Chapter 8: Gemburn City

Chapter 8: Gemburn City The law enforcer wearing a black suit and cap and with a small sword at his waist was standing at the entrance of the gate. He took the ticket, checked it, punched a hole in it and allowed Luke to pass through. After getting inside, he was shocked to see that it was a huge and spacious hall inside. There were a huge number of pillars around the whole room but not a single seat for the people to sit. For the first time, he got a taste of discrimination, the taste of being poor and the treatment that followed. Quietly he moved to a corner, placed his luggage down beside him, sat down and rested his back against a pillar. One after another more and more people came in. slowly the huge hall was packed with people. The doors closed and the dim lights went bright. The whole airship started vibrating as it was taking off. Loud sounds of the engines running buzzed the ears and the vibrations intensified. Slowly the airship lifted off and the vibrations died down. Luke looked around and saw people from various spheres, some were common people with their families, some were young children in groups, some looked like adventurers with armors and weapons and some looked like thugs and goons. He felt a bit nervous as many people were stealing glances at him, making him uncomfortable. "Would you mind if I sit here?" a voice came from Luke’s side. He turned and saw a young man similar to his age. He had black hair, well built and was wearing a full body black steel armor. It looked quite intimidating and heavy. "No worries!" Luke responded. "Hi! I’m Noah!" he said with a smile as he took a seat beside Luke. "I’m Luke." "Are you thinking why people are looking at you like that?" he asked. Luke was surprised at the sudden question. "Huh! Yes...a bit!" "Most of the people that are in the basic class are poor, who can barely afford the ticket, are either saving money or hiding and running from someone." he said with a knowing smile. "But seeing the clothes you are wearing, your reason doesn’t seem to be the first two. Are you probably a noble running away?" he pointed towards Luke’s cloths which were too expensive to be worn by a commoner. "What!? No! No! it’s nothing like that. These clothes are a parting gift. I used to be a servant in the duke’s mansion." Luke lied as he tried to deny. "Oh! Alright! It doesn’t matter if you’re a noble anyway." He said smiling. "So what’s your reason for going to Gemburn?" "I’m going to visit my uncle there!" "Oh! What’s his name? I may know him!" "He’s not anybody famous! His name is Roger. Roger blackstone." "WHAT!!? You mean ’the bull’ Roger?" "The bull? I think you’ve confused him with someone else." "There is only one Roger blackstone in the whole city. Is he in the military?" "Yes, he is. But I don’t think it’s the same person y...." "I can’t believe he’s your uncle. He is the greatest shield mage of the Gemburn military! He is my idol! You have to let me meet him!" Noah said with starry eyes as he held Luke’s hand with the request. "Well, alright. You can meet him!" "Hahaha! Finally! I can’t believe this!" Noah kept on speaking about all the heroic achievements of Roger throughout the journey. Luke didn’t know his uncle was such a person. He just thought he was in the military as a common fighter mage. His whole perspective about his uncle turned hundred and eighty degrees after meeting Noah. The airship shook intensely as it docked at the platform. The doors opened slowly and people started moving out. Luke and Noah got out and moved to the lifts. They both boarded a lift along with the other. It started going down and Luke got a look at the city from above. There were a lot of houses and buildings, smoke coming out of the chimneys from the workshops. A large mansion at the center, and at the edge where the city ends, a huge wall standing in between the city and the forest of corruption, both of whose ends couldn’t be gauged by the eyes. "That mansion was of the last noble who used to live here. After the city got its independence from the Glaskow kingdom, it became the headquarters of the military." Noah explained, pointing at the huge mansion in the middle of the city. He then shifted his hand and pointed at another large building at the other end of the mansion. "That’s the adventurer’s guild. The second most powerful institute after the military! I am going to join them!" "Why? Isn’t my uncle your idol?" "That’s a different thing. I admire him, but I don’t want to be bound by the military rules. I want to be free and go on adventures. Make friends, eat, travel, create stories. Just like I met you, my friend!" he said with a smile. Luke smiled back. He didn’t consider Noah and him to be friends, but hearing it from him, he got to know Noah’s thoughts. He was a bit embarrassed and couldn’t reply back, but he was ecstatic inside, as Noah would be the first friend he ever made. "Come! I’ll guide you to your uncle’s house!" Luke followed Noah after they got out of the lift. They passed through the hustle bustle of the street. Gemburn was far more populated, and full of chaos then his hometown. After they passed a few streets, Noah turned at a small alley, Luke was a bit skeptical, but decided to trust him and followed after. The alley was dark and full of trash and not a single soul could be spotted beside them. Luke started to get nervous and doubts arose when suddenly he heard a laughter from his back and immediately five goons circle them blocking both the front and the back. "Hahaha!! These fools made our job easy coming right in the alley. Snotty babies, leave everything and get lost or else you’re gonna wet your pants standing here. Hahahahaha!" one of the goons spoke as all of them started laughing. "Noah! This..." "They’re no goons. They’ve been following you from Winchester. They were keeping an eye on you in the ship too. Guess you really are a runaway noble huh!?" Noah gave a knowing smile as he looked at Luke.