Chapter 32
Nuathl city, more commonly known as the city of magician was an independent city state in the northeastern part of the continent. It’s a city surrounded by the Marmon mountain range, the biggest mountain range in the northern part of the continent which happens to be the only thing that separates Nuathl from Almena and Forst.
As the name suggest, Nuathl city is a city where the largest number of magician gathered. And for good reason… Nuathl city was built upon a large ley line which allows mana to congregate on the “The Tower”, a mysterious structure that was believed to had been built by an ancient civilization several thousand years ago.
Both “The Tower” and the ley line allows people with the right constitution (people with talent to use magic) to develop faster and become magician. Moreover, the unique characteristics and location of the city of Nuathl made it possible to create magical tools and artifacts much more easily compared to other places which add to the appeal of the city.
It was due to this reason that over the millennia, large congregations of magicians, talents, and hopefuls gathered at the city, thus earning it the title, “The City of Magician.”
If one was to see Nuathl for the first time, the things that they’ll notice would be “The Tower”, the largest and tallest structure in the city, as well as the many mage towers surrounding the city.
“Wow!” Rennel stared at the towering tower in the distance with awe. “Such an amazing structure… It’s hard to believe that humans could make something so tall and grand.”
“Hmph!” Chaos snorted at the girl whose mouth was open wide in amazement. “Stop assuming, it might not be the humans who created that tower. Don’t forget that humans aren’t the only intelligent species in this world. For all you know, the tower was created by some other races.”
Heh heh… Hearing her teacher’s reprimand, Rennel could not help but smile awkwardly. Indeed, the arguments on which race created the tower were still raging. Some scholars believed that the ancient humans created the tower, some claimed that the creators were ancient elves; others claimed it were the dwarves, while others claimed that an extinct race were the creators.
The reason for this confusion was due to ancient artifacts and records which were found inside the tower itself. When “The Tower” discovered more than a thousand years ago, artifacts, scroll, and other items created by humans, elves, dwarves, and even those of more obscure races were found inside the tower.
As there were no written records of the true creator of the tower, no one really knew which race created the tower. But since it were the humans who (re)discovered the tower; they felt like it’s only normal that they take ownership of it. This of course didn’t sit well with the other races and conflict ensued.
And before long countless conflicts, and wars; small and big, had erupted over the ownership of “The Tower.” It was said that the bloodshed and conflict lasted for almost a century until the magicians who saw their Shangri-La being slowly destroyed by the war had had enough.
The magicians from various races allied with each other, and using their tremendous magic powers, they drove away kingdoms and states that wanted to take the towers as their own. They then took possession of the tower and slowly but steadily developed the surrounding lands and established the City of Magicians – Nuathl.
To ensure the stability of the city, the magicians created the Council of Mages which would serve as the city’s governing body. To join the council, one must be at the level of an arch-mage. And under these arch-mages was a parliamentary-like body ran by executives of magicians that carried out the council’s orders. Basically, the highest decision making body was the Council of Mages, then the parliament and lastly the different departments under the parliament.
Although Nuathl city’s type of government was considered weird in this world, it had managed to effectively run the independent city state for centuries. With no absolute ruler at the top that would dictate the state policy, the City of Magicians could barely be considered a democracy. Well, just barely…
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After observing the city from afar; Chaos and Rennel finally entered the city. The moment they passed through the city gate; Chaos felt an undulation that could easily be ignored even by people with high mana perception. It was this reason why Rennel didn’t feel anything weird. But of course no matter how gentle or weak the mysterious undulation was, it won’t escape Chaos’ notice.
Interesting… Chaos’ eyes narrowed a bit after confirming what the undulation was, or what created it. The undulation was created by the runes on the sides of the gate. These runes were just ordinary runes that most magicians would choose to ignore due to their ordinariness. But despite their ordinariness, these runes served a very important function: It measures the mana inside one’s body.
Basically, every person going into the city would have their mana measure the moment they pass through the gates. Of course, such measurement would not be very accurate nor will it identify the person it’s measuring but it does give the people guarding Nuathl an early warning if a powerful individual entered the city.
This was one of the methods that the city uses to protect itself from unsavory people with evil intent.
No artifact from this world can measure my power but the same thing could not be said for the girl that had yet to fully master her control over her mana, Chaos thought in amusement as it glance at the runes on the gate. Which mean that something interesting might happen during our stay here… I wonder, if one of the arch-mage will make his or her move.
Rennel didn’t notice her teacher’s strange behavior as she looks at the many unfamiliar things around her. She was especially attracted to the cute accessories and delicious-looking food being sold by the hawkers.
Still, the girl didn’t dawdle for too long and quickly asked around for directions to the nearest inn. After they found lodgings, they would also have to look for the airship station that would take them to Toruk city.
Yes, the reason why Chaos and Rennel are in Nuathl was because the fastest way to go to the Toruk would be by riding the legendary airship!
The airship was one of man’s biggest advancement in artifact making. And just like the name suggest, it was a ship that could traverse the sky. Compared to a regular ship, an airship is at least fifty times faster. Which also mean that Chaos and Rennel could reach Toruk city a lot faster if they ride the airship.
Moreover, as Toruk city was beyond the sea to the east, Chaos and Rennel would have to take a ship to even get there. It’ll be easy for Chaos since it could fly but Rennel haven’t reached that stage yet. As such they could only take a regular ship in the port city of Lamur or the airship in Nuathl – and the two chooses the later.
Meanwhile, inside “The Tower”, a male magician could be seen walking towards the highest level. The magicians face was flushed with excitement as he tells the powerful familiar the purpose of his visit. The highest levels of “The Tower” were accessible only to the member of the council and the executives, and unless it’s urgent, no one was usually allowed entry there.
If one force their way to the highest levels he or she would face the wrath of the powerful familiars guarding the place.
The lion-like familiar stared lazily at the male magician, while he makes his report. No matter how the male magician tried to convince the familiar to hurry up, and allow him entry, the creature simply ignored him. That said, the familiar had already reported the male magician’s request and was just waiting for the reply of one of the elders.
Not long after, the creature received the permission, and lazily moved aside, indicating that the man was given the permission to enter. The male magician did not wait for the lazy familiar to invite him over and quickly rushes inside.
“What is he hurrying for?” Seeing the male magician’s action, the lazy lion scoffed at him and lied down to the side without care.
The male magician walked for a bit before stopping at a large door, “Greetings elder Zelma, I have something urgent to report,” he said.
“Enter!”
From behind the door a female voice could be heard inviting him inside while the large door opened slowly. Having received the invitation, the magician cautiously and politely entered the room. Inside the room, the male magician saw a woman in a magician robe buried in research.
“Greetings elder!” The male magician did a mage salute and greeted the woman.
The woman, Elder Zelma, stopped what she was doing and slowly looked at the male magician; revealing her appearance. Appearance-wise, Elder Zelma was just slightly above average; she’s not pretty but not difficult to look at as well. Age-wise, the elder looked someone in her 30s but in reality, was much older than her looks suggested.
This was actually normal for someone with her level. When magicians became arch-mages, a fundamental change occurs inside their body to accommodate their overwhelming magical powers. As a side of that change, their aging slowed down significantly almost to the level of elves. Meaning, if a magician became an arch-mage, his or her appearance will remain at the age he or she reached that level!
In other words, Elder Zelma was a genius magician that ascended into the ranks of arch-mage at the young age of 30 – an extremely rare occurrence!
“Why do you look for me?” Elder Zelma asked with a slightly irritated voice. And who could blame her? She was in midst of a very important research when the familiar guarding the highest floor informed her that someone wanted to see her.
The male magician could tell that the elder in front of him was irritated and could not help but gulped in fear. As a magician that report to the elders, he was aware of their personalities. Elder Zelma in particular hated to be disturbed when doing research.
But what could I do? How am I supposed to know that trouble would come when you’re doing research? What’s more… wasn’t it your turn to protect the city? Why are you doing research for and not doing your job? That’ dereliction of duty!
The male magician wanted to curse at her but had no courage to do so. File a complaint? He still wanted to live for a few more years!
****
“Elder… something… something very important happened. The mana measuring instrument at the south gate had picked a powerful magic signature at the level of an arch-mage!”
“Oh? That’s interesting… but so what? What are you panicking for? It’s just someone with the power of an arch-mage. Maybe it’s just one of our colleges from somewhere?”
Although the male magician reported that someone at the level of an arch-mage entered the city; Elder Zelma wasn’t too concerned. After all this was Nuathl city the City of Magician. So it’s normal for foreign arch-mage to come and visit the city for business or other purposes from time to time.
“No, no, elder. It’s not that simple!” Seeing that Elder Zelma was about to ignore him and return to her research, the male magician panicked and quickly intervened, “The person that entered the city was not and arch-mage but someone with mana at the level of arch-mage!
“What! You… are you telling me that this person was not a magician but someone who possessed the same level mana as an arch-mage?”
“Yes elder! As elder knows, the measuring device on the city gates could not only roughly measure a person’s mana passing through it but could also determine if the person in question was a magician. But when this mysterious person passes through the gate, only the mana measure instrument was activated but the instrument that would tell that a person was a magician didn’t!”
The male magician finally concluded his report after several minutes of nonstop speaking. Because he spoke a lot, the magician was feeling parch. However, he dare not bother Elder Zelma who was currently contemplating.
Not long after, the elder raise her head. “Do you have the record of this person’s mana signature?” Elder Zelma asked.
“Yes elder!” The man took out a round magical tool from his robe and gave it to Elder Zelma.
Elder Zelma stared at the magic tool before keeping it, “Don’t tell anyone about this incident. If I hear news of this being leaked, you know what will happen to you, right?”
Gulp! The male magician gulped and started sweating. He then answered with conviction, “Please be at ease, elder. No news of this incident will ever leak. I swear this to my honor and life as a magician!”
“Good.” Elder Zelma was satisfied by the man’s answer and ordered him to leave. After that she took out the round magic tool stared at it for a minute before letting out a satisfied smile.
****
To be continued
Previous Chapters: https://read.cash/@beastion
