Death March of The Circus

Chapter 3: Aurora City of Stars

The wind is blowing based from what I can feel and hear. The grass seems to be where I am currently laying and I can finally feel the heat of the sun. After that rather traumatizing meetup with them, I can finally feel sane after the hardship of talking to them alone. Opening my eyes, I was immediately captivated by the stunning view of the fields, it’s as if I am looking at a different world. Oh, wait a minute, this is totally different from what I know. Looks like reality hit me hard in the head this time and I don’t know what to expect from it. I can also see some sort of city a kilometer away from where I am standing. 

I guess I should talk to the people there to know the name of this place. Having my mind set on my first goal, I stood up on this soft bed of grass and started walking towards civilization. From my own assessment of the surroundings, there are no roads or some sort except these bricks, thoroughly placed to cover the dirt. I must be in a medieval setting type of world, and I am not sure what to expect anymore.

I suddenly heard faint footsteps of a horse galloping behind me, as I stopped to look back, it’s a farmer’s delivery cart with a bunch of goods on the backside. Having it move a little bit further, I greeted the old man.

“Good afternoon sir! I was wondering if I could join the ride with you to the city.” I have to act kindly and in good spirits of course. I don’t want to spend too much time walking just to reach that place.

“First of all, it’s still morning sonny. Second, of course you can! I would also need an extra hand in delivering these goods, no worries imam pay you for your labor. You look like a buffed guy so I think I can rely on you to do some lifting.” I’m lucky I ran across someone this nice in my first tour of this world. He seems to be a happy old man trying to live his life to the fullest just like the old folks in earth. There may be some similarities in culture here since the two masked clowns did say that the worlds are two sides of the same coin. I just wonder how complicated things would be the moment I start to learn the necessary skills to survive in this world.

“You’re not from here are you son?” The old man asked.

“Yes indeed. Must be the clothes I’m wearing.” Obviously, the jeans and my shirt do stand out for some reason including my shoes.

“So where you from?”

“I’m not quite sure how to answer your question sir, but I have to say I am from somewhere very far.” I’m a bastard for lying right off the bat.

“Why, aren’t you the mysterious type of kid? Good thing you ran unto me, other folks might’ve taken advantage of you for no reason.”

“I guess I am. Thank you for the help.”

“No need to be polite to me, I am hiring you after all. Besides, you do remind me of my grandson.”

“I see, don’t tell me he is a trouble maker too?”

He started laughing. It seems that we do have some sort of similarity in personality but my form of making trouble is quite the contrary of what he has in mind, I’m certain of it. Even though I’ve lived an isolated life, I’ve been subjected to various discriminations which resulted to me being violent to protect myself. I trained myself hard every single day just to brawl outside campus, disregarding the consequences. I never had friends that lasted long since they either admire me out of fear or they admire me out of respect.

Most people often tell me that my looks are a total waste since I have bruises all over my face or body due to the fights that I usually involve myself in. Years have gone by and I have developed a keen sense of instinct in combat. I guess that’s the obvious perk of having more than enough experience in dealing with people using your fists. I sure hope that his grandson would grow up well, far better than who I turned out to be now.

“You could say that son. I’m sure he will learn once he matures like you.”

“I sure hope so.”

After a few more talks, we finally reached the gate of the city. Goodness gracious this thing is huge no matter how you look at it. The gate is pretty much as big as the front of my college, and to top it off its precisely 150 meters tall. My mouth almost fell in amazement, and I have to say I am so far impressed with this world.

“This right here is the city of stars, aurora.”

“Aurora?”

“Yep, this is where the elite family of the Stars live.”

“When you mean elites, do you mean royals?” An obvious guess according to the films I’ve watched.

“You could say that. Wait, you don’t know these things?”

“Yes, I gotta say I have no idea what to think anymore.”

“You’re far worse than a country bumpkin.” Ouch…

Moving inside the gates, the city and all of its splendor is revealed. Certainly something that you do not expect if you will only judge it based on its outside appearance.

One thing is for sure, this place is lively. Just like what I’ve guessed, the people are wearing clothes fit for the 1500 but there seems to be a mixed culture of clothing similar to my world. Interestingly, I can see elves, and people with cat ears and tails. I don’t know how it’s possible but they did warn me about it. Like a child seeing a lot of art materials in a*****e (This is based on my experience on my previous world), this is the same excitement that I haven’t felt for quite some time now. 

“Enjoying yourself back there?” 

“Yep! I am new to this place after all.” 

“Of course you are son hahaha!” Moving forward, we went to one of the streets on the side of the gate. Unlike the other ones, this has fewer people and I can see a lot of armored individuals coming from the stores. This may be one of those military districts that sell various weapons for adventurers. If that is the case, then it is also possible that magic is also present in this world. Then an interesting question started to pop out of my head.

“Can you use magic?”

“Me?” replied the old man. I need to see if my assumptions were correct.

“Heck yeah I can son. What kind do you want to see?” How am I supposed to know what to see? I guess I’ll start with the simple ones.

“How bout make a fire come out of your hand.”

“Hmm, I’m afraid I cannot use fire but I can generate cold winds.”

“So magic has an affinity?” 

“Yep, looks like you’re not that much of a bumpkin kid! Hahahha.” There he goes again with the bumpkin part.

“Here look at this.” For a moment I started looking at his hand. Bit by bit, I can see the area on top of his palm being distorted and then slowly the smoke starts to build up into a dense floating sphere.

“Can I touch it?”

“Yes you can, it is just a cold ball after all.” As I reached my hand inside the sphere, it is cold like the same thing inside the refrigerator.

(TO BE CONTINUED)