The colossal gates of the capital loomed before Rael and Lyo, blocking the morning sky.
Two guards stepped into their path. Dark steel armor reflected the rising sun, red cloaks hanging heavily from their shoulders. Their helmets were open, revealing stern faces etched with exhaustion, the kind earned from years of endless inspections. One of them moved forward and drove his spear into the ground with a sharp clang.
"Names and village," he said, voice cold and flat.
Lyo answered immediately.
"Lyo. Eighteen. From Nerya."
Rael drew in a quiet breath.
"Rael. Fifteen. Same village."
The guard's eyes lingered on them. Simple clothes. Worn bags. Faces too young, too untested. After a brief pause, he nodded and lifted his hand.
"Enter. Don't cause trouble."
The gates began to open.
Stone scraped against stone, the sound deep and heavy.
And the moment they stepped through—
the world exploded.
The capital sprawled before them like a living beast.
Endless cobblestone streets twisted in every direction, wide and overflowing with people. Massive buildings rose skyward, built from pale stone, carved wood, and strips of gleaming metal. Colorful fabrics draped from balconies high above, snapping in the wind. Signs hung everywhere, some engraved, some painted, others glowing faintly with strange magical light.
The noise hit them all at once.
Shouting merchants.
Creaking carts.
Sudden laughter.
Arguments that sparked and vanished in seconds.
Even the air felt heavier. Thick with the smell of spices, smoke, heated metal, and unfamiliar perfumes. People of every kind passed by them. Different skin tones. Scarred faces. Tattooed arms. Some wore refined armor, others flowing robes, and some clothes so strange they looked unreal compared to anything in Nerya.
Rael stopped.
His eyes widened as he turned his head left and right, afraid to miss even a second of it.
"…Is this even real?" he whispered.
Lyo let out a breath, half laugh, half disbelief.
"If this is a dream, it's way too loud."
They moved forward again, slowly, cautiously. Each step dragged them deeper into the heart of the city. Rael watched a group of youths training in an open square, their movements sharp, precise, terrifyingly efficient. Farther ahead, an old man casually made small glowing objects float above his palm, drawing a mesmerized crowd.
"Look at them," Rael muttered.
"I see them," Lyo replied. "And right now, they're all stronger than us."
Rael's hands clenched at his sides.
"Then we'll just have to get stronger. Here… or get crushed."
Lyo turned to him, his expression serious.
"In this city, no one waits for you. No one owes you anything. If you want to exist here, you'll have to earn it."
Rael nodded.
The capital stretched endlessly before them, vast and uncaring.
But for the first time, their dreams had a shape.
And it was overwhelming.
Once the initial shock faded, they gathered themselves. They asked for directions, received answers that contradicted each other, and crossed district after district. Slowly, the atmosphere shifted. The streets widened. The buildings grew taller, heavier, more imposing.
At the far end of a massive stone plaza, a single structure dominated the view.
The Adventurers' Guild.
The building commanded respect before anyone even stepped inside.
A monumental structure of light gray stone rose before them, reinforced by pillars carved with ancient symbols. Dark banners drifted lazily along the façade, each bearing an unfamiliar emblem: a blade crossed with a broken circle. The entrance was tall and wide, like a mouth ready to swallow those daring enough to approach.
Rael stopped for a moment.
"…It feels like the building is watching us," he murmured.
"And deciding whether we're worthy or not," Lyo replied.
They went in.
Inside, the space was vast. Their footsteps echoed against the polished stone floor. Paintings of legendary adventurers lined the walls. Some were armed to the teeth, others surrounded by strange, shimmering auras. Groups gathered throughout the hall. Some spoke in hushed tones, others laughed loudly, their bodies covered in scars and dust.
Backpacks on their shoulders, Rael and Lyo headed toward the reception desk.
Behind the counter stood a middle-aged woman, straight-backed and imposing without being bulky. Her pale skin bore the marks of time, and long green hair flowed freely down her back, gleaming like wet leaves. She wore an elegant yet strict outfit in black and dark green, adorned with a silver guild insignia.
Her eyes examined the two boys in silence.
"Your names?" she asked calmly.
"Lyo. Eighteen. From the village of Nerya."
"Rael. Fifteen. Same village."
"And what do you want here?"
Rael took a deep breath.
"We want to become adventurers."
She did not answer immediately.
Her gaze lingered, especially on Rael. Too young. Too thin. No bulging muscles, no overwhelming aura. Just a teenager in worn clothes, with eyes far too determined for his own good.
Weak, she thought. At least, at first glance.
But she let nothing show.
"Very well," she said at last. "You are summoned tomorrow at dawn for the class test. Be on time. And get some rest."
She handed them two dull metal provisional plates.
"One more thing," she added. "The guild gives no handouts."
They thanked her and left the building.
Outside, the sun was beginning to set. The exhaustion from their journey crashed down on them all at once. They searched for an inn. Then another. Too expensive. Full. Or clearly out of reach for two penniless novices.
"At this rate, we'll end up sleeping in the street," Rael sighed.
They slowly moved away from the heart of the capital. The noise faded. Lanterns grew scarce. Buildings became poorly maintained.
That's when they saw it.
A rundown inn with a cracked façade, a half-broken sign, and wood dulled by time. A faint light seeped through the dirty windows.
They stopped.
"…It doesn't look trustworthy," Lyo said.
"But it looks like a bed," Rael replied.
Perplexed, exhausted, and with no real alternative, they approached the door.
And went inside.