Chapter 66: The Sea of Stars
Elsewhere...
Reinhard, Nick, and Bruce, after a grueling half-month trek, finally stood before the gates of the Imperial Capital.
The Imperial Capital.
Nick was already daydreaming about his glorious future, so lost in his fantasies that he didn't even notice the drool escaping the corner of his mouth. Bruce's dog ears were pinned straight up in excitement, his tail wagging with enough force to kick up a small dust cloud behind him.
The city gates were a marvel of engineering—massive blocks of white stone stacked so high they seemed to graze the underside of the clouds. Every few hundred yards along the ramparts sat a watchtower, each flying the Imperial flag. The golden lion emblem snapped fiercely in the high-altitude winds.
Bruce's voice was a shaky whisper. "We... we actually made it..."
Nick threw his arms wide, letting out a roar of triumph. "Behold! The peak of civilization! The Imperial Capital!"
Reinhard watched his companions with a faint, amused smile. To him, this was simply a return to the kind of world he knew, but seeing them so genuinely thrilled lightened the heavy burden in his chest.
The trio joined the flow of travelers and merchants, approaching the checkpoint at the main gate. A line of sentries in full-plate armor stood like statues, processing every soul entering the city with cold efficiency.
Finally, it was their turn. A guard leveled his halberd, barring their path. His voice was a monotone drone, as if he were reciting a legal codex.
"Entry registration. State your name, origin, and purpose."
Reinhard stepped forward, pulling a silver signet engraved with the Andrew family crest from beneath his cloak. "Reinhard Andreas Von. I am here by order to return a sacred relic to the Imperial Court."
The guard's posture snapped straight the moment he saw the crest. He retracted his halberd and offered a crisp military salute.
"My apologies, Lord Von. You are authorized to pass."
The guard's gaze then drifted to Nick and Bruce. "This gentleman may accompany you, but..." His eyes locked onto Bruce. "This demi-human cannot enter."
The air went cold. Nick's goofy grin vanished. Bruce's tail stopped mid-wag, drooping slowly.
"Why?" Reinhard asked, his voice hardening.
"Imperial Decree," the guard replied, his voice returning to a robotic, bureaucratic flatline. "Any demi-human lacking written sponsorship or the physical presence of a noble of the rank of Count or higher is forbidden from entering the inner districts of the Capital."
"I am a noble!" Reinhard projected his voice. "He is my companion! Is my word not enough?"
The guard shook his head. "I am sorry, Young Master Andrew, but your rank is that of a Viscount's heir. It does not meet the requirements of the Decree."
"This is an absurd regulation!" Reinhard hissed.
The guard didn't blink. "The law is the law."
The travelers waiting in line began to whisper and point. Cruel, unshielded comments drifted through the air.
"Look, it's a Kobold."
"Imagine thinking a mutt like that could just stroll into the Capital."
"Filthy thing. Keep it away from me."
Bruce buried his head in his chest. His ears went limp, pressing tight against his skull.
Nick looked at Bruce, then at the towering walls of the city. For the first time, an expression of genuine, white-hot fury crossed his face. "Hey! You people are crossing the line! Bruce is—"
Bruce reached out, his hand catching Nick's arm. He shook his head slowly. Then, Bruce looked up at Reinhard and forced a smile—one that looked more painful than a sob.
"It's okay, Reinhard. I... I forgot about the Capital's rules."
He turned to his partner. "Nick. Go on. Go to the Adventurer's Guild and make our dream real."
"What the hell are you talking about, Bruce?! We said we'd do this together—"
"A great adventurer can be a legend even on his own," Bruce interrupted softly. Without another word, he turned his back on the city and began to walk away, heading back down the road they had spent weeks traveling. His silhouette looked painfully small against the massive shadow of the city gates.
Nick stood frozen, his fists clenched so tight they shook. He looked at Bruce's retreating form, then at the golden gate that symbolized everything he had ever wanted.
Reinhard, seeing the turmoil, turned back to the guard and snarled, "I suggest you reconsider your tone before you realize you've insulted the heir of a functional Viscountcy!"
Just then, a hand landed gently on Reinhard's shoulder.
A short distance down the road.
Bruce walked with his head down, his ears flat. He didn't really care about the Guild or the glory. What hurt was the silence—the realization that he couldn't be by Nick's side anymore. They had promised to conquer the Capital together, make a fortune, and eat every delicacy the Empire had to offer.
Now, Nick would have to do it alone.
Bruce sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his paw. Just then, he heard the frantic thud of boots hitting the dirt behind him.
"Bruce!"
It was Nick's voice. Bruce froze but didn't turn around. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to make his voice sound normal. "Nick, get back there! Don't be an idiot!"
The footsteps stopped right behind him. Nick was bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for air. "Hah... hah... what... what kind of nonsense are you barking now?"
Bruce looked at the sweat-drenched man, and something in his heart fractured. He turned, eyes red with unshed tears, and roared: "I told you to go inside! Why did you follow me?! You moron!"
Nick caught his breath and stood up straight. "Who said that only adventurers in the Capital can become 'Great'?"
Bruce blinked, stunned.
Nick stepped closer. "In Leaf City, in Jade Territory, or any gods-forsaken corner where monsters crawl—we can be adventurers. Slaying Goblins in the woods or catching Slimes in the marsh... what's the difference?"
"The pay might be worse, the meat might be tougher, but..." Nick stopped in front of Bruce and extended a closed fist.
"But at least we're together, right?"
He offered Bruce a wide, reckless grin. "Our goal is the Sea of Stars and the ends of the earth. Right?"
Bruce looked at Nick's fist, then at his stupid, grinning face. Tears finally broke free, rolling down his muzzle and splashing into the dust. He raised a hand, wiped his face messily, and then extended his own fist.
BUMP.
The two fists met with a solid, satisfying thud.
"Let's go, Nick! We'll find the nearest town and take every commission they have!"
"Hell yeah! This time, we're taking down a Great Dragon!"
"A dragon?! Let's start with a single Goblin and work our way up, you lunatic!"
The man and the dog-man walked away, shoulder to shoulder, bickering loudly as they disappeared into the distance.
The Imperial Gate.
Reinhard stood alone where the hand had left his shoulder.
Nick had given him one last, wide-mouthed grin. "Go fulfill your mission, Reinhard. Bruce and I are going to become real adventurers now."
Then he had run off without looking back.
Reinhard watched them go. He turned back to the emotionless guard, who was now gesturing toward the open city. "Lord Von? Please."
Reinhard shot the man a glare that would have curdled milk, then began his long, lonely walk into the Capital.
The streets were wide. The crowds were immense. The shops were overflowing with luxury. But to Reinhard, it felt like a ghost town. He eventually found a nondescript, somewhat dingy inn.
He spoke to the proprietor behind the desk. "A single room."
The man barely looked up, tossing a key onto the counter. "Second floor, third on the left. Twenty coppers a night. Pay upfront."
Reinhard paid and climbed the stairs. The room was tiny—a bed, a table, and a single chair. He shut the door and leaned his weight against the wood.
He pulled the cloth-wrapped Holy Sword from his Spatial Pouch and placed it on the table. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the blade.
What now?
The Palace? The Knight's Order?
His father would have known people here. But Reinhard didn't know a soul.
He lay back, staring at the ceiling. A hollow ache settled in his chest. It wasn't the difficulty of the task ahead. It was the realization that those two idiots were gone. He hadn't even gotten to say a proper goodbye.
"A couple of... absolute bastards..." he whispered.
He buried his face in the pillow and closed his eyes.
☆☆☆
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