As the last trees of Serinwood fell away behind them, Finis's eyes widened in astonishment once more. With the end of the forest, a vast, endless plain stretched out before them. But what was truly breathtaking was the river that cut across the plain, gleaming like a silver ribbon. On its banks rose a colossal city, its walls shimmering under the sunlight. Silver Harbor.
They had been walking for three days. Since leaving the obelisk, the prophecy Korgath had mentioned and the mystery of Albaris had been gnawing at his mind. He had filled pages of his journal with notes, recording every new plant, every strange creature, every elven legend Liriel told him. Writing had become the only fixed point he could cling to in this alien world.
"There it is," said Kael, gesturing towards the city with his pipe. "Silver Harbor. The largest trading hub in Eterra. Here you will find beings of every race, every creed, every tongue. Dwarves sell the ores they bring from the mountains, elves peddle the healing herbs they gather from the ancient forests, and humans trade in everything. You can even see orcs, goblins, and even a few half-human dragon-kin in certain parts of the city."
Torin grunted. "And, of course, every kind of swindler, thief, and trickster. Guard your coin purse, Ferrum."
As they drew closer to the city, the magnificence of the walls became more pronounced. The stones gleamed as if they had been sprinkled with silver dust. Guards of different races stood watch atop the ramparts. Finis saw an elven archer standing next to a human armored guard, and a little further on, a dwarven axe sentinel.
When they reached the main gate, a guard stopped them. He was a tall, broad-shouldered, dark-skinned human. He wore a breastplate bearing the emblem of Silver Harbor: a tower rising above waves.
"Entry toll," the guard said in a bored voice. "Five coppers per head."
Kael produced the required coin from his pouch. As the guard looked over the group, his eyes lingered on Finis. He scrutinized the stark white hair, the pale skin, and the blue eyes. His brow furrowed.
"What's this supposed to be? A man or a ghost?"
"A traveling companion," Kael said calmly. "He comes from distant lands. The climate is different there, hence his complexion."
The guard hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Pass through. But cause any trouble, and you'll end up in the dungeons."
The moment they stepped inside the city, Finis's senses were assaulted all at once. Sounds, smells, colors... Everything was so intense that his head spun for a moment. In the narrow streets, vendors shouted to attract customers in front of their stalls; the air was a mixture of spices, incense, fresh bread, sweat, sea salt, and countless other odors; a human tide composed of beings of every size, color, and species.
Finis had never seen anything like it. Even the busiest markets on Earth would have paled in comparison to the main street of Silver Harbor. On one corner, a long-bearded dwarf was selling glittering jewels from his stall. A little further on, an elegant elven woman displayed her silk fabrics. Across the way, a green-skinned, sharp-toothed goblin tried to sell his rusty weapons, though no one paid him any mind.
"Mesmerizing," Finis whispered.
Torin laughed. "You call this mesmerizing? Wait until you see the Dwarfhead Bazaar. Now that is true chaos."
Kael led the group down a quieter side street branching off the main thoroughfare. "Let's find an inn first. Then we'll take care of our business. I have meetings with a few merchants here. Liriel, you need to resupply. Torin, you were going to visit the Smiths' Guild anyway."
"What about me?" Finis asked.
Kael smiled. "Your job is to learn about this world. Go to the Tower of Knowledge. There, you might find some of the answers you seek. But be careful. This city is not as innocent as it appears."
Navigating the labyrinthine narrow passages of the streets, they arrived at an inn called "The Weary Sailor." It was a two-story building of wood and stone, bearing the weariness of years yet still standing sturdy. The inside was dim and crowded, as expected. Sailors, merchants, travelers... each immersed in their own stories at their own tables.
The innkeeper was a pot-bellied, ruddy-cheeked man with thinning hair. His face lit up when he saw Kael. "Kael! You old wolf! Haven't seen you in months!"
"Business, Brom. Business," Kael said, approaching the counter. "Need two rooms. One for me, one for my friends."
Brom looked the group over. When his eyes fell on Finis, his brow furrowed just like the guard's. But because Kael was a customer, he didn't question it. "Two silvers. Breakfast included."
The rooms were simple but clean. Finis settled into the small room assigned to him. From the window, he looked out onto the city's narrow streets and the harbor glittering in the distance. He took out his journal and opened a new page. Title: "Silver Harbor - First Impressions."
He wrote for hours. He put everything he saw, every sound he heard, every emotion he felt into words. As he wrote, he imagined that one day these lines would be read by others. Perhaps his writings would become a record of this world. The immortal words of an immortal wanderer.
In the late afternoon, Kael called him down to the inn's common room. He was sitting at a table with two strangers. One was a tall, thin man with sharp features, dressed in a plain, dark robe. The other belonged to a race Finis had never seen before. Slightly shorter than a human, she had cat-like ears, golden eyes, and faintly furred skin.
"Finis, come," said Kael. "Let me introduce you to some friends. This is Master Aldric, one of the senior scribes of the Tower of Knowledge. And this is Mira. She's an... information gatherer."
Mira smiled like a cat, revealing sharp teeth. "Just say spy, Kael. Don't beat around the bush."
Aldric studied Finis carefully. His eyes roamed particularly over the white hair and pale skin. "Kael has told me about you, young man. He says you witnessed visions of Albaris, that an obelisk spoke to you."
Finis glanced at Kael, who nodded. "You can trust Aldric. He is obsessed with the lost history of this world. He may be able to help you."
Aldric produced an old leather-bound book from within his robe. He placed it on the table and carefully turned the pages. "This is a copy of a manuscript from the First Age. The original was destroyed in the Great Cataclysm. But copies have been passed down by scribes through the generations."
He stopped at one of the pages. On it were relief writings, just like those on the obelisk. But this time, a translation in the Common Tongue accompanied them.
"'And where Time is Broken, the Child of Two Worlds shall be born,'" Aldric read. "'Neither shall he live nor die. His skin shall be pale as the moon, his hair white as snow, his eyes blue as the ocean. He shall commit the paths he walks to words, and his writings shall be read through the ages. He is the Last Seed of Albaris. The Heir of the Lost Folk.'"
Silence fell over the table. Finis's heart was pounding wildly. The prophecy... the one known by the orc shamans, and now written in an ancient manuscript. It described him.
"Is... is that me?" Finis asked, his voice trembling.
Aldric closed the book. "I do not know. But if you are him, the role you have to play in this world may be far greater than you imagine. The fall of Albaris marked the end not just of a city, but of an age. And the secrets of that age are still buried deep within this world."
Mira leaned forward. Her golden eyes glittered. "I have a proposition for you, White-Hair. I wander the forgotten corners of this world, gathering lost knowledge. I know things about Albaris that cannot be found in the Tower of Knowledge. But information is not free."
"What do you want?" Finis asked.
Mira grinned. "Your story. That journal where you write your adventures. One day, when your writings are complete, you will give me a copy. Do we have a deal?"
Finis thought for a moment. His journal was his most precious possession. But the information Mira could offer might help him understand who he was.
"Deal," he said.
Mira laid a small, worn map on the table. "Listen closely. Northeast of Silver Harbor lies a region called the Misty Hills. There, unmarked on any map, stands an ancient ruin that no one dares to visit. The locals call it the 'Whispering Stones.' According to the tales, that ruin was the first refuge of the survivors of Albaris. There, you may find the true story of your people."
Aldric frowned. "The Misty Hills? That is dangerous territory. Not just because of the mist. Things... dwell there. Ancient, forgotten things."
"That's why I'll be helping you," Mira said. "I will come with you. I'll be your guide."
Torin, who had been listening silently until then, spoke up. "Wait a minute. We just got here. Now we're going to get up and go to the Misty Hills? I have business at the Smiths' Guild!"
Kael placed a hand on Torin's shoulder. "Torin, this boy may be the last representative of a lost race. Helping him may be written in all our fates."
Torin grunted and took a long swig of his ale. "Fine. But I'm buying a new axe first. The old one is full of notches from goblin skulls."
Laughter rippled around the table. Finis looked out the window at the lights of Silver Harbor. A new journey was beginning. The Misty Hills, the Whispering Stones, the secrets of Albaris... and the unknown dangers that awaited him.
He opened his journal and turned to a fresh page. Title: "The Journey Continues - Towards the Whispering Stones."
That night, alone in his room, he looked at himself in the mirror. White hair, pale skin, blue eyes... He recognized this face now. This was the face of Finis Ferrum. Neither the porter of Earth, nor just a castaway. He was the Last Seed of Albaris. And his story was only just beginning.