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He stroked my cheek. No, you shouldn’t have. What could you have done? Besides, now you’re out here, and there’s a chance we can rescue them.
I dropped my head to his chest. “No human mage beside you is going to want to help. They hate us.”
It’s worth a try. We have no other options.
I blew out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. Let’s do it.”
Chapter 33
It didn’t take too long to get to the capital city, thanks to Kaga’s magic and a portal stone on the island. I’d never traveled by portal stone before, and the experience was exhilarating. I had felt like I was flying.
Guards stood at the gate of the city, haphazardly waving everyone inside, not even bothering to check carriages. I mentioned it to Kaga, and he pointed above the gate. A thin stone was embedded into the top that covered the whole length. Mages enchanted that to light up if someone brings in weapons. Those carts are searched and let through if they have the permits.
I raised my eyebrows as we walked through the gate, wondering how often it failed. Vibrant colors adorned the city buildings, and the streets hummed with life. The aroma of exotic spices and freshly baked bread mingled in the air, making my mouth water. I longed to stop at every food stall and taste the unique dishes the city had to offer, but the urgency of our situation propelled me forward.
The soft murmur of conversations mixed with the lively tunes of street musicians filled the air with a harmonious melody I’d never heard before. I glanced back at the musicians as we moved past them.
The touch of warm sunlight on my skin combined with the gentle caress of a cool breeze. Probably from the storm on the horizon. The storm that had been over the island was steadily making its way here, causing the wind. All of it made the city’s atmosphere invigorating.
The varied textures of the city’s architecture, from smooth marble facades to rough cobblestone streets, drew my attention as we made our way toward the mage district.
My eyes darted eagerly from one captivating sight to another—the colorful banners fluttering in the breeze. The intricate carvings adorning the buildings. The captivating street performers entertaining the passersby. But instead of stopping to watch, we walked faster to the Mage District.
We navigated the crowded streets, with people from all walks of life bustling about in their daily routines. Despite the urgency of our mission, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of frustration as I passed by the tempting food stalls without stopping. It’d been a while since we ate and I was getting hungry.
Kaga squeezed my hand reassuringly, understanding my silent yearning for a taste of the city’s offerings. We’ll have time to explore once our task is complete, he said. For now, let’s focus on our mission.
I nodded, tearing my gaze away from the tantalizing sights. As we entered the mage district, the magical aura surrounding us intensified. The air seemed to crackle with arcane power, and my skin tingled with the sensation of magic all around. “What is that?” I asked to Kaga, raising my arm to see the hairs standing on end.
The wards. To keep our magic from destroying the city.
Mages. Of course, they’d needed even more magic to contain their dirty spells instead of just controlling the magic themselves. I snorted at that while we stepped up to the door of the Mage Tower. The tower stood tall before us, made completely of stone, with colorful flags at the top. My heart quickened with anticipation and nervousness as Kaga opened the door.
Right as we walked in was a circular room with stone tiles and staircases leading upward. Kaga went to the right and walked up the stairs until we arrived at an ocean-blue wooden door. He grasped the handle and walked right in.
As I stepped into the water mage room, a sense of tranquility washed over me like gentle waves caressing the shore. The chamber was a masterpiece of aquatic elegance, designed to embrace the essence of water magic. The walls were covered with shimmering tapestries depicting intricate water motifs that seemed to come alive with every flicker of light.
This room was lit by glowing water globes suspended from chains made of liquid, something that made my brain hurt to figure out. The gentle light created an atmosphere of serenity, as if we were underwater, immersed in a world of calm currents and gentle ripples.
A central pool of water dominated the room, its surface perfectly still, reflecting the sparkling orbs of light above. The pool was rimmed with delicate seashells and aquatic plants, adding a touch of natural beauty to the magical space. At the edge was an elegant water fountain made from stone aquatic animals. Squiggles immediately left his jar for the fountain, and happily splashed around in it.
The air carried a faint scent of saltwater, reminiscent of the ocean’s embrace. It filled my lungs with a sense of home, and I sighed.
As we moved into the room, I noticed shimmering glyphs etched into the floor, forming a delicate dance of symbols and patterns.
I was just about to ask Kaga what they meant when a man walked in wearing a dark blue robe. Ugh. A water mage.
My face formed a glare, and I opened my mouth to say something, but Kaga nudged me and shook his head. Grumbling, I crossed my arms and waited for him to make his move.
Kaga stepped forward and pointed to his throat, then with a wave of his hand, brought blobs of water into the air. With another wave of his hand, the blobs formed words in his language. I recognized some of the letters, but we hadn’t gotten far enough to know the different words.
The mage scratched his beard a few times, watching the words form and disappear with narrowed eyes.
I grew bored after a minute and started fidgeting. I walked over to the pool and stuck my hands in the water, sighing as it washed over me. Hopefully, this wouldn’t take too long. I didn’t want to get stuck with human legs forever.
Allura.
I looked up and Kaga was smiling down at me. I went to stand next to him, and he gestured to the mage. This is Thalos, the head water mage. He’s read the whole story now.
