Primordial Heir: Nine Stars

Constel was a beautiful city, well-maintained, with energy-powered cars weaving through the streets and airships soaring in the sky, tall buildings rising everywhere.

Even though Nero often worked in this city, its beauty never ceased to amaze him.

With his goal set and not wanting to waste any time, he didn’t dilly-dally. He headed straight to rent a car for his journey to the capital. If he had enough money, he could have taken an airship; the travel time would be shorter since airships were faster.

”So you want to head to the capital?” the driver asked, and he nodded.

”50,000 Ẕ. We will arrive within two days.”

”Can you lower it a bit?” he tried to haggle. The driver frowned, obviously displeased, but his face remained expressionless, prompting the driver to sigh.

”Okay, 45,000 Ẕ. I can’t go lower than that.”

Nodding, he paid and received a ticket.

”Departure will be in thirty minutes,” the driver announced before moving on to another client.

Nero walked toward what he believed to be the car. It was a rectangular-shaped vehicle, featuring a driver’s seat flanked by one smaller seat and a larger seat in the back capable of accommodating up to five people. Energy-powered cars were a recent invention, no more than thirty years old, much like airships.

The rapid advancement in technology had enabled people to travel faster. There were even trams in larger cities, and railways were being constructed across various countries to facilitate train access. Teleportation portals also existed, but only a select few had them.

In the last three decades, various geniuses had emerged, creating many incredible inventions such as smartphones, which were used for communication. Although expensive, he planned to try to buy one once he reached the capital. He decided to rest until it was time for departure.

In the blink of an eye, half an hour had passed, and finally, it was time for departure. Along with the driver and him, there were three more passengers—two girls and one boy, all of whom appeared to be students. Judging by their behavior, they seemed to be quite close. Only students with limited resources would hail a cab to travel to the capital.

The boy was flanked by the girls on either side. He silently made way for them, not bothering to exchange words as they seemed lost in their own world. The girls didn’t carry weapons, so he assumed they must be mages. Only the boy had a sword like his, but it was stowed in the back of the car with the rest of their luggage.

Vroom!

The car engine roared to life as it began moving forward on the road. At first, it moved slowly, maintaining a steady pace as they navigated through the city. But as they left the confines of the city, it picked up speed. The real journey was about to begin. An endless road stretched out as far as the eye could see. Occasionally, there were cars ahead of them, but they quickly overtook them as the driver skillfully maneuvered. Sometimes, cars passed them, heading into the city on the adjacent lane, as the road was a double carriageway.

The first day was uneventful; the trio kept chatting while he listened, trying to glean any valuable information. He heard them discussing how this year’s cadets would be exceptional with the arrival of the Crimson Princess, the youngest daughter of the emperor, the Ice Queen from the Undine family, the Saint from the Leclair family, the Elven Princess, and a few other important figures. According to their gossip, all of them had reached the manifestation stage, geniuses just like Barak.

The trio hailed from a small city under the Raizen family and spoke highly of Barak, placing a great deal of faith in him as he could be considered their representative of sorts.

They even gossiped about the cursed child, unaware that the person in question was right beside them. It was understandable; if he had opened his eyes, they might have recognized him. Humans don’t have red eyes—only daemons possess eyes closer to red.

Some monsters are said to have red eyes, but nothing like his.

Evening fell, followed by night, as the driver continued on. They stopped in a city to spend the night.

The city of Rosemore was nestled in a large glade of a mighty forest, a true marvel of modern design. Its charm was enhanced by the backdrop of gentle hills that had helped shape the city into what it was today.

The trade resources brought by these hills were invaluable, and they also influenced the architectural designs, as most buildings were constructed in various round shapes and sizes, mimicking the playful contours of the surrounding landscape.

The skyline was dotted with stylish skyscrapers, and while they were modern, their history still shone through. Employment opportunities in Rosemore were abundant, attracting significant attention.

They rented rooms at an inn for the night.

The following morning, they departed early. The driver accelerated, his goal clear: to reach the capital by the end of the day.

Meanwhile, Nero was racking his brain to come up with a solution, but nothing seemed to come to mind when suddenly he remembered his unusual eyes, capable of seeing weird things. Maybe it could be used. He began formulating a plan worth trying once he had time.

As they drew closer to the capital, they encountered more cars.

It was nearing evening when they arrived, and in the distance, they could see gigantic white walls rising nearly twenty-five meters high.