NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30: Crocus
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Comment on Chapter 28. Crocus.
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It took them almost six months to reach the capital of Fiora, Crocus.
- Wow!" the children exclaimed delightedly, Eros and Rani were more reserved, but were still amazed at the beauty of the city. It really deserved its second name, "The Flowering Capital".
- A magnificent sight indeed!
Crocus was located in a wide valley surrounded by rocky mountains of low and medium height, as well as small hilly slopes and a small river. Forests on either side of it occupied the western zone of the valley.
Being the capital of the Kingdom, Crocus is the largest city, with a huge number of buildings in a circular formation. On the right side of the city sit on the edge of small cliffs. The buildings are built with light coloured facades and towers with extremely pointed tiled roofs protruding upwards. On all sides are stone streets, some of which are basic, while others, more elaborate than those, consist of very large circular mosaics made up of wide, flat stones that bear floral and natural motifs or chess designs. In the centre of the town is a large, circular lake. In its centre stands Mercury, the palace of King Fiora.
They entered the capital unhindered. Walking round it, they marvelled at its beauty. The capital was very crowded, and there were more shops than in Magnolia, even though it was a trading city. You could often see guards patrolling the city and almost every fifth person passing by was a mage, which was surprising.
- This is the capital, there are mages on every corner," Eros said in surprise.
- There was a reason we came here.
- I agree, where shall we go?
- Let's find a hotel first, and then we'll decide, - suggested the titan, the others agreed.
Having rented two double rooms, and having thrown their things into the rooms, they split up. All girls were girls and the main thing for them was to buy something new, and if they were in the capital, it was a sin not to go to a clothes shop. Of course, she'd invited the guys too, but they'd politely declined, but it was a shame Rick didn't have a choice. As Lily dragged the boy behind her, he looked pleadingly at his two friends, but they tried not to look him in the eye and turned around and walked in the opposite direction. Of course, they felt sorry for him, but their nerve cells and brains would be more expensive.
The two boys walked through all the snack bars and candy shops until the evening. Still, these establishments were too strongly advertised, and the young girls in short skirts managed to entice these two "hard" spirited men. Though occasionally, Roni noticed his young friend's pensive gaze on the royal palace. So, in the evening, when they were on their way home, he asked about it.
- I want to go to the palace, so I'm thinking how.....
When he heard the answer, the cheerful mood quickly disappeared from the man's face.
- No, not again.
During the journey, there was already a case when Eros broke into the mansion of one of the Dukes, for the sake of books, thank God that then he was not noticed and everything ended well. But to break into the Royal Palace...
- EROS! YOU FUCKING BOOK MANIAC! DON'T DO IT! - Rani exclaimed in horror, "You're going to go to jail, you idiot!
- You be quiet and I'm not going to do it, it's too much even for me.
- Really? - the man asked hopefully.
- Yes, really, so calm down.
- Good, - he sighed with relief and asked more seriously, - How are you going to get in there, they won't let you in if you just ask them, and money won't help.
- I'll decide how I'm going to get in, don't worry, I'll try to find the most legal way possible.
But even after Eros' words, Rani felt uneasy, because this fool might really try to get into the palace. And if he was caught, they would hardly leave the city anymore. Only after he had made him swear that he would never do so could Rani breathe a sigh of relief, but a worm of doubt still lingered in his head.
***
Half an hour after they got back to the hotel, Rick and Lily returned. The girl was radiant with joy, and Rick was walking behind her, pale and wobbly. He staggered, not because of fatigue, but because of the strain, for the bags made it impossible to see the boy's figure, only a pair of feet and a tired look could be seen through them.
- It's been a wonderful day," the girl sang, and the guys only looked at Rick sympathetically.
- Lily, why did you pack so much, how can we carry it all with us? - Eros asked, looking at the pile of bags.
- Don't worry, I've already agreed with one merchant and he agreed to take everything with me to Magnolia, - the girl stretched out contentedly, - And tomorrow we'll continue, after all, we've only passed half of the shops and we still need to go to the atelier....
- "Rest in peace my friend, we will always remember such a good man who took the brunt of it."- he said in his mind, folding his hands in a gesture of prayer, followed by Rani.
Rick saw this and silently swore in his mind at those two pi****s for ditching him and having fun all day while he was in pain.
- Something's wrong, why are you acting so strangely? - Lily asked in bewilderment.
***
On the second day, Lily took Rick away again, even though he resisted as much as he could. Roni decided to go out to restaurants and find inspiration for future meals and learn something new. Eros was left alone and once again his gaze was directed towards the palace, and a cheerful smirk appeared on his lips.
He had an idea of how to get to the palace, he had had it yesterday when he saw an announcement on one of the stands that in a week's time there would be a holiday called "Day of Flowers". This holiday is celebrated every year, because the second name of this holiday is "The Day of the Founding of the Kingdom of Fior" and everyone will be there. From ordinary citizens to the king and queen themselves. There's also an annual parade and a tournament for the title of strongest mage. But it's usually very rare for the strongest people to be in the tournament. And Eros was not attracted to the prize, why would he become a knight of the King?Taking one last look at the palace, Eros turned around and walked into the nearest alley...
Eros returned to the hotel in the evening, tired but satisfied, and without undressing plumped himself on the bed.
- Did something good happen? - Rani asked in surprise.
Eros mumbled something inaudible and fell asleep.
***
On the second day, the titan came again in the evening, tired, and fell asleep without answering Roni's question. When it happened a third time, the man became wary and decided to follow Eros, followed by Rick.
They'd been watching the titan for most of the day, and he'd been acting suspiciously. First he went to a restaurant, where he talked to a man in a black cloak, and then he left the restaurant and went to a shop. Where he talked to the salesman, who looked at Eros with fear and shook his head as if in denial. But after about ten minutes, the salesman lowered his head and put a wad of money on the table. The Titan nodded and took it.
Roni and Rick, who were watching this, looked at Eros in disbelief. "How could such a good man extort money from an ordinary merchant?" They just couldn't believe their eyes. But still, they believed that it was just a mistake, Eros couldn't be such a bad person.
But half an hour later, the pattern repeated itself. The Titan took money from some merchant again, then again and again, and when Eros went into the best brothel in the evening and came out only an hour later, with a satisfied face, the last hopes of the two of them collapsed. After all, how could they not realise that Eros, was taking money from ordinary peaceful traders just to relax in a brothel.
As Eros approached the inn they were staying at, Rick and Rani stood in front of him with very serious faces.
- Eros, where have you been?
- А? Why do you want to know? - The titan asked in surprise, but when he saw the guys' frown, he continued, "I've been in the library all day.
- Stop lying! We've seen what you've been doing all day today!
- So that's who's been spying on me! And here I thought... Well, never mind.
- Eros! Stop doing that! You're not that kind of person.
- I can't, I'm sorry," the titan said, sighing, "I really need this right now....
- Eros, if you're so desperate," Rick exclaimed embarrassed, "You could have asked us for money, but why rob innocent traders?!
The titan hovered for a moment.
- Rob? - Eros asked in surprise.
- What do you think you've been doing all day?!
- Now, tell me more about what you two idiots have been fantasising about.