9 Chapter 9: The Gift of the Wall

"Miranda… Elijah…

How I long for your company here, witnessing this glorious sky strewn with stars, bathed in the remarkable luminescence of the blue moon which casts an ethereal glow over the verdant surroundings.

Who would have imagined that I would be privy to such enchanting vistas, so unlike anything in our own realm."

Jorael found himself lost in the vast expanse of the night sky, stars appearing within arm's reach, the celestial dome almost touchable.

Resignedly, he summoned a Vanish spell, rendering himself unseen, and settled down to sleep. Although this region wasn't as treacherous as the Dark Forest, he preferred to stay hidden from potentially malevolent eyes.

At the break of dawn, warmed by the ruby rays of the rising sun, Jorael woke up. It was his first experience of a morning in this world and he was stunned by the magnificent spectacle unfolding before him.

The plains vibrated with intense hues, all creatures rousing to welcome the day. Unlike in the Dark Forest, Jorael saw various animals living freely. Herds of untamed horses galloped across the grassy plains, birds fluttered from one tree to another, their melodies filling the air, and rabbits bounded about, reveling in their existence.

Jorael resumed his voyage across the plains, the terrain proving to be more forgiving and the path more straightforward.

Occasionally, he spotted groups of Wargs stalking the horse or buffalo herds. Fortunately, Jorael's encounters with Magic Beasts had dwindled.

Approaching the banks of a large river by twilight on the subsequent day, Jorael exclaimed:

"The Grand Vizima!

The lifeblood of the Human Empire, originating from the Steel Mountains and dissecting the Fasted Plains…

It's curious that the Old Man was unaware of the current name of these plains, information that I acquired thanks to Father. He conjectured that it was a recent development since the land was unnamed a couple of centuries ago.

Hmm…"

As nightfall arrived, Jorael reached the riverbank and savored the purest water he had ever tasted in either of his lifetimes.

"Fantastic! This is the most pristine water I've ever had!" Jorael expressed his astonishment.

After spending the night by the river, he scanned the vicinity at daybreak, formulating a plan to traverse the mighty river.

Noticing a wooden bridge towards the north, he set his course for the day.

A few hours into his journey, Jorael discovered a dirt road leading east to north. The bridge to cross the Grand Vizima lay towards the east.

As he crossed the bridge, he discerned a horse-drawn carriage advancing in his direction. The man at the reins waved at Jorael as they approached one another.

This was Jorael's first human contact after a decade.

"Hey! Solo explorer! Over here! I have everything you could possibly need!" The man shouted as he neared Jorael.

It turned out that he was a merchant. Jorael went over to the carriage.

"Greetings... Greetings, esteemed Explorer! Come, have a look!

I'm Jacque, the wandering trader. Hungry? Need weapons? Or perhaps a change of clothes?" Jacque barraged Jorael with questions as two other men disembarked from the wagon.

Both men were lightly armored, with swords at their sides.

"Don't worry, they're just my bodyguards… Travelling isn't exactly a walk in the park for a non-adventurer like me! Hahaha!

So, what do you need, lone explorer?" Jacque inquired, chuckling.

"No... Well, maybe, I could use some new clothes..." Jorael responded hesitantly.

"Clothes! Excellent! I have a keen eye for these things... Here, let me pick something for you...

These will do...

That'll be 5 gold coins!" Jacque declared, handing over the selected clothes to Jorael.

"I-I don't have any money..." Jorael confessed.

"Ah, do you have anything of worth then, explorer?" Jacque pondered, taking back the clothes.

"I have some Magic Beast materials... Here, I have Warg fangs and fur. You can also take these Cockatrice claws..." Jorael suggested, showing the items to Jacque.

"Wow! You've got quite a lot! You could buy a ton of stuff with these..." Jacque's eyes sparkled at the sight of the items.

"Would you be interested in purchasing these?" Jorael queried.

"Absolutely! They sell quite well... Hmm, I can offer you 50 gold coins, along with the clothes!"

"Deal."

"Alright then. May I have your name, adventurer?"

"Jorael."

"Much obliged, Jorael. I'm heading towards Liberta, then Myordir in the Dwarven Federation. Are you returning from Liberta?"

"Um… Yes… I'm now heading towards The Wall…"

"Fair travels, lone adventurer Jorael. May Kalipso grant us another encounter. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye."

"Why did he think I'm an adventurer?...

Perhaps it's the Warg fur cloak and the sword...

Adventurer... It's an intriguing idea..." Jorael pondered as he waved goodbye to the departing merchant, his carriage and guards.

Jorael continued his journey east on the dirt road. As sunset arrived, a colossal structure came into view, spanning from the north to the south as far as the eye could see.

"The Wall!" Jorael couldn't hide his excitement upon seeing it for the first time. Lost in thought, he continued his journey:

"Emperor Fasted's Wall huh…

The Old Man was ignorant of this too, until I shared what my Father had taught me.

200 years ago, the first Emperor Fasted constructed this wall to shield the Human Empire from monsters and war.

The war with the Demons ended as they were unable to breach the Wall, and Emperor Fasted was hailed as the holy savior of humanity.

The Old Man was taken aback by this, wondering how such a massive structure could have been built. As am I.

Father also mentioned that the Wall was impervious to Demons… I'm not sure about that…

I suppose I'll find out tomorrow!"

The next day, the Traveler reached the Wall. As he neared it, the gargantuan structure seemed to expand in size.

Upon reaching the foot of the Wall, he was awestruck by its grandeur. The Wall, constructed of gleaming white stones, towered approximately 25-30 mels high and stretched out as far as one could see. A massive gate blocked the path ahead, separating the Empire from the Fasted Plains.

Soldiers stood guard in front of the gate, their polished metal armors catching the light.

"I'm half Demon, let's see if they let me through..." Jorael braced himself as he approached the soldiers.

"Halt!"

Two soldiers approached him.

"Adventurer, show us your pass." commanded one of the guards.

"Good day, about the pass... during a hectic skirmish with Magical Beasts, I sadly lost it... Lucky for me, the materials I acquired from the beasts came in handy when I encountered Jacque, the itinerant merchant. He gave me some gold in exchange..."

"G-gold?!" the guards stammered, glancing at each other in surprise.

"Ahem… We might allow you to cross this time, Adventurer, but it'll cost you 5 gold coins... per guard..." the soldier whispered, conspiratorially.

"Well then... here you go..." replied Jorael, handing them 10 gold coins.

"Be more cautious next time! And don't forget to visit the Titans Guild headquarters in Rivella to procure a new pass. Safe travels, Adventurer." The soldier directed as he swung open the gate.

"That went smoother than anticipated..." Jorael mused, stepping through the gate.

The scenery awaiting the Traveler beyond the gate was entirely different. The dirt road had transformed into a stone-paved pathway. Due to the Wall's protection, no Beasts or enemies could intrude, leaving the plains filled with cultivated fields as far as the eye could reach. At a distance, a city was visible. It was The Gift, a settlement born out of the Wall's construction.

The Gift was the Traveler's first stop in the Human Empire, as nightfall was fast approaching.

People and carriages were a common sight on the road, contrasting the deserted Fasted Plains.

At twilight, Jorael reached The Gift, the first city he had ever set foot in. Initially, the houses were wooden, but as he moved towards the city center, they transitioned to stone, eventually evolving into magnificent palaces.

Even late into the evening, the streets bustled with activity as merchants packed up their shops or stalls. Jorael was astounded by the vast array of food on display at the stalls - grains like wheat and corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and various other plant-based foods.

"Living here must be comfortable…" Jorael sighed, resuming his walk through the city streets.

In the city center stood a grand plaza, its focal point a stone fountain adorned with a statue. Jorael, driven by curiosity, approached the statue. The figure was a stone sculpture of a man, striking an impressive pose.

"Emperor Fasted," Jorael read from the plaque beneath the statue.

"So, this is the famed figure of the Human Empire…" Jorael pondered, and then, "I better find an inn now. At long last… a bed!"

He began his hunt for an inn, meandering through the city streets. Eventually, he stumbled upon one tucked away in an alley named "The Gift of Beers".

"W-what?!" Jorael exclaimed, reading the signboard dangling above the inn's entrance.

"H-how long has it been since I last tasted beer?!" The Traveler cried out, rushing into the inn, shouting without surveying the surroundings, "Innkeeper, one beer, please?!?!"

The inn's occupants all turned to witness the spectacle, and a hush fell over the room.

Jorael blushed, growing uneasy, but then the innkeeper replied: "Adventurer… are you even of age?"

Laughter echoed through the inn. Jorael tried to keep a straight face and responded: "O-of course I am…"

"Alright then. That'll be 5 silver coins," the innkeeper sighed.

"I don't have any silver… but I think gold will suffice," asked Jorael.

"G-gold?! Absolutely, certainly!" the man replied excitedly, serving his guest a beer.

"Thank you. Also, I require a room. Will gold cover that too?" asked the Traveler, taking a blissful sip of his beer.

"Absolutely, young adventurer! A single room will cost you 1 gold coin per night, including breakfast!" the innkeeper answered, pleased.

"Very well, here are 2 gold coins, for the room and the beer," said Jorael, relishing his long-awaited beer.

"Thank you, young adventurer! Here, take your room key. Room number 7, second floor," the innkeeper said, handing over the key.

"Could I ask one more thing? I'm in need of a competent blacksmith; do you know of any renowned ones?" Jorael inquired.

"Uhm… For an adventurer, you're asking an odd question… But to answer you, there are decent blacksmiths here in The Gift. However, for truly exceptional work, you should seek out master Ercante in Rivella. His work is unparalleled. Rumor has it, he was mentored by Dwarves…" the innkeeper advised.

After expressing his gratitude, Jorael proceeded to his assigned room. Upon opening the door, he was greeted by a decently appointed room with a chair, table, closet, mirror, lamp, bedpan, and most importantly, a bed.

Jorael undressed from the Warg fur attire he crafted back in Vas'Anellir, which had given him the appearance of a solitary, savage adventurer. After many years, he saw his reflection in a mirror. His purple glowing eyes reminded him of his mother Joanna, while his thick, dark brown hair and a hint of a beard reminded him of his father Roland.

"These eyes… I've been careful not to make eye contact with people, lest they notice something…" Jorael voiced out loud.

He then turned to see his naked back in the mirror. What he saw was a burn-scarred heptagram, the mark of a Sage, which almost entirely covered his back, and he glanced at his small, still-growing dark wings.

"I hope the wings don't get too big, or they'll become troublesome to hide… I better try on the new clothes I got from the merchant and then go to bed…" he said out loud again.

He began to dress in his new white cotton shirt, followed by dark brown leather pants, and finally, a dark brown leather jacket. After examining himself in the mirror, he remarked:

"Well, it doesn't look bad… I pass for an ordinary Human… I should probably keep my cloak to better hide my back… Now, to bed!"

Jorael plunged onto the soft bed he'd dreamt of for years, and with excitement filling his voice, he whispered before sleep overtook him:

"Tomorrow… I head to Rivella! The capital of the Empire!"