Chapter Twenty Five

"Morning Luwy," Chrome greets, approaching the carriage driver with a friendly smile. Luwy, in his usual white tunic and blue breeches, red leather vest, looks up from his work, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he returns the smile.

"Ah, Chrome! Good morning, lad." He wipes his hands on a rag, leaving a smudge of grease on his forehead. "What brings you to my humble carriage today?"

The two of them stand in the courtyard of a bustling tavern, the sound of clanging pots and chirping birds filling the air. The carriage, in much better shape than Chrome remembered, gleams in the morning light, its horses munching on hay as they wait patiently for their next journey.

"So, I need to ask a question, Luwy," Chrome says, scratching the back of his neck. "We've got a mission to escort someone to the kingdom of Welvern. How much would that cost us?"

Luwy raises an eyebrow, a confused expression on his face. "Kingdom of Welvern, eh? That's quite a fair distance and not exactly a safe route. Who're you even escorting?"

"It's a mage," Chrome explains, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "And it's of utmost importance. I can't go into details, but let's just say it's a very high official."

Luwy nods slowly, absorbing the gravity of Chrome's words. "Alright, lad. If the client's that important, I'll reckon they'll be using a gate. Depending on how loaded they are, they could even afford a blue gate."

Chrome tilts his head at the unfamiliar term. "A gate?"

Luwy chuckles, wiping his hands on his vest. "Aye, a gate. Magical portals that can get you where you need to go in a blink. They're expensive, though. Blue gates are the safest and most reliable, really long distances too. Costs a fortune to use one, but for high officials, it's worth every coin."

"How do we get access to one?" Chrome asks, curiosity piqued.

"You'd need a mage with the right connections or enough gold to pay for the service," Luwy explains. "The magic institution handles gate travel. If your client's got the clout, they can arrange it."

Chrome nods thoughtfully. "Thanks, Luwy. That's good to know. But if for some reason, we can't use a gate, what would it cost to make the trip by carriage?"

Luwy scratches his chin, thinking it over. "Well, considering the distance and the dangers along the way, I'd say about 200 gold pieces. That's covering food, lodging, and any unforeseen expenses, like bribes or repairs."

Chrome whistles softly. "That's steep, but understandable. Thanks, Luwy. I'll discuss it with the team and see what we can arrange."

"No problem, lad. Just let me know when you've made a decision," Luwy says, giving Chrome a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry though, you might not even need me, most mages use a gate."

Chrome nods, giving Luwy a grateful smile before heading back to the inn. Inside, the atmosphere is lively, with patrons chatting and the clatter of dishes in the background. He makes his way to a corner table where his team is gathered.

"Welcome back Chrome." Yui cheers and Mai nods with a smile.

Maple is still having her breakfast, blue poached eggs, flat bread and layered meat.

"We've got two options," Chrome begins, catching their attention. "We can use a magical gate, which will cost a lot but is quick and safe. Or we can take the carriage, which will cost us 200 gold pieces and is a lot riskier."

The twins exchanges glances, weighing the options. Maple speaks up first. "If it's Namarie, she should be able to afford the gate. It's the best option."

"I agree," adds Chrome. "We can't risk something happening to her on the road. It's too dangerous."

"Alright, I'll talk to her and see what she prefers," Chrome says, The twins nodding in agreement. "Let's hope she's willing to cover the cost of the gate. Otherwise, we'll have to find a way to come up with the gold."

With a plan in place, Chrome heads upstairs to the private room where the Namarie had decided she'd be staying, why? he had no idea. He knocks gently on the door, waiting for a response.

"Enter," a calm voice calls from within.

Chrome steps inside, finding the Magi seated at a desk, surrounded by books and scrolls. "Good morning. I've spoken with our carriage driver about the journey to Welvern. We have two options: a magical gate, which is expensive but safe, or a carriage, which is cheaper but much riskier."

Namarie looks up, quietly studying his face. 'He's being serious? He has no idea what a Magi is.'

Chrome raises an eyebrow. "Is there an issue?"

The Magi smiles, a teasing look in their eyes. "I'll arrange for the gate. Safety is paramount. Thank you, Chrome."

Relieved, Chrome smiles. "I'll inform the team. We'll be ready when you are."

With everything said, Chrome leaves the room, leaving Namarie to her thoughts. "Oh this is too good. Just keeps getting better."

An hour later, the four members of Maple Tree gather before Namarie's private room.

Namarie steps out, dressed in flowing robes that shimmer with a faint magical aura. Her eyes sparkling with an air of confidence.

"Are we ready?" she asks, her voice calm but commanding.

Maple steps forward. "Yes, we are. Thank you for arranging the gate, Namarie."

Namarie nods, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Follow me, then. The gate is prepared." In a fluid movement, she waves hand casually, and a faint light glows at her fingertips. The air around her begins to shimmer as she whispers an incantation in an ancient, melodic language. Her voice is soft but powerful, resonating with an otherworldly energy.

The ground beneath them trembles slightly, and the space in front of Namarie starts to ripple like a disturbed pond. The light at her fingertips grows brighter, spreading out to form a translucent, rippling outline of a doorway.

As the chant continues, the outline solidifies, taking the shape of a tall archway. The portal's surface starts to glow with a brilliant blue light, swirling with shades of violet and silver. The light pulses rhythmically, in sync with Namarie's incantation, casting an ethereal glow over the surroundings.

Intricate symbols and runes appear around the edges of the archway, glowing brightly and adding to the mystical aura. The center of the portal looks like a swirling vortex, a maelstrom of colors and lights that blend and twist in a hypnotic dance.

The air around the portal feels charged with energy, creating a sensation similar to static electricity. Fine hairs on the skin stand up, and a slight tingling sensation runs through the body. The temperature drops slightly, giving the air a cool, refreshing quality.

A faint hum fills the air, a low, resonant tone that is both soothing and unnerving. Approaching the portal, there is a gentle but firm resistance, like pushing against a soft but unyielding surface.

Namarie steps back, a teasing smile on her face. "The portal is ready. We can proceed whenever you are prepared."

Chrome, Yui, Mai, and Maple exchange glances. With a nod from Chrome, they step forward.

Moving through the portal, they experience a brief sensation of being stretched and compressed simultaneously, as if their bodies are being pulled in multiple directions at once. Lights and sounds blur around them in a kaleidoscope of colors and tones, disorienting but not painful.

After what feels like an instant, they emerge on the other side. The air feels different, the light subtly changed, and there is a sense of having traveled a great distance. The portal behind them begins to close in reverse order, the light and colors fading away as the outline retracts. The final stage is a soft, echoing snap, as the remaining magical energy dissipates, leaving only a faint residue in the air. ( Hehehe, description attack!!)