Chapter 824
Over the next four weeks, Anton, Anders, Anna, and the Supreme Rank wizard Cormanur—assigned by the Ormundan Wizards to accompany them—traveled across three kingdoms. Without exception, each had already fallen to the Undead Coalition.
By then, Anton and his family had learned to temper their expectations. The sight of ruined cities no longer struck them with the same force as it had the first time. The disappointment remained, but it no longer paralyzed them.
Each night, they watched a Marvel film to ease the monotony of travel.
At the end of every week, they returned to Rose Manor in Ormunda to rest and recover. During these intervals, Cormanur would leave to report their findings. Initially, Anton had assumed that the wizard’s role extended beyond monitoring them—that he was also tasked with surveying the kingdoms of Rendindura. Cormanur later clarified the truth.
His primary duty was to ensure that the wizards of Ormunda and New Drennor maintained constant oversight of Anton’s family.
The importance of the portal scrolls remained too great. As Cormanur put it plainly, neither kingdom could afford to lose track of them.
Anton also kept his promise to Romina, delivering dozens of films each time they returned to Rose Manor. Fortunately, she had already prepared hundreds of magical recording devices. Selecting the films required little effort; Anton simply chose from popular titles from the top movies he had previously downloaded over the internet. He made sure each one included its trailer, allowing Romina to use them for promotion.
The genre did not concern him. He left the interpretation of these unfamiliar worlds to Romina and her staff.
Meanwhile, research into portal scrolls had advanced rapidly. According to Cormanur, the combined efforts of Ormunda and New Drennor’s most powerful wizards would soon replicate the functions of Anton’s scrolls. Even so, they continued to rely on him to meet the assigned quota.
The only obstacle that remained was production cost.
Cormanur explained that much of this progress stemmed from the scrolls Anton had already provided. More importantly, the underlying mechanics of the portal system bore a striking resemblance to dungeon-based party systems. Since the allied kingdoms had long studied dungeon magic, they already possessed extensive data. To their surprise, the principles aligned closely.
When Anton asked whether Cormanur also reported on the condition of Rendindura’s kingdoms, the old wizard merely laughed.
Dozens of teams were already handling that task.
His responsibility, he said, was singular: ensure the safety of Anton, Anders, and Anna.
Over time, Anton and Anna developed a deep respect for him. They began to treat him as a mentor. Though he did not teach spells, Cormanur instructed them in the subtleties of surviving within large wizard organizations—knowledge that proved just as valuable.
Anton had even considered gifting him one of the runeword weapons he had brought from the Diablo System.
Cormanur, however, dismissed any notion of repayment. He insisted that Anton’s portal scrolls were invaluable—not only in the war against the Undead Coalition, but also in advancing portal technology across both the Gale and Rendindura Continents. In his view, the human kingdoms owed Anton’s family a great debt.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
When they finally arrived at the port kingdom of Whaling, the change was immediate.
For the first time in weeks, they saw life.
Though many structures still lay in ruins, the city was rebuilding. The streets carried a quiet but unmistakable sense of hope. It was enough to lift their spirits.
Instead of camping or returning to Ormunda, they took rooms at an inn near the wharf.
Once settled, Cormanur and Anders departed to investigate the surrounding regions, leaving Anton and Anna behind.
The siblings remained in the inn’s common room, listening to a minstrel’s performance as they waited. Their youth quickly drew attention, and before long, a group of five approached them—young men and women in their late teens.
When the minstrel paused to rest, the newcomers introduced themselves.
“Did you just arrive in Whaling?” one of them asked. “We haven’t seen you before. I’m Renor. This is my brother, Neman, and our friends Lucy, Andrea, and Trent.”
“I’m Anton, and this is my sister Anna,” he replied. “We arrived tonight. We’ll be leaving tomorrow—we intend to check on the kingdom of Mendi.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Renor said. “I thought you might be settling here like us. Whaling has a future. Once trade resumes, this city will prosper again.”
“Perhaps,” Anton said. “After Mendi, we’ll return to Ormunda on the Gale Continent.”
“That’s a year’s journey by ship,” one of the girls remarked.
“We used the portal network,” Anna said.
The group fell silent for a moment.
“Then you must be wealthy,” Neman said carefully. “We’ve heard those portals are only for the very rich.”
“Yes,” Anna answered without hesitation. “We are.”
Anton glanced at her, slightly surprised by her bluntness.
“Aren’t you worried about being targeted on the road?” another asked.
Anna met the question without flinching. “No. We’re both powerful wizards. I’m close to reaching the Archmage rank, and I’m not yet fourteen. I study at one of Ormunda’s most prestigious academies. My brother is an accomplished wizard adventurer.”
The five exchanged doubtful looks.
Even so, they stayed.
The conversation continued, light and unguarded. After some time, Anton understood Anna’s intent—she had deliberately revealed just enough to test their reactions.
The group showed no malice. Only curiosity.
At the very least, Anton realized he had misjudged his sister. Anna was far from naïve.
If anything, he suspected the opposite might be true.
After some time, the five youths excused themselves, citing the need to return home before their parents grew concerned.
Anton and Anna remained in the common room, listening as the minstrel resumed his performance. Anton found himself quietly impressed. The man had been singing for nearly three hours without pause.
As a gesture of appreciation, Anton approached and dropped several gold coins into the hat placed before the performer. The reaction was immediate.
The minstrel snatched the hat with startling speed and concealed it just as quickly. For a brief moment, Anton wondered if the man possessed a spatial storage item.
A glance around the room revealed the truth.
Several patrons wore thinly veiled expressions of greed. The minstrel’s reflexes had not been excessive—they had been necessary. Anton could only hope the man was capable of defending himself if pressed.
Soon enough, those same gazes shifted toward Anton and Anna.
He remained unmoved.
Rather than risk escalation, Anton raised a hand and summoned two Dire Wolves into the open. The creatures settled at his side, silent but imposing.
The effect was immediate. Faces drained of color. Eyes turned away.
No one approached.
After a time, however, Anton dismissed the wolves. The waitresses had grown increasingly uneasy, their movements stiff and distracted under the beasts’ watchful presence.
What surprised Anton most was the minstrel’s composure. The man had not faltered once. He continued as if nothing had happened.
Anna, on the other hand, had become unusually attentive.
She watched the minstrel with undisguised interest—an expression that did not escape Anton’s notice.
A quiet laugh slipped from him.
Anna’s sharp glare followed immediately, which only made Anton laugh harder. Anton had to admit that the minstrel looked young and handsome. The minstrel, at most, could be in his late twenties. Still, the man was too old for his sister.
Anders returned first and, upon joining them, ordered a huge amount of food from one of the waitresses.
