City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Thud!
 
I collapsed on the cracked deck, not having the energy to even stand, while the people around me cheered.
 
The battle had taken everything I had and more, but I survived; three sinking ships of undead is proof of that.
 
“We will live stone, not just fight,” said Jon while sitting beside him, with bandages covering every part of his body. 
 
For more than a year since the lich king started his invasion, I had been fighting since then. I had fought hundreds of battles, so much that he lost count.
 
I looked at the island where he was born and fought and lost everything till there was nothing more left to give, and still, he felt sad about leaving.
 
“There was no choice, either escape or turn into undead,” Jon said, reading what I was thinking.
 
He did not say anything, as his friend was right.
 
 
….
 
 
 
It was morning as I walked onto the deck of the ship and saw the majestic city of Namdar getting closer to me with every breath.
 
I am feeling weak, but I want the morning light to fall on my body, as I had not thought I would be alive to see this day a few hours ago. 
 
There were a couple of people on the deck looking at the city coming closer. I did not disturb them and picked my spot to enjoy the beautiful morning.
 
A few minutes passed in silence when I heard the steps behind me, only to see Eva appearing beside me. Like me, she is also pale and weak, but the signs of injuries are much less on her than mine.
 
Most of her injuries had been healed by the spells; the ones that remained would heal on their own in a few days.
 
Even in such a state, she looked beautiful that I couldn’t help but stare at her for a moment longer than it is polite.
 
“I did not think I would survive to see this morning,” she said, softly looking ahead into the sea.
 
“Me too,” I replied, and for a minute, there was silence.
 
“How long will you be in Namdar?” she asked. “Till I recover,” I replied. 
 
To be honest, I want to go back to Greltheaven as soon as possible, but I will not till I am back in fighting condition again. This world is dangerous, and I don’t want to move anywhere till I am completely recovered.
 
Until then, Carla will handle everything.
 
“Do visit me before you leave,” she said. “I will; I have a few things to buy and will be visiting your store.”
 
“I hope you will give me a discount,” I said, to which she smiled. “Don’t worry, I will give you a discount,” she said with a smile.
 
I wanted to ask her about her level; I am very sure she has got a level up and even skill, but it is not polite, even rude. 
 
The battle was dangerous enough that everyone, without a doubt, had leveled up. Even the Knight and High Mage might have leveled up.
 
 
Hun!
 
We were watching the city getting closer in comfortable silence when the sudden change occurred.
 
The skies around Namdar began to turn dark rapidly in a few seconds; all the clouds turned dark, making it look like it was evening rather than the morning.
 
I was just looking at the darkened clouds when the lightning began to flash in them, and strong winds appeared around me, so strong that I had to grip the railing tightly with my weak hands.
 
It felt very dangerous that; I wanted to burrow back into the infirmary.
 
“She is angry,” said Eva beside me. I did not have to ask who she was talking about.
 
I had heard that once mages reached the level of Grand Mage, their emotions begin to affect the element they control, and since Helena Salazar is a storm mage, she controls water, wind, and lightning, and all of them are acting dangerously.
 
I watched the lightning in the clouds getting stronger and stronger; all it moved toward the tower before bathing it fully.
 
Gasp!
 
A gasp of shock couldn’t help but come out of my mouth when I saw the lightning covering the whole tower.
 
I was watching it when suddenly, the lightning covering the tower began to move up till it disappeared above clouds, where the tip of the tower is.
 
Crackle!
 
I was just wondering what happened to all that lightning when I heard a crackle and saw a massive bolt of lightning tearing through the sky toward the west.
 
“Where do you think it went?” I asked, “I think you could guess,” she replied, and I smiled.
 
It is really a no-brainer.
 
As the bolt shot out, the clouds began to clear again, and by the time we appeared in front of the port, the sky had become blue again, with sunny light bathing our bodies.
 
“The port seemed to have a lot more security than before,” I said, more to myself than her.
 
There seemed to be a lot more security boats; not only that, but I also even saw a lot more beasts with riders patrolling the skies, not to mention a lot more boats in the port than before that it is neatly packed.
 
“The captains are scared; it will take a few days before the traffic returns to normal,” she said, and I nodded at that.
 
I did not ask about the undead; I understand enough politics and war that I know that the undead attack was just testing. 
 
Vris’alud had no intention to attack Empire, at least not yet.
 
It will first try to conquer the whole of Mayhurst island before it turns its eyes toward the Empire.
 
The real question is what Empire will do; will it send more aid or attack with the imperial navy, or will it do nothing other than make a token gesture to sate the people's anger?
 
Though one thing is clear, with all her anger and power, Helena Salazar would not go and attack Vris’alud as she did to Ralenport.
 
The most she could do was send a bolt of lightning, which she had done a few minutes ago.
 
The lich king is extremely powerful; the whispers even said that it is very close to the realm of Archmage, which makes it a dangerous enemy that even Helena Salazar wouldn’t take alone.
 
As the ship moved the port, people began to come out; Dan and Leena had also come out, and before walking to the deck, I had gone to meet them.
 
Their condition is better than me; they will be able to recover in a week without any further help from the healing spell.
 
Soon, the ship docked at the port, and to my surprise, I saw thousands of people waiting there.
 
“Politics,” muttered Eva softly as Artur Salazar flew out of the ship and stood in the air, facing the thousands of people who had gathered in front of the ship as if aware it was where the ship would stop.
 
They probably are.
 
“The undead had attacked us, but the sons and daughters of Namdar had fought them bravely.” 
 
“We have killed, leaving not a single undead alive, including the lich,” said Artur Salazar to the crowd.
 
‘He is really a bastard,’ I cursed at him again; all the work done by us, but he is saying like he was part of it, and this thing is, he never explicitly said it but implied it heavily, as look at him with the forced smile on my face.
 
Even Knight and High Mage are smiling as they stand on the deck of the ships.
 
“….in a few days, the warden will personally commemorate every soul fought against the abominable undead,” he said, and the cheers rang out from the crow.
 
He smiled widely and waved before landing gently on the ship and turning to us.
 
“Once again, I thank you for your bravery against the undead; Namdar will not forget it,” he said, and Eva beside me secretly rolled her eyes at that.
 
Soon, they put up a ramp, and people began to walk out of the ship. The first ones were on stretchers; there were some injured to such a degree that even clerics' spells weren’t able to heal them enough to walk.
 
Soon, it was my turn; I walked with Eva with my guards behind me; their condition was better than mine, but they were still in no state to do a protection duty.
 
“Mom,” “Remus,”
 
As we reached down, people called; my cousin Gerald had come to me, and with him was his hot wife. 
 
She looked even more beautiful than the last time I had seen her, but I was more focused on two people who had come for Eva.
 
It is a man and a woman; the man is in his early thirties and quite good-looking, while the woman is in her late twenties, beautiful as her mother.
 
“Thank god, Remus, you are fine; when I got the news of the undead attack, I thought something bad had happened to you,” said Gerald and came to hug me but stopped mid-way, seeing my condition.
 
“Gerald, I am fine,” I said to him before turning to his wife, “Selina, nice to see you again; you are radiant as ever,” I greeted.
 
“I am glad to see you alive, Remus, but I am still angry at you for coming to our house,” she said glaringly. 
 
To that, I just smiled and walked with them, though not before waving goodbye to Eva; she waved back before turning to her children.
 
“Stephan, go to the church and tell them Remus is injured,” said Gerald to one of his guards.
 
He nodded and rode away on his horse while I sat in the carriage with them.
 
“You can drop to the manor; I will be fine there,” I said, but immediately Selin glared.
 
“You are coming to our house, and I will not hear, no,” she said, and I opened my mouth to refuse, but seeing the expression on her face, I closed my mouth. That brought a smile to her face.
 
The rest of the went smoothly, and soon the carriage pulled into a huge palatial manor, which was even bigger and more magnificent than the one I had been living.
 
We got out of the carriage and walked toward the building.
 
“Do you need a wheelchair, Remus?” I asked Gerald, “There is no need,” I said with a smile.
 
Soon, we reached the door of the mansion, and I looked at two blue golems guarding both sides; they bowed to Gerald and Selina.
 
These are very expensive; even if I sold everything I have, I wouldn’t be able to afford one, even the lowest level golems, and these ones are now low level.
 
“Have you ever used them?” I asked, looking at golems, “Once, three years ago, when the thieves came,” replied Selina as we entered.
 
As much as security, they also act as a status symbol, as very few can afford them.
 
“Mommy, daddy,” 
 
We had just entered inside when a young child of four came running with two maids following behind her but soon stopped.
 
“Rose, meet Uncle Remus; he is going to live with us for a few days,” said Gerald, and I gave him a look before turning to the child.
 
I had met her several times before, but she was too little to remember me.
 
“Hello, Rose, it’s nice to see you again,” I said; I would have crouched to shake her little hand, but I could not with my current condition.
 
“Hello, Uncle Remus,” she said nervously before moving close to her mother.
 
“Come, Rose, let us show uncle Remus his suit, so he can rest,” said Gerald, and we took the elevator to the top floor, and soon we were in the suit, which is far better than in the silver manor.
 
“Remus, you rest; soon, the cleric will come for your treatment,” said Selina, “Thank you,” I said to which she smiled.
 
“We are family,” she replied and left with Gerald and her daughter while I lay on the bed, falling asleep in a couple of seconds.
 
 
Knock Knock
 
A knock woke me up; when I looked at the clock, I saw it hadn’t been an hour since I had slept.
 
“Come in,” I said, and a moment later, the door opened with Selina and Gerald coming inside and, with them, a tall raven-haired woman wearing a priestly robe. 
 
I couldn’t help but feel surprised, but I shouldn’t be, given tons of money the house of Silver donated to these people.
 
“Your grace,” I greeted the Bishop of Sea Gold Church; it is very clear to tell her rank with her robe and brooch she is wearing.
 
She is not a common priest but a bishop, a level 30+ cleric, and in her hand is a blue staff, wholly made of crystals. I could feel the divinity emanating from it.
 
“Mister Remus, don’t strain yourself; it is not good for your current state,” she said; I nodded and relaxed, and a moment later, an aqua-blue light shone from her staff on my body, and immediately a surprise couldn’t help but appear on my face.
 
“It seemed like you had fought quite a lot of undead, Mister Silver,” she said, surprising Gerald and Selin.
 
To them, I had received injuries running away from the undead, and I had not corrected their assumption. 
 
Though, they would have come to know about it by the evening.
 
“There was no choice,” I replied, to which she nodded. “Please lay down, so I can cast Lord's blessing on you,” she said, and I laid down on the bed.
 
For a few seconds, there was only silence before her staff lit up, and a thick beam of energy came at me. 
 
As it touched me, it expanded around me, and soon, I found myself in a blue sphere of energy or, rather, a pearl.
 
“This would be enough to heal all your injuries Mister Remus but do take a rest for a day or two before doing anything heavy,” she said as she put her stuff down.
 
A common priest couldn’t be compared to Bishops, they are powerful, and they do not make the home visits within an hour of asking unless you donate an insane amount of money to their churches.
 
House of silver does, and so do the other big houses; these are obvious benefits to it, such as this.
 
“Thank you,” I said, feeling myself healing rapidly, which was also making me extremely sleepy. 
 
“It is my duty, Mister Remus,” she said and left the room with Gerald and Selin while I closed my eyes and swept into a deep sleep.

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