Ark Town welcomed them with a cacophony of scents: the aroma of freshly toasted bread, the metallic steam from blacksmith forges, and the pungent reek of horse manure. In front of the giant steel-clad oak gates, Eins halted his horse. He reached into a small pouch at his waist and handed a few copper coins to an armored guard who looked deathly bored.
"Two people, one horse," Eins said briefly. The guard simply nodded and signaled them through.
However, Lysara's attention was not drawn to the grandeur of the city walls, but to the sight flanking the road before the entrance. There, hundreds of squalid tents made of patchwork rags stood crowded together. People in tattered clothes, their faces hollow from hunger, and children playing in the dirt filled the area.
"Eins," Lysara's voice was low and sharp. "Why are they left out there? Outside the protection of the walls?"
Eins led their horse toward a stable near the gate. He sighed, his eyes fixed grimly on the tents. "Those are the city rules, Lysara. Those who cannot afford the security fee or don't have steady work aren't allowed inside. The wall only protects those deemed to be 'contributing'."
Lysara stopped in her tracks. Her face remained flat, but her eyes flashed with deep displeasure. "Is there no hope for them? In the ancient times, the Guardians never discriminated over who deserved protection. If they needed it, they received it."
"Rules are made to manage the survival of what remains, Lysara," Eins explained, stroking the horse's neck. "The kingdom's resources are limited. Clean water, food, housing... they can't take everyone in without the city collapsing from within. It's cruel, I know. But this is the reality of the world now."
Lysara remained silent. She was skeptical—deeply so. To her, a civilization that left its weak to freeze outside the walls was not truly 'advanced.' Unconsciously, she reached for Eins's hand and gripped it tight, as if she needed an anchor to keep herself from storming off and shattering the city's rigid laws.
Eins felt the crushing grip on his hand. He didn't protest. He was beginning to understand that beneath her stoic mask, Lysara possessed a fierce sense of justice—perhaps a legacy of her role as a Guardian a thousand years ago.
"Put your hood up, Lysara. We don't want to draw undue attention," Eins whispered. Lysara obeyed, pulling the white cloth of her cloak to hide her magnificent horns and striking face.
They began walking through the bustling markets of Ark Town. The atmosphere shifted drastically from outside the gate. Here, everything shimmered. Shops offered jewelry, weapons, and most notably to Lysara: food.
"Eins, what is that?" Lysara pointed at a stall selling meat skewers drenched in sweet sauce.
"That's lamb satay. Do you want some?"
"Yes."
Five minutes later, Lysara was chewing the satay with gusto. But that was only the beginning. She spotted candied fruit, then meat pies, then creamy soup served in bread bowls. Every time she caught an interesting scent, she would stop and stare at Eins without a word.
Eins could only laugh tiredly. "My money... my silver coins are running low, Lysara. You eat like a dragon that just woke up." Despite the complaining, Eins paid for everything. Seeing Lysara eat so heartily gave him a strange sense of happiness—as if he were breathing 'life' back into a soul that had been frozen for far too long.
After their tour, they arrived at a grand building with classical architecture, its windows revealing floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The Central Library of Ark Town.
"Ah, Eins! You're alive!" a soft voice greeted them.
A beautiful woman with platinum blonde hair tied neatly into a half-circle bun approached. Her skin was porcelain clear, and she wore a librarian's uniform that was both elegant and practical.
"Lady Silvet," Eins bowed politely. "Good to see you again."
Silvet smiled broadly. Her eyes shifted to the tall figure behind Eins. "And... who is this? You rarely bring friends, let alone a woman who is... exceptionally tall."
"This is Lysara. My adventuring partner," Eins introduced her briefly. Lysara simply gave a small nod from beneath her hood.
"Ah, I see. Well then, where is the report? I've been looking forward to the observations from Aethelgard Dungeon. Other adventurers only bring back gold, but you always bring back knowledge," Silvet said enthusiastically.
Eins handed over his report book. Inside were details on rock structures, humidity levels, and the types of ancient flora he had discovered. However, he intentionally omitted the part about meeting Lysara. He knew that if the identity of an Ancient Beastfolk were revealed, Ark Town would no longer be a safe place for her.
Silvet skimmed the pages and nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent as always. Here is your fee, 30 silver coins. As agreed."
As soon as they left the library, Lysara immediately clung to Eins's arm again. Her grip wasn't as hard as before; this time, it felt more like a cat that didn't want to lose its owner. Eins let out a long breath, feeling physically exhausted after walking all day, but for some reason, Lysara's constant presence at his side made him feel... at peace. He was no longer a researcher alone in the dark.
Night began to fall over Ark Town. They headed toward an inn called The Rusty Shield.
"One room with two beds, please," Eins said to the innkeeper.
The old man behind the desk shook his head. "Sorry, lad. It's the new adventurer registration season. We've only got one room left, and it only has one large bed. Take it or leave it?"
Eins froze. His heart began to race. He glanced at Lysara, who seemed indifferent. To Lysara, sleeping anywhere as long as it was with Eins wasn't an issue. But for Eins, this was the greatest internal trial of his life. Sharing a bed with a woman? One who wasn't even an ordinary human?
"We'll take it," Lysara's voice cut through Eins's hesitation.
Eins could only resign himself to fate. After paying, they entered the room. It was clean enough, with a large bed in the center. As soon as the door closed, Lysara leaped onto the mattress. She rolled around with natural, fluid movements, exactly like a cat finding a comfortable spot.
Eins placed his heavy bag in the corner. He took off his leather researcher's jacket, leaving only a thin shirt. As he removed his glasses and sat on the edge of the bed, a wave of profound exhaustion hit him.
"Eins, come here," Lysara murmured.
"Eh? I... I'll just sleep on the floor if you—"
Before Eins could finish his sentence, Lysara's powerful hand grabbed his collar. In an instant, Eins was pulled down onto the soft mattress. Lysara immediately wrapped her strong arms around his waist, hugging him like a bolster.
"Lysara! This... this is too close!" Eins's face flushed a violent red, nearly matching the color of a berry.
Their faces were only an inch apart. From this distance, Eins could see the exquisite details of Lysara's face—her long gray eyelashes, her smooth skin, and the calming scent of the forest lingering in her hair.
Lysara had already closed her eyes, her breathing becoming steady. "Eins... hmmm... Eins..." she muttered softly in her sleep, a faint smile playing on her lips.
That night was a long one for Eins. He couldn't sleep at all. Every time Lysara shifted in her sleep and pressed closer, his heart felt like it was going to leap out of his chest. He could only stare at the ceiling, wishing for morning to come quickly.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window. Lysara woke up looking incredibly refreshed, her eyes sparkling with health. On the other hand, Eins looked like a living corpse. He had dark circles under his eyes and couldn't stop yawning.
After freshening up and getting ready, Eins adjusted his glasses with a hand trembling from sleep deprivation.
"Are you alright, Eins?" Lysara asked while straightening her white cloak.
"Yes... I just need a very strong cup of coffee," Eins replied weakly. "Come on, we have an important agenda today. We're going to the Adventurer's Guild. We need official work and identities to move freely in this city."
They stepped out, heading toward the heart of the crowd where the Guild banners flew high, ready to start a new chapter as an adventuring team.
To be continued...