NOVEL WEB Chapter 39: Signal
Atop the imposing gate, the guard carefully removed a control talisman emblazoned with the distinctive Starblood emblem from the folds of his robes. He focused his mind, sending a mental chant into the talisman.
A half-second later, the air surrounding the gate shimmered, creating distortions that made the entire structure appear to tremble. A series of intricate arrays, seamlessly integrated into the gate's framework, emitted a soft, rhythmic whirring sound.
The massive doors of the gate began to move outward. The two sculpted wolf heads slowly separated from one another. At that moment, a few sparks materialized from thin air, hovering several meters above the gate.
Spk! Spk! Spk!
The sparks flickered, emitting a series of soft crackles as they twirled around each other.
Spk! Spk! Spk!
The gazes of the retainers, along with those of the guards, focused on those sparks. Meanwhile, passersby on the other side of the gate paused mid-step, and looked up. The sound was familiar to every member of the Mo Family.
Spk! Spk! WOOSH!
Suddenly, a brilliant spurt of fire erupted, shooting up more than a hundred meters into the sky. As it reached its apex, the flames began to dissipate, vanishing in a graceful cascade.
The guard with the control talisman was protected by the defensive arrays. He only felt a rush of warm air pass over his body.
The retainers below watched in awe. They were not protected from the heat, but it was only a minor discomfort, insignificant compared to the captivating sight of the massive spurt of flame.
The guard glanced away from the flame spurt. He saw the expression on their faces, and chuckled inwardly. It felt good to create such a compelling spectacle with a simple command. He quickly returned his gaze to the vanishing fire.
A few moments later, the spurt was half of its full height. A few moments after that, it had disappeared entirely.
The flame spurt looked ostentatious, but it served a practical purpose. It was a beacon that was visible from any corner of the estate. Through such signal flares, the various sections of the Manor communicated with one another.
At present, the flame indicated that someone was entering the manor in accordance with standard procedures. However, if the gate was breached by force, the flame would have erupted with distinct changes, alerting the Estate of the impending danger.
The double doors of the great gate completed their outward arc, coming to a halt with a dull thud. As they stopped, the distortions also dissipated.
Seeing this, the retainer saluted the guard atop the gate, before urging the Demonbeast horses through the opening.
The carriage entered the Mo Estate.
The retainer kept a firm grip on the reins. This was not the Song Manor, where one could act freely.
The carriage passed by the first few massive buildings of the Mo Estate. They were lofty, palatial towers that served as commercial hubs for the lower class of the Mo Family. Located near the entrance, they were at a chokehold of traffic, easily accessible to those who were conducting business outside of the Estate.
After the towers came grand marketplaces and residential areas.
The sights were comparable to the inner ring of the Song Manor, but they were a representation of the circumstances of the very poorest members of the Mo Family, who could only afford to live on the outskirts of the Estate.
The carriage moved at a modest pace. It was even slower than it had been with all the disruptions in the Song Manor, but Mo Seris did not even notice.
They were in the Mo Estate. It was only natural to keep a low profile.