Chapter 346: Acryon
For those in the Ulier Continent who walked the path of magic, the Acadian Empire was a land of countless opportunities.
There were countless organizations and institutes for higher magical studies present here. This was a land significantly more prosperous than the Southern Federation.
If the lands belonging to the Southern Federation could be equated to a town, then the lands of the Empire could be said to be a city.
Such was the difference between the two.
For the Magi of the Ulier Continent, the Empire could be said to be a paradise. It was a place where magical potential was nurtured and given every opportunity to flourish.
The capital of the Acadian Empire, Acryon, was known across the continent as the ultimate destination of Magi of all caliber.
On this day, as the early morning sun gradually rose over the horizon, it painted the sky with hues of pink and orange.
With the rise of the sun, the City of Acryon also started to come alive, revealing a scene of bustling activity.
One of the gates to the Inner City opened and a luxurious carriage exited. From a single glance, one could tell that this carriage belonged to someone very important within the city.
After all, not only did the design of the carriage and the materials used to craft it make it obvious, but the fact that it came from the Inner City indicated that the owner of this carriage was someone with deep wealth and influence.
The wheels of the carriage rolled against the cobblestoned streets of the Outer City. The magical beasts that were pulling the reins were Blue-Mane Horses, Rank 1 creatures.
Suddenly, the window of the carriage slid open and a beautiful young lady with black hair and blue eyes came into view.
Her skin was clear and smooth, free from blemishes. As the radiant rays of the morning sun kissed her face, it highlighted her gently sculpted jawline, strong yet feminine, adding to the symmetry of her face.
A natural rosy hue colored her lips, adding a touch of warmth and vitality. And her smile, dazzling and inviting as ever.
As the carriage slowly made its way through the Grand Bazaar, this young lady looked in a certain direction, her blue eyes flashing with excitement and joy.
"I've never seen you this excited, Elaine," a blonde girl sitting beside her chuckled. "Are you that close to your brother?"
Elaine turned her gaze back inside the carriage. She looked at her friend and brightly smiled, "Of course! I haven't seen my dear Eddie in so long, I wonder how much he's grown."
Thinking of her chubby little brother, Elaine couldn't help but smile warmly.
"Didn't he just graduate?" Asked another young lady, sitting across from Elaine.
Elaine thought for a moment before answering in a sweet voice, "It's been two years since he graduated from Clover Academy."
Then, her lips curled up into a broad smile and she said with immense pride, "And he's already become a Rank 2 Magus!"
The girls were shocked. "Isn't that earlier than even you?"
"Huhu, it is!" Elaine nodded smugly.
Being his sister, she knew of Edward's secret. Over the years that she had spent studying in the Tower of Daybreak, she'd been in constant communication with her parents.
So when she learned from them that her younger brother's talent seemed to have jumped yet again, rivaling even her A-grade talent, she was filled with happiness.
After all, she knew just how much Edward had to struggle as a newborn child.
Seeing her brother greatly advance in his path as a Magus, she couldn't have asked for more.
Hmm, there's his girlfriend, Lisa, as well. I've heard they've been dating for quite some time now, thought Elaine to herself. It's good he found himself a talented young girl.
As the carriage exited the Outer City and made its way toward the skyport, Elaine glanced outside the window. She gazed at the white clouds lazily drifting through the blue sky.
Her eyes flashed with immense gratitude as she thought, Then there's Adam...
When she learned from her father that her mother had been cured of her disease, at first she was greatly astonished. Then, she couldn't stop jumping around in joy for days.
But when she learned that it was not any illustrious Herbalist from the Southern Federation or the Empire that had managed to cure her mother, but Adam, she was even more shocked.
She never thought that Eddie's friend, a person of humble birth, would go on to study the art of Herbalism and pull off something that even countless famous Herbalists couldn't.
Thinking of this, her eyes flashed with brilliance. Adam, you're such a mysterious young man! I can't wait to meet you.
Just as the carriage entered the towering gates of the skyport after having been checked by the uniformed guards, a humongous skyship slowly landed at the docking area.
"That's the one!" Elaine's eyes lit up and she and her friends alighted the carriage. After showing their identification tokens, they were taken straight to the docking area by the skyport personnel.
One by one, the passengers started to disembark from the skyship. Elaine's eyes flashed with anticipation and excitement as she glanced at all the people coming out.
A few minutes later, the ones she was looking for had finally got off the skyship.
Elaine's gaze first landed on a tall, young man with broad shoulders. This person had very similar facial features to hers. He was wearing a blue robe and a white cloak.
He had medium-length black hair and his blue eyes seemed to be deeper than the ocean, making him appear extremely dashing.
Beside him, stood a blonde young lady with almond-shaped emerald eyes. Her eyelashes were long, thick, and naturally curved, making her eyes deeply alluring.
She had high and prominent cheekbones, providing a natural sense of elegance. Moreover, her cheeks had a natural, healthy glow, giving them a subtle blush.
The young lady wore a white dress and a green cloak on top.
As the couple stood side by side, they drew the attention of all the passersby. After all, they looked as if they were made for each other.
Elaine's eyes curved like crescent moons and she smiled brightly as he thought to herself, They look so good together!! Kya~
Suddenly, her smile froze and her eyes widened when she saw the person that had just gotten off the skyship and was now standing right beside Edward and Lisa.
When Elaine saw this person, she was stunned.
This raven-haired young man had a tall height and a commanding presence. He sported a medium build, neither too muscular nor too lean.
He had a straight posture and broad shoulders, indicating the sheer confidence with which he carried himself.
The young man looked around at the skyport with his deep, jet-black eyes that seemed to contain infinite depth and mysteries.
Although his looks couldn't be considered to be handsome, his jawline was strong and chiseled, adding to the overall masculinity of his features.
He wore well-fitted black robes, a black cape over it, and finally a black pointy hat on his head. Moreover, he also had a large wine gourd hanging from his waist.
Suddenly, the young man took a deep breath and burst into a loud peal of laughter.
"Acadian Empire, I finally made it! Kahahahaha!"