"It takes a great deal of resources to traverse the lands of AG. Many of the top guilds struggled for months to secure avenues of travel that didn't cost tens or even hundreds of Gold or Silver. The solution came when guilds began purchasing their own airships for travel."
-Bill Mardoni, Vice-Guild Leader of Rolling Thunder
~~~(POV: Justin Xander)~~~
~~~(Location: Cartographers Shop, Geonia City, Aeternitatem Genesis)~~~
~~~(Day, Date, Time: Tuesday, April 16th, 9:25 AM PST)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 19 Years)~~~
Sierra rolls the map out on the front counter. The first location I recognize on the map is a marker for the Edaria Kingdom. It not only shows Geonia within the Edaria Kingdom, but it also has roads and travel routes leading to other cities within Edaria.
The Edaria Kingdom is a nation on a peninsula, and you can see water surrounding most of the country, aside from where it juts out from the larger continent.
"We're located here."
Sierra points to the city of Geonia on the large map. From what I can see, the Taleso Kingdom is a great distance away.
"And over here is where you want to go. The Taleso Kingdom and its capital city, Plateo. I guess it's not hard to see you've got a long way to go."
There is a tease in her tone as she speaks. Lifting her hand from the map as she does. I don't know how far away Taleso is, but if I had to guess, it'd take weeks to get there. I look over the map and find the travel key. Instructions on how to measure distance on the map.
I look back at Sierra, and she rolls her eyes at my doubtful look. I don't want to believe the distance between Geonia and Plateo. It's a long trip of doing nothing.
"If you're curious, to get from Geonia to Plateo, it'd take about three weeks to get there without advanced modes of travel. It's almost 4,000 kilometers from where we are right now."
I nearly have a ministroke as I hear the number 4,000. I was hoping I was wrong, and I was. I thought it was around 2,400 kilometers. It's almost double what I thought it'd be. I deflate a little and lean on the counter.
I'd have to leave this week if I want to reach Plateo before the tournament starts. There has to be a better way to travel... C'mon, Justin... Just think...
"From the look on your face, that's not good news, huh?"
Sierra's compassion and concern cause me to lift my head. Her hazel eyes look into my blue, and a small smirk appears on her lips. She looks back at the map and points to a city a couple of cities from Geonia itself.
"Here. This is the capital city of Edaria, Oderia. You'll find an airship port here. It'll run you about 80 Gold, but an airship can take you from Oderia to Plateo in a little under five days."
A light appears behind Sierra as she offers me salvation from this monstrous problem. I remember now that airships exist in AG. I saw them in the Auction House the first time I visited and watched an auction.
"You're a lifesaver, Sierra!!"
I can't contain myself as I lean forward and wrap my arms around her shoulders from the other side of the counter and give her a quick hug. Before she can say anything, I let go and take a step back.
"I wish I could stay and chat longer, but I've got a lot more to do today! Thank you!!"
A slight pout forms on her lips. She's about to say something, but I leave the shop before she can. I don't have time to waste flirting and romancing an NPC. No matter how beautiful she is. I've still gotta visit Darren Fulwitter at his blacksmith shop today.
Once I'm down the street, I find my bearings and change directions. Time to find out how much it'll cost me to purchase the materials needed for my armor blueprints.
~~~(POV: Eliza Fard Cira Zada)~~~
~~~(Location: Fard Cira Zada Estate, Geonia City, Aeternitatem Genesis)~~~
~~~(Day, Date, Time: Tuesday, April 16th, 9:43 AM PST)~~~
~~~(Age: 42)~~~
Now that I have someone tying up all the loose ends, it'll be easy for me to take control of Geonia. The backing from House Rennex has been crucial, and all the hard work we've done is finally coming to a head. After all these years, corruption and decay will be removed from Geonia. The death of Garson was the light to the fuse my allies and I needed.
Who would've believed it'd come from the hands of a new arrival, though. Zaediel has proven to be more capable than the new arrivals bumbling about Geonia. I suspect he has far more to offer than what I've seen so far.
After decades of politicking and scheming, you come to see there is more to people than what an inspect-type skill will reveal.
"Putting the fate of my plans in the hands of Zaediel could prove to be my undoing. House Rennex won't forgive failure. While that family has the same noble ranking as mine, they have far more military power."
I couldn't hope to defend myself against House Rennex without the aid of powerful mercenaries. Even then, it's rare to find such a hired hand capable of withstanding the forces of a noble's army.
The quest I've given Zaediel is difficult, but I've given him all the help I could. The challenging part of that quest will be finding the assassin Dusk. No one in Geonia I know of knows the person's identity.
The reason they have to die is because of all the dirt they have on me. I've used Dusk's services many times, which has led them to know about many of my illegal dealings. If they come forward with that information, it could put a death mark on me.
Entrusting this to Zaediel does give me a small way out if things go badly. He'll take all the blame, and none of it will lead back to me. There won't be any evidence we were in contact at all.
Although, I'll have to bribe Rehan. He knows Zaediel, and I are acquainted through him. I'm not strong enough to kill him, and I doubt anyone outside Oderia is. However, I know the price for Rehan's silence, and I'll pay him his money.
"Let us hope you don't fail me, Zaediel. A difficult life will follow you if you do."
The power of a noble shouldn't be taken lightly, and I'm a (Vicountess) of Edaria. Geonia is my city in all but name. After this week, that'll change.
~~~(POV: Darren Fulwitter)~~~
~~~(Location: Blacksmith Shop, Geonia City, Aeternitatem Genesis)~~~
~~~(Day, Date, Time: Tuesday, April 16th, 10:14 AM PST)~~~
~~~(Age: 43 Years)~~~
The forge's flames blast my skin as I hammer away at a strip of heated metal. I've been forging 16 hours a day for the last three days, and I have no intention of stopping until I see it again. Hear it again. Feel it again.
What I witnessed from Zaediel haunts my dreams. Wrecks me with nightmares. I've never laid my eyes on an Ancient graded weapon or piece of armor before. Three days ago, I watched such an item in the midst of its creation.
I feel as though I'll go mad if I don't see even a spark of that again. A constant burn in the back of my skull. Forcing me to see the beauty of that smithing again.
I'm not alone in this wallow of despair. My nephew Zackery is in a similar state. He looks as if he hasn't eaten in days, and he doesn't leave the workshop for hours at a time. Still in there, scratching away at paper, trying to come up with an idea or plan.
"Hello! Anyone there!?"
Suddenly, the same voice that's been haunting my every thought since I watched him smith echoes from the front of the store. I hear the clattering of objects from the workshop as I see Zachery bolt from the room toward the front counter.
~~~(POV: Justin Xander)~~~
~~~(Location: Blacksmith Shop, Geonia City, Aeternitatem Genesis)~~~
~~~(Day, Date, Time: Tuesday, April 16th, 10:33 AM PST)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 19 Years)~~~
All of a sudden, the curtain separating the front of the shop from the smithing workshop in the back swings open. I watch with stunned surprise as Zackery leaps over the front counter, grabbing my shoulders and staring at me.
"HOW DID YOU DO IT!!?"
The point-blank shout causes me to raise an eyebrow. Of all the reactions from people seeing me again, this is by far the strangest one yet. As I'm about to say something, the curtain opens again, and I see Darren.
Now that I've got a good look at them, they both look rough. Like, haven't rested or taken care of themselves for days, kind of rough.
"Let him go, Zack."
After a second, Zackery lets go of me, and I see him tremble from what I assume to be exhaustion and frustration. He places a hand on his face and takes a seat.
They've been through it since I last saw them. I wonder what's happened?