As Enchantra leaves his castle by carriage, he looks outside to see the grand city of Enchanted Elysium. The city is built in layers, with the castle of the ruling family situated at the top. Each layer is connected by moving bridges, allowing the citizens to easily travel between them.
The Castle of the Crimson Crown, as Enchantra is known, is a grand and imposing structure. It's made of dark stone, with cannons and spires reaching high into the sky. The garden surrounding the castle is filled with unique vegetation and magical plants, many of which are said to have healing properties.
The castle is also equipped with a special barrier that can create a temporary illusion of a different world. Inside the barrier, it's always warm and pleasant, a stark contrast to the harsh reality outside. This barrier can also be used to keep enemies out or keep secrets within. Inside the castle, there is a grand courtyard where mages train and hone their skills. There is a grand library, with ancient tomes of magic and history.
The Workshops of blacksmiths, enchanters, alchemists and artifact creators were located on the second floor, where the artisans worked tirelessly to create the finest equipment in the kingdom.
Enchantra was one of the most skilled enchanters in the kingdom, mainly because he felt more familiar with it, as he could communicate with the elements in a better way. The city was given to him by his father, the former king, as a test to prove himself worthy of the title of crown prince. But instead of pursuing the title, Enchantra worked more determined than ever to create a complete new city that prospers. He called it Enchanted Elysium, after it's speciality of enchanted equipment.
When the competition for the crown began, Enchantra helped his brother by providing him with all the enchanted equipment he needed and offering his support in various ways. However, he prefers not to delve into the details of those actions again.
As the competition began, the kingdom was thrown in turmoil and tensions ran high. The city was in a state of chaos, with a lot of criminals running around. But Enchantra worked tirelessly to bring order to the city. He created enchanted lanterns that lit up the streets at night, and enchanted gates that kept the criminals out. And he established a strong and fair system of law and order, making the city a safe and prosperous place for all.
Enchantra sat in his carriage as it made its way down the winding roads of the third layer of the city. This was a layer where the merchants and farmers made their livelihoods, and the streets were bustling with activity. As he passed by, he could see merchants shouting out the prices of their wares, farmers haggling over the price of their produce, and apprentices rushing back and forth on errands for their masters.
The smell of freshly baked bread and the sound of clucking chickens filled the air as Enchantra's carriage made it's way through the crowded streets. He watched as a group of children chased a stray pig, laughing and shouting as they ran. A group of farmers were discussing the price of wheat, their voices growing louder as they argued over the best deal.
…
As Enchantra leaves the city of Enchanted Elysium, he sets out on his journey down the main road which wound its way through the countryside and passed through all the villages and towns under his rule. As they traveled, Enchantra took the time to visit each of these places, halting for a time to allow him and his small army to rest and check on the people.
As they journeyed through the lush green hills and dense forests, they reached a bustling town named Town of Adventurers. This town was situated near a forest, and it was here that the first magical beasts could be found. These creatures were mostly harmless, but as they ventured deeper into the forest, they would encounter more dangerous ones.
The Town is bustling with activity, as a lot of adventurers come to stock up on supplies and seek out new challenges in the surrounding wilderness.
Enchantra decides to rest for the day in one of the town's taverns, and as he sits in the bar, he overhears the excited chatter of the surrounding people. They speak of encounters with all sorts of magical beasts and exotic creatures, from mischievous imps and shape-shifting selkies, to giant centipedes and venomous spiders and basilisks.
Enchantra sat at a table in the dimly lit tavern, a mug of ale in his hand. His personal guard, Kael, sat across from him, drinking from his mug.
„How are the men holding up, Kael?" Enchantra asked.
„They're doing well, my lord. The journey has been uneventful so far," Kael replied.
Enchantra nodded, taking a sip from his ale. „Good, I want to avoid any unnecessary battles if possible." They were discussing their next steps for their journey. Kael leaned forward and spoke up.
„My lord, I was thinking about our route and I believe it would be beneficial for the troops to face some challenges, such as the upcoming manticores. It will be a great experience for them and will make them better prepared for future battles."
Enchantra shook his head. „Kael, I understand your thinking but our priority is to reach our destination as quickly and safely as possible. We don't need to seek out any unnecessary battles, as there are still enough battles ahead of us, even if not as difficult ones as against the manticores."
Kael sighed, knowing that the duke's words made sense. „I understand, my lord. We shall avoid the manticores."
Enchantra nodded, satisfied with Kael's understanding. They then proceeded to discuss the next route that would take them to the border of the forest to avoid the manticores and other powerful creatures.
…
The next morning, Kael led the troops into the forest. Soon, they encountered a group of venomous spiders that, when sensing the group's presence, immediately lunged at them with their sharp fangs bared.
The soldiers, who were all trained mages, quickly sprang into action. One soldier unleashed a powerful wave of water that swept the spiders off their feet. Another soldier summoned a wall of rock to protect the group from the spiders' venomous attacks.
The spiders, however, changed their attack pattern. They retaliated with webs of silk that entangled the soldiers and restricted their movements. But then, one soldier unleashed a barrage of flames that burned through the webs and set the spiders ablaze.
The soldiers worked together seamlessly, using their elemental powers to neutralize the spiders' attacks and strike back with their own. Eventually, the spiders were defeated, and the soldiers emerged victorious.
…
The following march was more or less peaceful. Days after the battle with the venomous spiders, they were suddenly surrounded by a swarm of giant fireproof moths, with wings that spanned several feet wide, and their bodies being covered in a thick layer of orange-colored scales that protected them from flames.
The soldiers quickly assessed the situation and avoided using fire-elemental magic. They formed a defensive circle, with each mage taking on a different role. Some cast spells of ice and water to freeze the moths in their tracks, while others summoned powerful gusts of wind to blow the moths away. The earth-elemental mages once again created huge rock walls to protect the mages and hinder the moths' movements.
As the battle progressed, the moths began to weaken. Their wings were frozen solid, the gusts of wind disoriented them and the rock walls made it difficult for them to navigate. They were quickly overwhelmed. In the End, the soldiers managed to defeat the last of the moths with a final burst of magic.
Just like that, the group traveled for weeks until they reached the end of the forest. The dense forest gave way to rolling hills. The group soon found themselves standing at the edge of a large sea. The sea stretches before them, it's calm waters glistening in the sunlight.
From here onwards, the group will take a ship that will lead them directly to the royal city, the city of Thousand Towers. They will sail through a large see, passing by several rivers that will take them straight to the city.
…