Chapter 362: The Word of a Shadow (1/2)

“Sure you don’t want to come?” Ilea asked, looking at the group of necromancers still tinkering with Green’s body.

“It did sound interesting initially but this is so fun. There were so few of us in Rhyvor, most just criminals trying to get to power quickly by murdering old people.” Maro explained and looked at her with sparkling eyes.

“It’s fine. Just thought you might need some fresh air.” Ilea said. “I’ll get you once I’m done.”

“Do that.” He said, already lost again as he read through the runes proposed by Indra.

Neeto was arguing with the lower leveled necromancer while Eyn rushed back to Maro as soon as he heard their talk ending.

Bunch of nerds. Ilea chuckled and closed the door, happy for their shared hobby of dissecting corpses and investigating bones with powerful death magic.

“Not coming?” Walter asked, wearing a beautifully embroidered black robe and black leather boots. His hair and short beard were in pristine condition.

“No.” Ilea said and looked him over. “You look… different.”

He smiled. “Lucia insisted I take care of myself before meeting the governor. I agree of course, those people care about appearances.”

“Not if you’re insanely powerful.” Ilea said and smiled. Her casual clothes or aggressive gear hadn’t led to major problems with nobles or officers so far.

“Well, it’s not a negative at least.” Walter said with a grin. “How do I look?”

“Good. Not my type but good, professional. Dark Sorcerer vibes.” She said and gave him a thumbs up.

“I’m not sure what to make of all that, Ilea.” The man chuckled and shook his head. “Ready to go?”

Bone armor appeared over her clothes before she nodded.

“Sure you don’t want to fly us in?” Walter asked as they approached the western gate of Riverwatch.

A thin mist lay over the city and surrounding forests. The air was cool but not as cold as it had been even just a couple days earlier.

“I got in with a necromancer. You won’t be an issue.” Ilea said, the two walking up to the closed gate.

Two guards were stationed at the top of the wall, torches lighting the surrounding area as well as providing some warmth.

The trees coming close to the wall had been cut down to make sure the guards had enough time to report monster or other enemy activity.

“Gate opens in two hours.” A guard said. “You can camp out. Shouldn’t be any monsters coming close.”

Ilea glanced at Walter and rolled her eyes. She vanished a second later and appeared next to the guard on top of the wall. “I’m a Shadow and here on a mission. Directly working for Governor Gallian.” She summoned her badge and held it up.

The two men had jumped back, hands on their weapons and ready to fight.

[Warrior – lvl 81]

[Mage – lvl 60]

“Show me that.” One of them said and caught the badge she threw his way. “Seems fine. Mana signature and all. Can he jump up or teleport through?”

Ilea waved to Walter, the man appearing next to her.

He nodded to the guards. “Thank you.”

“Come on.” Ilea said and jumped down, landing on the muddy road, frozen patches of dirt and puddles cracking below her boots.

Walter chose to teleport once more. “That went smoothly.” He said after they had crossed some distance into the city.

Some people were already awake, going about their business while others were sleeping off their hangovers or simply had no place to live in.

Ilea wondered how many people died each winter. A population of one hundred thousand was huge. Getting housing for all of them within the city walls without skyscrapers or underground expansion was certainly difficult.

The city did stretch far and housing could be provided rather easily with the help of magic. Stone mages, the rare metal mages, water mages and many others would likely work together to provide a more modern infrastructure than a first look would suggest.

She already knew there were water and heating runes in some inns, easily providing otherwise pretty difficult to acquire commodities. There was also a sewer, she had traveled through itback when the elves had attacked during the tournament.

“Do you have a clue where the main government buildings are?” She asked Walter after a couple minutes.

He chuckled. “I do. It’s not guaranteed that he’s there or has time to see us though.”

“He will have time to see me. Plus, he’s above level two hundred. Doubt he sleeps through the night. Not with the position he has.” Ilea added and motioned him to lead the way.

The sorcerer obliged, continuing onward on the main road leading towards the city center from the gate.

A few wagons were loading up, groups of adventurers loitering close by. Protected caravans to other cities or perhaps dungeon expeditions preparing.

Some of them glanced their way. One warrior at level one twenty even approached Ilea. “Excuse me, miss?”

She kept walking and looked his way. “I’m on a mission.”

“Understood. We would be willing to wait for a healer. Dungeon expedition around three days west from here. We are well prepared and know the monsters. You would get a third of the pay as well as first pick on anything we find.” The man added, walking with them.

Ilea smiled. “I’m on a Shadow’s Hand mission.” She added and winked.

The man paled immediately and nodded. “Apologies. I didn’t mean to disturb you. Good luck on your mission, Shadow.” He even bowed and quickly retreated, scratching the back of his neck before he shook his head in the direction of his waiting teammates.

“You could just walk around in black.” Walter commented with a smile. “Missing people mission. Do you not think it could have been connected to the criminals you already took care of?”

She shrugged. “Possibly. If it’s obvious then I don’t think there would be a separate job for that. Riverwatch is a big place. A group of what, fifty criminals is not the sole problem they have.”

“I’m well aware of that.” Walter said and chuckled, turning into a big square with structures towering over the adjacent houses. He pointed at one of them. “That should house the main governor’s office. At least it did a decade ago.”

The building looked similar to the city hall in Ravenhall, albeit smaller still. Ilea nodded, taking the lead again as the dark sorcerer followed. She could tell he was getting a little nervous. Only thanks to her sphere at least.

The man was an experienced veteran it seemed, as much with fighting as he was with politics.

They passed the few people on the square, soon reaching the broad stairwell leading up to the stone hall.

The fountains both on the square and in the big entrance hall weren’t running, likely due to the season.

No guards obstructed their way inside, a small line of people waiting in front of the counter. Two people took care of them.

“Seems like our best bet.” Ilea commented and walked towards the queue. If they didn’t get what they needed here, she could contact Dale again too. Or simply ask a random guard to show the way.

Walter followed.

It only took a couple minutes until they stood in front of an attendant. “I’m the Shadow working on the remaining mission placed by Riverwatch. I’m here to talk to Alistair Gallian about the details.” She summoned her badge and put it on the counter.

The simple fact that she had a storage item, coupled with the badgeseemed confirmation enough.

The attendant checked the badge and nodded quickly, motioningthem to the side. “Please follow me.” She said, changing into a brisk pace as she led them to closed double doors.

“The Shadow wishes to speak with Governor Gallian.” She informed one of the two guards.

The woman nodded in turn and took over, black and gold armor clinking as she opened the door. “Please follow me.”

[Warrior – lvl 132]

Walter glanced at Ilea with an impressed expression as he followed.

Ilea rolled her eyes at the official feeling it all had. They all shouldn’t take themselves so bloody seriously around here.

They were led through a long hallway, marble like stone reflecting the magical light from above. Spotless. Pillars reaching to the ceiling sectioned off the small courtyard to their right. Benches and even some trees had been placed inside, no real sunlight reaching them.

A magical device above simulated the warmer light shining down.

Ilea took a moment to check on it, smiling at the installation.