The raven men's surprise attack was repelled, but at a great cost, all the troops that went to interrogate them fell prey to the attack, five dead and ten wounded, as if that were not enough, Mathew was also wounded or dead, they could not even get close to help him because almost a hundred avian soldiers surrounded them. The raven men called them, "avian", that was the species of the bird soldiers of the city in the sky. If they wanted to help their friend, they had no time to lose, this time, they did not drop their weapons, a hundred bird soldiers could not be much worse than two hundred monsters, they thought.
- Stop it soldiers! let them go, they had nothing to do with the attack. - Said the commanding voice of Captain Aguillen, who was getting up from the ground, still somewhat dazed. - Don't waste any more time fools and get help for the wounded, hurry! - he shouted as he tried to help Pantaleon.
- Let me check them. - Said Ashram pushing the soldiers aside. He approached Mathew to check his vital signs, he was beaten, had some burns, but nothing serious, he was just unconscious. - Duan Leigheas! - He exclaimed, and the burns healed immediately.
- Please take care of him too. - Said Captain Aguillen taking Pantaleon's hand. - He is a hideous creature, but I owe him my life.
Somewhat surprised to see the arrogant captain asking for help to save someone he despised so much a few minutes before, Ashram approached to attend to the wounded man, his vital signs were slight, but stable, he had burns over a large part of his body. - Duan Leigheas! - He exclaimed once more, but the burns did not heal, - Duan Leigheas! - He repeated a second time, but the result was the same, the magic had no effect.
- Why doesn't it heal? You are not doing it right. - the captain reproached.
- No, that's not it, I have casted the same spell as with my friend, but with him it doesn't work, it's very strange, maybe the burn was done with some kind of curse. - Said Ashram very intrigued.
The healers of the city went out to attend to the wounded and carry the deceased, but none of them wanted to approach Pantaleon, apparently the repulsion for anyone who was of another species was common in the avians. However, their fussiness was short-lived.
- What are you waiting for!?, you lazy bums! Damn you, you bastards, you'd better take good care of this creature by giving him the best of care! - He said, placing his wing on Pantaleon's forehead. - Take him to the healing rooms at once, and woe betide anyone who dares to harm him or be negligent, for if he loses his life, you will answer to me with your own.
The healers took the fallen man reluctantly and hurried him away on a stretcher, for they knew well that the captain was not joking. The contingent of soldiers stayed behind to guard the area in case the attackers decided to return.
- Mathew, wake up, don't be lazy! - said Mila tapping him with the broom, as if she hadn't been worried about his well-being a few minutes ago.
- What happened? - said Mathew, struggling to his feet.
- It looks like you were hit by one of the explosions, but you're fine now, Ashram healed you up. - Said Kunoichi
- Ah? is that true? Thank you Ashram... - Mathew said.
- You are welcome. - Replied the druid, somewhat confused, seeing Mathew being polite.
- I am very sorry for what happened, young adventurers. - Said the captain addressing the group of friends. - I hope you will excuse my mistrust, but as you can see, we are on a state of war, so any precaution is too little.
- I suppose that's understandable, but a little hospitality wouldn't go amiss. - Faye said, unable to stop herself from speaking her mind.
- Indeed, that's why I'm making you now my honored guests. - Replied the captain, much more cordial than a while ago. - You really conducted yourselves very well during the attack, it's as if you were very used to fighting.
- We are but simple travelers, however, the roads hold many dangers, so a traveler must be able to protect his own life. - Ashram said.
- Well, but let's not stay here, let's go to the citadel, inside we can talk more at ease. - Said the captain. - Please follow me.
As they did not need to have the invitation repeated twice, they followed him, leaving behind that garden and the soldiers who were in charge of cleaning all traces of the skirmish. The walls were much thicker than they looked, inside only the outer part of solid rock was about three meters thick, it was no wonder that the raven men did not try to throw fireballs at the wall, as they would have had no effect. The construction did not only consist of rock, after the first solid layer, there was a wooden structure where there were bunks for the soldiers, on the second floor they had weapons stored, as well as barrels with provisions. It was quite obvious that they were ready to resist a long siege without problems. The third layer was formed by another rock wall two meters thick, the height of the wall was about fourteen meters, although that did not mean much for flying creatures, the walls had parapets from which the defenders could protect themselves from enemy fire while firing at the flying attackers. Like anti-aircraft turrets but in a medieval version.
- You really are very well protected. - Runkdar said. - These rock walls, they have been expertly built, as if they had been worked by dwarven hands.
- And so they were. - Replied the captain. - It is said that centuries ago, we had good relations with the dwarves, after all they live in the mountains and we live on them. So they were hired to build these walls. I do not know why we ceased to have dealings with them, but there are no stories of pettiness or quarrels between the two races.
- And why did the raven men attack you? if I may ask. - Faye said innocently.
The captain's countenance changed, for a moment he went back to the guy who greeted them with threats, but he managed to pull himself together after a few seconds and answered. - It is a long story, it is not a good topic of conversation, it is enough to know that they betrayed us long ago, and were expelled from the kingdom. That is why they seek revenge, but we are prepared to face them.
- I understand... - Faye answered without much conviction.
- Come on, no need to talk about gloomy things, you have had an unpleasant time, but now you are my guests, you can visit the city, I assure you that you will find it very interesting. - Said the captain. - By the way I forgot, take this. - He added, taking out some pendants with a charm in the shape of a wing. You must wear them all the time.
In the events or comic conventions of the human world, it was common to wear one of those pendants when invited, so it did not attract their attention, although the one they were given was not made of plastic, but of shiny metal, they even thought it would be nice to take them as a souvenir once they left the city.
- But what a late hour it has become, young ones, I am sorry to have to leave you, but I must report to the king at once and give my report on the incident. - Said the startled captain. - Please go to the gold button inn, you can order whatever you want and stay, everything is on my account. Moreover, Sergeant Pepian!
- Yes, sir! - Said the sergeant, who had been silently following them for quite some time, surprisingly he was not wounded in the previous battle.
- I charge you to guide my guests, show them what they want and give them what they need. Said the captain. - I hope you do not find the task unpleasant.
- Not at all sir, I'll take care of it. - Sergeant Pepian replied.
- Very well then... See you young men, I hope we can talk later, have fun. - Said the captain flying away towards the center of the city.
- Well, which place would you like to visit first? - Pepian asked.
- I think the answer is obvious, isn't it? - Faye said enthusiastically, as she had not been seen since they arrived in that world. - LET'S GO SHOPPING!!!
If the entrance of the city had seemed elegant or luxurious, the inside was much better, the streets looked clean and tidy, very different from those of their world. Moreover, that was unusual in general, in human civilization, the medieval times were not known for their cleanliness, only the fact that the main means of transport were horses, ensured that the streets were always covered with garbage, even without the fact that there were no water, sewage or garbage collection services like the current ones. So how did the bird people do it?
- Sergeant Pepian, I am very impressed with how clean the city streets are compared to others we have visited, how do you do it? - Mila asked, knowing that most were just as intrigued about it.
- You can just call me Pepian, no need to mention ranks at the moment. Regarding your question, nothing is simpler, we implemented a collection system, workers go through the streets three times a day to make sure everything is in order, if you look in the distance there is one of the workers. - Said Pepian pointing to an avian that was covered from head to toe in a white suit that did not even let you see his eyes.
- Impressive! - said Faye, happy to find a place that met her standards. - The other kingdoms could learn from you.
The population of the city of Pajar Akon, was conformed by the species known as avian, but to say that they were a species was not very accurate, they were really a great culture, because within the avian, there were many "races". So you could see people who apparently belonged to different "species" of birds, for example those who resembled eagles, were avian falconids, they were mostly those who were integrated into the army. There were also avian columbids, which resembled pigeons, who were almost always in charge of manual labor, commerce, even messengers. And so on, there were avians related to every type or species of bird you can think of, except crows, as we have already seen that they left the kingdom.
- Feeding such a large population must be quite a challenge. - Ashram commented, very interested in knowing how they could cultivate the land, considering they were above the clouds.
- Our cultivation fields are not in these walls, but far away from here, in a territory that also belongs to us. - Pepian answered.
- How do you transport the crops then? - Kunoichi asked
- Very simple, we have a portal that communicates both territories. - Said the sergeant. - A great wizard created it for us centuries ago. Workers come and go carrying or bringing whatever is needed. Transporting things doesn't take much more than a few hours, this way the city is always supplied.
- A portal! - Mila exclaimed, as the possibility came to her mind that the portal had some similarity to the one they opened to take them to that world. - What was the name of that wizard?, if I may ask.
- I don't remember, I'm not an expert historian, but it's been working since long before I hatched. - Pepian said. - If you wish, you can find more information in the library.
- And how do you deal with the water? - Faye asked, anxious to know if she could take a bath later.
- We have it in abundance, there are wise people in charge of the seeding and harvesting of clouds, thanks to their discoveries, the needs of the entire population are covered. A system of aqueducts carry water to the different sources of the city, the inhabitants only have to fill their jugs when they need it. The dirty water is expelled through another similar system.
- And where does it end up? - Kunoichi asked intrigued.
- In the mountain, but there are no dwarves living there, so no one is harmed. - Pepian said.
- I see... - She replied, not very convinced that there would be no consequences.
It seemed that not everything was wonderful in the system created by the bird men. However, as humans, they were not the best ones to point this out, considering that in their own world, pollution was one of the main unsolved problems. They continued walking, going deeper into that city that seemed to be taken from a story they read as children.
The city was full of life, even though it was already seven o'clock at night. The streets were lit by luminous rocks placed like spotlights on lamp posts, so they did not need electricity. Bird people were coming and going as if it were earlier in the day, bird children were running and playing everywhere. This excited Zafiro, who as we have already seen, loved animals. avians were not "irrational animals" but seeing "little birds" running around or singing was too much for her.
- Cute little birds! - Zafiro exclaimed when she saw the avian children running and playing all over the place, hummingbird children playing to see who could fly the fastest, a sparrow child leading a game with other avian children of "breeds" difficult to define without being an ornithologist.
- Zafiro, no!" said Ashram taking her by the hand when he saw that she was already off in pursuit of the "cute little birds".
- Hahahaha Children are definitely what brings joy to a city, and to a home. - Said the sergeant.
- Do you have children Mr. Pepian? - Zafiro asked, already imagining what the chicks would look like.
- Yes, I am the father of a seven-year-old chick, and my wife is hatching our second child. - he replied proudly.
- Ah how nice! Can we meet your family? - Zafiro asked, being overconfident.
- Zafiro, I think you're being a little too inappropriate, I don't think we should bother Mr. Pepian just to satisfy your curiosity. - Said Ashram trying to make her come to her senses.
- Hahahaha it's no bother, if you want another time we can stop by my house. -Mr. Pepian replied smiling.
- But now the most important thing is to go shopping, isn't it? - said Faye trying to get back to the main topic. - Where can we get some clothes? mine have holes in them from the fights, plus I'd like to see what musical instruments they have.
- Well, I could use a new shield or to repair mine that already has cracks in it. - Runkdar said. - Also my armor is still damaged from our first fight, we couldn't really stop anywhere to repair it.
- I need to see what magic items they have, especially scrolls with new spells for my grimoire. - Mila said with sparkling eyes as she imagined the things she wanted to buy.
- I need to check the weapons, I need to buy arrows and my daggers don't seem to be good for much longer if we keep going at this pace. - Said Kunoichi looking at the nicked blade.
- Well, there's nothing I need, but we can use the distraction. - Ashram said. - Maybe I can find something useful for the trip.
- Excuse me but, you've been in rags since you got burned by a fireball.... - Faye said a bit mortified. - You're coming shopping with me whether you want to or not. I'll find something you can wear so they won't call us beggars anymore. - Faye concluded, taking Ashram by the arm and forcibly leading him in the direction of the avian market.