Chapter 131: Going Home
The journey from the ancient castle to the realm’s core had taken Arthur and the rest of the group approximately two weeks of steady travel. Despite their initial concerns about the dangers that might await them on the road, the journey had gone relatively smoothly without any major hiccups or life-threatening encounters. The group had fallen into a comfortable rhythm of travel during the day and rest during the night, with each member taking turns keeping watch while the others slept.
And finally after months of being stuck in the second realm, Arthur and Aziel had finally made it to their destination—the city that surrounded the realm’s core. The anticipation that had been building within them throughout their long journey was now reaching its peak as they approached the place that would serve as their gateway home.
The core of the Second Realm was an absolutely breathtaking sight to behold. It was situated inside a colossal pillar of what appeared to be crystalline material that seemed to stretch infinitely upward, reaching toward the heavens themselves. The pillar’s surface shimmered and pulsed with an otherworldly energy that was both beautiful and slightly intimidating. This magnificent structure was positioned precisely in the center of a rather large and sprawling city, which was itself completely surrounded by an impressive circular wall that rose high into the air.
It had been taken over many years ago and was now used as the primary base of operations for all Chosen who operated within the realm. The city served as a crucial hub of activity—many powerful guilds based their entire operations out of its secure walls, there were countless shops and vendors established by Chosen who had chosen not to pursue the dangerous path of active combat, and the place had even developed a thriving real estate market where some people actively bought and sold houses as permanent residents.
Arthur and the group came to a stop at a considerable distance away from the main gate of the outer wall. Both Arthur and Aziel found themselves staring up at the towering pillar in complete shock and awe. The sheer scale of the structure was almost impossible to comprehend, and the way it seemed to pulse with mysterious energy made it appear almost alive.
"So this is it, huh? The core city of Aragon," Aziel said with a wide grin spreading across his face, his head tilted back as far as it would go as he stared up at the tower in pure amazement. The sight filled him with a mixture of excitement and reverence that he had rarely experienced before.
They all took several more moments to fully absorb the magnificent sight before them, each processing the reality that they had finally reached their destination. Then, with renewed determination, they began making their way toward the city’s entrance.
They walked through the massive gates, which were carved with intricate designs. Almost immediately upon entering, they found themselves immersed in the city’s main streets, ready to experience the bustling activity they had heard so much about.
However, the reality of what they encountered was far different from their expectations. The streets were significantly emptier than Arthur would have ever imagined possible for such an important location. Instead of the crowded, busy thoroughfares they had expected, they found relatively deserted paths with only the occasional vendor or lone Chosen wandering about their business. The contrast between expectation and reality was jarring and immediately concerning.