The sun had just finished setting when the warm lights of the night city greeted the group as the carriage rattled toward it. Even from afar, it was obvious that Nivero and Limmin were almost equal in size, however, what shocked Kai the most was the immense building lying in the middle of the city - A church made entirely out of white stone, with two bell towers looming over the entire city, and its walls were decorated with intricately painted windows. Between the towers stood a large statue depicting a gorgeous woman, a gentle smile caressing her lips as she watched over the citizens.

His mind reeled in shock, and he had almost forgotten to breathe as the carriage crept closer and closer to the city, the statue’s features gradually becoming more evident as the distance between them decreased.

It depicted a woman with long flocks of hair, pale skin that rivaled the church’s marble and a pair of wings decorated her back, along with a small halo that floated permanently above her head.

Kai peeked over the window, and, despite the darkness of the night, he could clearly see the church, illuminated as if it were daytime. That is…!

Goosebumps spread all throughout his body as a crazy thought appeared in his mind. Although I didn’t see what she really looked like… that aura… I can’t be mistaken! That’s the Goddess that brought me here! His breathing became rapid, and his hands turned into fists, however, he relaxed his arms and laid back down on his seat.

Orphelia could not make sense of Kai as she observed his weird behavior, however, she stood silent and turned her attention to Ysne, who had fallen asleep on her lap. What am I going to do with this girl…and that boy… what is his connection with Goddess Lumiera? She glanced at Kai through the corner of her eye and shook her head.

Countless thoughts raced through Kai’s head, his rapid heartbeat reflecting his nervousness and conflicted emotions. Fidgeting with his fingers, he tried to calm himself down, however, it was no use.

I didn’t expect that Goddess to be in such a remote part of the kingdom… even so, it has nothing to do with me, right? After all, it’s not like she can communicate with me, if she could she would already have done so… and… He let out a short sigh of frustration as he recalled certain events, his lips quivering as an insane idea popped into his mind.

Could I ask her to… would it even be possible? She’s a Goddess… it should be, right? Maybe she was watching me this entire time? If she did… perhaps… No! Why would she even bother? I’m a nobody, and she has an entire universe to look after… surely she must be too busy…

As Kai’s imagination ran wild, the carriage had already arrived in front of an arched gate, standing five meters tall, built out of a light brown stone. The gates themselves were made out of reinforced steel and before they stood ten soldiers, their lances pointing toward the sky and their shiny silver armor reflecting the moon’s soft light.

A wall ten meters tall and five meters wide, built from the same material as the gate frame surrounded the entire city, on top of which a few dozen soldiers patrolled each of its sides.

The roads inside the city were covered in beautiful, dark rocks, with no gaps whatsoever visible between them, making for a smooth, elegant surface that the carriages and wagons could easily travel on.

The buildings, on the other hand, were built out of a multitude of materials, the most prevalent being a brick of a warm and rich hue, ranging from a deep, earthy red to a more vibrant and slightly weathered crimson. Whilst some had a smooth surface, others had a rougher, more coarse texture. The houses, shops and other buildings were tall, the windows, just like the rest of their features, were irregular, the exterior asymmetrical, with the rooflines varying greatly and the decorative elements being seemingly placed at random.

The outer walls were adorned with intricate details, the stained glass windows almost told a story from a long lost past, and the carved doorways gave each building a special atmosphere from the absurd details forged into the wood.

Back at the gate, Orphelia’s carriage had just been allowed to pass, the rattling of the wheels softening upon treading on the dark roads. Almost immediately, a few dozen people walked forward, greeting Orphelia and the emerald guards before grabbing onto the wagons and carrying them toward a large building that rivaled the church in size.

“Lady Orphelia…” one of the city guards sheepishly walked to the carriage, his armor rattling as he stood next to Onyx, whose large body cast a shadow over him.

“What is it?”

“This… creature…” the guard said, pointing toward the Obborik, who didn’t pay him any mind. “I’m not sure you’re allowed to bring it in… and if you do… you need to register it.”

A furrow appeared on Orphelia’s face, and she pushed aside the curtain, glaring at the guard. “He belongs to my guest, and much more than that, this ‘creature’ played a vital role in saving my life, alongside his owner. I trust them, yet here you are, questioning my judgement, and who and what I decide to bring inside the city…?”

By the time she ended the speech, her calm voice had turned to anger, and she stared at the shivering guard with venomous eyes, a look that took Kai by surprise. I didn’t know she could be so… assertive. That’s a rich girl for ya I guess…

“I… I dare not! Please! Excuse me!” The guard stuttered in his words as he bowed before running toward the gate.

“I apologize for… such a display.” Orphelia excused herself, the tip of her ears turning bright red as she pulled the curtain over the window, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.

The carriage continued forward, this time undisturbed, besides the weird looks the people gave Onyx, and it didn’t take long for it to stop once again, this time in front of a building a dozen meters tall, its front decorated with gorgeous columbines and violets, fennels, and pansies and of course - orchids.

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“This inn is owned by my family,” Orphelia turned to Kai, whose eyes were fixated on the large church, its powerful, holy aura seemingly calling out to him, tugging at his heart.

“Hmm?” awoken from his trance, he glanced at the young lady, and a sigh escaped her lips as she continued.

“I have to report to my father, and unfortunately I cannot bring you with me, though I doubt you’d have accepted my invitation either way.” She said, a hint of anger hidden within her voice.

“I… I apologize Miss Orphelia, I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just…the city and everything, and, and the uhm, the church as well, it’s…” Kai stammered, nervousness taking over his voice after noticing Orhpelia’s annoyance.

A light chuckle escaped her body, and a soft smile creased her lips as she looked at the mumbling Kai. There must be a reason the Goddess asked me to bring him here… and he also seems very interested in the church… I dare not question Her judgment but… what does She want with a ten-year-old kid?

“It’s fine,” she reassured him, and handed over a piece of paper, on which ‘He is my guest, treat him as you would treat me.’ was written, alongside a beautiful signature and a wax stamp.

“Uhm… thank you…” Kai gracefully accepted the gift, figuring out that this was his cue to leave. “Just a question… do you have these on the ready?” He could not help but ask, noticing the already-dried wax.

Orphelia let out a chuckle but didn’t answer and instead said as she watched Kai disembark. “I’ll come pick you up in the morning, try not to sleep in, I’m busy.”

Without waiting for an answer, she signaled the coachman to depart, leaving Kai, Onyx, and his backpack in front of the luxurious inn. “Well… she really was in a hurry.” Kai quipped as he looked at the departing carriage. Glancing over at Onyx, he patted his fur and said in a soft voice. “Wait here boy, I’ll go get us a room… well, me a room and you… we’ll see?”

The Obborik lay on the ground, letting out a light scoff before closing his eyes, prompting Kai to roll his own eyes before opening the luxurious doors.

The in’s doors parted soundlessly, and an infatuating perfume inundated his nostrils as soon as he stepped foot into the lobby. The main lobby was beautifully decorated with multiple species of flowers, and the warm light of the firestones hanging on the walls and beams created an inviting, homely atmosphere. A lot of people were present, each one of them in fancier clothing than the last, Kai’s own outfit creating a stark contrast between them.

“Is that…?”

“It could be, but what are they doing in such a remote city?”

“... Could it be that something happened?”

A few, more well-educated voices whispered as they observed Kai, his unusual robe sticking out like a sore thumb in their eyes, however, the significance behind it left their minds reeling in shock, and a tinge of fear.

Kai walked to the seemingly empty front desk, dragging his feet, and his large robe onto the red carpet that covered the floor. Ringing the bell on the counter, he waited patiently for someone to show up, which didn’t take long as a set of hurried footsteps rang in his ears.

“I apologize for the wait…!” He turned his head to look toward the source of the sharp, quivering voice, a young, chubby girl who wore a violet dress, with eyes the same color as her clothing, and a red ribbon that tied up her gleaming green hair. Oh? That’s a new color… did she dye it?

Stoping in front of the counter, she straightened her outfit and welcomed Kai with a beaming smile, although her eyes curiously looked him up and down, his comedically large robe causing her to hold in a chuckle.

“Welcome to the Orchid Inn. My name is Maua Maridadi, but you can call me Mari, how may I be of service tonight?”

“Good evening…” Kai gave a courteous greeting before placing the small piece of paper on the table, and presenting it to the girl, and her hands trembled upon picking it up. However, her violet eyes sparkled, and, although her attitude didn’t change, she immediately seemed more eager to help Kai.

“Of course Sir, please, follow me to your room.” She said, glancing over at a man dressed in fancy clothes, who immediately rushed to Kai’s side, politely taking the backpack off his shoulders before reaching for his robe.

Kai grabbed his wrist almost immediately, staring at him through the hood before saying in a coarse voice. “Just the backpack is fine.”

“My… ack- apologies.” The man broke free of Kai’s grasp, rubbing his wrist, glaring at the boy but saying nothing more, instead waiting to follow Mari to the hotel room.

“Before that,” Kai turned to the girl, his voice shaking slightly as his face reddened. “My companion is waiting outside, I hope you can accommodate him somewhere as well.”

“Of course, no problem,” Mari said, clueless as to what kind of companion Kai was referring to.

…

“Finally…” He let out a heavy sigh of relief as the door closed behind him, undoing his robe and dragging his backpack on the laminated floor. The hotel room was spacious, very spacious. The ceiling stood four meters high, and the bedroom more than doubled the size of his old room, not to mention the kitchen and balcony, which provided a clear view of the entire city.

Paintings of different men and women hung on the walls, and each room seemed to be a piece of art in and of itself due to the beautifully carved beams and small details sprinkled everywhere.

This is… a hotel room? He asked himself, taken aback by the luxurious furniture, beautiful view, cozy feeling, and beautifully decorated walls. The gorgeous starry sky welcomed him as he made his way onto the balcony, and more than that, the church shone like a beacon in the dark city.

I wonder how they made it shine like that… magic? Or perhaps the rock is more special than ordinary marble?

Turning his attention toward the streets, he felt his heart skip a beat while observing the bustling streets. Stalls and shops at every corner, people hurrying somewhere or simply enjoying the view, merchants selling their wares and ordinary people trading their handmade products for money or food.

It reminds me of… He gulped, and took a deep breath as he remembered that night… Clutching the sword hanging by his waist, he closed his eyes, clenching his teeth as his mental scars resurfaced briefly.

No point anymore! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!!! Sweat trickled down his forehead, images flashing in his mind, memories he wanted to repress. He turned toward his backpack, and angrily scoured it, pulling out the jiggling pouch of coins his parents left him. Picking up and adorning the cloak, he stormed toward the door and slammed it shut as he rushed out of the inn.

Taking a deep breath, he did his best to calm down as he walked toward the busy market with wavering footsteps and a racing heart, his thoughts and emotions in disarray, he went looking for something to distract him from the pain.

I should find something else to hide my face besides this cloak… argh!