The rest of the way was uneventful and we finally arrived at the town of Shernat, if you could even call it a town. At its entrance was a legion of tents and wooden huts riddled with holes that emanated a putrid smell.
"Damn, it got worse since the last time! They are at least twice as numerous, the unfortunate ones. They have nowhere to go and are denied wherever they go." Lawrence explained.
We then followed a road leading to the main gate which was cleared by a few soldiers guarding the flanks of these. Some passers-by looked at us with no vitality in their eyes or with hatred and greed for others. After a careful check, the guards allowed us to enter.
The condition of the city was only slightly better than the outside, instead of huts and tents, there were all kinds of stone and wooden houses, but the smell, although less, still persisted.
When we arrived downtown, after paying the entrance fee, the situation was quite different. The streets were clean and odorless dotted with houses made of bricks. The commercial activity was undoubtedly flourishing, given the number of markets and people circulating there.
Arriving in front of a larger than average establishment, my parents got out of the vehicle, took me, and then got into this building where you could read roughly on a sign located on the facade. "Lizharte Company, mining and forging of ores"
As we opened the door, we were greeted by a rather special young employee, at least for me alone. Indeed, he had red eyes and hair as white as snow. It was the first time I encountered what is called here, a 'hybrid'.
Mrs. and Mr. Lizharte! You are finally back! And here is finally the new kid, black hair as well as the same facial features as Mrs. and purple eyes… I imagine he is gifted with magic then! However, who could he have inherited it from, neither of you has the same color of eyes… Could it be that Mrs. was at fault?!"
"Cooper, one more word, and I'll rip your tongue out! If you still have so much energy to say nothing, then take my son to his new room and take care of him until he falls asleep and then resumes your post!" exclaimed Lawrence.
"Yes, Boss! I'll take care of it immediately!" said Cooper, presumably distraught at his boss's threat.
"Honey, I have to leave you, for now, I'll report to the Count on the appearance of abominations in the area" Laore explained as she left the shop, indifferent to Cooper's remarks as if she were already used to it.
Carrying me awkwardly, the steward led me through wide corridors into a large room with blue walls and marble floors. He put me in a big cradle decorated with paper flowers of all colors.
Once installed, I noticed a large library as well as a desk located next to the door.
Why was madam talking about abominations a few moments ago, that doesn't bode well..." Cooper muttered, choosing a book titled: 'Foundation and History of the Kingdom of Nauplan'
"Long ago, long before the arrival of the demons, there existed a peaceful land even larger than anything we can imagine today spanning at least the entire continent of Pangea. Nobody really knows when it was founded, but this era of peace certainly lasted more than 8000 years. Until the unfortunate day when a gigantic machine could be observed in the sky. Out of it came millions of smaller machines that descended and scattered across Azur, then the terrifying structure of the sky eclipsed in an instant leaving behind a flash that scorched most of the land's cultures and forest. There followed the impacts of the smaller machines which destroyed thousands of cities leaving nothing behind but a crater of several kilometers for each of them. The anger of the people was not long in coming and it was decided to destroy these relatively small structures. But a problem arose very quickly, only the archmages and holy knights seemed to be able to destroy them, which gave ample time for the demons to come out prepared and retaliate against the humans with strange tools that emitted projectiles and caused huge explosions."
"No one knows when the Kalmalean Empire was created. However, we know that its history goes back at least more than 9000 years and that its population reached at its peak more than 3 billion inhabitants..."
Marking a short pause, the young man continued after having checked if the toddler had fallen asleep in the face of this boring story that he had to pursue reluctantly.
"This external threat put an end to this superpower. The demons then exterminated almost all the great heroes that humanity possessed and this haven of peace was dislocated. There followed a great emigration to the unexplored lands of the north in which humanity prepared its counter-offensive."
"First we built the great wall of Hadrian, one of the founders of one of the neighboring countries, then the 12 remaining heroes each created their kingdom, all part of the Azurean federation which no longer exists today."
"Over time, tensions and then conflicts appeared within the demon societies, which allowed humanity to push back and recover some lands. Until today we have been able to take back 15 percent of what they have taken from us, but there has been no further advancement for at least 300 years. Since the last conquest, everything seems to have calmed down on the surface, if we ignore the waves of ether and abominations released by the demons, but few know that these monstrosities are reconciled little by little and that their rage and hatred will soon descend on us again… And that is how the Nauplian dynasty settled in this place and created the kingdom of Nauplan. That's all for today my little one, rest well."
(Incredible! how such an empire can exist for so long in such proportions is beyond me. Magic must have played a fundamental role in supporting and administering such a widely spaced population.)
(I have to forget my preconceived ideas about how this world works. I am no longer on earth and I must at all costs concentrate and prepare myself to adapt and survive against these 'demons' who look more like extraterrestrials than anything else… But for now, it's time to sleep, I've reached my limits for this morning…)
Cooper noticing that little Mayron was falling asleep, put the book down and said to himself, "This author is a real bringer of doom, anyway. It's time to get back to work!"
.