The road southward stretched longer than I expected, taking us more than a week''s worth of travel as Lira and I made our way toward the border. Leaving the mostly forested areas behind us, the landscape had gradually shifted, the dense foliage and drees giving way to more grassy, rolling hills and sparse groves of cypress trees. The scent of the world had also changed, something that I noticed with how clear the air was here. The earthy smell that was previously tinged with pine and fresh grass was gradually replaced by a different one. It had the faint aroma of something more... warmer. It is hard to put it into words, but it was different. The air simply felt warmer and drier, giving me less of the sense that winter would be upon us at any time.


    Arriving at our first goal, the Federation of Free Cities'' border station stood at the crest of a shallow hill in the form of a sturdy checkpoint of stone and wood. I noticed multiple crossing points, all of them reinforced with iron gates and guards standing at attention. Scanning the fields, soldiers patrolled the area, clad in a mix of steel and leather armor, bearing the crest of the Federation, deciding on who they were letting into their country. I noticed a banner above the crossing point with a seven-pointed star, each tip probably representing one of the city-states within this loose alliance. Traders, travelers, and adventurers alike lined up in multiple queues, each awaiting their turn to be inspected so as not to stick out from the crowd; we did so, too, waiting patiently. Standing there, I was listening to the others, noticing that the language was still the same, not even accented, relieving me a little. I was afraid that different countries would speak different languages, but so far, that hasn''t seemed to be the case.


    "Auriel..." Lira tensed beside me, her hands curling into the folds of her cloak, leaning close to whisper. "Are you sure this will work?" she murmured, eyes scanning the guards not that far from us. Her eyes moved around warily, noticing that soon it would be our turn. "You know how border officials are... No? I heard my... my... p-parents... talk about it..." She grimaced, bringing them up, feeling weird to call them that. But she quickly pushed the thoughts away, continuing. "They''re as likely to turn us away as let us through or simply take everything we have... or worse."


    "It''ll be fine," I assured her, though I couldn''t completely ignore the small flicker of doubt gnawing at me too. Corruption is everywhere, especially where there is no quick or instant retaliation. Who would be able to prove anything here in a world where there are no cameras or fingerprints? Anyway... I had to remain calm, so I answered with a smile. "Adventurers have free passage between nations. The bracelet and the letter from Reagan should be enough." Saying it, I also adjusted the strap of my pack, getting ready to pull out the payment I asked for in advance. This was also the point where I would test if my plan worked... Let''s hope it did, and I wasn''t backlisted.


    To ease her nervousness, she got closer, holding onto my hand, turning her head back and forth, watching us take another step forward. We stood in the lane that only had individuals, without carts or big packs, which was why ours moved slightly faster than the merchant ones, sometimes needing to look over two or three carriages at once. Leaning to the side to take a better look, the guards here looked accustomed to dealing with armed travelers, probably mercenaries or other adventurers. Looking at their gazes, they were sharp but less suspicious if they saw weapons hangin'' from people''s waists. One of them, a woman with a thick braid of auburn hair and a chainmail vest, suddenly gestured me forward. It seems it was time... While walking up, I looked at her eyes, which were a piercing green, and noticed that a scar ran from her temple to her jawline, marking her as someone who wasn''t afraid to look death in the eye.


    "Name and rank?" she asked, her tone bored but polite enough not to be offensive.


    "Auriel. Bronze rank adventurer." I raised my wrist, showing the simple yet unmistakable adventurer''s bracelet I put on before coming here. The sigil of the Adventurer''s Guild was etched into the metal along with my details, marking me as an official member... I just hoped if they checked it, I would still show up as an official member.


    "I see." The guard took my wrist, inspecting it for signs of presumably tampering or something, then gave a nod at me, letting my hand go. "Any papers of identity?"


    "Papers..." I muttered, trying to remember, but the original Auriel had nothing like that... I think. So, instead of that, I pulled out the parchment bearing the seal and the insignia of Reagan, the probably already dead guildmaster. Although, I can''t be sure he went down... whatever. If I get through, that should be it! Keeping my nerves under control, I watched as the woman scanned the document quickly, her eyes flicking over the details of my ''papers.'' Her expression remained neutral, but I noticed the slight tightening of her lips when she reached the bottom of the page.


    "Well?" I asked, but she just looked at me once before folding it up and handing it back to me.


    "Everything checks out. And her?" The guard nodded toward Lira.


    "She''s with me," I replied simply, holding her hand. "The Guild knows she''s my companion."


    "Sure." The guard studied Lira briefly, her gaze lingering on her face, studying her features and her hand, before smirking a little, probably thinking something... improper. I think Lira also felt the same way as she blushed, trying to look away, but then the guard''s voice prevented it from happening. "Not an adventurer yourself, huh?"


    "N-no... I am just a baker... or... was..." Lira shook her head but didn''t offer more explanation. I listened as the guard exhaled through her nose, then shrugged, probably deeming us as runaway lovebirds. Or as stupid teens. Works for me if that''s the case!


    "Fine. Just know that the Federation isn''t like the northern holds that you are used to. The law is looser here. Adventurers are somewhat in their own group but don''t cause trouble, or not even the Guild can protect your asses. The city-states have their own rules, and the Guild''s influence only goes so far as their willingness to reach into their pockets for their members! It is too easy to lose your freedom in a card game... Or your wife to a gang you crossed."


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "...!" Lira flinched, but I just shrugged as if knowing what she meant. But in reality, I was taken aback. Fucking hell... this is wild.


    Still, after getting the green light, I dipped my head in thanks as she waved us through. As we stepped past the iron gates, a subtle shift filled the air. It was probably just my imagination, something that my mind concocted because we really left everything behind, entering a new world. Kinda. Ahead of us, as far as we knew, there lay one of the seven cities, Velgrada. It was our current target, hopefully, a place where we could find our footing and start... building. As for what? I think a personal organization sounds nice. Something that can bring in money and allow me to kick back later on and just enjoy a new life.


    ...


    ....


    .....


    It took us two days to get to the city. As we descended from the hills, Velgrada came into view, painting a beautiful picture, something out of a movie. Unlike the rigid, more grey-colored stone cities of what I had seen so far, this one was a vibrant sprawl of warm, ochre-colored buildings with red-tiled roofs and tall arched windows. The only similarity was the twisting alleyways paved with cobblestones. But... not everywhere. I noticed as grand plazas opened at intersections where fountains sculpted in marble spewed crystal-clear water into wide basins. From our vantage point, we saw how the local markets bustled with life, their stalls, their canopies bright with dyed cloth. After entering the city, I could see that they were offering goods ranging from silks to spices, next to exotic fruits and intricate-looking clockwork devices. The city seemed to be filled with a specific energy, being much more alive than... well, anything I saw so far in both of my lives.


    The first impression was great—really. And I think Lira was relieved, too, because she was like a child, amazed by the colors and smell, walking with me, exploring the city.


    In our first hour, we walked over a bridge built across a river that cut through the heart of the city. It was crossed by elegantly arched bridges at multiple intervals, adorned with statues of heroic-looking figures. It made me think of Mediterranean cities after seeing the gondola-like boats floating along its surface, ferrying people from one district to another. The air was thick with the scent of fresh bread, roasting meat, and the unmistakable sweetness of sugared almonds sold by street vendors.


    Were we warned for no reason? This city didn''t seem that dangerous.


    It was hard to imagine it when minstrels played soft melodies on the street corners, their music mixing with the din of bartering voices and trotting hooves when horsed people, probably local nobles, passed by us.


    Of course, the warning was not to scare us—it was a warning. I knew that colorful animals usually meant they were venomous. The same could apply here... the more colorful this city is, the more dangerous it could be under the surface, lulling us into a false sense of security.


    "Woah..." Lira turned in a slow circle, taking in the sight with wide eyes, bringing me out of my loosening thoughts. "I''ve never seen anything like this," she admitted, her voice almost breathless. "It''s so... alive! And beautiful!"


    "Yeah, it is," I shared the sentiment, though I masked my wonder behind a more composed expression. "It''s different, that''s for sure. But keep your wits about you. Places like this have a way of swallowing people whole, got it?"


    "Y-Yes!" She nodded, but then I smiled a little, not wanting to rob her of the happiness she felt, especially after all that had happened.


    As we made our way deeper into the city, we found ourselves within one of its grand squares. A towering clock tower stood at its center, gilded with golden filigree and inscribed with the same type of numerals I would see in my own world. Heh, are we back to Roman times or something? Chasing the thoughts away, I kept inspecting our surroundings, which were more buildings adorned with frescoes depicting heroes, mythical beasts, and the founding of the Federation itself, as far as I could guess.


    My first impression was that Velgrada felt like a city that thrived on trade and culture rather than conquest—its wealth was not built on killing others but on the movement of goods, ideas, and possibly art. Yet the frescoes also warned me that there were people here who would stab you through the heart if must.


    "Let''s go," I said, pulling on Lira. "It''s best if we find a place to stay for now."


    We passed through a narrow street lined with artisan shops as we walked, their windows displaying beautifully crafted wares of glasswork, jewelry, and fancy masks that seemed to be part of some local festival tradition. These masks were particularly striking, their expressions ranging from serene to grotesque, even vicious, their colors vivid and unsettling, making the hair stand up on my back. The sight of them made, for some reason, made me uneasy. The city was breathtaking, but who knows... maybe the nobles here were the type of decadents that I heard in horror stories.


    Sure enough, as we walked, a well-dressed man in a velvet tunic strolled past us, twirling a cane, his boots polished to perfection. I could tell from one glance that he strutted along the street as if he owned it. Maybe he did. Just to our left, from a side street, someone was coming out without looking... colliding with the man. What followed the simple ''incident'' was that the man began beating the other with his cane without anyone batting an eye, steering clear from the scene.


    "It''s not our place," I murmured, pulling Lira along. I interfered with something like this once, ending up with the Crows. This time... I simply won''t.


    She exhaled sharply but said nothing, though her fingers twitched as if itching to reach out, trying to stop the beating. No... that could lead us to die in a ditch. So, with increased steps, I kept pulling on her and continued to walk.


    Eventually, we reached an inn at the edge of a bit quieter and less opulent district, its wooden sign creaking as it swayed in the breeze.


    "The Starlit Roost," I muttered, reading it, watching the engraving of a perched owl beneath it.


    The building was smaller than the others but still well-kept, with flower boxes on its windows and a warm glow spilling out to the streets from within it. Entering, the first thing that hit me was the scent of roasted lamb and spiced cider, along with the gentle hum of chatter of the local patrons. The innkeeper was a middle-aged woman with salt-and-pepper-colored hair who glanced up from behind the counter, offering a nod.


    "Two rooms?" she asked, getting to the business side of things from the get-go.


    "One," I answered. "We''ll take whatever is available."


    "Sure. Five silver a night." She arched a brow but said nothing as she handed us a key with a knowing smile. "Second floor, last door on the left. If you need a meal, we serve dinner until sundown. Otherwise, you will have to eat somewhere else if you run out of time."


    "Understood." I smiled, paying for a week in advance that she pocketed at once. She smiled even more now and gave me a signed receipt, showing us the stairway, being much more friendly all of a sudden.


    As I took them and led Lira upstairs, I couldn''t help but let out a slow breath. The city of Velgrada was dazzling, but something about it made me uneasy. I remembered the masks in the shop windows... I wondered, how many of the people here wear them? Well... Probably all of them.