Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"How are you going to meet him?" Rain asked. "All this time in incognito won't mean anything if we knock at his door like this."

"He will be waiting for us at night today," Lorene said. "Branden said that you can make us fly. The sun is setting, so we can just wait near a tavern before moving."

That was a tough job… while Rain probably could do that, moving everyone, the horses, and the wagon would use a bit of mana. Still, he couldn't complain… The sky was cloudy as well, so that was their best option.

While the Port City didn't have walls, there were some guards patrolling around the place, but they looked pretty relaxed. Rain could tell that they didn't face any problems in a while… that was a good thing since it made people feel relaxed. Still, it was also a bad thing since their sense of danger was getting dull… if something happened, they would probably be swept by it like a tornado.

In any case, the whole city was filled with people since there was plenty of workarounds. That was why the last few villagers that Rain saw were so far away and were quite small. In any case, they parked the wagon beside a tavern, and Lorene began to look through the boxes pretending that she was working on something. At the same time, Rain went to grab some water for them and for the horses.

While Rain could condense the air and turn it into water, it was better not to draw that much attention toward them.

When night fell, they began to walk around like they were looking for an inn, but they headed toward the darkest part of the city, and once they found an alley big enough, they moved toward it. Without wasting any time, Rain made a bit of the ground emerge and then pulled them upward. It would be easier if he had pulled a huge chunk, but that would leave traces behind.

As such, he has to focus a lot while straining his mind to fly with that thin layer of earth without making it fall apart any piece of it.

"It is that house. Land on the back of it," Lorene said while pointing to a mansion that covered a huge block of the city.

Rain moved as fast as he could since he almost could feel his brain cells exploding with the effort he was pulling in. Still, the landing on the back of the garden of the mansion had been as fluid as it could get… Rain sat on the ground feeling like he needed to sleep for three days, but soon he got up when some guards appeared and pointed their weapons toward them.

"You are…" a female voice echoed in the area coming from the guards. "They are guests… lower your weapons."

The guards were all heavily armored, including with helmets, which was why Rain had to wait for the woman to step in and then reveal herself. She took the helmet off and then bowed slightly, revealing the face of a woman with short black hair. She looked quite rugged, but she had some fine features on her face.

"Forgive our insolence, my lady," The woman whispered. "My lord is waiting for you inside the house… you all return to your positions; I will deal with this."

The guards saluted, and then they began to move. Their discipline was quite good since they didn't hesitate even for a moment.

It was rare to find female officers in the army since they didn't have the upper hand when it came to physical strength; most of them would focus on magic, but occasionally, Rain would find some of them that somehow could match men in terms of strength, or they were simply more skilled.

In any case, Lorene nodded and then jumped from the wagon. Usually, she would stretch her body first, but this time she tried to keep her dignity as a noble as if she didn't have to stretch or something.

The mansion had a stable on the side as well, so Rain moved the horses and the wagon toward it. Soon, he followed the others, but he was stopped at the door.

"Servants can wait outside while my lady and my lord talk," The guard said.

"No can do; if something happens to her inside the house, I won't be paid, and I will be blamed for it," Rain said.

"No harm will befall her while she is here," The female guard said.

"That is up to me to make sure. Your words aren't enough," Rain replied.

"You…" The female guard looked at Rain while emitting some bloodlust.

"Let him come. He is a guest as well," Lorene said. "If he does something rude, I will take full responsibility for it."

"... Very well, my lady," The female guard said.

Rain knew that he did his job well, so Lorene had no reason to doubt that he would keep protecting her. As for the female guard, Rain had no idea why, but she sure looked stressed, even though that city was so peaceful.

In any case, they entered the house; the living room of the fancy mansion exuded an air of opulence and elegance. The walls are adorned with richly woven tapestries depicting epic tales and vibrant scenes from nature. Large windows are draped with luxurious velvet curtains, allowing a soft, warm light to filter through.

The room is dominated by a grand fireplace made of intricately carved stone, its flames dancing with a cozy radiance.

The furniture is ornate and well-crafted, showcasing the finest woods and fabrics. Plush velvet sofas and chairs are arranged around the room, their deep colors matching the tapestries. Elaborate wooden tables with inlaid designs hold antique books, crystal goblets, and delicate sculptures.

"Someone is showing off," Rain thought.

From the second floor, Rain heard some quick footsteps, and then the owner of the place finally showed up.