South Side
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Shanks POV
[Akane Town arriving!]
The conductor's voice echoed. It has become a normal occurrence for me due to all my travels.
I exited the train and arrived here. One of the most famous places in all of Fiore.
I had arrived at the southern end of the region, Akane Town. It was a lively place, buzzing with energy.
A full-blown tourist hotspot and easily the most popular destination in all of Fiore. People from every corner of the kingdom came here for the beaches, the food, and the entertainment.
"Want some apples?"
"Most fashionable clothes in all of Fiore! Come and get your piece!"
"Tastiest meat around!"
Vendors shouted from both sides of the street, their voices competing with each other. Stalls lined the roads, overflowing with everything from grilled seafood to handwoven scarves.
I moved through the crowd, keeping my pace steady. The vendors were working hard, hustling under the sun for every jewel. Respectable hustle, I thought. The kind that built towns like this.
Still, I wasn't here for souvenirs or sightseeing.
I flared my Observation Haki, letting it ripple out in waves as I scanned the area.
My senses stretched across the island like threads in the wind. I had one goal here. I needed to locate the Tower of Heaven. If I wanted to save Rob, I had to find the place before things got out of control.
But as I scanned further and deeper, nothing unusual came up.
The people here were just people. A few stronger presences showed up on my radar probably Wizards but their signatures weren't anything alarming. Local freelancers, bodyguards for the underground gambling dens, and maybe one or two low-level mercenaries looking to get lucky.
None of them mattered.
Just the usual background noise of a city running on coin and charm.
I kept walking, weaving through the thick crowd, hands in my pockets.
My hood was still up, but I kept my posture relaxed. Blending in wasn't difficult. No one was paying attention to a lone traveler.
I explored the area more but I decided to ditch this place and go further near to the waters.
'It's so boring.'
I walked more and more before I sensed it-
Rune Magic.
I stopped walking.
It came from somewhere out at sea. It didn't pulse like ordinary Rune Magic. It reminded me of the Mines.
Don't tell me the so-called 'Gods' are involved yet again?
'These Tarot Gods.'
Sigh.
The only reason I could even sense these Runes using Haki was because I'd started studying Rune Magic after my time in the Mines. I mainly focused on understanding the nature of the Runes not the application.
So I could not really use Runes for combat. I mainly used it to inscribe my clothes and myself with some basic protection and other functions.
Rune Magic was really versatile.
WHOOSH
I concentrated my Haki on that area and yup it was an hidden island.
Most people would've walked right past it. Even seasoned Wizards would've missed it without the right training. But my body and my Haki had adjusted to the nature of Runes.
I was in the outskirts of the Akane Island so there were no boats or any people here.
'Sigh.' I sighed once again but I was a bit happy. I could finally use this.
I neared the sea and right before my feet touched the water.
[Reequip Magic]
With the flash of the Magic Circle. A small wooden boat materialized.
'Boats were handy.'
And just like that I rowed the boat and I rapidly approached the Runes but just as I was about to reach the place.
I felt a presence. A very strong presence above me.
I instantly looked up and there I saw a face I had only seen on photos. A man of legends. One of the founder of our Guild and predecessor to Makarov himself.
Precht Gaebolg.
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A/N: I am sick but still wrote little smth the day after tomorrow is my final exam and the hardest one so idk if i will be able to write
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