149 The first encounter

The next day they were ready to continue the trip, the convoy was prepared and they were just finishing a few things before leaving.

Atlas was sitting inside the carriage thinking about what had happened the day before. He couldn't fathom the existence of the rifle in this world, and although the one he had tested was still a prototype, it was a prototype from 10 years ago. Although it was difficult to know what had happened next due to the disappearance of everyone in the town.

While a rifle was not something interesting for mages who could create spells much more powerful than a shot from the rifle, for non-mages it was something else.

It was the evolution of bows and crossbows.

While he was busy thinking about him, Atlas felt the convoy begin to move again. Now they left the city in search of answers about what had happened to the entire population.

Several hours passed and night fell. The convoy stopped as it normally did and as always, they began to make dinner. Atlas would normally go into the nearby forest to hunt some beasts, but now they were in the middle of the field so there weren't many beasts near them.

Besides, Atlas had other plans in mind.

Getting out of the carriage, Atlas headed to the back to look for Faun and Adoh. There, he found that Faun was helping the others make the food while Adoh was surely hiding inside her clothes.

An image of Adoh hiding in a certain part of Faun's body appeared in Atlas' mind, but he quickly dismissed it and approached the young woman.

When Faun saw Atlas, she quickly finished what she was doing and approached him.

"Did something happen yesterday? You were a little distracted"

Atlas remained silent for a few seconds, surprised that Faun had noticed. But considering that they had been together for three years, it was normal for her to notice when something was bothering him.

"It's nothing, is Adoh with you?"

Faun nodded and lifted her cloak revealing Adoh who was somewhat drowsy but she woke up the moment she felt that she was exposed.

The little fairy raised her head and when she realized it was Atlas, she became unconcerned.

"Adoh, can I talk to you?"

"Is it that important?"

Atlas sighed and simply nodded.

Faun opened her palm, letting Adoh climb on it and gave it to Atlas, who put it on his shoulder and saying goodbye to Faun, he began to walk towards an area away from the others.

"What's going on? Since yesterday you have been strange"

Atlas smiled slightly realizing that Adoh had noticed it too. Then he didn't take long to ask: "Do you remember what you told me about the only rule when creating artifacts?"

Adoh nodded somewhat confused and replied: "Never create an artifact to fly, the sky belongs to birds, flying creatures and the gods. Why you ask?"

Atlas looked towards the front of the convoy.

"Is there any other rule like that?"

Adoh became even more confused, but remained silent thoughtfully for a few moments before speaking.

"…No other rules come to my mind. That's the only one, it's like a code that can never be broken. Other creations depend on whether they are prohibited by the royal family... but I guess the gods don't care about the rest"

Atlas bit his nail lightly, then asked one last question.

"If someone breaks that rule… what would be the punishment?"

"The punishment of the gods, although I have no idea what that is supposed to mean" Adoh responded quickly without needing to think about it.

"The punishment of the gods? It's too abstract"

"I guess, but I've never really seen anyone break the rule, so it's hard to say"

The world was big, and surely there was someone who would rebel and try to fly. Although Atlas wanted to know what the gods' punishment would be like, it's not like he wanted to try it for himself.

"Would they end the creator's life, or perhaps destroy the city where he lives?"

Adoh shrugged.

"Who knows, breaking the rules always comes with a cost depending on how big the sin committed is"

Atlas said no more on the subject and thanked Adoh before returning to Faun. Like any other night, they spent time together before everyone went to sleep, so while Atlas was lying in his bed, he couldn't stop Adoh's last words from echoing in his mind.

'Breaking the rules always comes with a cost depending on how big the sin committed is'

Atlas looked at the ceiling of his cabin and then closed his eyes.

'Could the gods punish an entire empire just for one person's sin?'

Atlas squeezed his eyelids and soon after fell asleep.

***

Several days passed and they reached another city, but like their previous stop, there were no signs of life. Everything was completely deserted with only some beasts roaming the streets of the city and inside some houses.

They also visited the house of the nobleman who controlled the city, but found nothing important, so they decided to continue.

This lasted about two weeks, during which time they passed through more abandoned cities, towns, and camps with no sign of any souls.

Everyone seemed more and more worried. What could have happened that made the entire population disappear?

The last resort to find the answer they were looking for was the capital of the empire, a place they had been approaching for three weeks since they crossed the border.

Atlas, who was sitting on the roof of the carriage next to Mika, looked forward, observing the high walls that surrounded the capital in the distance.

"Wow… it's more impressive than the capital of the kingdom" Mika murmured.

Atlas remained silent. He had never visited the capital of the kingdom so he couldn't compare, although seeing the castle rising above the walls, he couldn't help but be surprised.

'Worthy of this world...'

It was then that the carriages suddenly stopped causing both of them to sway slightly.

"What's going on?" Atlas looked ahead without understanding why all the horses... or horse beasts were crying in fear.

Mika also seemed a little confused, but suddenly she frowned and pointed forward.

"Is that a person?"

Atlas looked where she was pointing and narrowed his eyes. Indeed, in the middle of the road to the capital, a person dressed in a completely white cape covering his face was standing a few dozen meters in front of the convoy.

Atlas saw how Basgran, along with the elf, and other mages left the first carriage with him and approached the person.

Atlas was still very far away, so he couldn't sense the mana of the mysterious person. But that was not the important thing, since after three weeks touring various cities, it was the first time they had met someone.