Chapter 9: Capital City, Sihnia

[From this chapter onwards, I'll be using some anime references and concepts to better support my novel's plots that I've been planning, but I won't be using a lot of them... I think. 😌]

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Seialous Empire, one of the four glorious empires in Terra located in the Central continent. A continent of neutrality, a place which is free from discrimination, and ruled by the council situated in the middle of the continent. No Emperors nor Overlords in charge, they rule as a whole.

Seialous Empire consists of four major kingdoms with several cities and villages and one main power. The kingdom of demons, Demonaria, the kingdom of elves, Elfheira, the kingdom of beastmen, Beastlia, and the kingdom of humans, Lunaria.

These four kingdoms forms the main power of the empire and the ones that protects the whole continent from any forms of threats.

The Seialous Empire's upper echelons consists of representatives from different races.

Since the early age of chaos where the races wage war on each other for resources, greed, or any other motives, people of the same ordeal reached up to one another and gathered everyone of those who finds their factions faulty and moved to the newly found continent by that time.

They gathered, grew in numbers, covered more grounds, and protected those one of them.

[Terra, Year 879]

I flew at breakneck speed. Even though my wings are two pairs short, it didn't mean that I became slow.

It's already been a day since I've departed from my cave, flying day and night without stopping. Well, I didn't need to due to my stamina so no worries about not getting enough sleep or what not.

What? You thought it will only take me a few hours and several minutes to get there?

Then you're wrong. If that was really the case, then the kingdom surrounding this devil forest have already been wiped out, or maybe the other way around, the forest may have already been wiped out of all beasts.

This journey will at least take me atleast two and a half days even with my speed. Sure I can just release my other pairs of wings to multiply my speed by several fold, but I won't do that. I'm trying to relax after all and I want to familiarize myself with the surroundings better, don't want to be a moron or a directional blind Crimson dragon now, do we?

And I'm also trying to find some suitable beasts to test my new strength, but didn't find any, or better say it that all the weaker beasts avoided me.

Heh, it was amusing seeing them scrambling to their feet and flee as fast as they could the moment they sensed my aura approaching.

Though, there are some idiots that still tried to attack me blindly.

Some damn stupid wyverns. I was delighted by that time, but became disappointed immediately after punching one to death.

I mean, wow. I only used my right claw and its head literally burst open like a watermelon!

I was disgruntled, and dissatisfied. So I turned my hand back and took the remaining ones barefisted. But it still only took several punches and they were all down, they just couldn't keep up with my speed!

After that encounter, not even a single beast showed up before me. It's too frustrating, really.

The next day...

Finally, after flying for two days and a half nonstop with the accompaniment of the accursed boredom, I finally reached my destination!

The capital of Seialous Empire, Sihnia.

Surrounded by towering whitish-grey walls of fifty meters height with ballistas and artilleries fixed at the top with knights armed and ready for any given situation.

Sure, even though this whole continent is free of war it doesn't mean that it's free of every filth.

Corrupted nobles, politicians, merchants, and most of all, the threat of beast tides.

The capital city Sihnia is situated at the south of the core empire which is situated at the bank of the of the crescent lake.

Surrounded by the dark seas on the north to the east and the dreadful forests on the south to the west.

So the danger of beast tides comes in two different ways. The earth tide and the ocean tide. Those were just my reference, I don't know what they call them.

I flew towards the gate and man am I not surprised~.

People of different races formed lines like a gigantic serpent entering its hole. With people dressed like warriors which I think are Adventurers by the sides of every merchant caravans.

Beast mounts of different shapes and sizes scaling from the ones that are as mall as a cattle to as big as an overgrown elephant.

Just then, they all began to stir and were a making a commotion.

I flew forwards and saw the guys in full body armors getting out with their weapons unsheathed rushing towards... My direction?

Wait a minute! Something's wrong here~!

"Stranger! Please land down peacefully and identify yourself!"

One large guy shouted as he readied his sword by his side while the others followed his example and did the same.

'Great, just great...'

I cursed in my mind. Just how unlucky am I to encounter this kind of cliche situation?

I flew down and dropped on the ground in front of them with all eyes trained on me as I retracted my wings which earned some gasps of surprise from the onlookers.

"Identify yourself, stranger. Remove your hood and state your business with the capital."

The same large dude said sternly.

'Wow... Why do I feel like a criminal being interrogated right now?'

"Right..."

I replied and took off my hood which caused the onlookers to gasp in astonishment.

I mean seriously, what is their deal?

Shaking my head off of that thought, I stated calmly.

"My name's Kross and was hoping to find a new home in this capital."

The large guy looked at me intently straight in my eyes before he relaxes and put his sword away, so did the others.

"I see. I apologize for misunderstanding your intentions."

He said and bowed lightly which the others followed.

'... Huh. That's a whole' nother level of loyalty and up the top leadership...'

"Oh. Uhm, it's quite fine actually. I think I'm also at fault here."

' Yeah right... What's my crime? Flying? I'm a dragon and that's my thing~!'

"Yes. It's quite rude for us to treat a talent at your level as such, so on behalf of my squad, please accept our apologies."

"Well, apology accepted? But let me guess, tough times?"

"Unfortunately, yes. You see, humanoid beasts have been appearing lately and are attacking people indiscriminately in our most unexpected time. So we're a little tight."

"I see. But why did you..."

"Haha... Almost lashed at you?"

"Yes."

"It's because of your wings."

He said and slightly smiled, but it made me confused.

"My wings? What's the problem with them?"

"Well you see. [Root] bearers of the aerial type is rarely seen in this city and most of the creatures we see with wings are beasts."

He said with an apologetic tone.

"Oh, so that's why! No wonder~. Guess I better not fly around carelessly inside the city too, huh?"

"Yes."

"Mm. Alright, I won't."

"Thank you for your understanding, that will help a lot. But let me just question you some things before I'll let you in, alright?"

He said and I nodded.

He signals his men to return back to their posts and motioned me to follow him to the gates were we entered a room.

'Wow. This reminds of the anime I liked back on Earth. There's exactly a scenario like this that happened~.'

I thought with a smile as I continued looking around the room.

The large man walked to the desk where a woman with similar armor albeit more femenine in style sat.

After talking with the woman, the large man motioned towards me.

"Please come this way."

"Right."

I said and nodded.

"Plate your hand on this slate and state your name."

He said as he pushed a light blue semitransparent square crystal slate in front of me.

I put my hand on it and did what he asked me to do.

"Kross."

For a moment, the crystal slate shone a bright light before dimming as the large man motioned me to remove my hand and took the crystal slate.

He looked at it, and became dumbfounded. He switched his sight between me and the crystal slate over and over which caused the woman sitting on the desk to tick.

"Agon! What are you doing?! Give me that already~!"

She said and ruthlessly took the crystal slate from the big guy, Agon's hand as her expression turned from irritation to astonishment right after, and did what Agon is doing.

After the awkward silence and realizing the atmosphere is getting weird, I spoke up.

"Uhm... Is something wrong?"

I asked with a worried look on my face.

'What did they find out? What exactly is written there?'

I thought curiously and looked at each other before looking at me as the woman handed me the crystal slate.

[Name: Kross]

[Age: 12]

[[Root] bearer type: Dragon]

[Stage: Fourth Seal - Partial Transformation]

'Huh. It looks like a simplified version of my status... What's wrong with it though? And what's with this [Stage] thing?'

I thought as curiosity took over me.

There are a lot of questions going through my head right now that I want answers to. But I decided to think about later and gather some informations if I have the chance like, go to a library or something or what not?

Anyway, I'll decide later.

I looked up to the two and asked.

"So... What's with that look on your faces?"

""A prodigy.""

They answered at the same time which only made me even more confused.

"... What?"

""We said you're a prodigy!""

"Yes? And what of it? What exactly do you mean?"

I asked which the two raised an eyebrow before Agon came to a realization and spoke up.

"Tell me, Kross. You don't really have any idea what's written in that slate signifies, right?"

"Uhm, yup. Not a clue."

"*Sigh* Thought so. Well you see, [Root] bearers have stages on their own on how to base their strength which we like to refer to as"Seals". The first stage is called Aura Cloak which covers the whole body in aura, the second stage is called, Manifestation, it forms a life like sillohuette of your beast [Root] around you, the third stage is the Intent, it uses the manifested beast [Root] to release pressure, the fourth stage is called Partial Transformation, as it's name suggests, it allows the [Root] bearer to adapt, or better say to partially transform parts of their bodies based on their [Root] type, and what you did is already considered at the peak! Partial transformation for external parts are considered to already be at the threshold of breaking through to the stage five, the [Root Armor]!"

Agon explained patiently as he became more and more elated the more he talks as his eyes looks at me with admiration of sort. But I'm still confused.

'Just how the hell did my [Four Phases Transformation] became a stage ranking?!'

After Agon said his piece, the woman continued where he left off.

"And usually, kids at your age are only at the second stages with only a few of the noble children in the third stages. Because usually, only experienced high ranking Adventurers are on the fourth stages, and that too at their late teens, and you! You're only twelve and yet you have already surpassed most of the seasoned Adventurers we have in the capital! The only people with similarly close cases to yours are the crowned prince as well as the princess who were both at the initial phase of the fourth stage and maybe some of the nobles at the Institute!"

She said all that in one breath and panted by the time she finished.

"Oh, ooohhh. I see now~."

I said as I brought my fist down to my palm with a look of realization dawned on my face to which, the two could only sweatdrop.

' 'Just how oblivious is this kid?' '

The both of them thought at the same time.

"So, I'm clear to enter the city now, right?"

"O... Oh! Yes, yes you are! But you still have to follow the procedures and you have to pay a fee for your temporary pass. Or, you could also get a permanent one if you join the Guild or the Institute."

The woman said after a slight pause.

'Hm. I think it's best to get a permanent one if that's the case. I either have to be an Adventurer of join this Institute though... Hmmm... It's hard to decide...'

"Right, quick question."

"Go on."

"What's this Institute all about?"

I asked to their surprise.

I mean seriously! I can clearly see that dumbfounded expressions on your faces! Looking at me like some king of an alien creature!

"... R-*Ehem* Right. The Institute is where nobles and commoners alike go to study and refine their abilities and further their knowledge on different fields the moment they reach the age of twelve, which is perfect for you in your case and the registration have only started two days ago, so you can still sign up if you like."

'Looks like I have my own plot armor~.'

The woman replied with a slightly awkward tone as she looked at me weirdly.

Not paying their expressions any mind, I thought to myself and sunk on my own world.

'I see now. It will be a great choice to become an Adventurer as I can fight all I want and also earn some money at the same time, but right now what I lack are informations about this world as well as their inner workings. Oh! I also need to socialize, that's what I promised to myself... So I guess...'

"Mm. I've decided. I'll rigister for the Institute then."

"That's a great choice. And besides, the Guild have a strict requirement to at least be a teen to become an Adventurer so you won't be accepted anyway."

The woman said as Avon just smiled.

'Dafuq? Then why have you even recommended it?! Dammit...'

I grumbled inwardly.

"Right, by the way. I still don't have any money, but I do have some magic beast materials... Can it be sold first and then I'll pay for the fee?"

"Yes, that could be done. Agon dear, please bring Kross towards the exchange room to buy off his materials."

"Mhm, got it honey."

"Wait wait wait, you two are-"

"*Giggle*~. I'm his my wife, Olivia. Sorry for the late introduction."

"Ohhh, that's why~. Well, nice to meet you!"

I said with a smile which the other two responded in kind.

Now that I look at these two closely, Agon is a large man but he's good looking with that brown hair of his, and Olivia have blond hair and a great figure even with the armor on, I can still see it that that's the case. She's also a beauty. If this was on Earth, then these two would have been super models immediately!

"Come on Kross. Let me lead you there."

"Right."

I replied as we waved at Olivia as we stepped out of the room and walked towards another, but this one is bigger.

'Let's see here... I better get rid of all these beast parts that have been "gathering dust" at the corner of my Inventory. But I'll keep the ones from the wyverns and the lesser dragon for a while more as it will be too shocking for them, I think. And I'm sure it will incur some suspicions upon myself so I won't risk it. As for the others... Meats, essence, ores... Hm. I'll keep them for now too.'

"Right, Kross. D' you have a storage artifact or something? Because I definitely don't see you wearing any storage ring."

Agon suddenly asked.

"Ah, nope. I can use storage magic on my own and don't need to rely on artifacts with situations like these."

"Impressive~. Tell me kid, what can't you do?"

He asked in a joking manner.

"Hm. Let's see... Well I can't look at my butt without using a mirror~."

'Even in my dragon form, still can't.'

I said as a matter of ffactly.

"Pfft~! Haha~ seriously?"

"Yup."

"Haha, now that's just normal~. Even I can't~!"

...

"How much do I need to pay for the fee by the way?"

"Fifty coppers. And you can hand it to me, no need to go back there. And remember that this is only temporary so you have to register at the Institute as soon as possible."

"Alright. And here."

"Thanks, and I better go back to my post now. I've already been gone too long~. See you later, Kross."

He said as he started walking away.

"Mm! You too, Agon! And please send my thank you to Olivia for me~!"

I shouted and waved my hand.

"Haha~, will do. Oh, and Kross?"

"Yup?"

"Welcome to the Seialous Empire's capital, the city of Sihnia~!"

"Right! Thanks for the help this time!"

"Anytime, kid. Just go to the gate's station if you need help in the future."

"I'll keep that in mind~!"

It was only then that I remembered I actually have money from the beginner's package... So much for my SSS intelligence...