Starlit Trials II The Truth

What was worse was he much preferred the wilds, even if there were a handful of demon cults doing whatever demon cults do?

If anything else despite the difficulty it was easier to deal with them then the nobles, while they were far more straightforward about their objectives and plans.

Resulting in him forming several odd relationships, one of which was helping The Great Demoness of The Demonic Cult in exchange for magic materials and the use of her labs.

Of course, he had to ignore questionable things and turn a blind eye to some things.

However, minding his business helped quite a bit! They were even surprisingly half decent. They disliked slavery but liked to perform experiments on villagers, who for all intents and purposes deserved it.

They contributed to slavery, sold their children, and would also look for demi humans to sell meaning outside of a select few villages or towns, he could care less about them!

Plus he remembered the fact that this was more of a realistic dream continent more than anything else.

However, even then he felt guilty, slavery is awful and if not remembering it was more or less a dream, he would have gotten involved more often.

Plus hanging out with a demonic cult was also very questionable due to their questionable activities and practices.

But none of it truly mattered due to his survivability now becoming the priority and because they were easier to work with and wouldn't stab him in the back since he didn't involve himself in their affairs.

Meaning he saved himself quite a bit of trouble by minding his business and treating everyone he met to the same courtesy and respect as he would himself even if some of them were rude and mean?

When it came to survival, ego meant very little.

Resulting in him ultimately making 'acquaintances' via this method no matter their background, unfortunately he couldn't do so with bandits outside organized crime.

It was simply chaotic, and he was pretty sure someone had hired assassins to find him!

It was probably that damable dragoness! He couldn't even switch to his dragon form while he could only use one class at a time! Resulting in him using magic the most due it saving him more times than his other classes.

And all of this occurred during his first week! Thankfully after buying enough magic materials, and procuring a black tailor-made hooded mage robes procured by The Demon Cult, he had finally focused on using what he learned as a Junior Artisan.

Meaning after saving the total of fifty thousand gold which was no doubt a lump sum after 'borrowing' it from bandits, corrupt nobles, and selling quite a few demonic relics to the cult.

He had finally gathered enough magic materials and ingredients to create a mage spear and several magic relics!

While also placing a mage fit inscription on his brand new mage robes alongside the conqueror's and light bearer magewreaths albeit their lesser incomplete counterparts?

Meaning if he wondered into the blight again he could ignore them while as for his conqueror's magewreath essentially allowed him to use High-Level Archmage Spells.

And when complemented by several other inscriptions allowed him to both conserve his mana and cast several more spells.

While the brass magespear with a Legendary Mana Crystal worked like a charm! So much so that he added a shined brass light armor and helmet to match!

Resulting in him ultimately wearing a black hooded mage robes with a shined brass rank identifying him as an Archmage, alongside his elven influenced shined brass armor, helmet and mage spear.

All of which were now Junior Artisan Grade now gave him an edge!

Of course, he was finally happy he wore something that would not only keep him safer but comfortable while also giving him an edge over others.

While it appeared Archmages weren't common so perhaps he could scare off bandits and corrupt knights?

Unfortunately, the unintended side effect would no doubt bring him more attention, chances are the highest-ranking artisan on this continent was a junior artisan.

And chances were they'd see his craftsmanship, inscriptions and overall elegant and strange attire and think he was a high-ranking noble scion. Meaning more bandits..

Thankfully he had become acquaintances with quite a few leading groups, alongside that of the black market while paying well and being liked albeit as much as one would for being respectful and polite.

Meaning he'd most likely have to deal with nobodies, all the while during his second week he had finally decided that he'd visit the regional capital.

Strictly speaking he hoped they had space rings, pouches, or wish scrolls to wish for one! From what he heard it was safer and much more stable.

Resulting in him simply using levitation and wind magic to fly there since it didn't require much mana and he needed to safe the gold!

From this entire experience he realized quite a bit, his old huntress attire was worn, and had holes, he realized what it meant to starve, and finally realized the value of gold!

He had to sleep in a bandit barracks at one point! Of course, no one bothered him, but the bed was dirty, and nothing was clean!

The whole reason why he was allowed to sleep safely is because the captain, despite being a bandit, did it out of necessity and cared for his men and acquaintances.

The young prince was simply happy there were still nice people even if their occupations were questionable.

He learned that judging people based off of their occupation was wrong, of course the wild bandits in the forests filled with monsters weren't very organized and didn't converse.

No matter the case, these experiences were valuable beyond belief for him. They molded what it was to have nothing and to survive and be proud of what you did have, of course survival and the sense of life meant a lot as well.

All the while soon enough after flying low for an hour or two he had soon began seeing green as if at one point the seasons had changed the more north he went.

Until finally he landed after seeing the surprisingly massive city and several towns and villages along the way and even that of a mage tower?

Perhaps the lack of wealth disparity and stability allowed it to be so peaceful? At least from what he saw.

Of course he had only just landed but the roads and scenery was overall better. Resulting in him being greeted by two guards wearing surprisingly ornate bronze armors wielding spears.

Both of whom look to be High-Level Grand Knights on checkpoint duty perhaps? Causing both after noticing his Archmage Stripes surprising both.

And soon enough after verifying if he was truly an Archmage and after several questions asking if he knew of The Demon Cult.

And after blatantly lying, he had soon entered the surprisingly large town? Outside of perhaps being on a list now, he was simply happy to be somewhere else.

Until noticing the secret markings of The Demon Cult on a magic store?! They had a magic store?!

Of course he didn't mind the secret markings due to him assisting The Great Demoness on occasion and because she was the only one outside of that Wild Serpentess to see his face.

Despite leading such a questionable organization, she was very much pleasant! And she always had snacks prepared for him, none of which were poison or laced making him very happy!

Resulting in him happily entering the surprisingly fancy magic store whose name he couldn't understand due to it being in cryptic gothic so he didn't even bother to attempt to speak it.

If he had the store could have sprouted wings flown away for all he knew.

After entering he was soon greeted by two female staff that looked strangely similar to that of demonesses.

However, who used magic to change their hair and eye color. Causing him after several moments of utter puzzlement to curiously nod, before then finally approaching the luxurious marble counters.

"Sister, are there any space rings available?"

The young prince softly asked, causing the young demoness whose name was apparently Trixi to curiously contemplate, however as she looked under the counter the young prince had realized something..

Master Frostma and Elyris had taught him to make one!

Of course, he didn't have the specialized equipment to ensure it wasn't defective, but in the worst-case scenario he could simply buy one. Plus Trixi was wearing one now as well so they must have a few hidden away.

Causing Trixi after several moments to reveal a hidden display having realized they moved them revealing that of fifteen ornate space rings.

"Forgive me, I kept mixing up the magic rings with the space rings! Both are rings after all? Now, the cheapest is fifty thousand and they go up to three hundred thousand gold, but I'll let you onto a little secret!"

"The Golden Bank of Aurora could only make so much! And most of the real differences are the cosmetics? I'd suggest the obsidian one for ninety thousand gold! No one really wants them since they're so new, but each could carry three of the biggest palaces you've ever seen!"

Trixi playfully suggested, causing the young prince to immediately pause after the mentioning of Aurora before then paying it with the damaged platinum coin he found having feared they may not take it and causing her to happily nod.

"Ten thousand gold will be your change! I'll place it in your ring!"

Trixi happily added, causing the young prince to then adorably nod while she prepared the ring.

"I-I have a silly question for sister, what continent ar-are we on and what year is it?"

The young prince worriedly asked, surprising Trixi and causing her to happily nod.

"We're on The Continent of Corlestis, and the year one thousand and five hundred BR this year! The BR stands for before races! Lady Aurora had helped come up with it after speculating there will be 'greater' races born in the next five centuries? But not everyone believes it!"

"And Lady Aurora is The Goddess of The Golden Temples of Aurora! Most of the continent is peaceful now aside from the south where you came? The Forbidden Forest is scary and filled with bandits and monsters while those towns bordering it and its countryside is filled with the same?"

Trixi happily explained, causing the young prince's heart to drop. Sterling had gifted him the information of how The Starlit Trial worked after he passed out, this wasn't it?! This isn't some random continent.

Outside of what was apparently the borders of The Forbidden Forest, everything else was tame.

How could he have forgotten this?! This was his second week, doesn't that mean he entered another time, or worse the past before even the greater races had appeared? If so, then didn't that mean he was truly bullied by some dragoness?!

And the great demoness was real.. causing him after several moments to remove his hood and his helmet revealing that of his face.

"Sister, hav-have you seen anyone like me before?"

The young prince hesitantly asked, causing Trixi to happily examine his face.

"I don't think I have? I've seen the descendants of The Dragon of Dream but they don't have pointy ears? And you're even cuter than they are! I'm so jealous!"

Trixi happily answered, causing the young prince to slightly blush before then hesitantly nodding.

"Th-Thank you big sister"

The young prince tearily nodded, before then putting both his helmet back on and his hood up.

And soon enough he had left the magic shop, and after memorizing where it was and examining Trixi's template to return one day if this was truly the past.

And soon enough he had curiously rethought his dragon forms. Before then pausing after realizing he could access the black dragon form.

However, he still wasn't sure if he should use it.

Unfortunately, he was in a rush and after getting into an open field switched to that of his black dragon form and flew into the clouds. It seems as he looked down on the continent he was in The Kingdom of Manse?

While from what he knew Aurora's main temple and auction house was in the celestial capital.

Unfortunately, Celestials had yet to arrive meaning it could simply be The Kingdom of Aurora or some nonsense.

In any case it should take him some moments, while he had soon heard whispers.

"Aurel, lost?"

Ada asked, surprising the young prince to no end. It appears both Ada's mind and memories are connected no matter if it was in the present or the past.

However, after a wave of mental messages, Ada had reassured him, while the reason why he wasn't allowed to access his other dragon forms is because they didn't exist yet and the balance didn't want him to?