Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 204: The beginning of the search (1)

ARIAL

SOMEWHERE IN VANGUA

The sky lightens as he could see a few birds flying out from their nest searching for food as morning arrived.

The wind caresses his hair as he looks at the city in front of him. He took a while to admire the scenery.

'It's quite beautiful' he thought to himself. He has been riding for days now since he departed Darc.

A week should have passed since then. The sunrise intensifies, growing brighter, the sun showing its face, as dawn is replaced by the revealing brightness.

Arial take a deep breath, breathing in the fresh air of the morning. The mountain huge and mighty appears black as the sun rises.

Mount Di'llion. Maybe that is where it is among the Churches, and temples and fire Temples.

The smell of the earth emerges, the smell of the grass and flowers releasing their scent while the sun touches his skin and warmth seeps in.

It has been long since he enjoyed such peaceful morning. In the castle there is always some tension and unease.

Plots and intrigue need to be dismantled, battles that need to be won.

It is pleasing, this kind of morning. The birds coo and sing and call their companion to spread their wings and fly. The movement of people began.

He is looking at the City of Tryon. This city is near the mountain and around the mountain, there is many temples that have been built.

One of them would surely be the famous Linzi Temple. Arial had the intention to meet some of the monks on one of these temple and ask for direction to Linzi temple

After all, to seek Linzi Temple here with so many temples and churches here would be hard if I don't ask the locals for help.

He had reached Bayern border and the mountain around Lorai'ne. This is the place where he need to go.

That is what he gathers from his short conversation with the people he meets in his journey

He then rides his horse into the city after paying some silvers to the guards.

'I need to ask for direction now that I am here' he thought to himself. He dismounts from his horse at the stables and pay them to look after his horse.

Firebringer neighed and Arial smiles as he brushes Firebringer hairs, it become calmer.

'Stay here for a while, friend' And after making sure that Firebringer is clam he went out from the stable.

He decided to go to the marketplace to restock some of his supplies and seek information.

As he walks this city, he notices that this city is quite lively.

He looks left and right and he could see many wooden stalls, selling and bartering their products, vendors with bright fabric roofing where they hang their merchandise.

The wares are laid out on cloth while the sellers calling out to the passer-by, selling food, vegetables, jewelry, weaponry, books, bright bolts of cloth and silk, spices, fruit, alcohol, ale, clothing & shoes, elixirs and so many other stuff. 

Arial could also see children working the crowd and stall; some are begging, merchants in their wagons creaking as they pass by him, beef meat sizzling on a grill.

And then Arial saw a familiar people as he walks along the market

'So, they are here now?' he thought to himself.

He saw the troupe of wandering bards, minstrels and musician, the same one he once admitted to his duchy during the time of the festivals.

Arial remembered they once performed a play during Levitia Homecoming in his region. Remembering the Festival, reminded him of Lisa and Kyle.

'So they are still performing' he mused.  After watching for a few seconds, the troupe playing their well-known acts, Arial moved on

Arial had to avoid some people while walking. There are so many people walking, talking, running over the market and the noise is lively.

'This is almost as busy as Acro' he muttered to himself.

But not busy enough, he added in his mind.

In Acro smell of spices, people of different race and religion, people from Distant Lands all traded there. In liveliness this city is the same. In trade it is far from Acro.

In Acro at least someone would open a path for him to walk on since he is the ruler of the city. But now that he is travelling incognito, no one would open such path for him

He had to squeeze through gaps of people just to reach a stall. Arial stomach growled and he went to a bread stall.

Looking from afar, people are lining up to buy it. There must be a reason why the bread stall seems popular.

Arial lined up behind the other people and ask them casually about the bread stall. Every one of them praises that the bread of this stall is very fluffy and delicious.

Arial decided them to buy a few of it to sate his appetite. The Temples are near. Better to have some supplies of bread, he thought to himself

He bought about five breads.

Then he bought a few vegetables, some potatoes, leeks and eggs. Travelling like this reminded him of the life before he became a lord.

It also reminds him of his mashed potatoes with smashed egg the type of dish he always serves Lisa, Helia and Kyle during their quest.

He smiles thinking about it as he takes his supplies. As he walks away, he remembers the matters of the past.

He is their lord but in their quest for the Academy, he is usually the cook with Helia helping him slicing the onion while the siblings always choosing the patrolling job.

'Heh' he chuckles a bit, remembering certain past memories.  He then did not go immediately to the stable. Instead, his feet move toward the taverns.

It is one of the places where one could find information just by lounging around it.

Usually the tavern is full with people and a hot bed for miscellaneous information. Surely the tavern keeper would know the famed Linzi Temple.

On entering, he slides a few silvers to the tavern keep. The tavern keeper beamed at him and ask

'What do you want to know?' Arial then ask about the location of Linzi Temple.

The tavern keepers seem to hesitate to say the answer and Arial slide a few more silver on the tavern keeper direction.

The tavern keeper smiles and then he told Arial that the Linzi Temple is on the top of Di'llion Mountain, in the center of the top and not the other temples that is all around the mountain hills.

Arial nodded and then he rushed out of the tavern and return to the stable as he saw the sight of the stable guard not daring to approach his horse.

Firebringer is being moody as he keeps neighing and looks like it will be going amuck. Arial shouted and his horse immediately become docile once again

Arial thank the other stable keepers and give the a few more silvers to thanks them and to pay for whatever difficulties they had to endured because of his horse.

His horse is not easy to handle

In his academy it is called a demon horse because it could not be tamed. Only Arial could ride it and only he succeeded in taming the horse.

They gratefully accepted the silvers and all complaint in their hearts disappeared. They leave the stables as Arial approached his horse.

Unlike when Firebringer with strangers, Firebringer head look at the ground, like he knows he did something wrong and Arial just chuckles.

He then unties the reigns of his horse and once again caresses its hair

'A free horse like you do not like being tied right?' Arial ask as he caresses Firebringer hair. Firebringer shake its head joyfully.

Arial smiles and then jump on the back of his horse.

'Let us ride'

He then rides toward the direction of the mountain before night descend

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