Kai and Helydia wandered deeper into the bustling streets of Chronos, each absorbed in their own way by the vibrant energy of the capital. The morning sun bathed the pale stone buildings in a golden light, giving the entire city an almost surreal beauty.
They first arrived at the main plaza—a vast, marble-paved esplanade crowned by a towering fountain. Statues of ancient heroes stood tall, water trickling over their stone forms. Children laughed and ran around, while street musicians filled the air with lively melodies.
"I'll admit, it's livelier than I imagined," Kai said, glancing at the guards posted everywhere.
Helydia followed his gaze. Along the edges of the square stood several garrisons—square, functional buildings with soldiers dressed in blue and white armor, proudly bearing the city's emblem.
"They look tense…" Helydia muttered. "Too many people. Too much pressure."
They kept walking, eventually arriving at a vibrant row of market stalls. Merchants shouted over each other in a chorus of deals and promises.
"Fresh apples! Two coins a dozen!"
"Dried boar meat! Finest cut!"
Nearby, magical trinkets shimmered under enchanted cloths—necklaces, pendants, and bracelets glowing faintly with arcane light.
Kai stopped at one stall, eyeing a softly glowing blue necklace.
"You think it does anything?"
"Probably just empties your coin pouch," Helydia replied with a sly smile.
They passed a religious site next—a solemn temple etched with the symbol of a golden crown beneath a radiant halo. Ranks of white-robed priests whispered prayers within, candles flickering in reverence.
After over an hour of walking, they finally came across a quieter side street. There stood The Split Shield, an inn with a creaky sign swaying in the breeze. Modest, but clean. They rented two rooms for a few nights.
"We'll regroup with the others tonight," Kai said, slipping his key into his pocket.
Once settled, they returned to the streets to continue exploring—until they stumbled upon a circular building draped in red and black banners: the Adventurers' Guild.
Inside, the room buzzed with life.
Mages in brightly colored cloaks whispered over scrolls. Battle-priests polished their weapons. Heavily armored tanks laughed heartily, slamming drinks on the wooden tables. Helydia even spotted a Blade Dancer stretching gracefully near the counter.
One entire wall was covered in posted quests—each bearing a title, an objective, and rewards in coin, artifacts, or favors.
Helydia froze, eyes fixed on the board. An idea sparked in her mind.
"Kai… what if someone here could help us find the Heart of Aethril?"
"Hm?"
She approached the counter. A thin man behind it barely looked up, arms crossed.
"You can post a quest?" she asked.
"As long as it follows the rules, yeah."
He slid a parchment and quill toward her. She carefully wrote:
Quest: Find the Heart of Aethril
This relic is very precious to me. If you hear anything about it, or find it, please bring it to a man named Samuel. He's tall, has silver hair, a scar over his left eye, and doesn't talk much. You can find him at the inn called The Split Shield.
Reward: 50 silver coins
Kai read over her shoulder, arms folded.
"Wait… did you even ask Samuel if we could use that much of our hard-earned silver? Fifty coins, Helydia... that's not nothing."
She gave him a calm glance.
"We have enough. And if this speeds things up, it's worth it."
Kai raised a doubtful eyebrow.
"Hope you're right… or he's going to kill us."
She smirked, then walked over and pinned the quest to the wall.
A passing Rune Assassin skimmed it, raised an eyebrow, and moved on without a word.
Kai let out a sigh.
"Well… the seed's planted. We'll see what grows."