AUTHOR NOTE - people, read the author's thought section, I tend to give important info or talk about important decisions there, but for the time being if you guys haven't read the previous one, should I create a discord server? YAY OR NAY? I only got one reply last time, need a couple more. btw you made me add this here i didn't want to.
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Meanwhile, as John and his group embarked on their search for the illusion switch, a short, pointy-eared man with brown hair and a long beard, dressed in a guard's uniform, could be seen pacing through a bustling building. The guard huffed and puffed as he made his way towards a large gate adorned with the crest of six figures around a table. He paused to tidy his uniform before forcefully slamming open the door.
"Sir, we have a problem!" he exclaimed, revealing a fairly large cubicle room, approximately twenty feet on each side, with a semi-circular table in the center. The table had three seats on the left side, two on the right, and only one in the center.
Gundrik Steamgear, a messy dwarf with engineering goggles, a dirty apron, and greasy hair, shouted at the guard as he stormed into the room, "What is the meaning of this? Why have you interrupted the Six Elders Council?"
"A group of humans has arrived outside the walls," the dwarf guard reported, giving a short salute and displaying a clear expression of panic on his face.
"Human visitors at the borders are not uncommon. What's the problem?" spoke another elder, Haldor Rockhammer, the military elder. He leaned forward, attempting to calm down Gundrik, who seemed on the verge of exploding in anger.
"They are searching for the emergency switch to disable the illusion!"
"WHAT!" Five of the six elders shouted in unison, their shock evident.
"Calm down, all of you. Let us first go to the ramparts and assess the situation. We can handle these humans after properly analyzing the situation," Chief Elder Grendrik Firebrand intervened, calming the tense atmosphere before it descended into a chaotic argument about what should or shouldn't be done.
"If the chief says so, then let's go and have a look. By the way, how many of them are there?" the mage elder, Malgrim Stormweaver, responded, tightening his robe as he sat back down.
"There were four of them, sir."
"Did they appear formidable?" the science elder, Elara Deepshaper, inquired.
"Not particularly, sir. The group consisted of a knight, a butler, an old man, and a child," the guard replied, lightly shaking his head.
"I see. Let's get going. You can provide us with more details along the way," the blacksmith elder, Thorin Firebeard, said as he rose from his seat and glanced at the chief elder for approval. Chief Elder Grendrik Firebrand nodded lightly and followed suit.
"Yes, sir," the guard dwarf acknowledged as he began leading the council members towards the southern wall, where John and his group had appeared.
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Not long after they split up, an awkward silence hung between John and Nicholas as they searched for the rocks. Nicholas was the first to break the silence, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity, "Hey, John, I've been meaning to ask you this since our sparring session. How large is your core? I couldn't help but notice that your strength far surpasses what someone with a newly formed core should possess."
John began to respond, but his words were abruptly cut off by Friedrich's booming shout. "SIR, WE FOUND THE ROCKS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK!" the knight exclaimed at the top of his lungs.
With a sly smile, John glanced at Nicholas and suggested, "Let's go check that out first, shall we?"
Nicholas let out a small sigh and replied, "Yeah, let's do that." He followed John, who had already started moving toward the direction from which the sound had come.
Just two minutes later, John and Nicholas stood before a large cluster of rocks inconspicuously arranged to blend in with the surroundings. Each rock was roughly the size of John, and unless one knew they were deliberately placed, it would be impossible to tell. The rocks were positioned next to a river system that flowed into the "mountains."
"Yes, this is definitely it. Now we just need to find the one with engraved runes," John said as he moved around the stones, his gaze focused. Before he could give instructions to the others, a loud sound echoed from the illusionary mountains, causing all four group members to freeze. "HALT RIGHT THERE! WHO ARE YOU, AND WHY HAVE YOU COME HERE?" boomed the voice of the chief elder, capturing their attention.
"WE COME IN PEACE! I HAVE COME HERE TO MAKE A DEAL WITH YOUR PEOPLE. I POSSESS KNOWLEDGE OF A NEW FUEL SOURCE FOR THE ETERNAL FLAME!" John shouted back, raising his hands in the air as he approached the dissipating illusion.
Following John's words, an eerie silence descended, only to be broken by the creaking of the gate opening. The illusion dissipated, revealing a massive fortress with concrete walls adorned with weapons from top to bottom. Large crystals floated ominously atop the battlements, and ballistas lined the ramparts, all pointed directly at John, ready to unleash their might at a moment's notice.
The gate's creaking gradually subsided, allowing the chief elder to come into view. He was a white-haired, white-bearded dwarf dressed in a traditional toga. He sprinted toward John, his eyes filled with suspicion. He grabbed John's collar tightly, pulling him down to meet his gaze. However, Friedrich and Nicholas swiftly aimed their weapons at the dwarf, ready to defend their comrade.
John, remaining composed, urged his companions, "Put your weapons away. If they intended to kill us, we wouldn't still be standing here. Let's stay calm."
The chief elder, impressed by John's quick thinking, released his grip on John's collar. "Smart kid for a human. But how did you come to know about the Eternal Flame?" he inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.
John adjusted his shirt with a smile and responded, "I learned about it from a friend. He mentioned that your people have been searching for a new fuel source for nearly a century."
The chief elder's expression changed slightly less angry, but his tone remained serious. "Follow me. Just remember, utter one wrong word, and you won't leave this place alive. The Eternal Flame is a sensitive topic—one that isn't taken lightly." With that warning, he turned on his heels and led the way into the city.
As John and the rest passed through the colossal walls of the city, their eyes were greeted by a breathtaking sight—a vast expanse of farmland stretching as far as the eye could see. The fields were abundant with crops, including wheat, barley, rice, and an assortment of vegetables.
As they made their way through the fields, Nicholas couldn't help but inquire, his curiosity piqued, "How do you manage to cultivate and maintain such an expansive agricultural system in these barren northern lands?"
The chief elder chuckled softly before responding, "It's a result of a little something we like to call magic engineering."
"Magic engineering?" Nicholas repeated, his interest further piqued.
The chief elder sighed inwardly, somewhat disappointed by Nicholas's lack of understanding. "We'll discuss it further along the way. Let's keep moving, and I'll answer your questions," he replied, urging them forward.
As the group ventured deeper into the city, the temperature gradually increased. They soon realized that the entire city was built atop a dormant volcano, as evidenced by the flow of lava through crystal pipes and metal drains.
If the sight of flowing lava wasn't enough to astonish them, the dazzling crystal lights illuminating the entire city certainly did. The dwarves had conquered the darkness through sheer intellect, leaving everyone's jaws hanging in awe.
As the fumes from the lava intensified, the chief elder retrieved several masks made of transparent crystal and handed them to the group. "Keep these on while you're here. Your bodies aren't accustomed to the fumes, so unless permitted, do not remove them. Unless, of course, you wish for an early demise," he cautioned.
Continuing their journey, they entered the industrial district of the city, where factories billowed thick smoke into the air. It was then that Hans voiced his curiosity, seeking clarification. "If I may ask, sir, what are all these crystals scattered throughout the city? And these colossal buildings emitting smoke—do they house forges or is there a fire raging inside?" he queried, scanning the district with intrigue.
"These crystals," the chief elder began, "are a type of magical alloy we create by fusing beast cores with various metals. As for the masks I provided, they are crafted using the cores of toxic blooms and a specific steel alloy." He procured another mask from his storage ring as an example.
"As for the buildings you see, they are what we call factories. While they may occasionally serve as forges, their primary purpose is mass production of certain products or materials, such as those crystals and masks. A forge or laboratory, on the other hand, is a space dedicated to creativity—a place where a dwarf applies their knowledge and brings their inspirations to life."
"I see," Hans acknowledged, though the complexity of it all seemed overwhelming.
With their questions addressed, the group finally arrived at the city hall—a majestic structure located at the heart of Ferrum Castrum. The city hall itself was a marvel of magic engineering, with self-propelled trolleys carrying stacks of paper, floating lights illuminating the air, gates that opened on their own, and a transparent ceiling revealing the sky above—an architectural feat that defied conventional possibilities, as multiple floors loomed above the one they currently stood on.
Upon entering the city hall, the group found themselves stepping into an elevator that whisked them away to the highest floor of the building. The ascent halted at the fifth floor, where only two rooms awaited them—the office of the city chief or chief elder and the conference room where the six elders convened.
As they reached the gate leading to the conference room, the chief elder turned to address them with a grave tone. "Before you enter, it would be wise to choose your words carefully," he advised, stepping into the conference room. The other five elders were already seated, and he proceeded to take his own place among them.