A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 637 Alek

"In the sky?"

"Yes, this is no place for humans. I've inquired, and as long as you buy a ticket, you can fly to the Astral Plane. Once you're there, the Alliance will accept you, offering benefits and privileges, as long as you change your nationality from the Empire to the Alliance. Hey, it makes no difference, it's just a name that has nothing to do with you."

Vogel rambled on and on.

"I'm not going," Alek said instinctively.

The elf retrieved the plate Alex had wolfed down: "Why? There aren't that many good things in the world. Finding a generous and kind foster father is rare, especially since he's a dwarf. It's practically a miracle! Vog, you dare hit my finger!"

"Because...because..." Alex hadn't yet come up with a reason to refuse; he didn't even know why he was resisting. Then, seeing the plate, a flash of inspiration struck him: "Because I hate astral food!"

The two were amused: "That's what you're eating."

"That's why I hate it!"

"I'm relieved to hear your reasons." Vog patted the young man hard on the back, and Alek felt like his lungs were about to burst. "You've gone to elementary and middle school; you should continue your studies and enjoy a better life. Go to the Astral Plane; there are no monsters there, no need to crawl through dangerous ruins, and good days await you. Except for food."

"And what about you, Uncle Vogel? Let's go together."

"I'm not an Imperial, so of course I won't be accepted by the Alliance unconditionally. I don't have any special skills either, all I know is how to swing a hammer." Vog finished his drink. "But don't worry about me. Do you know my dad? Your grandfather, Singlev, knew Master Rorschach. Do you know Rorschach? He's buddies with our lord."

"The day I can't work anymore, I'll take what my father left me to the Earl's mansion, and I'll immediately be able to live a comfortable life. Do you believe me?"

The elf chuckled and put the bottle away. He had been about to refill Vog's glass: "You're spouting that old nonsense again, which proves you've had enough, you're drunk. Alec, drag old Vog home."

"The money for drinks." Alek set aside money from his income for drinks and meals, then, without saying a word, carried Vog on his back and picked up his sledgehammer.

The boy's strength was astonishing; he walked steadily down the street. Although they were still inside the artificial dome, the street was still colder than the tavern.

There are far fewer astral beings lately. Alek glanced around and could hardly see those strangely dressed men and women looking around anymore. There were only locals hurrying by and soldiers constantly patrolling.

Alek's mind was in turmoil. On one hand, he resisted Vogel's offer to use his savings to send him away, yet on the other hand, he couldn't help but yearn for life in heaven. The boy even felt guilty about this yearning and secretly cursed in his heart: Alek, you're so selfish!

Dalberg, 3:06 a.m., is brightly lit.

Alek, covered in blood, lay blankly on the stretcher. He endured the pain running down his neck and back, turning his head to look at his and Vog's home. At this moment, the place was almost identical to the ruins of the Dwarven Confederation they had explored.

Are there any survivors?

"A dwarf has been found, unconscious."

Alek's heart rate and adrenaline surged, driving his vocal organs to shout at the top of his lungs: "Vog! Uncle Vog! Vo-G-!"

Rescuers pressed down on the boy's head, which he was trying to lift: "He's alright, he's just passed out."

Alek vaguely heard people around him discussing the current situation. Although his mind was still in a daze and pain was attacking him from all directions, he managed to piece together the general idea: a rare earthquake had occurred in Dalberg. Although the tremors were not strong, the gas pipelines in their neighborhood had been in disrepair for many years, and the damage had been ignited by a toppled boiler.

Vogel inherited Singrev's tenacious life and luck. He was also unharmed. After waking up, he followed the calls and saw Alek. He nodded almost imperceptibly on the stretcher, then looked at the ruins.

His house, his money, are buried below, perhaps already burned to ashes. The dwarf had his back to the boy, but Alek felt Vog was sobbing silently.

The sirens blared throughout the city; the first three blasts signaled the impending disaster, followed by rapid, short whistles—the signal for the guards to prepare for attack. On the fortress walls, turrets began operating, searchlights sweeping the ground. The ambulance carrying Alek and Vog proceeded towards the advancing armored vehicles.

They arrived at the hospital and remained silent, separated by beds.

Finally, the dwarf spoke up: "I don't know how many are left. If the tavern is still open and there's nothing else going on, I'll go find the owner. I'll beg him; I'll get you to the Astral Plane no matter what."

"It's good that we're not going. Even if we don't visit the historical sites, we can find other things to do."

Separated by a curtain from the hospital bed, the boy could already picture the dwarf's furious expression, given his agitated tone: "Looking for something else? What else can you and I do? We can only join the defense force. Don't let their swagger fool you, those air cavalrymen are just as dangerous as us scavengers, and the enemies they face are even more terrifying! You, you, you..."

The medical staff interrupted Vogel: "This patient, please keep quiet. There are other patients as well; you all need to rest."

The next morning, Alek was woken up. "You need to rest" was the last thing he remembered from the night before. He was in pain all over, but his hands and feet were still fine.

It wasn't Vogel, nor the doctors or nurses, who woke him. A middle-aged man in a robe, looking exhausted, stood at the foot of his bed: "Are you Alek?"

"Yes, sir." The boy was somewhat confused.

The middle-aged man raised his hand and placed it on the boy's body. A faint, mellow blue light shone forth, and all the boy's pain vanished. Was this healing magic? Alec was astonished. He remembered his teacher saying that magic had many wondrous uses, but nature magic was listed as forbidden for some reason.

"You'll be eighteen in a week, but you're still a minor," the man explained. The Earl's territory will sponsor all minors to leave here on a starship; those between eighteen and twenty-four can choose to stay or leave; those over twenty-four will need to pay part of the fare themselves, with the Earl's territory only sponsoring a portion.

"Some cannot accept their status as allies, cannot adapt to life in the Astral Realm, and choose to stay; others yearn to leave and try every possible means. The situation in the Earldom is deteriorating, just like the problem the Empire faced thirty years ago. It is on the verge of destruction, and people are voluntarily deciding whether to stay or leave."

"Perhaps for some, their status, wealth, and position will become meaningless after they go to the Astral Plane, and they may even live a worse life than on Earth. But you don't need to worry. All minors in the Earl's Territory will have the opportunity to receive education arranged by the Alliance to help you adapt to your new life."

Alek couldn't believe such a good thing could happen: "What about Uncle Vog? Is he able to leave?"

The middle-aged man looked thoughtful. "Didn't he tell you? As Singrev's son, Vog can leave at any time, if he wants to. He stayed voluntarily. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Richard Dahlberg."

(End of this chapter)