Moriarty followed them as the wall sealed itself behind him. He stepped into a world of wonder.
"Woah…"
He gazed in awe at the vast and splendid space that stretched beneath the fortress. He felt dwarfed by the towering columns and the wide beams that supported the high ceiling, which was decorated with elaborate patterns and designs. The smooth stone floor shone with the light from the magic lamps, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
He had entered the edge part of The Port, a colossal underground facility that spanned beneath the entire fortress. This was the most bustling part of The Port, as it connected the different fortresses under the wall and served as a passage for reinforcements and travelers among the various strongholds.
"Aw!!!"
Suddenly, he was jolted out of his reverie by a sharp impact on his side. A huge wagon loaded with armaments had hit him as he stood in the middle of the path, oblivious to his surroundings. He groaned and fell to the ground, clutching his side.
'Crap, what was I thinking? I can't afford to be distracted here. This place could kill me if I'm not careful.' He scolded himself as he got up and brushed off the dust. He remembered that he had to be more vigilant and alert in every unfamiliar place he encountered.
He suppressed his amazement and focused on his objective. He didn't want to draw any more attention or trouble in this hostile territory.
He scanned the area and spotted a staircase that led to the upper levels of The Port. He made his way toward it, hoping to find the pathway to the top.
Moriarty climbed the stairs, leaving behind the bustling Port. He noticed the wall changing to limestone, indicating that he was inside the wall.
He ignored the floors he passed by, as he saw no sign of slackers there. He thought it would be too risky to explore them.
He reached the top and was greeted by a wide limestone road that spanned like a bridge. He felt a surge of wonder as he saw the golden glow of the sun reflecting on the wall. It was akin to being surrounded by gold, shining brightly under the sun. He was dazed again as he had never seen something like it.
But his wonder was cut short as someone bumped into him from behind, sending him to the edge of the wall.
He gasped as he looked down and saw the abyss below him. He thought he was going to die.
But he didn't fall. He felt something holding him back, something invisible and solid. He realized it was a transparent membrane that prevented him from falling to his doom.
He let out a sigh of relief.
"Sorry about that, brother."
A slacker said to him, but Moriarty didn't look at him. He was too busy trying to get away from the membrane that pressed against his face. He hoped it wouldn't break or else he would be dead.
"Shield… Ma… Mana Shield!!!"
He managed to say, while his face was still stuck to the invisible barrier. He was amazed by the security of the wall and the advanced magic that was used.
In Seiren, he had heard rumors about Mana Shield, a legendary magic that was said to block any kind of magic. It held no color nor distinction that showed it was there.
It was very different from elemental shields, which had distinct colors and shapes. It could also allow or deny anything to pass through it, depending on the will of the caster. It was a very versatile and powerful magic.
He straightened himself and touched the mana shield, muttering under his breath, "There's no way I can cross the wall like this. They must have known I was here all along, and they were just playing with me. That's why they bided their time to capture me. Heck, I doubt they were even looking for me. Maybe they were waiting for me to make a mistake and get caught. Damn, they're so arrogant."
He shook his head and tried to clear his mind.
Moriarty looked at the setting sun with a sad expression. He leaned over and saw the other side of the wall, where a wide river sparkled with orange light. He felt a twinge of longing and frustration in his heart.
He thought to himself, 'I'm so close to freedom, I can almost touch it. But I can't even get there…'
He turned around and looked at the opposite side of the wall, where the entire Lorelei Fortress was in full view. He was both amazed and intimidated by the sight of it.
'So this is what a stronghold looks like… and I'm inside it… I wish I wasn't here, but I have to admit that it's impressive.'
A large space separated the Main Building from the wall. The Main Building was a majestic structure that resembled an old castle, with intricate designs and decorations. It was not very tall, but very wide. It had several towers and spires, and a large gate that led to a courtyard.
Beyond that, there were hundreds of two-story buildings that were arranged neatly, forming rows and columns. Moriarty assumed that they were barracks or offices. He saw soldiers moving in and out of them, carrying weapons.
Further away, there was a huge dome that stood out from the rest.
The dome was a massive structure that covered a large area. It was made of glass and metal, and it shone with the light of the sun.
All of these structures were enclosed by a thin line that formed a huge circle. The line was actually part of the mana shield that protected the fortress from any unexpected inside threats.
If Moriarty had paid more attention to the location of the sun and the shape of the wall that curved into a V-shape, he would have realized that it was the Lorelei insignia that was on the back of every active soldier.
But before he could examine the region more closely, he heard a commotion on the sides.