The sun stands high at noon, its light pouring down over the vast stretch of land before Lake City as people move in a constant flow toward and away from the gates, some on foot with dust-covered cloaks, some on horseback with weapons at their sides, and others in creaking carriages carrying goods, families, or finely dressed nobles, their clothes ranging from rough linen to bright silks that shimmer under the harsh daylight.
At the city gate, Maria steps forward and speaks quietly to the guards, her voice low but urgent, and as she finishes, their expressions change instantly, alarm flashing across their faces as their eyes flick toward Claude and the others, a trace of pity in them.
Without asking for the usual entry fee, they step aside and allow them to pass.
Inside the city, Claude's gaze moves across his surroundings as he walks forward, and though this is not his first time entering a city, Lake City feels different because every building stands raised upon high platforms with stone stairs leading up to each doorway, lifting the entire city above the ground as if it were built to rise above water or danger.
They stop beside the street, and Maria points to the building behind them.
"This is a good inn, you two can stay there."
Claude turns and looks at the building, old yet well-maintained, with a wooden sign swaying gently above the entrance that reads *Papa's Inn*.
He nods, then looks back at Maria. "Are you going to the police?"
Maria's face falls slightly. "Yes, we have to report the destruction of the village, and the bandits took some of our villagers."
Claude nods once. "After that, where will you stay?"
He asks calmly, already thinking ahead, knowing he may need to leave the city to hunt, and someone must look after Claudia.
Maria replies, "We will stay at my cousin's brother's house, Old Bell Street, fourth house south of the pointed leaf tree."
Claude nods. "We will meet again."
They exchange brief farewells and walk away.
Claude watches them until they disappear into the crowd, and then Claudia tugs his hand.
"I am hungry."
Claude nods, turns toward the inn, and says, "Let's see if they have something to eat."
He pushes the door open, and a bell rings softly.
Claudia walks inside first, and Claude follows.
An older man approaches them with a practised smile. "Welcome to Papa's Inn."
Claude and Claudia step forward as the man moves behind the counter.
Claude stands on the other side and asks, "How much is staying for one night?"
The old man replies, "We have three types of rooms: Black Head Fish room, the smallest with a single bed, Long-Tailed Fish room, slightly larger with a bigger bed, and Blood Salmon room, the largest with a double bed and running water."
Claude nods. "How much for the Blood Salmon room?"
"For one day, four silver pence, but for a week, twenty-five silver pence."
Claude nods and turns to his sister. "Take out the grey pouch with the silver string."
Claudia reaches into her dress pocket and pulls out the pouch, handing it to him.
Claude opens the pouch and takes out three large silver pence, each one carrying the value of ten normal silver pence, their dull metallic sheen catching the light for a brief moment before he places them neatly on the counter between himself and the old man.
"Do you serve food?"
The old man nods without hesitation, already reaching beneath the counter as if out of habit, pulling out a few coins and setting aside the change before looking up at Claude.
"Yes," he says, his tone steady and practiced, "we have Black Head Fish curry, Fried Long-Tailed Fish, Roasted Blood Salmon, Pea and Potato Curry, Roasted Duck, and Steak, and all of these come with bread, five pieces of black bread are free, but anything more will cost you, and we also have white bread."
Claude listens quietly, his gaze steady, while beside him, Claudia's face tightens slightly at the mention of fish.
He glances down at her and asks, "What do you want to eat?"
Claudia answers immediately, almost too quickly, "I don't want to eat fish."
Claude lets out a faint smile, understanding her reaction without needing to think, because for days they have eaten nothing but fish, caught from streams and roasted over open fires, survival food without choice or comfort.
He looks back at the old man and says, "Give us two plates of steak and a loaf of white bread."
The old man nods once.
"It will be sixty copper pence."
He pushes the four silver pence forward onto the counter, then opens a drawer beneath and begins counting out the remaining change, his fingers moving with the precision of long habit.
Claude watches for a moment before speaking.
"Keep the money, we will be eating more food, return what is left after a week."
The old man pauses briefly, then nods again, understanding both the request and the trust placed in him.
"Very well," he says, then gestures slightly. "Let me take you to your room."
Claude nods.
The old man steps out from behind the counter, his movements slow but steady, and says, "Follow me."
Instead of taking the staircase beside the counter, he walks forward across the lobby, passing a few scattered tables and chairs where other guests sit quietly, and leads them toward the far end of the space.
There, he turns right into a narrow corridor lined with wooden walls that carry the faint scent of polish and age.
At the end of the corridor stands a staircase, and they climb it together, the wood creaking softly under their weight, until they reach a small landing.
At the landing sits another counter, behind which a young woman is seated, her posture straight, her expression calm.
The old man gestures toward her.
"This is Elisa. If you need anything, ask her."
Elisa smiles politely and nods at them.
The old man then says to her, "Take them to room number four."
Elisa rises immediately, her smile gentle but professional.
"Please follow me, I will take you to your room."
Before they move, the old man adds, "I will send the food to your room in a few minutes."
Then he turns and heads back down the stairs, his footsteps fading below.
Claude and Claudia follow Elisa down a short hallway, their footsteps quiet against the wooden floor, until they reach a door marked with the number four.
Elisa takes out a key, unlocks the door, and pushes it open.
"This is room number four," she says.
She then turns and hands the key to Claude.
"If the key is lost, you will have to pay a fine."
Claude takes the key and holds it firmly, acknowledging the warning without words.
He and Claudia step inside.
Elisa closes the door behind them, leaving them alone.
Claude takes a moment to look around the room.
It is simple but clean, with a sturdy bed, a wooden table placed near a window, and a chair beside it, along with a small door leading to what he assumes is the bathroom.
He walks slowly toward the chair and sits down, resting his hands on the table as he looks out through the window, observing the city beyond, its raised buildings and moving crowds forming a quiet, distant rhythm.
After a moment, he speaks.
"Take out the clothes from the empty crystal, we have sweated, we will need to wash them."
Claudia nods.
When they escaped, their mother had given them a waist chain containing an empty crystal, a small storage space that only Dream Magicians could create, and inside it they had stored their clothes and money.
Claudia retrieves the crystal and carefully takes out their belongings.
They move into the bathroom one after the other, washing away the dirt, sweat, and blood of the past days, the cool water bringing a sense of relief that neither of them voices.
When Claude steps out, drying his hair with a cloth, there is a knock on the door.
Claudia goes to open it.
Elisa stands outside, carrying a tray.
She enters and walks to the table by the window, placing the tray down carefully.
A moment later, she leaves and returns with a jug of water and two glasses, setting them beside the food.
"Enjoy," she says softly.
Then she leaves again.
Claudia closes the door and locks it from the inside.
They sit together and begin to eat.
The steak is warm and rich, far better than anything they have had in days, and the white bread is soft, a stark contrast to the rough food of the forest.
They eat quietly, focused only on filling the emptiness within them.
After finishing, they change into clean, comfortable clothes from the crystal.
Claude then closes his eyes briefly and calls out silently.
Status.
The panel appears.
Nothing has changed much, except that the condition of mild hunger has disappeared.
He lets out a quiet breath.
The tension in his body fades.
He lies down on the bed.
Sleep takes him quickly.
And when he opens his eyes again, he finds himself in paradise, his sister already playing in the distance.
The golden light stretches endlessly across the field, flowers swaying gently under a warm breeze, and Claudia runs freely among them, laughter echoing as if nothing in the world could ever harm her.
Claude watches her for a moment, his expression calm yet distant, as if part of him stands outside this peace, aware that it is not entirely real.
The weight of the previous day lingers faintly within him, but here, in this place, it feels muted, like a memory seen through water.
He does not move toward her.
He only watches.
Time passes without measure.
Then the world fades.
Morning arrives.
Claude wakes to the sound of knocking on the door.
The sharp, steady rhythm pulls him out of sleep.
"Wait," he shouts, his voice still rough from rest.
He swings his legs off the bed and stands, his body lighter than before, though faint soreness still lingers beneath the surface.
He walks to the door and opens it.
Outside stand a middle-aged man and a beautiful young woman, both dressed in the uniform of inspectors.