Salancans

The five classical elemental laws of magic include Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Nature. However, there are other laws in existence that are classified as neither elemental nor mythic...

They are known as the Variants.

Salancans

Year 7023 M.E.

One word, massive. That was what Hade could use to describe the humongous city stretching before him.

Teleportation stations were usually built a certain distance away from cities. This was done to prevent accidents because space magic, though very powerful and versatile, was quite fragile when compared to the other laws of magic.

However, even that distance between the station and the city did not do much to alleviate its enormous size. In fact, the whole of Hade's frontal view was occupied by its brilliance.

"Gentlemen, welcome to Salancans... the largest city in the West," Novin announced merrily with a tinge of pride.

To put it in a nutshell, the city was simply... extraordinary, like nothing Hade had ever seen before.

It had high-rise buildings that you had to look up to see the end of, mystical flying mounts and devices, and finally people... ant-like multitudes upon multitudes of people.

Hade's senses now nearly operated at an efficiency nearly triple that of a normal human being's and yet even he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.

Judging by the huge eyes that had somehow gotten even bigger on Wil's usually blank face, Hade was pleased he wasn't the only one amazed.

"Now don't get too excited," Novin interrupted with a wry smile.

"We still have to take another device to the Imperial City."

At the mention of more teleportation devices, Wil's face turned unsightly. Novin was certain that the brute's opinion of him had dropped to an all-time low.

But what could he do? Harlston, unlike most big cities, did not have a direct space channel that led to the capital and unfortunately, it was in the Imperial City that the Five Schools were located.

He had decided to travel to Salancans first, run some errands, and then, use another station to teleport directly to the capital.

"Now, you can choose to accompany me to the city while I go take care of some things, or, you can wait for me here. I surely won't take long," said Novin.

Before deciding, Hade wanted to check with Wil but his companion's facial expression or more accurately, eye expression, did not require any questioning.

"I think you already know our answer," He replied with a slight grin.

"Good choice!" Novin lauded.

"And since you definitely won't be getting out of the schools any time soon, the least you can do is enjoy the last bits of your freedom," he added with a broad smile that made Hade feel uneasy.

...

All powerful cities built during the Magic Era were surrounded by gigantic walls. The purpose was not only for defense but to also showcase the might of the city to enemies and rivals.

Oftentimes, the higher the walls of a city, the stronger its inhabitants.

Salancans was one of the very few exceptions to this norm. Instead of walls, the city was fortified by an invisible force field.

Some said that the field was an apex barrier that a Supreme class practitioner had set up several millennia ago.

Whether the rumors were true or not, nobody knew, but, the fact remained that the city was near impossible to penetrate.

The only entry or exit points were the eight colossal gates positioned all around the city at locations that corresponded to the eight cardinal points.

To the Southwesterly direction was a gate that was protected by a squadron of a militia group known as the Blueshields, an organization that was especially renowned for its abundant numbers.

The organization had been formed roughly a decade ago and although it mostly had unranked filling up its ranks, the power that its higher-ups wielded was nothing to scoff at.

The organization had its headquarters in Salancans and its officers were the enforcers to the city as the Imperial Guard was to the capital.

It was via this same gate that Hade, Wil, and the professor approached the city, hoping to gain entry.

When the trio arrived, a large and not particularly good-looking burly sentry guard was manning the post. The man was granting and denying entry to the long queue of visitors at whim like he was some sort of omnipotent deity.

"You three! Halt! Don't you see there is a line?!" the man bellowed at Hade, Wil, and Novin who were shamelessly skipping the line.

In all truths, the man wasn't doing it in earnest. He just did it to look righteous.

That said, yes indeed, there truly was a line. Wil and Hade had just ignored it because so had the Professor.

The three walked coolly to the front of the queue despite the jeers and spiteful looks they got from those standing in line.

The only reason no one had stepped forward was because the three were dressed quite well for ordinary peasant folk.

Nevertheless, Hade could still hear the whispers going on all around him:

"Hey, who the hell are those guys? They just cut the line, look!"

"Huh?! We've been here since dawn damnit! Just who the f*ck do they think they are?"

"Wait, didn't you say your mother's uncle's nephew was a Blueshield? We should report this!"

"Oh shut up, I was obviously lying you dumb fuck. Nobody knows anybody anymore."

Clearly, emotions were running high, however, nobody took a stand. It wouldn't be good to offend powerful people who could perhaps be aristocrats... or even magic practitioners.

Plus, there was also the matter of the scary young man with the huge eyeballs. Something about him was just nerve-racking.

The burly sentry guard did not give Hade, Novin, and Wil any face though. He did not give two shits about who they were, or, where they came from.

Although he was not particularly strong, he didn't need to be. He was a certified member of the Blueshields and at this post... he was king!

Judging from their elegant appearances, the sentry guard was already expecting quite the paycheck. He could already see himself banging Olma, that whore from Slippery Water Tavern who thought she was too good for him.

Yes, they took bribes, so what?! Fairness?! Tch! There was no such thing!

With only a select overall twenty percent that could control the laws of magic, the world was already created unfair.

"Hey, I said stop!" The guard gnashed his yellow teeth at them in annoyance. They were acting like he wasn't even there!

But, even after he had expressed his displeasure, Novin, who was in the lead, barely stopped in his tracks. In fact, he did not even pay the man any attention.

The young professor simply fetched some sort of badge from his breast pocket and brandished it in the burly sentry guard's freckled face.

Immediately, thick veins popped on the sentry guard's forehead. He was furious! He was about to give them a piece of his mind when suddenly, he froze in place.

'What the hell?!'

The sentry guard was horror-stricken. Drops of cold sweat started to form on his previously... very contorted forehead.

Suddenly, he leaped aside and bent his body to ninety degrees, nearly breaking his back in the process.

"Forgive me, great lords!" He bawled as if his life depended on it.

Novin merely nodded his head, put his badge back into his pocket, and continued into the city like what had just transpired between him and the guard was completely normal.

Wil and Hade exchanged curious glances, shrugged, and then followed in tow. The whole exchange had barely lasted three seconds!

Meanwhile, the people standing in the queue were astounded. Anyone who could make the guard act like a drenched puppy was definitely not ordinary.

Fortunately, no one had antagonized the trio.

Meanwhile...

"Joram, what the fuck was that?!" The sentry captain shouted as he approached his burly subordinate who still looked to be in shock.

He had seen the whole damned thing, and he was far from pleased. Bribes were how they made real money, and not the scraps their superiors paid them.

What the hell was Joram thinking letting good money slip away?!

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" the captain had to smack the backside of the ugly man's head to get his attention.

"Cap... captain," Joram stammered when he finally came to.

"Th-that was a pro-, a prof- a proffe-"

"A what? Speak properly you mutt!" the captain thundered.

"His badge!" Joram exclaimed in horror.

"He was a professor of the Five Schools!"

"W-, wh-, what?" This time, it was the captain's turn to be shocked.

'A professor?!' The captain was speechless.

The Five Imperial Schools were located in Kaerndal- the Imperial City. It should be said that the chances of meeting a professor here ranged from little to none.

Just how unlucky was Joram to have encountered one on his shift?!

Before the captain could even wrap his head around the whole thing, Joram suddenly recalled something.

"H..hey captain, to be a professor at the Five Schools... don't they say that you need to be at least Sage class?" he asked while his body trembled.

'Sage class?!' The captain's pupils dilated. And to think that he was just some measly early Master class Water practitioner.

The sentry captain immediately looked towards the city into which the trio had already disappeared.

"Fuck," he swore.