The morning sun rose over the towering white walls of Moon Cliff City, bringing with it an unprecedented wave of noise and excitement. The quiet, spacious streets from the previous day had completely vanished. Now, an endless sea of people poured into the city through the four grand entry gates, filling the air with the rowdy chatter of merchants, mercenaries, and eager spectators traveling from every corner of the Magonia Kingdom.
Walking through the dense, bustling crowds in the Old City Market were Leon and Lady Karen. As per the strict security rules of the Darkmoon family, both were heavily disguised. Karen wore simple, inconspicuous dark traveler's robes, her beautiful purple features hidden behind a plain cloth mask. Leon, cradled comfortably in her arms to navigate the packed streets, wore a small white cloak and a matching silver mask that completely concealed his cherubic face. To anyone passing by, they looked like an ordinary young noblewoman traveling with her younger sibling.
"The city is practically overflowing today, young master," Karen murmured in a low, masked voice, keeping her space magic active just enough to subtly distort the crowd's trajectory so no one accidentally bumped into Leon. "Everyone is arriving for the Moon Cliff Festival competition."
Leon looked through the slits of his silver mask, his Eyes of Darkmoon scanning the crowd. He could see a vibrant array of mana particles swirling around the newcomers. Warriors with heavy, mana-infused iron broadswords and mages wrapped in elemental cloaks were filling up every available inn and tavern. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation; the 30-year cycle festival was a monumental stepping stone for any young cultivator looking to make a name for themselves.
As they moved closer to the main thoroughfare, the crowd began to part for several extravagant carriages guarded by armored private soldiers. The banners flying from the carriages bore the crests of various small and medium noble houses, each sending their young heirs to participate in the upcoming matches.
Stepping into a shaded alleyway to observe the procession, Karen looked at the arriving carriages and began to quietly explain the origins of the participants.
"Young master, look at the carriage with the green vine emblem on the left. Those are the heirs of the House of Silas, a medium-sized noble family from the Southern plains who specialize in wood-elemental archery," Karen whispered, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings. "And the one behind them with the silver anvil crest belongs to the House of Vance, a minor martial family known for forging high-grade ironwood weapons."
Leon simply nodded his head casually under his mask, his expression entirely calm.
"I know, Sister Karen," Leon whispered back in his childish voice. "The House of Silas controls three major timber trade routes and relies heavily on the emerald vine bloodline, while the Vance family serves as a secondary blacksmithing branch under the imperial army. I read about their histories and political alignments in the library's ancient noble records last month."
Karen nodded calmly behind her mask, her expression neutral yet filled with quiet admiration. Having served the family and watched the young master's steady growth, she had expected nothing less than complete preparedness from him. It was precisely this immense dedication and sharp intellect that made her proud to be his shadow guardian.
Suddenly, a deafening trumpet blew from the main city gate, followed by the heavy, synchronized thud of hundreds of imperial pegasus knights clearing the streets. The chaotic chatter of the crowd instantly died down, replaced by a massive, roaring commotion that rippled through the entire marketplace.
"Make way! Make way for the Royal Lineage!" the imperial heralds roared.
An incredibly grand, golden carriage pulled by four majestic, pure-white pegasi rolled through the gates, radiating an aura of absolute royalty. The sheer extravagance of the escort immediately drew gasps of admiration and awe from the thousands of onlookers.
Karen's eyes narrowed instantly, her posture tightening defensively. "Young master... it seems the Royal Family has sent their own bloodline this time. That banner belongs to the 3rd Prince, Julian Magonia, and the 4th Princess, Cynthia Magonia."
The crowd erupted into frantic whispers and cheers, eager to catch a glimpse of the kingdom's top prodigies. Leon watched the golden carriage pass by with an indifferent gaze, though he noted the highly refined, dense mana swirling inside the vehicle. He remembered his Aunt Fray's story about his mother kicking a royal prince in the face during a past festival, and a tiny smile formed on his lips.
While the arrival of the royalty caused an absolute frenzy and drew everyone's attention away from the alleys, Leon tapped Karen's shoulder.
"The crowd is getting too loud, and there are too many variables here now, Sister Karen," Leon said quietly, pulling his white cloak tighter around his shoulders. "Let's go back to the villa. Aunt Fray told us to keep a low profile, and I still need to finish my homework on the historical strategies of the regional houses before the festival starts."
"Yes, young master," Karen agreed smoothly, appreciating his flawless discipline.
Without making a single scene or drawing a single eye from the distracted crowd, Karen stepped backward into the deepest shadow of the alleyway. Utilizing her rare space magic, her silhouette seamlessly dissolved into the darkness, completely vanishing from the bustling market streets. Within seconds, they materialized safely inside the quiet, secure perimeter of the Moon Viewing Villa, entirely hidden away from the chaotic storm brewing in Moon Cliff City.