Arc 2: Kingdom OF Kardok
Chapter 17: Humble Beginnings
Alper POV:
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"Woah…" The word escaped my lips before I could stop it. My jaw practically hit the ground as I took in the sight before me. This… this wasn’t a kingdom. This was a modern city!
Wide, paved roads stretched out before me, bustling with activity. Cars zipped by, their sleek designs blending with the occasional sight of carts pulled by creatures that looked like a mix between a horse and a rhino. Above the chaos, massive screens hung on the sides of buildings—though not skyscrapers like back on Earth, these structures still reached up to 10 or 20 stories, which was impressive enough.
The streets were alive. Gardens lined the sidewalks, street vendors hawked their goods, and footpaths teemed with people. Colors exploded everywhere—vibrant fabrics, neon signs, and even a few glowing magic spells that danced through the air. Performers showcased their skills, some pulling off actual magic tricks, while others promoted their shops by molding molten metal with their bare hands.
And then there were the people. Most dressed casually, but the occasional armored knight or cloaked mage added a dash of fantasy flair to the modern vibe. Oh, and a few were literally flying—just casually zipping overhead like it was no big deal.
I couldn’t help but let out a low whistle. "Whew…"
For a moment, I had been worried this world might lack the magical charm I’d been expecting. Seeing motorbikes and other vehicles earlier had thrown me off. But this? This was a perfect blend of modern and magical. It wasn’t like Earth, but it also wasn’t some medieval backwater.
"What’s wrong, Alper?" Nove’s voice chimed in my mind, pulling me from my reverie.
"Nothing," I said, waving off her concern. "Just... processing."
That’s when the smell hit me—a heavenly, drool-worthy aroma that made my stomach growl like an angry beast. My head snapped to the source: a street vendor grilling what looked like the juiciest barbeque I’d ever seen.
My mouth practically watered as I glanced at my inventory. Ten silver aurens. Not much, but enough to get a taste.
Where did I get this money? Simple, from the toll guards at the city gates. Nove had mentioned that, since I was missing, House Luminari might’ve sent out notices to nearby settlements to beef up security. I still had to pay up the tax to enter so I had to sell some materials I got from the cave.
I wasn’t too worried about being recognized. Why? Because this time, I had my ace in the hole. As I passed a shop window, I caught a glimpse of my reflection and smirked. My white hair? Gone. In its place was a luscious golden blonde mane, practically sparkling in the sunlight.
How, you ask? Simple. I asked Nove to whip up a golden dye using alchemy and some random plants I found in the wild. Turns out, if you’re in a place called the Golden Meadows, making golden dye is less a challenge and more of a "well, duh" moment. Golden plants, golden flowers, golden everything—I was practically swimming in materials for it.
But the hair wasn’t my only prep move. Let me tell you, this city journey could’ve been a nightmare— I’d have to keep walking for a day or two, but luckily, I hitched a ride with a passing carriage driver. Sure, the guy was grumpy and smelled like stale onions, but beggars can’t be choosers.
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Then there was the small matter of funds. Toll guards don’t just let you waltz into a city for free, and I wasn’t exactly drowning in cash. So, I had to make some sacrifices. Glowstones, fungi, fancy vegetation, and a bunch of cool materials from the cave? All sold off at the gates. Was it painful? Like watching your favorite show get canceled. But hey, materials can be re-gathered. Getting through those gates without cash? Not happening.
The currency system here was also pretty straightforward: aurens, silver aurens, and gilded aurens. A hundred aurens make one silver auren, and a hundred silver aurens make one gilded auren. Easy math.
After the toll, I was left with just 10 silver aurens jangling in my inventory. That barbeque stick I’d been eyeing earlier was already a ridiculous 50 aurens for one stick.
I sighed, shaking my head. Yeah, I needed more money—desperately—but food wasn’t the priority right now. I had a mission: gather some basic knowledge, get some decent gear, and figure out how to survive in this crazy new world. The barbeque would have to wait, even if it smelled like heaven on a stick.
I still had the giant turtle carcass in my inventory, and the question of what to do with it lingered in my mind. Its Nexus crystal held the potential to upgrade my skills, but I could also utilize it for alchemical properties, forge equipment from its materials, or even sell it for emergency funds. Each choice had its merits, and the hesitation gnawed at me as I walked, lost in thought.
That was until my wandering gaze landed on a poster plastered to a nearby wall. It wasn’t the design that caught my attention, but the unmistakable armor depicted on it—my old armor.
Wanted: Batman, Alive.
Any information about him will be rewarded.
-House Luminari.
There was no drawing of an actual "Batman"—just the distinctive armor I wore during my grand, chaotic escape. I stared at the poster, disbelief creeping in. They weren’t hunting Bruce Wayne; they were hunting me. All because I’d yelled, “I’m Batman!” while fleeing.
"Seriously?" I muttered under my breath, shaking my head.
Nove chimed in, pulling my attention back to the task at hand. "What are we doing next?" she asked as I resumed walking, my eyes scanning the bustling street for anything that might help.
“Well, there are three things we need to focus on,” I began, counting them off on my fingers. “One, a place to sleep. Two, information. And three, money.”
“There’s no single place that meets all three requirements,” Nove replied matter-of-factly. “Inns can provide a place to sleep but don’t offer money. Guilds are excellent sources of information and income, but they won’t provide accommodations. Becoming a Nomad is an option, but they’re not known for having access to a lot of reliable information.”
I paused, her words triggering something in my memory. "Hold on a second. Say that again?"
“There’s no single place—"
“Not that!” I interrupted. “I mean the places you listed.”
“Inns, guilds, or Nomads?” she clarified.
I nodded, the term "guilds" sparking a question. “What exactly are guilds?”
“They’re organizations dedicated to specific trades or professions,” Nove explained. “They can specialize in anything—Metalweaving, accounting, alchemy, astronomy, research, or hunting, just to name a few. Each category has multiple competing guilds, so there’s always a lot of rivalry among them.”
Oh, wait a second—I could actually do all three things at the same time! Becoming a Nomad would let me gather materials and grow stronger, joining a guild would give me connections and valuable information, and renting a room at an inn would solve my need for a place to sleep while keeping me in the loop on the latest news. It was a flawless plan, really.
And, let’s be honest, I was itching to join a Metalweaving guild. Why? Because I had recently taught myself how to do Metalweaving without relying on Nove! Yep, you heard that right. During my journey to this kingdom, I realized something important: if I let Nove handle all the Metalweaving for me, I wouldn’t grow my own Metalweaving stats. So, with her guidance, I decided to practice on my own.
The results? Chef’s kiss. My Metalweaving mastery stat increased by a solid 2 points! But that wasn’t all. My efforts had also boosted my strength, agility, and endurance by 1 point each. I wasn’t just learning—I was growing stronger in every way.
Now my stats looked like this:
Strength (STR): 7 (+5-5=0)
Endurance (END): 8 (+2)
Agility (AGI): 11
Metalweaving Mastery (MW): 8 (+4)
Not bad for a kid who started out with stats that barely scratched the surface of "mediocre." My progress was undeniable, and I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride as I prepared to dive headfirst into my next set of challenges. Time to put this plan into action.