A New World, An Immersive Game Experience

As soon as Akarui left, the mage, in dark blue robes, approached Erik. "So you are Faust?" To which Erik nodded, "I must thank you for saving my little brother. He has never shown much talent and no one else would have taken the time to heal him."

"It is no problem, I believe it is what must be done. In any case you are already returning the favor by helping me get out of the city," Erik replied with a bright smile while watching Akarui feeling the patterns on the pillars up and down. Absorbed in trying to understand them.

"Are you sure you want to leave? You will be labeled as a coward and deserter." The mages questioned while also looking at the little girl, understanding the true reason behind this decision.

"I am a Chosen, not a native of the kingdom. They have no right to say I must stay and fight to the death. I also never agreed to that," Erik replied. While he had taken up the quest to help, he had made it clear when he did that he would only act as a healer and that he would not fight to the end.

"Alright, then where do you want to go, and do you have the payment?"

"The capital, if that is not possible then the nearest city to it." Erik replied, having gotten the information of how the teleportation system worked from Eldrian. The only way to leave a kingdom by teleportation was from the capital. Getting into it through teleportation also required an agreed connection which he doubted this mage managed to organize. "As for the payment, is five gold enough?"

"Right, the capital is a no-go. This isn't an official teleportation, rather I am using some loopholes and manipulating the array. Hence I won't be able to get you into the capital. The other cities are all a go, so I will send you to the nearest one. As for the payment, three will do for both of you."

"Are you sure? That must mean you are making a loss." Erik questioned, knowing that normally the cost would be around three or four for one person to teleport into the interior of a kingdom from the border.

"I am naturally not marking up the price for you, this is only the cost of the materials that will be used. Hence it is enough, now whenever you are ready, just stand in the center of all the pillars."

"Akarui!" Erik called as he walked to the center, picking her up once she reached him. "Anything to be wary of?"

"A slight headache, maybe some disorientation. Also, you will need to have an excuse to be allowed out of the tower you land in" The mage replied while activating the array, a flash of light signaling that the two were gone.

I hope you the best, hopefully, you know what to say to safely get out of the magic tower you land in.  The mage mumbled softly as he headed out to the noble district to resupply the materials he had just used.

...

After Eldrian had logged out he had quickly gotten dressed and eaten a basic breakfast, rushing to Constantin to discuss what had happened. Now that he had actually managed to more or less sort out his thoughts and actually formed an idea of how it worked. He had not tried to explain things earlier to Gengxin because Gengxin would not make for a good discussion. Having never entered the game Gengxin did not really know how those things worked. He knew of it, but did not know it.

No other people from the company had come to ask him anything either. Likely due to him having said that he was unsure, they would probably come to ask in a few days if he did not say anything by then.

For them, things were fine as long as they could collect the data they needed, and no one got hurt. Eldrian falling unconscious was not really considered all that amazing at this point, many of them had come to expect it from him. The situation this time had only been slightly different in cause.

Conversing with Constantin Eldrian had managed to share his findings while receiving some interesting feedback. Constantin himself felt more agitated as he heard Eldrian talking about having managed to actually feel magic itself, and even control it.

He was quite angry at himself and the others for their approach of relying on the system so much. He felt more and more that it had become a crutch that held them back. It was certainly useful at the start, but now it was simply there stopping them from realizing things as Eldrian could.

...

The next day Eldrian headed to Myropsis right after his training with Vivian and Old Sword ended. "Have you contacted him yet?" Eldrian asked as soon as he saw her.

"Yes, but he wants to meet you first. Follow me," Eldrian did just that, entering the noble district of a city for the first time. Riding a carriage with a crest of rolling hills with horses running free. Most people cleared the area for them in a hurry when seeing the crest, hence Eldrian assumed it indicated nobility of some sort. The guards at the inner wall also did not stop them, instead they opened the gate for them upon confirming the crest and bowing as the carriage moved past.

The area within the noble district was less crowded than the outside. Instead of most houses being built right next to each other, all these had their own garden. Not a garden of just a meter or two, but one covering nearly as much space as the house itself. Some even had enough land for it to be considered a small farm. If someone would take the time to cultivate the land.

All the houses had interesting designed and some exquisite patterns engraved on them. These patterns mostly covered the walls of the buildings, but now and then a house would have patterns on its windows or doors too. Some even went so far as to have their fences engraved with patterns.

Looking at all this Eldrian wondered if they might be arrays, all of the patterns had a similar feel to them. He discussed this with Myropsis who quickly confirmed that they were indeed all arrays, mostly protection arrays.

After around fifteen minutes of travel through this fascinating area, they arrived at the Mayor's residence. Eldrian had thought they would be met at the gate of the manor and asked for their reason to be there. Instead, they directly walked in after leaving the carriage to the guards.

This caused Eldrian to wonder again who Myropsis was, and why she would struggle to gain access to a Magic Crystal; if she could enter the city mayor's house without being bothered by the guard. Instead of questioning they rather treated them as honored guests and quickly ushered them in.

"Ah, Myropsis! Great to see you again, this must be the Chosen you talked of. Come let's go for a stroll while walking." A man shouted from the second floor, jumping from his balcony and landing with a flourish.

"Thank you, lord Pelaros." Myropsis nodded slightly to conform to the etiquette of meeting a city mayor.

"Haha, no problem. Now, what is your name young... Elf!" Seeing Eldrian's ears the man became greatly excited.

Eldrian cleared his throat to buy him some time to get used to the strange stare he was now receiving, "I... I am Haru, my lord." He added the last part a bit late, saying it felt weird to him. He was certainly not used to using such haughty titles.

"You can just call me Pelaros, now come. I have already organized some tea and cake inside the garden," Pelaros said, giving a nearby guard a look and nod to indicated that it needed to be organized as soon as possible. "Why don't we start with the rose garden?" Pelaros asked with great enthusiasm.

"No, no need... That is not needed. I just came to discuss the reward being given before I go off on the mission." Eldrian quickly countered, believing that agreeing would land him in a trap.

"Of course you can get access to the Magic Crystal, so don't let it bore our morning," Pelaros replied with a wide charming smile, searching for something he might be able to offer as a gift without looking too obvious.

Wait, what the hell just happened?  Eldrian was completely caught off guard by the sudden acceptance of his request. The eyes of Pelaros becoming even stranger, Don't tell me...

What is going on, he was so reluctant when I talked to him last. Why is he suddenly receding, and for Haru and not me!? Myropsis questioned, astonished that she was being ignored at this moment. She was even more astonished that the request she had fought so hard for was being given so easily now.

"Ah... Hu..." Eldrian stuttered not knowing how to reply, at this moment he just wanted to get away. Unfortunately, he knew he had to stay if he wanted to get access to the Magic Crystal.