The City

As Ell looked at the city, he awed at the majestic structure of the gigantic city. It was huge, and had a massive giant metal wall surrounding the city, these walls stretched up to the sky, and looked very majestic. The walls expanded towards the sides seemingly never-ending. There was a massive moat as well just next to the walls, Ell presumed this was to stop any potential threats from entering the city. However, there was a path that extended over the moat right to a massive gap in the wall.

Ell was confused, "Why do they have a bridge that goes over the moat and a massive gap in the wall anyway?" He murmured to himself quietly.

Wain had heard him and immediately answered, "That's a magic spell that's fuelled by a mana core."

Ell was even more confused, "mana core?"

Wain sighed, "You don't even know this?"

Ell shook his head.

Wain began to explain, "Well a mana core is something that converts the mana from the mana stones found in magical beast's bodies into mana used for things such as powering spells."

Ell suddenly had a thought, "How do you know all of this?"

Wain asked, "Wait, you've never come to the city before?"

Seeing Ell shake his head once more, he began to mumble, "No wonder you didn't know these things."

Wain told him, "To answer your question, my village often send people to go to trade some of our crops for other essentials."

"Huh."

The duo walked closer and closer to the city, in the distance they saw a guard, this guard had a chainmail vest on with a steel helmet on his head, and a leather tunic and leggings behind his vest. He stared suspiciously at the children in the distance, but as soon as he saw they were just children he relaxed, but kept his spear pointing at them just in case.

"Hello there, Mister." Ell cheerfully greeted while walking over the bridge.

"Halt! Show your permit or pay 20 silver coins for one!" The guard shouted.

With a guilty face Ell avoided the guards gaze.

Wain seeing this rolled his eyes, "It's fine, I'll pay for him."

Ell looked at him brightly clinging onto him, "Really?"

Wain looked away from Ell, "Yes really! Now let go of me!"

Ell trembled with happiness, "Wain, you truly are a great friend." He said with tears in his eyes after letting go of his arm.

When Ell got his permit and had entered the city, Ell was stunned to see something the inside of the city.

The city was very big and was very different to what Ell was used to, the houses were big and spacy, the were made out of bricks and looked very odd to Ell. The floor was covered in stone slabs, and there were many people walking around the place.

While Ell was running around excitedly looking at everything, Wain was thinking in his head.

Wain asked Ell, "Do you have a place to stay the night?"

Ell paused, "No? Why would I have to stay the night?"

"Are you really here for the exam?" Wain yawned, "Anyway the exam is tomorrow morning."

Wain dragged Ell to a nearby inn, where he paid for a room with 2 beds.

Wain sighed, "I didn't ever realise friends were so expensive. In only an hour most of my life savings are gone."

Ell spun his head round, "What?"

Wain started to sweat, "Nothing…"