Chapter 14: So Much Danger!
The maps showed a world that was vastly different from the one Alabaster had once known, the one he had left behind when he went into isolation on the frigid edges of the empire was no more.
A new nation had emerged in the center of the continent, a nation that presented a dark and sinister name.
A name that evoked a feeling of a grave and great danger lurking there, a danger that threatened the whole world.
"No wonder war broke out, with that nation present.
Peace won't be possible" exclaimed Alabaster with an eerie smile that seemed to be mid-way between concern and anticipation.
Alabaster had many questions, thoughts, and quires.
Now wasn't the time to get involved in war politics, considering he was booked with his prior arrangement, of returning this trouble-making blob to his parents.
Alabaster muttered under his breath as he examined the map closely, whilst tracing his fingers over the small writing studying the nations and the borders.
The map was written in the same rune language within the perverse wizard's books.
The map was large and was well drawn, by whom he could only imagine to have been a skilled cartographer.
It was drawn in expensive ink of deep black pigment. Alabaster stared in awe at the skilled craftsmanship, as he identified the ink to belong to a legendary beast given its potent mana.
Just as he had theorised before the boy's nation must be filthy rich, and powerful, especially in terms of magic.
The map was carefully colored and burnished with fine brushwork work, it was hand-crafted, A rare sight in a nation where most maps were made from magic.
However, this map was in no way inferior to its magic-made counterparts.
This map was made to include every intricate detail, every body of water, every river, every mountain, every town, every village, and every hamlet not a single detail was missing.
Not even the monster biomes were missing a single detail.
Not to mention, it was annotated masterfully to include any important details, relations, treaties, partnerships, and nations to avoid even the monsters in each territory.
However, the Derelictus nation and the Empire's northern border were left quite barren compared to the rest of the map.
Alabaster out of a hint of curiosity looked upon the notes regarding the northern border, he leaned over his most peculiar table looming over the map with his burly body, baby still in hand to read.
[ THE EMPIRE'S NOTHERN BORDER IS VERY DANGEROUS AND EXTREMELY COLD, AND IS A RUMOURED HOME OF MADMAN THAT RESIDES WITH MONSTERS, I'VE RECEIVED SPECIAL ORDERS TO NOT ENGAGE WITH THE BOOGEYMAN.]
There was an odd silence in the room only the sound of the fireplace crackling filled the quiet room.
"The boogeyman...
who are they calling the boogeyman?!"
Alabaster shouted in a fit of rage who did these people think they were, calling him the boogeyman?
"Treating me like some creep that gives kids nightmares" Alabaster scoffed at the irony of the situation, the man they wished to keep their distance from was now the closest to the boy.
Alabaster took a moment to recollect himself before staring at the sunny boy in his lap who was once again sampling his furniture sinking his razor-like teeth into the impenetrable wood, as one would a gooey marshmallow.
This furniture tasting had now appeared to be a habitual happening regarding the boy's snacking on his decor, only to suck the mana right out of it like a parasite.
Of course, Alabaster originally tried to stop this most unusual habit from developing. But, after failing countless times, he just considered it a canon event and moved on with life.
As long as it wasn't harming the boy, it wasn't that big of an issue.
Looking back on the map Alabaster noticed the borders were blurred and dotted unsteady and rough compared to the intricate and exact lines of the natural features.
Not a single border was consistent except for a few countries that were isolated in the ocean separate from the main continent, this included the boy's country.
This was most likely due to the constant battles occurring as the nations tried to occupy more land.
Alabaster wasn't quite sure if he should refer to it as a map or as an encyclopedia of the world given the thought, detail, and materials that made up this overly engineered map.
Not that he was complaining rather it was quite convenient.
The quality of the map aside Alabaster began to study the route he was to take and the nations he was to pass.
As he had thought originally he could not use airships as a mode of transportation within the empire, for the skies were filled with warships, and civilian airships were heavily regulated.
Not to mention it was a warship that ambushed the boy's airship to begin with.
He had to travel by land, but that meant passing through many nations that were at war with each other.
To further trouble him it wasn't as though the boy's nation was apart from the war entirely, despite their neutral status, otherwise, they wouldn't have sent the boy away to begin with.
From the information Alabaster was able to gather the whole reason they sent the boy away was so he could develop and grow stronger whilst being away from their nation, in fear for the boy's life.
As evidenced by the focus of the letters being on the boy's milestones and growth rather than where they were positioned.
This could explain the need for the legendary, pocket-burning, wallet-emptying diet the boy had been consuming.
What they didn't know was that those they trusted with their precious son were not to be trusted.
Though at the moment it was just speculation Alabaster was sure that someone had betrayed them.
As he read the logs Alabaster noted that the secrecy of the trip was absolute.
There was no way for any regular citizen or enemy nation to know of their whereabouts and given the fact Sunny's airship was not suited for battle they never intended to be found.
It makes sense that they were staying further north where civilization was nowhere in sight.
Alabaster had to make a plan, a plan that would allow him to traverse this perilous world with the sunny boy, whilst keeping such troublesome ideas in mind.
It wasn't like he could use the pre-sketched route either.
Unless he was planning to spend a year flying 40,000 KM without an airship and not to mention the people who betrayed the boy would know the route.
But this also meant that Alabaster had to travel by land and ocean, which by no means was any safer and would take years.
Alabaster's planet was a giant, to give a sense of scale it is 500 times the size of Earth but half the size of Jupiter.
It was this enormous size that made mana a necessity for all living organisms to thrive on a planet with such an overbearing gravity.
Hence, it was no surprise that the planet had continental countries, extreme climates, irregular weather, unusual ores, and vastly different biomes compared to Earth, this also affected the final route for Alabaster's journey.
In this world ARCANA where magic, several nations vie for power.
Traveling through territories was like jumping between the border of North and South Korea,
Absolutely, stupid!
but.
Not impossible.
Alabaster read through the nations one by one.
[LUX:
Position: south border of EMPIRE. The east border of CALIGO.
The elves of light and fellow followers, dwell in a sacred forest of light.
There are sub-communities and cities with different cultures, beliefs, and blood.
SOME ARE EXTREMELY HOSTILE.
The nation of light lives within the magical forest, where they practice light magic.
ALLIES: FABER for resources and weaponry, (we are on friendly terms with this nation. )
ENEMIES: DERIICTUS AND EMPIRE]
Alabaster's face screwed this nation was most likely hostile towards him as a person living in the EMIPRE.
But, given the boy's kind whatever the boy is is welcomed here it wasn't a bad idea to cross this nation.
LUX was entirely landlocked and would only serve at best as a place of rest.
Alabaster's face screwed as he was lost in deep thought.
He read on to the nation neighboring LUX.
[CALIGO
Position: West border of LUX.
The dark elves, who have fallen to the corruption of demons and live in a savage kingdom of BLACK MAGIC.
- The dark elf nation worships demons. hunts ALL LIFE as a sacrifice.
They are ruthless and cunning and seek to dominate the world with dark magic.
THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN IMMORALITY.
ALLIED: DERIICTUS, for LIVING resources.
ENEMIES: EMPIRE, CALIGO, FABER, TERRA.
Friendly terms with ARTIFICUM, bad terms with us. Have a notably high amount of monster biomes in their countries]
Alabaster found this nation to have been smaller in the past, maybe it was their affiliation with Derelictus, that caused their growth in the territory, destroying the entire nation of FAX.
FAX a nation of vampires had been swallowed hole.
FAX wasn't weak nor small it was a nation the size of Australia with the power of almost immortal beings.
Alabaster face turned sour as he noticed that most of the South and West coast had been occupied by monster biomes and CALIGO.
If he wished to avoid them it would be almost impossible.
He then traced his finger to the east neighboring country of the Sothern part of the continent
[ TERRA,
Position: The west border with CALIGO, the east border with DERIICTUS, the north border with LUX, and the south border is coastal.
Demi-humans and being of elemental nature. A very beautiful nation of nature a jungle, tropical land but also has a notably large desert shared with DERIICTUS.
ALLIES: FABER
ENEMIES: DERIICTUS, EMPIRE, CALIGO
WE ARE NOT ON FRIENDLY TERMS!!!
-AVOID!!!]
Alabaster seemed confused reading the last few lines given the ongoing theme.
The boy's country should off been on friendly terms with TERRA given their friendly terms with LUX and FABER.
Alabaster sighed now none of the South Coast of the continent was safe seeing as the rest belonged to DERIICTUS.
"Maybe I should just fly across half the globe" sighed Alabaster.
With a dejected look, he continued to the east to the final country on the southern part of the continent.
[DERIICTUS
The mystery nation is hidden from the rest of the world but has its secret agendas. Depending on their interests, they may ally or oppose any of the other factions.
THERE IS SOMETHING SINISTER ABOUT THEM.
THEY STARTED THIS WAR AND UNLESS THIER GONE IT WONT END.
ALLIES: ARTIFICUM, CALIGO
ENEMIES: EVERYONE ELSE!!!]
It was as Alabaster had suspected the main cause of anarchy was centered here a country that swallowed 10 full nations and along with it 20 different species.
It was 3 times the size of Russia.
He knew he had to avoid that nation at all costs, but he also knew he had to cross the continent to reach the boy's home, where his family might be.
It was dangerous no matter the method he was bound to meet an enemy.
So he had to consider the possibility of crossing all nations within the continent if need be.
However, this one was to be avoided like the plague, simply because it is one.
Alabaster knew his luck well. He mentally prepared for the possibility, and read on moving to the North of the continent that was occupied by 1 nation alone.
The world power called...
[ Krimean EMPIRE
Krimean EMPIRE also known as EMPIRE.
Is the technological empire and is a human-dominated society. It relies on advanced magic machines and weapons to expand its territory and influence.-
The technological empire creates powerful weapons and machines with the help of ]
Alabaster stopped he made a familiar skewed face of utter disgust
He nearly quit right there and then. As he read on...
[ Aurum the ancient wizard of gold and greed]
"Urk, What has that waste of resources been up to to get praised so much." The perverse wizard being praised so highly made Alabaster feel nauseous.
The praise went on for a few lines and Alabaster spent no effort in deciding to swiftly skip the entire paragraph.
[ ALLIES: non, has all resources made internally.
ENEMIES: EVERYONE and us.]
"Ah, shi" Alabaster continued to extend his "i" noticing the presence of the sunny boy who was paying close attention to Alabaster.
"Shiiiiiiiiiiip..." Alabaster smiled at the clueless boy who was now saying.
"Ah, ship, Ah, Ship" the boy laughingly repeated those words for the rest of the day.
That was a little too close, given the boy learns fast, Alabaster was cautious with his language.
Alabaster brows furrowed as he wondered how in the living hell the current Emperor screwed their international relationships so badly!!!
"We're doing worse than Derelictus!" Exclaimed Alabaster in a fed-up tone.
Even FABER wasn't allied with them despite sharing trade currents and oceans.
Alabaster moved his attention back to the map after taking a moment to question his standing in this world.
Now looking at countries separate from the continent water-locked but by no means small neigh they were also continental in size.
[FABER
No shared borders, closest nation EMPIRE.
Artesians rule this land of immense resources they affiliate with those who share a similar moral compass
We are on friendly terms.
ALLIES: SOL, TERRA
ENEMIES: CALIGO, EMPIRE, DERIICTUS ]
Alabaster then looked to the east side of the globe to another water-locked country.
[ARTIFICUM
Position: no shared borders closest to DERIICTUS.
A mountainous land is almost as inhabitable as the northern border of the EMPIRE.
Is said to be inhabited by the exiled members of FABER who have sinned. unforgivable by nature and full of avarice
If there is money there is ARTIFICUM.
ALLIES: DERIICTUS, CALIGO
ENEMIES: SOL, TERRA AND EMPIRE
We are on unfriendly terms]
He then looked south West to another nation
[IRATUS:
Completely isolated
Dwarfs and giants They are ambitious and pragmatic and view magic as a threat to their progress in science.
The descendants of a great Artesian
Neutral no ENEMIES
No alliance
No relationships
A true neutral hence we also have no relationships.]
And finally, the boy's nation's water is locked to the south of the globe.
[SOL
OUR NATION, THE BEST NATION OF THE MOST POWERFUL MADE BY OUR UNRIVALED LEADER KING SOL
WE ARE NEUTRAL BUT HAVE OUR MORALS.]
...
Alabaster trembled his patience wore thin.
"THATS IT!!!, what am I meant to do with that?
Who was that meant to inform!?
Dammit, why is it every piece of literature I read is made by some eccentric narcissistic weirdo!"
Alabaster was distraught that the description was useless!
If anything it only confirmed his early conclusions without giving him any new information.
Alabaster took a moment of his time to think through the possibility of travelling from the empire to Sol by ocean, only to instantly take back the remark remembering the dangers in the ocean to be just as bad as on land.
Personally, if he had to fight on land or water, he would pick land with no hesitation.
And so he pondered and pondered and night fell as he continued pondering then he paused to get the boy to bed before pondering yet again.
The man was hunched over the man his eyes began to water as he hadn't slept his eyes were wide open regardless as he was absorbed and lost in his thoughts.
"Yes, that will do just fine." Alabaster hastily grasped a quill and ink from the space ring before carefully charting a path in bright red ink starting from his humble abode.
The path followed the fiord to the nearest village.
Then the trade road to the closest city,
Following the main river past multiple towns and cities that got increasingly bigger, till the capital of the EMPIRE.
Then from the capital Alabaster took a turn away from civilization, crossing the monster plains on the Southern border of the empire
To avoid DERIICTUS.
He simply chose the lesser evil, to enter LUX from where he carefully selected areas deemed as non-hostile before reaching the border of CALIGO.
Once again relying on the concept of picking the lesser evil, Alabaster hesitantly drew a line passing through the various monster plains within CALIGO to avoid the regulated borders of TERRA to the coast of TERRA,
Where he must hijack a boat across the Red Sea to SOL.
It was 2 years to cross the empire, 1 year to cross LUX, 1 year from CALIGO to TERRA, and 6 months across the Red Sea.
It was 4 and a half years and it wasn't entirely 'safe' but it was the best option.
A simple plan in theory but theory doesn't always translate well in real life.
Now all that was left was to start.
Chapter 14 fin.