Chapter 57 – Road to Their First Quest

Chapter 57

Road to Their First Quest

Date : Day 2 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

They went to the butcher next. The smell of meat and blood hit them as they approached. The butcher was a large man. Thick arms. Cleaver in hand. They bought a few squirrel and ramtauro meat. The cuts were fresh. Wrapped in wax paper.

Then they went to the fruit vendor. The stall was colorful. They bought a few Dew-hearts. The blue-skinned fruits that tasted like watermelon. And some kinds of berries. Red. Purple. Black.

They walked again. But Elise's mood had soured. Her expression darkened. Her brow furrowed.

"Why don't they have rainlumes! Huft!"

She pouted and huffed. Her arms crossed over her chest. The gesture was petulant. Childlike.

Hyoren smiled. The sight was endearing.

"Somebody who loves them seems to have bought them all. Well, let's hope we can get a wild one in the wilds later..."

Hyoren tried to placate her. His voice was gentle. Soothing.

But Elise still pouted. Her lower lip jutting out.

"I hate that person! If I found out who bought up all my rainlumes, I would strangle them!"

Hyoren chuckled. The sound was soft. Amused.

They walked while he was still trying to placate her. His words were calming. Rational. But her mood remained stubborn.

But while her mood was still sour, Elise still walked confidently. Leading Hyoren. Her posture straight. Her direction clear.

They continued walking through the busy Adventurer's District street. The crowd thinned slightly as they moved.

Elise's shoulder finally relaxed. She stopped huffing. The tension draining from her body.

They reached the end of Adventurer's District. Unlike the border between Merchant's and Adventurer's District, the border with Administrative's District was a small canal. The water was clear. Flowing steadily. A narrow bridge spanned the gap. Stone arches beneath.

As they crossed the bridge separating the two districts, Hyoren looked around. The change was subtle. The noise faded. The crowds thinned. The buildings grew larger. More spaced out.

"So we are going to enter Administrative District, Elise?"

Elise faced Hyoren. Nodded. Her silver hair swayed with the motion.

"Yes. West Gate is in the Administrative District, Hyoren..."

She then gestured with her hands. Pointing in different directions.

"East Gate, or Gate of Guts, is on Adventurer's. North Gate on Merchant's. And West Gate on Administrative's."

Hyoren nodded. The information settled into his mind. A mental map forming.

"There's no south gate as it's on Akela River, instead, there is a harbor?"

Elise smiled and nodded. Pleased by his understanding.

"That's right!"

They passed a mansion with two guards. The building was grand. Three stories. Ornate windows. A wrought-iron fence surrounding the property. The guards stood at attention. Swords at their hips. Eyes scanning the street.

Hyoren looked at the mansion as they walked. Curious.

"So there is a mansion here too, Elise?"

Elise peeked a glance in the direction of his gaze. Taking in the building.

"Oh... that must be the mansion of one of the baronets of this territory."

Elise continued walking. Her pace steady.

"Administrative's District not only houses buildings for administration such as knight barracks and administration buildings."

She gestured with her hands for Hyoren to follow her. Leading him deeper into the district.

"There are nobles under Baron Akela who live here. There is a Cathedral of Luminara Church too."

Her ears twitched. A subtle movement.

"Think of this district as basically a noble's district."

Hyoren caught up with Elise. His footsteps quickening.

"I see. No wonder the district is quite vast if it only holds a few administrative buildings..."

They continued walking through the district. Unlike the other districts, the street was sparse. Only a few bureaucrats and knights sometimes passed them. Their clothing was fine. The clack of boots on stone echoed in the quiet.

No shops. No vendors. No taverns. The commercial life of the city was absent here.

The scenery was generally the same with other parts of the city. But it felt cleaner. Tidier. The streets were swept. The buildings were maintained. The privilege of wealth and power.

After walking a few blocks, they arrived in front of a somewhat busy building. The building was made from pure white marble. The surface gleamed in the morning light. Immaculate. There were gold decorations on the windows. The roof. The lintels. The panels. Many other parts. The gold caught the sun. Glittering. Ostentatious.

There was a big tower in the middle with a circular glass pane. The glass was stained. Colorful. On the window, there were symbols which were familiar to Hyoren already.

A balanced scale of justice with two suns on top. Luminara's Symbol.

Clergy with pure white robes and gold decorations could be seen around the building. Preaching to worshipers. Their voices raised in prayer. Taking care of the ground. Sweeping. Watering plants. Or just walking in and out. Their movements were calm. Serene.

Elise stopped at the Arch. The entrance to the church grounds. She faced Hyoren.

"Want to visit the Church of Luminara, Hyoren?"

He looked at the majestic building. The grandeur. The wealth on display. Then shook his head.

"I already gave my thanks when we met before. And I'm not exactly pious either. Maybe later if I like it."

Elise chuckled. Before continuing walking. The sound was light. Knowing.

"I see... fufu."

Hyoren followed her. His mind wandering.

"And to be honest, I'm more interested in Her twin..."

Elise stopped in her tracks. Her body froze. She turned to face him. Her expression serious.

"Hyoren, I already told you the story, right? Please don't be careless. Practicing dark magic as an adventurer is still somewhat acceptable in society as they are strong if used correctly."

She pointed a her fingers at his face. The gesture was sharp. Warning.

"But saying you are interested in Her, or even worshipping Her, might be a bad idea."

Elise turned around and looked up at the sky. The dual suns hung above. Sol and Luna. Their light mingled.

"I know it's a misconception. But better safe than sorry. Unless you are already powerful enough and have got backers, I advise you to not carelessly mention Luminara's Twin."

Hyoren nodded a few times. Understanding. Accepting.

"Understand, Elise..."

Elise was satisfied. She continued walking. Her pace resumed.

Hyoren followed from behind. Still thinking. His mind churned. He was still interested in Noctynara. As he felt a connection to her. And all this misconception about the Goddess of Darkness wouldn't stop him. But he knew he needed to get stronger first. Find a powerful ally first. Before he did.

He was not someone who easily got discouraged after already setting a goal. But — he shelved this — for now.

Not long after, they arrived at West Gate.

Unlike the populous Gate of Guts, this gate was sparse. There was not much traffic here. No queue lines to enter the city. No merchants shouting their wares. Just a handful of travelers coming and going. The pace was slower. More relaxed.

As they got closer, one of the gatekeepers stopped them. He was a large man. Broad shoulders. Thick arms. A weathered face that spoke of years under the sun. His armor was well-maintained. The insignia of Akela gleamed on his chestplate.

"Oh, it's Elise. Going on a quest?"

He then looked at Hyoren. His eyes scanning the newcomer. Taking in the armor. The weapons. The scars. Then he smiled. Amused.

"So the rumor was true. Found a partner already, huh? Good for you."

Elise smiled. The expression warm. Familiar.

"Morning, Rogg. And yeah, this is Hyoren. I decided to party with him. Now we're going on a quest together."

She then handed her guild card to Rogg. The metal caught the light. Hyoren followed and handed his card too.

Rogg briefly checked their cards. His eyes scanning the information. Verifying their identities. Then he handed them back.

"I see. Herb collecting and scouting Stonewell? Good luck with that!"

Elise and Hyoren took their cards. The metal was cool against their palms.

"Thank you, Rogg!"

Elise waved at him. The gesture casual. Friendly. Hyoren bowed slightly. More formal.

They then exited the gate. The city walls rose behind them. Tall. Imposing. Hyoren scanned the surroundings. It was not as busy as the east gate. But there were still facilities around. A stable. The smell of hay and horses. A guard house. Stone and iron. And a stagecoach terminal. Carriages lined up. Waiting.

Elise's gaze fixed on the stagecoach terminal. Where one stagecoach was currently waiting for passengers. The horses stamped their hooves.

She nodded. Decided.

"Let's use the stagecoach, Hyoren. It will save us one day of travel time."

Hyoren nodded. He looked at the stagecoach. It was made from wood and painted white. The paint was fresh. Clean. Fully enclosed. The windows seemed to be made from glass. Clear. Reflecting the light. It looked simple but sturdy. And it was pulled by two Earth-Hoof Horses. The creatures were massive. Their hooves thick. Built for endurance.

"That's a good idea, Elise. Let's do it."

Both of them then went to the terminal. Their footsteps crunched on the path.

They bought tickets from the counter. A small wooden booth. A woman sat inside. Middle-aged. Her hair pulled back in a bun.

"Two tickets, please."

Elise said while placing a few copper coins on the counter. The metal clinked softly.

The woman at the counter nodded and took the coins. Her movements were practiced. Efficient.

"Sure, here are your tickets. You two are our last passengers, so it will depart shortly."

She smiled and handed the tickets to Elise. The paper was thick. Stamped with the terminal's seal.

Elise nodded and took them. Then she turned around and led Hyoren to the stagecoach. They climbed in from the back. The step creaked under their weight.

The stagecoach was spacious. There were five rows of chairs with an aisle in the middle. Each side of the row could seat two people. The seats were cushioned. Covered in worn leather. They sat on the last two empty chairs at the back. The leather creaked as they settled in.

Not long after, the stagecoach started to move. The horses neighed. The wheels began to turn. The motion was smooth. Steady.

Elise, who had taken the window seat, turned to Hyoren. Her green eyes curious.

"First time riding a carriage, right?"

Hyoren smiled and nodded. The expression sheepish.

"Yeah... I was expecting a bad ride but..."

Hyoren felt the cushion beneath him. The rattle of the stagecoach. The suspension absorbed most of the bumps. The sway was gentle. Rocking.

"It's quite smooth... Maybe either because the road is smooth, or the carriage suspension is good, I guess."

Elise beside him chuckled. The sound was light. Amused.

"It was really comfortable, right? I myself have rarely ridden stagecoaches before as I prefer walking slowly. So this is a rare experience for me too. But after experiencing this, now my mind has changed. We should ride them whenever they are available."

Hyoren nodded. Agreeing.

"Yeah, Elise. Cutting travel time means we can enjoy our destination more. And we can still walk if we truly want to enjoy the scenery."

The carriage rattled a bit following the road. The wheels found a groove in the path. The other passengers chatted among themselves. The sound was a low hum. Background noise.

Hyoren could see other adventurers talking about their recent successful hunt at the front seat. Their voices were excited. Animated. Hands gesturing wildly. Then on his right, a daughter and mother talked about their shopping in Akela. The daughter wanted to show off her new clothes to her father in the village. Her voice was eager.

It was a peaceful journey.

Elise opened the glass window. Gazing at the scenery outside. The wind rustled her ponytail. Silver strands catching the light. Her green eyes reflected the landscape. Trees. Fields. The distant mountains.

Hyoren went silent seeing the view. His eyes drawn to her profile. The curve of her jaw. The point of her ear. The way the light played on her features.

Man... Elise is really... Beautiful...

The thought formed even before he could stop it. Spontaneous. Unbidden.

He shook his head to dispel the thought. The motion was subtle. Almost imperceptible. And decided to ask Elise to help distract him. His mind needed something else to focus on.

"Elise, this stagecoach. I saw on the terminal before it led to Fort Heljen. What is that actually?"

Elise turned her head and smiled. Her hair swayed with the motion. Catching the light from the window.

"Right. Time for geography lesson by mentor Elise then!"

She puffed and tapped her chest with her hands. The gesture was proud. Playful. Then she properly faced Hyoren.

He chuckled. Her gesture was almost comical. He never thought that an old guarded and wary elven ranger he saw in the forest could be like this. The transformation was surprising.

Elise then started her lesson. Her voice took on a teacher's cadence.

"Hyoren, Akela is a Frontier City. It borders the wilds and other nations."

Elise tapped her chin. And gestured to the south side. Pointing with her finger.

"Firstly, on the south, it's the wilds. You already know them, right?"

Hyoren nodded. The memory was fresh. The trees. The monsters. The danger. It was the place they just escaped.

Elise then pointed to the front with her chin. Indicating the direction of travel.

"And in the west, it borders the Theriarchic Union. Fort Heljen used to be a fort to defend the border. Manned by the Kingdom Army. But after the Concord was signed, the Kingdom left the maintenance to Baron Akela. And it only acts as a checkpoint between the border now."

Elise turned to Hyoren again. Her expression serious. Informative.

"We can reach it after 2-3 days on foot, or 1 day stagecoach ride. Along the way, there are a few villages too."

Hyoren nodded. Processing the information. Filing it away.

"I see... Akela borders the Beastkin nation. No wonder there are a lot of Beastkin in Akela?"

Elise chuckled. The sound was soft. Knowing.

"Fufu. That might be one of the reasons. But the Kingdom of Altaria actually has a lot of beastkin population no matter where."

Elise tilted her head. Thinking.

"I said before, right? They spread widely because they love freedom. They become merchants and adventurers, then travel the world. That's why Beastkin are everywhere. No matter what villages, cities, or even nations. Even in Silverwood Enclave, there are a lot of beastkin."

Hyoren nodded. Then looked outside. The landscape rolled by. Fields of wheat. Farmhouses in the distance.

"I see... No wonder. Looking at Ina, then Roric, they indeed look free-spirited. So most beastkin are like that."

Elise smiled softly. Seeing Hyoren already satisfied. She looked outside. Enjoying the scenery again. The wind played with her hair. The sunlight warmed her face.

They spent the ride casually chatting or just enjoying the scenery outside. The conversation flowed easily. Comfortable silences between words. Time passed. The sun moved across the sky.

And time flew. After around 4 hours of stagecoach ride, they arrived at the first village. The stagecoach slowed. The wheels found the cobblestones of the village street. It stopped at the terminal. The horses were changed. Fresh animals took their place. Snorting. Ready.

Elise nudged Hyoren. Her elbow pressing gently against his arm.

"Hyoren, we need to go on foot from here."

He nodded. And they got off from the stagecoach. Their feet found solid ground. The earth was firm beneath their boots. They thanked the driver. The man tipped his hat. They watched as the stagecoach departed to the next stop. The wheels kicked up dust. The passengers inside waved.

Elise stretched her body. Her arms extended above her head. Her back arched. The motion was languid. Relaxing.

"Stagecoaches are convenient, but sitting for hours makes my muscles stiff."

Hyoren smiled. Agreeing with her. He stretched his own limbs. His shoulders popped. His back cracked.

He looked around. The village was small. Quiet. And found the signpost which told him the village name.

So this village is called Luin. It seems there is no specialty.

He looked outside. There was a wheat farm. Golden stalks swaying in the breeze. But definitely not the main specialty of the village because they were on a small scale. The fields were modest. Family-sized.

The village thrived from the travelers. There were a few inns to accommodate them. The buildings were simple. Functional. Designed for transients.

Hyoren and Elise quietly watched as the stagecoach departed to the next stop. The wheels kicked up dust. The other passengers inside continued their own journey to their own destination.