บท 15: Chapter Fifthteen: The Carriages

The sound of wooden wheels, rolling over pebbles, softly spread. Chatter of joy came from the direction of the sound. Several wooden carriages, lined up, traveled together. Horses pulled the carriages, while some knights escorted the carriages with their own horses.

"Did you hear? Apparently this is the only village that survived the horde of monsters in this area." a talkative man asked his friend. In his wobbly hands was a half empty bottle of red wine. He would occasionally take a swig of the wine and sigh in comfort.

"Yeah, I also heard that the yearly winter never touched the village and they prospered all year long!" the man's companion said.

Both the men seemed worn out from the long journey. They've been in the carriage for weeks, traveling to the barren village, out in the forsaken land. The gossip in the capital had filled the lesser merchants with hope. Maybe this would be their lucky break. If the rumors were true and they managed to establish a trading route with this village, this would be their lucky break!

They weren't the only ones with such thoughts. Almost twelve carriages held people with similar thoughts. While the last carriage was the loyal caravan of merchants that would travel to the village yearly. Sadly it was the last carriage of the caravan. As they had been caught in a monster attack, a month after all the waves started. Making the carriage the last of the caravan.

The fourteen carriages stumbled into the village view. Everyone in the new caravan froze when they saw it. What they saw wasn't a village, it was a fortress!

Gigantic wooden walls seven meters tall. A balcony, where the guards could patrol, with towers, that would be used to spot and snipe anyone within range. Over fifty guards could be seen on top of the wall, spears in hand. The only entrance into the fortress was guarded by five men, who gave off a dangerous aura.

Bows were pointed at them, ready to claim their lives at the sign of any suspicious activity.

The wall expanded beyond their sight and even more people could be seen farther away from the entrance.

The fourteen carriages slowly approached the gate. One of the guards had come to greet them about fifty meters away from the entrance.

"State your business!" the guard asked. Resting his gigantic wooden spear on the ground.

"We are here to conduct trade with the village known as Orcrasist!" the closest carriage's people said.

"On whose orders!" the guard asked.

"We are representatives of our own cities. I and my people represent the royal capital!" the leader of the first carriage said.

"Very well, you may enter!" the guard said. Finally stepping aside for passage. The leader released a breath he didn't know he was holding, as he entered the city.

The knights escorting the carriage were uneasy. They could feel the power difference between them and many of the guards. They were overwhelmed power wise and number wise. If a fight broke out, they would lose no doubt. So the usual arrogant knights cowered in fear. Not daring to cause trouble in the village.

The inside of the village was very well kept. Stone roads, with houses lined up one after another. In the far distance another wall was within sight and if one looked closely they could see the beginning of a mansion. The houses themself weren't so shabby. Due to the migration, all kinds of talents had blessed this village with their knowledge and experience. Everything from matts, to shoes could be found in the village. There was even a local currency going around. It wouldn't stay for long though. It was only till a flow of outside currency came to the village. In other words, they would exchange it as soon as they could.

The stone path at the entrance took three turns. One was straight forward, while there was also one to the left and right. This way people could get to where they wanted without inconvenience. The village had a stench, like all other cities and villages. People's garbage was thrown on the streets and was cleaned once a week.

But a secret construction was taking place under the village. An invention Jantyr had taught Lenart. He called it Sewers.

a crowd of curious villagers had gathered around the carriages. A small space for carriages was to the left of the entrance. So a bunch of people had gathered there, waiting for them to eventually park there.

The drunk man observed the village, through the impure glass windows of his carriage. He couldn't believe his eyes. They called this a village.

"What is that?" the drunk man asked. catching the sight of the half built mansion, while getting out of the carriage. An excited villager was more than happy to answer his question and said.

"That's a mansion being built for lady Jasmine. She will return to this village soon, after being crowned a noble. Then this village will become a city. So we're making a mansion to accumulate such a person!"

Small talk was made between the villagers and the merchants and many goods were traded.

(Meanwhile)

Jasmine sat on a couch in the courtyard. Around her were all five new students training curses.

In Jasmine's hand was her staff, which was nothing more than a stick, before that is. The staff was slowly growing with Jasmine's magic, gaining its own personal quirks. A spiral had grown at the top of her stick, looking like a galaxy. According to the older students at least. Her deity had said it wasn't a galaxy yet.

"Lady Jasmine, can't you show us some new spells? The older students say it's too dangerous. But surely you knew more spells by this time of your first year." a inpatient boy said. After failing the most basic of curses. Growing frustrated by his failures, he deemed the spell at fault and not his control.

"I did, but I only learned a new spell, after having decent control over the previous spell. This way I could grow controllably, without endangering myself, or the people around me. Be patient, master your spell and then you can learn more exciting spells!" she lectured the boy. Who lost his spirit for being reprimanded.

"Then Jasmine, can't you show us how you do it?" Courtnie sneakily added. She was the student who had befriended Jasmine during her short time in the tower.

"Fine, but I will only show you the very basics!" she said. Not capable of denying her friend's innocent request.

Jasmine stood up and tightened her grip around the staff. She slowly gathered magic in her staff and chanted "Pileous". The spell was slightly red and launched at the human like test dummy. When it made contact it dissipated into the dummy and the area grew silent. The students patiently waited for the curse to take effect.

They didn't have to wait long, as the dummy's skin slowly peeled off and turned ablaze. Burning the flesh and damaging the dummy to the extent of no recovery.

"See that? If you train hard you might just achieve that one day!" Jasmine said. carriages