Chapter 23: Sudden Explosion
In the calendar of the Druids, the beginning of each year is not the same as what the general populace recognizes. They divide the year into four parts—the Time of Awakening, the Time of Vigor, the Time of Abundance, and the Time of Stillness. And each year's Time of Awakening marks the start of the new year.
This is the earliest prototype of the seasons on the Mycroft Continent. The four concepts of spring, summer, autumn, and winter all originate from the Druids' calendar. However, their calculation method is not fixed but adapted to local conditions. For example, in the Northern Lands, the Time of Stillness, which is winter, is greatly extended, and the start of the year, the Time of Awakening, is delayed until April or even May. Yet, during the same period, the Imperial Capital is already nearing the Time of Vigor.
The Northern Empire is not a traditional nation of a single ethnic group. Its people include Dwarves, Elves, Gnomes, Halflings, Vampires, Troglodytes, and various other minority races. Its festivals also come from diverse sources, and the customs of the Druids hold a significant place among them. The Time of Vigor means that the natural force of the year will peak during this period, making it a time of great importance.
Shops, plazas, and the fountains within them—everywhere there were smiling crowds. Under the night's lights, Joshua naturally wore a smile. Amidst this bustling street, he felt cheerful. After all, due to weather and temperature in the Northern Lands, the streets were never so crowded at any time, which made the warrior, who enjoyed lively scenes, feel a bit unaccustomed.
Just as he was about to change his mind, take a stroll through the Outer District first, and head to the Inner District later, Joshua suddenly sensed a familiar aura approaching.
"Oh?"
Stopping in his tracks, Joshua furrowed his brow and focused for a moment, then his brow relaxed. "So it's them. They noticed my arrival this quickly?"
Ying and Ling, who had also stopped, had both draped themselves in gray cashmere cloaks. This wasn't because of the low temperature, but because the concentration of mana in the Imperial Capital was too high. The psionic bodies of the Divine Mechanisms would naturally react, emitting a fluorescent glow. So, the two simply covered themselves entirely to avoid drawing a crowd's attention.
They were indifferent to their master's sudden halt. For them, this trip was purely for sightseeing and relaxation. Attending the banquet was merely incidental. Whatever their master wanted to do, they would do.
After a while, a carriage slowly approached from the other end of the street.
It was a carriage entirely made of black-grained cloudwood. It had no eye-catching exterior, but its value far exceeded the luxurious carriages used by ordinary wealthy people to show off. Black-grained cloudwood possessed powerful magic resistance. It grew on high mountain peaks dense with water elementals, making artificial cultivation impossible in the short term, and its value could not be measured in gold.
Generally, this material was used to create precious magic-resistant glue, applied to high-precision alchemical instruments and adamantite shields, to prevent atmospheric mana from interfering with the instruments' operation and to give the shields an anti-magic coating. This carriage, made entirely of it, could not be described merely as luxurious. Even Joshua, with his experience, couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder, marveling at the owner's immense wealth.
The carriage slowly came to a halt in front of the warrior. Before the coachman could even secure it, the door opened. Joshua looked up and saw two familiar faces.
Brandon Kaos, and Nostradamus.
"My friend, Joshua van Radcliffe."
The blonde man, who already had two daughters, stepped down from the carriage decisively. A smile curled at the corners of his mouth, and he spread his arms, laughing as he spoke to the warrior. "I sensed the aura of the Azure Orb a few hours ago and figured you should be arriving soon. But I searched all the teleportation arrays and found no one. Teacher Nostradamus said he could find you, so I came with him."
"It seems you've found the right direction."
Joshua stepped forward and embraced his long-unseen friend. He smiled and said, "I walked all the way from White Dove City. The scenery along the way was beautiful—something you can't experience by taking a teleportation array."
The two exchanged a few pleasantries. Meanwhile, the white-haired old mage also descended from the carriage. Hearing Brandon's words, the old man shrugged, then carefully examined Joshua's attire. With a hint of wit, he said, "I won't bother with too many pleasantries. My vice-principal... that Gold-rank mage from the Ural Fortress was once my student. Joshua, from what he said, it seems you've been ambushed by those reptiles again?"
After receiving the warrior's affirmative answer, Nostradamus's expression turned cold. He frowned and said, "Attacking an Imperial noble again and again—the Five-Colored Dragon Clan has gone mad to this extent. Has Chaos truly corrupted their minds..."
"Teacher."
Before he could finish, Brandon interrupted Nostradamus. "Let's discuss this later at the Association."
As he spoke, he glanced around the street. Although the crowd wasn't packed, it was certainly bustling with noise. Discussing matters related to Chaos in such a place was far too risky.
"You're right."
The old mage also realized the impropriety of his earlier words. Coughing once, Nostradamus shook his head. "I've been discussing this issue with those fellows at the Association all day, and my mind is a bit muddled... Joshua, would you like to stop by the Imperial Royal Mage Association?"
Saying this, the old mage revealed a smile. "Whether it's the Abyssal Derivatives or the Mad Dragon Virus, you've helped us immensely. Quite a few people intend to visit you. When they offer gifts, don't refuse."
"That's no problem at all. I'm not one to be polite."
Seeing familiar friends in the Imperial Capital lifted Joshua's spirits. Dropping by the Royal Mage Association wasn't a big deal, so he naturally agreed. "So, shall we set off now?"
"Let's go."
Brandon was also a man of action. The three of them, along with the two Divine Mechanisms in their cashmere cloaks, boarded the carriage directly. Under the coachman's guidance, the black carriage slowly made its way toward the Inner District and the Royal Mage Association.
On the carriage's ceiling hung an exquisite crystal magic lamp, with runes representing light floating at the wick, emitting a white glow. The interior decoration style came from the era of the Seven Luminaries Council's rule in the Eastern Plains three hundred years ago. Stars and their corresponding runes were scattered throughout the carriage, making one feel as if they were amidst a starry sky.
The carriage was also equipped with coffee and other beverages. Joshua and Brandon naturally each grabbed a bottle of wine—of some unknown vintage, but certainly not cheap—and began to clink glasses. Nostradamus, ignoring the annoyed looks from Ying and Ling, poured them two glasses of milk, then filled his own cup with coffee and began to drink.
The topics the three men discussed naturally had nothing to do with romance or moonlight. After a while, the conversation turned to the Dragon Calamity in the Far South. Drawing on his personal experience from his previous life, Joshua easily pointed out several misjudgments Brandon and Nostradamus had made about the situation. He had no intention of being modest; he fully accepted their sighs and praise, and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.
But just then, all three of them suddenly frowned. The carriage cabin fell silent. A sense of foreboding spread through their hearts, yet none could guess its origin.
—BOOM!!!!!!!
A tremendous explosion, completely unexpected by everyone, suddenly erupted on the eastern side of the city. It was accompanied by screams and cries of alarm from the crowd on the streets. The originally lively and joyful atmosphere was instantly replaced by panic.
Then, a massive alarm siren blared throughout the entire city.