Cia City
In the grand capital of the Cia Empire, where the magnificent palace stood, inside the palace, a young man stood silently in the great hall, as if he was facing judgment in a high court.
His appearance was breathtaking. His long black hair shimmered with a faint silver hue under the light, his deep eyes resembled the dark sea, and his skin was pale as moonlight. He wore a long white and light blue robe that stretched from his neck to his feet, and his features were sharp and flawless. One of the greatest beauty in Cia Empire.
His name was Niear Cia, the seventh prince of the Cia Empire.
On the throne ahead of him, a middle-aged man sat. He was the emperor of the Cia Empire. He wore a white and crimson red robe covered in countless jewels. His aura was oppressive, royal, and absolute. He was Saien Cia.
Saien Cia's cold voice echoed through the hall.
"You still refuse to confess your crime?"
Even after hearing those words, Niear Cia remained silent. His whole body was shaking, his heart weighed down with shame and regret.
The hall erupted in murmurs.
"So today, the seventh prince will truly be exiled from the great Cia family?"
"He broke the family law! He literally killed the Kente family's young daughter!"
"Sigh! He really deserves it."
Many seemed pleased at his downfall. Jealousy burned in their eyes for Niear Cia's looks and the resources that his uncle provides. Yet Niear Cia looked around him and felt anger toward everyone. He had no words left to defend himself. He said in his mind with an angry tone,
"Sigh! One day, when I will kill them, then they will understand my true power."
Seeing his silence, Saien Cia's patience finally snapped. His hand slammed against the armrest of the throne.
"Speak! Will you confess, or will you no longer be part of the family?"
Niear Cia remained silent.
"Guards!" Saien Cia roared, his face twisting in rage.
"Expel him from the family!"
The heavy doors opened, and some Dimen humans ( power system ) stepped forward. Niear Cia's heart clenched. Shame, regret, and sorrow flooded his heart like a tidal wave.
Moments later, Niear Cia walked out of the palace gates. No one came to see him off. No one cared, except for his uncle Gangron Cia, who was away in another province.
"If Uncle were here, no one could expel me... Uncle... I didn't even say goodbye to you," Niear Cia murmured, his eyes heavy with regret.
"If I stay there for long, my enemies will hunt me down. If only I hadn't killed her... things wouldn't be like this."
He looked around him.
"Now... where do I even go?"
He began walking aimlessly in the crowded streets of the capital. Everyone noticed him, but no one dared to say anything. He was lost in thought.
"Damn it! I don't have any real skills to find work. I'm only sixteen, and it's illegal to work under eighteen. What am I supposed to do?"
As he walked, he noticed a wooden bench by the roadside. Exhausted, Niear Cia sat down and sighed.
Unhooking a small white bag from his waist, he opened it. Inside gleamed a faint light, it was a common artifact — storage bag.
He took out a bottle of water, drank it, and leaned back.
"Should I go to a forest? Nah... it's too dangerous. There are too many beasts, and I can't defend myself against them.
But everyone knows I'm the seventh prince. If I stay near the capital, they'll find me and kill me.
Sigh... If only I had enough money. With just 79 Dimen Stones, I can't even afford a trip to the Ghiena Empire or Fesian Empire. If I had known before, I definitely wouldn't have wasted money instead collocated it.
He lowered his head, defeated, but suddenly his eyes lit up.
"Wait! I'm a mid-stage First Dimensional human. I can find work in the southern region. Most people there are weak, so as a mid-stage First Dimensional human, it'll be easy to get a regular job. Child labor is illegal there, but if I say I'm eighteen, they won't know. They don't even know who I am. They'll think I'm really eighteen years old. They definitely agree.
For the first time that day, a smile curved on his face.
"Southern region is a peaceful place, and most people aren't strong. I can survive there."
He clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes.
"Now... I'll go to the caravan zone, then ride to the southern region by caravan."
Niear Cia made his way to the caravan zone. After a few moments, he arrived. The area was crowded; hundreds of wagons were parked side by side, and merchants shouted their destinations at the top of their lungs.
He walked between the noisy groups, searching for anyone heading toward the southern region.
"Where are you headed, young master?" a man called out. The man wore a black robe that reached his feet, a common outfit in the Cia Empire.
"Southern region," Niear Cia replied.
The man pointed ahead.
"Keep going, you'll find many caravans heading that way."
Niear Cia nodded and continued forward.
Soon, he heard someone shouting,
"Anyone going to the southern region? We've got a few seats left!"
Niear Cia approached. The caravan master, seeing his neat robe, immediately smiled.
"Ah, young master, our destination is the same. Our caravan provides the best service."
He guided Niear Cia toward a modest caravan.
"Here it is, young master. A fine ride for only forty Dimen Stones."
Niear Cia, unfamiliar with such things, assumed it was a fair price.
"Alright," he said quietly, handing over the stones.
The man gave him a ticket.
"Cabin 2, seat 7. Have a pleasant journey, young master."
Niear Cia entered the second cabin. It was simple—seven long wooden seats, each about two meters wide.
"Not bad," he thought. "A bit shabby compared to the royal ones, but for my current state, it's luxury."
He sat down quietly by the window and looked outside.
"This journey will take several days," he thought. "Let's just hope everything goes smoothly."
Bored, Niear Cia opened his storage bucket and pulled out a book. No one was shocked to see it—these kinds of artifacts were common.
Reading had always been his only escape from loneliness.
After a while, a voice shouted from outside,
"Everyone ready? The journey begins!"