Chapter 320 Fire and Fury II (1/2)
CHAPTER 320
FIRE AND FURY (II)
Last Bastion of Magic -- it stood remarkably slightly off the ground, array beneath spitting coral light onto the ground. Rounding the entire city was a massive dome-like shield shining in faint cyan, a central tower spitting a singular pillar toward the center of the dome, connecting everything. Lino and Hannah sat on the very edge of the city, overlooking a spectacularly beautiful creation that left both of them breathless. Buildings erected out of white, clean marble were everywhere, looming over padded streets and narrow alleyways, not an iota of smoke to be seen anywhere.
Dozens of tall towers and spires arose around the city, some bending over toward the top like a finger, some shooting straight up like a spear, some splintering halfway up and bending entirely sideways, perfectly horizontal. Both, merely from a surface glance, realized a lot of love and care went into creating something of this scale and beauty. The hurried souls marching through the streets, the light of the arrays smoldering the sky, the shouts of the somewhat anxious-sounding men and women... all that beauty was currently being shook by the roars of war.
Platoons of young and old gathered, all wearing similar robes with pointy hats on top and various staffs each shimmering in peculiar hue. It was no different, Lino realized, whether it be Cultivators or Wizards... war was remarkably same for everyone over the world. Pine your young and healthy and ship them off with prayers and songs, ready in your heart to bury them in the rain. Hannah noticed his strange gaze and grabbed his hand, jolting him out of his thoughts.
”You having some flashbacks there, big fella?” she asked with a faint grin.
”No, no, more like flash..uh...forwards?” he said. ”Imagining how cool I'm gonna look when I serve that old bastard the beating of his life and make him my pet.”
”... are you really confident?” she asked with some worry. ”I mean, I know <Sword of Chaos> is unquestionably one of the most powerful Arts to have ever existed... but you're going up against a fully grown Dragon Aspect, Lino.”
”I thought that would turn you on more than it would scare you.”
”... I'm suppressing it.” she grinned.
”Ha ha ha, good, you're learning some control,” he said, cracking his neck and glancing at the distant horizon where, between two mountains, a massive shadow of black and red began emerging. ”Don't worry,” he smiled warmly and patted her head for a moment. ”Even if there are ten of them, I'll still come out on top.”
”... psh, right. God, a part of me actually wants you to lose just so your goddamn ego would take a worthwhile blow.”
”... ouch.”
”Sorry, sorry, half of me wants you to lose.”
”... I know you're joking--”
”Who says I am?” she interrupted.
”--you better fucking be!!”
”...”
”...”
”I am. He he.”
”... ugh,” he groaned, pulling his hand away and unfurling his wings. ”You'll be the death of me woman.
”... come back safe.” she mumbled under her breath, her playful expression turning into a worried one as she watched his back flee toward the high skies.
She stared toward the ever-fading dot for a long while, pondering on how can he so easily throw himself into everything. She couldn't even pretend she would battle a full-fledged Dragon, yet there he was, running ahead of time. It was a stark difference between the two, she realized a long time ago; yet, it was also one among many other things that made them tick so well together. He thought with his heart and she thought with her head; yet, for that brief moment he disappeared, she also wished to listen to her heart and join him. To stand by him and to fight by side side. She knew she couldn't, though; both had their own battles to wage, and own victories to achieve.
After one last, longing glance, she turned on her heel and entered the city, passing through the masses of people without seemingly being seen by any. She made her way over to the central tower and entered with ease, passing by those few standing on guard and making her way to the top, entering a rather dimly lit room currently occupied by five people -- four men and a woman. Four men she'd already met, and was quite familiar with as she'd visited the city a few times over the past two years, but it was her first time seeing the woman.
The latter had long, snow-white hair and a pair of breathtaking, silver eyes. She was lithe and slender, her long legs impossible to hide beneath loose-fitting, white robes. Her face was oval-shaped, lips full and cherry-red, cheekbones high and rosy, gaze piercing and honest.
As Hannah walked in, the two women's gazes met as four men mumbled in low tones, glancing between the two with rather peculiar expressions.
”You were right,” the woman said, her lips curling up into a gentle smile. ”She is indeed more beautiful than me.”