The True Ring of Power Chapter 11 (Patreon)

The 'teacher' leading this procession of students/interns, 'unpaid labor' from the eastern mines of Liurnia, bore the noble name of Cacriak, a distant cousin of the royal Carian bloodline. And a lesser master of Gravity Sorcery in of itself. 

And they were bringing the most premium of Glintstones refined by the very Crystalians themselves, who traded the polished stellar crystals in turn for... Something, he diverted the topic when I asked what the Crystalians wanted.

"And where be you from young lord? Is your noble family from the Royal Capital?" The teacher asked in turn after diverting my attention from their trade deals.

I nodded with a thin smile. Having a so called 'noble identity' would make things far easier here in the Lands Between. At the very least, my divine bloodlines of the Carian and Golden Order were all to apparent. 

No one would say I was some low-born peasant with my elvish perfection, streaks of starlight in my eyes, and my hair glowing with the brightness of the sun's bright mid-morning glory.

I just needed to make sure that people didn't mistake me for that femboy rat that was Miquella. Something I utterly refused to take any part in or support in any damned way. 

"Then I do hope you will accompany us towards the Academy Gate Town, there is much beauty to be seen on the road. And the path is still yet safe from the lakes many dangerous animals." The teacher spoke.

And he was very right, I had no interest in just getting here and dying to a water cannon blast from a reincarnated lobster sniper who, in his previous life was an Afghan sniper who could kill a soviet soldier with a Mosin that was twice as old as he was from three miles away.

"I will follow along... So long as you can promise the town's guards won't attempt to blast us as they notice my mount." I said with a more natural smile, but my smile thinned as I saw the teacher flush and turn away as he coughed out a promise in agreement.

'Ah the appreciation of humans for those of supernatural beauty... But still, weird.' I thought with a mental sigh before mentally noting to sleep with any doors barred.

Then I tilted my head to the side and asked the truly pressing question. "I had heard some interesting rumors as I made my way south to Liurnia and haven't been able to hear anything about the capital in a while. Has anything of major note happened recently you might have heard about?"

I was obviously curious as to what state the world was in. Had Godwyn been slain yet? Has the Shattering taken place yet at all? But while the Lakes of Liurnia were in a rather marshy state. The land wasn't as flooded as the game made it out to be.

The teacher paused at my question before he said unsurely. "I am unsure as to what you mean by major news? But hmm, the last major new's I heard was Lord Godwyn's efforts to meet with the true blood Dragon scions to discuss an alliance to fight the Wyrms of Caelid?" 

'Hmm! But it is almost certainly before the Shattering then! Well, I guess hanging around eldritch Hogwarts would be a good idea perhaps?' I mused to myself before I paused and looked down helplessly at Sergei.

Yeah, I didn't think that the teachers and rude people of the castle would quite care for my Runebear, actually. So maybe I could pick up some soap and other goods, maybe.

Time passed by as I asked more general questions. But honestly, the teacher didn't have that much overarching information about the world.

Soon enough, we reached the very same Gate Town, and as we approached. My previous thoughts proved all to true as the teacher said helplessly. "Young Lord Otharion, you will for sure be welcome within the halls and streets of the town. But your... Companion will not be." 

Staring at the heavily fortified walls surrounding the town to keep sniper lobsters from smashing the largest houses and other buildings. I exhaled and said thoughtfully. "Maybe it is for the best if I look elsewhere first." 

Looking farther to the south, I could see Stormveil Castle with my elvish eyes, and after a moment of thought. I realized that maybe my best bet in wandering around was to be done in Limgrave itself.

I was also curious to see if Sellen was still in there as well. A click left my mouth before I gave Sergei a squeeze with my legs.

"Thank you for the map, I wish you the best of luck in your studies and adventures," I said with my kind smile falling as the teacher looked ready to deny me the ability to leave.

But Sergei, looming over him by more than ten feet, quickly dissuaded any form of confrontation. Even while so close to the giant walls that preceded the actual giant castle/school of Raya Lucaria.

Sergei snuffled before following my direction, turned to the side, and with a splash of mud, he bounded across the marsh and headed south towards the mountains that separated Liurnia and Limgrave.

And without following the procession of scholars, we were able to move far, far quicker. The clearer lake area became more forested and filled with fog as I traveled.

Finally, after crossing a good distance, being well beyond the glare of the glinstone cannons and siege weapons I could see on the town's walls. I stopped at a large outcropping of glowing glinstone crystals that jutted from the ground and a beam of what looked like moonlight connected it to the skies above.

"Thou aren't of Godwyn's brood? Who be your parents I ponder?" A soft feminine voice from behind me.

I turned around... And for a hot moment I was so very confused as I recognized Ranni's voice. But she wasn't a blue-skinned four-armed doll.

No, now she was a big titty redhead with glasses and a large staff being held in one of her TWO arms.