The walls loomed over us, swallowing the sky behind it. Mist clung to the base of the walls, curling and breaking against the stones.
The gate itself is far taller than any tree I've seen, just as wide as the massive road we stood on.
Aric: "Still can't believe it's real."
The silence that emanated before he spoke faded back in as we looked in awe. I didn't respond, what could I possibly say before the marvel in front of me. No story, rumor, description. Nothing could have prepared me for this.
As my eyes drift back down to the road I realise we aren't alone. Aric's gasp shortly after my realisation telling me that he just realised as well.
Caravans dotted the road ahead, lined in patient rows before the closed gates. Horses shifting their weight, breath like mist in the cool morning air. Merchants surrounded the caravans and carts, guarding their goods with sharp eyes. Families clustered around wagons, children shivering in the cold while clinging to their parents. Clearly Esmourne was as populated as the people in the village said.
There was more life right outside these gates than I've ever seen before. The village seemed desolate in comparison, the cabin even more so.
Aric and I lingered towards the end of the crowd. Nobody paid us any attention past a glance at the sword on my belt. Everyone was far too distracted by the same thing. Waiting to see what came next.
Then it came
A horn sounded. Low, rumbling through my chest. It rolled over the hills as if it were thunder. The walls seemingly groaned in return, the sound of things grinding together could be heard clearly. Runes carved deep into the stone walls and path glowed a bright pale gold. Slowly the gates began to lift. The sheer weight of the gate is evident in the noise it made.
The ground began to tremble even more. Not even trying to be subtle. Aric stumbles slightly from surprise but manages to not fall.
Aric grinned and turned to me
Aric: "This is it. Esmourne."
I smiled back but it didn't quite reach my eyes. I'm trying to be happy about finally getting here, but I'm more curious about the runes and afraid of what we might find in the city. Though clearly Aric doesn't feel the same.
As the gates finally opened high enough to let in any carriage or wagon some guards stepped out, their halberds and swords reflecting the morning sun. All of the people waiting organised themselves into three lines, differentiated by carriages, wagons or carts, and finally people.
Aric quickly hurried over to the line made up of purely people, dragging me behind him.
In front of us a woman argued about the weight of her luggage with a guard, something about having to pay more for heavier bags.
Behind us, a man muttered about entry fees being too expensive.
People slowly began to trickle into the city, being forced through several procedures before being allowed to enter.
After some time Aric and I finally get to the front of the line.
Guard: "Names."
Aric: "I'm Aric Veyrn. And this is Kareth."
Aric spoke quickly as ever, though the guard seemed to catch it
Guard: "And a last name for this 'Kareth'?"
Kareth: "Skathe. Kareth Skathe."
His quill froze mid stroke, even if it was just for a split second it was noticeable. His eyes flicked up to me before flicking back down to the page. Finishing scribbling my name down.
Guard: "Origin?"
The word stuck like a stone in my throat, my mind feeling empty despite the thoughts crossing it at light speed. Origin? A question I didn't have an answer to.
Aric: "Travelers from a small town north of the Hollow Vale."
The guard looked between us before scribbling some more down on the paper he held. Before waving us on with a faint grunt.
Guard: "Keep moving."
We moved forward to the next station. Where two guards stood.
Guard 1: "Please make it known if you have any dangerous, sharp or potentially illegal items before we begin the search."
Aric had nothing to say, aside from our bags of food and camping gear he carried nothing
However, I had something that definitely fit into one of those categories.
Kareth: "I have a sword and I'm currently wearing light armour."
Guard 2: "Please reveal them and place them on the table. Then state your reason for having them."
I removed the armour underneath my cloak and placed it on the table, removing the sword from my belt and placing it there as well.
Kareth: "Both the sword and the armour are… keepsakes."
The guards give me a suspicious look, but give me back the items as well as a small slip of paper before signalling for us to carry onto the next step.
We step forward a few paces before being called by somebody to our right. A woman standing behind the counter in a room embedded into the wall. She waves softly to Aric, continuing the wave to me.
Woman: "Hey. I'll be making your entry tickets and accepting payment."
Aric: "How much is it? And what's an entry ticket?"
Woman: "Wow, you must be very disconnected from this area if you don't know. The price is one crown per person. Or 10 shards per person if you don't have any crowns on you."
What are crowns? Or shards? They must be the things Aric has been using to buy stuff all this time.
Aric: "Here's ten shards for me… and ten shards for him"
Woman: "Thank you. Now onto your entry tickets. I'll need a few things like name, height, date of birth. That sort of stuff."
Aric: "Oh. My name is Aric Veyrn. I'm 172cm. I'm 18 and was born on the 5th of July, 286."
The woman scribbles it down on a paper
I have to make up a birth date and age quickly.
Woman: "And yours?"
She points at me. Aric gives a hopeful look. Luckily I at least know my height
Kareth: "Kareth Skathe. I'm 178cm. I'm 19 and was born on the… 22nd of March, 285."
Aric frowns slightly at me, making myself older than him. But I look older than him and I'm taller. So at a glance anyone would buy it.
Woman: "Great thank you. Give me a moment to make your tickets and you'll be set to go into Esmourne."
Aric: "What are the tickets even for anyway?"
The woman gives another surprised look.
Woman: "There basically passes that let you into the city and allow you to get jobs, buy drinks, other stuff. Basically everything legal requires an entry ticket at the bare minimum. Though you'll need to go get a full licence at some point."
Me and Aric look at each other, confused as to what a licence is
The woman looks at Aric again, clearly realising we don't know what a Licence is
Woman: "You're lucky you're cute. A licence is an upgraded version of an entry ticket. It lets you do more and it lets you leave and enter Esmourne anytime you please without a fee. It costs a bit to get and you can only get it by buying one at the main guild hall or by being born in Esmourne. So you two will need to go to the main guild hall at some point to get a proper Licence."
Aric blushes slightly at the compliment before thanking her for the information, I thank her as well
She hands us the slips of paper without information on them and waves us to a door on the side, which opens as we get close.