Elara Vance looked at Soren with a serious expression.
She had heard strange stories from Seekers before… but this one was, by far, the most absurd she had heard in a long time.
And yet, every detail seemed to fit.
The singularities.
The combat marks.
The state of the boy.
Everything matched.
Elara rested her fingers on the desk.
"Your story doesn't convince me… but the results do."
There was a clear mix of interest and disbelief in her voice.
Then she observed him more closely.
"Tell me something, Soren. How is it that you're still not a Seeker? How many singularities have you assimilated?"
Soren answered without hesitation.
"I have a Level One hot potato nest, edible type. A Level One green light, tool type… and my good friend Grim, Level One companion type."
He paused briefly.
"I also have two Level One singularities in my bag."
He said it casually.
Elara shifted her gaze toward Grim.
The small, chubby lizard—with translucent purple teeth—was staring back at her.
It even seemed to smile.
Elara raised an eyebrow slightly.
"This creature is quite interesting."
She looked back at Soren.
"Three singularities for an apprentice Seeker… that's exceptional."
Soren simply nodded.
Elara closed the record in front of her.
"Alright. Last question, Soren. What do you plan to do from now on?"
"Register with an official Seeker in the guild," he replied. "For now, that's my goal."
Elara nodded slowly.
"Then you may proceed."
She flipped a page in her notebook and wrote something quickly. Then she tore it out, folded it in half, and handed it to him.
"This is the address of a close friend."
Soren took the paper.
"He's a writer," she continued. "If you have time, you could stop by and talk to him. I'll let him know you're coming."
Soren inclined his head slightly.
"Alright. If I have time, I'll stop by."
Then Elara turned to Audrey.
"Lastly… Audrey."
Her eyes softened slightly.
"Considering you're of royal blood, I recommend you join the Celestial Dragon group. I believe it's the most suitable place for someone like you."
Audrey nodded calmly.
"That sounds fine."
Elara Vance looked at both of them for a moment longer.
Then she made a dismissive gesture.
"That's all. You may leave."
Minutes later, they stepped out of the small office embedded in the wall.
A guard escorted them back toward the city's main gate.
Beyond the massive open doors…
the city of Vora stretched out before them.
Soren's eyes widened in surprise.
The moment they crossed the gates, the world changed.
The silence of the outer fields vanished beneath a sea of voices.
The streets were made of worn gray stone, and the buildings pressed tightly against one another as if competing for space.
The air was filled with voices, the sound of hammers striking metal, and the heavy scent of hot food mixed with sweat and leather.
At one stall, a man displayed a blue singularity floating inside a glass container while several people argued over its price.
With a single glance, Soren could see hundreds of people moving along the main street. Most looked like city residents, but some wore light armor and adventurer outfits in different colors and styles. Others walked alongside small monsters that followed them obediently.
Grim seemed delighted by the spectacle.
The little lizard wagged his tail from side to side as he watched so many companion-type singularities like himself.
Audrey finally spoke.
Her tone contrasted with the lively atmosphere of the street.
"Making up a story like that in front of the station chief… are you insane?"
There was a curious mix of scolding, amusement, and admiration in her voice.
"Your tongue is the most dangerous thing I know. For a moment, I almost believed it."
Soren shrugged slightly.
"Sorry, I had to. It was a complicated situation."
He crouched down as he slipped the paper Elara had given him into his boot.
"But well… we're inside now."
Soren stood up after securing the message.
Audrey wasn't even looking at him. She was watching the city around her, almost captivated by the number of people filling the street. Thousands moved back and forth, negotiating, buying supplies, or simply talking.
It was like a massive marketplace.
Soren observed the place as well.
To him, the city wasn't that different from a forest.
Just… a different kind of forest.
One very different from the Ashen Giant Forest.
He smiled faintly.
Maybe he wasn't powerful. Maybe it was his first time seeing a place like this.
But this kind of forest… was the one he knew best.
Audrey remained silent for a few seconds before speaking again.
"At the start of the journey, you paid me for your life and my protection."
Soren looked at her.
"Now we've reached the city. You gave me the hot potato nest, and I protected you until we got here."
She turned toward him.
"That first deal has been completed successfully."
She paused briefly.
"We'll meet once a week at the guild for our other business."
Then she looked at him directly.
"From here on out, you're on your own."
"Can you handle that?"
Soren smiled faintly.
He didn't answer.
He simply watched as Audrey walked away down the main street. She moved with elegance, her blonde hair swaying with the breeze.
Within seconds, she disappeared into the crowd.
Soren remained silent.
He had reached a safe place.
But all he had in his pocket… were hot potatoes.
He had no money.
And nowhere to sleep.
He looked around calmly.
His eyes moved across the smaller stalls nearby.
At one of them, a man with a cord tied around his forehead was selling food. Soren stepped closer to get a better look.
That's when he saw it.
Floating beside the man was a singularity.
A miniature apple tree.
Apples grew slowly along its branches, and though the tree itself was small, the fruit was surprisingly large.
It was clearly another edible-type singularity.
At that moment, an idea formed in Soren's mind.
And he didn't hesitate.
He walked for about five minutes until he reached the corner of what looked like a small central park.
Then he summoned the hot potato nest.
Steam began to rise from inside it.
Soren raised his voice.
"Hot potatoes! Get your hot potatoes!"
"The first one's free—and they're really delicious!"
He repeated the phrase several times with a strong, confident voice.
He didn't seem nervous at all.
After a few moments, a plump man approached the improvised stall.
"The first one's free, sir," Soren said with a smile.
The man took a hot potato and bit into it.
His expression changed immediately.
"These are really good!"
He looked at Soren with interest.
"How much for the second one?"
Soren replied calmly.
"Two bronze coins."
Then he added:
"Or you can pay with information."
The man looked at him curiously.
"What kind of information do you need, kid?"
"I'm looking for the cheapest inn possible," Soren replied. "Somewhere I can spend the night with my companion-type singularity."
The man glanced at Grim, who was sitting beside Soren, wagging his tail.
"Sure thing."
He chuckled.
"Walk straight two blocks, then turn right. You'll find the worst inn in the entire city."
"But it has a roof."
He let out a small laugh.
"For five bronze coins, you can spend the night. They'll even give you a bowl of soup."
"For you… and your pet."
Soren nodded gratefully.
"That works for me."
The man bought a second potato and went on his way.
Soren continued his improvised business.
"Hot potatoes! Try the hot potatoes!"
"The first one's free!"
The strategy was simple.
Give away the first.
Sell the second cheap.
In less than half an hour, he earned eight bronze coins.
The business was working better than he expected.
Soren was about to pack up the hot potato nest when he heard a shout in the distance.
"Hey! You!"
Several voices rose above the noise of the market.
Soren looked up.
Two guards were moving through the main street… straight toward him.
They were running.
And they clearly didn't look happy.
Soren blinked once.
Then he sighed.
"Ah."
He looked at his improvised stall.
Then at the guards.
Then at Grim.
"I guess selling here without a permit is forbidden."
Grim tilted his head.
"We're leaving."
Soren grabbed the hot potato nest in one swift motion, quickly stuffed the coins into his pocket, and began walking away calmly.
Five seconds later…
he was running.
The guards' shouts faded behind him as he disappeared into the crowd.
A few minutes later, far from the scene, Soren stopped in front of a small food stall.
He bought two grilled octopus skewers and asked for them to be wrapped.
Then he continued walking calmly toward the inn.