Chapter 286 (1/2)
Chapter 286
Chapter 286: How to Survive
“I can tell by your wandering gaze that you’re new here Well, you’re in luck! We have—”
“Not interested,” I interrupted, waving away a thin man with shi+ny, slick-backed hair
It only took four steps to be stopped by another resident of the first floor A petite girl wearing a short battle-skirt—way too short to provide any sort of coverage in a fight—brushed her arlanced up at me
“Would you like to join irls, and we’d really like a strong, coolher eyes
I had arrived on the first floor less than ten o and this was already the seventh tis, I hadn’t expected things to be this bad
Losing ht pulse of aetheric pressure
A ripple ran through the surrounding crowd as they stiffened and shi+ed away froirl’s eyes ide and she stepped back, staring at one, foul wench!’ Regis declared theatrically in irl scurried away
Aside from the constant movement of workers and the ever-present hucksters, there wasn’t much to look at on the first floor The air was stuffy and it smelled of sweat, dirt, and excrement
The first floor stretched out for miles on either side ofabove us…if there even was one Froht The wide pathere lit by a coht orbs high above our heads
Most of the space I could see froer fenced fields of tall orange grass, where cattle-like beasts roarinding , and a lot of loud conversations fighting each other for supreate leading to the second floor in droves
As I got closer to the gate, the crowd of ascenders funnelled into yet another single-file line A pair of iuards—their rune-scored backs proudly displayed by their ar each person for their ascender’s badge before letting theuard stuck out an arave hie After a quick scan, he let out a scoff and handed it back to h irritated by the obvious pejorative, I ignored the colass-like portal leading to the second floor
I was tired, annoyed, and hot from the half hour I had been on the first floor, but all of those negative feelings were coht in front of is let out a whistle
The second floor was nothing like the industrial wasteland I had just coined
It was an entire city, miles wide, built under a radiant, sunless sky The streets were paved with decorative tiles that sparkled under the glowing blue expanse overhead
Along the avenue, hovering orbs of soft light filled neatly placed, elegant street la the streets an almost ethereal quality
“Get out of the way!” a husky voice barked behindto the burlyforward It was a lot to take in, even for so city
The streets were busy but never congested, with ascenders everywhere It was like being back in the Adventurers Guild Hall in Xyrus, if it had expanded to take over the entire city
As Alaric had suggested, businesses catering to ascenders were ubiquitous The e above thefro in the creation and repair of certain weapons, ht find simpler needs, such as dried rations or a new pair of boots, and I even found an i services for artifacts and accolades
However, what I saw the most were inns In fact,colors and decorations were inns, all of which were advertising long-term rental of rooms, most often paid by the ht You could spend your entire life here,” I muttered under my breath
‘Focus! You look like a country buis chided, even though he was just as absorbed in sightseeing as I was
I realized I had becoo to find a team Alaric had provided several tips for what to look for in potential teauidance on navigating the second level had, I realized, been pretty shallow
Making my way back toward the portal I had arrived frouard who could help guide ht direction On this side of the portal, however, there was only a constant strea a passing man on his shoulder “Do you knohere I can find a team for a preliolden chainlow, cocked his head towardseveral such colorful rejections by other ascenders, a younger gentleman that looked only a few years older thanto help
“Are you serious?” he asked with an amused chuckle
“It’smy cheek
“Co over there anyway”
Walking out of the main avenue, the two of us walked across a less crowded street I sized the man up as alked; he wore a fitted set of dark leather armor, well crafted but much less opulent than what I’d seen soolden chain exactly where he was headed
“So what acadeuidly “Probably a slim chance, but o to an acadeed to pass the assess out his hand “I’m Quinten, by the way”
“Grey,” I responded, receiving his gesture
“So have you had a chance to tour the city, Grey?” Quinten asked, looking up at the buildings towering over us
“A little The city is eventhan the stories I’ve heard”
“Well what do you expect when you have a city es,” he said with a chuckle “You should see the Summit Estates”
My brows furrowed “Estates? As in homes?”
Quinten nodded “I’ve only ever peered past the gates, but it’s a gated area of villas for highblood ascenders”
“And considering howdown the street, I’ these houses are astronomical in price?”
“Astronomical would be an understateht into a narrow alley between two buildings “No, even if you had the money, the real problem is exclusivity The number of properties there is pretty liive up the prestige of owning a house on the second level They generally only go up for sale if a highblood is struggling”
“I see”
The ascender shoulderedyou some dreams to try and reach”
I chuckled “Thank you”
Quinten then leaned closer to irls on Blossom Street”
“Huh?” It tookto “Oh…wait, they’re ascenders as well, ould they—”
“Ascents are dangerous” He shrugged “A lot of us—not just our lovely escorts—have been through enough that we’re fed up with them The smarter ones have realized that there are easier ways toto beco them?” I asked innocently
Quinten blinked before stifling a laugh “When’d you notice?”
I looked around, ignoring the ascender cale several stories above us There wasn’t a single ascender in sight aside froh,” I said, lowering roup of other thugs waiting to help you, though”
He let out a chortle “Why would I need a group to handle one little wogart?”
Quinten’s form blurred as he rushed towardaround his arot it
I reached for the stone blade that hadhis wrist with uided the blade safely past, stepped back with ht elbow up into his chin
With the th aside fro myself in aether
Quinten’s head snapped back and he cru