Chapter eight.The City of Rings
CREAK!!!!!
The temple gates creaked open as Echo stepped outside for the first time since he had been rescued.
Sniff!! Huh! , fresh air, echo had a relaxed face. Elsa glanced at him and smirked.
The air was different here. Cool and welcoming. Stone pathways stretched in every direction, carved with strange glowing runes that pulsed faintly beneath the surface.
Towering walls surrounded the settlement, but what caught Echo's eyes the most were the three enormous rings built into the city like layers of a giant wheel.
The First Ring.
The Second Ring.
And far in the distance, almost hidden by mist, the Third Ring. Echo stared in silence.
So are we outside or.." Yes" , we are but we are still in the Sacred waters territory. We are in the city of rings, she replied. "City of rings", echo asked.
"Yes" as you can see, there is only three rings visible ,the rest is beyond. "Mmm"Echo nodded.
But this place It's huge, he whispered.
Beside him, Elsa adjusted the dark cloak hanging over her shoulders.
"You're only seeing a fraction of it," she said calmly. "Welcome to the First Ring."
They began walking.
Almost immediately, Echo was overwhelmed. The streets were alive with activity, merchants shouted from colorful stalls. The scent of roasted meat and strange spices filled the air.
People from every corner of the ring moved through the market—warriors in polished armor, hunters carrying beast fangs, robed scholars, and children chasing each other between stone pillars.
Echo turned his head left and right, trying to absorb everything. There was weapon shops lined one side of the road. Blades of every shape hung from wooden racks—curved sabers, broad swords, twin daggers, spears that are longer than a man, and bows carved from pale white wood.
One shop displayed weapons that glowed faintly with energy. Echo stopped walking.
"Are those… enchanted?" Elsa glanced briefly. "Yes they are." She kept walking. Echo hurried after her.
Across the street was another section filled with armor smiths hammering glowing metal. Sparks flew into the air like tiny stars.
Further ahead were training fields where warriors practiced,arrows sliced through the air, swords that clashed together.
Magic flared in flashes of blue and red.
Echo's eyes widened."So this is where the halls train?"Elsa nodded.
"You're looking at just a few of them."
They passed by a massive stone building whose entrance was carved with the symbol of a bow and a rising sun.
"This place is the Archery Hall," Elsa explained. Next was a fortress-like structure surrounded by weapon racks.
"And this is the Warrior Hall."
Then a quieter building where robed figures practiced strange hand movements while glowing symbols floated around them.
"The Arcanist Hall." Echo was beginning to understand. "So the halls train different types of fighters.", echo asked. "Correct."
"And the rings?" Elsa pointed ahead.
"The stronger you become, the deeper into the rings you move." Echo looked toward the distant walls again. "So to ascend past it you must become stronger …", echo tought.
They continued walking deeper into the market district. Echo noticed something else.
Above many people's cloaks or armor were small metal emblems. Some had one mark others had three and a few had five.
And once, Echo saw someone with seven marks. He pointed. "What are those?"
Elsa answered without looking.
"Marks ."
"How many?"
"Seven."
Echo blinked.
"Seven Marks… across all halls?"
"Yes."
She slowed slightly and began explaining.
"Mark One is Initiate. Those who are just beginning." " Then mark two is Trainee."
"Mark Three is Adept." "Mark Four is Vanguard." "Mark Five is Elite.""mark Six is Champion."
Then she paused. Then her voice grew quieter.
"Mark Seven is… Ascendant." Echo felt a strange chill. "And you?" he asked.
Elsa didn't answer immediately.
Instead she lifted her cloak slightly, revealing the emblem pinned to her belt. It shows four marks.
Echo whistled softly. "Vanguard…huh" Elsa dropped the cloak again.
"Don't be impressed yet." They turned into a corner, leaving the loud market behind and
ahead of them stood a massive stone building shaped like a half circle, with towering pillars and banners hanging from its entrance.
Warriors lined up outside,some were nervous,some confident and some injured.
Echo looked up at the structure.
"What is this place?"
Elsa stopped at the base of the stairs.
"This,.....is the Assessment Hall", she said.
Echo swallowed.
"So this is where I get my rank?" "Yes.", she replied.
He suddenly felt the excitement drain from his body. "What if I fail?" Elsa looked at him.
Her expression was calm, but firm.
"Then you must train hard."
Echo looked back at the building. Warriors were walking in… But not everyone was walking out smiling.
He took a deep breath. "Alright…" Elsa turned toward the entrance. "Come," she said. "It's time to see where you belong."
And together, they walked into the Assessment Hall.