Chapter 92: Advent of the Pages 9
Westland was a mountain city nestled deep within a rugged alpine landscape, its stone buildings displaying intricate, historic architecture: steep roofs clad in reddish-brown tiles, arched windows framed by wooden shutters, and small balconies that jutted from ancient walls.
The carriage rolled along cobblestone streets that wound through the city center, following the gentle downward slope through crowds of walking, conversing townspeople.
Their calm and decent demeanor alongside the sturdy structures gave the city a cozy, fortified feel, yet the buildings opened up just enough to reveal courtyards, staircases, and pockets of greenery despite the dense population.
The carriage pulled up on the right, before a prominent tower—perhaps a town hall—rising with Gothic-like spires and arched windows.
Raider’s eyes swept gently around as he stepped out of the carriage. Everything in Westland felt foreign to him. It lacked the modern atmosphere of Persia City, yet the landscape and population seemed more diverse than Persia.
Chilly winds from the snowy mountains swept across the city, yet people strolled about in their overcoats and gloves, wearing soft smiles. Even the children showed no fear of the cold.
"It will be 200 Persa..." the driver announced with a dry tone, pressing his palms together to warm himself. Yet clearly the cold wasn’t the cause of his lifeless expression; it was what had transpired on the way.
His words snapped Raiden out of his daze, and he leaned in to pay him instantly, but the driver drove off the moment he touched the money without sparing a glance.
"I don’t think he will be coming to Westland again," Levi called out as he stood by Raiden, both of them watching as the driver desperately drove away.
"I think so..."
The driver’s fear and concern for his safety were understandable because he wasn’t the only one drowning in confusion—Raiden was too.
Fighting a shadow of himself, something he had never considered or even heard of, but what perplexed him most was the person who had summoned it. Who was he?