Vale Chambers felt a surge of excitement as the Airship finally descended at the dockyard of the Aerodenn City.
He had been on board for four days, stopping at eight other cities along the way, but none of them had matched the scale and splendor of his destination.
Aside from the capital city, Aerodenn City could be said to be the second crown jewel of the Millton Kingdom, a hub of innovation and industry that had grown rapidly in the era of the industrial revolution.
Vale could see the gleaming railway tracks that connected the city to the rest of the kingdom. It was a very impressive sight compared to the Melthorn City he was familiar with.
He could also see the towering factories that spewed out smoke and steam that blocked the sunlight. This is probably a common scene in every developing city in the kingdom.
'Now… What should I do first?' Vale mused.
He grabbed his luggage and followed the other passengers as they alighted from the Airship.
He was greeted by a bustling crowd of people, some wearing elegant suits and dresses, others wearing simple clothes and caps.
He then heard a cacophony of voices, speaking in different accents and languages. He smelled a mixture of aromas, from coal and oil to spices and flowers. He felt a rush of adrenaline as he stepped into the city.
During his summer break, he was mostly staying in the small villages and towns away from the noise and smoke of the city. This is why seeing the bustling Aerodenn City made him feel nostalgic for some reason.
'Right… I have to move. If possible, I must save Philip as quickly as I can.' Vale reminded himself as he decided to explore the city a bit before heading to his hotel.
After the long journey, he was hungry, so he needed a place to eat.
He noticed that there were many hawkers selling food on the streets, offering a variety of dishes and snacks. He saw familiar muttons and fried balls of dough stuffed with meat and cheese and decided to try one. He bought one from a friendly vendor and bit into it. It was hot and crispy on the outside, soft and cheesy on the inside. He savored the taste and bought another one.
Vale continued to walk around the city, admiring the architecture and the people. He saw shops selling all kinds of goods, from books and newspapers to clothes and jewelry.
He saw theaters and museums, parks and gardens, churches and temples. He saw cars and bicycles, trains and trams, balloons, and airships. He saw everything that made Aerodenn City a great city…
Nevertheless, he wasn't just looking around like a tourist.
During all this time, his Phantasm State was active, and he was observing the Arcane Practitioners who had been following him ever since he descended from the Airship.
'Ahh… Now that I think about it, the Airship I used was probably known by others as a property of the Dark Arts Faction. Although it is also being used for public transportation, they might still be wary after the incident…' Vale couldn't help but scratch his head after forgetting such an important matter.
Nevertheless, the ones following him don't seem to have any other intention unless he acts suspiciously.
This is why he decided to be like a typical tourist visiting the city.
'Oh… He's gone.' Vale silently thought after biting on his snacks. The Mystic Arts Practitioner that was following him started dashing away until he got out of his Magic Zone.
He had probably finished his observation task, or perhaps, he already passed the mission to someone else.
'Ah… They're here…'
As expected, Vale felt the presence of two Mystic Arts Practitioners that was approaching him really fast.
'Should I eliminate them? However, I'm still quite far from the castle… I can't bring too much attention on me before I save Philip…' Vale considered for a moment before deciding to watch how it goes first.
Currently, he wasn't worried that the Untainted Sentinels or the Illustrious Liquidators had recognized him since he had made two disguises today.
He knows well that the two people approaching him weren't the Liquidators who were searching for Clovis Skye.
"Sir, can I ask you some questions?"
As Vale walked to the streets, two gentlemen wearing black trench coats blocked him on his path.
"Hmm?" Vale acted surprised as he looked at the two.
"I just arrived in the city today. If you're going to ask for directions, you should try the vendors on the streets." He said with an apologetic tone.
The two Practitioners looked at each other before shaking their heads.
"No… We're not here to ask for directions."
"We're here to inform you that Dark Arts Practitioners are prohibited inside the city. We've come to escort you outside the city."
These words attracted the attention of the people on the streets.
The word "Dark Arts Practitioners" seemed to have scared many of them as they started looking at Vale warily.
Those heading in their path had even changed their direction to ensure they won't get in their way.
Vale found this scene interesting. He wasn't sure why they were acting like this, but he wasn't worried at all.
He calmly nodded at the two and answered.
"You probably made a mistake. I'm not a Dark Arts Practitioner."
At this answer, the two gentlemen were confused as they couldn't believe that their intelligence was incorrect.
One of them started glaring at Vale as he said. "You don't have to lie. We know that you're an Arcanist. Now, show us one of your Spells if you want to prove yourself."
Vale squinted his eyes after hearing this…
'It seems they weren't sure what Arcane Path I'm practicing. However, they can tell that I'm a Practitioner…' Vale silently thought as he nodded to the man.
However, instead of casting a spell, he pulled out his sack bag containing a thick book.
As soon as the book appeared, everyone in the streets looked at Vale with interest and exclaimed.
"A Grimoire!"
