Chapter 269: Back In Astrin, The Capital

After vanishing from his room in Dubai, Liam appeared a few metres from the gates of Astrin. The morning breeze brushed against him, carrying the faint scent of grass and distant woodsmoke. He took a slow breath, letting the fresh air settle into his lungs.It felt different from Earth. It was cleaner and lighter.

He turned toward the distant city walls. Astrin looked calm at this hour, with only a few travelers on the road. But Liam wasn’t here to sightsee. He had come for one purpose—Chrises.

He knew that she would no longer be in the city, but a very far distance from it actually. Maybe already close to her destination.

Regardless, Liam spread out his telekinetic sense and expected, he didn’t sense her. Instead, he sensed something in the far distance. It was faint, like a thin thread tugging lightly at his awareness.

At first, he thought it was his telekinetic sense stretching farther than usual. But as he focused, the truth became clear.

"It’s the slave bond..." he muttered, surprised.

He hadn’t known it had such a function. He had assumed the contract simply marked ownership and prevented betrayal. But this was different. This was a directional pull—like a compass pointing straight at her.

He let out a soft sigh. "So this is how they track their people."

It was a pretty useful function and it made it easy to find her.

Liam rose off the ground and began flying toward the pull.

He kept his speed steady at around six hundred miles per hour. The road shrank beneath him as he gained altitude. He rose even higher, letting the land unfold like an open book.

He saw far more than any human could. His enhanced eyes picked up details miles away: small farms, clusters of villages, scattered lakes that reflected the morning sun like broken mirrors. The sky was clear, and the wind whistled softly around him as he glided.

To his right, far in the distance, he saw the endless canopy of a forest so thick that sunlight barely reached the ground beneath it.

The forest is where the elves lives. So did beastkin tribes trying to survive outside human territory. Liam was curious about them, but today was not the day to visit.

He angled himself forward and accelerated slightly.

Fifteen minutes later, in the distance, he saw small, wooden carriage covered in a thin cloth roof. Two horses pulled it steadily along the road.

Around it walked six armed men. They looked tired but alert as they kept watch on the surroundings.

And from the carriage, Liam could feel Chrises presence.

Liam descended smoothly, reducing speed until he glided slowly over the road.

He was still a few hundred meters away when one of the guards spotted him.

"Above us!" the man shouted. "Someone’s flying!"

The others looked up instantly. Their eyes widened when they saw Liam floating toward them. Weapons were drawn without a second thought.

"Get into formation!" their leader barked.

They all took positions around the carriage, ready to fight.

Liam stopped his flight, hovering in the air with an easy calmness. His voice carried clearly down to them.

"I’m not here to attack," he said. "Relax."

The guards didn’t relax. If anything, they stiffened even more.

No one could blame them actually. People didn’t fly in this world unless they were powerful mages. And Chrises’ escort team was made for bandits and beasts.

The leader shouted again, "State your purpose!"

Before Liam could answer, a head popped out from the carriage—Chrises.

Her eyes widened for a moment, then settled into a strange mix of relief and disbelief.

"Stand down!" she called out sharply. "He’s with me!"

The guards froze.

"With you?" the leader asked, confused.

"Yes," she said. "He’s my... boss."

The escorts exchanged uncertain looks. They looked at Liam again, then at Chrises, then at Liam’s clothes.

But Chrises’ tone was firm. So the leader lowered his sword.

"Stand down," he repeated. The others obeyed slowly.

Liam smiled and descended the last few meters, landing on the ground without a sound.

Chrises stepped out of the carriage fully and she approached him with a small nod.

"You flew all the way to find me?" she asked in shock.

"It was faster," Liam replied.

Chrises stared at him for a moment, trying to understand how casually he said that. She opened her mouth to speak but ended up closing it again.

He gestured to the carriage. "Shall we?"

She nodded.

They walked side by side toward the carriage. As they passed the guards, the men stepped aside quickly, giving Liam a wide path as though afraid their shadows might offend him.

Once inside the carriage, the wooden door closed, shutting out the outside noise.

The interior was simple but clean. Soft cushions lined the seats and a small window offered a view of the road.

Liam sat on one side. Chrises sat across from him.

She looked at him quietly for a few seconds before finally speaking. "You scared them."

"I noticed."

"What kind of magic lets you fly like that?" she asked.

"That wasn’t magic," Liam said calmly.

Chrises stared at him, not sure how to react to an answer like that. Her mind had been stretched several times already these past few days.

She exhaled. "I won’t ask again. My head hurts enough from trying to figure you out."

Liam chuckled softly.

The carriage began moving again. The steady rhythm of wheels on dirt filled the space with a calm, steady beat.

"Are we close to Velaris?" Liam asked.

"Almost," she replied. "We’re less than thirty minutes away."

"Good."

He looked outside the window.

As they rolled forward, the land around them changed. There was fewer trees and wider roads, with more travelers. Soldiers on horseback. Merchants with heavy carts.

This was the outer region of Velaris.

Liam turned his attention to the window.

Soon, the outline of the capital rose in the distance. Stone walls tall enough to swallow sky.

The closer they got, the clearer the walls became. Soldiers patrolled them in steady formation. Carriages lined up at the gate, waiting entry.

And above all, the capital’s skyline stood like a crown.

Chrises glanced at Liam. "Welcome to the Empire’s capital."