Morning arrived quietly at the lakeside. A thin layer of mist drifted over the calm surface of the water as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees. Arman slowly opened his eyes, feeling the stiffness in his body from the battle the night before. Fighting the Kraken had drained almost all of his mana and stamina, but the rest and the meal they shared had restored much of his strength.
Nearby, the remains of the campfire still glowed faintly.
Altair was still lying on the ground with one arm covering his face, clearly unwilling to wake up early.
Eleos, however, was already awake. She had finished packing their belongings and was quietly checking their supplies.
"Morning," Arman said while stretching.
Altair groaned from the ground. "Too early…"
Michio and his wives were already prepared to leave, standing a short distance away with their equipment ready. They looked far more energetic than the others, as if yesterday's battle had barely affected them.
Michio clapped his hands once.
"Alright everyone, we should get moving," he said. "If we keep walking, we should reach Ambrose by noon."
The name immediately caught Arman's attention.
Ambrose.
They packed their gear and soon began walking away from the lake. The forest path gradually widened as they traveled, and the dirt road slowly turned into a paved stone road. Along the way, they began to encounter more travelers—merchant wagons, traders, and even small groups of adventurers heading in both directions.
By midday, the trees finally opened.
In the distance stood a massive city surrounded by towering stone walls.
"That's Ambrose," Michio said.
The walls were thick and tall, far stronger than anything Arman had seen before. Watchtowers stood at regular intervals along the wall, and soldiers armed with spears and steel armor patrolled the top.
The main gate was heavily guarded by soldiers whose armor looked far more refined than the guards from the previous towns.
Arman observed them carefully.
"Those guards… they look stronger."
Michio nodded.
"They are. Ambrose is one of the largest trade cities in this region."
As they walked closer to the gate, the buildings inside the city began to come into view. Tall stone structures rose behind the walls, and a massive white tower could be seen in the center.
"Ambrose is governed by a mayor," Michio continued explaining. "But unlike most cities, the mayor here comes from a noble knight family."
Arman looked curious.
"The current mayor is Lord Alric Valenford," Michio said. "He's a knight from the Valenford noble house."
"Before becoming mayor, he served as a commander in the royal army. After retiring from the battlefield, he was appointed to govern Ambrose."
Altair raised an eyebrow.
"A knight running a city?"
Michio shrugged.
"Which is exactly why the city is so well defended. Lord Valenford runs Ambrose like a military stronghold."
As they approached the gate, Michio began explaining the structure of the city.
"The largest area is the Common District. That's where most citizens live and work. Markets, homes, inns, restaurants, workshops—everything ordinary people need is there."
"That district is always busy, especially because merchants and travelers constantly pass through Ambrose."
He then pointed toward the center of the city.
"You'll also find the Adventurer Guild there. Most adventurers who pass through this region register and take quests in Ambrose."
Altair seemed immediately interested.
"Good. I was wondering when we'd reach a real guild."
Michio continued.
"Not far from the guild hall is the Merchant Guild headquarters. Ambrose is a major trading hub, so merchants have a lot of influence here. Many trade routes connect through this city."
Arman nodded as he listened.
"There are also several important shops," Michio added. "A well-known blacksmith, a large general store, and several potion shops run by skilled alchemists."
Eleos looked particularly interested when Michio mentioned the next place.
"The Grand Church of Ambrose stands near the central plaza. Priests there provide healing services and blessings for travelers and adventurers."
Altair folded his arms.
"And the noble district?"
Michio pointed toward the northern section of the city.
"That's where the Noble District is located. Large mansions, private guards, and wealthy families live there. The mayor's residence is also located in that district."
Altair then glanced toward the western side.
"And the slums?"
Michio's expression became slightly more serious.
"That would be the Slum District on the western edge of the city."
"Most of the poor, refugees, and people without stable work live there. Crime tends to gather in that area."
"Even the city guards don't patrol it often unless something major happens."
By then, they had reached the massive city gate.
Several guards inspected travelers entering the city. After briefly checking Michio and his group, they stepped aside and allowed them through.
The moment they passed the gate, the energy of the city surrounded them.
The streets were filled with activity. Merchants shouted to advertise their goods, wagons rolled through the streets carrying supplies, and adventurers walked around wearing armor and carrying weapons.
Compared to the towns they had visited before, Ambrose felt enormous.
Arman slowly looked around.
"This place… is huge."
Altair smirked.
"Good."
"Maybe we can finally find some decent food."
Eleos, however, was already looking toward the tall white tower rising above the buildings in the center of the city.
"I want to visit the church first."
Michio laughed softly.
"Relax. We just arrived."
He spread his arms slightly, gesturing toward the bustling streets around them.
"Welcome to Ambrose City."
The noise of the city surrounded them the moment they stepped inside the gates. Merchants called out loudly to passing customers, carts loaded with goods rolled along the stone streets, and adventurers in armor moved between shops and taverns.
Ambrose was alive with activity.
Michio stopped for a moment and looked around as if confirming something in his mind.
"Alright," he said. "First, I need to buy supplies."
Arman looked at him.
"For the trip back?"
Michio nodded.
"The city we came from doesn't have access to many trade routes. Some things are difficult to obtain there."
He gestured toward the bustling market district.
"So I'll be buying supplies here before we return."
Altair tilted his head slightly.
"We're leaving soon?"
Michio nodded again.
"We'll head back tomorrow morning."
"Meet me near the main gate at sunrise."
Eleos crossed her arms.
"Shouldn't we come with you then? We were hired as your bodyguards after all."
Altair also nodded.
"Yeah. If something happens while you're moving supplies, that could be trouble."
But Michio shook his head.
"There's no need."
He glanced around the busy streets.
"Ambrose is one of the safest cities in the region. With the mayor being a knight and the number of guards stationed here, trouble rarely happens inside the city walls."
He then smiled casually.
"So relax for today."
"We'll meet again tomorrow morning near the gate."
Arman thought about it for a moment before nodding.
"Alright."
Altair shrugged.
"Works for me."
Eleos sighed lightly but agreed as well.
Michio gave them a small wave before heading toward the merchant district with his wives, disappearing into the crowd of traders and buyers.
Left on their own, the three of them stood in the middle of the busy street.
Altair stretched his arms.
"Finally… freedom."
Arman chuckled slightly.
"First things first."
"Let's find an inn."
It didn't take long for them to locate one.
A moderately large building stood along one of the main streets with a wooden sign hanging above the entrance. The smell of cooked food drifted from inside.
"Looks good enough," Altair said.
They stepped inside.
The inn was lively but not overly crowded. Several adventurers sat at wooden tables eating meals or drinking ale.
Arman approached the counter where the innkeeper stood.
"We'd like three rooms for the night."
The innkeeper nodded.
"That'll be three silver."
After paying, they received the keys and briefly went upstairs to place their belongings inside the rooms.
Once they returned to the main hall, Altair was already staring at the food being served to another table.
"I'm starving again."
Eleos rolled her eyes.
"You're always hungry."
They sat down at one of the tables and ordered a simple meal.
Before long, plates of hot food were placed in front of them. The warm meal felt far more satisfying after the exhausting battle from the night before.
After finishing their meal, the three of them stepped back outside.
The afternoon sun shone brightly over the city as crowds continued moving through the streets.
Since they had nothing urgent to do until the next morning, they began walking through the city, exploring Ambrose.
They passed rows of shops selling weapons, armor, potions, and various magical items. Street vendors called out to passing adventurers, trying to sell charms and small tools for dungeon exploration.
As they continued wandering through the busy streets of Ambrose, the lively noise of the marketplace slowly mixed with another sound ahead—loud cheers and excited shouting. The noise clearly didn't belong to merchants or street vendors.
Altair slowed his steps and glanced toward the direction of the commotion.
"You hear that?"
Arman nodded. "Sounds like a crowd."
Curious, the three of them followed the sound until they reached an open space between several buildings. A large group of people had gathered there, forming a wide circle in the middle of the street. Men and women stood shoulder to shoulder, some climbing onto wooden crates or leaning against walls to get a better view of what was happening inside the ring.
"What's going on?" Eleos asked.
Altair slipped through the crowd with ease, Arman and Eleos following closely behind. When they finally reached the front, the scene immediately became clear.
Two adventurers were fighting in the center of the circle.
It wasn't an official duel. Judging by the excited shouts from the spectators, this was a spontaneous street fight that had drawn a crowd.
One of the fighters wielded a long sword, his stance low and aggressive, his eyes locked on his opponent. Across from him stood a taller man holding a long spear. The spearman maintained distance with calm focus, his weapon held steady as if measuring every movement.
Both of them were clearly experienced fighters.
The swordsman attacked first.
With a sudden burst of speed, he dashed forward and swung his blade in a fast diagonal slash aimed at the spearman's shoulder. The strike cut through the air with deadly precision, but the spearman reacted instantly. With a quick step backward, he spun the shaft of his spear and deflected the blade just before it could connect.
Clang.
The sound of metal striking metal echoed sharply across the street.
Without hesitation, the swordsman followed with another attack, twisting his body and delivering a second slash aimed lower toward the spearman's side. The spearman leaned away from the attack and immediately countered, thrusting his spear forward with incredible speed.
The spear tip shot forward like lightning.
The swordsman barely managed to shift his body in time, the weapon passing dangerously close to his chest. The crowd erupted with excitement as the near miss drew loud reactions from the spectators.
The two fighters circled each other cautiously for a moment, studying their opponent's movements.
Then a faint glow began to appear around their weapons.
A thin layer of aura slowly formed around the swordsman's blade and the tip of the spearman's weapon. The air around the weapons seemed to vibrate slightly as their power intensified.
Arman's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched.
"They're using aura to reinforce their weapons."
Altair folded his arms while observing the fight closely.
"They're strong."
The spearman suddenly moved first.
With a sharp step forward, he thrust his spear straight toward the swordsman's chest. The aura around the weapon extended slightly beyond the tip, making the attack even more dangerous.
The swordsman reacted immediately.
With a quick twist of his wrist, he knocked the spear aside and stepped inside the spearman's reach. His blade flashed as he launched a rapid series of strikes, swinging his sword again and again with incredible speed.
Slash. Slash. Slash.
Each strike came faster than the last.
The spearman spun his weapon defensively, the long shaft blocking each attack in a blur of motion. Sparks flew as the aura-coated weapons collided repeatedly, the sounds of clashing steel echoing across the street.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Suddenly the spearman planted his foot firmly on the ground and swept the spear low in a wide arc. The sudden attack forced the swordsman to jump backward to avoid the strike.
The moment he landed, the spearman lunged forward again.
The spear shot forward with terrifying speed.
The swordsman twisted his body just in time, the spear tip slicing through the air beside his ribs.
The crowd gasped loudly.
"That was close!"
The swordsman grinned, clearly enjoying the fight.
"You're not bad."
Without warning, he charged forward again. His aura flared brighter as he swung his blade in a powerful horizontal strike aimed at the spearman's neck.
The spearman bent backward at the last moment, the blade passing just inches above his face.
Then he retaliated instantly.
The spear shot forward again like a bolt.
The swordsman barely managed to deflect the thrust, but the force of the impact pushed him backward several steps.
The two fighters separated again, breathing heavier now but still focused.
The tension in the air grew thicker.
The swordsman gathered more aura into his blade, the glow around the weapon becoming noticeably stronger.
"Let's see if you can block this," he said.
With a sudden burst of speed, he rushed forward and raised his sword high, preparing a powerful downward strike.
The spearman tightened his grip on his weapon as the aura around the spear surged as well.
The two fighters closed the distance rapidly.
Their weapons were about to collide—
When suddenly a large shadow appeared behind them.
Before either of them could react—
Chop.
A precise strike landed on the back of the swordsman's neck.
His body instantly went limp and collapsed onto the ground.
At the exact same moment—
Chop.
The spearman also fell unconscious.
The cheering crowd suddenly fell silent.
Standing behind the two fallen adventurers was a tall, broad-shouldered man wearing a long dark coat over heavy armor. His presence alone carried a quiet but overwhelming authority.
Several nearby adventurers immediately stepped back.
"Guild Master…"
The man looked down at the unconscious fighters with clear annoyance.
"I've told you idiots before," he said calmly, "no fighting in the streets."
His voice was quiet, yet it carried enough authority that the surrounding crowd immediately began to disperse.
Two nearby adventurers stepped forward and dragged the unconscious fighters away.
The man sighed slightly before turning around and walking toward the large stone building nearby.
Above the entrance hung a sign.
Adventurer Guild — Ambrose Branch.
Altair watched him leave with a small grin.
"…That guy's strong."
Arman nodded slowly.
"No wonder he's the guild master."
Eleos looked toward the guild building with curiosity.
"…Maybe we should go inside."