Dirt turned into decrepit pavements eroded by years of passage and neglect. Amidst the weeds sprouting from the cracks in the stones, farmers draped in worn shirts patched with random fabric in a dishevelled mismatch walked domestic magical beasts.
They nodded upon passing his group, their beasts bellowing as if to imitate their owners' greetings as the town became clearer in Julius' eyes.
Decent walls four times his size rose in protection against wild beasts, rudimentary mana symbols pulsing with a soft hum along the sleek stones. A silvery mana barrier, noticeably thinner than the one the college used in the past but more flexible, flowed over the short buildings like a lake.
After passing the apple trees lining the road to the gate and appreciating the fruits' sweet scents, he noticed a change in the atmosphere.
