Waterdeep

Located on the western coast of Faerûn, north of Amn, the City of Splendors is a massive, magnificent, and inclusive metropolis of vital importance. Here, one can find people of all friendly races and witness a variety of breathtaking works and achievements.

It benefits from an excellent harbor, enlightened policies, a spirit of tolerance, and a profound magical tradition. Since its founding, it has stood firm on the continent of Faerûn, bolstered by its unique geographical advantages and the wise leadership of the great mage Aghairon.

As time passed, the scale and wealth of Waterdeep grew steadily. Under the permission and protection of its powerful defenses and sagacious government, commercial trade brought increasing prosperity. Today, across the entire continent of Faerûn, no other city can rival the mighty Waterdeep in any aspect.

Furthermore, Waterdeep serves as a cradle for invention and innovation, surpassing all other cities along the Sword Coast in this regard and perhaps even leading the entire continent of Faerûn.

It is precisely for this reason that the unique prosperity and flourishing of Waterdeep have instilled a distinct sense of pride and arrogance in its residents. The people of Waterdeep know that their city is a miracle, and that life there is better than anywhere else—or at the very least, better than anywhere else.

If the people of Waterdeep have any notable flaw, it is their tendency to believe that there is nothing under the sun they have not seen. They often assume that the sum of human and non-human experience is already a part of their latent cultural heritage, though for now, this flaw does not always prove to be a bad thing.

And now, Ryan was gazing at this City of Splendors, known as the "Crown of the North," through the vision of a Spell Eye from his carriage.

His gaze swept from south to north, passing over the bustling Southern Ward, the serene City of the Dead, the opulent Sea Ward, and finally toward the towering Mount Waterdeep and Castle Waterdeep built upon its peak. His mind was filled with a thousand thoughts, his eyes brimming with nostalgia.

After three days of steady travel, the caravan had finally reached the destination of this arduous and winding journey: the great city of Waterdeep.

Before the tall and imposing gates at the southern entrance of Waterdeep, city guards clad in scale mail and armed with short swords and bows watched the long line of arrivals with vigilance, maintaining order.

As the crowd from the caravan passed through the routine inspection, Ryan, dressed in his mysterious mage's attire, faced no trouble from the guards.

After all, Waterdeep is renowned for its openness and tolerance, turning no one away. Whether they are merchants from afar, adventurers, or villains and ambitious schemers with ulterior motives, Waterdeep has the confidence to absorb them into this massive, bustling city, as undisturbed as a single drop of water falling into the vast ocean.

The well-traveled guards were accustomed to mysterious visitors like Ryan; after a cursory inspection, they did not press for details, merely warning the mage not to cause any trouble before letting him pass.

Crossing the high southern gate and entering Waterdeep, the bustling crowds surged like a tide, with people of all appearances moving along the wide streets. Mysterious mages, brawny barbarians, handsome Elves, hearty Dwarves, and small Goblins could be seen everywhere.

Watching the lively scene of people coming and going, Ryan felt as if he had once again been thrust into the bustling, neon-lit modern metropolis of his past life. Having left Waterdeep for many years and lived in the harmonious and tranquil Silverymoon, Ryan found himself momentarily unaccustomed to the vitality and passion of this great metropolis.

Watching the lively scene outside the carriage window, Ryan recalled his childhood memories of playing with neighborhood friends on the wide streets of Waterdeep. Before long, he arrived with the caravan at the Golden Rose Caravan's branch in the Southern Ward.

Entering the spacious caravan courtyard, Ryan dismounted and, while the crew was busy unloading cargo, sought out the caravan leader, Sphinx, to bid him farewell. Ryan had intended to part ways then and there, severing all ties.

However, after the earnest insistence of Sphinx, Ryan eventually hesitated and left behind the address of House Chris. Sphinx repeatedly promised that once he had settled the caravan's affairs, he would certainly pay a visit to express his gratitude.

As soon as Ryan parted from Sphinx and stepped outside, he saw Jelona standing by the doorframe with her arms crossed.

"Hey, you weren't planning on leaving without saying goodbye, were you?" the half-elf ranger asked, looking at the mage with visible annoyance.

"Cough, cough, how could that be? I was just about to come find you." Ryan had not expected Jelona to keep such a close watch on him the moment they reached Waterdeep, fearing he would slip away. Although Ryan intended to keep Jelona out of this matter, it was clear that the mage's attempt to hide his intentions from an acquaintance was not perfect. Having observed a hint of something amiss during their days of travel, Jelona had been keeping a close eye on his every move.

"The Zhentarim likely have many spies hidden within Waterdeep. I need to return to my family to use their channels to inquire about recent news in the city, so I need to part ways with you all for a while," Ryan explained to Jelona.

"Then how am I supposed to contact you?" The beautiful half-elf ranger was not satisfied with his explanation and continued to press him.

"Let's meet tomorrow night at the Hearthfire Tavern in the North Ward. The grilled bass there is quite good; you should try it. By the way, how did you explain things to Kasla and Arata?" After setting the time, Ryan asked Jelona out of curiosity.

"I haven't figured out how to explain the Zhentarim situation to them yet. If I tell them, given their personalities, they'll definitely insist on getting involved, and I don't want them to take the risk." Asked about the issue she had been avoiding and struggling with, Jelona felt a sense of distress.

"Hmm, then why don't we wait until tomorrow night, after I've gathered some information, to decide how to tell them?" Ryan suggested to the troubled Jelona.

He planned to return home, gather information, settle his tasks with the Mages Guild, and gain a better understanding of the situation in Waterdeep before deciding how to handle Jelona's dilemma.

"Hmm, alright, let's do that." Setting the troublesome issue aside, Jelona stopped dwelling on the matter.

"Then I'll take my leave, see you then." With that, Ryan called for Bill and left the busy caravan compound, heading toward his home in this world—the residence of House Chris.

Following the bustling crowds and passing through the noisy streets and alleys, Ryan relied on his memory to reach the large estate in the western part of the Sea Ward.

Before the wide and imposing gates of the mansion, Ryan stood silently for a while, looking at the opulent villa. The guards at the gate watched the mysterious mage standing at their entrance with vigilance, debating whether they should step forward to question him.

Bill, who was following behind Ryan, looked at the silent mage, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, standing respectfully by Ryan's side in quiet anticipation.

Coming back to his senses from the past, Ryan stared at the gilded "Chris" plaque hanging above the gate and sighed to himself, thinking, The closer one gets to home, the more timid one feels. In the end, I still have attachments.

Ryan removed his veil and took off his hood, revealing his long golden hair and handsome face. He smiled at the vigilant guards and said, "I am Ryan Chris, the third son of Count Chris. Please inform Lady Chris that Ryan has completed his studies and has now returned home."

Seeing the skeptical and hesitant guards, Ryan stopped Bill, who was about to step forward to rebuke them, and continued with a smile, "It's fine if you don't recognize me. Just go and inform her, and you'll be able to confirm it."

The two hesitant guards exchanged glances. One of them nodded and turned to run inside. The other said apologetically to Ryan, "My apologies, it is my duty. Please wait for a moment in the front hall."

Ryan nodded, not making things difficult for the diligent guard. After all, he had once deeply experienced the tedious and complex, rigid rules of a noble household. If not for that, he wouldn't have wanted to leave home so early to study magic in Silverymoon, seeking nothing more than the freedom of being far away from the reach of the capital.

As he rested in the exquisitely decorated front hall, Ryan heard a hurried and anxious voice from afar: "My Ryan is back? Is it true? This child didn't even send word before returning; he's going to be the death of me!"