The City of Mana

"You two better follow me and make sure to not get into any trouble!" Alsian added some salt to make sure they kept in line. He knew full well how youths could get into problems and have a hard time getting out.

So many people were standing about chatting and helping to set things up as they were walking through the city blocks. It was like a big preparation for a large festival, and that is precisely what it was for most children of mana that came there.

Many came to share their stories and news while being themselves around their own kind, but many also came to plan for the future.

Such as the thirteen large clans and the twenty six minor ones, and the many many newer clans that had come into existence.

In this day and age there existed a total of ninety nine clans, and each clan sent representatives that held decision making positions within their clans.

At least that is the rules they had to abide by, but because of how important the event was - every clan pretty much sent more than half their members and very often the leader or second in command were present.

No children of mana wanted to miss the opportunity that only came about every ten years. While they could live for a long time, no one could know what would change during ten years.

That amount of time was nothing to their long years except that one had to wait for a while in between.

Every clan put something into the event each year, contributing with organizing things, procuring food and other supplies or acting as guards.

As they walked deeper and deeper into the city the security increased, they mostly just watched, sometimes interfering in minor scuffles. There were plenty of inns and taverns open.

But for some reason they were called bars in this city, Alsian pointed towards a tall building. "There! That is our hotel!"

"Perfect sight of the Council Chamber building where all the clans will meet in two days."

Alsian didn't stop for anything and went inside the building which doors opened on their own as soon as he got close to them. Once again they could see quite clearly into the building because there was a lot of glass windows even at the bottom floor.

They walked into the fancy building which had golden colored walls with a white marble floor and many red carpets. The first floor was relatively empty except for a large reception desk where a few clerks were working.

Alsian without any hesitation walked up to the desk while the two youths took their time examining things. Samuel could see that Alsian showed the same emblem he did on the boat, then he pointed at them and chatted in a low tone with the clerk.

The clerk which Samuel now noticed was a Water-born, he looked like a regular human except that he was completely blue.

The clerks attitude instantly went all about the best of service, "Let me have someone help with your belongings and show you the way!" The man spoke with a big grin.

In this place it didn't matter too much what ones station or status was out in the open world, what mattered was the question which clan you belonged to.

The blue man waved over another of the clerks, "Now show these gentlemen the way and make sure you do it properly this time!" He wasn't afraid of letting everyone know.

He apologeticaly turned to Alsian and made an apologetic gesture, "Those born completely outside clans are not the most reliable at times sir, but I assure you that we will give you the best of service so you can enjoy your stay here to the fullest!"

Alsian took out a simple case and handed it over to the woman that came walking, Samuel took one look at her with his mana eyes and could instantly see that she was more skilled than the head clerk.

Maybe that was why he was bullying her openly, so far Alsian really stuck to the 'no making a scene' but Samuel definitely did not enjoy the open slander.

"You're staring buddy!" Vazmarx whispered with a small grin and Samuel saw the woman was turning her eyes away. He had only been looking at her magical potential until that point but now he instead saw a pretty human girl with ash blonde hair and a smooth face, beautiful red pink eyes.

The only real question was her actual age, that was much harder to tell - she looked like she could be in her twenties but with children of mana there was no way to actually know.

He quickly averted his gaze, the woman made sure to quickly lead them up several flights of stairs until they reached the top where she showed them their rooms that were on one end of the hallway.

The same decor and red carpets continued all the way to the top Samuel noted, the woman remained mostly quiet and almost completely acted like a servant would to a lord.

"These are your rooms sir! Here are the keys for each one!" She spoke while handing each of them a key, Samuel looked at the rooms that were numbered which was quite an oddity.

His room was number eighty eight, he quickly unlocked the door with the key that was unusually small for a key but it fit the smaller lock on the door.

It was completely different from the large clunky locks back home, he opened the door and saw a very spacious room he turned to look if the others rooms were as big and indeed they were, with Alsians being the biggest suite.

Samuel was about to ask when all of a sudden Alsian took out a pretty heavy bag that was obviously filled with money and handed it to the woman. "You should find a better employer!"

WIth big eyes the woman took the bag and quickly took a peek to which her eyes grew ever bigger. It was filled with coins made of gold, platinum and even a few orichalchum coins, it was enough money to live a regular boring life.

"I don't... I can't!" The woman stuttered, "If you want a good job then I reccomend you travel to Rejuan, find a job as a clerk at Gillfall Estate, tell them Alsian sent you with the blessings of the young lord." Alsian spoke and winked at Samuel whom became instantly impressed.

Rather than make a scene at the arse of a head clerk he ignored it until he was away and would steal away a good looking employee that was obviously a hard worker.

Alsian patted her shoulder, "Either you go there and take that as advance payment or you go live your life, the choice is yours! I will be more insulted if you can't take the money!"

The woman quickly nodded and hid the money. "Thank you sir!" There were obvious tears in her eyes as she quickly walked off, "Well that was mighty impressive if I do say so myself!" Vazmarx spoke with his arms at his sides, looking so proud one could believe he was responsible for the whole thing from his attitude.

Samuel just gave his older cousin a nod before walking into his room, completely ignoring Vazmarx. He took a good look around, there was weird tapestry and nightstands that looked completely outlandish.

There was even a separate bathroom, it did remind him of the college slightly. Just seemed a bit more advanced, there was even a clock of unusual design, weird black and funny material.

Everything was made out of weird material that felt odd to the touch. Except for the bed thankfully, it seemed like a regular good old bed.

Much in the same fancy way that a nobles bed would be of course, but that was about it.

Samuel spent some time trying to figure out everything inside his room, next to the bed there was a small cover that he promptly lifted up and there were some buttons. He tried looking around for any indication for what these buttons did but alas he found nothing.

The weirdest part was how small they were, and in six different colors for each button. His curiosity won him over in the end and he pressed the black button.

A sudden noise as a part of the wall at the end of the bed opened up, there was a weird rectangular metallic thing box there.

Samuel looked at the top of the box where it said, 'Television' He lifted an eyebrow, "What the hell is a television?" He asked aloud but no answer came.

He figured it had something to do with vision, so he tried pressing another button. This button was white and when he pressed it - sudden weird white and black shapes started appearing on the television.

It looked like magic, he was so enthralled by this that he simply sat down on the bed and stared at the television for a good amount of time before he realized that it was just the same patterns over and over again.

"Well whats the harm?" Samuel asked loudly just to make sure as he figured he would press the other buttons. He pressed the red button which didn't do anyhthing, neither did the blue or green button.

But when he pressed the yellow button the 'television' suddenly switched away from the white and black patterns and suddenly showed him a building.

He recognized the building because it was one of the largest ones in the city, it was just like a still painting, until he looked closer and he could see different shapes of people moving on the ground.

"What is this magic?" Shakkai's dragon suddenly jumped out of the shadows and stared in awe at the television. "Wish I could tell ya!" Samuel responded equally awestruck....