"Three, two… One!"
As soon as Thames uttered one the two mages began running at one another, but Frio crouched down once he was a few meters from Ode.
"[Eruption!]"
The words sparked from his mouth like a blazing inferno and the ground below Ode shook.
"[Jumpspace!]"
Ode's figure flickered with golden sparks just as the ground erupted in flames and lava, he vanished instantly 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 fire, hellbent on incineration. 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, and Thames was on the edge of his seat as 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 fixed on the scene.
"Damn you and your stupid spells, Ode!"
"Ya know it's comin' but you ain't set up a counter!"
Ode replied joyfully as the smog lowered, revealing a chained-up Frio. The golden chains flickers and twinkled in the faint light of the arena.
"What was that, Ode...?"
Thames asked slowly while staring at the chains.
"An Ode original!"
He replied 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 chuckled and looked 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 yelled at Ode and he put up his hands in protest.
"He's gonna paint all the things we see!"
Frio pinched the bridge of his nose and just looks at Ode in disappointment, then at Thames in pity. Ode rolled his eyes, but Thames' expression just became more and more confused.
"Anyway... You both're headed to the capital, right? Lino...?"
Ode noded at his question, and both turn to exit the arena. After a few moments, Thames realized they're leaving and hurriedly caught up to them.
"You need a carriage, Ode?"
"…Yep."
"I'll have one made."
Exiting the arena, and walking to the stairs, Thames noticed there's many mages walking about. At the bottom of the stairs were a few mages conversing, but he could 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 reaching the bottom floor.
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 walked 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 got lost in his surroundings, the sound of creaking wheels started to approach the duo.
"Don't fall in the lava...!"
Ode said jokingly as he walked up to a carriage, the corners singed, and the center embedded with glowing red stones. He opened the door and entered the carriage.
"Cmon Thames!"
Thames flinched and rushed into the carriage, closing the door behind them.
Ode knocked on a window between the carriage and the driver.
A woman with dark grey skin and pointy ears looked back at them, anger appearing on her face as she notices Ode.
"To Lino, Lindel!"
She shook her head and turned back to the front of the carriage, movement slowly following them. Ode then focused back to Thames.
"So! How'd ya like that magic, Thames?"
"It was cool... That was the first time I've seen mages fight."
He nodded in satisfaction and leaned back.
"So, ya don't know a lick of magic??"
Thames just shook 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 appeared on Thames' face as he sang praises of the opponent he beat in seconds.
"Why aren't you a tower master then...?"
"Can't stand stayin' in one place!"
Ode waved his hands in refusal of the idea.
"But other than battlemage, there's scholar. That's what Rubes is! She's crazy smart."
Thames watched as the surroundings transformed to a much friendlier view, silos and windmills dotted the farmland as the sight of the capital, Lino, neared.
"So, there's battlemages and scholars."
Thames reaffirmed what he just learned.
"What're you then? A battlemage?"
"Both! Duh!"
He laughed as another confused look split Thames' face, but he didn't protest, he just focused on the capital approaching.
The outer walls of the fort city were 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 looked back into the carriage with an annoyed look.
"Traffic, obviously, Ode. You in a rush to get beat or something?"
Ode clicked 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 nodded as the carriage began to move again, slowly passing through the gate. On the inside, immediately, Thames could 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 all the way from Nira.
So that must be Lino Market...
He thought to himself as the carriage carried 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 as well.
Eventually, after passing many houses, the carriage stopped 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 sighed and got off the carriage too.
"Where should I bring the carriage, Ode?"
"Bring it to the side!"
She returned back to the carriage and quickly moved it to the side of Ode's house.
The duo began to walk towards the door, Lindel shortly joining them.
Thames looks over to her, 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 staring, she glanced towards Thames.
"Whaddya want?"
Ode opened 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 nodded and walked into the house after him, Lindel behind them.
Inside the house they were immediately greeted by a grey and white cat. It walked up and brushes itself against Lindel who immediately picked it up. She turns to Thames with the cat in hand.
"This is Whiskers. You best be nice to him!"
"...I will…"
He responded 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 split to two paths and Lindel, with her cat, walked to the left.
"Follow me, Thames!"
Ode turned to the right as he directed Thames over. After passing what Ode revealed to be a washroom, he stopped in front of a doorway lacking a door, Thames then peaked in, seeing a that the room had most materials needed for painting, except for a couple of specific paints he fancied, 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 nodded and turned back to him.
They then carried on walking, turning into a tight staircase, and walking up. The second floor was similar in style to the first one but lacked a carpet covering the hardwood floor.
Ode turns right, beckoning Thames to follow.
As they walked down the hallway, he glanced at the walls, but they were barren compared to the first floor.
Ode stopped 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 responded lazily while walking past Thames.
"My rooms the opposite side!"
He yelled back as he walked down the corridor, fading from Thames' sight. Thames then turned back to the door and opened it slowly.
It creaked as it opened, revealing a medium sized room. In the back left corner was a twin sized bed with red sheets and to the right next to it was a smaller nightstand with an oil lamp on top. On the back wall were two windows, allowing the sun to light up the room.
Next to the door was a coats rack. The right wall has a closet built in as well. He goes to open the closet and realized that there was a mirror inside it.
That doesn't seem practical...
He set his suitcase down next to the desk in the front left corner. and noticed that the desk had a stack of blank papers and an inkwell with a quill on it. There was a lamp identical to the one on his nightstand as well.
He pulled out the chair from his desk and sat down, pulling a paper in front of him, he dipped the quill in the inkwell, and brought it to the paper.
"Dear mother and father,