38 Chapter 37
Before leaving, Auron suddenly encountered a problem. He had 14 horses for 14 people but how in the world will they be able to carry their supplies and his chest of gold.
He was about to go out and find someone willing to sell him a wagon when he suddenly had an ingenious idea. He remembered some of his clothes are still in The Shadow's captain's cabin. This means he is carrying them all along. If he can store his clothes, this means he can also store his chest full of gold inside the ship.
Maybe the magic bottle has hidden function to keep his things with just a thought like a storage ring does in those wuxia novels.
Thinking of this, he immediately set in motion and went inside his room to test it.
He place the lute in his bed while holding his magic bottle. He closed his eyes and willed the lute to be placed inside the captain's cabin.
When he opened his eyes once more, he cursed because it didn't work. The lute was still in his bed but he didn't give up.
'Maybe I need to touch the lute? Hmmm let's try it.' Auron thought.
Touching his lute with left hand and holding his magic bottle with his right hand, he tried again. Still it didn't work but he felt the bottle shake.
Though it didn't work, it finally have a reaction. This means his idea is possible and it gives him hope.
He thought for a moment before he slapped his own forehead for missing the basic common sense.
"Of course it wouldn't work. I'm ninety percent sure that the bottle needs to be uncorked." Auron said to himself.
He uncorked the bottle, carefull not to tilt it and spill the water inside. He was afraid the ship will be released if the water inside spilled. How can he possibly explain to the magisters how a warship suddenly sprung out of nowhere in the middle of the city destroyed buildings around it.
Slowly, he aimed the nozzle of the bottle towards the lute. He placed his left hand towards it while holding the bottle in his right. He then willed it to be placed inside the ship. His eyes went wide when the lute turned into a liquid as the bottle sucked it inside disappearing from the bed. After that, he immediately put on the cork.
After recovering from stunned state, he suddenly stood up and he burst into a mad laughter.
"Zehahahahahahahahah! I'm a genius bwahahaahahhahaha!"
The guards outside looked at each other when they heard him laughed. One guard shook his head indicating they should ignore it or else..
Auron went outside his room and asked the guards outside to help him move their miscellaneous supplies and his chest of gold coins inside the room but leave the food supplies as it is.
When everything is done, Auron closed the door and transferred all of it inside the Shadow.
When they are about to leave Pentos, Aidana asked where was their supplies were. Auron didn't hide anything and said he stored them inside the ship which puzzled Aidana and the guards. Auron didn't explain though and let them their imagination run themselves.
--
It was a long arduous journey but they didn't encounter any troubles along the away. The strange thing though was that every time they bump into someone, they pay their respects by bowing slightly or nodding at them for a greeting. Even the bandits formed groups and greeted him from a far.
At this time, Auron wasn't wearing his iconic cloak anymore. His features were open for anyone to see as his confidence was displayed in a proud manner. He didn't need to be lowkey anymore because he had the strength he needed to survive. Even if someone discovered his true identity, he won't care.
They stopped over at Norvos for two days before resuming their journey towards Qohor. When they arrived, Auron and the rest was quite surprised to see three thousand army of unsullied lined up at the entrance west gate of Qohor. They seem to be waiting for someone important.
As they near the gate, thousands unsullied slammed the butt of their spear unto the ground in unison.
Bam!
Seeing this, Auron's group was startled by the sudden sound. Then two men on a horseback approached them, both middle aged but their body type was quite distinct. The man to the right was bald and had an unkempt beard. His body was mascular and glistening like in those body building competition. On the other hand, the man on the left was lanky but Auron could see his muscles has some power into it. It was firm, an evidence from either his profession or his genes.
"Greetings, Storyteller! Herald of Death and Slayer of Armies. Your fame and glory were known far and wide. My name is Jori Eranel from the Eranel familyfamily, famed for our greatest woodworks." The lanky man greeted and introduced himself.
"It is our honor to have you here in Qohor. We hope you find your stay here quite to your liking. Name is Budger Motts from the Motts family. We are famous for our forges and blacksmithing skills. I'm sure we have a lot to talk about. By the way, the Black Goat sends his regards. His introduction is to assist you in anyway possible."
Auron was surprised by the warm welcome he was receiving. In the end, he nodded to the two men greeting them back.
"Well met, Master Nori and Master Budger. I appreciate your welcome and hospitality towards us. If you please, I would like to discuss some important matters with you." Auron greeted politely.
"Certainly, Storyteller. Shall we go inside the city so we can host you properly?" Jori asked.
Auron nodded and said, "After you masters."
Then he secretly extracted rings from each of them called 'Advanced Smithing' and 'Master Sculptor'.
Auron and his team were escorted inside the city like distinguished guess from afar. People inside the city seem well mannered behaving quite normal, contrary to Auron's expectations given their way to worship their god, 'blood sacrifice'.
As they were threading along the path towards the place where they will be staying, he noticed and old man running the street shouting something on every man he run into.
"Heeeeelp!! I need some help!! We are trapped!"
Seeing Auron staring at the old man, Budger took the initiative to explain.
"Don't mind that old guy. He went crazy when his only child was killed, selected to be one of the sacrifice to the great Black Goat in order to ask for city's protection. It was the time when we are raided by the outside forces in the past."
Budger and Jori looked at the old man with sympathy.
When the old man approached them, he suddenly pointed out to Auron.
"You!!! I know you! You gotta get me out of here!" The old man said in exasperation.
Auron felt strange by what he is saying. With curiosity, he stopped his horse and decided to listen to his mumblings.
"I know you, lad. You've been there. You gotta help me escape?!!" The old man exclaimed.
"Escape from what? From the city? No one seems stopping you from getting out."
"No no no no, you don't understand. We are all trapped!"
"What are you talking about?"
"None of this is real! This- this whole world, you, me, even the birds aren't real. This is all a product of imagination! Ahhhhhhh! We're doomed!"
"They seem real to me."
"No! You're mistaken! We're trapped inside a book. We are confined inside Webnovel! Ohhh gods, huhuhuh"
Auron continued to watched him amusingly.
"Please you gotta help me, I've become self aware and I wanna escape this hell hole! I WANT TO GET OUT!" The crazy old man shouted.
Auron shook his head thinking the old man has completely lost it. He urged his horse to resume walking forward.
"No! No! Please I need help! Don't go, I need you! If you get too far away, I will be just skimmed through like an unimportant text, flinging outside the screen, disappearing into the void, never to be seen again!"
The old man shouted from behind but Auron ignored him.
A few minutes later, they stopped at a mansion full of servants. They currently preparing different kinds of food and setting up the long table. They have prepared a simple banquet for his arrival which moved Auron promising he would help if ever they need his aid.
As they sat along with Jori and Budger, they started eating and enjoying the banquet.
When Auron felt that they are already quite comfortable with each other, he stated his business straight to the point.
"Master Budger, the reason why I came here is to ask for a permission to let me use your forge. I'm planning to reforge a Valyrian steel, this arakh to be precise."
Auron showed the arakh to them not planning to hide the fact that he knew how to reforge a Valyrian steel despite the city guarding the secrets of its method.
As Budger examined the arakh, he nodded and said, "Very well. I will not ask you how you knew the secrets of reforging a Valyrian steel but since the Black Goat said to assist you in anyway, I can only agree. However, we have to leave it for tomorrow since it's already quite late and you must be tired from your journey."
