The high noon sun shone up in the sky when the group reached a city.
Their walk had little fanfare thanks to the adventurers, who easily repelled the shadow foxes.
For Valthar much changed with being outside but nothing really changed at all.
For good news, out of the hole he could pull the life energy from the plants and assimilate it faster than through mana conversion.
For bad news, while doing so did indeed speed up the solidification of his energy ring his body couldn't assimilate the life force instantly.
So though his speed increased it was still a far cry from the speed he hoped for.
He sighed at the sad but expected limitation, his daydream to instantly become an Archmage gone with the wind.
In front of his eyes the view of poorly crafted shacks grew larger as the group marched out of the forest line.
"Never thought I'd smile seeing a slum." Valthar chuckled to himself as he followed the group through bustling streets.
The city is decently large for the outlands, though it couldn't hold a candle to the Empire's capital.
It has wide streets for multiple carriages and lots of people carrying things around.
Soon they all find themselves in an Inn, one Lionel knew the owner and was able to get shared rooms for everyone…
Except for Valthar who was 'lucky' and got a room entirely to himself.
The caravan would stay in the city for a week, so the privacy was a real boon for him.
As he walked to the Inn stairs a voice called him out from the side.
"Hey Valthar! Me, Janna and a few other recruits are gonna explore the city tomorrow, wanna come along?" Hector asked with a smile.
"Sorry, I have to…" Vallthar stops mid phrase.
He is less than a month away from becoming a one ring mage and relentless meditation would shorten the timeframe even further.
But a thought gave him pause.
'I can indulge myself a bit right?'
Though it would slow him down a little, it shouldn't be much now that he had easy access to life energy from the forest.
"Actually, I'm up for it Hector." He gives his agreements before everyone drags themselves into their rooms.
The days of march to the city had done nothing to assuage their exhaustion accumulated underground.
In the background however two people walked out onto the streets.
Lionel and Balthazar had urgent business at the center of the city, the location of the local branch of the Church of Burning Light.
*
In his room Valthar stared at the ceiling in silence, his body too tired to walk around and his mind too tired to meditate.
Minutes grew long as he tried to nap, but time passed and sleep never came.
His awareness started to float around.
From the wooden ceiling that creaked here and there with steps from the floors above.
To the sound of wind rustling in through the window, then to soft murmurs that echoed through the thin walls.
Many of those from caravan members, their voices tired but happy.
In his heart Valthar feels their energy pulse with relief and his awareness merges deeper into his energy sense.
Slowly his awareness spread.
From those at rest in the Inn, to those in nearby buildings and others who moved about through the streets in this late afternoon.
More and more lights entered Valthar's sense as they pulsed in a myriad ways.
Some vibrated fast as they rushed through the city with urgency, others pulsed languidly as their day slowly came to a close.
It was chaotic and overwhelming, yet it mesmerized him deeply.
To think each little light was one of him, walking around, living their lives, their struggles, their dreams and nightmares.
Made him feel like a small stroke in a grand picture.
And as he savors the imageless show inside his chest his energy ring solidified faster without his notice.
In a daze half an hour went by before a sudden commotion caught his attention.
From the center of the city a group of lights started to pulse with worry, then like a wave of slime it spread outwards, jumping from person to person as they came in contact.
'What happened?' Valthar questioned with a frown tempted to go take a peek.
For a second he pondered whether the situation could be dangerous before he dismissed the idea once he saw no one was dying.
In moments he made his way out of bed and onto the streets, with rushed steps he moved fast towards the source of this anomaly.
Minutes later he reached the edge of the wave and stopped a person touched by the worry.
"Sorry to interrupt but did something happen at the center of the city?"
The older lady nodded her head nervously.
"Yes! The Burning Light found a demon nearby and the priests are on their way to establish a curfew." Then her voice deepened as she warned Valthar with utmost seriousness. "Go home and protect yourself young man, close all windows, light candles by the doors and may the Burning Light purify your path."
"May the burning light purify your path." Was all he could answer before the lady like many others around took off and speed walked away, no doubt rushing to her house.
Moments later Valthar saw a priest slowly march down the street.
He was dressed in white robe, with golden details depicting a blaze on his chest.
Just by the gettup Valthar could tell he had a light element affinity, as fire priests normally wore red robes with white details.
The light element is highly valued by the church, being both one of the best elements against demons and a core of their religious beliefs.
His white robes fluttered with each step as his voice echoed loudly thanks to a spell.
"A demon in the near forest will be purified tonight! Beware of demonic corruption! Hide home and if you see any weird events report it to the Church immediately!!!"
"A demon in the near forest will be purified tonight! Beware…"
Over and over the priest warned everyone as Valthar stood in place stunned in understanding.