ragged, patched-up shacks barely held together, hovering only a few feet off the ground like tired ghosts.
With a soft thud, they landed.James staggered a little, still dizzy from the ride, trying to steady himself.
"Come back here, you little thief!" a rough voice bellowed.
James turned just in time to see a child — maybe ten — sprinting across the dusty road at full speed. Behind him thundered a massive man in baker's clothes, waving a wooden spoon like a weapon.
"Watch out!" James shouted.
But it was too late.
The boy wasn't looking where he was going. He was heading straight toward a Gildron.
(Gildrons were wild boar-like beasts — huge, muscular, permanently angry. They attacked on sight if they felt even the slightest threat.)