Frostbound

Chapter 257 - Great Start

Chris

The waves of pressure felt suffocating. The thickness of the air and pressure bearing down on me made it hard to breathe, like sucking syrup through a straw. The sheer density of the mana was like nothing I'd ever seen before except for once. My trip up North, but that mana didn't feel suffocating. The purity was another that stood out, but not nearly as much as how dense it was.

Standing near the stony orb, I felt like I was drowning even though my head wasn't underwater.

Mana affinities were odd like that. An area saturated enough in one type would cause effects similar to that affinity. Just walking felt like I was swimming through the air.

The North, to outside observers, would feel like freezing to death. Being in Vincent's forge with all the Fire mana felt like I was about to combust randomly.

The only other high-density area I'd been in was Nature. The band in Wisconsin we passed through that was rife with the stuff made my body feel like it was overflowing with Vitality.

Fighting here would be difficult.

Ice could freeze water, science dictated that much, but magic had a way of evening things out. Just because science said Ice froze Water, didn't mean that I would excel against it at every opportunity.

In an area this fixated in Water would take my entire mana pool to freeze and even then, I wasn't confident in holding it frozen for long. Even with my newly expanded capacity.

Tactics had never been my strong suit, but I could see what this would mean for the future.

I built my City the farthest North I could for the Ice. Mountainside did the same for Earth. Everywhere, pylons and Cities were probably springing up around treasures or areas like this, drenched in the desired affinity or affinities.

This meant if, for whatever reason, we had to siege down a City or attack another person, we'd be fighting through a major disadvantage on top of being the attacker.

I knew that already. It wasn't hard to guess that, but feeling it and knowing it were vastly different. Standing in such an area and experiencing it placed the entire picture into frame.

It also didn't help that while I would be at a disadvantage, anyone with a Water affinity would be tremendously stronger. Not only would their spells and skills be stronger, but they'd recover much faster than others.

If the only mana they absorbed was Water mana, pure Water mana like this, they wouldn't have to filter anything out. They wouldn't have to waste time turning it into their affinity.

Their Mana would regenerate much, much faster than those with any other affinity. Fire and lightning especially.

"What do you think?" Abigail asked. As my tour guide, she was standing next to me staring at the orb with longing.

"It feels like I'm drowning," I said brashly.

"You don't feel it?" She asked turning to me. "The sound of the Ocean, the crashing waves, and the feeling of pure bliss?"

I stared at her questioningly. I felt none of that. "No, I hear nothing and feel nothing except for being smothered to death with a wet pillow." Honestly, the feeling was near being waterboarded.

"Oh," She said sadly, like I was the one missing out. "Was there anything else you wanted to see?"

We had a few hours of free time left in the day and there was a few things I wanted to do. Seeing the 'treasure' was one of them. I'd never seen anything like it and wanted to lay eyes on it. The only thing close was the mine, but that had an assortment of various affinities and could only match up in mana density.

"Let's go to the town square then. That's the most interesting." She said and moved away from the river.

The treasure was on the Northern end of the City with the docks being further south. The river split the City nearly in two but most of the buildings were on the Western side.

The bridge we saw connected the two.

The Eastern portion was mainly fields. Crops were already in the ground and growing well. Vibrant green shoots were poking through and reaching into the air with vigor.

The Water being so magical most likely caused an increase in growing speed. Or they had insanely high-level farmers.

My guess was the former.

Abigail led me through the streets and various marketplaces that had sprung up. It was less packed than expected. People were still out and about moving through the different stalls but it was less than I imagined for a City of this size.

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People must be at home before we leave. Spending what time they can.

I had little doubt Abigail had done this before with her husband, scouting what was for sale and venturing around the first time she was here. She knew where to turn and navigate through the maze of stalls easily.

They had an assortment of goods for sale but there were some key areas they were lacking in. Finished crafts being one of them. Weapons and armor were scarcely seen being up for sale. Even the nicer shops didn't have them or if they did, there weren't many.

Most were gobbled up by those who needed them.

While there was an abundance of farmland and stone, metal and leather were rather scarce. Making finished goods with those products in demand. Metal swords, weapons, plate or chain armor, even leather armor was hardly seen in shops.

We brought some along with us at Jonathan's recommendation and now I could see why. He and the other Merchants were probably having a field day selling it all.

We brought what we could, but we also brought base materials as well. What leather and metal we could spare. I mainly left Jonathan in charge of exports and trading but even I could see the value in what he was doing.

That did make me wonder how future trading would work. The journey took just under a month and it wasn't that dangerous, but that was because of the size of our group.

How much of an upcharge would they put on things to move it back and forth?

We had Traders and Merchants who already set about moving back and forth between The Fort and Frostheim, but not many picked the route between Frostheim and The Twins.

Maybe sending the Orders with them will entice them enough? Bah, Jonathan will figure it out.

Touring the City and seeing all the various things they had was rather fun. I'd had such a hand in my own City that it lost the novelty this one still held. Walking up and down the streets of Frostheim didn't carry the sense of wonder these did.

"I half expected to see a brothel." I joked after passing by a rather packed tavern.

Abigail choked and slapped me on the shoulder. "Why would you expect that?"

"I don't know. A City with this many people..." I shrugged, "It's the oldest profession in the world for a reason. I doubt the Change killed it off."

Abigail scoffed, "These people just finished fighting for their lives and are about to do it again. Why would there be... that?"

"I don't know but it makes sense." I said, "You heard the same things I did during our trip. It was like traveling with Rabbits."

Seeing a chance to poke the bear, I continued, "You think they have Professions for that kind of thing? Oh, what about skills?"

Every further word only made her expression turn darker.

"I don't want to talk about this." She said curtly.

I sincerely wished to push my luck but held back. Changing the subject instead, "Where's Gabriel? I thought he was supposed to be touring the City with us."

"He ran off with Austin. Austin said something about he's a better guide than I am." Abigail muttered.

Huh, wonder what those two are up to. Austin and my brother got along fine, but it was rare to see the two together. They were just too different.

It was similar to me and Austin's brother. Connor and I could talk but I didn't go seeking him out if I wanted someone to hang out with. Our age difference didn't help, but now that he was older, it wasn't as much of an issue.

"Oh well," I said, "We'll see them when we depart tomorrow morning."

Our sleeping conditions were great. Marcus set aside a building for us while everyone else made do with tents or spare rooms. It was a bit much to expect housing for all eight hundred of us, but I at least got a good room.

Being in charge had its perks.

The morning hours were a bit chaotic as last-minute preparations and packing were underway. Boats had to be loaded and people said goodbye. It was much like how we left.

The plan was for three boats to lead side by side with the strongest we had at their front. Which meant me, Marcus, and somehow, Austin.

We weren't the only people stationed at the front, as others were with us, spread out over the three. There were also a few set to bring up the rear. Most of those were the elites from Marcus's City, but I had Elliot and a few stronger guards join them.

Hal's sight and scouting was too valuable to put him in the back or he would've joined his fellow Captain.

My marching orders were to stand at the front and make sure nothing had the will to attack. Which meant flaring my aura to dissuade the weaker beasts and beating off the stronger ones. Or dumber ones. It didn't matter which.

I contested that I wasn't the best fit for such a job in my head but didn't say anything aloud. I was mainly a melee fighter. To dissuade anything, I had to jump in the water.

Which didn't sound fun.

But, in the name of cutting our travel down tremendously, I would do it.

Marcus and Austin had it easier. Austin's Light worked perfectly and it would be like spear fishing while Marcus could slice through the water.

But I wasn't complaining. No, the fact they could stand at the helm and swing their weapons lazily didn't affect me at all.

"Up we go. The last of the cargo is stored, now it's time for people!" The man in charge of the boat I was assigned called out, "Be careful loading, the ramp's a little wet!"

Seeing my cue, I walked up onto the boat with little issue. Abigail and Jonathan were both ready behind me and followed me up. Sophia and Grace, Abigail's Assistant, followed after then the rest came aboard.

The ship swayed under my feet and I could feel it rocking back and forth. Jonathan similarly had to steady himself but Abigail was absolutely fine.

"When's the last time you were on a boat?" Jonathan asked, seeing as we both had to take a moment.

Geeze, how long has it been? The Change happened two years ago, but before that, uhhh, my trip to Cumberland? When was that?

"5– no, 6 years ago?" I wasn't sure.

"About the same for me." He said, "I don't like this. It feels weird."

"Honey, are you getting seasick?" Abigail asked but Jonathan shook his head.

"No, it just feels weird. Like I'm on unsteady ground."

Technically, he was, but I didn't say that.

"Where's Austin and Gabriel?" I asked. I hadn't seen the two since we got here. After the meeting with Marcus, they hadn't shown back up.

"No idea."

"Oh, there they are!" A few boats over, Austin hobbled up onto the deck followed slowly behind by Gabriel.

Both of them looked worn out and like they'd seen better days. If I wasn't mistaken, they looked hung over.

"What in the fu–" I was cut off. Did that fucker go drinking without me?!

"Austin!" Abigail called over the crowd, "Come over here for a second!"

Austin winced at the loud noise but looked up and squinted. The fact he had to squint spoke volumes considering his Perception stat.

He undoubtedly saw us and the fact Abigail was waving him over.

He waved back like returning a greeting and then flipped us off.

"I don't think he'd going to come over," I said holding back a chuckle.

Abigail looked murderous but huffed and turned away instead. Jonathan only sighed and followed after.

We're off to a great start.