Ascension Of The Throne Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Read chapter 8 of Ascension Of The Throne by YLost on NovelPedia.

The transport carriage rattled along the worn road, the journey stretching five to six hours before the fortress city finally came into view. Edric stirred awake by the sound of creaking wood and shifting wheels, his limbs still stiff protesting as he sat up. He peered through the carriage window, catching his first glimpse of the fortress city Muris Magnus. The fifty-foot walls loomed over the road like silent sentinels, the stone surface had a history hidden beneath the scorch marks and deep cracks. Scars from who know’s how many battles this city withstood. At the gates, guards in black and brown uniforms stood watch, the crest of the city emblazoned on their chests. Behind Edric, a long line of carriages and weary travelers stretched into the distance, all silently waiting to enter. His gaze drifted back to the walls. The sheer size of them made him wonder.How did the guards even get to the top? As the carriage rolled forward, he noticed something strange. There were no buildings past the first gate. Only a vast stretch of open land, lined with barracks and patrols. Then, ahead, another wall smaller than the first but still formidable. Muris Magnus wasn’t just a city; it was a layered fortress. A fortress mean to survive even if was attacked on all sides. According to his mother’s book and the system’s knowledge, the city was built as the first line of defense against outside threats. The outermost wall, the largest, was built to hold off sieges. Beyond it lay a “kill zone,” an open expanse designed to trap invaders under a rain of arrows. The second wall was the gateway to the true city, standing as the final barrier between civilization and death. As the carriage approached the second gate, Edric took a good look at the massive crimson-wood doors, carved with the emblem of Muris Magnus. Just like it’s purpose , the crest contained a caricature of walls and a man with a shield. Knock kncok. Someone knocked on the carriage. “Alright, take out your papers,” an officer ordered, stepping inside. His expression was unreadable, his tone sharp and his gaze deadly. One by one, the officer checked the documents of the passengers. When it was Edric’s turn, he quickly pulled out the forged identity papers Garrick had provided. A stray thought crossed his mind. how did a tavern keeper even know how to forge documents? Before he could dwell on it, the officer’s impatient voice cut through his thoughts. “Papers.” He handed them over, doing his best not to look suspicious. Hopefully, he wouldn’t end up in another fight—he’d had more than enough of those recently. The officer skimmed the documents, then narrowed his eyes. “State your name.” “Edrous Ruthfield.” The words left Edric’s mouth before he could hesitate. For a brief moment, the officer just stared at him. Edric felt chills roll down his spine with every passing second. Then suddenly, with a curt nod, he returned the papers. THUCK! A loud crash was heard from behind him. Edric turned just in time to see a middle-aged woman escaping from a carriage window, her breathing frantic as she hit the ground running. “Catch her!” a guard yelled. The woman dashed for the trees,her movements frantic and was full of desperation. But she never stood a chance. The officers caught up within seconds, one of them grabbing her by the hair and yanking her back. As they dragged her toward their superior. She screamed loud enough for her throat to get hoarse. Rough hands tore through her ragged clothes, searching for anything—documents, money, anything that might justify her existence here . But she had nothing. The senior officer sneered. “Trying to sneak in without papers, ya?” He wrapped his gloved hand around her throat, squeezing hard enough for viens to be visable. “This is what happens to strays.” Then they beat her. Mercilessly A fist to the ribs caused an unforgettable crack. A boot to the face. A sickening crack as her nose split open, blood trickled down her face. She barely made a sound.