The fortress city of E-Rantel stood at the intersection of three borders, those of the Slaine Theocracy, the Baharuth Empire, and the Re-Estize Kingdom. It was so named because it was defended by three layers of walls.
The districts enclosed by each concentric circle of the walls were distinctly different from each other.
The outermost district was sometimes used to billet the troops from the Royal Army, and so it was fully furnished with barracks and other military facilities.
The innermost district was the administrative area of the city. In addition, the district also contained storehouses for combat rations. Thus, it was heavily guarded.
Between these two areas was the residential district, where the people of E-Rantel made their homes. This place best fit the image that came to mind when one thought of a city.
There were several plazas here, and the largest of them was called the Central Plaza. It was filled with stalls selling vegetables, spices, and other such commercial products.
Amidst the crowds, the stall owners energetically shouted their sales pitches to the people walking by, while the older women haggled with the merchants as they looked for fresh food.
Reinhard stepped through the inner gates, his eyes sweeping over the city of E-Rantel.
It was a city of stone and iron. Unlike the artistic, sprawling capital of Lugnica, this place felt like a fortress first and a home second. The buildings were blocky and practical. The streets were paved, but dirty.
He walked through the plaza, his pristine white uniform cutting through the gloom like a beacon. The air was filled with the cacophony of life, shopkeepers shouting their wares, the clatter of armored patrols, and the murmur of the crowd.
Reinhard observed it all with a calm, analytical gaze. He noted the armed patrols on every corner. 'The security is tight,'he mused. 'Crime must be common here.'
He was oblivious to the ripple effect he was causing just by walking.
As he moved through the crowd, people parted like the way out for him or got out of his way when he walked giving his way.
Men muttered under their breaths, eyeing the massive, ornate sword at his hip. Women blushed and whispered behind their hands.
To the citizens of E-Rantel, he looked like a high-ranking noble from the Empire or the Theocracy, someone not to be touched, bothered, or looked at the wrong way.
Reinhard, in his usual fashion, interpreted this as the locals simply being polite.
After a few minutes of wandering, Reinhard realized a small flaw in his plan: he had no idea where the Adventurer's Guild was. He had forgotten to ask the guard.
'I suppose asking for directions is the most efficient course of action,' he thought.
He spotted an elderly woman crossing the street, carrying a heavy basket of vegetables. Reinhard approached her, his steps silent and graceful.
"Excuse me, madam," he said, offering a gentle smile. "I hope I am not interrupting your work..."
The woman flinched violently, nearly dropping her basket. She looked up, saw the noble attire, the red hair, and the sword, and immediately bowed her head.
"N-No, my Lord!" she stammered, her voice trembling. "How can this humble one serve you?!"
Reinhard blinked, taken aback. He hadn't intended to terrify her. "I apologize if I frightened you," he said quickly, bowing his head slightly in return, a gesture that shocked the woman even more. "I merely wanted to seek directions to the Adventurer's Guild. If it is not too much trouble."
The woman stared at him. A noble apologizing to a commoner?
"Ah... no problem, my Lord," she pointed a shaky finger down the main thoroughfare. "It is just down the main road. Take a left at the smithy, you'll hear the hammers, and you will see the Guild sign. Or... or you could just follow any of the adventurers heading that way."
Reinhard felt somewhat foolish. 'Of course. Following an adventurer would have been logical. Though, following strangers without permission stalking not to mention if I had gone in the opposite direction.'
"Please! Just Reinhard us enough."
"I'm sorry. I will keep that in mind.
"You don't have to apologise ma'am."
"And. Thank you," Reinhard said warmly. "Is there anything I can help you with? That basket looks heavy."
"No! No, thank you!" The woman shook her head frantically and scurried away, eager to escape the presence of such a high-status individual.
Reinhard watched her go, a bit confused by her haste, then turned toward the smithy.
He walked for a few more minutes, the sounds of hammering steel growing louder. He was just about to turn the corner when he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Reinhard?"
The voice was small, raspy, and filled with disbelief.
Reinhard froze. He didn't need to turn around. He didn't need to analyze the sound. He knew that voice better than his own heartbeat. It was a voice that commanded his loyalty, his sword, and his life.
He turned slowly, his blue eyes widening.
Standing there, in the shadow of an alleyway, was a small girl. She wore ragged, thieving clothes that had seen better days. Her short, blonde hair looked like it had been hacked off with a dull knife. Her red eyes were sharp, alert, and currently wide with shock.
"Lady Felt!" Reinhard's voice was filled with pure, unadulterated joy.
Felt stared at him. She had been in this strange city for days. Days of stealing stale bread and all. Days of asking people where "Lugnica" was, only to be looked at like she was crazy. She had been alone. No Rom. No Reinhard.
She hated him. She hated how perfect he was, how he forced her into a royal selection she didn't want. But in this unknown, gray city... she realized she would give anything to see that stupid, perfect red hair again.
And there he was.
"You..." Felt's voice cracked.
Tears, hot and unbidden, welled up in her crimson eyes. Before she could stop herself, she launched herself at him.
"You idiot!"
She buried her face in his pristine white coat, her small hands gripping the fabric so hard her knuckles turned white, scared he would vanish again.
Reinhard didn't hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her small frame, holding her securely, shielding her from the stares of the passersby.
He didn't care about the dirt on her clothes. He didn't care about dignity. He simply closed his eyes and exhaled a long, shaky breath.
He didn't know the full picture as to what happened. But he didn't need to know.
"I am sorry," Reinhard whispered. "I am so terribly sorry, Lady Felt. I should have found you sooner."
"You're late!" she screamed into his chest, her voice muffled and wet. "You're so stupidly late! I was alone! I didn't know where I was! I couldn't find Rom... I couldn't find anyone!"
Reinhard knelt down on the cobblestones, bringing himself to her eye level. He ignored the gasps of the crowd seeing a "noble" kneel before a commoner kid.
"I was scared," she admitted, her voice tiny, stripped of all its usual bravado. "I thought... I thought I was never going to see you guys again."
Reinhard's expression hardened with absolute resolve. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Never," he vowed. "I am here now. As long as I draw breath, you will never be alone in this world. I swear it on my name. I swear it on my soul."
Felt cried for a minute longer, letting out the fear and exhaustion of the last few days. Slowly, the sobs turned into sniffles. She pulled back, wiping her runny nose on her sleeve, trying to regain a shred of her dignity.
"Here, Lady Felt." He pulled the handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Always so prepared, huh?" Felt said.
She looked at him. He was perfect. He was clean. He was looking at her like she was the most important thing in the universe.
It was annoying. It was relieving.
"You better have a plan, Knight," she sniffled, trying to sound bossy, though her voice wavered. "I'm starving. And I haven't been able to steal anything good today. The guards here are sharp and more. Not to mention people here having no worthwhile things."
He didn't say anything about the stealing comment; he had no idea how long she'd been here or how long she'd felt alone.
So he let the correction go.
Reinhard smiled, standing up and offering her his hand.
"I have a plan, Lady Felt. We should register as an adventurer. That way we can have identity in this unknown place and that way we shall be able to secure food and lodging immediately."
He paused, patting his pockets. His smile turned slightly sheepish.
"Ah... though I may need to complete a quest rather urgently. I am currently... penniless."
Felt stared at him. She blinked, the tears drying on her cheeks. She let out a wet, incredulous laugh.
"Seriously? The Sword Saint is broke?"
"I am afraid so," Reinhard admitted. "I could not even pay the toll fee."
"You're useless," she said, shaking her head. But she took his hand, squeezing it tight. "Absolutely useless."
"I will endeavor to do better," Reinhard promised, squeezing back.
….
A/N: There is going to be a mass release today. I think you already know that if you read the first chapter. So, to clear out some things…
If we come into the top 3 rankings, I will continue updating one chapter daily for this week, and after that, it will all depend on how many comments and Power Stones we get.
Not to mention, as I had explained, I couldn't write it without feedback from readers and some ideas, so don't be cheap with ideas. If you want to see something or want something to happen, comment it. Of course, there is a low chance it will happen, but nonetheless, a chance or somewhere around it.