Chapter 141: Wilmette
After settling the mount issue for Silvi, the group made their way to Wilmette. For Derek, traveling with such arge party was odd. At least with Jacks and Ste, they had a couple more capable fighters if needed. He wasnt sure how much good Rudy would be in a fight, as the only thing he had to go off of was how easily the man had been knocked out.
Of course, he also didnt know how long the man had pretended to be unconscious. For all Derek knew, Rudy could be much stronger than he seemed. Out of the rest, Derek would have to say that Thomas would be the most help.
With all the training the boy had done, even without levels to help, he had made great progress. He suspected the boy could give Rayna a run for her money, even though she was over 15 levels higher than him. He was more suited for his weapon and fighting style than Rayna was hers, but Rayna didnt have many choices in the matter, and by now, it would be stupid to rece her sword with another weapon.
Malorie and Brandi were different stories entirely. While Malorie was efficient in her de staff, she was still at a lower level without any real training. Derek had also seen that, while Malorie would fight and doing anything she could to protect Brandi, she didnt enjoy it like she did other things.
<em>Maybe when she no longer has to worry about protecting Brandi, she could look into changing her ss at level 50 into a cooking ss or some other life skill ss. </em>Derek thought as he nced at the woman struggling to keep pace with everyone else other than Brandi. Derek slowed his pace ever so gradually to help her.
Then, he nced at Brandi, who was in a simr state as her mother, just more exaggerated. He slowed even more. Brandi would be, for ack of a better word,pletely useless inbat. She wasnt able to distribute her stats herself, which meant that she couldnt min/max forbat. Then again, with her ss and abilities, she could end up more useful than anyone else in the group, and that was what Derek was banking on when they got to Savannah.
First, however, they had to get through Wilmette and anything Gerald had done to prevent them from leaving the area.
The group eventually saw Wilmette in the distance.
Finally. Malorie panted. I dont know how much longer we would havested. She held Brandis hand.
Derek looked over at Ste, who, surprisingly, no longer minded the bunny resting on her shoulder. In fact, she seemed to have taken to Silvi. Ste. He got her attention. Will we be able to teleport today, or is there a set period when we can use them?
There are six cities with a teleport circle throughout the kingdom, not including the Capital. Ten minutes out of each hour, the teleport circle can be activated for each city. For example, Wilmettes teleportation circle can be activated from six in the evening to six o nine. That way, if anyone arrives at another city or the Capital in that timeframe, they know that the person came from Wilmette. She exined.
So, if we get to the circle at six-fifteen, then we would have to wait 45 minutes until the next chance to leave? Derek asked.
Ste nodded. Thats correct. It makes it easier that way.
What if theres an emergency? Derek asked.
It depends. She answered. If it is a citywide emergency and everyone needs to teleport out, the most likely ce to go would be to the Capital. The Capital has six teleportation circles within, so you can get there at any time. Of course, under normal situations, you are still only allowed to use the circle at the designated times.
How do you know if someone ising from the Capital? Derek asked.
Steughed. The color is different.
The color? Derek asked.
Yeah. Normally, the mana projected out during a teleport is your run-of-the-mill light blue mana. However, the teleportation circles at the Capital are built with better, more powerful runes, so when someonees from there, the mana is a much darker color. She exined.
Oh. Derek said. I guess that makes sense.
It is what it is. She said. They used to require badges. Kind of like the Adventurers Guild ones, but temporary. That got expensive, and materials got harder and hard to get. Of course, a good runemaster would be able to make one easily with just paper, but who would want that job when all that was actually needed was a schedule?
Were almost there. Jacks cut their conversation short as they arrived closer to the city.
Everyone, put your Adventurers Guild badges on. Ste suddenlymanded as she pinned a tinum badge to her cor.
Derek didnt ask any questions and strapped his golden badge to his arm. He looked around and saw Thomas proudly take out his bronze badge and put it on. Rudy also wore a golden badge, and Jacks had equipped a tinum one.
Herrett, you walk up front with me. Ste said. Rudy, you and Derek walk in the back. Everyone else, form two lines and walk between us. With thatmand, the group formed up in double file.
Ste looked over the group and frowned. Derek, do you have any decent looking armor you can equip?
Derek nodded and quickly equipped a set of leather armor over his clothes. Will this do? He asked.
She looked him up and down. It would be better with a tunic, but that should be enough. Then she looked at the bunny on her shoulder. Silvi, you need to hide somewhere. Does anybody have a pack of some kind?
Ooh, I do. Brandi chimed in and pulled a rough leather backpack out of her ring. I was working on making some travel packs, so I have a few. This one has some cheap materials stored in it from when I was testing it.
Great. Ste praised. Give that to Thomas. Silvi, you need to hide in the pack until we get to the next city. It would be best if you hid under the materials as well, in case someone decides to do a quick search. Brandi, could you give a pack to Rayna, Malorie, and wear one yourself?
Sure. She happily replied and withdrew three more packs. One was full, like the one Thomas was wearing, and another was about half full. Thest was almost empty. I have one more if you need it.
Rayna took the full pack, Mal took the half full one, and Brandi kept the empty one.
Itd be better if you put something in yours. It doesnt have to be much though. Make sure its cheap, whatever it is. Ste said.
Brandi nodded and stuffed some materials in the sack. Afterwards, she slung it onto her back. Is that good? She asked.
Perfect. Ste shed the little girl a smile. Then, she looked over the group again. Its believable that two golds and two tinums would have storage rings, so we dont need the other sack. Thanks, though.
What next? Derek asked. Ste seemed to have some kind of idea, so he let her have the lead and followed.
Herrett. She said. Will anyone recognize you here?
Jacks put his hand on his chin in thought. Hmm possibly. Most likely, no, not unless they are looking for me.
Ste took out a cloak and wore it. The shadow of the hood covered her face. Then she took out more and tossed them to Jacks, Rudy, and Derek. Put those on. Well look uniform at the very least. Thomas put your badge away. This way, well look like a team of adventurers hired to escort people and materials. In fact, if you have some higher quality materials, it would be good to put some on top in the sacks.
Brandi grinned and ran around, cing handfuls of the bat cloth she had made out of the bat hide on top of the sack.
Good. Ste said. I think were ready.
With that, Ste started forward, and the group moved. Before long, they were standing at the gates to the city. It waste evening, so there wasnt much traffic. They were soon next in line to enter.
Reason for entering? One of the gate guards asked.
Taking supplies to Savannah. Ste answered tly and cocked her head to the side, giving the guardsman a good view of the tinum badge.
The guard nodded. You better hurry. Teleportation starts in five minutes. Unless you n on staying here for the night.
Ste nodded. Thanks for the warning. We should be able to make it.
The guard nodded and stepped to the side. Safe travels.
Ste led, and the group followed. Wilmette had ayout almost like Torith, but on a much grander scale. Unfortunately, Derek wasnt able to take much in because they were in a rush.
The circle is in the Merchant Square. If we keep at the same pace as we were going outside, we may not make it. Ste said as they rushed down the street.
Passersby saw the cloaked figures with tinum badges and sprinted out of their way. Derek chuckled as he noticed a would be target of a pickpocket scurry away, leaving a boy with his hand outstretched in apromising position. The boy cursed as he withdrew his hand and disappeared into an alley.
We need to move faster. Derek Rudy. Ste said.
Understanding what Ste wanted, Derek moved forward and picked Malorie up in a princess carry. Sorry. He said.
Rudy saw Derek and did the same with Brandi.
Woah. Brandi shouted, then giggled.
Lets move. Stemanded, and the group picked up the pace. Without Brandi and Mal slowing them down, they were able to travel at Thomas and Raynas top speed, which was much faster. We should be good with this.
The group flew up the street, buildings and stalls shing by every second. Before long, they were at the gate to the Merchant District.
Ste shed her badge. Were looking to make the next teleportation. She spoke hurriedly.
The guards saw the two tinums in front and didnt make any fuss, allowing them through.
Before long, they were standing before a building in the merchant district.
This is it. Ste said and walked inside.
Derek and Rudy dropped Mal and Brandi and followed.
When Derek walked inside, he saw Ste chatting with a man at a counter.
Eight He heard her say. Then, the man mumbled something, and she answered again. Savannah. With that, she tossed the man a small bag. The man dumped the contents of the bag onto the desk and nodded.
The man pointed to a giant rune drawn on the floor. Better hurry. Only three minutes left.
Ste nodded. Lets go.
With that, the group all stood in the center of the circle, and Ste nodded. The man at the counter pulled a crystal of some sort out of his storage ring and ced it in a slot on the counter before cing his hand over it and channeling mana.
The rune around the group glowed blue before a sh of light blinded them. In an instant, they disappeared.