As they entered the stable behind the Guild. Kanah got off the wagon and walked over to the stable master. "Excuse me. I have a letter for you from the guild master in Rine." The man looked at Kanah as he received the letter.
He began reading the letter and flipped it towards Kanah. "This is dated to the 24th."
Kanah nodded. "We were in a hurry. I gave the horses a Mana boost and kept them under healing spells." The man immediately walked over to the horses. "They are completely fine. No sign of distress. How? Most animals lose their minds after being affected by Mana."
Kanah looked down. "I can't tell you that." He then turned around as Shin got all five men off the horse and lined them up. "What will you do with their horses?" Shin smirked as he looked back at the stable master. "Greg, how much for these four horses?"
Greg who was deep in thought, walked over and began observing the horses. "I'll give twenty five silver coin per horse." Shin moved his lips around until he smiled, patting the black horse. "Alright take the other four. I'm keeping this one."
Shin then stretched his hand out catching a gold coin. "Always a pleasure meeting you Greg." Greg flicked his hand going back to his work. "Yea, yea. See you at the tavern tonight." Kanah looked around ensuring they were alone, before turning towards Shin as he took his hood off.
He extended his hand. "I guess this is it for now." Shin looked down at Kanah's hand. "I'm not shaking your hand until you leave this city. Come meet me at the Guild's tavern."
"I don't drink." Shin was about to say something until Kanah raised his finger. "But I will sit with you." Shin then tilted his head with a smirk and shrugged his shoulders. "Fine by me. Be here at sunset."
Kanah nodded as he pulled the hood over his face walking out of the stable.
Kanah walked out onto the busy road and turned left walking on the footpath. 'Should I go to the harbor or the estate?'
As he reached an intersection, he looked to his right, as he watched the distant sea. He then turned to his left looking at a blue and white estate at the base of the Trask Hills due north of the city over-looking the entire city and the bay.
'The estate it is.' He then turned towards the estate and began walking towards it.
After a few minutes of walking Kanah looked back. 'This city is truly magnificent. I guess I'll have to be a bit unorthodox.' He then turned into an alleyway.
His body was engulfed by a blue glow as he jumped from wall to wall reaching the roof of the building. He then turned towards the estate a grin on his face and began running towards the estate, clearing multiple roofs with each step.
His speed far exceeded that of a horse, he could go faster but he limited himself. "I can't go any faster without putting the citizens in danger, I am only able to move this fast by reinforcing the tiles with mana as I step on them. Otherwise they'd cave in under my feet."
"But this should be enough to traverse the city within minutes." He looked down as he leaped across a road. Some people passing below looked up, catching only a glimpse of him before he was gone.
In just a few minutes, he stood on a rooftop across the estate. He jumped down onto the street below. The people were jolted as they stepped back. Kanah stood straight dusting his cloak. He looked both right and left before running across the road.
While approaching the gates to the estate two guards came in front him raising their hands. "Halt! Who are you and why do you approach the Duke's estate."
Kanah reached into his pocket pulling out a coin and giving it the guards. "My name is Kanah, I need to use the Duke's raven to send a letter to Rine."
The guards looked at the coin and saluted Kanah. "My apologies sir, I was unaware that you were a part of the Royal Court." The guard handed the coin back to Kanah and opened the gate for him.
Another guard on the inside of the gate accompanied Kanah towards the estate. Kanah looked at the estate. 'There is nothing like this in Rine.'
The estate differed from the castle as it was not build for fortitude but for luxury and elegance. It contained glass windows, which was a luxury not everyone could afford. It only had two floors, but where it lacked in height it made up for it in width and length. The main building was a giant square that spread across four acres of land. At the heart of it was a garden, personally looked after by the Duke himself.
Aside from the main building there was a barn and tool shed off to the side. Encompassing all these was the garden that spread across a dozen acre.
As they climbed the steps at the entrance, a maid came out from within followed by a man in a black suit with a white shirt and a bowtie. His hair was slicked back and on his left eye laid a monocle, he also wore a black and a white glove on his left and right hand respectively.
"I welcome you to the Duke's estate, but I believe you have come at an unfortunate moment. The Duke is currently at the capital. If you'd like to stay for a cup of tea and lunch, we would be delighted to have you. If not, give me your name and reason for visitation and I shall pass it to the duke when he returns."
Kanah shook his head. "I did not come to meet the Duke, I want to use his raven to send a letter. Although before that, I have to ask, do you treat everyone with such hospitality?"
The man smiled gently. "When someone is let inside the estate a guard accompanies them. If it is an important person the guard on the left accompanies them and if not the guard on the right." Kanah turned his head to look at the guard standing to his left, he then nodded lightly looking back at the man.
The man then gestured towards Kanah. "May I get your name sir?" "Kanah. You must be Hert." The man's composure shifted as he looked at the guard and maid. The two bowed before going back to their respective places.
Hert stepped to the side and gestured towards the open door. "Please enter, Sir Kanah. It is a pleasure to finally meet the man who I have only heard about till today."
Kanah smiled as he stepped forward inside the estate followed by Hert. "The pleasure is mine, Sir Hert. I have heard a lot about you from uncle Galreid."
He then looked up seeing the brilliant ceiling art. In it were all forms of life, humans, elves, dwarfs, sea-men, beast-men, horses, dogs, wolfs. All reaching for a white light at the heart of it. Hert walked beside Kanah placing a hand on his shoulder. As Kanah looked at him, hurt gestured towards a door.
"This way sir." Kanah nodded following after hurt going through the door and entering the room. The room was different from the rest of the estate. While the estate was painted in light and bright color, this room was dark brown. Its floor wooden and the air carried a scent of ink and books.
"This is the Duke's personal library. He spends most of his time here. Please be seated. I shall bring a pen and paper." As Hert left the room, Kanah took off his hood and looked at the book shelfs.
He looked down sighing, then as the door opened, he turned his head towards it as Hert entered the room with a paper, envelope and pen in his hand.
Hert closed the door behind himself before looking up at Kanah. His eyes widened as his monocle fell from his eye swinging left and right. "By the will of The One!"
He took a step forward, rubbing his eyes. "I don't believe it. You look just like the Hero." Kanah chuckled. "Quite funny is it not?" Hert closed his mouth and placed his monocle back on his eye. "Now I understand why you covered yourself with the hood."
Kanah nodded. "I do not want to drag my family into anything dangerous and I believe this face about to have a lot of enemies soon." Hert nodded handing the items to Kanah. "Is that what brought you here?"
Kanah shook his head. "I was already traveling for Solara with my family before Raghav was summoned." He then sat down on the sofa, placing the paper on the table. "Can I get a moment to write this letter?"
"Of course." Hert then bowed slightly before leaving the room.
Kanah looked at the ring on his finger and brought it close to his lips kissing it. He then closed his eyes and began writing.
Once he was done he opened his eyes and folded the paper, placing it inside the envelope, he then turned it around writing on envelop. "To Aurelia, from Kanah."
He smiled kissing the envelope engulfing it in a blue glow. He then pulled his hood over his head as he stood up and walked towards the door opening it. Hert greeted Kanah as he exited the room. "Please send it as soon as possible." Hert took the letter. "I will send it right away. Will this be all Sir?"
Kanah nodded as he smiled. "Indeed, I should get back to my family. Take care Hert and once uncle returns. Be there for him, he may act like he was not affected by it. But you and I both know he will be shaken up by what has happened."
Hert closed his eyes while nodding. "Indeed, may The One watch over you on your journey." Kanah chuckled. "May we meet again." "We shall."
Kanah then walked towards the estate door and left. Once outside he walked towards the gate. Seeing him approach the guards opened the gates letting him through.
Kanah waved at them before engulfing himself in the blue glow. He leapt towards the building on the other side of the road. He looked back and saw the crack he had formed on the ground and stretched his hand towards it as the cracked footpath was fixed in an instance.
He smiled as he landed on the roof. He then turned around and looked at the entire city. "I should go back to the inn now." He looked towards the eastern coast and began running.
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Maya was laying on the bed curled up beside her mother when the sound of the door opening entered the room, Mata's eyes opened as she sat on the edge of the bed. She looked at Maya before leaving the room.
She exited the room and looked at the doorway finding Kanah taking his shoes off. Kanah looked up and smiled at his mother. "Hello Mother."
He then looked back down as Mata approached her son. She reached down to grab his face making him look up at her. "What a mess you have made out of your hair and I can see the dark circles under your eyes." Kanah stood up straight looking down at his mother.
He then hugged her. "I am fine. You do not have to worry about me." Mata shook her head. "I am your mother, it is my duty to worry about you." "Hmmm, maybe."
She separated from him and looked at him. "Have you eaten yet?" Kanah shook his head. "Go and take a bath, I prepared something for you." Kanah nodded and walked towards the trunk that was placed in the common room. He opened it and took out his clothes from it before closing it.
He then entered the bathroom as Mata began serving the food.
After a while Kanah came out of the bathroom drying his hair with a towel. He looked at the sofa and found his mother sitting there with her legs crossed on the sofa. She looked at him and smiled. "There is my little prince, I always told you, that you look good in that white t-shirt and brown pants."
Kanah smiled looking down. "It does look good." She then patted the couch. "Come sit here. I'll oil your hair." Kanah nodded laying the towel on his shoulders and walked over sitting on the floor in front of his mother.
His mother grabbed his hair pulling his head back. "When was the last time we did this?" Mata started rubbing the oil in Kanah's hair. "It was before your grandfather became ill."
Kanah nodded as he looked forward and found a plate on the table. "Is this?" His face lit up as Mata smiled. "It is." Kanah looked at his mother as he grinned like a child.
He then grabbed the plate and smelled the rice. They had turned a nice yellow due to the turmeric, along the rice were chopped up potato cubes and fried cumin seeds.
Kanah smiled as he reached for a pot of curd pouring it over on the rice. "That should be about enough." He then put the pot back on the table and mixed the rice in the curd. Once he was done he took a spoonful of rice and turned around moving the rice towards his mother.
She takes a bite before giving Kanah a smile. He then smiled and turns back and begins eating the rice. He hummed, shaking his head. "What do you put in it that makes it so tasty?" Mata chuckled. "It's a secret called Mother's Love."
Kanah chuckled as he kept on eating while his mother oiled his hair. "Kanah?" "Hmmm." Kanah hummed with a mouth full of rice.
"Did you write to Aurelia?" Kanah nodded as he swallowed the food in his mouth. "I did, I sent the letter from uncle Galreid's estate. She should receive it by sunset."
He then began eating when he suddenly turned around. "Sqeatifgh." "Eat first, then speak." Kanah nodded chewing his food before swallowing it. "I was saying, speaking of sunset, Shin asked me to join him at the tavern at sunset."
Mata raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to be drinking?" Kanah felt a little tug in his hair as he shook his head. "Of course not mother, I would never so such thing. I will only accompany him."
Mata smiled as she let go of Kanah's hair. "Now then, sleep." Kanah placed the empty plate on the table and stood up. "If you say so mother." Mata held Kanah's face as he shook it. "Not with the oily hands please."
Mata chuckled as she held his face between the inner sides of her wrists. She then looked back as she stepped on the sofa. Now that she was slightly taller she planted a kiss on his forehead. "You are the world's greatest son." Kanah held his mother's hand as he sighed while smiling. "And you are the greatest mother in existence."
He then helped his mother climb down from the sofa before turning towards the door to his room. "Please wake me up on time. I do not wish to be late."
"I will wake you up, you can trust me." After hearing this Kanah closed the door.
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Shin stood outside the Guild his arms crossed and his foot tapping on the ground. The sky had begun to turn black as the last rays of the sun were dying out.
"Shin!" He turned to his left as Kanah approached him. "For a moment, I believed you were a no-show." Kanah chuckled. "As if I would go back on my word."
Shin then gestured towards the Guild's Tavern. "Shall we?" Kanah nodded and entered the tavern with Shin. As soon as he saw what was happening inside, Kanah's smile turned into a look of confusion. "This is wild."
There were mugs of wine and beer flying around, people were at each other's throat, some were gambling. Kanah shook his head. "Come there's an open table."
Shin then grabbed Kanah's hand guiding him towards the table at the far left end of the room next to a window.
Kanah sat facing away from everything, looking only at Shin and the wall behind him. Shin on the other hand sat opposite to Kanah as he laughed watching two bear-like men fight.
Kanah shook his head turned back towards Shin. "You seem to be very happy." Shin looked back at Kanah as he nodded. "I got paid a nice amount for turning in the Hissers. Apparently they messed with a business man's family, he paid extra because they were unharmed and alive."
He then reached into the bag at his side and gave Kanah two gold coins. "This is your share for helping me get back here and handling those men." Kanah looked at the coins taking one and pushing the other back towards Shin. "That is for this cloak and getting us a suite at the inn. I know you paid for it."
Shin clicked his tongue as a server placed a bottle of wine and two mugs on the table. Kanah raised his hand. "Excuse me, just one mug." The server raised her eyebrow before picking up one of the mugs.
"What shall I eat? Some salmon?" "Please don't." Shin looked at Kanah. "Why?" Kanah shrugged his shoulders. "I just don't like when people eat meat on the same table I am sitting at."
"Fucking Vegetarians." Shin began pouring the wine in his mug, filling it to the rim. "This is going to be so good." When he placed the bottle back on the table he reached for mug bringing it up to his lips and began drinking the wine.
Once he finished the mug he slammed it on the table and looked at Kanah. "So, what do we talk about?" Kanah looked around shaking his head. "I don't have anything we can talk about."
Shin nodded, gulping down another mug. "This is boring." He then looked at the poker table behind Kanah as a grin crept on his face. Kanah saw Shin's expression as he turned around looking at the poker table. "No." He then looked at Shin, leaning on the table and pointing at him. "No. We are not gambling."
Shin rolled his eyes as he gulped down another mug before he gestured at the table with both hands. "That is the game of poker, invented by your first King, King Istreid himself." Shin then frowned slightly as he turned to Kanah. "You know that makes me wonder, along with poker, he was the one who brought a lot of changes to this world, such as a new calendar, and units of measurement. I mean thank god he did, do you know what my favorite is?"
Kanah chuckled looking at Shin's drunk state. "What is it?" Shin leaned on the table getting close to Kanah who was looking at him with an amused expression. "The toilet and the water system."
"Oh." Shin nodded. "Yeah. I would have burned the world down, if it were not for that. You would not see my going into the woods to take a shit. Fuck that."
Kanah gestured towards Shin. "You are getting off the track." "Oh yeah, so as I was saying it makes me wonder, could Istreid be from another world just like me."
Kanah placed a hand under his chin. "Maybe, it is certainly a possibility. Given the revolutionary changes Istreid brought to the world. As you have mentioned, new food, water systems, toilets, units of measurement. He has such a big impact on this world that a new era began."
Shin nodded furiously. "Fucking Legend. He gave us modern day alcohol and gambling. What else can a man need in his life." He then poured himself another mug of wine. Kanah chuckled as he carefully looked at Shin. 'I wonder what else he will say.'
When he was finished pouring the wine he looked at the bottle shaking it. "Empty!" He then hugged it as tears came in his eyes. "Just like my life."
Kanah leaned in as Shin began to sob. "Are you okay?" Shin then turned towards Kanah. "Of course, I am just fucking with you."
Shin chuckled as Kanah's smile died down as he focused on the mug of wine. Shin followed Kanah's eyes and looked at the mug as well. Tremors began to appear in the wine, growing stronger with each passing second.
The two looked at one another as horns were blown outside. The two stood up rushing outside on the road as they saw people running away from the harbor. Kanah looked at the civilians in confusion. "Shin, what are those horns for?" Shin looked up and gestured Kanah to follow.
Both of then activated their powers and jumped up on the roof of the guild. Once they were on the roof Shin gestured towards the sea with his head. "There."
Kanah looked at the sea as the water was behaving abnormally slamming onto the coast line. Kanah's eyes widened as the water in the middle of the sea began to rise. "Shin! What are those horns for?"
Shin gulped as he the water burst high up in the air and began to rain down on them. "It's a warning for an approaching Leviathan."
As the small shower stopped they looked forward and saw a Giant snake with five heads joined at the neck. Its hoods outstretched. The snake was at least five kilometers in diameter and forty kilometer in length.
As the snake stood upright looking at the city. Kanah gritted his teeth as his eyes widened. While Shin was the only one who could speak. "We are so fucked!"