"Here's the entrance fee, sir," said an elderly man seated on the coach of an ordinary passenger carriage — the kind commonly used by well-off commoners making long journeys across the land.
A young guard, clad in simple steel armor, stepped forward. He accepted the ten copper coins from the old coachman with one hand, while the other remained firmly wrapped around the shaft of his long spear.
He gave the coins a quick glance before slipping them into the Space Storage strapped to his waist. "Clear," he said, his voice commanding.
The elderly coachman offered a respectful bow, then flicked the reins lightly. The two horses snorted and advanced, pulling the carriage through the broad city gate.
They passed beneath a massive iron-spiked portcullis suspended above. The entire structure rested within a hidden mechanism embedded deep inside the upper wall, ready to drop at a moment's notice during crisis.
Soon, the carriages and wagons began to move forward one by one. And beside their line stretched another, one far slower and far more crowded, filled with adventurers and poor commoners who could not afford the comfort of a passenger carriage.
And that line… was anything but quiet.
"Oh man~ she's gorgeous!"
"Oi, brat, move your ass. I can't see!"
"Gods above… is that an angel?"
"Hahaha! Look at that jealous old geezer—he's practically drooling!"
"Move it, you eunuch! Let me see!"
The younger men, the old nuts, and the frustrated middle-aged uncles were all busy making fools of themselves as they stared at the young woman near the front of the line — Jasmine. To them, her beauty wasn't just striking; it was divine.
Her hypnotic emerald eyes, graceful curves hidden beneath her black robe, silky-smooth dark hair and that enchanting face… It all worked together like a spell woven to capture the hearts of all men. One look, and they were done for.
'Hmph! Perverts...' Jasmine scoffed internally, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.
Meanwhile, admist the men on that line, some weird voices emerged—
"Aaah~ I'm in love~"
"So cute…"
"So handsome…"
Some women were just as mesmerized the men, if not, more than them — but not by Jasmine.
Their eyes were glued to the young man standing behind her — Alex.
His ocean-blue eyes seemed to pierce straight through their souls. His tall frame, even wrapped in a plain black robe, hinted at a lean, athletic build underneath. His expression remained cold and unreadable, only making him appear even more mysterious — and therefore, more dangerously attractive.
One woman actually wobbled on her feet and nearly fainted on the spot.
Jasmine spared a glance at the scene, then looked at Alex.
'What's so good about this monkey bastard? Hmph!' she turned around, lips curling in disdain.
.
.
.
A few minutes slipped by, and at last, it was Jasmine's turn.
The middle-aged guard stationed before Jasmine let out an irritated grunt. "Hurry up. I haven't got all day." But the faint redness on his cheeks betrayed his thoughts. 'Damn... That face...'
"Here." Jasmine extended her hand.
A few copper coins rested on her palm, retrieved from her Space Storage. The guard's eyes narrowed the moment he saw the amount; his blush evaporated instantly.
"Six?" His brows rose. "Why?"
"Three for me, and three for the young man behind me," Jasmine answered calmly.
But the guard's suspicion only deepened. His grip tightened around the shaft if his spear. "Explain."
Jasmine immediately began, "My name is Jasmine, and he's Alex. We're from the same hometown. A week ago he left for Shol to register as an adventurer, but his pouch was stolen on the way. The carriage he rode was attacked by bandits and he barely escaped. Three days ago, I found him stranded in Pero Village nearby. And after that, we traveled here together."
It was a fabricated story, but a well-crafted one. Alex had helped weave the outline; Jasmine had merely added the name of a local village and swapped her previously blood-soaked robe for a clean one to make the lie airtight.
And judging from the guard's sigh, it worked. He didn't find any loopholes. And also, when he sensed that Jasmine was a fourth-circle mage, he immediately understood that he didn't have the authority nor strength to refuse her entry.
"…Alright. Clear. Go in."
Jasmine stepped past the guard without even a hint of a bow. There was no reason for courtesy toward someone so far beneath her. After all, the guard was merely a second-circle mage. So, why would a fourth-circle mage lower her head to him?
Alex followed in her wake.
"WAIT, MY ANGEL! TAKE ME WITH YOU!!"
"BROTHER, DON'T LEAVE YOUR SISTER BEHIND!!!"
The two of them completely ignored the idiotic cries from the line.
They walked straight into the main street of the city. The street was broad, nearly three times wider than the city gate they had just passed. Buildings crowded both sides of the road in long, unbroken rows. Most were inns, shops and taverns, their wooden signs swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. The air smelled of cooked meat, warm bread, spices, and dust. Merchants shouted. Carriages and wagons rattled. Adventurers in mismatched armor talked loudly as they walked.
After a couple of minutes of weaving through the bustle, Jasmine located a modest-looking establishment with a wooden sign that read 'Grit's Inn'. Without hesitation, she pushed open the wooden door.
Alex slipped inside behind her.
A bell chimed softly as they entered. The interior was simple but clean. Warm lantern light filled the reception area. At the counter sat an elderly woman, round glasses perched on her nose as she read a newspaper. Seeing new customers, she neatly folded the paper, set it aside, and rose from her chair.
She greeted them with a polite bow, "Good afternoon, good lady and good sir. How may I assist you?"
"Two single rooms with meals," Jasmine said.
"Of course," the woman replied with a businesslike smile. "Please deposit one silver coin each for the first day. If you decide to stay longer, you may settle the remaining amount before your departure."
"Here." Jasmine handed over two silver coins.
The elderly woman counted them quickly and nodded in satisfaction, "Very well. Here are your keys, good lady. Rooms 203 and 204, on the first floor."
She placed two small iron keys on the counter.
Jasmine took them without a word and turned away, already heading toward the stairs.
Alex followed silently, as always.
Soon, they climbed the stairs and arrived before their rooms, pausing in the narrow corridor.
"So, when are you going to teach me how to awaken my Aura?" Jasmine asked urgently at the same moment Alex said, "I'll take this one. You take the other."
"...."
"...."
Their words collided in the air. Jasmine stared at him expectantly, while Alex casually pointed at room 203.
"You can't learn that here," Alex said first, lowering his hand and tilting his head slightly toward her. "We have to go back to Gutudia Forest for that."
"...Huh?" Jasmine blinked at him, utterly confused. "Then why didn't you teach me earlier—"
"I need to rest," Alex cut in.
"…..."
"Give me the key to this room," he ordered.
Jasmine's jaw tightened. Her lips pressed into a thin line as irritation flickered across her face. 'Damn hypocrite…' She swallowed her pride, forced her rigid fingers to move, and finally placed the key into his open palm.
Clang!
Alex slid the key into the lock with a casual motion.
"Tell the receptionist that I won't need food," he said, still not sparing her a glance.
'Bastard…'
"Wake me after two days. And don't bother me in the meantime."
'Degenerate monkey—'
Bang!
The wooden door of Room 203 slammed shut, rattling in its frame.
Jasmine stood frozen in the dim corridor, staring at the door, her silence quivering with rage.
Then suddenly—
Click!
The door opened partially.
Jasmine was wandering what more annoying and hypocritical things Alex had left out earlier, for him to open the door again. She expected another order. But what came from behind the door was an unexpected...object.
A black robe.
The black robe that Alex forcefully borrowed from her just outside the woods of Gutudia Forest earlier today.
It came flying from behind the door and landed not on the floor but... straight on her f-a-c-e.
Then came a nonchalant voice, "Thanks for the robe earlier. You can have it back now."
The door closed shut once again.
Jasmine did not move. She simply stood there, the robe draped over her head like a funeral cloth.
Then suddenly, she slowly lifted it off her face and let it drop on the floor, not with fury, but with a solemn gentleness that was far more dangerous.
'I'll. Kill. Him.' Her expression was unnervingly blank as the words repeated inside her head.'I'll kill him. I'll kill him I'll kill him I'll kill him I'll kill him...'
Soon, the tremble began—subtle at first, then violent—as rage surged through her veins.
'AGHHHHHHHH!!! YOU SON OF A BITCH! I'LL KILL YOUUUUU!'
Jasmine breathed out fire, internally.
'I'LL KILL YOU! STANGLE YOU TO DEATH! CUT YOU TO PIECES AND FEED YOU TO THE DOGS, YOU BEGGER BASTAAAAAAAAARD!!!!'
The mantra raged on and on as she bit down on her fingers, desperate to keep the eruption inside.
Minutes passed before the storm quieted.
Jasmine took in a deep breath and exhaled, letting the fire inside her settle, but that wasn't enough. Though, a calm smile still curved her lips, a smile that had absolutely nothing to do with peace of mind. It was a fake smile.
She bent down, picked up the black robe, stored it in her Space Storage, and turned toward the stairs.
Without another word, she walked downstairs to carry out Alex's command— like a loyal slave on the outside,
and a simmering volcano on the inside.
**************-------------**************
This chapter is short because I've been busy, so I couldn't write much this time.
Also, the next chapter will be released on December 20.