Spectacular World

A Favor

"Oak Tree, Willow Tree, Birch Tree, and Magnolia Tree. These are the four main cities that exist out in the known world." Cora explained. "Each city has a leader and is in charge of several villages. Oak Tree rules Pine Tree and Apple Tree, which we just came from. Down there is Magnolia Tree. It's one of the biggest and most developed cities in the world. It also seems like it's where the celebration is going to be held this year."

Hope nodded her head, listening along. She had crash-landed about a mile away from the large city on a hill and had placed Phoenix's box down. Phoenix had turned his power off, freeing them from the stasis lock they had been in, so now they were able to look at where the final battle would hopefully take place.

Pine Tree had been built into a mountain and was sort of on a slope. Apple Tree had been a cozy-looking forest village. Magnolia Tree, on the other hand, was an actual city. Or at least it looked like one. It reminded her of Daisy. The city had large white marble buildings that looked like they were carved into the shape of skyscrapers. As in modern skyscrapers, like the kind in Oleander or Lillian, though they were forged out of solid stone, lacking any metal, nor did they have windows. The city itself also appeared to be massive, likely having many different districts within. Also built around the entire city was a fifty-meter wall, which made it impossible for them to see anything besides a few of the tall towers that jutted out. It was like the future and past had collided and created a modern city out of the technology of this world, which was still practically in the stone ages.

A long winding road connected to several entrances around the wall, and wooden gates the size of buses had been carved into the stone, which were open. There was a massive line of people entering and exiting the city, all normal folks dressed in the same way as Nikos or Cora were. Some had carriages or other goods they were taking with them, likely looking to sell some things while they were here. Several guards stood in front of the gates, checking each person that entered. Most wore simple iron armor and carried spears or shields, but a few were much taller and forged out of solid stone, being the same sort of golems she had fought the other day.

Nikos had mentioned that Magnolia City was the place that had been creating the golems for war, so she wasn't too shocked to see any. It did make her a bit worried that they'd instantly show up and attack her and the others, but luckily, it seemed they were far enough away that the golems didn't notice.

"Since the celebration is being held in Magnolia Tree, all other city leaders will go into a cease-fire," Cora stated. "This is because they'll actually be coming to Magnolia Tree, along with several other hundreds of people from nearby villages or cities that want to join in. This means the city is going to be pretty crowded."

"That won't be an issue." Phoenix shook his head. "Pied and I have a plan for that. I do have to ask, though: are the two of you okay with all of this? I mean, you're from the world, yet you seem fine with helping us despite it going against your traditions."

Nikos and Cora shared a look. "To be honest, I have been thinking about that quite a bit," Nikos said after a few moments of silence. "I mean, it's pretty clear you guys are going to start trouble down there. Despite that, though, I think I'm okay with it. You have all gone out of your way to help my sister and me, as well as the other people of this world. Who knows what would have happened to Apple Tree without you all?" Pied shuffled a bit and awkwardly looked away from Nikos, who continued. "None of you seem like you'd hurt innocent people, and my worldview has already shifted a bit after seeing Ms. Hope in action, so I'm putting my trust in you all."

"You can count on us." Claymore grinned. "We're the good guys, after all."

"We're not going to hurt anyone from this world." Alexander agreed. "The people that are in our way are very bad and very much from our own place. My daughter is going to put a stop to them. I have faith in her."