Zerxebel- Belema border city.

"So, this is the king of Zerxebel."

Lasore said as they walked through the streets. It was him, Leriote, Esiyana, Sheyken and Falgur. They had passed through the border gate without any problems when the guards there recognized that they were with Seduralto. After entering they had to walk for an hour to reach the border city but along the way there saw guardhouses.

They also saw a tall wall going around the border, and beyond it being the Trial Forest. The adventurers had made jokes about them having to erect a wall to try and keep beasts out of their Kingdome when Senjira had embraced the forest, being a part of it but with only the Finis being one with it.

The border was full with fields of Speltar, a grain-like crop that is similar to maize and which Sheyken saw grown at the Finisrepo. He thought it was only grown there as he did not see any in Senjira but it being a desert town he understood why they did not grow that many vegetables and crops. With it being grown in large quantities he was sure it was a staple food of Zerxebel.

"Welcome to Belema, the border city of Zerxebel."

Exzola had said when they finally saw tall buildings and when they got closer, they were amazed at what they saw. They stopped at bit at a hilltop to look at the city which stretched as far as the eye could see. The amazing part was that it looked like a honeycomb that went around the center of the city that was a large area and had what looked to be a castle in the middle. The sections that looked like a honeycomb were also large with no feeling of each area being congested.

"All the cities and towns in Zerxebel and the other kingdoms are like this. There is a bigger concentration of mana uses and that makes the area they stay in be concentrated with mana which will be like poison to those who do not use mana or what some call the normal. Some when they advance do not advance properly and they lick out the mana they should be holding in their bodies which they are supposed to keep in as it makes them stronger over time."

Lariote explained to the boys and Esiyana which made Sheyken already love having him around.

"For example, with mages, you will find that their defensive spell which is used to generate their defensive shield does not materialize properly during advancement and this will make the mage try and perfect it first and stop the leakage which would take time and halt his progress through the ranks."

'So, it is like radiation. If you think of mana as radiation, I can see how it would be poisonous to normal people as a lot of it is dangerous if you do not have the body to absorb it and use it.'

Sheyken Thought.

Lariote went closer to them and bent down like he wanted to tell them a secrete.

"The Guild Master is a Beast warrior but something went wrong in his advancement, that is why he does not go out that much and why he has been traveling. Some say he was looking for a certain beast that would make his mana leakage stop in one go. One of the reasons Beast warriors are envied so much."

Lariote said. The boys were taken aback. Everything about him now made sense. They remembered him asking them to keep their defensive shields up when they had talked to him. As they looked over the city, they now understood a little about mana and that it can be harmful sometimes.

They walked up to the city and Seduralto told the group that it was time to say her goodbyes as she had some urgent matter she had to attend to back in Senjira. She left them with Salina to help them settle in. As Seduralto walked to the Teleportation station's direction which they had seen to be in the middle area of the city, Salina had asked the boys to get a feel of the place and get an Inn to stay in for the night. She then told them that she would find them after she and the adventurers finished making sure everyone had found a place to stay in as they would be leaving them in the city.

They left and Lasore could not be happier. He was looking at every bar on the street they were walking through and he liked what he saw. He was like a kid looking at candy stores.

They were in the very first section of the city and it was buzzing but since meeting and killing Initiates plus staying with adventurers for some time, Sheyken saw that it was a section for non-mana users. The clothes the people wore though was vastly different than the brown lizard skin clothes the people from Senjira wore. They looked like those of the old British but with many in the army kind of style wear.

"Young legend, since you three have Blessings and I am a mage, I think we should go to the inner sections as we could get a more suitable accommodation."

Lariote said.

"So long as Lasore is in our care, there will be no problem as there are also non-mana users in that section."

Lasore who wanted to voice out his disapproval shut his mouth after hearing those words from Lariote.

"Seems like you know a lot about this place Lariote. Have you've been here before?"

Sheyken Asked.

"I have, many times infect. I always escort the people to here and back from time to time. It's risky to traverse the desert without the two demon ladies of our guild but Exzola and Pilalo who are second-tier mages are more than enough unless we run into very bad luck and face a third-tier beast."

"I see."

Sheyken was learning a lot from Lariote and it seemed Exzola and Pilalo were dependable mages.

"So, who lives there?"

Falgur asked pointing at the castle that was at a hill in the middle of the city.

"The lord of Belema, Sucrey. He is not someone you will want to meet in your lifetime. I will tell you more about him later."

Lariote said as he did not want anyone listening in to their conversation and walking to the inner part of the city.

Each section was surrounded by a tall wall with a gate to allow people to walk through. Lariote left them for a moment as he went to talk to the guards. He came back with badges for each one of them that looked the same except for Lasore's. After he complained to Sheykens as the budge meant he was under Sheyken's supervision and with Sheyken annoyed they went in and they were amazed at what they saw.

Salina who had finished giving instructions to the adventurers and on her way to Sheyken's group remembered her conversation with Victicus that they had before she left Senjira.

"Salina, you have been more than the perfect disciple and you have not disappointed me once."

Victicus said while standing and with Salina kneeling.

"You have done nothing but train, research, study and meditate since we met and you came back from the academy in the capital kingdom. We can thank your unique Blessing for you advancing this fast and the Starbilis family mana stone in the basement."

"I awe everything to you and Seduralto master. I believe anyone would make such progress under your leadership."

Salina said and Victicus wanted to insist that it's her own efforts that she came this far but stopped himself as he knew they would just go back and forth.

"I have a mission for you."

Victicus said as he threw a brown pouch next to her. She took it and she was surprised at what she saw.

"200 mana crystals. We can call it a generous payment from A boy who does not know how mages negotiate."

Salina had an idea who that boy was as he was the only one who could possibly have such an amount. She could not think of what would possibly cost that much from the Guild Master though as they were still young mages with more than enough of what they needed.

"I want you to look after them until next year. They already have Lariote but I want to also give them my support."

Salina had no issues with his request and infect she was happy. She was fascinated with the boys and wanted to see how they would grow as Beast warriors as she never got to be one when it was her dream.

"Use that to get a house for them which will be also suitable to your needs. You do not have to babysit them as your own growth is also imported. You already have what you need in order to attempt to advance. You shall use what is left to travel to here using the Teleportation stations so I can monitor you and so I can be by your side through your attempt."

Those words made Salina want to stand up and hug him.

"So, you must treat what is left after as a gift from Sheyken. He did not have to give me this much for what I told him but he did not fight to lessen the amount. I think he wants to trust me and knew I would not ask such an amount for anything. Hahaha, he has so much faith in a man he only recently met. I think he is a good judge of character."

Victicus said as he went to sit down.

"Anyways, you are still young Salina and all you have done is train so to advance. Try to have fun as that is a part of growing up too. Go now, we will talk once you have found a place to stay in Zerxebel so you can finally attempt to advance."

"Yes, Guild Master."

She remembered that conversation as she tracked Sheyken group's whereabouts as she knew where Lariote would take them.

'How I'm I supposed to have fun.'

She thought to herself as she reached the gates of the inner section. She went to pay for her badge but as soon as she went past the gates, she was met with a scene of Sheyken and Falgur with their daggers out in a fighting stance and with Lariote ready to summon his Zombie beasts.