NOVEL WEB (Chapter 5) Arcadia
The day continued on as the sun continued climbing into the sky, and my questions never seemed to slow. Most of them were so meaningless that I really didn't even remember what I asked, or even what the answer had been to the question by the time the next one rolled off of my tongue. But I continued talking, continued asking for answers just for the sake of a true conversation for the first time in years. Though I did remember a solemn handful that had more interesting answers. Simple questions like the people of Berinia, going over the same few basic things with magic that Darek had already explained multiple times, just because my curiosity continued to grow from it.
Yet, in the distance crawling across the horizon I could see a brilliant city beginning to form as if before my eyes. I knew the instant I saw it that I would have to return to the inside of the cart, but my smile still remained. My endless torrent of questions finally simmering down as the carriage crawled to a very slow halt, the horse pulling it neighed in annoyance at being stopped leaving Darek to simply chuckle softly.
"Time flies when you have someone to speak with, doesn't it?" Darek stated calmly, sighing as he slowly pushed himself to stand, though his eyes never left the city. And, I found my own eyes struggling to tear themselves away from the view.
The coast almost seemed to be made of silver as it washed up against the far side of the city where I could see grand warships and thousands of trading vessels all docked side to side within a port larger than most cities were. All around that brilliant port were the edges of the grand wall, made of a rock that I was painfully familiar with, a brilliant black stone marked with white and gold sections as if carved out of the night sky itself, all being used as a gargantuan wall which I could only assume to be over a hundred feet high.
The wall was marked with countless divots and rounded towers for guards to hold defensive positions upon. Outside of the city walls I couldn't even begin to count the number of farm fields tilled with crops that made up near every color of the rainbow. I could see countless workers marching through the fields, caring for every single crop individually while wind gently careened into the valley leading towards the ocean. The gentle breeze was whistling past me, leaving my eyes almost starry, it was almost like I had wandered into wonderland.
I couldn't see much of the city itself, the view blocked by the massive walls. Leaving the only visible sight to be the red tiled roofs of the buildings, the shingles presumably finely intertwined between each other by masters of their craft. I honestly didn't want to take my eyes away from the brilliant sight, I wanted to soak it all in even longer, but with a reluctant sigh I forced my gaze away.
"Hard to comprehend on your first visit, I remember how mine was much the same many years ago." Darek spoke softly, gently stepping down off of the carriage, he reached a hand out, helping me down after him.
"Yea... It really is, I didn't think a city could ever be so large." My voice reflected how I felt, I was utterly awestruck by what I had seen. But I knew that awe would leave me soon, so I let my eyes fall low as I followed Darek to the back of the cart.
"Indeed, Arcadia is the second largest city in the world. A rather impressive feat for a nation not even a century old yet. Merely seventy five years of age, albeit the seventy fifth anniversary of the formation of Berinia is in a few days. I believe it is close enough to say that it is seventy five already." Darek spoke in his ever calm, ever happy voice. He paused for only a moment once the two of us were at the back of the wagon, he opened the door before offering a hand to help me inside once more.
"Seventy five years?... I thought it was older than that..." I spoke my thoughts aloud, to which Darek just chuckled a little.
"Many of the youth do, but no, Berinia is a young nation. Yet, quite powerful nonetheless. Perhaps a history lesson is overdue for you after this is all over." Darek chuckled further after he spoke, yet his smile faded softly as dread crawled across my face, the knowledge of what was to come already starting to eat away at me again. "Don't worry child, I know enough people here, and have enough favors I can pull. I will make certain that you are given a chance, one I know you deserve."
"Thank you, Darek." I sighed out softly, my eyes shining as I met his for a moment before the door closed. Leaving me with nothing more than horrid silence, and my own thoughts. I wandered my way over to the cot hanging off of the wall, finding my eyes locking onto the ceiling above me. Was this going to be the end? I, couldn't think of it. I felt my heart racing, anxiety pumping adrenaline through my veins as I thought about it.
Was I going to die? Was I being treated this well just so I didn't put up a fight before being killed? Killed for a crime I didn't commit? I couldn't stand to keep thinking of all of it. Until it hit to such a point where the adrenaline rushing through my body became to much, I couldn't stay conscious through the dizziness and my vision slowly darkened. Sleep was rarely welcomed, yet in this moment its all I could think of wanting. It was the only thing that could let me calm down, and push hell away for just a little longer.