We soon arrived within the main city of Valorheim.
The futuristic city expanded endlessly before us beneath the night sky.
Gigantic skyscrapers covered in glowing mana circuits towered overhead while floating transport rails moved between buildings like streams of light.
The streets remained crowded despite the late hour.
Warriors.
Merchants.
Nobles.
Mercenaries.
Countless people moved throughout the city beneath massive holographic advertisements and glowing screens.
Meanwhile—
both Jasmine and I walked quietly beneath dark cloaks hiding our appearances.
I glanced sideways toward her.
"…You fine?"
Jasmine breathed heavily beside me.
After everything that happened at the harbor—
plus running across half the city—
her stamina was clearly reaching its limit.
"Y-Yeah…"
"…I'm fine."
Then suddenly—
my eyes landed on one of the giant public screens hanging above the streets.
"…What the hell?"
A news broadcast was actively covering the destruction at the harbor.
And right there—
displayed across the screen—
was my face.
Alongside footage of the battle.
The split harbor.
The collapsing ship.
The soldiers I fought.
Crowds had already gathered around the broadcast watching with excitement and anger.
"A Verilian spy dared infiltrate the Astryx Empire—"
"Authorities have confirmed the criminal is considered highly dangerous—"
Then—
the bounty appeared.
30,000,000 Gold
"…Tch."
This was getting troublesome fast.
"We need to get away from the main streets."
Without wasting another second—
I grabbed Jasmine's arm before leading her away from the crowded district.
Soon—
we entered the darker alleyways between the massive buildings.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
The shining futuristic beauty of Valorheim slowly disappeared here.
Instead—
the lower districts felt filthy.
Broken.
Abandoned.
People slept beside walls.
Drugs openly circulated through the streets.
Weak non-awakened civilians desperately struggled to survive.
Honestly—
it seemed every advanced city always hid its own darkness beneath the surface.
Even Solmere had been the same.
"…Haah."
Frustration slowly built inside me.
BOOOOOOM!!!
I suddenly punched the nearby wall hard enough to crack it apart.
Jasmine flinched slightly beside me.
"Everything is going fucking wrong."
I clicked my tongue afterward.
"…Whatever."
"Right now we just need a place to stay."
Soon—
after wandering through several dark alleyways—
I finally noticed a small inn hidden between two old buildings.
Without hesitation—
we stepped inside.
A small bell rang softly.
The inn itself looked old but clean.
And sitting at the front counter—
was a little girl.
"…U-Uh?"
The moment she saw us—
she immediately ran deeper inside.
"M-Mom!"
"We have guests!"
Soon—
a mature woman stepped out from the back room with a polite smile.
"Good mo—"
Her expression instantly froze the moment she saw my face beneath the cloak.
Fear immediately appeared in her eyes.
I calmly spoke first.
"…Quiet."
"Y-Yes sir."
"Is there a room available here?"
"Y-Yes."
"We currently have one available."
I silently placed a pouch onto the counter.
"Take this."
The woman's eyes widened seeing the contents.
"Two hundred gold?!"
"I-It's only two gold per night—"
"For the inconvenience."
"A-Ah…"
"…Okay."
The woman immediately bowed her head nervously afterward.
Then she quickly looked toward the little girl.
"Nia."
"G-Go show them their room."
The little girl blinked in confusion seeing her mother act so frightened.
"…Yes?"
Soon the little girl led us upstairs through the old inn.
The wooden halls creaked softly beneath our footsteps while faint lights illuminated the corridor.
Then—
she stopped in front of a small door before turning toward us energetically.
"T-This would be the room!"
Unlike the fearful adults downstairs—
the little girl seemed completely unaware of who we were.
Or perhaps—
she simply didn't care.
Beside me—
Jasmine smiled faintly before gently patting the girl's head.
"Thank you."
Nia immediately brightened afterward.
"Mhm!"
"Call me if you need anything!"
Soon—
she hurried back downstairs happily.
Meanwhile—
I quietly stepped into the room.
Honestly—
for an inn hidden within the lower districts…
…it wasn't bad.
Small.
Simple.
But clean.
A single large bed rested near the wall while a small bathroom stood toward the corner.
Moonlight quietly entered through the window overlooking the dark alleyways of Valorheim.
I slowly removed my cloak afterward before speaking calmly.
"Take a bath."
"Gather your stamina back."
"We're only staying here for a single night."
Jasmine quietly nodded.
"…Alright."
Then—
silence slowly filled the room afterward.
Meanwhile—
I walked toward the window and gazed down at the city below.
Somewhere out there—
Astryx was already searching for me.
The Valen Family remained within Noctara.
Count Veritas was here in Valorheim.
And now—
I somehow ended up traveling with the exiled queen of a war-torn empire.
"…What a mess."
Astarax still remained asleep within her slumber.
But unlike before—
I could now faintly hear her breathing within my mind.
Slow.
Gentle.
Alive.
"…Sigh."
At least that dragon was fine.
Soon—
a warm scent suddenly spread throughout the room.
Flowers.
Soft floral perfume.
I slowly turned my head afterward.
And blinked in slight confusion.
Jasmine stood before me—
but she looked completely different now.
Her appearance had changed entirely.
Her long black hair had transformed into a deep crimson red while her sharp green eyes became beautiful amethyst-purple.
Under the dim moonlight—
she looked almost unreal.
Elegant.
Dangerously beautiful.
Her skin looked pale and flawless while the crimson hair softly framed her face perfectly.
Even the atmosphere around her felt nobler now.
Like a queen who truly belonged above others.
Honestly—
if she walked through the main streets looking like this—
people would stare immediately.
Then calmly—
she spoke.
"I took my disguise off."
"I see."
I quietly observed her for another moment.
Then spoke bluntly.
"…That's going to be a problem."
Jasmine nodded in agreement.
"I can always wear the disguise again."
She then raised a small artifact toward me.
A silver crystal necklace engraved with ancient runes.
"It's slightly damaged…"
"…but it should still work."
Without hesitation—
she tossed another artifact toward me.
I caught it silently.
"Tomorrow…"
"…we wear these."
The moment I activated the artifact—
light covered my body briefly.
Then—
my appearance began changing.
My long black-and-white hair shortened completely into ordinary brown hair.
My golden eyes faded into a dull dark color.
Even my face itself subtly shifted.
Not ugly.
Not handsome.
Just…
average.
Someone who could disappear easily within a crowd.
I quietly stared at the mirror afterward.
Honestly—
it felt strange looking so normal again.
Meanwhile—
Jasmine looked oddly amused seeing my reaction.
"…You almost look harmless now."
"Tch."
...
"Tch."
I clicked my tongue while staring at the mirror.
Honestly—
looking this ordinary felt strange.
No golden eyes.
No black-and-white hair.
No overwhelming presence.
Just…
a completely average person.
Meanwhile—
Jasmine quietly sat near the edge of the bed while observing me.
Her crimson hair softly reflected beneath the moonlight entering through the window.
Then calmly—
she spoke.
"You should sleep."
"We've both been running around all day."
Sleep huh.
Honestly—
today had been exhausting.
I slowly removed Nocturne Veil from my waist before placing it against the wall nearby.
Then—
I walked toward the window and gazed down at the city of Valorheim.
Even at night—
the futuristic city remained alive.
Mana trains moved between skyscrapers while distant sirens echoed faintly from the destroyed harbor district.
Somewhere out there—
Cassian was probably searching the entire city for me right now.
A faint smile almost appeared on my face thinking about it.
Then—
Jasmine suddenly spoke again.
"…What exactly are we doing tomorrow?"
I remained silent briefly before answering.
"First—"
"We gather information."
"About the Valen Family."
"About Count Veritas."
"And about the routes leading toward Noctara."
Jasmine quietly listened.
"We also need supplies."
"Clothes."
"Fake identities."
"A way out of Valorheim."
I crossed my arms afterward while thinking further.
"After that…"
"…we leave this district immediately."
"The longer we stay here the more dangerous it becomes."
Especially after the stunt I pulled at the harbor.
Astryx would tighten security soon.
Jasmine slowly nodded.
"You already have a plan then."
"More or less."
Then—
she suddenly looked at me carefully.
"…Why are you looking for the Valen Family anyway?"
My eyes quietly shifted toward the rain-covered city outside.
"…Personal matters."
I didn't elaborate further.
And surprisingly—
Jasmine didn't press the subject either.
Instead—
she simply laid back onto the bed while staring at the ceiling.
"…You're mysterious."
"Hm."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"Tch."
A faint laugh escaped her afterward.
Outside—
rain slowly began falling across Valorheim.
Tiny droplets tapped softly against the window while neon lights reflected beautifully throughout the city below.
Then eventually—
Jasmine slowly closed her eyes.
"…Wake me up early tomorrow."
"We leave at dawn."
"Yeah."
Meanwhile—
I remained seated beside the window silently.
Watching the sleeping city beneath the rain.