"Whoa. The time attribute?", Seventeen whistled. Arthur nodded.
"That is impressive.", Ruth remarked, "Time is indeed one of the most powerful attributes but it is also one of the most difficult to master."
"Yeah. Vesta is still learning to master it.", Arthur agreed.
"Ah. But it is still impressive.", Seventeen said as they walked to the warp gate in the city. They passed the many shops lining the main street of Crystalis city.
Arthur saw warlocks wearing different types of armor and wielding different weapons. A trio consisting of a demi beast, elf, and a human passed him.
The demi beast wore leather armor that showed his rippling muscles. He had a huge greatsword strapped to his back.
The elven girl wore a cloak over her clothes and carried a staff equipped with a magia orb, and the young man had a longsword strapped to his waist and he wore light armor.
Arthur saw them enter a huge building with a symbol of a sword and staff crossed over a shield. It was a building of the Adventurer's guild.
"Adventurers huh.", Arthur said to himself. He thought about Justin who was in the Adventurer's Academy in Elvenglade. Arthur hasn't heard from him for some time.
Well, Justin wasn't known for writing letters. Arthur wouldn't be surprised if he learned that Justin broke his leg a month later.
The five of them finally reached the warp gate connected to Elvenglade. It was way bigger than the one at Night Manor. Three carriages could easily pass through it side by side.
Two soldiers in light armor and holding spears stood on both sides of the warp gate. Their breastplates had the insignia of the Imperial Guards.
The Imperial Guards maintain order and law in the major cities and towns throughout the five nations while the Cardinal Knights protect Arken.
Seventeen showed an identification paper to one of the guards who nodded and allowed them to pass the gate.
As they stood in front of the gate, Arthur saw the tall trees found only in Elveria due to the high amounts of natural magia. The whole nation of Elveria is a massive magia hotspot.
In fact, it is the biggest hotspot in the world.
Arthur put his sword in his storage ring before entering the gate. It was always a strange experience for him to walk through a warp gate. It felt like walking through a thin but slightly firm veil.
They stepped onto the ground of Elveria. Arthur felt the familiar refreshing feeling of natural magia whenever he entered the elven nation.
Gray took a deep breath beside him, her eyes lit up, "I feel really great."
"It's the natural magia.", Seventeen said as he held out his hand. Magia particles swirled on his palm, "The stuff is everywhere."
Ruth took a deep breath, "I can never get over this feeling."
They saw a carriage bearing the insignia of the Sylran Family, a graceful deer with huge horns in front of an oak tree. It was pulled by mechanical horses, similar to the ones that pulled the Night carriage.
"Those mechanical beasts are really getting popular.", Ruth remarked as the carriage stopped in front of them.
The driver stepped out of the carriage. He was an elf in a suit and bowed to Robin, "Greetings young master. It has been a while."
"Hello there, Edward.", Robin greeted back. He turned to Seventeen and Ruth, "This is Edward, the family butler. He was employed in our residence for as long as I can remember and is also a very good warlock."
Edward bowed to Seventeen and Ruth, "It is an honor to meet both of you.", he said courteously.
Both of them nodded back.
"Lord Sylran is waiting for you. I will take you to the Sylran Residence by carriage", Edward said. "Very well.", Ruth replied.
"No need to take all of us home, Edward. My two friends want to explore the city So just drop them near central park.", Robin said, indicating Arthur and Gray.
"As you wish, young master.", Edward nodded. All of them entered the carriage and started towards the city.
"Is it true that Elvenglade city is in the middle of a huge lake?", Gray asked curiously.
Seventeen nodded, "Indeed, Gray. It is also the home of the biggest tree in Arken."
Robin smiled, "I don't mean to brag. But Elvenglade is the most beautiful city you will ever see."
"Wow. Really?", Gray asked in amazement. Ruth and Arthur nodded in agreement.
They soon reached one of the four bridges leading to Elvenglade. It was a long bridge supported by cables originating from three tall towers. The guards at the bridge bowed as the Sylran carriage passed them.
Beyond the bridge was Elvenglade city. Built on an island in the middle of a massive lake. The spires and tall buildings towered over the people with magnificent domes and roof gardens.
There was a tree every hundred meters in the middle of the main street. There are benches underneath the trees that are occupied by many people.
Like Crystalis city, Elvenglade has many businesses. Arthur saw an apothecary that sold potion ingredients, a buff dwarf with a bushy beard hammered a glowing piece of metal and held it up with his bare hands while his assistant stoked the flames of the furnace.
A young man sat bored in his store which sold enchanted items and an elven woman cooked something that smelled delicious in her food stall.
Arthur saw many different races in the city but most of them were elves, tall and graceful with their pointy, elongated ears, and ethereal looks. He saw humans, demi beasts, half-bloods, all young and old.
He even saw a demon. They look similar to elven half-bloods except that they have crimson vertical lines underneath their eyes.
They also have vertical patterns on their arms that glowed the color or colors of their attributes.
There are only a few demons in this world. A good example is the Axis Family, an Arken Family of demons and demon half-bloods.
About half of demonkind had Fallen due to black magia and the remaining were slaughtered by their Fallen brethren, hence decreasing their numbers. The Fallen demons then retreated to the darkest parts under Arken.
The few demons who weren't affected by black magia now live relatively normal lives in cities, towns, and villages, though they are rarely seen.
But the most jaw-dropping sight was the immense tree right in the middle of the city. It was so huge that its countless branches formed a huge canopy that covered the entire island.
The trunk was so big that it takes about two hundred people, standing side by side to surround it.
The smallest branch was the size of a normal tree while the biggest one was probably three times wider than the main street that led to the central park.
In fact, there are many homes and stalls on the bigger branches, high above the tallest spire in the city.
The huge canopy provided a pleasant shade with enough sunlight for the entire city and at night, the millions of leaves would glow faintly with magia.
"So that is Yggdrasil. The biggest and oldest tree in Arken.", Seventeen said as he craned his neck up to see the marvel of nature.
"I presume its immense size is due to high amounts of natural magia?", he asked Ruth who nodded, "Yep. Yggdrasil has the highest amount of natural magia in Elveria and it is still growing."
Seventeen was impressed, "Damn. Now that is an amazing tree."
Arthur and Gray stepped out of the carriage when it reached the central park around the colossal tree.
"Let's meet up at the foot of Yggdrasil after we meet lord Sylran. You guys can spend the time exploring the city.", Seventeen said, "Oh, and Selene will be reaching here in about an hour."
"Selene didn't come with us through the warp gate?", Arthur asked.
Seventeen shook his head, "She hates warp gates, so she is flying from Crystalia and will probably reach here in an hour. I instructed her to fly to you when she reached Elevenglade."
"Okay, sir. But still, reaching Elvenglade in an hour, that is really impressive for a bird.", Arthur said. "You think so?", Seventeen grinned.
"See you guys later.", Robin said as the carriage rolled away.
"Alright then.", Arthur turned to Gray, "Where do you want to go first?"
*******
Seventeen was looking at Yggdrasil from the window of the carriage. He couldn't believe such a tree can exist.
'I don't get it.', he thought.
(What is it Seventeen?)
'How is it called Yggdrasil? Wasn't Yggdrasil the World Tree according to Norse mythology?'
(Ah, I knew you would be confused. Well, this is a parallel universe. So there will be similarities. Heck, even this planet is called Earth.)
'So there are Vikings in this world?'
(No Seventeen. There are no Vikings. But many names from my world are used here. There are spirits with the same names as certain deities from my world.)
(For example, one of the strongest fire spirits in this world bears the name Amaterasu, the sun goddess in Japanese mythology.)
'Ah. So does that mean all spirits have the same name as deities from your world?', Seventeen asked.
(Actually no. Not all spirits have the same name as deities, only the most powerful ones.)
'Oh. So I guess there is a spirit named Bob in this world.'
(Maybe.)
'Seriously?', Seventeen now has a new mission, finding a spirit named Bob.
"Hey Seventeen!", Ruth's voice made him snap out of his thoughts. "What?", he asked.
"We're here.", she stood outside the carriage.
"Oh.", Seventeen smiled sheepishly and stepped outside the carriage.
"Wow.", he said as he stood in front of a huge three-story mansion made of white stone and marble with two big columns at the entrance.
"Nice place you got here Robin.", he said. Robin's face reddened, "Well. It is the same as the other houses in the city, except a bit bigger."
"Robin Sylran. Are you saying that my residence is small?", a voice spoke from the front door. Robin flinched.
Standing in the doorway was a tall elf. He had long blonde hair like the twins and warm golden eyes. He looked like an older Robin and wore a simple silk shirt and pants.
Edward bowed, "I have brought them, lord Sylran."
Castiel Sylran smiled, "Thanks, Edward. You can take some rest. I will take care of our guests."
"Very well, lord Sylran.", Edward bowed to his master, nodded to Seventeen and Ruth, and rode the carriage to a shed beside the mansion.
Castiel turned to Seventeen and Ruth, "Zephyrus told me about you two. It is a pleasure meeting you. I am Castiel Sylran, head of the Sylran Family.", he held out his hand.
Seventeen shook hands with him, "The pleasure is ours lord Sylran. I am Seventeen and this is my fellow instructor, Ruth Aeva."
"I know you.", the Family head said as he shook hands with Ruth, "Your ice sculptures are amazing."
"Thank you lord Sylran.", Ruth smiled.
"No need to call me lord Sylran every time. Mr. Sylran is enough.", Castiel smiled. He then turned his gaze to Robin who was shifting uncomfortably.
"Well?", Castiel raised an eyebrow. Robin rolled his eyes, "Jeez dad. I have my daggers on me. Don't give me that look.", he showed the daggers to his father.
"Alright. I have to make sure you are responsible.", Castiel said, satisfied. He nodded to the main hallway.
"How about we talk inside?"
Seventeen smiled, "We would love to.", and they followed the elf into the mansion.