The capital city of Elfier stretched wide beneath the afternoon sky. Tall buildings made of golden mud bricks lined up neatly, forming terraces. The dark stone-paved streets beneath their feet felt solid and clean. Green cypress and palm trees thrived in large stone pots along the road, casting a cool shade in the middle of the warm air.
After asking for permission directly, Tominus allowed Aldes to leave the palace with Illfa's escort. The thing that slightly annoyed Aldes was that Tominus had laughed out loud at the ridiculous idea of their disguise.
Illfa was now wearing layered cloth garments typical of eastern women in faded pink with floral patterns. Her red hair was hidden behind a long cloth hood, leaving only the bangs falling over her forehead. A simple wooden sword sheath was tied to her left waist.
Meanwhile, Aldes walked beside her wearing all black. A pitch-black cloak covered his body down to his shins. His face was tightly covered by a plain white porcelain mask with a single curved black line forming a wide smile at the mouth.
"I did not expect His Majesty to allow us that easily." Illfa turned her head toward Aldes. The girl covered her mouth with the back of her hand. "Pfft. He even laughed at your appearance. Hehe."
"I am sure he was laughing at you," Aldes replied. His voice sounded deep and hoarse. He deliberately pressed his vocal cords down his throat.
"What is wrong with your voice. You sound weird." Illfa sneered softly.
"This is a special voice for my second identity, Zakra," Aldes replied flatly behind his mask.
"Ah yes, off course, whatever you say ZAKRA." Illfa waved her hand slowly in the air. "So where are we going?."
"Looking around," Aldes answered. His brown eyes stared straight down the end of the road. "I want to see the city."
They walked along the city center. Along the way, Aldes's eyes recorded all the activities of the people with a sense of awe. Back on earth, he had only seen scenes like this from historical records, books, and fantasy movies. Now he was breathing and walking right in the middle of it.
Aldes saw a merchant leading a brown donkey. Another merchant was busy unloading goods from a wooden horse cart. They brought piles of wheat sacks, thick wool cloth rolls, to luxury goods like pungent spices and sparkling gemstones from distant lands.
Aldes formed a faint smile behind his porcelain mask.
It is like I have gone back to the past, Aldes muttered in his heart.
"I do not understand," Illfa said suddenly. The girl stared at Aldes's masked face with a bewildered expression, seeing Aldes's posture that seemed to really enjoy the atmosphere.
They continued their walk. In the more crowded market area, people were busy shouting, offering their goods. The city residents traded their field harvests for fresh fish, whole cuts of meat, or household tools. Most of them used a direct barter system, some weighed silver pieces on small scales, and a small portion used metal coin pieces.
Aldes's footsteps led him to the artisans' alley. Noisy sounds began to dominate. Aldes saw people with hands covered in brown clay turning round wooden tables, shaping the wet earth into jugs, bowls, and plates.
The loud banging sounds of hammers echoed against each other. Inside the hot workshops, blacksmiths were molding liquid copper and bronze into sickle blades and sharp weapons. Next to them, carpenters were busy cutting wooden blocks to make carts and household furniture. Men and women were also seen sitting, focusing their attention in front of large looms, transforming rolls of sheep's wool into long sheets of fabric.
The two of them then walked up the stone stair steps toward a high terrace on the side of the city's giant wall. The afternoon wind blew against Aldes's cloak. From above this stone barrier, Aldes's gaze opened freely, looking at the expanse outside the border.
He could see farmers herding sheep. Field workers harvested wheat using bronze sickles. Not far from there, a group of workers covered in mud was digging and cleaning irrigation channels so river water could flow rapidly to the fields.
After he was satisfied looking at the outside view, Aldes and Illfa walked down, entering the residential area. In the front yards of those brick houses, women were pounding wheat seeds into coarse flour using oval stones. Some of them baked flatbread dough on stone stoves radiating heat, while others were busy stirring large wooden barrels to brew beer.
Throughout the journey, Aldes's body posture looked very relaxed. He kept smiling behind his mask while observing their every movement.
No nonsense. No radio broadcasts. No celebrity gossip. Truly. Is this how people in the old times lived, Aldes muttered.
His mind felt very clear.
"Look at them," Aldes said softly. He raised his right hand and pointed toward the crowd of residents. "Look at the life around you, Illfa."
Aldes raised his head to look at the sky. The orange rays from the setting sun gilded all the golden brick buildings of the city with a warm color.
"Under this beautiful sunset. I cannot explain how beautiful this moment is."
Illfa fell silent. She also tilted her head up to stare at the expanse of orange clouds up there. The girl frowned.
"I do not understand."