Once the matter was settled, the carriage continued its journey through the city.
The two young women soon resumed the conversation they had apparently been having before Charlie and I boarded. At first, I paid little attention to them. Their voices blended into the background alongside the sounds of rattling wheels and bustling streets outside the carriage.
As the journey continued, however, portions of their discussion gradually drifted into my ears.
"I still don't understand the last week's lecture." One of the young women let out an exasperated sigh.
"Professor Alden always teaches like that." Her companion nodded in agreement.
"By the time he finishes explaining something, I'm even more confused than when he started." The first woman groaned.
"And don't even get me started on ability control. Mine is still terrible."
The second woman looked equally frustrated.
"You're not the only one. I can't even maintain a proper construct for more than a few seconds."
Their complaints continued one after another, occasionally shifting between lectures, cultivation assignments, practical training sessions, and various instructors at the academy. Listening to them, it wasn't difficult to guess where they were headed.
Astravia Academy.
Based on the energy I sensed from them, neither appeared particularly strong. They were most likely low-level Controllers who had only recently begun their cultivation journey. Their discussions about struggling with energy control and basic training exercises only reinforced that conclusion.
Even so, there was a certain enthusiasm in their voices whenever they spoke about their classes and cultivation. Though they complained constantly, it was obvious that both of them were genuinely invested in their studies and eager to improve.
Meanwhile, the middle-aged man remained silent throughout the journey. Unlike the two young women, who chatted continuously about academy life, he showed no interest in joining the conversation. He simply sat in his seat with his eyes closed, appearing as though he was resting while the carriage carried us toward the outskirts of the city.
Even so, he was far from ordinary. From the energy I sensed from him, he was noticeably stronger than the two young women. While they had only recently stepped onto the path of cultivation, the middle-aged man had already reached the moderate-level Controller stage.
At least, that was my estimate.
Combined with his neat appearance, composed demeanor, and the fact that he was traveling toward Astravia Academy, it wasn't difficult to make an educated guess. He was probably one of the academy's instructors.
The thought lingered in my mind briefly before my attention shifted elsewhere. Leaning slightly toward the window, I watched the scenery beyond the carriage roll past in silence.
The journey continued for nearly three hours before the carriage finally reached the western outskirts of Astravia.
By this point, the bustling districts near the center of the capital had long since disappeared behind us. The streets were noticeably less crowded, and the dense clusters of buildings that dominated the city center had gradually given way to wider roads and more open spaces. Although travelers could still occasionally be seen moving along the roadside, the constant flow of pedestrians and carriages that characterized the heart of Astravia had diminished considerably.
Eventually, the carriage began slowing down. A few moments later, the driver pulled the reins and brought the horses to a halt beside the road.
"This is where you get off."
Charlie and I rose from our seats and climbed out of the carriage while the remaining passengers stayed where they were. The two young women were still discussing academy matters, while the middle-aged man remained seated quietly with his eyes closed, seemingly uninterested in everything happening around him.
Before the carriage departed, I turned toward the driver.
"How far is Daylight Inn from here?"
Without hesitation, the driver raised a hand and pointed toward a road branching off to the right.
"Just follow that road for about a mile." He paused briefly before continuing. "Once you reach the area, you'll be able to find it easily."
I followed his gesture and looked down the road stretching into the distance. A small cluster of buildings was visible far ahead, though they appeared little more than vague outlines from where we stood.
I nodded. "Thank you."
The driver gave a brief wave in acknowledgment before gathering the reins in his hands. With a practiced motion, he urged the horses forward, and the carriage immediately began moving once more.
The wheels rolled across the road as the horses resumed their steady pace, carrying the remaining passengers toward Astravia Academy. Within a short time, the carriage grew smaller and smaller until it eventually disappeared from sight, leaving only Charlie and me standing beside the road.
Exchanging a brief glance, we began walking in the direction the driver had indicated.
The road ahead was well maintained, suggesting that it was frequently traveled. Although the area was less crowded than the city itself, there were still people moving back and forth along the roadside. Some traveled on horseback, while others walked in small groups while chatting amongst themselves.
The journey wasn't particularly difficult. Before long, nearly a mile had passed beneath our feet.
As we continued forward, more buildings gradually came into view. What had initially appeared to be a small cluster of distant structures slowly transformed into a lively district situated near the western outskirts of the capital.
Several buildings lined both sides of the street, while a modest marketplace occupied a large section of the area. Merchants continued selling their goods despite the late hour, and groups of people moved between stalls while carrying purchases and enjoying conversations with friends.
The sun had already disappeared beyond the horizon. Even so, the area showed no signs of becoming quiet.
Laughter drifted through the air from nearby taverns and restaurants. Merchants called out to potential customers. Travelers and locals alike filled the streets, creating an atmosphere surprisingly similar to the busier districts within the city itself.
It was far livelier than I had expected.
As we continued walking through the lively district, a familiar name finally caught my attention. Hanging above one of the larger buildings along the street was a wooden sign with two words painted clearly across its surface.
Daylight Inn.
My gaze lingered on it for a moment before shifting toward the building itself.
"So this is the place."
Charlie followed my line of sight and nodded.
From the outside, the inn looked surprisingly respectable. It wasn't the kind of establishment that would immediately catch someone's attention, but neither was it shabby or poorly maintained. The wooden exterior showed signs of age, yet everything appeared sturdy and well cared for. The windows facing the street were clean and well kept, while the steady stream of customers entering and leaving suggested that business was thriving.
After taking a final look at the sign hanging above the entrance, Charlie and I headed inside the inn.
The moment we stepped through the entrance, a wave of noise washed over us.
The inn was crowded.
Nearly every table in the establishment was occupied. Groups of customers sat together eating, drinking, and talking amongst themselves. Laughter erupted from one corner of the room while animated conversations filled another. The sounds of clinking mugs, moving chairs, and countless overlapping voices blended together into a constant hum of activity that filled the entire building.
For a few moments, I simply observed the scene before me.
My gaze slowly swept across the interior of the inn.
At first glance, the layout wasn't particularly different from the inns located within the city. Rows of wooden tables and chairs occupied most of the floor space, while servers moved efficiently between customers carrying trays filled with food and drinks. A large counter stood along one side of the room where several employees were busy attending to customers and handling orders.
The atmosphere felt lively but not chaotic. Despite the large number of people present, everything appeared to function smoothly. Customers laughed with their companions, merchants discussed business over drinks, and travelers relaxed after what had likely been a long journey.
The lighting, however, felt strangely out of place.
Lanterns had been placed throughout the inn, hanging from walls, pillars, and wooden beams overhead. Their warm glow should have been more than enough to brighten every part of the establishment, yet the effect was surprisingly limited. Instead of driving away the darkness, the lanterns seemed only to push it back slightly. Soft shadows stretched across much of the interior, pooling beneath tables and lingering along the walls, while many corners remained wrapped in a faint, flickering gloom.
The room was by no means unpleasant.
On the contrary, the subdued lighting created a calm and welcoming atmosphere that encouraged people to relax and linger over their meals or drinks. There was something undeniably cozy about it.
Even so, the ambiance felt completely at odds with the establishment's name.
My gaze drifted toward the entrance, where the wooden sign was still visible from inside.
Daylight Inn.
The corner of my mouth twitched.
I stared at the sign for a moment before looking back at the dim interior around me. Whoever had chosen that name clearly possessed an unusual sense of humor.
With lighting like this, Nightlight Inn would have been a far more appropriate name.