Underground

I mounted my horse and said my final goodbye before I departed. My next destination is the neighboring country with Estya, It is the country of Ashela where the Shugia Empire, Elven forest Oakrose Wood and Magic tower is located. 

Country of Ashela is to the west of the country of Estya. While Estya has the Ravial kingdom, city of Avala and danger zone where the wolves and other animal kind and also The witches' clove live. The Ashela had the Shugia Empire in the west covering most of the country, Elven forest Oakrose Wood on the south covering the other half and Magic tower is in the free city Rexa. 

The Oakrose wood neighbors the danger zone and the Rexa neighbors Avala. 

There are three continents:North, West and East and these two countries are located on the east continent. The west continent has the dragon lair and mermaids who also traveled from the east danger zone to west The Giant Coral Reef depending on the seasons. 

The North is mainly covered with ice. There are just two kingdoms living in peace: the kingdom of Firn and the kingdom of Sled. My Frost palace is also located there. And I have formulated an alliance with both the kingdom in exchange of resources as per the trading of food and other necessities.

But in the north there live Vampire colonies in between humans. It is said that they mix with the humans so they can feed on them, but that's all a lie built on ancient beliefs. Because the vampires and humans in the north live together in harmony. They have mutual understanding with each other. But that is limited to only the north. 

And in the south there are Islands that are mainly used for vacation and other exotic things. Though some are still empty. We mainly call them The Southern Island. 

My horse galloped towards the city of Avala so I could head over to Rexa. I had told Reed to inform Jasper that I was going to the magic tower but before that I had to make a detour to the underground market in Avala. 

Underground market as the name suggests is the place for all the illegal activities. It's a paradise for impure money flow. And the best place to hide. 

It will take me at least 2 days to reach Avala from the raging highland, crossing the whole of Irrilan forest. But I have to make it quick so I will be using the one thing I don't want to. My magic. I will have to use teleportation to reduce the time and distance. But using magic means I will have to expose my aura and mana that can be detected by people who are experts like Jasper and Edward. 

'I hate this but desperate time comes for desperate measures and since Jas already knows I am heading to Rexa then there is no problem.'

I let my mana flow and join with the nature. Few hair strands turned white, even my eyes went lighter as white mana flowed from me. I imagined the spell and used teleportation. I closed my eyes so as to not go dizzy. 

As I opened them and arrived outside of Avala. I demounted my horse and using my mana I sent it back to the manor. 

'Can't travel with him in the city, it's best by foot from here on out. And since I already used my mana, let's change the hair.' 

I removed the hood and put it in the inventory. I touched my hair and like before the mana flew out and changed the color of my hair to brown. I adjusted my clothes and walked to the entrance of the city. 

The man at the entrance didn't stop me, I looked like any ordinary merchant right now. So I stepped into the city of Avala and disappeared into the crowd. 

***

I entered an old looking antique shop. The man at the register looked old probably in his eighties with white hair and closed or narrowed eyes. The shop itself was old but there were many unique and antique things present. 

"How may I help you young boy."

"I want that watch grandpa." I say pointing towards a pocket watch with a golden owl.

"You have good eyes, young man. It will be 20 gold."

I took the coins I have and counted before handing a twenty.

"Thank you, young man, now tell me the real reason for coming here."

'Not a bad keeper.'

"Just a key to the abyss grandpa." I announced. The key word for the underground is not known by all but anyone can find it if they try hard enough.

The old man just stood there for a while. 

'Did he not hear me?'

I was about to repeat myself when he bent and pushed a button under his table. 

"Right this way young man." 

The old man started walking towards the back door. I followed. He opened the door and I could see the staircase going down. It was dark. Real dark. 

I turned to the old man. He smiled sinisterly and said "Just down here, follow the path and you will reach an abyss young man." 

I hesitated because of the old man and not because of the underground. I exhaled and took my steps down the first few steps.

"Proceed with caution, for the abyss cares not for your intentions." The old man announces from above.

"Thank you, I will take it to heart." 

The door behind me closed and I lost my vision. The darkness completely covered me. I hated the dark when I was small. Jas used to make fun of me for it. But later it became my friend. I stopped fearing it because I got used to it. It was hard but I had to. Change is a cruel little thing that brings hope and despair with it. I got used to it and learned from it.

'In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take.'