Waiting at the mansion's gates, the twins took in the expansive garden. From the various fragrances emanating from it, Clada could deduce that the garden's beauty wasn't its sole purpose.

'To think he'd give us money,' Ren said, eyeing the small pouch in Clada's hand, 'He's basically saying here is an upfront payment.'

Clada peeked inside to find approximately a dozen gold coins. Unsure of their value, he stashed them into his belt pouch.

After waiting a few more moments, a young girl came out of the mansion. Petite and likely no older than seventeen, she had hazel eyes and long brown hair. Instead of the typical servant attire, she wore a brown gown with long sleeves, which flattered her delicate features.

Cute, Ren mused internally.

She approached Clada and offered a slight bow. "Thank for wait!" she uttered, her Echoloch heavily accented, making it clear she wasn't fluent in the language.

Clada simply nodded and prompted, "Let's go!" He began walking towards the exit, and with another nod, the girl trailed behind him.

Clada was unsure of the girl's identity or the reason she was learning Echoloch. All he knew, based on Old Blim's brief explanation, was that she would accompany him and assist with any purchases he might need.

As they walked in the forest path, Clada moved cautiously. This was unfamiliar territory, and he had no knowledge of the creatures that might inhabit it. In contrast, the girl seemed to stroll the surroundings with a nonchalant ease.

Both twins mentally mapped the terrain. The forest here differed from the one on the island, featuring distinct trees and plants. Moreover, the trees in this region were notably shorter.

The duo continued along the path in silence. After about two hours, a bridge spanning a river came into view. Recognizing the landmark, the petite girl turned to Clada, remarking, "We near town."

Clada responded with a nod, mentally bracing himself. Riverside areas often meant trouble. Meanwhile, Ren's anticipation was palpable, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. Had they not chosen to keep their twin nature a secret, Clada would have allowed Ren to take control and experience the town firsthand.

That's not to say Clada wasn't interested; he was simply more attuned to the fact that out of the two, Ren was the more naturally curious one.

After crossing the bridge and moving further from the river, the town came into view, defying Clada's apprehensive expectations. Encircling the town was a five-meter tall wall, and the path they were on led directly to its open gates, which were guarded by two watchful guards.

The twins were struck by the town's expanse. Having never encountered a proper house on the island—let alone a town or city—what might be considered a small town to others appeared vast and wondrous to them.

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As they approached, the two guards, dressed in dark red leather armor with swords strapped to their waists, stepped forward.

"May I see your pass?" one of the guards requested. the petite girl promptly retrieved a document from her belt pouch and handed it to him. After a brief glance, the guard acknowledged, "Miss Thalia Ralli, correct?"

Thalia nodded, and as the guard returned her pass, he gestured for her to proceed. She entered without hesitation, and Clada followed closely behind.

However, the guard extended his hand, blocking Clada's path. The twins looked on, puzzled.

"Sir, you need to present your own pass to enter Toreniss Town," the guard clarified.

Clada obviously didn't understand anything of what was said again, having assumed Thalia would handle stuff he didn't know about. Yet, here he found himself halted, unsure of the reason.

Clada observed the guard, sensing no hostility, merely a man performing his duty. A bit puzzled, he turned to the petite girl, who seemed unfazed by the situation.

"Why did he let you through but stop me?" Clada inquired.

She stared at him for a moment, then, as if explaining the most evident fact, said, "You need pass!" She held up her own as an example, stating, "Like this."

A sense of frustration welled up in Clada. He massaged his forehead, thinking, Why am I only hearing about this now? but what he actually voiced was, "Alright, so how do I get one?"

Thalia met his gaze with her large eyes and simply shrugged. "I don't know, Father got me it when me young."

A vein threatened to pop on Clada's forehead. While he found Ren occasionally challenging, this girl was proving to be on a different plane of exasperation altogether.

"If you don't know, can you perhaps ask about how I might obtain a pass?" Clada replied with forced patience, earning a silent round of applause from Ren.

"Oh, okay," she responded. Turning to the guard, she asked about the pass procedure.

The guard sized up Clada, saying, "Normally, the fee to get a pass would be two silver coins, but for foreigners, it's doubled."

Quickly translating, Thalia relayed, "You must pay four silver coins."

Ren pondered internally, 'Gold is typically valued higher than silver, so we should have enough, right?'

'I hope so,' Clada thought. He then retrieved a gold coin from his pouch and showed it to the guard, who acknowledged it with a nod.

The guard exchanged a few words with his colleague before motioning for Clada to follow. Recognizing the gesture, Clada complied, with Thalia trailing behind.

Once inside the city, both Clada and Ren were taken aback. Two-story buildings lined the streets, people bustled about their business, merchants hawked their goods, and children played merrily. A sense of contentment seemed to permeate the air, with many wearing smiles.

Stopping in his tracks, Clada turned to gaze back at the town's stone walls, a tumult of emotions swirling within him: regret, self-pity, and envy. Why had their lives been consumed by the constant grind of survival, while these people enjoyed security and happiness? Why did he and Ren have to grapple with hunger and danger daily, while these townfolk led seemingly carefree lives?

Clada realized that, for reasons unknown, such a life was now beyond their reach. Even if they yearned for it, they could never truly integrate. Their journey had set them on a distinct path, forcing them to rely on their own abilities, rather than the protective embrace of towering walls, no matter how secure they seemed.

Continuing on, he trailed the guard to a more distinguished-looking building compared to the others around it. As they entered, Clada observed the guard conversing with a woman at a reception desk. She wore a dark red uniform and peered through a pair of glasses. After pointing towards Clada, the guard departed.

"She'll assist you in obtaining your pass. Have a good day," the guard mentioned before resuming his duties.

Although Clada couldn't grasp the exact words, the situation's intent was clear. He approached the reception desk, standing before the uniformed woman.