The Runic Alchemist

It would be wrong to call it a tree but it would also be wrong to call it a house made by hands, they were literally trees that humans had shaped and grown in a shape of sturdy walls and rooms.

The travelers on the ship had told Damian that Eldoris was famous for their wood type mages and their infamous building ability but Damian thought they were just talking about doing some simple spells or two of nature magic. Nothing to the scale of having an entire town constructed as a half forest and half orderly paved roads and stone structures.

It wasn\'t fully same types of buildings in the city though, Some were grander than others, some more withered, some looked new, some had colors on it and some were completely made out of stones as if those patches were allergic to greenery which was spread everywhere.

Damian and Sam walked through the crowded downtown area while admiring the new sights as children would. Sam got lost many times by walking too slow or just plain getting lost in watching one novelty thing or another but Damian could sense his mana so it was all right. He could always find the little troublemaker no matter where he went.

Going further into the town Damian noticed how natural yet orderly the buildings and roads were, as if someone had spent a lot of time on planning of the city. The common housing and commercial area in efficient use of space with keeping the main inner region of wealthy and noble people with big and open wooden buildings separate and distinguished.

The roads were busy but pretty cleaned even though snow was everywhere, it was far better looking hygiene-wise than Faerunian capital or Dawnstar\'s small towns.

"This place is so freaking huge...!! Are cities really this big..? Shouldn\'t this be called a whole kingdom with this many buildings and people..?" Sam said while being genuinely overwhelmed by the scale of the city.

"It is indeed magnificent..." Damian agreed.

"So what now..? I don\'t know about you but I am really cold man.." Sam said rubbing his hands crossed on his upper arms.

Damian was also cold. First task should be buying some thick fur jacket or whatever these people used to protect themselves from the cold and snow.

"Come on, we should find something to wear, then eat and then a place to stay.." Damian listed out their priorities.

"Yupp.. As you say boss.."

"I am a boss now..?"

"What..? You don\'t like it..?"

"Whatever.. Just don\'t get lost again or I will leave you behind and go eat alone.."

"Oh come on now.. I know you are heartless bastard but you can\'t be that cruel.."

"I am leaving.."

"Okay.. Okay.. Sorry.. Sorry about that boss.. Please don\'t leave poor me behind.."

Bickering about how kind or heartless Damian was they walked to the commercial area and bought some woolen clothes and mufflers for themselves that cost 3 gold. Good thing about the peace lasting 100 years among five kingdoms was that the culture of five kingdoms was pretty mixed by now and any currency of any kind worked almost anywhere.

The Empire was having some difficulties with it\'s weird rules and changing authorities but they also accepted the gold so it was kind of okay.

Then finding a good looking big tree restaurant with a food sign on it\'s board and from top of which hot smoke was continuously leaving, Damian and Sam settled on one of their tables. Which was part of the floor and fixed into it, chairs also. There were flowers and leaves in the restaurant walls all growing as part of the building and tree combined.

Damian was fascinated by the magic they might have used for bending and shaping trees in such a way. What even was this wood style mage branch..? He was surely interested.

A teenage girl came with two glass of water in her serving plate and asked them what they would like to eat. Damian would have been shocked to see such a beautiful and perfect faced woman with high cheekbones and sharp jawline acting as serving girl in Faerunia or Dawnstar but here half the population looked as if they came out of a TV.

He had seen so many beautiful people in just these past 2 hours that he had gone insensitive towards it by now. It was a gift from their elvish ancestors.

"Two glass of milk and whatever special dish you guys have.." Damian ordered.

"Why do we have to drink milk..? Can\'t we go for wine or something..?" Sam complained as always.

"You will have plenty of time for alcohol, but milk is necessary till you grow up.."

Sam just squinted at him and got busy looking around the establishment and it\'s customers. Damian sensed no higher ranked individual here so he also relaxed. Ever since the infiltration it had become kind of a habit of Damian to sense the whole room before entering and only relaxing if he was okay with their mana levels.

Damian had sensed many second rankers in Pyron and he did not like to stay close to them at all. He had learned his lesson and wanted to avoid any possible trouble way before it came for them.

The special dish was made of some weird pasta like squishy vines or something, it was green and cheewy. But it tasted good enough. Way better than those hard bread and watery stew ship\'s crew made for everyone. Both Damian and Sam ate it whole and even ordered another fill. Then finally full in their belly and warm with clothes around their bodies they left the restaurant in search of a good inn.

"It\'s just been 2 and half hours and we have already spent 5 gold coins.." Damian sighed.

"Yeah.. You also gave 5 to that old geezer. Just how much money do you have..?" Sam asked while kicking the snow for no apparent reason.

"Not enough Sam.. Not nearly enough.. We also need to save some for emergencies in case we have to run at a short notice.." Damian also kicked some.

"You even thought of that..? See.. I already feel safe with ya.. That old geezer would have spent it all on a premium booze or something by now..."

"He is different now.."

"That remains to be seen, dear Maximus boss.."

Damian just rolled his eyes at his smug smiling face and they continued their search. Asking people here and there about good inn, they got two three addresses which they checked out before deciding on final one. At last deciding on one inn which was closer to the city walls and far from the harbor and commercial area, so a bit cheaper than the rest.

They walked towards it\'s direction while observing the novel buildings. Going through the main city square which just like any other city this one was also filled with people selling stuff and preaching for their gods and all kinds of weird organizations.

Then suddenly Sam pulled on his arm and drew his attention to the one side of the square where a big crowd was gathered and more and more people were going towards it.

Damian also went with Sam who was still pulling him while rushing towards the crowd. They could barely see anything from the backs of so many people, so Sam not knowing what else to do, dragged Damian to the fountain statue that was in the middle of the square and climbed on the border of it to get a good angle. Damian also climbed besides him seeing no other option.

A funny looking Eldoris guy in a weird pointy hat and a silky overly fashionable attire coughed twice to make the murmuring all around stop and spread the scroll he had in his hands. Making a great show of his announcement. The scroll had royal Eldorian insignia on it which was the reason of all this attraction. At last the man started,

"People of Eldoris, hear ye! A matter of grave importance stands before us, and it is my solemn duty to bring it to your attention. While our border skirmishes with the Empire remain minor and contained to the borders, our neighbors in Ashenvale have seized upon this moment to mobilize their forces against us.

In their ambition, they aim to exploit our current distractions and seek to strike at our lands and resources.

In these trying times, the valor and dedication of our people are needed more than ever. We call upon the brave sons and daughters of Eldoris to join our ranks and defend our beloved kingdom. Stand with us, and let us show Ashenvale that our spirit is unbreakable, our unity unshakeable. Together, we shall protect our homeland and ensure the safety and glory of Eldoris!

Your kingdom needs you now. Step forward and enlist for the defense of our land! The recruitment camps will be starting a week from now outside the city walls. All able bodied man and women who wish to protect Eldoris are called to serve their nation and make a name for themselves in the annals of history."