Sitting inside a mansion in Magaravia it was difficult to know the current state of affairs in the country since the capital had distanced itself from the other major cities and towns. King Reginald had little interest in the welfare of his subjects and only cared about maintaining his luxurious lifestyle.However, there were influential nobles in the king’s court who looked after the economic and administrative affairs and handled the kingdom’s security as well. Even so, without the direct involvement of the king, the nobles could do little to safeguard the nation.Having spent a few days in Magaravia, Ezra too, had realized that this city was like an isolated fortress, separated from the other human settlements. And there was no way for anyone living here to know the condition of the people outside its walls.“I cannot stay here forever. I need to know what’s happening in Aranor,” Ezra said as he impatiently paced his room, waiting for news from the outside world.Just then, the loud
The shocking revelation about the Staff of Chaos changed everything. Till now, Zepheroth was lying powerless in his own domain, but with his favored weapon back in his possession, he could unleash his dark magic and wreak havoc upon the human world.Count Gressil furrowed his brow and moved his hands over the map, carefully flattening its creases. “If your Goddess speaks the truth then we do not have much time. The necromancers have already captured two important cities and are on their way to conquer the third.”“But Zepheroth needs a host to invade our world,” Ezra intervened. “Without a host, the Lord of Decay cannot travel between realms. He is still bound to his domain.”“Well, that gives the necromancers more reasons to attack Magaravia. By now they must have figured out that Tanya and I have gone into hiding. And what better place to seek shelter than the capital?” Count Gressil’s left eye twitched as beads of sweat glistened on his creased forehead. “If the Staff of Chaos has r
Once Count Gressil left with his Elite Guards, Tanya turned to Ezra to enquire about his health.“You no longer seem to exhibit symptoms of Magic Regression. I think your body must have recovered by now,” she said, carefully studying Ezra’s face.Ezra nodded. “I feel as healthy as a horse. My magic power is well within my control as well.”“I am glad to hear it.” Tanya smiled at him, but she still seemed to be anxious about something. “I…know you must be worried about your sister. But please do not lose faith. I am sure my father’s men will find Lady Aurelia soon enough.”Ezra smiled back and replied, “My sister is a strong woman. She is skilled with her weapons and smarter than any Gunner I have ever met. I know she is fine.”Tanya liked how Ezra chose to remain optimistic even in these dark times. His confidence was infectious, and it rubbed off on her as well. “I am glad we met, Lord Ezra. You are not just my savior, but a great friend as well. I am happy that I have someone to tru
Tanya wanted Ezra to accompany them in the motor wagon, but his reasoning had convinced Count Gressil that it would be better for him to ride on horseback. Eventually, Ezra got what he wanted, and they set off on different rides.As the gentle rays of the rising sun bathed the city in golden hues, the people of Magaravia yawned in their beds and opened their eyes to a new day. Ezra was surprised to see how different life was in the capital. He remembered most people in Aranor would already be working by sunrise, but here, everyone seemed to be enjoying an indolent and carefree life. Even the patrolling guards were nowhere to be seen, and the only ones keeping watch were the Longmans lazily riding their mechanical contraptions.Since it was still too early in the day, the guards at the gate did not bother asking any questions and let Count Gressil’s car pass without any checks. Although they poked fun at Ezra for riding a horse, the guards did not care about verifying his identity.
As Ezra rode toward the Kakerons, his eyes flashed red, and his Dragon Eye skill analyzed the carnivorous flowers in the distance. Strings of floating letters appeared in front of Ezra, highlighting the Kakerons and listing all their strengths and weaknesses.[Dragon eye activated!][Target identified: Creeping Kakerons.][Type: Carnivorous, vegetative life forms. (Accursed)][Strengths: Kakerons are extremely sensitive to vibrations and can detect prey from miles away. The acid in their stomach can dissolve bone, skin, and flesh in seconds, allowing them to digest a wide variety of birds and beasts. Since these flowers do not possess any locomotive organs, they rely on their whip-like tendrils to catch fast-moving prey and defend themselves. They are highly resistant to projectile attacks and can regenerate their lost petals in seconds. Unlike the other accursed life forms, Kakerons cannot be banished with spells and are not repulsed by holy magic.][Vulnerabilities: Weak against cert
In his days, Marlin had watched the veteran Gunners take on some of the toughest monsters and come out on top, but they usually relied on their customized enchanted firearms to crush their foes. Ezra, however, had managed to eliminate the Kakeron cluster without using any enchanted weapons.Impressed by his horse riding and the clever use of his newly acquired shooting skill, Marlin was all praises for him.“I have never seen someone wipe out a Kakeron cluster so fearlessly. Most would try to tackle these venomous flowers from a distance, but you are probably the only one who could have executed such a bold move,” he said. “Most high-level Gunners rely on their Magic Flight skill to outmaneuver their enemies, but you are a gifted horseman, my Lord. There is no doubt in my mind that you have what it takes to become the best Gunner in Valaria.”“That was a lot easier than fighting a Behemoth,” Ezra replied as he turned his horse around and joined Count Gressil’s motor wagon.The Count l
The two mechanical sentries stepped forward and blocked Ezra’s way as he headed for the gate. Seeing their blades drawn, Ezra realized it was best not to antagonize them so he pulled on the reins of his horse and brought it to a halt.“I am here from Magaravia, and I need to visit the town’s governor,” he said, greeting the robots.Ezra expected a robotic reply from the two sentries, but instead of talking they spread their arms and legs and blocked his path. “I guess you did not understand what I just said. I am here to meet the governor, and my need is urgent, so stand aside!” Ezra repeated, but this time in a slightly irritated voice.Still, the sentries did not bother to reply or greet him in any way.Ezra was starting to lose his cool when Count Gressil stepped out of his vehicle and walked up to the sentries. But instead of talking to them, he looked at the watch tower outside the gate and addressed the guard standing there.“You there, get these rust buckets out of our way. I a
Milton escorted Count Gressil and his companions to the governor’s office on the second floor of an ancient-looking building which seemed to be completely out of place in a town like this. The current governor of Silver Springs was a lean middle-aged man with back-brushed black locks and a scraggly beard that had not been shaved for weeks. Although he was dressed in a fine gray overcoat and spotless white shirt paired with a black bowtie, it looked like he was in desperate need of grooming.“Governor Creed. You have visitors,” Milton announced, interrupting the governor’s work.The governor was still sifting through official documents when he was distracted by the voice. He hurriedly stacked the papers and stuffed them inside a cabinet before turning around with a frustrated expression.“I already told you a million times not to—”“Good afternoon to you as well,” Count Gressil greeted, narrowing his eyes on the man.The governor was expecting some engineer or construction working show