Chapter 695: Recovering City
The guards led us through the streets of Blacksand City toward the spire. The colossal obsidian formation was still massive, but it was missing a very noticeable amount at the top. Jagged chasms tore through the city terraces girding its length, and countless rockfalls and hardened magma flows broke up the once beautiful bridges and streets.
The city was surprisingly lively, with marketers opening amidst the ruins. Many of the civilians carried injuries, but their eyes were bright, and a bounce filled most of their steps. Children ran through the streets, playing tag and collecting wildflowers that grew between the cracked and broken paving stones.
"See? We did it," R’lissea whispered, taking my hand and squeezing it.
I nodded. "I know, it’s just...I wish they’d stop staring at us."
Elise giggled on my other side. "They can’t help it. The flowers were a nice touch, too."
I fingered the wreath of flowers resting on my head. R’lissea had insisted I wear them, but if it was the reason for the gawking...
No, she was just teasing. I’d been in enough cities to know that it didn’t matter what I looked like. People would stare, whisper, and gawk at demonkin no matter the situation. At least they weren’t spitting and shouting this time. Yet.
"Is that the cathedral?" R’lissea asked.
She pointed to a towering building with slender towers and thick walls. Towering stained glass windows cast colorful motes of light across the street outside the gates. Mana cannons rested over the ramparts, glowing faintly but not charged. Several groups of soldiers patrolled around the walls, offering us salutes. A seventh-level mage sat on a horse with a strange, pearly horn on its forehead, like a unicorn. She nodded at the captain of our guard, but her eyes lingered on me, following us as we passed.
"It’s heavily guarded," Elise said.
"Even if there is peace with the demons, do not think they trust us," Fyren said. "No human in their right mind would allow their Shard to be unguarded at a time like this. Even if it is scheduled to be taken later today."