A Journey That Changed The World. - Chapter 1648 - 1648: Let's Get A Ship!
As Archer stepped through the towering gates of Northwatch, he was struck by a wave of awe. The city unfolded before him like a vision torn from the pages of Earth’s forgotten past, an echo of the Victorian era reborn in his empire. Cobblestone streets wound between towering ironwork buildings adorned with brass filigree and glowing arcane lanterns.
Steam hissed from underground channels, mingling with the hum of enchantments that powered the city’s heart. Carriages rolled past, some drawn by beasts bred in the northern wilds. Clock towers loomed above, keeping time not just by the sun, but by the shifting tides of magic.
Citizens in tailored coats and flowing robes bustled through the streets, a fusion of old-world elegance and imperial ambition. Archer was shocked by everything; he’d never been here, so this was his first time. The women were just as shocked as they took in everything as Meredith grabbed his sleeve.
”Why is this place so different, Arch?” she asked as a pair of tigers was pulling along a carriage that shot past them.
”I allowed the builders to do their own thing with my designs and this is the result,” he answered, grinning ear to ear. ”Look how different this place is compared to the other cities we’ve been to.”
”You’re right,” Malakia finally spoke. ”This is good, makes every place in the empire different and not the same stone jungles in other realms.”
”That was the point, to be honest,” Archer admitted. ”I wanted something unique for Draconia and that’s what’s happened.”
”Well this place is lovely,” the blonde maid commented. ”It reminds me of the books the others brought back from your old world.”
”The romance ones?”
Meredith nodded and let out an adorable giggle. ”They’re popular among the maids back in the palace.”
Archer was surprised but then sighed. ”Yes, I had to buy so many back on Earth, the shop was out of stock once Alexa and the others were done.”
Following that, the trio started walking down Main Street, and he glanced at all the shops that were opening up for the day. There were blacksmiths, tailors, magic stores, and a dozen other ones. He was looking for a restaurant so they could have breakfast and found an open tavern ten minutes down the road.
”There we go,” he said, pointing at the place. ”We can get breakfast there before exploring the city.”
”How will we get to Eastwatch?” the blonde curiously questioned.
”We can travel by road or take a ship there,” Archer revealed. ”It’s up to you two.”
”Let’s get a ship!” the lioness exclaimed.
Meredith eagerly nodded. ”That sounds fun,” she said.
He laughed at their enthusiasm and decided to go to the port to get three tickets for the next ship to Eastwatch, the place that would take them to Orientia, so he could explore the eastern part of his empire. After that, he agreed. ”Okay, let’s go buy the tickets before they sell out. People love traveling now that there’s peace.”
After that, they continued through Northwatch until arriving at the busy trade port of the north. Hundreds of dockworkers stepped through the entrance as the Homeguard watched the crowd with narrowed eyes, waiting for any trouble to kick off. He was happy they were doing their job properly, even this far away from the capital.
Five minutes later, Archer spotted the booth for the transport ships and led the duo over to it, only to realize four people were in front of him. They waited in line for some time before stepping forward. A young man glanced up with a tired expression. ”Where are you going?”
”Eastwatch,” he answered, taking out some gold coins. ”How much for three First Class tickets?”
”Fifteen gold coins,” the worker replied in a bored tone, stamping something. ”Is that acceptable?”
Archer nodded. ”Here you go,” he said, sliding the coins into the bit that allowed them to trade stuff.
The young man was shocked but quickly shook his head before stamping three tickets and swapping the coins for them. ”Here you go, thanks for your patronage,” the worker politely said.
Following that, Archer gave the women their tickets as the three headed back to the tavern to get breakfast. While walking, Meredith examined the enchanted paper. ”It says they leave in two hours, will we have enough time to eat?”
”Yes, there’s nothing to worry about,” he reassured the blonde.
After ten minutes, they arrived at the tavern and stepped inside only to see it was empty, prompting them to take a corner table as an older, plump woman approached them with a friendly expression. ”Welcome to the Northern Den, I’m Sarah. What can I do for you adventurers on this cold morning?”
”Can we get three breakfast specials and a pot of tea, please,” Meredith was the one to order this time.
Archer smiled and let the blonde do what she was doing. Malakia took off her cloak as her tail swayed side to side. Sarah smiled and nodded. ”Let me get on that. I assume you’re getting one of the ships somewhere?”
”We’re headed to Eastwatch, then hitting Orientia,” the lioness answered this time. ”Going on an adventure to visit dungeons.”
When the older woman heard this, her face lit up. ”Wonderful! Many adventurers have been returning to Draconia but not heading out to explore the world. What a life to lead, I envy you three.”
Everyone laughed before Sarah went to cook their breakfast as the trio took in their surroundings. Archer looked at the decorations that showed the life of an adventurer who had given up their life. Just then, a giant man stepped down and smiled at them. ”Hello there! I’m the owner, Brandon. Did my wife, Sarah, tend to you?”
”Yes, she’s gone to cook our breakfast,” he answered the man. ”I’m Archer and these are my wives, Mal and Mere.”
”A pleasure to meet you three,” Brandon said, smiling ear to ear while looking at him. ”Same name as the emperor, eh? You have to be a few years younger, so it was a tribute, just one of the lucky ones.”
Archer chuckled at this and nodded. ”Yes, my parents like to remind me of that since moving here five years ago.”
The older man laughed before glancing at the women. ”And two wives? Luck is on your side, adventurer.”
”Yes, I am,” he replied, looking at the duo with eyes full of love.
The women were beaming at him just as Brandon spoke once again. ”Anyway, young ones. I have to go pay this month’s taxes; the government loves it when it’s early.”
Archer couldn’t help but laugh as the man rushed out of the tavern after shouting out to Sarah in the back. Once he was gone, the three began talking about the voyage to Eastwatch, then Orientia, and both women were excited to explore new lands. Just then, the older woman appeared holding their meals.
”Here you go, young ones,” she cheerfully said. ”It’s Southern Pancakes and syrup, a hearty meal that will fill you up all day.”
”Thank you,” Archer said, handing over a few gold coins.
This surprised Sarah, who tried to refuse the payment. ”I cannot accept this, it’s way too much for three meals and some tea.”
He waved her away, speaking. ”We got a good reward, you and your husband seem like good people.”
Following that, Archer and the women began eating. Enjoying the fresh food, as the pancakes were sweet and fluffy. Ten minutes later, they were done with breakfast. He was drinking some tea as the weather outside intensified; a rainstorm had started, sending people fleeing for cover.
Meredith saw this and sighed. ”I hate Long Winter, it seems like it’s punishing us.”
When Archer heard this, he laughed just as Malakia revealed. ”It happened five hundred years ago and lasted for three decades. It’s nature fighting back against the chaos us people are causing across the world.”
”How do you know this, Mal?” he asked, a curious expression appearing.
”An old book in my grandfather’s library,” she answered, frowning. ”But it was burnt down when I was ten. A sad loss to the world, he had many old books.”
Archer agreed before changing the subject. ”Now let’s get to Pier One, that’s where our ship is, and we have some time.”
The trio started walking through the chaotic streets as wagons parked up and people rushed into doorways, hiding from the rain. He cast a shield around them, forcing the water to bend around them, keeping the group dry. After half an hour, they arrived at the pier just as the other passengers were boarding.
They joined the queue and waited for their turn to step onto the massive transport ship. Archer knew it was bought from the Wyldheart Company and outfitted to ferry people between the cities of Draconia. When Ella came to him with the idea he was impressed and gave her tons of gold coins to get it going.
