City of Desire: Chapter 524 Journey

Proofread By Thomas F

The carriage entered the port and moved toward the ship, before finally stopping.

The large crowd had already gathered there.

“Don’t focus too much on work in Archmage City. Enjoy yourself a little there,” said Carla.

“I will,” I said and got out with her behind me, I took her hand in mine and walked ahead. There was resistance for a moment before she walked with me hand in hand.

I looked at the crowd and smiled before reaching the people that gathered.

Everyone important is there, including Robin, Cardin, and Stone. He returned yesterday; I won’t leave the city without him watching over it.

The army of Greltheaven is now bigger than before, and there are also many powerhouses with warded walls and many cannons.

The city is now more capable of defending itself from threats even without Stone being there personally.

“Have a safe journey, my lord,” wished Robin and the others. “Thank you all,” I replied walking toward the yacht while waving at the crowd.

The others followed behind me.

There are eleven people in my entourage. Twelve counting him.

Each one is carefully chosen.

First is Soren Arryn, the head of the merchant guild. Second is Mage Ravill, the head of the mage guild. Shaman Trik from the orcs and Mage Aldridge.

I included two people from the city hall. Their help will be needed to coordinate with other lords and important people.

I had invited Eva as I needed her help to get me a few things.

Margaux, whom I will need to deal with people of the other legacies. Eudo because he requested to come and I found his request important enough.

Though it will cost me a lot.

Even if he hadn’t requested it. I already planned to bring him with me. To reward his loyalty I had prepared a gift for him, which he will receive in Archmage City.

Varza is coming into an official capacity; filling in for her boss. Hardt cannot come, as he is busy with the important work.

The last is Zela.

There are more people, but these eleven are covered under special entourage access. They will attend important meetings, markets, and other things.

They have access below mine, and it is a big thing.

Not everyone in my delegation is traveling with me.  My family agents are traveling with the entourage of Namdar. The same is true with the others I have included in my slots.

There is another person following behind me. He is not part of the entourage, but he has access greater than them. It is nearly at my level.

Alex Rutto.

The head of the house of Rutto.

Because of his ancestor, he has that access and will be as long as the bloodline of House Rutto lives and the archmage tower remains standing.

I brought three personal guards, John, Zela, and Garzong; and one additional, Lena. Security also includes a full platoon led by a Lt. Colonel.

I will also be employing mercenaries from the countries we passed through for smoother travel.

We are taking three yachts. The middle one is mine that Counts Darrow so graciously gave to me; just last week from a refit in the merchant state.

I have made modifications to it. It cost me quite a lot, but now it is truly mine.

The second yacht is a rental, for my people, from our new business partners. The third one is rented by my sister and Baron Husk.

I offered to take them in my yacht, but they refused. It is fine by me.

I reached the ship and walked the stair-ramp with Eva, Eudo, Margaux, and her daughter following behind.

Yes, her daughter is also coming. She will be joining the Archimage Academy.

I didn’t enter inside and watched the crowd as the ships began to move from the port.

I kept watching till the city itself disappeared.

“It will be the longest journey, I have ever taken,” I said, looking back at the city.

I have traveled further on the earth, but that was by plane and it was safe, but here I will be traveling through six countries through water and land.

It will take around a week before I reach the archmage city.

“I have been many times,” replied Eva.

“How was it?” I asked, turning to her. “Fun, but also dangerous,” she replied, turning toward the Greltheaven.

“I hope this journey will be fun. If there is a danger, I will have to depend on you to protect me,” I told her.

To that, she rolled her eyes, before smiling.

“Don’t worry, I won't let anything happen to you,” she replied.

I am excited about this journey despite apprehensions about the dangers I might face. Aside from the merchant state and Navr, I had not traveled to another country.

Even in the merchant state. I had only traveled to the two regions.

The ship will first go to Owlspring, and from there, it will move through the Vale River to the Oksall. From then, it will enter the kingdom of Tezir and then Mahal, where the yacht will stop.

From there, we will travel by land.

I stayed by the railing for a few minutes, before walking inside and soon, went into the owner's suite.

It used to be the suite of Count Darrow, but now it's mine. It is the same size as before but looks bigger; I have ordered a complete overhaul.

Now there is soft paint and a few tasteful paintings with a beautiful bed and sofas. The most amazing is the large hundred-inch glass windows.

Even at night, it gives a wonderful view.

It is stronger than the walls of the yacht and further reinforced by powerful enchantments.

I watched for a while before lying down on the bed. It is as soft as my bed in the legacy.

A few minutes later, I closed my eyes and took a couple of deep breaths until I was calm enough, before bringing out my aura.

I spread it slowly and gently.

As I did, I felt the soft sheet and the thousands of threads it made of. I understood the design and could tell the work its maker had put into crafting it.

The aura is a manifestation of one’s will, and it can do anything.

Creating a sensory sphere is considered a milestone. I am far from completing it, but I am making progress.

Those books are helping me a lot.

Even now, I am still studying the first book, and I don’t mind it because every page is a treasure trove of knowledge. They are helping me tremendously with my aura.

I am not just practicing it. I am also using it in the real scenarios.

I am using it daily in my spars, and I have to say, it’s an amazing weapon.

Even with limited control, it has increased my strength noticeably. Just thinking about what I will do once, I get greater control over it makes me excited.

Soon, my aura fully covered the suite.

I could feel everything: the vases, the sofas, the bookshelf, everything.

I felt it all before focusing on the book, the smallest one. I tried to take it, but all I was able to do was shake it a littleStillll, I kept trying.

Thud!

I was able to take it out, but at the moment, I did. It fell on the floor with a thud.

Bell could take it safely, a book much thicker than it and several at once without much strain, but she had decades of practice.

I tried again and again and again. I kept trying till I couldn’t keep the aura out.

It went inside me, while I lay on the bed tired.

Aura is powerful but tiring. That is why I need to practice it constantly. Until it becomes effortless to use; it is hard but achievable.

Like Bell, I will soon be capable of that.

Knock Knock!

I was lying on the bed resting when a knock rang out.

“Lord Silver, dinner is ready,” informed Zela. I nodded and got up before activating the Get Ready.

I am tired and sweaty.

Immediately, my clothes straightened, dried sweat and dirt rolled down, and a glow returned to my face.

I looked at myself in the mirror, before walking out of my suite.

When I reached the dining room, I saw everybody already gathered there, including my sister and husk.

“Lord Silver,” they greeted. I nodded and sat down.

“The great journey ahead of us. An exciting one, where we will see new places, experience new cultures, and many surprises,” I stated.

“It makes me happy that I have you all with me to experience it,”

“As I once read in the book. To travel is to live, and I hope we all live a lot on this journey,” I said, quoting Hans Christian Anderson, before raising my glass.

The dinner began, and it was great. I brought a chef from the legacy who had experience with cooking on ships. However, the most interesting was the conversation.

The dinner finished in an hour, but people stayed for another hour before they started to leave.

Till only Leila remained.

“How are the things with the monsters?” I asked as we stopped at the railing.

I have received the reports the Baronies had sent and also got my hands on the secret intelligence they had collected through my sources.

Still, I like to hear things from her.

“Bad and, from the way, things are going, they might get worse,” she replied with clear worry in her voice.

Monsters in moderation are good. It fuels their monster material industry, but too many, and it becomes destructive.

Monsters are like waves. Small ones are enjoyable, but huge ones could crush you and everything that gets in their path.

It will affect everything. Most importantly, trade between merchant states and Navr, which is their lifeline.

“You all seemed to be managing it,” I said, and she smiled.

I heard she alone had gone into the forest to kill the leaders. Collapsing, the horde before it could form, but that only delays it.

The monsters had formed the hordes and attacked them.

“We might need your help if things become bad,” she said turning to me.

They have asked for help. Asking me to let the adventurers and mercenaries in the city accept the jobs from them, which I had restricted.

It’s not like I don’t want to help them. The halt in trade will affect me too, but I can’t with the risks I am facing.

The undead have me on edge, and besides most of the mercenaries in the city, they are busy working for the city.

“I will see what I can do,” I replied, not promising anything. She didn’t say anything to that and stayed silent for nearly a minute.

“Thank you for dinner, Remus,” she said and jumped into the water.

Ice formed under her feet as she landed and began to walk on it.

Her movements are graceful, making it look beautiful. I watched her, till she reached her yacht and jumped on it, before disappearing.