"Ten kilometres"
Nier's eyes widened at the answer. Valt Tower was apparently ten kilometres from the entrance. A disappointment.
"Heh... don't worry." Renley grinned
"Rosery's ability has a fifteen kilometres radius"
Rosery was Diana's last name. Her ability 'Root Gateway' allowed her to mark a tree larger than herself and use the tree like a portal. As long as the tree marked was within a radius of fifteen kilometre, Diana could use another tree nearby as the entrance and exit from the marked tree. The markings only needed mana when being engraved or for activation, they didn't require mana to be maintained. Vanishing once used.
"You have the wood element right? So can you just create a tree and then mark it so that you don't have to find a natural one anywhere?" Kyber asked intrigued.
"There's a limitation for that. Trees containing my own mana cannot be used as a target for the ability" Diana said shaking her head.
"Tch. That would be too good. But isn't it sort of useless in a fight other than for running away?" Kyber added absentmindedly
"Oi..." Traicion grumbled looking at Kyber with a frown.
"Kyber...-" Len called calmly wanting to reprimand the boy when Diana smiled.
"You are right about that so don't worry."
Kyber looked down apologetically at her words.
Layla suddenly woke up in Diana's hands and stretched her hands in the air before looking around with half opened eyes.
The kid didn't even say anything and just continuously poked at Diana's cheek catcher her attention, after which she pointed at what seemed to be a bakery.
The sounds of the bells at the entry door jingling reached Mrs. Danelle who looked at her customers. There were five adults and five adorable children.
"Welcome to the Danelle's" Mrs Danelle said with a smile. She seemed to have realised that they were foreigners and thus used Zalnese
The adults nodded and the kids scattered around looking at the displayed items.
"Hmm...which one do you want?"
The kids each pointed at something they liked and Renley paid for their wants.
"They are all quite adorable" Mrs Danelle said smiling. She was a middle-aged woman with brown hairs having few white strands of hair and some subtle wrinkles. She had a warm atmosphere.
"Yes you are right" Diana also smiled. Mrs. Danelle found Diana to be quite beautiful seemingly in the prime of her life. Short and luscious dark green hair and bright brown eyes.
"Are you from the orphanage on the hills?" Mrs. Danelle asked smiling.
"Yes...how did you know" Diana asked
"It's not the first time that I am seeing a customer from there. I used to have a bubbly child as well so it soothes me to see children living happily." Danelle said with a smile.
Diana noticed the sadness behind her remark and didn't reply.
Outside the shop, Renley stood with Len.
"Say...do you think Julian's words were correct?" Renley asked with a thoughtful expression with a water bottle in his hands.
"What are you talking about?" Len asked eating a sweet bread.
"That this era is peaceful"
"Definitely not." Len answered without hesitation.
"I guess it was just a passionate monologue"
Len nodded
"It's true that people are more relaxed than before but the Lightbringer incident with Karma and the annihilation of the dark continent show that the world might be facing gigantic trials. However..."
Lenierre looked up as he leaned against the shop.
{"Then everyone stopped moving. I turned and saw a person sitting on the wall. He had 'time' element"}
"The world also blesses us with strong guardians"
------
Standing in front of an isolated tree. Diana pressed her hand on it as the tree opened it's 'mouth', ate them and spat them at a tree near the Valt Tower.
They had to still walk for some time before Nier noticed a shift in environment. Unlike the road before where loads of well dressed people were walking to their destination in an orderly manner. This place was chaotic and bustling.
Nier could see some people dressed in clown and animal outfits dancing around. Aside from the normal and the entertainers, there were few people wearing full body armors walking around with swords and spears in their hands. And all of those present were surrounding one building.
A large and tall, ivory tower that shaped like a barrel and seemed to have stood the test of time. The top of the tower seemed intentionally 'broken' giving it a certain beauty. It looked as though barrels had been placed inside bigger barrels cut spirally.
"Woah" The kids were awed and so were the adults.
"It's certainly impressive" Len said calmly gazing at the white tower. The light of the sun highlighted it's pristine image.
"Hah... it's not that old if you compare it to other famous monuments in Decericorn. It's around three-four hundreds year old" Arvem Murphy, a worker at the orphanage said calmly.
"Even so...how do they maintain it? Isn't this a battle arena? If it's made from marbles like I had thought then it should have been much more damaged even if it has protective formations" Renley asked interested
"Heh...It's just an illusion. Marble is used for one of two layers otherwise it's filled with strong metal" Marie Julian said sneering.
"Metal?" Renley inquired. He found the answer a bit weird.
"It was made by the Mayan Royal family. The Irunstarks. You can say that they specialise in metal element sorcerers."
"Is that so..." Renley could infer from her tone that she didn't have the best view of the royal family but didn't inquire incase he was wrong.
"Wow...Look at that!"
Xiu exclaimed as everyone turned around to see a group of armored sorcerers arriving on horses. They carried a black flag bearing an insignia which depicted a dark lion. Nier noted that the armors were more clean and appropriate when compared to the ones he'd seen when first arriving at the orphanage.
"Mahara..."
"Are they the Mahara's knight squad.?"
"Mahara knights..."
Nier heard people mutter as Renley said calmly.
"One of the five noble families of Decericorn. The Mahara. From what I've found during my research. The Maharas are especially respected even amongst the nobles."
Renley glanced towards Arvem and Marie to see their reactions. They did not disappoint as Arvem answered.
"You are correct about that. The Mahara have continuously provided strong sorcerers who have worked to protect Decericorn for more than six hundred years."
"Especially Kaia Mahara who previously worked as the Royal Knight's general. Her actions are a major factor contributing to the appreciation for Maharas ." Marie added.
"That's a name I came across before. She seems to be a people's hero" Len inquired calmly.
"She is...you see-" Before Marie could complete.
The crowd began to move as the gates to the tower opened. The crowed moved in chaos but Len secured a good place and the adults lifted the children in their arms.
-----
The Valt tower had multiple floors containing different arenas but the biggest one was present right at the ground level. The 'battlefield' was barrel shaped, even more than the tower itself with colosseum like seats on remaining area. The ceiling contained a blinding light which brightened the hole arena. On the walls surrounding the arena, there were two giant metal gates standing opposite to each other looking like entrances for something humongous. The large gates housed smaller gates for the passage of human beings without having to open the giant gate again and again.
Sitting on a viewer's seat, Nier looked around amazed but also felt a bit suffocated by the overwhelming intensity of the crowd.
"Today is an event that takes place every year. Basically, the noble families and the royal knights send sorcerers who fight with magic beasts and show their might by defeating them. It's meant to be seen as a proof or celebration of those defending this country." Arvem told them about the tradition as he drank water.
"Wow...they bring magic beasts?" Kyber muttered looking at the arena. His voice was barely a whisper but Arvem picked it up and added.
"Well...The forests in Maya are filled with dangerous magic beasts which is why they station magic knights at all such places. The beasts are brought from the forests."
"That's fantastic" Even the recluse, Traicion was excited.
As they continued their conversation. A single man walked down the arena standing in the middle of the field wielding a tool that seemed to be a sphere attached to rod on it's non-curved surface.
"That is a sound amplifier. It's encrypted with wind elemental enchantments which spread one's voice throughout the surroundings" Marie gave a small summary and didn't continue despite her talkative nature as silence slowly overtook the stadium.
"*Ahem-Ahem Ladies and gentlemen! I, your host for today. Berk Law welcome your gracious presence for the Great Valt Knight's Assembly. Today is an auspicious day and it brings me joy to see everyone here." The man named Berk Law said with a smile. The man had light blonde hair, a young and a pleasant thin face. His eyes were brown and piercing despite seeming innocent. Scanning the crowd, he continued-
"There are many of you here who have attended us in the years before but the passage of time brings us new companions and for them. I shall explain the events going to be held today."
Nier and his companions listened with rapt attention.
"The first event to be held is the ceremonial duel between the magic knights of the the kingdom. Just like the previous years, the knights that will participate come from the four noble families. The Shaw family which upholds guard over Valt city. The Maharas, The Noirs and the Grahams have all sent their knights for this event. And similar to previous years, the royal knight squads have sent their candidates as well" Berk moved calmly on the stage and suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha...I believe everyone must be wishing for me to stop and proceed with the event. I can't blame you, I would wish to stop myself too..."
Laughter rang from the crowd at his words.
"After the duels, the second and last event would envolve a battle between the wild beast captured by us and the group of knights formed by the winners of the first event." Ber raised his chin and smiled.
"Let us start the even-"
*BOOM
The giant gates that should have been locked were blasted to smithereens as a roar echoed across the colosseum.
*ROOAAR!
A giant bear walked out of the gates. It's fur were dark and brown. Eyes glowing and smoke coming from it's mouth and pores on its body. Chaos erupted as the audience scrambled to move away when the bear opened it's mouth showing it's large and sharp fangs.
*Zoooo
It looked as though the bear was collecting fragments of light in one place in it's mouth.
*Zoosh
A dense beam of mana left it's mouth aiming for the crowd. Screams of terror left the concerned audience's mouth. The bear seemed to be comparable to third or maybe even fourth order sorcerers so the people could only watch as the light approached them. Some who had suitable abilities escaped but not everyone was so lucky. The suddenness of the situation had caused chaos and panic so no one could think properly.
A beast had left it's cage!
At that moment. Before the attack could connect.
"Piercing brilliance" A calm was rang out. The Southern Ash Bear's attack was met head on by a similar white beam of mana...and was destroyed completely.