With everyone in the entrance hall, they had a short briefing before setting off. They all teleported from the magic tower directly in front of the Hell Gate that led to Perrerian, or rather, the dark cave system stretching below the surface of some frontier region.
The caves had changed considerably since the last time Seth had been here. Magic lights were attached at even distances along the walls, properly illuminating the whole cavern where the gate was situated.
Seth had intended to act a little cool and use one of the demon cantrips to create a swarm of floating flames that illuminated the area and attacked any hostiles. That was thoroughly thwarted by the great development the caves had gone through.
Crates and boxes of ores were being piled up everywhere, by the busy mining golems Seth had built a long while ago. It was no different anywhere else in the cave system. Golems and Miners were harvesting the ore deposits that Seth and Al had scouted the first time. Even more were found during the exploration of the system.
One could say that the scary demon cave that used to spew out monsters to terrorize the world above had completely turned into one of Minas Mar's corporate ventures. Of course, all without the knowledge of the people actually living in this land.
How else were they supposed to trade these ores for food, if the locals thought they had some kind of claim on the mining rights? The group of four followed the fully developed main tunnel of the system, which directly led them to the exit on the surface. Their journey, riding Vegr and Drejtim the golem griffins, took less than an hour. While it was early evening in Minas Mar, they were greeted by a bright day in Perrerian.
"The fort is over there. Jane said we will be welcomed there by the Perican Ambassador, who will accompany us while traveling through the empire. Their presence will also allow us to use the imperial teleportation system," Monique said out loud, which they already knew.
"Teleportation?" Fin asked doubtfully. They had a quick briefing before leaving, but it was good that Monique repeated it again, since Fin had not listened. At least this information seemed absolutely new to the fairy brute.
"Yeah, apparently they have a whole network of ancient teleport stations that allow quick travel across this continent," Seth summarized what he read in the reports from the expedition.
"Cool...but when do we get to see the mechs? I mean the Titans?" the fairy, who was terribly influenced by TV cartoons, asked excitedly. Fin had been binge-watching animated movies and series of Urth in her freedom, learning the term Mech and developing an infatuation with the topic.
"They have some small ones at the fort, but they can't compare to the ones we saw at the capital, or the arena," Monique readily told her, not without bragging about her own experiences in this place. Not everything that happened here was negative.
"Do you think they will let me pilot one?" Fin asked excitedly.
"I doubt it. These things are military assets of great importance, at least for them. You wouldn't have any fun, since you are way stronger than anything they have here," Monique explained with a wry smile. She wasn't lying; she was convinced the fairy could scrap even dungeon busters with ease.
"Didn't you say they have better ones in the capital, maybe one of those..." Her question trailed off.
"When I said here, I meant the whole continent, Fin. Not just the small fort..." Monique explained apologetically. However, it didn't even faze Fin, who suddenly turned left. On their left side, Mina and Seth were riding Vegr through the sky.
"Seth! I want a titan I can use for fun! Can you make me one?" she suddenly shouted at the blacksmith, who had listened to the whole conversation at the side and hoped this question wouldn't come up.
He was a traditionalist. Just like he found Neeco Boos' infatuation with superhero suits not fitting for the times they lived in, he also disliked the thought of mechs running around everywhere. Although he acknowledged Epislon's mix of technology and magic, he never wanted to contribute to the disruption of the sword and magic kind of aesthetics that came with the system.
Now, his own Fiancée asked him to break the taboo. Seth stayed silent for a while, his thoughts and doubts battling each other, until he finally found a loophole for this conundrum.
"Fine, but all design choices belong to me and you can't complain or ask for design changes," he said wittily. This way, he left himself a way not to make a cartoon mech. Their conversation ended there as they closed in on the fort at the exit.
There was some commotion on and before the walls as they got closer. It was Seth's first time seeing the titans of this world, as they assembled in front of the wall to defend it against the monsters that had just emerged.
They actually just looked like massive knights in shoddy armor. Since there was no system assistance in this place, he couldn't get anything usable from appraising them, but at this point, he had enough experience to make his own judgment, and he was moderately impressed.
It was an achievement to create something like this from mostly common materials. It was a testimony of how far advanced the magic in this place actually was. Even when it was not strong, it was elaborate, like science.
He was looking forward to seeing the more advanced version, if these were just old phase-out models. The closest comparison Seth had to something on Urth was the power armors of Epsilon, but these old models still wouldn't stand a chance against Joannia's magitech.
"We are the emissaries of Minas Mar!" Monique introduced them succinctly. There was no need to go into detail. The empire did not need to know that the part was mostly made up of the leader and his first ladies of Minas Mar.
The commotion on the walls quickly subsided when they realized that there were people riding the monsters that had just emerged from the demon cave. The commander actually seemed excited and was waving at them.
"We have already been waiting for you, Lady Monique!" the commander shouted his greeting. The men on the walls had already lowered all weapon systems, and the titans returned back inside the fortification when Vegr and Drejtim crossed the walls and landed in the inner court.
Apparently, there had been an urgent correspondence in the early morning, informing of Minas Mar's emissaries. The reason they still acted like monsters emerged was simply to follow protocol. There was no reason to become complacent.
A welcome dinner and their quarters were already prepared for them. However, their journey would have to take a pause. Since everything happened on such short notice, the emperor's aide who would accompany them had yet to arrive.
"I'm sorry, but the royal aide will only arrive tomorrow morning at the earliest," the commander apologized.
"Couldn't we meet them on the way to the Imperial Gate?" Monique asked. When they came here the first time, they had traveled to Blackfeather, the capital of Clow Country, to then teleport to the imperial capital, Port Gula. She had expected to take the same path again.
"It's a little different this time. His Majesty authorized the use of gate artifacts for your party. The aide is on his way to bring them here. They will allow you to travel instantly to the nearest gate in Blackfeather," the commander explained proudly, as if it were he who received the honor to use them.
"So we have to wait until tomorrow to move on?" Seth asked to summarize what that meant for them.
"I'm afraid so, but it will shorten your overall travel time tremendously. The aide will be able to tell you more about your travel route once they arrive," the commander confirmed.
"Great, then you you please prepare a big, empty room for me?" the blacksmith asked for a place to work with a smile.