Chapter 16: Veridara City

The Next Day, Fray was in his grandfather's laboratory room. Before him, on a table, rested a solution of vibrant green liquid contained within a syringe.

On the table in besides Fray, were tens of open books, several volumes delved into the intricacies of bizarre-looking insects, their peculiar forms captured in detailed illustrations.

Fray's gaze fixated on the syringe, observing the green solution, in a hushed tone, he mumbled, "Finally."

Having prepared the green solution in small glass containers, Fray meticulously arranged them on the table. The circular portal materialized by his side, and through it emerged Adam, eyes closed, weariness etched on his face.

"Ready to go?" Adam asked, his voice carrying a hint of sleepiness, accompanied by a subtle yawn.

Fray nodded, "Yes, I'm ready. Just need to swing by the armory and grab a shield." He gestured towards the direction of the armory.

Surprised, Adam questioned, "Why? I thought you were all about hand-to-hand combat."

Fray paused, his focus on gathering glass containers, "No, I don't exclusively use hand combat. In addition to that I feel like having a shield will come in handy." He shrugged slightly.

Adam raised an eyebrow, processing the information, "Alright. So, where are we headed?"

Fray, exuding calm certainty, met his gaze and replied, "Veridara City. You got a portal to that place?"

Adam possesses a unique energy imbued with characteristics of space magic, enabling him to traverse vast distances in an instant.

However, this magical ability comes with two significant limitations. Firstly, it demands a substantial amount of energy, and as the distance to be traveled increases, so does the energy consumption.

Secondly, he can only utilize his existing portals, preventing him from reaching any location he hasn't visited before.

Adam's eyes widened in surprise, voiced his concern, "yes, but as you said before it's very far. I'm not as I once was; I can't open a portal for such a long distance multiple times. Best I can manage is twice a week, so you should use them wisely."

Veridara city...

In the quaint, dimly lit bar, a palpable tension hung in the air as the eyes of the patrons were drawn to a particular table.

Seated there were two young women, emanating an air of distinct allure. The spotlight of attention, however, centered on the girl with golden, flowing hair and piercing green eyes. Her beauty was ethereal, accentuated by the light silver armor adorning her figure. Stoic and regal, her gaze bore a cold intensity, capturing the fascination of every onlooker.

The other girl, with her brown hair elegantly gathered in a bond, observed her companion with concern. "Are you alright, young lady? You seem distant," she inquired, her voice carrying a soothing melody.

The girl with golden hair responded with calm poise, her voice resonating with an air of mystery. " I have this strange feeling, it's like something bad is going to happened"

Abruptly, the atmosphere shifted as a middle-aged man clad in hefty armor with a distinct emblem entered the bar.

With a sense of purpose, he made his way towards the captivating duo. Addressing the girl with golden hair with a tone of respect, " Hello young lady,"

"James, did you find anything?" inquired the girl with the golden hair, her green eyes fixed on the knight who had entered the bar.

James, with a respectful expression, began to share his findings. "there are rumors circulating about peculiar occurrences in the Lord's mansion. People speak of feeling a dark energy emanating from it. It's disconcerting, especially considering the Lord has dismissed numerous servants. And the citizens claim he didn't left his mansion for months now."

As James shared the unsettling rumors about the Lord's mansion, a realization dawned on the girl. (So, if what James said is true, the Lord is indeed dabbling in black magic. It seems like this case is closed,) she contemplated, maintaining her stoic demeanor as she listened.

Yet, a lingering unease persisted within her, casting a shadow over the resolution. (But why do I still feel like this?) The girl wondered, the mystery of her own disquiet adding an unexpected layer to the unfolding situation.

"And there's something else, young Lady," James announced, presenting an envelope sealed with the golden insignia of the Lionar Kingdom. "I received this letter today, it's from the palace."

As the girl's eyes focused on the envelope, a fleeting tension crossed her expression. She took hold of the letter, and as her eyes scanned its contents, her demeanor grew colder. "They are asking us to bring back the responsible party," she declared.

Seated across from her, the maid looked shocked and protested, "But the mission was supposed to be just an investigation. How can we defeat the Lord of a city and his knights alone?"

(Damn it! I knew they would do something like this, but why now? Are they trying to stop me from preparing to enter the Old Continent?) the girl thought, her face reflecting a mix of frustration and puzzlement

Meanwhile, Two figures, shrouded in dark, form-fitting attire, silently perched on the heretical poles of the magic lamps that lined the opposite wall of the bar. From their concealed vantage point, they observed the group surrounding the girl with golden hair and her companions.

Despite being in plain view of the bustling street, an uncanny power veiled their presence. It was as if an invisible cloak shielded them from the notice of the passersby, rendering them unnoticed amidst the city's rhythmic flow.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city, the girl with golden blonde hair and her two companions made their way to a quaint hotel. The exhaustion of the day's information gathering weighed on them.

As the day wound down, the golden-haired girl and her companions found themselves on the first floor of a charming hotel, where a cozy dinner setting awaited. The atmosphere hummed with the clinking of cutlery and hushed conversations.

While the golden-haired girl attracted the attention of the men in the dining area with her radiant presence, her maid approached the counter where the hotel owner was stationed.

"Good evening," the maid greeted, a composed smile on her face. "We're in need of three rooms for the night."

The hotel owner, a warm and welcoming figure, acknowledged her with a nod. "Certainly. Could I have your names, please?"

In the dimly lit dining area, the golden-haired woman stood with a stoic expression, patiently waiting for her maid to finalize the room arrangements. Suddenly, a familiar presence sent a shiver down her spine, and without turning, her expression grew colder.

Swiftly, she turned around to find a tall, young man with a muscular build and long, dark hair looking at her with a mischievous smile. "Hello, Zina. Long time no see," Fray greeted, his polite smile revealing a hint of familiarity.

As soon as Zina laid eyes on Fray, her cold expression unchanged, she mumbled, "Die." Abruptly, a large magical circle materialized above her shoulder, adorned with intricate symbols.

From within it, the edge of a large metallic blade began to emerge, gaining momentum until, with a burst of supernatural speed, the blade shot towards Fray. The air crackled with the intensity of the magical assault.

A loud clashing sound echoed through the room, followed by an explosion of light that left Fray's fate uncertain. Zina, her gaze fixed on the now-blinding light at Fray's location, witnessed as it slowly began to fade, revealing Fray standing behind a metallic shield in his hand.

"I deserve that," Fray admitted, looking at Zina. Her expression remained cold, unyielding.

Fray turned towards an old man, unnoticed by Zina until now, and said, "Adam, stop. I know her."

Confused by Fray's words, Zina suddenly felt danger. As she turned, she discovered a small, faintly pulsating portal, no larger than a coin, floating at her right side. It was targeting her head with an unsettling precision.

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