A light knock sounded on my door, indicating a servant was here. I could see she was bringing breakfast as it walked behind her.
After a quick breakfast of two, I flung open the door to Zenobia's room where she was getting dressed.
"We're leaving, let's go."
I spun around and walked out of my room as she stumbled along behind me while she finished dressing. Lady Nyx and Nova were in the office; I thought I should stop by, so I made my way in that direction.
I knocked on the door, and Lady Nyx's command came from the other side, "Enter."
I pushed open the door to a very similar scene as yesterday.
"I'm off, see you later." I smirked as if I knew something. "Have fun together and don't get in trouble for it, you two."
I know nothing; I promise it's an innocent comment. I'm not trying to make your subconscious wonder and eat away at your mind.
Anger passed over Nova's face. "Who do you think—"
Lady Nyx stopped her by raising her hand and put on her signature polite smile, "Have a good time, Mr. Frost."
I turned around and left, pulling the door shut behind me. Nova was fuming about how I dared to tell them what to do, oblivious to the shadow of doubt that unknowingly passed over her twin's face.
I led the way out of the mansion and through the gate. "Zenobia, how would one usually get to the battlefield?"
"If it is just a vampire, they would usually fly. Slaves are transported on trains."
I zipped around behind her and lifted her up before taking to the skies. I know we are going east but do not know the exact location, so I will go east until I see it, then look along it until I find the main camp.
I just decided to glide along with magic rather than flapping my wings, but not too fast so if my arrival time was ever reported it wouldn't be strange.
I just glided along at a lazy pace under the starry sky and occasional cloud for about 12 hours; the sun was just beginning to come up. I saw a barren area in front of me with patrols walking and flying in groups. I changed how I was flying to the normal flap flap. I looked across the barren area but could not see the other side even with how high I currently was.
The patrols spotted me, and one broke off from the group and headed in my direction. I decided to hover and just wait for him to come to me.
He glanced at Zenobia in my arms with a bit of confusion. "May I inquire what business you have here?" He inquired it in a respectful tone, probably due to my strength.
I pulled the letter from Lady Nyx out of my pocket. "I have a letter for..." I had to look at the name again. "General Gregor Durnell from Lady Nyx."
He took the letter, looked at the seal, then handed it back to me. "Please follow me."
He waved at the rest of his patrol to go on without him and we flew south. After a few minutes, a town with only 1-story buildings came into view. It looked quite funny being so flat and uniform.
"We must descend here and walk the rest of the way."
I dropped down first, and he followed right after. My feet hit the ground gently and without sound, I set Zenobia down but she seemed unable to stand.
The sound of another person landing beside me was heard. "This way, please."
I wasn't going to wait around for Zenobia to be able to stand again and simply tossed her over my shoulder to continue.
It only took a few minutes of running for us to reach a defensive wall where there were guards to check our identification. I set Zenobia on the ground and she scrambled to stand.
I pulled out my mercenary license for the guard checking papers.
"Papers, please."
I held out my license.
"Sir, this is a license to establish a mercenary company, not a mercenary license."
I looked at the guy blankly. "Eh? Lady Nyx just gave this to me after I caved her twin's face in for the test. She didn't tell me that part; where do I get that?"
He gave a look that said he was unable to comprehend something before giving a small laugh. "If you are the owner of the group, you can have identification cards made at a place that is approved to make them. Also, if you can give me your regular identification, I can use this after comparing them for you."
I pulled out my other ID paper and handed it over. After comparing a few things, he gave them back. "You may enter. Have a good day, Mr. Frost."
I nodded in acknowledgment and followed my escort into the town. It had gravel roads, and the buildings were made of brick. Most of them looked old and run down. I suppose this is the place you get when you have a standstill war for 20,000 years.
"I cannot just take you to General Durnell, but I will take you to the place where messages go."
We arrived at a building near the center of the town. "Just tell the person at the counter about the letter. Have a good day, Sir."
"Thanks, you too." I entered through the doors and walked past the line straight to the counter.
I tossed the letter down in front of the guy working there with the seal facing up; he started to speak but was interrupted by me. "Letter for General Durnell from Lady Nyx Emrys."
He immediately shut his mouth and organized his thoughts in a split second, turned around and yelled into the back, "Hey! Take this to General Durnell, now!"
"I'll go with; it's about me."
He nodded as a guy ran out of the back, grabbed the letter, and was out the door in an instant with me right behind him. It was only seconds before we arrived at a nicer-looking but still one-story building. The guy knocked on the door, and a servant opened it a moment later.
"Letter for General Durnell from Lady Emrys."
He handed over the letter and zipped away. This guy is efficient.
The servant glanced at me. "The letter is about me, so I'll wait a moment in case he needs something."
The door closed, and the servant made her way through the halls in an instant to an office where a large man, who was almost as powerful as the twins, sat behind a desk.
"Master, there is a letter from Lady Emrys."
The man opened it and read the contents. "Invite him in."
The front door opened an instant later, "Sir, the General will see you now."
I followed her as we walked through the halls and into the office where she left us alone and closed the door.
"Mr. Frost, it's a pleasure to meet you. What brings you to me today? Lady Emrys said you have something you're looking for."
I pulled the crystal out of my pocket, "This, I thought these were cool-looking and want to build a mansion out of them."
I'll stick to the crazy rich vampire as mentioned in the letter. Although I don't think he entirely believes my reason, he doesn't care. They're just useless gems after all. Building a mansion out of gems used by commoners isn't really a flex among the ultra-rich, so he won't understand the point.
"Assuming you aren't going to collect them yourself, try Sang City. Just west of here is a large city where soldiers used to sell them to merchants for a little extra coin. At least that was how it was when I was young."
"Thank you, General; see you another time." I turned around and left the office of the slightly confused General.
I remembered Zenobia was still at the place for letters and headed there before flying to Sang City.
---
I asked a soldier for the location to sell the crystals and soon stood in front of a grand building with elegant stonework for the siding and large wooden double doors.
I flung them open like I was some big shot and wore a smile on my face like I was about to accomplish a lifelong dream. The dream of an idiot.
There was nobody in line at the counter, so I marched right up and slapped down the crystal I was holding.
"Welcome, sir; would you like to sell us your goods today?"
"Nope, I want to buy these things and build a mansion." I held it up to the light and gazed lovingly through its smoky appearance. "How do you sell them? By the pound? Crate? Piece?"
The guy was momentarily stupefied. "H-Hold on a moment, sir; I'll fetch someone."
He ran into the back where a lady was working. "Melinda, there's some guy out here who wants to buy a lot of gems."
"..."
"Alright, I will talk to him."
They returned, and the lady held out her hand. "Hello, sir, I'm Melinda. I hear you want to buy many of these gems?"
I shook her hand excitedly. "Max Frost. Yes, I do! How many do you have?"
"I am unsure at the moment. How many would you like? We sell them for 1 gold per pound, shipping not included."
"I'll take 1 thousand pounds, then." I think there will be about 10-15 per pound. They don't seem to differentiate the grades, but no matter what they are, I don't think 1,000 pounds will get me to the next realm, but it will be a start.
Surprise flashed across her face. "I'm sorry, Mr. Frost; I know without even having to look we do not have that much."
"I'll buy whatever you have. Have it ready as soon as possible. When you get more, send me a message; I'm staying at the military town."
She nodded. "Right away, Sir."
Looks like I'll have to pay a visit to the action and get them myself, maybe it'll be fun!
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Thanks for reading!
This chapter was slightly boring without action but now he's on the battlefield :)