Marco and Coron reach the edge of Woodholme and see a small line outside of the massive wood and steel gate inset into the city walls.

  A mingling of races is present in the line, humans with every skin tone imaginable, from near paper-white to deep black. People with slightly pointed ears like Coron, maybe elves? Short and wide folks that remind Marco of fantasy dwarves.

  “Ah, just a short line today. It is still early in the day yet.” Coron remarks, joining the back of the line, Marco in tow.

  “I hope this isn’t a horribly offensive question but what is your race called?” Marco askes quietly, keeping his voice as low as possible to keep his ignorance from the ears of the other townsfolk.

  “Definitely a Traveler,” Coron chuckles. “The races of Omnia, the realm in which you now find yourself, are many. Other than my race, an elf, in this line I see other humans and a dwarf.” Coron explains, “There are many more including; fairies, gnomes, and dragons. Probably many more in the far reaches of Omnia.”

  Coron goes on to explain that these are just the list of sentient non-monster races of which there is many more times as many. The line inches forward until it is Marco’s turn, Coron being waved through after a quick look from the guards.

  “Hello Traveler, welcome to Woodholme’s Forest Gate.” Greets the elven guard, willowy and blonde much like Coron. “Be welcome to Woodholme but please do not cause trouble. I assume Coron will give you the run down on the rules.” The elf guard and his human partner with paper white skin wave the pair through.

  “Okay Marco Vito, Traveler. The rules of Woodholme are simple: Do not steal, do not kill, do not disobey System orders, and do not mess with the trees.” Coron rattles off the rules with practiced ease.

  “Can you tell me more about Woodholme?” Marco askes, marveling at the city beyond the walls. Tall artistically built wooden building look grown from living wood instead of built from timber.

  “Woodholme is a melting pot of races; we have a ruling council and no nobility here.” Coron explains, “The Council consists of Sunlit mages, warriors, and administrators.”

  They pass by beautiful four and five story buildings grown of living wood and covered in a mosaic of ivy and vines, much like the walls of the city. Flowers of white, blue, and soft pink are artfully arranged to make the wooden building even more breathtaking.

  Cobblestone roads wander, making the city feel more natural and less planned, grown much like their buildings. The roads are clean and there isn’t the typical medieval city smell that so many books describe, everything is pristine beautiful.

  They walk, reaching a bridge that stretches above them, a small round tunnel is dimly lit below, walls are covered in flowers much like most of the city but in stark contrast to the buildings, the tunnel is grown in dark shades of blue, purple, and even black. The vines glow lightly between the flowers.

  “Woodholme is home to two hundred thousand people; this is including the smaller farming villages that help supply the Kingdom of Eldermyst with food.” Coron smiles at the artful display.

  “That is an impressive population. I assume magic has a lot to do with it?” Marco askes. Coron nods and explains the different magics of Omnia.

  Magic is broken up into eight affinities, with each having its opposite. It is broken up as follows:

  *Ping*

  Air – Earth

  Water- Fire

  Light – Dark

  Salt – Curse

  Affinities are measured by the closeness of the caster or warrior to their element. People, usually high-level mages have two affinities, in all of recorded history there has never been someone with three. Single affinities are the most common, making up 90% of the population. Everyone has an affinity, just in differing levels of strength.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  A System screen pops up with more information:

  *Ping*

  [Air]: The element of Air is composed of wind control, flight, battlefield manipulation and more. Mages of this element are famed for their slashing attacks and cloudkill area of attack spells. Warriors of this element are known for their speed and precision attacks, often favoring ranged weapons or small blades. Low affinities are known by many titles; Courier, Transportmage, and Messenger.

  [Earth]: The element of Earth is composed of earth and plant control, earthswimming, battlefield manipulation, and more. Mages of this element are famed for not only their battlefield prowess but also their ability to grow and control plants. Warriors of this element are known for their heavy strikes and group fighting style, often favoring blunt weapons. Low affinities are known by many titles; Earthturners, Farmer, and Roadcaller.

  [Water]: The element of Water is composed of water control, healing, tidal surfing, and more. Mages of this element are famed for their ability to control a battlefield, heal wounds, and speak to ocean creatures. Warriors of this element are known for their flowing style of combat, weaving around strikes and delivering devastating counterattacks, often favoring swords or flexible weapons. Low affinities are known by many titles; Waterdelvers, Welldiggers, and Tidecallers.

  [Fire]: The element of Fire is composed of furious flames, burst attacks, and massive area of effect spells. Mages of this elements are famed for one thing above all, Fireball. They are also able to control Heat to varying degrees making them dangerous mid-range fighters. The Warriors of this element are known for their relentless fighting style, often favoring fist weapons and hand to hand combat. Low affinities are known by many titles; Firestarters, Sparkers, and Bonfires.

  [Light]: The element of Light is composed of precision attacks, long range spells, and healing. Mages of this element are famed for their healing above all but are dangerous on the battlefield as well, using their long-range beams and hard light to devastating effect. The Warriors of this element are known for their blindingly fast attacks, misdirection and trickery, often favoring light weapons such as rapiers, foils, or whips. Low affinities are known by many titles; Lamplighter, Keeper, and Medic.

  [Dark]: The element of Dark is composed of brutal banishment spells, battlefield manipulation, and its destructive properties. Mages of this element are famed for controlling the battlefield with clouds of Dark and nasty slashing attacks. The Warriors of this element are known for their eye for an eye fighting style, allowing themselves to be hit if it takes out their opponent, often favoring great weapons such as swords or axes. Low affinities are known by many titles; Shade, Surgeon, and Peacekeeper.

  [Salt]: The element of Salt is composed of purification, banishment, and battlefield control. Mages of this element are famed for their prowess against undead, protection from enemy magic, and their ability to control a fight. The Warriors of this element are known for their near impenetrable armor, weapon conjuration, and massive damage against undead, often favoring their personal conjured weapons, great weapons or hammers. Low affinities are rare but known by titles such as; Cursebreaker, Witch, and Ritualist.

  [Curse]: The element of Curse is unavailable to humans, is composed of domination, curses, and minion magic. Mages of this element are famed for their prowess in control magics, domination spells, and undead creation. The Warriors of this element are almost unheard of, but known for their small strikes, hit and run tactics, and their enemies dying even after the Curse Warrior is dead.

  The huge screen caused Marco to stop walking, pouring over the massive amount of information and trying to absorb as much as he could. He waves away the window, continuing to follow Coron through the winding streets of Woodholme toward his home.

  “We are close to my family's home, where we have lived for generations, you may stay there as long as you’d like.” Coron states and makes a turn down a side street labeled with a sign that says: Old City, the street becomes rougher, and narrower. A couple more minutes of walking down the new more narrow streets they arrive in front of a beautiful stone and wood manor with the Crest of House Ivory emblazoned on the front gate.

  “Wow, this guy has to be loaded.” Marco’s first thought makes him cringe. “Your family has a beautiful home.” He looks at the massive home, containing multitudes of rooms, with swirling spires capped in shining white ivory, and pale green flowering vines covering the whole manor.

  “Welcome to the Manor of House Ivory,” Coron bows and gestures at the huge estate. “Please respect the gardens and stick to the paths, many generations of labor have gone into producing the beauty you see before you.” Marco nods in agreement, following Coron through the twisted wood gates with dark gray bark that looks like metal.

  The sprawling complex clad in vines and made of wood, stone, and ivory seems to blend into nature and fit into the city like it was there first. Past the Ironwood gates, the stone and grass path winds gently through hedges of beautiful plants and produce. Aesthetic flowering plants next to food-bearing plants in a dazzling display of harmony.