The city gates clanged shut after them with a heavy, echoing boom, resounding across the cobblestone streets. The capital was a vast city, towers and spires thrusting like silver needles into the air. Merchants cried out to pedestrians, guards marched by with disciplined strides, and people thronged with day-to-day activities. It was a striking contrast to the emptiness of the forests and plains they had traversed.
Kael led the group through the throngs of people, scanning the surroundings for any hint of threat. "We have to attend to formalities first," he stated. "Renew our ranks. A clean record will facilitate things better with the city authorities.
Azrak nodded, pacing alongside him, cloak brushing against each step. "A-rank," he growled, under his breath. "It does feel… official now. But I would hope we don't have to test it right away."
They first headed to the administrative hall of the city, where their records and ranks were verified. The clerks knew their names and their acts in the last battles. Official seals and signatures were placed on their A-rank, and they were given the authority and recognition that allowed them to travel wherever they pleased in the capital.
From there, they proceeded to the tavern-inn they had seen at the fringe, a snug place with welcoming lights spilling onto the pavement. Boys and girls were each put in their own rooms—cozy but modest—yet common spaces afforded them an opportunity to gather and have a hushed meal. Roasted meat and spiced ale aromas wafted through the air, mingled with gentle giggles of other guests.
Lyrielle fingered her lute softly in the corner, humming a gentle melody that blended into the tavern's whispers. Rina uncoiled from her stretch, retracting her claws as she swept the bar with her eyes. "Not bad for a city tavern," she said with a sarcastic smile. "Could be worse."
Thargrim smiled as he settled back, dipping a portion of roasted meat into a small dish of sauce. "Aye, nice to eat without fear of monsters jumping out of the shadows for once."
Once settled in, the group set off to purchase supplies. They went to merchants who dealt in weapons, armor, and adventuring equipment. Kael examined steel blades that had been buffed to a mirror finish, while Azrak browsed specific demon-forged blades for sale by dwarven smiths. Lyrielle discovered rare strings and tuning materials for her lute, while Elira replenished magical reagents and healing kits.
The afternoon slipped by in laughter, small disagreements over expenditure, and good-natured jibes—Kael grumbling at the size of Thargrim's appetite, Rina mocking Lyrielle's fussiness. Even Azrak cracked a wan smile, the burdens of wars fought forgotten for the moment.
As the sun set towards the west, they came back to the tavern, laden with bags of fresh supplies, small equipment upgrades, and a sense of routine reestablished. The streets outside lay before the capital like a glittering tapestry, lit by lanterns and alive with vigor, oblivious of the shadow on the horizon.
For one night, at least, the party might rest, laugh, and enjoy the mundane—before the tempest that lay ahead in the form of the monster waves and the plots of the shadow organization.