In the distance, an ancient city gradually appeared on the horizon, looking like some colossal beast crouching protectively upon the snow-covered land. Boreas had blanketed the earth in pristine white, yet the region's distinctive evergreen trees still stood tall and defiant within the surrounding forests, their dark green branches heavy with snow
A wide, winding river curved gracefully around the city's perimeter before flowing off into the distant landscape, partially frozen along its edges.
Boshita gazed toward Lunaria from the airship's deck, a trace of unexpected nostalgia surfacing on his aristocratic features. Three years. After three long years away at the Imperial Royal Academy, he had finally returned to his homeland for the first time.
The mandatory three-year term at the prestigious academy had finally concluded, bringing a rare and well-earned vacation period. Truthfully, he hadn't particularly wanted to come back to this provincial backwater city, but his mother had missed him terribly and kept sending increasingly insistent letters urging his return. Filial duty eventually won him over.
"Carson, it's been three full years, yet Lunaria looks like it hasn't fundamentally changed at all," Boshita observed, faintly disappointed.
Having witnessed the overwhelming splendor and constant innovation of the Imperial Capital firsthand, his childhood hometown now felt distinctly underwhelming. How should he put it? Quaint, perhaps. Nostalgic in a way that suggested stagnation rather than charm.
Carson was an older elf who'd served the family for decades, his appearance suggesting he was really old despite his longevity. His square, honest-looking face carried a calm steadiness that appeared to have accumulated over centuries, while his perceptive eyes gleamed with the hard-won wisdom and countless experiences of passing years.
"Young Master, Lunaria has stood firmly on this land for nearly ten thousand years without falling," Carson replied patiently. "Three years is merely the blink of an eye in the city's long history. Naturally, you wouldn't notice dramatic visible changes in such a brief time span."
"Ah, leaving the excitement of the Imperial Capital behind to come back home like this," Boshita sighed dramatically, already feeling the boredom settling in. "It's probably going to be insufferably dull again."
As the two were conversing, a young elf dressed rather flamboyantly in expensive but garish clothes approached across the deck. A flattering, ingratiating smile spread across his eager face.
"Well now! Isn't this the renowned Sir Boshita himself?" the stranger gushed with transparent sycophancy.
"I've long heard tales of your great reputation and accomplishments. Seeing you in person today, you truly live up to every word, so dignified and extraordinary in bearing."
Boshita was not only of extremely high noble status as a duke's son, but also widely known as a celebrated genius among the Imperial Royal Academy's elite students. The man's obsequious tone made it painfully obvious he was desperately trying to curry favor and establish a connection.
"Greetings, Young Master Boshita. My name is Origg!" He bowed, exaggeratingly formal
"Origi?" Boshita responded with obvious disinterest.
Who was this random nobody?
Boshita's already thin patience wore thinner, his peaceful mood for nostalgic sightseeing thoroughly spoiled by this interruption.
"N-no, not Origi at all, it's Origg with two g's at the end... Origg Saint Oros," the young man corrected nervously, stumbling over his own name.
"My late grandfather was Dodge Saint Oros, the legendary founder of the Saint Oros Trading Company." He spoke with faint but unmistakable pride, as if the connection alone should impress. Though his grandfather had passed away years ago, the merchant's name still carried significant weight in Moon Elf Territory's commercial circles.
But Boshita genuinely didn't care much about provincial merchant families, no matter how locally successful. Saint Oros Trading Company? He might have heard the name mentioned once or twice in passing conversation, maybe. But was it really supposed to be that impressive or worthy of his attention? No matter how powerful some regional merchant guild might be, it couldn't possibly be more important or influential than his own ducal family with direct royal bloodlines.
"Oh," Boshita responded with a flat, completely disinterested sound, his tone making it abundantly clear he considered the topic closed and unworthy of further discussion.
Seeing Boshita's openly aloof and dismissive expression, Origg didn't get visibly angry or offended. Instead, he persisted with admirable determination, continuing to speak as if he hadn't been coldly rejected just now.
"Young Master Boshita, I'll be hosting an exclusive banquet tomorrow evening at my family estate, and I would be deeply honored if you would..."
Before he could finish extending his invitation, a tall, imposing figure stepped directly and deliberately in front of him. Dressed in an immaculate black formal attire that emphasized his impressive build, Carson towered over him like an impenetrable wall, completely blocking Origg's view of Boshita and cutting off the conversation entirely.
Irritation flashed across Origg's face at the rude interruption. Before he could voice any protest or complaint, Carson spoke with quiet authority.
"Young Master Boshita has important confidential matters to discuss with me immediately. Please take your leave." His voice was calm and professionally warm in tone, yet carried an undertone that made it utterly unquestionable and final.
Origg's half-spoken sentence was abruptly cut off mid-word, dying in his throat. Sensing correctly that he couldn't afford to offend either the young noble or his clearly dangerous attendant, he didn't dare say anything further that might cause problems.
"Ah... I see. My sincere apologies for the disturbance then..." he muttered awkwardly, managing a few more stilted words before retreating with his dignity barely intact.
Soon thereafter, the massive luxury airship arrived smoothly above Lunaria's designated noble docking area. Boshita and Carson exited through the priority port, immediately gazing down at the bustling streets far below. Workers hurried about their business, transporting goods and cargo, while bundled pedestrians moved briskly along the snow-lined roads, their breath forming clouds in the cold air.
The city looked remarkably similar to how Boshita remembered it from three years ago. Disappointingly unchanged. The air was bitterly cold, with stubborn patches of gray snow lingering along roadsides despite street cleaners' efforts.
The family had already sent a carriage to collect him from the airship port. An extremely luxurious magical vehicle waited prominently nearby, its sleek design and expensive materials immediately distinguishing it from common transportation. The uniformed driver stood respectfully beside the ornate door, ready to serve.
After boarding the comfortable, magical carriage, Boshita settled into the plush interior and looked out through the enchanted window, observing the city passing by. Crackhoof beasts and horned horses still pulled heavy cargo wagons along the main commercial roads, their hooves clattering on cobblestones.
Occasionally, a magical carriage like his own passed by in the opposite direction, but traffic flow was noticeably disorderly and chaotic. Some vehicles stopped randomly in the middle of streets without warning, completely blocking traffic and causing traffic jams.
Boshita frowned in displeasure at the inefficiency. In the Imperial Capital, magical beasts were rarely used for transportation anymore, having been almost completely phased out. Magical carriages had become nearly universal across all social classes, and city traffic was carefully planned with dedicated lanes and strict enforcement, dramatically reducing traffic jams.
Moreover, magitech development in the capital was far more advanced and sophisticated, deeply integrated into every aspect of daily urban life in ways that seemed almost magical even to elves. He had even heard exciting rumors recently of newly developed experimental flying magic wands that could grant personal flight.
Unfortunately, the prototypes were still in rigorous safety testing phases. Otherwise, he definitely would have purchased one immediately to try them out, regardless of the cost.
Compared to the Imperial Capital's constant innovation, Lunaria honestly felt almost provincial and rural to Boshita's now-refined sensibilities. At the Imperial Royal Academy, though he was technically a duke's son with legitimate royal blood running through his veins, in an elite institution where casually tossing a brick could hit several high nobles, his prestigious status wasn't particularly remarkable or special.
In fact, to many of the snobbish local students from the capital region, outsiders from territories like the Moon Elf Territory were dismissively regarded as nothing more than unsophisticated country bumpkins.
The magical carriage slowly passed through another district of the city, the scenery shifting. Suddenly, something unusual caught Boshita's attention. He noticed a magical shop along the street that was absolutely crowded with people forming a long queue stretching down the block.
He felt genuinely puzzled by the strange sight. "Why are so many people gathered there in the cold? What are they doing?"
Carson, who hadn't personally returned to Lunaria in quite some time either, was equally confused by the phenomenon. "Perhaps some merchant is running an aggressive promotional sale to clear their inventory."
At that moment, the carriage driver spoke up unexpectedly from his position. "Young Master, you wouldn't believe it, but while you were away these past three years, quite a lot of incredible and unprecedented things have happened in Lunaria that changed everything."
"Oh? Do tell me more," Boshita responded immediately, his curiosity genuinely piqued.
He was naturally playful and absolutely loved hearing gossip and learning about anything interesting or unusual that broke routine.
The driver immediately launched enthusiastically into a rapid explanation, pouring out everything he knew in an excited rush. A genius designer appearing out of nowhere, Stardew Valley's unprecedented success, and the revolutionary Dream Network Forum that connected everyone. He told Boshita everything that had happened
At first, Boshita listened with mild, polite curiosity, willing to humor the commoner's enthusiasm. But the precise moment the driver's explanation turned toward the Dreamscape and dream worlds in general, his fragile interest immediately faded to nothing.
Was anyone still seriously playing with that thoroughly outdated stuff? With his privileged background and unlimited resources, he'd enjoyed access to the absolute best of everything since early childhood. The Dreamscape was essentially just about fantasizing about a life and wealth one didn't actually possess in reality.
But did he personally lack any of that? Born into obscene luxury, his casual daily spending could easily exceed what ordinary working people earned in their entire lifetimes. He had tried the Dreamscape before out of curiosity, but after a brief initial novelty period wore off, he'd quickly lost all interest. It seemed pointless.
Yet the driver had clearly warmed up to his subject and wasn't stopping. "You truly have no idea, Young Master. Stardew Valley is absolutely insanely popular throughout all of Moon Elf Territory right now. Everyone's playing it. And I heard Master Alto is about to release a completely new game soon, something called Liberty City that sounds revolutionary."
"You can see everything about it discussed on the forum!"
"Forum? What's that supposed to be?" The unfamiliar word sounded strange.
And this "Master Alto" was someone he'd never heard of before in any context. Could it possibly be some hidden old master finally emerging from deliberate obscurity?
"The forum does lots of different things for people. I can't really explain it properly to you..." The driver scratched his head awkwardly, still brimming with barely contained excitement despite his inability to articulate it clearly.
Before I forget to mention it again, if anyone wants to read ahead, check out my profile for up to 30 advanced chapters. Oh, and if we reach 600 power stones this week, I'' release an bonus chapter