Chapter 93 - The Creator Of Araneo

"I don’t get it," I shrugged.

I really didn’t get it, I mean that city was about as clearly visible as it could get.

"The Lost City of Araneo," Erick started. "It’s said the city was created thousands of years ago by an other-worlder like you."

"The city quickly became not only the center of the economy of this entire world, but also the strongest military power. Although much of the military strength was due to the man who created Araneo, it is said that his magic alone was enough to wipe out armies of men." Erick added.

"Wait, wait, wait," I interrupted Erick, holding up my hand. "If this city was basically the economic hub, and the strongest military force in this world, why is it now hidden from the world?"

"I’m getting to that," Erick frowned at my interruption. "As the story goes, a few hundred years ago, Araneo hosted the king of another country. This king had come to them claiming he wanted to sign a trade agreement, and mutual protection agreement with their city."

It seemed to me that this ’creator of Araneo’ was a man that understood the intricacies of politics pretty well.

Sometimes rulers would think that just because we are the richest country, or we have the strongest military capabilities, we don’t need anyone else.

That is not the case, no matter how rich or powerful a country is, it would always need the help of another country in some way or form.

"But that night he and his men poisoned and stabbed the creator of Araneo," Erick continued. "While the creator was injured and bleeding out, they started attacking his people. What he had failed to see, was that the king had brought his entire army, and hidden them in the forest surrounding Araneo."

I couldn’t help but frown at this part of the story.

It’s not something that’s all that strange to me, there were many stories on Earth about rulers who were killed during supposed ’peaceful negotiations’, but it still had a way of leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

"The moment the creator was injured, the king’s men opened the gates of Araneo for their army," Erick said, his voice dropping lower and lower as he continued with the story. "The sudden surprise attack of this army caught the city of Araneo and its military completely off guard."

I wanted to point out to Erick at that moment that that was kind of the point of a surprise attack, but seeing the look on his face I held back for once.

"It was a slaughter," Erick said. "The kingdom’s army didn’t discern between men, women, or children, they slaughtered every citizen they could find. Witnessing the slaughter of his people, the creator of Araneo’s rage knew no bounds, and with the final bit of his strength, and lifeforce, he summoned all of his magic."

For a moment Erick just sat there, silently staring out the window of the carriage at the approaching Virshak.

"What happened?" I finally asked.

"He slaughtered the entire army of the kingdom with a single spell," Erick whispered.

"And then, with the last bit of his magic power, he cast a veil over his city. A veil so powerful that no one has been able to find Araneo in centuries." Erick said, looking back at me with a smile again. "Yet you say you saw it as you made your way into this world."

"Interesting," I mumbled. "Could it be because I have an affinity for null-magic?"

"That’s possible," Erick nodded. "It’s probably the most likely explanation."

"Although there could be another one as well," Erick whispered, clearly thinking that I wouldn’t hear him.

"And that would be?" I asked anyway.

"Nothing," Erick smiled, shaking his head. "Never mind me."

I shrugged, not caring enough to try and force an answer out of Erick at that time, turning my gaze away from him again, looking out of the window at the magnificent city we were approaching.

The city only impressed me more and more the closer we came to it.

"What do you want to do about Araneo?" Erick asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, you’re the only person in this world that can see it..." Erick drifted off.

"And?" I asked.

"Don’t you want to go and find it?" Erick asked.

"Why would I want to do that?" I asked. "I have better things to do with my time than to go on a mission to find a city full of people who don’t want to be found."

"Maybe someday I’ll go and see if there are any opportunities for my businesses there," I added. "But for now, I have no interest in finding this ’Lost City of Araneo’."

For a moment Erick only sat there looking at me with that frown I had grown used to over the last couple of months.

"You truly are one of the strangest people I have ever met," he finally said.

"So you’ve said," I smiled, just as we reached the massive gate of Virshak city.

Erick and I showed our identifications to the guards at the gate, who only gave them a brief glance before waving us through the gate.

"Anyway, since we’re finally here, I guess it’s about time we start planning the takedown of this corrupt duke." I said as the carriage continued to slowly roll through the streets of the city.

"I suppose so, yeah," Erick nodded. "Although, I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as you think it’s going to be."

"That’s just because I’m making it harder for myself," I grumbled thinking about how easy it would have been to sneak into the palace with my shadow veil, kill the bastard, and then simply teleport out.

"Yes you are," Erick smiled. "But we also agreed that simply killing him would cause more problems, than finding a way to have him removed from power."

"I know," I smiled back. "And honestly, this might be a lot more fun, I mean manipulating political events from the shadows, this makes me feel like we’re the illuminati. Except we’re doing this for a very good reason of course."

"Illuminati?" Erick asked.

"Don’t worry about it," I sighed. "It’s just something from my world."

Sometimes it really bothered me that some of my jokes completely fell apart just because none of these people understood the Earth phrases, or concepts I used.

I mean do you have any idea how much of my charm that removes?