The city of Velgrada reminded me of an old Mediterranean town with its terracotta rooftops, bustling marketplaces, and loosely placed spires. It was a city unlike any I had ever seen in both of my lives, and I couldn''t help but pause at one of the marketplaces to take it all in. It would be even more beautiful if you ignored all the shady stuff behind the curtain.


    I watched as sunlight bathed the smooth stone buildings, their fronts adorned with intricate carvings of different animals and vibrant banners that fluttered in the breeze, signaling either a shop or the family owning the place. Walking forward, I continued on the tightly packed houses and narrow streets, passing by shaded alleys while making sure I wouldn''t run into another local group of mafioso. Once was enough; for now, I just wanted to settle down and gather my bearings before making a move.


    Strolling past a bakery, the scent of fresh bread and roasting meat drifted in the air, making Lira next to me flinch, probably reminded of the life that she now left behind. I couldn''t blame her because my thoughts were also drawn back to it, being one of the first memories I made in this world. Still, this city felt much more alive than Korvar ever did, something that I only realized after I had finally enough to compare with. Of course, Lira felt the same way as she stuck close to me as we passed through the crowded streets, her wide eyes darting from merchant stalls to street performers juggling knives. She seemed more overwhelmed than me, probably because I had more experience dealing with a crowded city. My old home had millions living in it... This was nothing in comparison.


    "It''s so… big," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the din of hawkers calling out their wares and the clatter of cart wheels on cobblestones as they passed by us, forcing people like me to stand to the side while they passed by.


    "Yeah," I agreed, my gaze scanning the crowd for any signs of trouble, but so far, it seemed nobody was even interested in our presence. Still, I just couldn''t help keeping alert... Maybe I was becoming paranoid. "Let''s find a place to eat first. Then, I need to visit the guild."


    Turns out, we overslept. It was already past early morning, so there was no chance to have breakfast at where we were staying. So, it took us some time, but we managed to find an affordable-looking restaurant on the quieter side of town, a place called The Copper Hearth. The building was modest, its wooden sign creaking softly in the wind. It was Lira who spotted it, probably because it had a warm, inviting atmosphere. Suddenly, I felt like I was on vacation, sitting on a terrace, ordering eggs on toast, coffee, and some baked goods, eating them in peace. No, not just in peace, but with company. Huh... Maybe this was all I needed. I don''t know, but I could get used to it.


    "I think I can copy this." She spoke up halfway through her portion, making me raise an eyebrow.


    "You were a good baker, after all," I muttered, sipping one of the best coffees I had ever had, and that probably showed on my face because she giggled, looking into my eyes.


    "I am good indeed." She said proudly, "Maybe one day I can have a shop again."


    "It is not out of the question." I nodded, but she didn''t harpoon on it, knowing we were far away from the chance to buy property here. True... but thinking about it... it could be a start.


    After finishing our late meal, enjoying the sunlight, and a second serving of coffee, it was time to head towards the Adventurer''s Guild, which turned out to take an hour to do so. The streets of Velgrada were a literal maze, making us wander and get lost two times. However, I don''t think I would make the same mistake the next time, as the guild hall was impossible to miss when you knew where to look for it.


    It stood at the edge of one of the city''s market-oriented plazas, which were a dime a dozen. It was an imposing gray stone structure with a peaked roof and a banner bearing the local guild''s emblem—a crossed sword and shield—fluttering above the entrance, embroiled in actual gold, giving it a bright shine. Wide stone steps led up to a massive wooden door reinforced with iron bands. When I say massive, I mean it, as they were about ten meters high, having smaller, actual human-sized cutouts on them, open, letting the noise within spill out to the market square.


    Stepping inside, the air was much more energetic than in Korvar. I could see adventurers of various ranks gathering in differently sized groups, some drinking and laughing while others huddling over maps and mission postings or just haggling about fares with local customers, wanting to hire them. The walls to the left of the entrance were lined with notice boards covered in hundreds of parchments, listing bounties, escort jobs, and monster extermination requests. At least from the few, I caught a glimpse of.


    Turning my head forward, I saw that a large counter at the back was staffed by clerks handling paperwork and distributing assignments that the others took down from the wall on our left. If anything, this one was much more busy than the one in Korvar. And with more members. There are way many more members! Luckily, nobody really bothered to ask what we were doing here; one glance at my bronze bracelet was enough to tell them I was part of the guild and not a customer.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Come. Don''t stray far." I nudged Lira before I approached the desk at the far end, presenting my adventurer''s bracelet and deciding to register myself with the guild. The clerk, a tired-looking man with ink-stained fingers, glanced at it before flipping through a thick ledger. "Bronze rank, huh? New arrival?"


    "Just traveled in," I confirmed, keeping my tone as casual as possible. "Figured I''d check in and register. And see if there''s any news from Korvar. I came from that way."


    "I know, your clothes are a dead giveaway." His fingers paused briefly over the page before he resumed writing. "You both are luck to leave that shithole."


    "Why?" Lira asked, her surprise masking her shock, while I was thinking we indeed need new clothes to blend in better.


    "We just got the news ourselves. Yesterday, in fact," he said, voice lowering slightly, but I caught that the man was a gossip machine. Good. Free information is something I love to get. "The Guildmaster of the Korvar branch? A fellow named Reagan? Yeah, he was found dead."


    "Really?" Even expecting it, hearing the confirmation sent a strange feeling jolt through me. "Found dead?"


    "Just like that." He nodded, chuckling, "Probably assassinated."


    "No details?" Lira asked, making me nudge her with my leg a little so as not to go too far.


    "No one''s saying anything," the clerk said with a shrug. "Word is, he disappeared for a while, then someone found him dead in the middle of nowhere. No witnesses, no suspects, and his bestie was also missing. That man''s name I don''t know but... The whole thing''s a mess."


    "Ouch... That sucks; I bet there is chaos over there, huh?" I leaned on the counter, feigning nonchalance. "What about the adventurers that were in Korvar around that time? Does anyone stand out?"


    "Now that you mention." The man eyed me warily, making Lira nudge me back, and she was right. Now, I was taking it too far... "Why the curiosity?"


    "Because of my friends, I had back home." I offered a small, practiced smile. "Just wondering if they are okay. Thought about heading back eventually, but if things are unstable…"


    "Oh, you know something?" He asked, suddenly his eyes lighting up.


    "Not much." I shrugged, getting to whispering. It was time to make some connections anyway if I was going to stay here. "There was a guy there named Lazlow. He was doing something shady, connected to a local underground group... He wanted to rope me in, so... We," I nodded towards Lira with a knowing smile, "bailed before that could happen, and we would be in trouble. It just felt wrong. I warned others, but you know how it is."


    "Smart choice." He accepted my reasoning easily enough, nodding approvingly. "Korvar''s guild is still running, but it''s going to be under new management. Can''t say if things are stable, but the city hasn''t burned down, so that''s something. But for sure, the branch over there will have a few hard years ahead of them because the top branch will for sure send people to investigate it."


    "I bet it has something to do with that Lazlow guy." I moaned, shaking my head, "The Guildmaster was also a good man," I continued, showing the letter from him that the clerk scanned quickly and handing it back.


    "That''s valuable information, kid." The clerk smiled at me. "You have a good head on your shoulders. I''ll take care of your local registration and papers. For both of you."


    "Thanks." I chuckled, knowing he would relay my information to the higher-ups.


    If Reagen is dead, he can''t talk about our private deal, and if Lazlow is missing... He is probably also dead. Risa and the others had clearly won—they wouldn''t let one get away. It could have been Lazlow who won... But the Crows'' complete absence from any reports told me it was Risa who came out on top. Or maybe not. Who knows! With our new, stamped, and completed identities here, we were now clear, even if the guards came and asked who we were.


    "Thanks again," I forced myself to nod casually, watching as I was registered to the local guild as a new member while Lira was appointed as my companion and underling on the papers. Seemingly, this was pretty normal. "We''ll be looking for work, then."


    "Sure." The clerk smiled back at us. "Come to me after you find something! I''ll handle the paperwork."


    With another nod, we left to stand before the long and crowded left wall for the next ten to fifteen minutes. After browsing the fourth notice board, I picked out a few simple tasks—mostly local work that wouldn''t draw too much attention and give us enough money to get by. A few deliveries, some minor beast control in the sewers, and one job escorting a merchant through a less-than-reputable district. It was nothing flashy, but it was enough to get me moving through the city and maybe meeting the right people while doing so. I needed to learn the lay of the land, figure out who held power in Velgrada, and, most importantly, avoid stepping on any toes. At last, for now. The last thing we needed was to draw the attention of the city''s established factions right onto us.


    "That sewer job sounds... nasty." She frowned, seeing me take it down. "That''s… not... safe."


    "No," I agreed, reading it through and confirming the details of the work. "But for now, we focus on settling in, and this is one that pays pretty well. Also, by the description, others are also working on it, so I don''t think this is unique."


    "I know..." Lira let out a small sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Still. You need to be careful, Auriel."


    "I know," I said, looking out the open door at the front of the guild, gazing at the vibrant city beyond. "We''ll figure this place out one step at a time."


    "I will––"


    "You will stay put." I countered her, "You can help with some of the jobs but not with all of them."


    "But–!"


    "I don''t think you are good at fighting, hm?" I knocked on her forehead, "Neither are you someone who would need to get lost in the city that we know nothing about. Stay put, at least for now. Okay?"


    "..." She wanted to say something, but in the end, she sighed, lowering her head, "Um. I just don''t want to be useless..."


    "Maybe we can find you a place at one of the bakeries." I patted her head, knowing how she must be feeling. "Come, let us ask our new clerk friend. Maybe he has the connections."