When the sun finally rose over the horizon, the city stopped being just a cluster of distant lights.
Before them stood massive gray stone walls, towering and silent under the golden light of morning.
The city of Vora.
Everything was ready for their entry.
By that point, Soren's bags were filled with hot potatoes and two Level 1 singularities: Blade-Spine Rats.
The rest of the singularities were inside the Kanima: the white Level 2, a purple one speckled with green dots from the translucent Level 2 spider, and the Level 3 lightning one.
Grim moved happily around him.
Storing the singularity loot inside himself seemed to have put him in an excellent mood.
Soren and Audrey approached the main gate.
Looking up, they could make out sentinels guarding the entrance from atop the towers. Their silhouettes stood out against the clear morning sky.
Moments later, the melodic sound of a horn echoed through the air.
It was soft and deep.
Like a signal announcing the beginning of the day.
Or perhaps their arrival.
The echo of the horn slowly faded into the walls.
A moment later, one of the massive wooden gates began to open with a deep sound of wood and iron.
The hinges creaked as a section of the gate separated just enough to allow passage.
The guards came out first.
Their armor was simple but sturdy: gray metal plates over dark leather. Each carried a long spear and a short sword at their side.
But they were not the ones leading.
A woman walked at the front.
Her steps were firm and confident. Though her armor was lighter than the others', the way the soldiers subtly moved aside made it clear who was in command.
Her dark hair was tied in a high ponytail.
A short deep-red cloak rested over one of her shoulders.
Her eyes scanned the line forming before the entrance.
Merchants.
Travelers.
Seekers covered in dust from the outer fields.
Finally, she spoke.
"Form a line."
Her voice wasn't particularly loud.
But it cut cleanly through the air.
"Entry registration and singularity verification."
The guards immediately moved, organizing the people in front of the gate.
Audrey observed the woman calmly.
"Station chief," she murmured under her breath.
Soren didn't take his eyes off her.
The way she walked.
The way the guards reacted to every gesture.
It was obvious.
That woman controlled the entrance to the city.
Grim lifted his head, staring at the massive gate with curiosity.
Then he looked at Soren.
And wagged his tail.
As if all of this were just another interesting place to explore.
Soren breathed slowly.
The city was right in front of him.
And now… the real game began.
They positioned themselves at the end of the line.
Some merchants began passing through the entrance slowly. The verification process seemed quick.
Some simply gave their names.
Others showed insignias or documents and crossed without issue.
But not everyone passed directly.
Several were redirected to what looked like a small office built between the wall and the gates.
The place was guarded by multiple armed soldiers.
Audrey watched the scene calmly.
"We won't pass directly," she said quietly. "I need to register with the station chief."
Then she looked at Grim, who walked near Soren's legs, wagging his tail.
"But don't worry. Grim doesn't look like a Level 3 singularity. He looks Level 1… at most."
She shrugged casually.
"So you don't have to worry about that. Just try to stay consistent with the story."
Soren nodded.
"Relax."
Audrey looked at his expression… and smiled faintly.
Minutes passed.
The line moved slowly until they finally reached the gate.
A guard stepped forward.
"Identify yourselves."
Audrey spoke first.
"My name is Audrey Nova. I am a Seeker from Lunaria."
She took out a small document from her side pouch and handed it to the guard.
"I've been transferred and need to register."
Lunaria…?
Soren frowned slightly.
So she's from a place called Lunaria.
The guard nodded while reviewing the document.
Then he looked at Soren.
"And you, boy? Who are you?"
"My name is Soren. I have no surname. I am a Seeker apprentice… and I belong to the Red Fox group."
The guard looked at him for a few seconds.
"Seeker apprentice…?"
He stepped back and began flipping through a thick registry book resting on a table.
He turned several pages.
Then his expression shifted slightly.
His face grew more serious.
He closed the book.
"You will both complete your registration in the station chief's office."
Audrey had expected that.
She simply nodded.
After about ten minutes of waiting, they were finally called.
A guard led them to the office.
The place looked like a small cabin of stone and wood, built directly between the wall and the main gate.
It was as if the structure had been embedded into the wall itself.
Bare rock protruded in parts of the interior.
One detail made it clear this wasn't just a simple office.
Two armed guards stood at the entrance.
Another guard opened the door for them.
"Station Chief Vance will see you now."
When they entered, the first thing they saw was the station chief reviewing documents at her desk.
Soren's breath caught for a moment.
Seeing her seated there, surrounded by papers and carrying an aura of calm authority, caught him off guard.
Her black hair was styled neatly, contrasting with the red cloak draped over her shoulders.
She was a truly beautiful woman.
She looked to be around thirty.
Soren let out a quiet breath without realizing it, momentarily lost in her presence.
In his previous life, that was exactly the kind of woman he had always been drawn to.
He couldn't help but look.
Audrey, on the other hand, was also beautiful… but she looked barely eighteen.
And in his past life, he had already been older.
He had never been someone interested in women that young.
Focus, he told himself.
"You may sit," the woman said calmly.
Both of them took seats in front of the desk.
"My name is Elara Vance."
She continued reviewing the papers for a few seconds.
Then looked up.
"So… Audrey Nova, from Lunaria?"
Her eyes scanned the document with a hint of indifference.
"Your papers say you are of Lunarian royalty. What are you doing in a place like this?"
Soren froze for a second.
Royalty… of Lunaria?
What the hell…?
Audrey answered calmly.
"Miss Vance, that is correct. I am of royal blood, and that is precisely why I am here."
She rested her hands calmly on her knees.
"I began my path as a Seeker at a young age. Currently, the heir to the throne is my older sister. After my brother's death, she became next in line."
She paused briefly.
"I requested my father to recommend me for a transfer here, to the city of Vora."
Soren listened in silence.
So this is the city of Vora…
"Lunaria is stable," Audrey continued, "and it is not a place suited for my personal growth."
Her tone remained respectful.
"I do not seek special treatment. I only wish to further specialize as a Seeker, join one of your orders, and rise through my own effort."
Soren was still processing the information.
Is Audrey's situation really that complicated?
So… she's a princess?
But she was already quite strong as a Seeker.
Elara Vance nodded slowly.
"I can understand that."
She folded her hands on the desk.
"Lunaria is heavily fortified. Most Seekers there hold saint-level ranks. Any threat against the city would be dealt with within minutes."
She turned a page.
"Additionally, missions and incursions there are extremely dangerous for anyone below that level. I can see why you would seek a place with more… difficult conditions."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"But you should not underestimate the city of Vora."
Soren lifted his head slightly.
"In this place, if you are not competent, you will likely end up returning to where you came from."
She tapped the document lightly with her fingers.
"The city is too large. Both inside and outside its walls, there are underground dealings, criminals operating with a certain degree of impunity… and frequent monster attacks."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Many missions are lethal."
Audrey nodded respectfully.
"I chose Vora precisely because of that. That environment will help me develop my abilities."
Elara Vance studied her for a few more seconds.
Then closed the document.
"Very well."
"You may pass."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then the station chief turned her gaze toward Soren.
"And you are Soren?"
She checked his file again.
"No surname… and you reported yourself as an apprentice of the Red Fox group, correct?"
"That is correct, Miss Vance."
The woman frowned slightly.
"The problem with you… is more complicated."
She reviewed the records again.
"According to these documents, you went on an expedition two months ago with three Seekers and another apprentice."
She turned another page.
"Out of the five, only one Seeker and one apprentice returned."
Her eyes slowly lifted.
"You were reported dead in combat."
The silence in the room grew heavy.
"And frankly… I cannot explain how you survived two months in the Great Ashen Forest."
Soren and Audrey froze.
Two months…?
Soren's mind went blank.
I woke up three days ago…
Three days ago, I opened my eyes in the Ash Field.
Surrounded by five severed heads of three-eyed wolves.
With their bodies still warm on the black ash.
And human-eyed vultures circling slowly in the sky.
How the hell am I supposed to explain… two months?
Elara Vance watched him silently from across the desk.
Waiting for his answer.