"Three, two… One!"
As soon as Thames uttered one the two mages began running one another. But Frio crouched down when he was a few meters from Ode.
"[Eruption!]"
The words dripped from his mouth and the ground below Ode shook.
"[Jumpspace!]"
Ode's figure flickered with golden sparks and just as the ground erupted in flames and lava, he vanished and reappeared behind Frio.
Frio's body twisted searching for Ode, then pointed his clasped hands at him.
"[Incinerate!]"
From his clasped hands, runic arrays layered themselves and a small spark appeared in front of Ode.
Ode's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the spark.
"[Magic Shield!]"
A golden, hexagonal shield surrounded Ode's body just as the spark turned to a blazing inferno. As the flame ceased and the smoke fell everyone could see Ode crouched down. His two hands pressed on the ground.
Frio jumped back as he noticed this, but Thames was on the edge of his seat. This was the first time he's seen such a scene.
Ode smiled towards Thames and winked.
"[Unholy Entrapment!]"
The space around the arena boomed as a dark smog surrounded Frio. From inside the smog, four golden spikes attached to chains shot out, and embedded themselves in the ground.
Thames eyes widened as he watched in fascination, his gaze locked.
"Damn you and your stupid spells, Ode!"
"Ya know it's comin but you ain't set up a counter!"
Ode replies joyfully as the smog lowers, revealing a chained up Frio. The golden chains flickers and twinkled in the light.
"What was that, Ode..?"
Thames asked slowly while staring at the chains.
"An Ode original!"
He replies cheekily.
"[Cancel.]"
The chains around Frio crumbled and Ode grabbed him from the back collar of his shirt.
"[Jumpspace.]"
The two vanish and reappear next to Thames on the bleachers.
"How was that Thames??? Pretty good right?!"
Ode asks with enthusiasm dripping from his speech, dropping Frio onto his face. Thames just chuckles and looks at the two.
"I have no idea how magic works."
Thames admits plainly.
"Well do ya know the types??"
A puzzled expression appears on Thames' face as Ode quizzes him on his knowledge, and Frio brushes his ashen pants off.
"Why'd you bring this kid here, Ode?? He don't know any magic!"
The top of Frio's head sparks as he yells at Ode. Ode puts up his hands in protest.
"He's gonna paint all the things we see!"
Frio pinches the bridge of his nose and just looks at Ode in disappointment, then at Thames in pity. Ode rolls his eyes, but Thames' expression just becomes more and more confused.
"Anyway.. You both're headed to the capital right? Lino..?"
Ode nods at Frio's question, and both turn to exit the arena. After a few moments, Thames realizes they're leaving and hurriedly catches up to them.
"You need a carriage, Ode?"
"…Yep."
"I'll have one made."
Exiting the arena, and walking to the stairs, Thames realizes there's tons of mages walking about. At the bottom of the stairs are a few mages conversing, but he can also see mages going in and out of the wall at various heights. It appeared like they could walk on air!
With his mouth agape, Thames joined the other two in descending down the levitating stairs. Quickly, they reach the bottom of the tower.
The gate, similar to the Flowery Tower, was mighty in size, but this one was made of stone. It pulsed red as magma flowed around it. Frio stepped up to the gate and it swung open into the tower.
Ode and Thames walk out, leaving Frio behind. In stark contrast to the first tower he witnessed, the outside of this tower was made up completely of fire, brimstone, and lava. He could see volcanos puffing out smoke nearby.
Just as his gaze gets lost in his surroundings, the sound of creaking wheels approach the duo.
"Don't fall in the lava..!"
Ode says jokingly as walking up to a carriage, the corners singed, and the center embedded with glowing red stones. He opens the door and enters the carriage.
"Cmon Thames!"
Thames jolts and rushes into the carriage, closing the door behind them.
Ode knocks on a window between the carriage and the driver. The woman with dark grey skin and pointy ears looks back at them, anger appears on her face as she looks at Ode.
"To Lino, Lindel!"
She shakes her head and turns back to the front of the carriage, movement slowly following them. Ode turns back to Thames.
"So! How'd ya like that magic, Thames?"
"It was cool.. That was the first time I've seen mages fight."
Ode nods in satisfaction and leans back.
"So ya don't know a lick of magic??"
Thames just shakes his head.
"Hmm.. Well! Frio uses fire magic and a few subtypes… Like ash and lava!"
Thames nods as Ode continues.
"He's a battlemage too, so his spells are focused on combat! Y'know it's a miracle he's a tower master. That's just how good he is!"
A surprised expression appears on Thames' face as Ode sings praises of the opponent he beat in seconds.
"Why aren't you a tower master then..?"
"Can't stand stayin in one place!"
Ode waves his hands in refusal of the idea.
"But other than battlemage, there's scholar. That's what Rubes is! She's crazy smart."
Thames watches as the surroundings transform to a much friendlier view, silos and windmills dot the farm land as the sight of the capital, Lino, nears.
"So there's battlemages and scholars."
Thames reaffirms what Ode just told him.
"What're you then? A battlemage?"
"Both! Duh!"
Ode laughs as another confused look splits Thames' face, but Thames doesn't protest, he just focuses on the capital approaching.
The outer walls of the fort city are made of stone bricks, metal coating the bottom part, and the symbols of the kingdom etched in. Every 12 meters stood a tower on the wall, with guards posted at each.
The carriage slowed down as they entered a line to enter Lino.
"Hm? Hey Lindel what's the hold up?"
The demon lady looks back into the carriage with an annoyed look.
"Traffic, obviously, Ode. You in a rush to get beat or something?"
Ode clicks his tongue and looks back at Thames.
"Guess'll be waitin for a while!"
"Okay. How long will we be staying in Lino..?"
"Oh I dunno.. But I'll getcha set up in my house. You can go shoppin for stuff ya need too."
Thames just nods as the carriage begins to move again, slowly passing through the gate. On the inside, immediately, Thames can see various different races all gathered in what appeared to be a market.
There were tents set up selling different goods from finely crafted gold rings to corn from Nira.
So that must be Lino Market..
He thinks to himself as the carriage carries on, passing into a housing district.
The houses were much different than Nira, instead of being made mostly of wood, most of the houses here were made of clay bricks. The house roofs were also leagues better, instead of being flat and made sloppily from stone, they were made from wood and formed a triangle above the homes.
They weren't very uniform either! The architecture style was the same, but they each had different sizes.
The windows were actually made of glass instead of just being a cutout in the wall too.
Eventually, after passing many houses, the carriage stops in front of a large house. It must have been larger than the court back at Nira.
Ode opened the carriage door for Thames, who then got out quickly.
The road was laid with smooth stone bricks, a stark contrast from the straw and dirt that made Nira roads. Ode shortly hopped out of the carriage and slapped Thames' back.
"Don't look too amazed ya country boy!"
Lindel sighs and gets off the carriage too.
"Where should I bring the carriage, Ode?"
"Bring it to the side!"
She gets back on the carriage and quickly moves it to the side of Ode's house.
The duo begin to walk towards the door, Lindel shortly joining them.
Thames looks over to Lindel, inspecting her clothes.
She wore a tight fitting suit, her breast pocket had a golden handkerchief identical in pattern to Ode's neckerchief. Her resting face made her look angry, and her greyish purple pupils shone through her long, black bangs. She was about 6 foot, slightly taller than both Ode and Thames. Noticing his stares, she glances towards Thames.
"Whaddya want?"
Ode opens the door to his home as soon as she asks this, but turns back to the two, confused.
"Ah! Thames, this is Lindel. Lindel, this is Thames!"
Pointing to each as he said their names.
"You'll be workin togetha so get along!"
Thames nods and walks into the house after Ode, Lindel behind him.
Inside the house they're immediately greeted by a grey and white cat. It walks up and brushes itself against Lindel who immediately picks it up. She turns to Thames with the cat in hand.
"This is Whiskers. You best be nice to him!"
"..I will…"
He responds defeated while turning his attention to the entrance.
The floor itself was made from a collection of different planks, they were each different shades of brown. In front of the door, however, was a red carpet with gold diamonds shapes stitched onto the corners. The interior walls were an unfamiliar gritty white material, with various paintings or pictures hung up.
The hallway splits to two paths and Lindel, with her cat, walks to the left.
"Follow me, Thames!"
Ode turns to the right as he directs Thames over. After passing what Ode reveals to be a washroom, he stops in front of a doorway. Lacking a door, Thames then peaks in, seeing a that the room has most materials needed for painting. Except for a couple of specific paints he fancies, but he could go shopping for those.
"This's where you'll be workin from now on, unless you're 'companying me on my travels."
Thames nods and turns back to Ode.
They then carry on walking, turning to a tight staircase, and walking up. The second floor, similar in style to the first one, but lacking a carpet covering the hardwood floor, has a larger staircase.
Ode turns right, beckoning Thames to follow.
As they walk down the hallway, he glances at the walls, but they're barren compared to the first floor.
Ode stops in front of a closed door pointing at it.
"This'll be your room, but the only washroom is that one downstairs."
"Okay. Are we doing anything today?"
"You can find Lindel and getter to join you for shoppin. We need groceries anyways."
Ode responds lazily while walking past Thames.
"My rooms the opposite side!"
He yells back as he travels down the corridor, fading from Thames' sight. Thames then turns back to the door and opens it slowly.
It creaks as it opens, and reveals a medium sized room. In the back left corner is a twin sized bed with red sheets. Right next to it is a smaller nightstand with an oil lamp on top. On the back wall are two windows, allowing the sun to light up the room.
Next to the door is a coats rack. The right wall has a closet as well. He goes to open the closet, and realizes that there's a mirror inside it.
That doesn't seem practical..
He sets his suitcase down, next to the desk in the front left corner. The desk has a stack of blank papers and an inkwell with a quill on it. There's a lamp identical to the one on his nightstand as well.
He pulls out the chair from his desk and sits down. Pulling a paper to in front of him, he dips the quill in the inkwell, and brings it to the paper.
"Dear mother and father,