Silver Shackles

Chapter 4 (NSFW)

We woke up early in the morning the next day. Baal had pressed himself closer to me throughout the night. He struggled to awaken as he clung to me and told me how warm I was. Of course, when he realized what he was doing, the man pushed himself off me and stood up to shake off his grogginess. I found it hilarious how he didn't even ask me if I minded, he just assumed he had been annoying. Ion was more than happy to get back on the road, even with us bickering about how much Baal needed warmer clothes. I was pretty sure Ion could hear the noise from the capital very nearby. Civilization promised it a nice stable to sleep in away from the cold. The horse must've known that much. Dirt turned to bricks, the pathway became busy with people joining the road from everywhere. After a week upon this path, in front of us lay the capital city of the Irisian Spine and the capital of mana technology research of the Kingdom of Topaz.

A gateway adorned with gold designs gave us a welcome to the grand city of Cordelica. Tall buildings towered over the small wooden ones around them, and the roads that lead you through the city were paved with colorful mosaics. People filled the streets, merchants taking advantage of the morning rush to sell their colorful foods from all over the land as well as other essentials. Baal made a funny excited noise as we went even deeper into Cordelica. The city's buildings grew taller as you walked towards the center. Skyscrapers with dozens of floors rose above our heads, casting huge shadows at some points while at others the glass windows glimmered against the northern sun.

"They are so tall!! This is amazing!" Baal exclaimed in awe as I laughed and held the reins of the horse so he could pay all of his attention to our surroundings.

"You had never been to Cordelica? Aren't you an odd one..." I spoke up and Baal turned his face to look at me.

"I've always lived in small towns since I ran away. My clan isn't fond of tall, noticeable buildings either." Baal replied and grinned merrily at me before he continued looking around like a child looks at his birthday presents. "I wonder how Geos looks like from the top of one of those..."

I figured that maybe instead of an Inn I could afford a hotel anyways. Why would I carry extra gold if not to spend it? I also happened to know about a nice place, too.

I led the horse through the busy streets to the fanciest part of town. Baal got a little estranged as the street emptied to have the few people treading upon it be well dressed folk.

"Uh, Luke is this really the way?"

"You haven't seen skyscrapers before, so I might as well take you to one," I mentioned and got a view of the second tallest building in town, the Northern Star. "I'm feeling generous today, it'll be extra fun to see your face anyways."

I led the horse to the front entrance and asked the man standing by it to please take Ion to the hotel's stable. Baal eyed me with suspicion and patted Ion before he told it he was going to see him soon. I found it adorable how he had bonded with the stolen horse. Yes, he stole Ion from one of the knights that had been chasing him, if that wasn't obvious enough. I took his hand, and we went inside the luxurious building with an outside made of mirror-like glass. The curious purpose to the building's exterior was so that the whole structure would seem invisible from afar. Northerners were more advanced than southerners in many aspects, especially construction. These types of skyscrapers only existed here and the details that went into them weren't product of magic like most of the buildings down South, but of pure engineering.

The inside of the hotel was white with hints of pale gold here and there on some of the fancy furniture adorning the lobby. I got us a room high up on the tower and then guided Baal to the mana fueled elevators. Baal held unto my hand for dear life as the elevator went up. Chuckles escaped me as I found his reaction incredibly silly. How was I not supposed to laugh? The man could hold his own against knights but an elevator freaked him out. It was damn adorable in my opinion.