Chapter 65

“Curse our rotten luck. We finally make it to the Center, and Guild is doing a recruitment test? Leave it to a bunch of spoiled brats to force everyone away from the good spots.” A young man said, sitting on a camp stool, underneath a ragged sheet of canvas, the edges flapping lazily in the gentle breeze.

The day had only started, Secundus just peeking her blue rim over the eastern horizon, and the air was already like an oven. The relief one would expect from the wind was non-existent. Thousands of ragged men and women were gathered around the rim of the Center Spring, drawn to this place by the promise of water and mana.

Holding them back were hundreds of high ranking and wealthy young people and their guards. Even before the Guild recruits arrived, the Center had been occupied for months by these groups. The remainder, weaker and unable to manage a resistance against them, were forced to rest on the outskirts, hoping to draw in the scant mana that escaped the boundaries their ‘betters’ had set.

The interior was akin to a festival and beach resort combined, with young lords and ladies taking their ease and enjoying the Mana the spring provided, while just outside the boundaries, the majority were ‘roughing’ it, with basic supplies carried on their backs, unable to leave until their energy was restored.

“Not just the Guild brats. I heard from one of the guards that something big is coming next Night.” Another young woman responded, as she picked at a lump of hard bread in her hand, placing small bits into her mouth and letting it soften before chewing.

“Figures. The Guild wouldn’t send anyone here without a reason. Still, it ain’t fair for them to push us out. We got just as much right to that mana as anyone.” The young man grumbled, spitting on the ground before pulling out a flask and taking a long swallow.

‘Bah, that’s the way o’ the world, boy. You got a complaint? Go tell the lordlings, I’m sure they’ll be all ears.” An older man chuckled from off to the side, a group of older veterans gathered around him. They had been hunting beasts in desert, returning to the center to recoup and rest after a month in the dunes.

“There’s more of us than there are them. If we all work together, we can push deeper.” Another person, a fresh-faced young woman, spoke up, her skin red from the sun. From next to her, a group of her companions nodded at her words.

“You lot, against them? Ranks matter more than numbers, missy. A high ranker could wipe the floor with all of us and not break a sweat.” Another veteran spoke up from where he was lying on the ground, his eyes shaded against the sun. The veterans were amongst the strongest in the crowd, Rank 3 and 4’s, capable enough to hunt here, but not nearly as powerful as the Guild recruits, or their guards.

It wasn’t just the mana that they wielded with their higher ranks. The forces against them that had taken control of the interior were much better equipped, their wealth on display with their weapons, armor, tamed beasts, and mounts. Even if they could match their strength, they couldn’t compete with their equipment.

“What’s that?” Another person spoke up, pointing into the distance. The gathered crowd all turned to look, shielding eyes with hands or hat brims, squinting against the glare to see what was approaching.

From the distance, a massive Owl was gliding over the dunes, the sun glinting off metallic feathers and they could see a green glow from its chest, and the whirling gears contained within. Clutched in its massive, brass claws, was a white swan, clearly injured, its white feathers were covered in black dust and sand.

Riding on the Owl was a tall, handsome man, wearing dark blue leather armor. On the front, stitched into the leather, was the symbol of a Drake, its wings spread wide as it soared. What took the crowd aback for a moment was the thick, white fur cloak draped across the man’s shoulder’s, the hood pulled low over his head to block the sun.

It was magical, the shimmering haze of mana covered the item, and they could feel its power, even from this distance. Several in the crowd licked their lips, or rubbed their hands, as greed lit up their eyes. When they turned to look at his partner, their greed became frenzied.

The woman was beautiful, with pale skin and long, silver hair that flowed down her back. She was dressed in long, pristine white robes, that were also enchanted, runes stitched into the silk to block the heat and intense sunlight of the desert.

The more eagled eyed amongst them spotted the symbol for the Lord of Ur on her garments, and the bag she carried also carried the house symbol.

“Who the hell’s that?” Someone asked, eyeing the pair as the metallic Owl glided towards the ground.

“Lady and her guard, looks like.” Some else offered.

“Single guard? For her? Looks like easy pickings.” Another said slyly, looking at others in his small group, the greed palpable in the air around them. It wasn’t uncommon for things to ‘go missing’ or ‘misunderstandings’ to happen, especially on the Center’s Outskirts, to a noble lacking adequate guards.

Ur was far away, and any repercussions for assaulting a noble daughter from their city would take a long time to materialize, if they ever found the culprit. Most would be long gone with their spoils before it came to anything.

Several of the more experienced amongst the group shook their heads, pitying the young pair that were approaching and the plight they would soon find themselves in.

The Owl settled heavily on the ground, its actions slow and deliberate as its wings stilled. The swan was dropped onto the sandy ground first, while the young man hopped from the Owl’s back, offering a hand to the young woman to help her down.

The crowd was stunned again as the moment the pair were safely on the black sands, the Owl suddenly shrank to the size of a normal bird, its body lying still on the ground. The young man bent over to pick up the Owl, placing it easily in the bag that he had slung across his shoulders.

“See that? It’s a relic! And the bag is as well. We’re in luck!” A voice whispered from the rear of the group, and whispers were repeated all around as the greed became thicker.

The young man paused, cocking his head slightly to listen, before taking a deep breath of air. Although it was thin, there was mana here and Wil was satisfied as he felt some of his strength return with each breath he took.

“Let’s see to the swan first, before we make for the center. The mana’s too thin here, and I don’t want to waste time resting when its more efficient to get closer to the source.” Wil said, ignoring the whispers and the crowd.

Astrid nodded, giving the crowd a look, hiding her discomfort at their stares the best she could.

Assessing the swan, they found that its injuries were severe, but recoverable. Wil had hoped that the mana here would help, but it seemed that it would need to be much stronger to have an effect, giving them another reason to get closer to the Spring.

“Do you have a way of carrying her?” Wil asked, as he watched Astrid run her hands along the sleeping birds’ feathers. It hadn’t stirred at all since they had landed, and the young woman was worried.

“Yes, although she hates it. But we don’t have a choice, do we?” She whispered, looking at her sleeping companion as she pulled out a small, glass orb from her bag. Wil stepped forward, shielding her actions from the view of the crowd.

Inside the orb was a small, green field, with a miniature blue sky and a small sun. It was as if it was a miniature world, hidden inside a glass container.

Astrid channeled her mana into the container, drawing on the link between herself and Marali to place her sleeping companion inside the magical item. With a flash of light, the swan disappeared from the ground in front of them, and a tiny, sleeping white swan appeared in the container, curled up on the grassy field inside.

“Amazing.” Wil whispered, leaning forward, his eye next to the glass as he examined it.

“It was my mothers, all my items were. She used to be an adventurer, and I wanted nothing more than to follow in her footsteps.” Astrid explained, carefully tucking the glass orb away inside her bag. Wil noticed her face becoming sad as she spoke of her mother.

“Well, we get through this, you’ll become one. We’re halfway through it already.” Wil reassured her.

“I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without you and Marali. I’m useless.” Astrid said, tears already forming in the corners of her eyes, despite her best efforts to hold them back.

“Nonsense. You survived. That’s the only part that matters. Everyone stumbles the first few times you’re thrown into this. You think I was any better?” Wil scoffed at her words, shaking his head as he turned away, giving her a moment to compose herself. He assessed the crowd, looking for threats while Astrid wiped her eyes dry and took a deep, calming breath.

“You’re a barbarian, you were probably slitting throats from the crib.” She said, not being able to resist the jab. Turning his head, Wil gave her a wide grin.

“Aww, it’s nice that you think I had a crib!” Wil joked, giving her a wink with one eye.

“Anyway, we’re going into the lion’s den, so watch yourself. The vultures are circling already, looking to pick us clean.” Wil said, giving Astrid a slight nod in the direction of the crowd. Astrid could see them eyeing the pair.