A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 18 Gasd Yaz and the Fortress City

The rest of the journey was peaceful and tranquil. The caravan traveled along dirt roads through the fields, occasionally crossing streams and passing farmhouses. If the farmhouse was large, Mr. Ale would have the caravan stop so he and the driver could buy some eggs and homemade cheese.

Rorschach and Mr. Aller maintained a lukewarm distance, and afterwards, Mr. Aller refused to allow Rorschach to keep watch again, citing that Rorschach needed more rest.

"Parsnip seeds and dill berries"—whenever Tasia was resting, she would gather herbs from all over the place, then crush them and dry them in a pot.

Hill felt that Tasia was completely oblivious to being monitored: "What are you doing!"

"Don't be nervous! Don't you think eating rabbit all the time is getting a bit boring?"

When they were far from the forests and hills, there were no wild boars or deer to hunt, and Hill only hunted during the team's rest periods, lacking time. Therefore, most of their catch consisted of bland rabbits. Rabbits were rather tasteless; basically, they tasted the same as any other meat when stewed in soup.

"I'm researching magic that can attract wild birds." It turns out that Tasia is planning to change the target of the honey trap magic.

It was late autumn and early winter on the mainland. Grains and fruits were ripening, and birds were getting fat. Every now and then, flocks of wild ducks and geese would fly by, seemingly indicating a southward migration of birds.

"It's done!" Unlike before, this time Tasia put the powder into the campfire, and a cloud of smoke immediately rose up. She then used her magic to make the smoke rise straight up.

"Quack! Quack!" Wild ducks really came. They came from the distant riverbank, circling and flying around the column of smoke, descending in a spiral.

"Quick! Quick! Shoot down the fattest ones!"

That works! A crossbow seems unnecessary, so Hill's makeshift slingshot from boar sinews and branches came in handy. One shot, one duck; the other ducks were completely oblivious to the loss, and their calls grew louder and louder.

The flock of ducks was almost on the ground when Luo Xia estimated the distance and used his Mage's Hand to scoop one up.

Rorschach held the duck in his hand. The duck was quite plump, with a snow-white belly and a brownish-gray back, covered with mottled patterns.

The duck tilted its head and stared at him with one of its big eyes for a while, then squatted down and flapped its wings, stretching its neck to bite Rorschach's sleeve.

Rorschach sensed the damned duck's intentions and shoved the little animal away.

The duck persisted, quacking around Rorschach once before tilting its head and targeting an unfortunate grasshopper. As an autumn insect, it was immediately caught in the duck's hard beak.

Then the duck waddled along, carrying a hapless grasshopper that had grown fat by eating grass seeds, and presented it to Rorschach.

"You beast, you know how to lick," Rorschach said, breaking off the grasshopper's barbed thigh and hard-cheeked head, and tossing it to the duck to eat in one bite. "Gentlemen, it seems this beast is close to me. Why don't I take it as a pet?"

Snap... Snap, Snap, Snap Snap Snap

No one knows who started clapping, but when the smoke cleared, the applause woke the ducks that were still in the air as if from a dream, and they quacked and ran away. The only ducks left alive were those enjoying a delicious meal at Rorschach's feet.

Rorschach borrowed scissors, cut off its flight feathers, and then gave it a name that no one understood:

Gustav Yaz.

……

The caravan finally reached the edge of the empire. The fortress city of Andorella was at its heart a formidable stronghold, composed of thick stone walls and towers. Connected to the fortress walls were numerous watchtowers and arrow towers, overlooking the surrounding area. The entire structure was pentagonal, supported by exposed stone hills, and surrounded by the city's residences and shops.

The Empire and the Holy Kingdom had enjoyed a long period of peace, and the original moat had been enclosed within the houses of the citizens. The city walls were built in three concentric rings, from the thick stone walls like fortresses to the brick walls, and then to the low earthen walls on the outermost ring.

When the convoy arrived, they found many coarse cloth tents set up outside the city, with people coming and going, and long queues forming at the city gate.

"Why are there so many people?" The people who joined the queue looked around. Each stall had vendors. Not only were there stalls outside the city, but they could also be seen inside the city through the gate. It was a bustling and huge market.

Entering Andorella from the north gate is simple; all you need is an imperial identity document and a caravan pass. However, leaving the city and heading south is considered leaving the empire, and all customs duties and vehicle taxes will be collected at that time.

Because the entry checks were relatively simple, the queues didn't move too quickly.

"Is it a market? Do vendors outside pay less tax?" Tasia poked her head out of the carriage and guessed.

Mr. Aller recalled that "the southern part of the Empire and the Holy Kingdom have a custom of holding a carnival at this time, and we must have just happened to be there on the day of the celebration."

"Is there a celebration now? Has it evolved from the birthday of the god of agriculture and animal husbandry?" Rorschach searched his knowledge of mythology and folklore. It was now his turn to enter the city, dismounting to show the guards his mage badge and adventurer's silver medal.

"Perhaps, they are all gods who have fallen into oblivion, who would remember them so clearly? Now is our carnival, our harvest festival. Welcome to Andorella, Master, and wish you a happy holiday!" The guard glanced at the young mage and the duck on his shoulder.

"Thanks."

Following behind Rorschach was Tasia, who pulled out Linburg's identification and the Forest Tower's badge; the guards seemed not to recognize the latter.

After entering the city, the group did not join the celebration. Instead, they registered their itinerary at the Adventurers' Guild, submitted their application to the Imperial authorities in the area to travel abroad, and checked into an inn.

"Even if the application has been greased, it will take until tomorrow or the day after to receive the approval. Do you want to rest first or join the celebration? Let me make it clear, Andorella is a chaotic city, and it's the time for revelry, so we can't get separated. It's best to stay together when we leave the hotel."

"I'm going to the Magic Guild."

"I'll just lie down at the hotel for a while; it's been so long since I've slept on a soft bed!"

"So, aside from Master Luo Xia, how about we rest at the hotel first and then attend the celebration tonight?"

Tasia clapped her hands happily, and seeing the others' lukewarm reaction, asked curiously, "Don't you want to experience the customs of a city?"

Mr. Aller offered Tasia and Hill a room together, arguing that since they had helped with the hunt, Hill reluctantly agreed, which moved Tasia, who didn't have much money, to tears.

Walking out of the hotel onto the street, Rorschach felt that the so-called harvest festival was just a day for a large market, because now everyone was either shopping or on their way to shop. The shops were full of goods, and one shop was particularly eye-catching. The shop was stacked with large, painted tin goblets, some with myths and some with scenery.

Rorschach now holds a map provided by the Adventurers' Guild, which is related to the city's defenses. The map has large blank areas and restricted zones, but it marks many restaurants and taverns.

"They must have charged a fee for this..."

Using the map, Rorschach found the Magic Guild's headquarters here—a five-story building modeled after a mage's tower, constructed of red brick and wood.

It's described as an imitation because the Magic Tower is a place where mages and apprentices study and live, while here, besides the guild hall, there are stalls selling scrolls and potions at discounted prices, as well as signs advertising "free divination," with people coming and going and the sounds of bargaining. The guild's branch headquarters in the capital is solemn and magnificent, while this place exudes an overly commercialized atmosphere.

"This doesn't seem very reliable..." Luo Xia looked at the "Free Fortune Telling" sign with some concern.

(End of this chapter)