As the towering walls of Aurenport came into view, Valeria’s eyes widened in awe. She had never seen anything like it before—massive stone walls that stretched high into the sky, guarding a city that seemed to go on forever. Beyond the walls, she could make out the shimmering blue of the sea in the distance, with ships bobbing gently in the harbor. The breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean, mixed with the bustling energy of the city streets, and Valeria couldn’t help but press her face closer to the carriage window, eager to soak in every detail.
The city itself was alive with movement. Streets lined with cobblestone stretched out in every direction, filled with vendors calling out their wares, travelers on horseback, and carts loaded with goods from distant lands. The sound of busy chatter, clinking metal, and the cries of seagulls filled the air, creating a vibrant and chaotic melody that excited Valeria. Tall, timber-framed houses with colorful banners and shop signs leaned over the narrow streets, casting shadows over the crowd below. The harbor itself was a marvel, with ships of all sizes docked at the piers, their sails flapping in the breeze, ready to set out on their next adventure.
Lily, noticing Valeria’s excitement, leaned over and softly said, “We can get off here if you’d like.” But before Valeria could respond, Dante’s voice boomed from the front of the carriage. “Oh, no, no, no! You’re staying with us until we get to the guild, Lily. No need to jump ship just yet.”
Valeria turned to see Dante grinning back at them, and she couldn’t help but share in his enthusiasm. “Can we stay a little longer?” she asked Lily, her eyes pleading.
Lily hesitated for a moment, glancing at Valeria’s eager expression before letting out a small sigh. “Alright,” she relented, her voice gentle. “We’ll ride with them until the guild.”
Valeria’s heart soared as she leaned out the window again, taking in more of the city. She could see the tall spires of various buildings in the distance, most notably a large tower near the heart of the city, its bells ringing faintly above the noise of the streets. The sea breeze ruffled her hair as she imagined all the adventures that must have passed through this city before.
When they finally arrived at the adventurer’s guild building, Valeria and Lily hopped off the carriage. The building itself was grand—constructed of stone and wood, it stood tall among the surrounding structures. Its large double doors are carved with intricate designs of swords, shields, and magical runes. Banners bearing the guild’s crest hung from the front, and through the windows, Valeria could see the bustling activity inside. Adventurers of all kinds mingled and exchanged stories, while guild clerks hurried to and fro, handling paperwork and quests.
Dante’s group, still on the carriage, waved to Valeria and Lily. “We’ll be back soon! Gotta take care of some things first,” Dante called out. Valeria waved back enthusiastically as they rolled away, disappearing into the busy streets.
As Valeria stood outside the guild, still admiring the city’s hustle and bustle, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Lily was guiding her toward the entrance of the guild, her expression calm and collected. But before they could reach the door, a sharp, high-pitched voice pierced the air, interrupting the moment.
“Well, well, well! Look who’s crawling out of Dante’s carriage now.”
Valeria froze, turning toward the source of the voice. A young woman in an extravagant, flowing dress stood not far away, her hands on her hips, with an air of superiority that Valeria didn’t recognize but instinctively understood. The lady’s hair was styled perfectly, her posture regal, and her expression smug. Beside her stood a tough-looking man, clearly a knight, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. To the other side of the noblewoman was a young maid, her tired eyes downcast as she carried a few bags and tried her best to stay invisible.
Valeria had never seen a noble before, but this woman certainly fit the part, with her fancy attire and the sharp way she spoke. It was clear that her words were aimed at Lily, though Lily didn’t acknowledge her at all.
The noblewoman scoffed, taking a step closer, clearly expecting a response. “Do you think just because you travel with Dante that you belong among them? You’ve always been a parasite, haven’t you?”
Valeria’s eyes widened, a rush of confusion and anger bubbling up inside her. How could anyone say something so mean to Lily?
But before Valeria could say anything, Lily gently placed a hand on her back and quietly said, “Keep going, Valeria.” Her voice was calm, but Valeria could sense the tension beneath it. Lily didn’t look back, didn’t engage with the noblewoman at all, instead guiding Valeria toward the entrance of the guild.
Valeria hesitated for a moment, wanting to defend Lily. But she saw the subtle shake of Lily’s head and decided to follow her lead. She clenched her fists a little, trying to shake off the discomfort. Whoever that lady was, Valeria knew one thing: Lily didn’t deserve to be spoken to like that.
The noblewoman wasn’t finished, and Valeria could feel her approach before it happened. Without warning, the lady grabbed Lily’s hood from behind and yanked it down, her voice rising with anger. “Don’t you dare run from me!” she screeched as more and more people began to stop and watch the unfolding scene.
Valeria felt Lily tense next to her, her hand starting to sweat as the hood slipped off, revealing Lily’s face to the crowd. The noblewoman continued her tirade, her voice sharp and filled with entitlement. "You think you can ignore me? You peasants always—"
Valeria’s own frustration boiled over. How dare she treat Lily like this? Without thinking, Valeria kicked at the noblewoman’s dress, her small foot connecting enough to get her attention. “Stop bothering Lily!” Valeria yelled, her voice shaking with anger.
The noblewoman’s eyes widened in shock, and her mouth twisted into a sneer. “How vulgar,” she spat.
Valeria’s eyes blazed with anger, but before she could say anything else, the woman reached toward her, her fingers grasping at Valeria as if she were a mere object to be pulled away. In that moment, everything shifted. Lily, with an intensity Valeria hadn’t seen before, moved faster than the noblewoman could react. Her hand shot out, gripping the noblewoman’s wrist in a firm hold, her voice low and dangerous. “Don’t you dare touch her.”
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The noblewoman’s smug expression faltered for a second, her eyes locking onto Lily’s face. For a brief moment, she seemed unsure, as though something about Lily’s presence unsettled her. But that hesitation quickly disappeared, and she started to struggle, trying to shake off Lily’s grip. “How dare you! You filthy peasant—let go of me!” she screamed, her voice rising higher as the crowd’s murmurs grew louder.
Valeria’s heart pounded in her chest, but it wasn’t the shouting that scared her—it was the tough-looking knight behind the noblewoman, who had stepped forward, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. His eyes were hard, and Valeria could see the weapon beginning to slide from its sheath.
Before the situation could escalate further, a deep voice cut through the air, strong and commanding. “Enough.”
A large, old man stepped out from the guild building, his broad shoulders and powerful presence immediately drawing everyone’s attention. He looked at Lily, his face softening slightly as he noticed her discomfort. “Lily, go ahead and wait in my office,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “You don’t need to deal with this.”
Lily’s grip on the noblewoman’s wrist loosened as she nodded, a small, tired motion. She let go without a word and gently took Valeria’s hand, leading her toward the entrance of the guild. Behind them, the noblewoman’s voice rose again in protest, but the old man didn’t let her get far. “You have no authority here,” he said firmly, his voice carrying over the crowd.
Valeria glanced back as the crowd began to disperse, the noblewoman still fuming but clearly outmatched by the old man. As they moved quickly inside the building, Valeria’s attention shifted. She could see that Lily wasn’t doing well. Her steps were quick but uneven, and there was a paleness to her face that worried Valeria.
As they passed through the main room of the guild, which was filled with adventurers talking, planning, and laughing, Lily pulled her hood back up, trying to blend in. But even as she moved confidently through the crowd, Valeria could sense that something wasn’t right. Lily’s breathing seemed labored, and though her face was covered, Valeria could still see the tension in her body.
As they made their way deeper into the building, the busy rooms gave way to quieter halls. Fewer people were around, but some offered Lily nods of acknowledgment as they continued on. Valeria noticed that, despite her hood being up again, Lily’s face seemed even more drawn than before.
Then Valeria saw it—a small trickle of blood flowing from her nose. Her heart skipped a beat, and she tugged on Lily’s sleeve. “Lily, you’re bleeding,” she said, her voice filled with concern.
Lily wiped the blood away with the back of her hand quickly, offering Valeria a smile. “It’s nothing,” she said softly. But before she could say more, she stopped mid-sentence, her hand flying up to cover her mouth as she coughed. Valeria’s eyes widened in horror as she saw blood, even as Lily tried to hide it.
“Lily!” Valeria’s voice cracked with fear, her small hands reaching out to steady her.
Lily squeezed Valeria's hand gently, her voice still soft but strained. "I’m fine, Valeria. I promise." But her words were weak, and Valeria could tell she was struggling. Despite this, Lily quickened her pace, moving faster toward a room deeper inside the building.
By the time they reached their destination, Lily’s breaths were coming in short, shallow bursts. She opened the door to the small room, ushering Valeria inside before closing the door behind them. Without a word, Lily sank down onto a nearby couch, closing her eyes as she leaned back.
Valeria rushed to her side, panic still coursing through her. “Lily, are you sure you’re okay?”
Lily nodded weakly, giving Valeria another small smile. “I just need a moment,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “Just… rest.”
Valeria stood by her, unsure of what to do. She wanted to help, but all she could do was watch as Lily seemed so fragile in that moment. So without thinking, Valeria wrapped her small arms around Lily, hugging her tightly in an attempt to offer some comfort. Lily, still pale and weary, gently patted Valeria’s back in return. Though her movements were slow, there was warmth in the gesture. Lily offered Valeria a faint smile, but Valeria could see that her hand instinctively went to press against her temple.
“I'm fine, really,” Lily murmured, clearly trying to dismiss Valeria’s concern. But Valeria wasn’t convinced, her worry growing as she watched Lily.
For a moment, silence filled the room. Valeria could hear her own heartbeat, still racing with fear from seeing Lily in such a fragile state. After a while, Lily took a deep breath, steadying herself as best she could, before looking down at Valeria with her usual calm expression.
“Valeria,” Lily said gently, “I need you to promise me something.” Valeria blinked, unsure of what was coming next. “Please don’t tell anyone else about this.” Her voice was quiet, almost pleading, and Valeria could see the seriousness in her eyes.
Valeria hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "I promise," she said, her voice filled with the weight of responsibility. She didn’t fully understand why Lily wanted to keep this a secret, but she knew that this was the least she could do. After everything Lily had done for her, Valeria wanted to be strong for her, even if it meant keeping quiet.
But as she sat there, the guilt began to gnaw at her. Valeria’s heart sank as she thought back to everything that had happened. She had been so excited to stay with Dante’s group, to be in the fancy carriage and to see the busy city. She thought Lily just didn’t like crowds, and in her eagerness, she hadn’t realized how much pain Lily was in. It was her fault that Lily had been dragged into that awful situation with the noblewoman, and now she was suffering because of it.
Tears welled up in Valeria’s eyes as she looked down, her voice trembling. “I’m sorry, Lily,” she whispered, her hands clutching the fabric of her dress. “I didn’t know you were hurting. I… I didn’t mean to cause you pain.”
Lily’s brow furrowed in confusion, her hand pausing mid-motion as she reached to comfort Valeria again. “What? Valeria, you didn’t cause this,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “Why are you apologizing?”
Valeria wiped her eyes, struggling to find the right words. “I… I thought you didn’t like crowds, so I made you stay in the carriage. I thought it would be fun, but now you’re hurt because of me…” Her voice broke as she spoke, the guilt pouring out with each word.
Lily’s expression softened, understanding dawning on her face. She shook her head gently and pulled Valeria into her arms, holding her close. “Oh, Valeria,” she murmured, her voice filled with kindness. “This isn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Valeria clung to her, still feeling the weight of her emotions. But Lily continued to soothe her with quiet, reassuring words. “I know you were excited, and I’m glad you had fun with Dante’s group. You didn’t cause this, and I don’t want you to think for a moment that you did.”
“But… you’re in pain,” Valeria whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lily sighed softly, stroking Valeria’s hair. “I am,” she admitted, “but this happens sometimes. It’s nothing you could have prevented. And honestly, seeing you happy makes it easier for me to deal with.” She pulled back slightly, looking into Valeria’s tearful eyes with a gentle smile. “So don’t apologize. Just keep being yourself.”
Valeria sniffled, her heart feeling a little lighter, but the worry still lingered. She didn’t like seeing Lily suffer, but hearing those words eased some of the guilt she had been carrying. “Okay,” she murmured, though she still felt unsure.
Lily gave her a soft pat on the head. “Good. Now, let’s rest for a moment. I’ll be fine soon enough.”
Valeria nodded and sat beside Lily, still holding onto her hand. She didn’t know how long it would take for Lily to truly be okay. But for now, she was determined to stay by her side, just as Lily had always stayed by hers.