" Eyes are useless when the mind is blind "
YEAR 5085
It had been over a thousand years since humanity had destroyed itself with it's own weapons. Weapons capable of tears apart continents, Weapons capable of ripping apart.
They created cities in space, drained stars of their very cores. They were and had been the most advanced race in the universe, and with nothing to stop them at the top, with nothing to comete with, they turned on eachother.
With terraforming systems, they rewrote worlds. With machines called star eaters, they ripped and flung star cores at population centres.
Ships as large as entire planets suddenly vanished into portable black holes.
The very galaxy itself was lit up in their war, their war to be the last one standing, to have the resources of the galaxy for themselves.
No longer did humanity remember the kind old, with gene editing they took on any form they wanted even after birth, creating new bodies for themselves. They became titanic vessels of war, small creatures with tentacles used for ultimate mobility.
In these drastic alien forms, they ripped eachother apart, to the last man. And as the last of them fell silent, as their titanic ships fell into ghostly quiet.
But just because humanity was gone, didn't mean that the machines were allowed to fail.
Across the silent universe, machines came to life, and worlds sprung back to life in hours. As terraforming machines hurled great forest across continents. Boiled oceans cleared and mountains rose from rubble.
Their war which had ravaged worlds, the damage caused ceased to exist at the hands of the very weapons used to destroy.
But then, in the silence, something acted, whether it be universal will, the will of God or something more terrible, at this great will, humanity was rebirthed, and new universal laws gripped reality.
.... ENCALAGEON ...
By far the largest world humanity had made, with a surface area over ten times larger than earth, great spires rose above continents. Cities of metal speared the heavens, forests larger than the entire surface of earth reached around these great cities.
Oceans deeper than the deepest trench dove into the world's surface. It was a world of beauty, floating islands and cities in strange places, mountains defied gravity.
I'm the skies, a ring encapsulated the world, a ring of great technology meant to keep the world functioning, now derelict and unmanned.
It was on this world that humanity would rise once more, appearing from thin air in the same forms they had once held during their earlier years. They had been devolved, forced back along their evolutionary line at the will of the other. But they werent the only thing to be birthed. Creatures born of lingering enemies unspent by the dead humanity, were given form, life that should never be able to exist let alone sustain itself form from plasma and cosmic radiation, and thus a new series of predators were born. Far more dangerous than anything humanity had ever had to face. Eldritch creatures whose very existence carved fear into the primitive humans, ran rampant across the world, driving the reborn humanity into the cities completely alien to themselves. And without the knowledge of how to use any machines around, they thought they had stepped into the domain of gods.
It was in these cities, forced to remake themselves, that new universal law kicked in. Somewhere within every living creature on the world, something bloomed, something sprung into existence. The ability to manipulate space and reality, they called it magic, others called it blessing from the stars. But now ... as humanities stargazing age drew to a close, the era of magic began in it's place.
.....FOREST OF SCREAMS- 100KM FROM CITY OF STARS ... hundreds of thousands of years later ....
The group moved in tight formation, several men of various build and two women, they moved professionally, through the dimly let forest floor as reaching trees clawed at the skies above.
Aurelia moved quietly, her feet touching the ground tantively as she lead her troupe of hunters toward the cities gates.
She was the leader, the most experienced hunter they had, a master of magic and blade. She was powerful, and with that power came the trust of her underlings.
With blonde hair, her armour, with breastplate and shoulder pads and armoured leggings, with red and white cloth underneath, clinked across the ground. She was young, with a heart shaped face, blue eyes and a somewhat pale complexion, the was heartthrob of many noble and soldier.
A noise ahead stopped her as she realised her hand suddenly, levelling her spear into the dark underbrush.
" Cordelia ... get back " Aurelia hissed as the five male members of her team pushed a brown haired girl with a hood over her features back. " Troy "
" On it " Deep and rumbling, with dark hair and brown eyes, the man over six and a half feet tall remove a greatsword of unknown metal from his back, shield in hand as he stepped forward toward the shrouded tree.
" Javier .. Titus" Blonde haired Javier, smaller than Troy, pulled out his short sword and came up to Troy's left whilst Titus, a man carrying a jousting pole came up to Troy's right, several paces back, lowing himself as he prepared to thrust the glowing red tipped jousting spear forward.
" Ambrose, Vincent... guard me" Ambrose, the second in command of the team stepped closer to the blonde heartthrob she was, hand falling to a rudimentary gun and bastard sword on his hip, ready to shoot and stab at any moment.
Vincent, bespectacled and the shortest of the group, pulled out a book of etchings, carved in a language only those gifted with knowledge could read. His voice chanted, carrying as blue light began to eminaye from his body, encapsulating the team as a whole in a shield to protect them.
In this formation, Cordelia stayed at the back, with Ambrose ready at a moments notice to come to her aid.
" Steady" The shaking trees ahead let out a low groan, as echoing chitters through the forest went dead silent. They knew they were no longer alone.
They didn't have to wait long, as a humanoid shape burst from within the forested canopy, sprinting on all fours as clawed hands dug into the ground to prepare it forward.
"RAAAAAGH " Murky white eyes hung from its skull, ears long covered over, its gutless lips gnashed together as demented teeth hid a tongue several metres long in its enlongated head.
" It's a Llone ... " This was the result of stepping into the forest of screams for too long, As Troy raised his shield just as the humanoid Llone leapt several metres, arms raised at the side, It's tongue shot out from within its mouth to bash against the shield.
The Llone, once humans who ventured off alone onto the forest, given enough time, they would turn into these things as dark energies from within the forest made the magic in their bodies turn against them, transforming them into rampaging beasts with a hunger for their own kind.
" Poor fop" Javier raised his sword and brought it down apon the exposed tongue, severing it in half as Titus lowered further.
It fell to the ground, in apparent pain as it's scream shook the ground, It's chest heaved and it's hands raked the ground, all before it leapt forward with greater speed than earlier straight at Javier.
" You don't get to do that" As Troy's only brother, Troy placed special emphasis on protecting Javier better than the rest of the team, leaping to the side, his massive arm swinging his shield into the Llone things head." Titus "
" Hm ... " It was ready, as his lance shifted, it's crystal red tip glowing crimson, he thrust forward at breakneck speeds that caused the area around the release a thunderclap.
" AAAH " The Llone didn't have time to react, bashed in the head, it's murky eyes barely had time to perceive the tip of the lance that sprung through its head, breaking bone and splattering brain matter about, the Lange burst through the back of its head.
The body went limp before the group, it's arms falling to the side, It's jaw hung open, saliva dripped and a deep gurgle escaped it's maw for a moment.
" It's your kill " Troy stepped back as blue light began to radiate from the things chest, a blue cloud rising from within its body, snaking through the air towards Titus's own chest.
He didn't resist, instead he welcomed the strange blue mist into his body with a small satisfied smile. You see, in a world where strength meant survival, this was one of the few ways anyone could raise their strength.
Every time a monster was slain, the killed would recieve a portion of its strength and life force, boosting their magic and body in a limitless ceiling of potential. It made people think clearer, made them smarter, made their bodies stronger ... everything that a person was ... was made greater with every beast or entity they slew.
" Remain vigilant" Ever on the edge, Aurelia scanned the forest around them with keen eyes, her formidable eyesight seeing another disturbance in the direction the Llone had come from.
Contrary to what they expected it wasn't another Llone that stepped out of the bush ... but a young man, with sharp features and almost glowing eyes. Black curky hair framed his sharp face, pointed jaw pinched and hit button nose sat squarely. He was almost uniquely beautiful even by noble standards. And he was obviously no sliuch either, with a simple tunic, lean muscle faintly distorted his shirt as his boot stepped through the mud and leaves below.
" Hello " He stepped out fully, his voice a rumble that made ears tremble in delight " Sorry I didn't mean to startle you ... I... "
He looked at the team members one by one, Studying them intently. " I got lost, the caravan I was with was attacked ... I "
They lowered their defensive stance, approaching him carefully, Troy watched as Vincent approached at Aurelia's bidding.
" Do you mind if I check you " Vincent smiled softly, the sweet boy unable to meet this young man's gaze.
" Of course" Hands raised to the side, he allowed the glowing blue hand of Vincent to move over his body, scanning him for decease or rampant magic.
" He's clear " Only then did the likes ot Titus and Aurelia lower their weapons, with the rest of the team approaching.
" Come ... tell us what happened as we move" Staying still in a place like this was courting death, and so he joined them, walking through the forest towards the city of stars." What's your name"
" Fenric " He greeted, ducking under a tree branch as the group listened.
" Well then fenric ... tell me ... what happened to your caravan" Aurelia asked, hands clasped behind her back as she stepped over a root.
" A couple of weeks ago we set out from Cape estence, the pass through the high mountains was destroyed so we had to make our way through screaming forest ... and then" His gaze became complicated, half lidded eyes and chewing lips. " A horde or Llone and other beasts rushed from the first without warning, they tore then apart, every man woman and child. I barely managed to escape with my life with one Llone chasing me... I hesitate to think what has become of the others"
" I horde of llone ... that's unprecedented " Cordelia uttered, Llone typically didn't have the mental capacity to form groups let alone pose a danger to a well defended group, if they had grouped up, this would need to be reported to the association immediately. "What other beasts did you see"
" Sgrange creatures, they were tall humanoid on shape ... , they had weird clothing and hood like crevasses that hid their faces , they stood as tall as the trees, but walked slower than the llone... but we couldn't harm them with our spears and sword... I don't know what they were" He scratched his chin as the group hopped a river.
" The Bhailae" Cordelia whispered, a derivative of the llone, when someone of sufficient power and magical enegires fell within the screaming forest, chances were they would either become the mindless llone, or a Bhailae... capable of thought sufficient enough to cast rudimentary spells. Their danger lay in the fact their magic morphed into an impregnable defence that could scare off any and all physical phenomenon... if you didn't know a spell that could directly bypass the shield, you and your whole team were as good as dead before these beasts." Vincent do you know space magic "
" I know a couple " Though he didn't specialise in it, he could cast basic attacks, afterall if he had studied it further they wouldn't need to treck through this darn forest rather they could just shift to their desired location.
" That is good then" Aurelia closed her eyes and gave a slow thoughtful nod. " We must make haste, Fenric... your information is vital for the association, your protection is now of the highest order... you are hereby under our protection until placed in the care of the association "
And with that, they made their way to the city of stars that even from the near ninety kilometres away they were, was visible through the tree canopy.
.... CITY OF STARS...
Kilometres tall, the spires of the city of stars reached for the heavens as if trying to become one with them.
A great citadel sat at this titanic cities centre, where the king and royal family lived. Surrounding this citadel larger than any city on earth, several estates for the noblemen and women to live. In this district, the faith had their temple, the hunters academy and the association were found in the westward districts, each managed by different noble familied under the kings order, and so these differerent territories each held independent autonomy, but all answered to the kings law.
Outward from this ring of districts surrounding the king's citadel, the test of the city opened up, towering factories, slums hundreds of millions of people milled about. Crime was rampant, law was optional in lesser areas, and even then there were districts humans simply couldn't enter. For the city of stars still rumbled with ancient machinery blocking entire portions of the city from being used, as automated defences gunned down any and all that tried to step foot in unauthorised locations.
Surrounding this city of spires, was a wall hundreds of metres tall, the wall made by the gods to protect this city of humanity.
With alien guns larger than a hundred men blasting anything none human to pieces that dared approach from the surrounding forests . This city was one of the many city states across the world, where humanity could fester without outside threat.
Around the ring wall, several gates only ten metres tall sat at the base of the wall, with several alien weapons littered around pointed to the forest beyond.
They stepped out into the crowd of people attempting to gain entry to the city, several lines, queues for different purposes formed.
Immigrants to the left, official carivans on the central path, and Hunter related subject to the right, several guards stood at each queue.
And so, with Aurelia and her team, they were given relatively quick access to the city through the hunters queue, holding up identification cards that were overseen by guards in armoured knight like attire.
" Ah ... " Before they could step through, Fenric was stopped by one guard, who held their hand out in anticipation.
" He doesn't have the necessary identification, we are taking him to the association to report a matter of importance, we will have him registered apon our arrival" Aurelia announced, her tone carrying the authority of her station, and with several seconds of silent waiting, the guard lowered his hand and nodded.
" Very well ... make sure it is done apon his arrival " And so they were allowed entry, passing the ten metres high long doors into a corridor a hundred metres in depth, where over a hundred guards stood sentry, each one a registered hunter , each one of relative skill.
" Hm ... lovely " Red carpet, embroidered with the red and gold sigil of the kings banner, a serpent with three heads surrounded by a ring of golden fire, a sigil of old gifted to the kings family by the gods, was hung all over the city and this gate.
" It is beautiful isn't it... wait until we enter the actual city" Aurelia gestured toward the end of the gate, and they made quick work of arriving at the other side of the ring wall.
" wew "He whirled at the sight grunting him, a highway bridge a kilometre long stretched fro m the gate in the ring wall toward the cities edge. Why you ask, because a great trench rimmed the city, a depth of pitch black that descended into the abyss below, over none hundred metres, from the cities very edge to the inner wall, it was nothing but an abyss, with bridges being the only way on and out.
" Hm ... " Fenric leant over, looking down into the pitch black below before hus gaze shifted to the city itself.
None euclidean shapes met his gaze, as spires that leant in odd directions reached upwards. Islands of Steel hung above the city, a land nobody had ever reached accept for wizards that knew the greatest of space magic spells, which allowed them to move there. It was beautiful... it was alien, and it was in every sense of the word ... godly.
Their trip across the bridge was slow, milling through the still separated groups towards the city.
The central line moved the quickest as those of nobility had little to no checks, allowed to simply come and go as they pleased.
The hunters line was slower, as several hundred registered hunters strode forward into the cities expanse, and beside them, the immigrants lines barely moved.
" Finally" After nearly twenty minutes of slow paced walk, they entered the outer territories of the cities structure.
" You know Javier... when we get back, I'm going for a bath" Troy clapped his brother on the shoulder as they made their way towards what appeared tobeva train station, with a locomotive waiting in arrival for the hunters and nobles to board. This train would take them across the city to the inner districts where they would disembark and go about their way.
Boarding was a simple process, where they simply flashed their ID tags and entered the compartment, Fenric only being allowed past due to Aurelia's request.
They took up two tables in one of the compartments, sitting about on furnished seats , their weapons placed at their sides as they slumped into the most comfortable things they had sat on it weeks.
" Here'syour meal " Arriving from the amenities compartment, the trains onboard waitress approach with a silver cart carrying various steaming hot meals ready for their consumption.
Deft hands moved as she shuffled the silver plates onto the table, as other hunters arrived into their and other compartments throughout the train.
" I hope you enjoy" She gave a pleasant s.ile before wheeling the cart off to fetch more food for the other arrivals. The team immediately digging in with gusto.
" Burp " Troy patted his chest as Vincent cringed.
" You're an animal you know that" Vincent adjusted his glasses, waving the stench off as Troy laughed and began to flex.
" You're just jealous" He pumped his left arm and right arm, laughing as Vincent's face darkened." That you don't have guns like these"
" On the contrary, I'd rather my formidable intellectual than your instinctual drivel... it's a wander you can think with your brain being so small " Vincent retorted, using his cutlery to cut up the hot steak on the plate infront of him like a dignified person.
" Huh ... " Troy's face fell, before smirking ever so slightly" Did small man say something"
" Nothing that would get through" Vincent turned away to Fenric, Studying the man sitting next to their team leader with calculating eyes. " Are you a learned man, I never saw you with a weapon ... so I must assume that to survive in there you must be well practiced in the arcane"
" I ... " Fenric chuckled and scratched his chin, almost looking away embarrassed by the sudden attention." I wouldn't say I'm anything special but I do know a spell or two"
" Oh ... atleast someone else here has a brain like our captain " Vincent placed his hands on his lap and gave a kind smile. " What school have you dabbled in"
" Um ... mind magic ... the port didn't really have much in the way of magic instruction so I had to get my hands on what they had" Fenric shrugged, awkwardly patting his legs.
" Mind magic, not a bad start. I do have some repositories I could lend you after we attend the association. If you could learn them I would mind taking you under my wing" As an apprentice level mage, he was quite prideful about his power. And whilst the term apprentice didn't seem all that powerful or boastful, one had to understand the laws of this world.
When one killed, the accumulated the life-force and power of the one they killed. That power didn't disperse or go away m, it grafted to its new wielder. And if that killer got killed, then the new hunter would gain the power of all the previous victims as well as the target they slew. Accumulation ... stacking powers. And when mages could kill many at once even from a distance, things quickly got out of hand.
With some master magicians had lived since the inception of intelligent thought, they were monsters capable of ravaging time and space and the cosmos itself , but with all that power, they still knew fear... the fear of losing their power to a killer than would steal everything they had worked hard to get. And so these master wizards were spread far and wide, hiding away in towers to jealously guard their horded knowledge and power. Few had been seen in a hundred years let alone interacted with and survived. They were as much a monster as the beasts around.
" I'll try not to disappoint then " His kind smile made Vincent nod, the rest of the team watching the interaction as Aurelia ate her own meal with delicate actions, the actions of a noble woman.
" We have faith in you " Whilst she had no illusions she would he spending any significant time with the man, she knew Vincent well enough to know he would still keep in contact if Fenric proved competent enough to wield magic properly, afterall trustworthy magicians were difficult to come by in times like these.
The next moment, the train shuttered, letting out a whistle as its wheels screamed across its tracks.
" Oh thank God, if I had to wait another moment" Troy grunted as Javier rolled his eyes, both he and Titus making fun of Troy who yelled at them in exasperation.
....NOBLE DISTRICTS ... KALAR FAMIKY DISTRICT ...
White and steel coloured streets lined the roads, roads a hundred metres wide, lined with shops and families of high birth and easy lives. They wore Victorian era clothing of all colours, milling about without a worry in the world.
Compared to the overpopulated train station of the lower district, this one held few people, with guards significantly stronger than those posted at the other.
The atmosphere was lively and cheerful with bright colours and warm tapestries lining store fronts and glass windows.
Pleasant song echoed about as a band played on a stage, a slow flowing river running through the district, feeding from the kings citadel outwards.
They stepped off of the train with wide smiles and pleas
" This is where we part ways , shall we meet at the inn later " Javier, with Troy at his side turned to Aurelia, the rest of the group looking amongst themselves.
" Of course, dinners on me" Aurelia smiled as the others cheered, laughing and dispersing as they left Fenric and Aurelia standing alone in the stone streets.
" Hell yea " Troy laughed off as he departed with Javier to their shared home.
" I'll meet you at the association as soon as I'm able " Abrose bowed deeply at the waist before departing with swift strides to the buildings on the otherside of the train tracks.
" Come l lady Cordelia, let us tend to your animals" Aurelia chuckled as Titus, the man pining for the young woman, offered his hand for the lady to take.
" Oh how touching" Cordelia's face flushed as she took Titus's hand, the two leaving for Cordelia's, leaving just them and Vincent alone.
" I will bring my repositories by later after you finish your business with the association " Vincent offered a hand and a kind smile, which Fenric took before the wizard leapt up, using his rudimentary wind magic to properly himself into the air towards the spire where the other apprentice wizards tended to reside.
" Your team Is quite lovely" Fenric whispered as they watched Vincent's back fade into the distance.
" They're my family ... of course they are " Aurelia whispered, before turning to Fenric with an appraising eye ." Come ... the association cannot wait for us"
... HUNTERS ASSOCIATION HQ ...
The building stretched high into the sky, as one of the many strangely shaped towers of the city, it's colouring was dark grey, with tapestries baring the kings sigil and the associations mark fluttering in the soft wind of the Kalar family district.
Gardens a kilometre long stretched infront of the main entrance, with hedges depicting various famous hunters standing tall, maintained with painstaking effort of the attendants.
" It smells so good here" Fenric took in a deep breath, the aroma of roses reaching into his nose, as various hunter teams came to and from, some frolicking in the fields whilst others practed team cohesion exercises .
A smile bloomed on Fenrics pale features, wincing as the sun bared down on them past the ring over the world.
" It is ... quite lovely" She strode across the white marble below, hands clasped behind her back, brown boots clicking as they entered a towering door into the associations office.
The lobby was huge, about half as large as the gardens outside, with a several lines of counters at the far end. Waiting areas for teams, with furnished couches and tables lay about, potted plants gave the cold almost sanitised atmosphere a warm feel.
" I'm here to speak to the director" Auerlia approached one of the many desks, where an attendant was standing ready to recieve her. " The matter is important"
" Allow me just a moment" Kairese, the blonde girl woth soft features standing infront of them closed her eyes.
' Ah mind magic' He saw it, an invisible phenomenon only those practiced in the mind arts could see, as a haze surrounded the girls head, spreading and reaching up through the floors of the tower for their target. The customary spell for communicating long distance, mind magic allowed one to connect their thoughts to another over vast distances, allowing for instant communication between parties. All attendants across the world were trained in the very basics of this ability, any who weren't couldn't become an attendant as it would take too much time to do it any other way.
" The director is available for you miss cestral " That made Fenric's brow raise. A family of low nobility, the Cestral family was remoun for their gifted warriors and ability to command, a respectable family.
" Thank you for your time" Aurelia turned and moved towards a group of elevators sat to the left of the front desks.
" Top floor" She announced as she guided Fenric into the cold tomb of the elevator, the doors shutting as they entered, followed by the elevator pod rocketing up through the tower.
....
DIRECTORS OFFICE
....
Jacob kalar, second son of duke Kalar, current director of the hunters association, was bothba warrior and desk jockey all in one.
With a robust figure, a moustache on his features, cold eyes and swept back hair, he was every bot the intimidating figure known to be possessed by those of the Kalar family.
Paperwork sat on the table in neat piles on the spacious desk he sat at.
" Aurelia" His commanding voice beckoned as soon as she opened the door. " you look well, no troubles on your expedition I expect"
" No sir... everything went swimmingly" Aurelia strode across the bronze carpet, coming to stand across the man's desk before taking a knee in respect.
" And who is this young man "Cold calculation overcame Mr Kalar as he studied the young man whom didn't take the knee, Tilting his head slightly.
" This is Fenric ser, he has important information for us about an occurrence in the forest of screams" Aurelia announced, as Fenric looked about at the various ornaments and shelves featured in the office. A wall of technological repositories and books sat to the right, with a desk sat at the centre of the wall where a kanto sat on display.
To the left there was various piles of documents ready to be taken by attendants, white the wall behind the director was a window that overlooked the entire Kalar district and his home.
" Well " The impatient gurgle of Mr Kalar's voice rumbled as he drew Fenric's gaze. " Out with it, what is so important you thought to disturb my day"
" Allow me sir" Instead of verbally explaining, Fenric's blue eyes seemed to glow, illuminating brightly as he bridged the gap between their two minds and directly placed the visage of the attack on the caravan, a mental projection of his thoughts, images constructed by his idea, deposited directly into Kalar's minds eye.
Kalar's eye twitched, the itch of having his mind breached never a pleasant one, his moustache twitched at the images presented. Tall humanoids the size of trees in cloth lumbering forward, the cavernous holes in their hoods as black as their absent souls while their juniors rushed around and attacked the people around.
" Hm ... a small group of animals banding together ... nothing of concern, increase the amount of guards going out, should cover the issue " Kalar waved their urgency off, turning his eyes back to the documents at hand.
" But ser this has never before been observed, if they're learning to group together this one time, there may be others. Please allow me to investigate the screaming forest for any more anomalies" Aurelia plead, her blonde hair covering her face, but the urgency of her words reached deaf ears.
" Denied... we need your team to protect the noble family of qaruk coming from the city of spears... " Fenrik raised a brow, the city of spears, another walled city across the continent. A perilous journey many months long to and from, the risk if attack was great, the amount of hunters needed for such a journey was immense to ensure the safety of the travelling family.
" But ser ... if they can come through the forest and attack the wall ... " Her words were cut short by a rising heat, pressure rising from Mr Kalar as he glared at her.
" They will not, do not fret about unheard occurrences " Kalar growled, his patience running thin as he dismissed their worries a second time.
" Ser ... if they do " She froze as a gripping force weighed down on her and the rest of the office.
" A BEAST HAS NEVER SO MUCH AS EXITED THAT FOREST AND MADE IT TO THE GATE, AND YOU WILL NOT SPEAD YOUR FEAR TO THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THIS MATTER IS CLOSED " Jacob screamed as he rose from his chair, as the noblemans second child, it was his charge to run the association with an iron fist. After several long seconds of deep breathing, he lowered himself back Into his chair. " You will lead an attack on these creatures ... after you escort the Qaruk family , you have my order to recruit several teams, go out an neutralise your so called threat ... but only after you return"
" Yes ser " She whispered, the heat pressing down apon her receding after several seconds.
" Very good ... You leave in five days... prepare your team well, do not embarrass us " Kalar sniffed, picking up a pen and beginning to sign documents once again.
" What of Fenric " Airelia whispered, her head still bowed as she knelt on her right knee, giving the director pause as he raised his head once more and peered at Fenric.
" Oh ... him... take him to the treasury, give him ten thousand q for his troubles and then do what you want with him... " Jacob waved her off, watching her rise with a stern brow, allowing a single deep breath to escape his nostrils as he reclined back into his chair.
...
" That could have gone better " Fenric joked as they stepped out of the association, a wallet with ten thousand Q inside juggling around his hands.
Aurelia sighed, rubbing her brow as they made their way back to the inn.
" Don't be discouraged by him, he wasn't always like that ... he's a man of action rather than paper work" Aurelia grumbled as they approached a building where several hunters were milling about outside." But his father made him the director, forcing him from doing what he likes, confining him to that office... "
Indeed, rumoured to be stronger than his elder brother, Jacob Kalar was forced to stand aside and direct the association, where he wished to do nothing more than wage war against man and beast like he had since he was young.
" A shame ... " Fenric grunted, turning back to the strange association building, before turning back to the inn where they could see Vincent already waiting for them with Ambrose .
" There you are ... here " Vincent pulled out a hexagon shaped cube, tossing it at Fenric who caught it. " It's my studies on emission magic "
The repository landed with a cold thud on his hand, where Fenric raised it to eye level, Tilting his head slightly.
" Its a base magic, master this then we'll pick a sub branch to follow... " Vincent pet him on the shoulder before he was dragged into the inn. " will you be joining us for dinner "
" Yes ... he will " Aurelia smiled kidnly down at him, as they stepped into inn, beginning his new life in the city of stars. A start which started with a bang, a round of bears and wild chatter.
" Hm ... " He smiled gently, leaning into the booth between Troy and Javier, eyes half bidding as he massaged a mug of ale." Perhaps this shall be a nice change of pace"
And at the other side of the booth m, Aurelia smiled softly, before returning to conversing with Ambrose about their coming venture.
" Nice indeed"