The Ancients World

{I wanted to let everyone know that I have a p-a-t-r-e-o-n with two new exclusive stories on it. One is The Aeternus Universe, and the other is a new story with a basketball system. I hope you guys will give it a chance. The link is https://www.p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/easyread. Remove the dashes. NovelFull censors the word.}

I weave through the clouds and enjoy the wind on my face. We've been flying for a few hours, and the scenery is starting to look familiar. We are getting close to Zenith. I look out ahead and see a giant city in the distance. The farmlands look healthier, and there looks to be constant construction going on. "I'll bring us down. We'll walk the rest of the way. Once inside the city, we'll ask around if anyone knows where we can find Countess Amelia." Sally nods her head in agreement.

I dive down and spread my wings as we get close to the ground, so we slow down. I gently land us, and I let Sally off. She slides her hood on, and I do the same. We'll be able to move around undetected. I toggle my wings off and turn towards the city in the distance.

I can see it through the cracks in the forest. We had to land in a place with cover. It's early afternoon, and we still have time to find my mom. It's weird to say that when I have another one from earth. "Do you think it'll be hard to find her? From what you've told me, she isn't going to act like nobility. It's safe to assume she isn't going to be hanging out in those crowds. If anything, she'll be helping all the people that were like her." Sally makes a great observation and deduction. Amelia is going to act like that.

She doesn't want to mingle among nobles, and she certainly wants to help all the people that are just like her. I'm like that as well. I'd rather spend my time doing something good and productive than sit around with snobs.

We start our walk towards the main road so we can just follow it to the city. Zenith has changed a lot since the last time I was here. Jackson has done a wonderful job making this place thrive again. The ability to lead and make smart decisions is a hard one to find. "Do you think we'll meet the king? Cause I still want to try on that dress you bought for me in Bellvia. I've never gotten a chance to wear such a wonderful piece of clothing." I chuckle and remember the day that I bought the dress for her.

A nice beautiful red dress that goes up to her knees and opens up her back. I remember that horrible butler trying to intimidate me out of the shop while the duke's daughters shopped. Talk about a place that lives up to its name.

I look at her, and even though I can't see her face and she can't see mine. I can tell how eager she is, and I'm not going to deny something like this. She deserves to have a chance to wear a beautiful dress. Even if that means we have to go somewhere that requires the need to.

I'm not wearing a suit, though, never. "Yeah, Sally. I'm sure there will be times in Zenith you'll get a chance to wear a dress. I'll make sure we'll go to at least one so you can. I'd love to see you in the one you picked out. It works wonderfully with your complexion and long golden hair." It absolutely makes her glow, in my mind, at least. When I imagine her in a dress like that, it's amazing. She is absolutely amazing as it is, and I'm sure she'll make men regret their decisions and make women jealous.

I hold out my hand so she can grab it. I'm learning more and more about being a partner with Sally. At first, I didn't think showing affection is necessary. I learned that I actually want to do it because it makes Sally happy. It makes her smile and blush, things that I really love about her. I feel her fingers interlock with mine.

I see her playing with her hair with her other hand. "I love you, Sally. Remember that." I see the bottom half of her face that isn't covered, and it blushes. She tries to say something, but nothing comes out. I really caught her off guard with that, and that's good. I turn my attention in front of us, and I see the road—time to follow it to Zenith.

We walk on the dirt road for a while and notice that most of the traveling being done by others is merchants. I do see the occasional player here and there. The average level is rising, it seems. I'm nearly level 200, so they'll have a long road ahead of them before they catch up with me. Most players have probably been helping in the war and getting better exp and rewards.

In the end, it's going to be more beneficial to fight in the war for the majority of players. They get access to high-level monsters and a ready supply of missions, making it very convenient for them. It's going to work out for everyone in the end. I look ahead and see people coming and going from the entrance. It looks like they aren't chacking identities here. That must be Jackson's doing. It's nice to see that he isn't letting others control his kingdom, and I'm proud Amelia is a part of it. 

Sally and I make it to the city's entrance and see that there are a lot more people coming and going than there ever was last time. Zenith has become a focal point of trade and commerce. "We'll get something to eat before we do anything. We won't remove our hoods until we are in a private setting. I don't want to risk being found out." I'm pretty sure there are a lot of people out there that know what I look like now.

Even though Zenith is a part of the coalition, there are still people that work for the church here looking for me. "I'd like to have an actual steak that's cooked right. You are really good at hunting, but you can't cook or clean an animal for the life of you." I must agree with Sally. I don't have a cooking class or a single skill to help with that. I'm an offensive and defensive force of nature, but when it comes to life skills. I don't have a single thing.

I look around as we slowly walk down the commercial district. Zenith can hold millions of people, so there are lots of players here right now. I can smell some delicious food coming from an indoor and outdoor restaurant. It wasn't here the last time I was in town. I look at Sally and tilt my head at the establishment. She nods with enthusiasm, and we make our way to it. We enter the restaurant, and that's when I see that it's owned by players. 

There are player cooks and customers too. There are also the native people of Gaia enjoying the food too. I walk up to the counter and notice how cheap all the food is. I look at the cashier, and it's definitely a player. Once that has a quality of life class, I bet. A person with a combat class wouldn't be working behind a counter. I see there are selling hamburgers and fries, just like from earth—my stomach grumbles at the thought of a hamburger and fries. 

The cashier is waiting for us to order. "I'll take a double hamburger and a side of large fries." I look at Sally, and she nods her head, wanting the same thing. "Make that two orders." The cashier writes down on a piece of paper and sends it into the back. I pay the price for the meal, and a waitress comes and takes us to our table and leaves a number at our table. It's going to be a few minutes, but that'll make the meal so much better. 

Sally staring at all the other players in the restaurant and looking at the food. There are foods here that aren't normally made in Gaia. So in truth, a piece of human culture is now a part of Gaia. "I've never seen any of this food before, and all the people that are cooking are new people like you, Zern." I smile in slight pride. If there are things we earthlings know how to do, it's how to ruin a planet and make delicious unhealthy foods. 

We have had a serious obesity problem for the last 3 hundred years, and that is at the fault of unregulated serving and calorie sizes. "It's food that only us new people know how to make, Sally. These are dishes from our culture, and they'll be some of the best food you'll ever eat." I can see how hungry she is. She is rubbing her stomach every few seconds. After a minute or so our food arrives and it's good and hot.