The letter bore the official seal of Keldara, something I found particularly strange.

I prepared myself to read its contents, which I will remember for the rest of my life.

"Your Majesty, I address you as a mere scribe, without a name worthy of your knowledge.

Around the palace, I have heard several people speak of 'The New Order,'

and I am certain they are planning to eliminate you.

Please take my words seriously and act quickly.

Do not try to find me, as they would end up hunting and torturing me.

I can do nothing more than wish you the best of luck, Your Majesty."

----------------------------------------

The neigh of a horse woke Miriel from her nap as she lay comfortably stretched across two seats of the carriage. She sat up as best she could, still groggy, and looked out the window to her right. A field of grass stretched for miles into the distance. At a certain distance, a pack of tiergols patrolled the meadows, completely ignoring the carriage. So inconvenient, thought Miriel.

Tiergols were wild carnivorous animals with hairless gray skin, larger than the average person. They had four limbs, with the hind legs being longer and stronger than the front ones, allowing them to achieve very high speeds and great jumping abilities. They hunted large animals in packs and were highly territorial—except with humans. Over the years, they had learned to completely avoid humanoid races, as humans' vengeance often ended in the annihilation of their pack.

—Is something wrong, miss?

Miriel turned toward Thilsa, who was sitting in front of her. Thilsa was a middle-aged human woman of average height and strong build, whose most distinctive feature was her long, well-maintained red hair—a color considered a rarity throughout Mariandel. Beside her lay Drynn, her husband, still asleep. He had a rugged appearance, his body covered in scars from his time as a soldier.

—Just some tiergols —replied Miriel.

—Oh, I didn't mean that. I meant about your dream.

—Nothing important. I saw a gang of thieves ambushing merchants somewhere in Keldara, I think. The attackers left no survivors.

—I honestly don’t understand how you have that power —said Thilsa stubbornly—. It gives you no advantage in your daily life and only makes you see tragedies. I view it more as a curse than a gift.

—Thilsa, we've talked about this hundreds of times —Miriel replied, visibly irritated—. You know perfectly well what the Veltharyn are capable of. Look at my father.

—I know, I know. But it’s strange that your visions vary so much. Your father saw things much closer to him and more relevant to the kingdom. Your visions, on the other hand, are random and come from anywhere in the kingdom.

—You saw how being so 'useful' worked out for him —Miriel replied, resigned—. He ended up as a puppet for the politicians, used at their whim in the name of the kingdom. All for him to end up murdered.

—You’re right; perhaps it’s better this way. After all, you have a simple life, probably much happier than anyone else in your family.

Thilsa wasn’t lying. The Veltharyn, of whom Miriel was a direct descendant, had served the kingdom of Orinthal for generations. Most were advisors to the king, as their ability to foresee the future made them excellent guards. Naturally, they also assisted in decision-making for important matters.

However, such power also had a drawback: they became prime targets for enemies. For generations, Veltharyn assassinations had been common, perpetrated by spies from other kingdoms or opposing politicians seeking more power. Being a Veltharyn meant having the king as an ally and the rest of Mariandel as enemies.

Miriel grew thoughtful, gazing at the landscape, wondering what the future held for her, hoping not to share the same fate as her lineage. She recalled her brief childhood in Aldramar, the capital of Orinthal. In those days, she rarely saw her father, as his duties kept him near the king at all times. She saw her mother more often, but even she couldn’t dedicate much time to Miriel due to her own responsibilities.

As night approached, the carriage stopped, marking the most delicate part of their journey: the Aldramar border. Drynn, who had just woken up, was the first to step out, yawning. Thilsa followed, and lastly Miriel, who had also just been awakened. Their carriage had been halted some distance from the entrance to Aldramar, and their driver, a human nicknamed The Mute, stayed behind to guard it.

Observing Aldramar’s wall always evoked a sense of absolute awe. A hundred-foot-tall stone wall, at least ten feet thick, encircled the city. Every three hundred feet stood a watchtower, each manned by two human archers and one hulgor guard by law.

The existence of such a massive wall was a clear demonstration of the kingdom’s military might. In comparison, the city gate seemed small—though it wasn’t, standing about twenty feet tall. The gate was guarded by a small group of guards: four hulgores and two humans.

It had been a long time since Miriel had seen a hulgor. They were common in Aldramar but extremely rare in the rest of Orinthal. Their features were very similar to humans, but they were taller, often standing a foot above average humans. Additionally, though not physically apparent, they were much stronger than the average man—estimated to be three to four times stronger and more resilient. However, their physical prowess came at the expense of intellectual abilities, where they did not excel. They were therefore excellent builders and soldiers.

The trio advanced to the gate, joining a short line to be addressed by the guard. Ahead of them was a young mother holding her baby, who couldn’t have been more than six months old. She seemed to be visiting her husband, a guard in Aldramar, and would possibly stay to live there.

Soon, it was their turn. The guard, who introduced himself as Nomm, approached them. He wore a gleaming silver armor with the symbol of a Thalrí—the city’s sacred animal—on his chest. Without delay, the guard asked for their identification.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

—He is Drynn, she’s Miriel, and I am Thilsa —Thilsa quickly answered, experienced in dealing with Orinthal’s borders.

—Where are you coming from?

—We’re coming from Saucedal, a remote village in northern Orinthal. I doubt you’ve heard of it.

—Indeed, I don’t know the place —admitted the guard honestly—. Do you have your Orinthal citizenship certificates?

—Yes, sir —replied Drynn this time—. I have all four, including the driver’s.

Drynn handed over the relevant documents to Nomm, who carefully reviewed each one. Upon reading Miriel’s, he raised his eyebrows and asked in a low voice:

—Are you a Veltharyn? You resemble one, but you lack the characteristic red hair.

—Yes I am, the daughter of Lorik Veltharyn and Seralyne Ruendal. My hair is white, but there’s no doubt about my bloodline."

Nomm nodded seriously.

—Everything seems to be in order. All that’s left is the purpose of your visit.

—We’re here to complete Miriel’s training —Thilsa answered—. As you know, she’ll turn 22 in three months, so she must officially graduate from her university.

—But you’re not her parents. Why are you accompanying her? —asked Nomm again.

—We came because we’re well aware of how dangerous it is to be a Veltharyn, especially in this city —Thilsa replied—. We don’t want anything to happen to Miriel.

—I understand, but you’re not family. Why are you two specifically accompanying her?

—Sir, we’re the only family she has. We don’t share her blood or her powers, but we support her. We’ve known her since she was a baby: her mother entrusted us to care for her until she became self-sufficient. That’s why we’ll accompany her wherever she needs to go.

—That’s very honorable of you, and you’re doing the right thing. There’s been a lot of unrest in the city lately. False rumors are spreading about various topics, such as the king’s imminent downfall or an attack by demons from another world.

Drynn raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised.

—What did you say?—Drynn asked anxiously.

—What you heard —Nomm continued as he jotted down information about the trio in his logbook—. It seems there’s a group of people spreading false rumors, likely intending to instill fear among the citizens. If we fall into their trap, they’ll take advantage of the chaos to achieve their goals.

—But is the city safe? —Drynn insisted.

—Completely. We have several units investigating the source of the rumors. We’ve increased security throughout the city and are informing all citizens of the truth, trying to prevent them from believing such nonsense.

—That puts me at ease —said Drynn, sighing in relief—. I trust the Royal Guard’s management.

—Nevertheless, be very careful —Nomm added—. I know you don’t look like a Veltharyn, but if it were discovered, your life would be at risk. In these tumultuous times, it’s easy for someone to want to harm you.

—We’ll be especially vigilant —Thilsa replied, particularly serious.

Nomm finished recording the relevant information in the registry. He informed them that everything was in order and allowed them to enter Aldramar with their carriage.

----------------------------------------

Entering Aldramar was an awe-inspiring experience, capable of leaving any first-time traveler in wonder. It was a city divided into two parts: the Right and the Left, separated by a central street that spanned the entire city from the entrance to the Royal Palace. The two halves were vastly different, with the Left being the dwelling place for humans and the Right its counterpart, inhabited by hulgores. However, the differences between the Right and the Left extended beyond the species that lived there: their customs, architecture, and even their ways of life were strikingly distinct, making Aldramar effectively two cities in one.

The Right featured large, single-story houses, each accommodating an entire hulgores family. Each street boasted a small market that sold exclusively food and beverages, imbuing the streets with a lively atmosphere throughout the day. It was also a dimmer place, as hulgores possessed excellent night vision and preferred less light.

In contrast, the inhabitants of the Left lived in multi-story apartment buildings, where each unit was home to a nuclear family. Unlike the Right, the Left had a large market in the central plaza that sold not only food but also weapons, tools, and all kinds of supplies. It was common to see hulgores shopping there, as the market offered items not available in the Right.

Naturally, Thilsa led the group to the Left. They followed General Skash Avenue, which led directly to the bustling central plaza of Aldramar. However, as nightfall approached, the streets were sparsely populated; the Night Mist was about to appear, and the market was already empty.

The Night Mist was a phenomenon unique to Aldramar but known throughout Orinthal. It was a fog that emerged every night and was believed to harbor malevolent monsters. The origins of its existence were a subject of debate: some claimed it was a divine punishment, while others attributed it to the Royal Guard, arguing it was a means of keeping the population under control. Regardless, nighttime disappearances were common, as there were always daredevils who ventured into the fog, convinced that nothing would happen to them.

After crossing the plaza, they turned left and passed two streets. The carriage broke the overwhelming silence that had previously dominated, a reflection of Aldramar’s fear of the night. Upon reaching the second street, the driver commanded the horses to stop—they had arrived at their destination: the Beber Inn.

It was an old building, like most in the Left, made of wood. It stood out with its five stories, making it taller than most nearby structures. A sign above the door displayed the establishment's name, though some of its letters had faded.

Miriel, Drynn, and Thilsa stepped out of the carriage, and Drynn handed a bag filled with Royal coins to the Mute. He accepted it and led the carriage to a nearby area to park. Meanwhile, the trio entered the building.

Inside, the inn was notably better maintained. It had a reception area to the right, where a middle-aged man and woman, presumably a married couple, stood.

—Welcome, travelers —said the man—. I am Mutt, pleased to meet you.

—I’d say we’ve met before —Drynn replied—. Don’t you recognize my charm?

Mutt raised his eyebrows in surprise. He had no memory of them. However, the woman beside him at the reception desk did recognize them.

—Aren’t you Mutt?

—Indeed.

—And is she Thilsa? —the woman, who later introduced herself as Talia, asked.

Thilsa nodded, visibly tired and lacking the energy for small talk. Talia turned to Miriel, her surprise evident.

—And this young woman is Miriel?

—Yes —the young woman responded—. Have I changed that much?

—I didn’t recognize you! You’ve grown so much. You’re a young adult now, and so beautiful, too.”

Meanwhile, Mutt approached the inn’s entrance and locked the door with several bolts, ensuring it was securely shut. His respect for the night was evident.

—Well then, I assume you’re here for a room for the three of you.

—Yes —Thilsa replied—. But for an extended stay, at least three months.

—Of course —Talia reviewed the available rooms and reservations noted in a ledger—. Very well, several rooms are available. I’ll give you the one with the best view.

—Thank you very much, Talia —Drynn responded gratefully—. It seems quite empty here, doesn’t it?

—Indeed. I suppose you were informed at the entrance, but let’s just say the city is not at its best. That’s all I can share. By the way, you’ll need to pay half of the room’s cost upfront.”

—No problem —Thilsa said, handing over a bag containing 200 Royal coins—. This covers the entire stay. That’s not an issue, is it?

—Not at all. You can go up to your room, which is on the top floor, number 501.

Thilsa nodded, and the group ascended the stairs. Finally, a proper bed to sleep in, Miriel thought to herself. Just a little longer until I graduate and prove to the world that the Veltharyn are not mere tools.

The group entered the room and quickly went to sleep, as they had already eaten dinner in the carriage.