Chương 67: Chapter 66- A First Glimpse of the Shattered Sky

Elias stared up at the fracture in the sky, craning his neck upwards as it dwindled in the distance. How did I miss this? I guess being transparent helps it blend in, what the hell is that? The sound of the creaking wheel of one of the wagons rolling past startled Elias back into the moment as he realized that Astra had once again waited for him, this time with a complicated expression on her face as she watched him look at the seam in reality.

She studied his expression for a moment before speaking, " Mira told you about the Abyss right?" Eli nodded glancing back at the sight as his throat went dry as he realized what she was saying, " Yeah. I thought it was just the translation magic, converting your words into a kind of swear word I would understand, but she told me it wasn't fictional like in my world, but a real place. That's it?"

Astra shook her head as she gestured for them to continue walking, " No, that is just a doorway, a small fracture not a true breach. The true Abyss is through that doorway though, it is one of the reasons this town is located where it is. Fractures of that size can not be left unattended in populated lands, or the monsters that pour forth would be a plague upon the land." Eli blinked at that, " Hold on.

'The monsters that pour forth'?" She nodded as they plodded along next to the patrol, the town's wall slowly growing closer as they spoke, " Aye. The stagnant twisted mana within births monsters inside, not unlike those of the goblin horde we encountered in the forest, and if the depths are not regularly cleared they will spill forth."

She shrugged and gave Eli a placating pat on his shoulder, " Worry not, these fractures are commonplace in our realm, and while their management is a burden on our house, it is an honorable duty to protect our lands and our people. The fracture provides a convenient source of essence for the local populace to grow, and the same stagnant mana that can birth a malevolent monster if twisted or warped can also birth enriched beasts, ores, and more providing a steady income for the town."

She smiled at him, " Just like a cookfire is a boon and a raging inferno is a bane, a well tended fracture can be a source of power and wealth for my people. You will see, we have them well in hand." Elias took a deep breath, " If you say so, you would know better than I would. Still, it makes me a little uneasy, it can't be comfortable to live next door to that thing can it?" Astra laughed, " I imagine for one from a distant realm such as you it may very well be so, but it has more uses than you would imagine.

Gaze upon it again, but this time use your [Mana Sense]." Eli looked at the fracture as he triggered the skill, and gasped at the sight before him. When he used the skill before in the forest, usually the ambient mana formed a thin haze that would vary in thickness from a slight tint in the air to a light fog around an especially dense source of mana.

When he looked at the fracture it was surrounded by spiraling lines of energy as it slowly drew in swathes of energy that was dispersed through the sky, condensing into rivulets that condensed into streams that eventually swirled into a slow moving whirlpool before entering the rift. Ding [Congratulations! [Mana Sense] has reached Lv 9] Astra gestured at the bands of energy, " The fracture collects a portion of the mana produced throughout the realm and condenses it within.

The motion of the ambient mana both inhibits the spawning of monsters in the local area and also creates streams of mana that the local populace can tap into for crafting purposes."" In addition once the mana is concentrated within, the great System assists any of the brave souls who would enter the breach with the collection of mana sources and the dispersal of any stagnated or warped portions.""

Upon entry the System will inform you of the contents of the rift and transport you and your party to the appropriate region, and will even display a warning if the danger level greatly exceeds your capability. There is a whole section of the economy based around mercenary forces that delve in search of resources, the Ancients must have been quite clever." Eli let out a low whistle, " Convenient. I guess it's better than having to field roving squads of monster hunters."

Astra laughed, " Oh we have those too, there are always small rifts popping up in the regions between towns and cities, but the Magi Assembly have a whole system for detecting the breaches, and if local adventurers or mercenaries do not clear them out on their own the local garrison will set out to do so. You would have to ask Mira about the specifics." Eli arched a brow, " I was under the impression Mira had, opinions, about adventurers. She made them seem a little unpleasant."

Astra snorted a laugh as she patted the spine of her ridgeback, " You need to understand that Mira has been sworn into the service of my family and the empire as a whole for a very, very long time. She is simply skeptical of any one who hunts monsters for coin instead of duty, but it is considered a perfectly valid profession, and in many towns and cities some of the better craftsmen are affiliated with their association."

She shrugged, "It is a common profession for retired soldiers, noble men and women who do not join the military or hold office or administer lands, sometimes even my family will hire them as auxiliaries if there is an urgent need for defenders and reinforcements are too far away to arrive. She leaned down to stage whisper to Eli," Do not tell Mira, but I even registered myself to make a little extra coin on the side when I am looking for a little pocket change."

Eli chuckled and winked up to Astra before sketching a sloppy bow, " Your secret is safe with me, your ladyship." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Astra winked back before sitting up as she settled in for the slow approach into town.

As the patrol neared a horn rang out with a pattern of short notes, and a sally port opened for a trio of armored men, two with spears and what appeared to be an officer wearing a sword belted at his waist. The guard officer posted at the gate took one look at the condition of the battle wagons on approach and the refugees being escorted by the patrol and sent a runner off into the town, and sent up a call to the gatehouse above to open for the patrol.

The banners displaying the Emberholdt crest flanking the left side of the gate left little doubt as to who administered the region, and Eli gathered that the crest of a large oak tree on the other side likely belonged to whichever noble family ran the town. The large metal banded hardwood of the gate creaked as it was lifted into the air accompanied by the clinking of heavy chains, and the officer approached Astra and Mira before giving a sharp salute.

His expression was steady and serious, although Eli caught the way his eyes widened slightly in surprise as he appeared to recognize the crest on the chestplate of Astra's armor and his eyes flickered up to her hair before dropping back to her face with a polite smile and a bow, " My Lady, welcome to Emerald Grove, what brings you to our fair town?" Astra nodded and saluted back, coming to a halt as they waited for the gates to finish opening, " 1st Patrol, Cobalt Company, out on an expeditionary tour."

She gestured at the refugees waiting beside the wagon, " We came across a bit of trouble on the way, I take it you sent for Captain of the garrison?" He eyed the clear battle damage to the wagon, scanned the refugees, paused for a moment when he spotted Tiamat, before shaking his head slightly and returning his gaze to Astra, " Aye my Lady, and Baron Grunveldt as well, may I ask what kind of trouble?" Astra sighed, " Bandits, a goblin horde, and a couple tier 3 beasts, seems the Reach is a little busier than usual.

You will have to excuse the lack of a full report, good Ser, I would rather not give the same report multiple times, but you are more than welcome to accompany us to the garrison for a full accounting. The past few weeks have been trying." The man grimaced at her statement only to startle as she apologized to him before whipping into a bow, " Never your Grace, I appreciate any word you are willing to pass along."

Astra rolled her eyes at the man, " Please raise your head Ser, while I am on patrol I am an officer of the duchy and no more, Lady will suffice." The glance Eli caught of the slight grimace on Mira's face out of the corner of his eye told him she didn't necessarily agree, but was following Astra's lead. As the gate finally opened the man gestured into the city, " As you wish my Lady. In that case, please allow me to escort you to the garrison, and welcome to Emerald Grove."

The guard officer ushered the patrol through the gatehouse to the quiet whispers of the men on duty and into the greater settlement beyond. The sight that greeted Elias reminded him once again that despite the coincidental appearances, Astra's Empire was not actually at a medieval level of technology. The massive three story wall which had towered overhead from the outside had hidden the well developed nature of the town proper.

The architecture in the town did favor wood and stone with the occasional structure of brick or riverstone, but it was no less than what would be found in some of the older cities in central Europe or some East Asian cultures, most of which rose to 3 or 4 stories in height. Where he would have expected modern technology there were often clearly magical equivalents.

The streets were well paved, and the grates on either side of the central path and the clear fresh air hinted at a sewer system and running water, the light posts lining the road contained faintly glowing stones instead of electric lights, and the well made clothing of the pedestrians on the street alluded to an equivalent process to produce clothing.

The people of the first major settlement Eli had encountered in the Empire were clearly happy, productive, and well cared for, which put yet another nail in the coffin of the fictional narrative on Earth of the despotic and tyrannical nature of the feudal system. It is reassuring that Astra's family at least seems to take care of their people.

At the very least that was the impression Eli had as the patrol made its way through the town, and while most of the passersby went about their business, the few that gathered along the street to watch the procession dropped into a bow or curtsy in Astra and Mira's direction once they spotted the barding on the wagons.

Elias had gotten used to the casual and relaxed demeanor of patrol and the manner in which they approached the pair of Ladies, but once they were in a more populated environment the noble bearing that was more typical came to fore. The casual banter dropped to a minimum, and instead of the casual meandering of the men, they took up rigid positions around the wagons and marched in step down the street, their steel shod boots ringing a beat on the cobblestones.

Astra and Mira sat astride their mounts with a poise that was often missing on the road, well missing from Astra at the very least, although Astra did take the time to give a small nod, smile, and wave in acknowledgement of the people's greetings as they passed.

As the patrol reached the towering grove in the center of the town, they took a turn eastward, and as Eli was able to see down the thoroughfare he caught sight of the garrison where it joined the gate on the eastern flank of the curtain wall surrounding the town. The dense, stone heavy structure next to the eastern gatehouse sported a wall and gate of its own, through which Eli could see an open courtyard busy with men crossing back and forth.

At the sight of the fracture in the sky rising behind the garrison he arched a brow, only to get a laugh from Astra." Come now Eli, if they are to guard the place from the Abyss where else would they be?" Eli shrugged, " Yeah makes sense." Elias was a little surprised that he was not being peppered by a constant stream of questions from Tia until he looked behind him and spotted the Hostler sisters playing the tour guides, and narrating the sights to the little wyvern.

Eli smiled at the sight, " You better pay attention Tia, I expect you to return the favor and show me around later yourself." He laughed at the indignant chirp he got in return, and turned toward Astra as she slapped his shoulder, " Do not be giving away my position of guide so lightly, do not forget I promised to show you around personally."

Eli missed the smirk that Mira sported as she caught the bewildered look on the face of the guardsman, as he curiously looked at Elias for a moment before snapping his eyes forward as if deciding it was above his paygrade. The men on duty at the entrance to the garrison snapped a sharp salute at the approach of patrol, and as they entered the courtyard, a small army of soldiers descended on the convoy.

The men and women of the patrol relaxed as they entered, and the soldiers of the garrison stepped forward to take over their burdens. The drivers stepped down from the wagons and handed over reins, squads of men unhitched the trailers and dragged them over to a small warehouse, Astra and Mira dismounted as a bevy of men and women took the reins and guided their mounts and as well as the ones pulling the wagons over to a stable yard.

The sense of relief from the patrol and the refugees alike was palpable as the true sense of comfort and safety of the walls enveloped them. Astra scratched Tia behind the ears, and clapped a hand on Eli's shoulder as she gave him a brilliant smile, " We made it my friend! Welcome to the Empire."