" This way …" a soft voice said.
" It's just past here. " another girly voice said excited popping out of a path hidden behind an array of leaves.
" Okay, okay , I'm coming . " another voice said , this time male, as he struggled out of the bidding tree vines.
The two girls ran into the path clearing with vibrant smiles , ushering to the gate complex ahead of them. They waited for the figure who was still struggling with the tree vines.
He finally got loose almost being tripped by a low vine.
" Man that was hard… " he said looking back into the path way.
" Glad that's … " he suddenly stopped as his eyes took in the majestic construct that stood before him.
A distance away was a large gate. It had intricate swirling patterns curved across its surface all meeting at the center . It was coated with a dark color with the curved pattern marks on its surface a mixture different light color hues making it look like a northern lights vortex.
In front it was a crowd of people, mostly carts and merchant carriages docked near it as they awaited inspection.
" Wow !"the boy exclaimed his eyes barely able to scape the gate in one glance.
" So this are the Northern gates. " he said as he followed the two girls who had already strode ahead of him. His eyes searched the carriages that were packed near the gates looking for the one he had came with.
" Looks like they've already gotten in." He said with a sigh the speed up trying to catch up to the two girls.
Then from the gates he heard a female voice calling out.
" Lady Hina ! lady Nabi ! "
The voice sounded distressed and desperate.
After a few seconds he heard the same voice calling out, this time was it was relieved with a hint of glad.
" Hina , Nabi . Where have you been? " he heard as he moved closer.
Near a merchant cart was a lady in a maid's uniform. She was crouched with her arms tightly hugging the two girls.
" Never do that again. "she said in a low worried tone.
" Yes aunty Lisa. " the two girls said in unison.
The boy stood behind the two as they reunited with Lisa.
" She must be their attendant. " he thought.
He gave a warm smile before turning back to leave them be. Then suddenly he felt two gentle tugs pull on his robe. He turned to find the two little girls staring up to him.
" Thank you for saving us , Mr. " they said.
" No problem but next time do go alone okay . " he said.
" Mmm . " they said with short little nods.
Lisa had rose up and now was standing besides the girls. She eyed the boy standing in front of her from his dark hair with silver shades at the ends , his greyish hooded robe, which was still dripping water, and finally resting at his eyes.
" Thanks for help them get back, they've been a handful lately. " she said with a bow.
" It was my pleasure, no need to thank me. "he said rubbing the back of his head.
Lisa raised her head then reached into her pocket drawing out a card , which was half black and half white, and handed it to the boy. At the center there were a pan and a soup serving spoon with their handles crossing to form a X shape. At the middle was sword running across to were the spoon and pan met. She then ushered the two girls to start walking then said to the boy.
" Take this to the guild. With it you'll receive your reward. "
"Reward ?! " the boy asked confused.
" For finding these two . "
" Also may I have your name in order to know who my mistress is to thank ? " she asked in a polite formal tone.
" Sure, why not . " the boy said as he placed the card into his small bag strapped to the back of his waist.
" My name is Sen. "
Lisa was quiet for a moment. Then she turned to Hina and Nabi who were standing near the gates with a guard .
" Sen huh ? "
" I hope to see you soon. " she said then gracefully walked towards the two.
Sen watched them disappear into the gates with Hina and Nabi waving goodbye slightly resisting Lisa's nudge to keep on walking.
He chucked a little bit as turned to the inspection bay near the gates. Before entering any region , city or town an individual had to be inspected by the gate guards and there after was granted a pass that was valid for a couple of months. This was for the security of the populous and also to keep track of all visitors of a certain region.
Sen paced forward to the bay. He reached for his small bag brandishing a merchant card then giving it to the inspector posted there. The inspector inspected the card then after a while nodded handing back the card to Sen.
" Have a pleasant stay , sir. "
Sen nodded as he received his pass. He then flung his hood back on the walked forward towards the color vortex gates.
" Feels great to be back home. " he thought as stepped past the gate entry. He felt a slight tingle, as he walked through the gates , rush through his body relieving his tense muscles .
" Woooow !! " were the first words Sen said when he entered Laptove. His mouth remained agape his eyes darting all over the unexpected and beautiful citadel like city that lay before him.
Laptove town had changed beyond Sen's wildest imagination. It was less of the small backwater town he used to know. Previously Laptove was a rundown town nearing it's ghost town years. It was inhabited by low caste people and majorly served as a inn town for passing merchants, who were its main source of revenue. The streets were hardly maintained with the street lights broken and flickered during the night.
To Sen's expectations this should have worsened after the Miasma event. The population number had increased with the homeless demographic of those that lived in Salur packing Laptove's inns and streets.
But now it was as if the incident two years back was a mere whisper in the wind. The former town had taken a complete one eighty into a imperial like state. The building that ran through the streets were dexterously build with each complementing the next in appearance and beauty. The streets were tiled with polished rectangle brimstone leaving no earth exposed. Lishnar shield walls ran around Laptove encapsulating a bigger area than before with a marble area separating the walls from the street tiles.
What's more was the great multitude that flooded the streets from convoy merchants to local ones. The local residence had changed with most of them dressed as though we're from a noble lineage.
" Wow ! The town has entirely changed. " he thought still dazed by the unfamiliar surroundings.
Something else picked Sen's interest. From the parts of Laptove he could see, there were large stone monuments with floating crystals at the top. They were layer out in intervals and he could only see three.
" Wonder what those are ? " he thought as stepped into the Laptove.
His thoughts were dragged back when he finally remembered the reason he had come back to Laptove in the first place.
" My money. " he thought. His eyes searched through the carriage and carts looking for his contracted merchant.
" There ! " he exclaimed , starting to make his way to the man he was with inside the carriage.
Sen had taken up a job to escort one of ten merchants travelling to Laptove. After spending nearly two years with Orin, Sen quickly realized how fast money could go down the drain and disappear in a moments haste. Thus he took the escort job hoping to earn some more silver for his echo filled pockets.
Or so he told himself.
A few strides ahead of his was his contract merchant. Tightly in his hand were two pouches of silver. To his side two imperial dressed men . They wore long tailored coats of yellow laced with golden trim, the collars high and stiff . On closer inspection, Sen realized that the man was sobbing.
" Did something happen ? " he thought looking at the man to see if he had any injuries. Near the carriage they were traveling in the four horse guards stood tending to their horses.
Sen sighed on seeing that. There was no inherent trouble .
Suddenly.
" There ! There ! "
" That's him. "
Sen was taken aback at the sudden outburst from his contract merchant as he pointed at him.
" What did I do now ? " he thought as the imperial dressed men made their way to him.