The drive into the heart of the city didn't take very long, but for Kai, every second was a shock to his system. As the limousine sped down the wide roads, he pressed his face against the glass like a curious child.
He saw massive skyscrapers that reached into the clouds and sturdy concrete houses lining the streets. The roads were filled with sleek cars, and the sidewalks were packed with people walking to and fro, clearly busy with their own lives.
It looked so much like his old life on Earth that it felt strange. One of the only major differences was the sky. High above the sprawling metropolis was a massive, glowing blue dome that covered everything as far as the eye could see.
He hadn't noticed it back at the Ashford estate, likely because he had been way too focused on his new skills to care. But here, with the city as a backdrop, the dome seemed like a giant blue ceiling protecting the world.
Aria saw him staring at the sky and noticed his fascination. She spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact way.
"That's the Sky Barrier," she explained. "The name is pretty self-explanatory. It is a very powerful defensive shield that covers the entire Kingdom of Avalon. It keeps us safe from outside threats. In some areas, it's not very visible, mostly because there are fewer people living in the rural countryside. But in places like this where people are abundant, it glows so brightly you can see it even in the middle of the day."
Kai looked toward his sister, feeling a bit confused. "Why is it more visible in the city compared to the rural areas? Does it just have more lights here?"
Aria responded, her voice turning slightly chilly as she went into "teacher" mode. "It's about energy, Kai. The more people there are in an area, the more mana is released into the air passively. The Sky Barrier is designed to absorb a part of this stray mana to power its defensive abilities. This means that in crowded places like this, the barrier is much more powerful and thick. That's why it looks so solid here."
Kai nodded his head in understanding. It was a smart system—using the people themselves to power the shield that protected them.
After driving for a few more minutes, they finally arrived at their first destination: the Central Mall. It was a massive building made of glass and white stone that sparkled in the sunlight.
Kai stepped down from the limousine, feeling the warm city air on his face. He was quickly followed by Aria and three female guards. Amara, the leader, stepped toward the driver and gave a quick, firm order.
"We will be back here at exactly 5:00 PM this afternoon," she said. "Make sure you are waiting right here. Do not be late."
The driver nodded his head reassuringly before driving away to find a place to park. Amara then turned her attention to Kai and Aria. Her face was stoic, but her eyes were sharp as she gave them her instructions.
"First off, Young Miss, Young Master, make sure you stay close to each other at all times. If you stay together, it is much easier for me to watch over you from the shadows. Especially you, Young Master Kai. It would be very dangerous if you were attacked because the world thinks you have little means to defend yourself."
Aria struggled to contain her laughter, a small smirk growing on her face. Kai knew exactly why she was amused. She was laughing because everyone still treated him like a "Dud" who didn't have an ability.
He didn't care, though. In fact, he preferred it this way. If people thought he was weak, Amara would work even harder to protect him, and his enemies wouldn't see his real power coming.
Kai simply nodded, agreeing with Amara's words without a fight.
"Second," Amara continued, "if you feel any sort of danger, do not hesitate to call my name. Even if you feel like I'm not there, I promise you that I am. I will hear you and I will instantly rush to your side."
She paused for a second and looked Kai up and down. A small, strange glint appeared in her green eyes.
"Lastly, and this is a personal warning for you, Young Master Kai: be careful with the women around you. You are a very handsome young man, and you don't know your own charm yet. You never know what some women might try to do if they see you walking around."
Kai was a bit baffled by this. He didn't really understand why he needed a warning about women, but he had a feeling he might find out soon. He chose not to ask any more questions.
Another thing he noticed was the strange reaction from his sister. The moment Aria heard Amara's warning, her eyes squinted slightly. The look disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. In fact, if he hadn't accidentally caught her in his peripheral vision, he never would have noticed it at all.
Interesting, he thought. It's only been a week, but there's already a bit of progress on my main quest.
"Alright, Aunty Amara. I understand," Kai said.
With those warnings on their minds, Kai and Aria turned and entered the mall, ready to see what the city had to offer.
The moment they stepped through the heavy glass doors, a wave of cool air and loud noise hit them. The mall was huge. It felt more like a small city than a building.
There were floors stacked on top of each other, reaching high up toward a glass roof that showed the blue glow of the sky barrier.
Digital screens were everywhere. They showed ads for the latest mana-infused energy drinks and high-tech sneakers. Kai took a deep breath. The smell of popcorn, expensive perfume, and ozone filled the air. It felt alive.
"Where to first?" Aria asked. She sounded a bit bored, but she kept glancing around at the other girls in the mall. Ever since Amara's warning about Kai's "charm," she seemed to be on high alert.
"Let's just walk for a bit," Kai said, shoving his hands in his pockets.