Beauty and Ugliness, Light and Shadow

Lanlos's gaze followed the magic broom drifting slowly in front of him. He felt thoroughly awkward.

He was lost.

Silvermoon City was far larger and more complexly laid out than he had imagined. Unlike humans, who prized order, the elves preferred to do things however they pleased.

The winding roads followed no discernible pattern. Without the guards' help, Lanlos might not even have made it out of Sunstrider Court.

The one thing he could be grateful for was that, supposedly, there were no dead ends in Silvermoon City. As long as you kept following the road beneath your feet, it would find a way through—even if that meant cutting through someone's shop or house!

That was right. They were that willful! Just keep following the road, and you were bound to reach the city gates!

Unfortunately, that was only true if you knew which way you were going. A newcomer like Lanlos had already gone around in circles countless times...

The good news was that Silvermoon City's street signs were written in magic ink, which glowed a vivid red even in daylight. With the help of the patrolling mechanical sentries and elven guards, he had finally found Garden Market.

What annoyed him was that, since he was unfamiliar to them, Silvermoon City's guards kept stopping him to ask all sorts of questions. Their arrogant, nose-in-the-air attitude made Lanlos want to fire a Fireball right in their faces.

But now, all his annoyance had been swept away.

Before him lay a vast plaza. Its edges were a breathtaking sea of flowers and golden trees. A gentle breeze stirred the petals and leaves, which shimmered with an intoxicating glow in the dusk. At the center stood a gigantic fountain, its lifelike elven sculptures graceful and captivating.

Young couples lounged or sat together throughout the gardens, filling the plaza with the air of youth.

The beautiful scenery was enough to lift anyone's spirits.

Lanlos nearly laughed and cried at once as he endured the sudden onslaught of public displays of affection, then turned his attention elsewhere.

Though it was a marketplace, there was no shouting or hawking. Distinctive little elven houses nestled behind flowers and trees, their doors wide open. Even without signs, it was easy to see the goods inside.

Alona's assignment for Lanlos was to buy raw materials for teaching enchanting, inscription, and alchemy.

Lanlos was interested in these skills, too—not only because they could help him improve, but more importantly, because they could earn him gold...

"Thank you, Sasley. This is more than enough." Lanlos checked off and signed the final item on the order, then offered his heartfelt thanks.

"There's no need to thank me. Alona always looks after us merchants. It's the least we can do." The shopkeeper's warm smile made Lanlos feel a little uncomfortable.

There were plenty of shops in Sunstrider Court, too, but their owners relied on their noble connections and backing, and looked down on everyone else. No wonder Alona preferred not to order from them.

"Now that you've checked everything, I'll help you load it onto your carriage."

Lanlos glanced at the darkening sky outside and quickly stopped the eager shopkeeper. "That won't be necessary. It's getting late. I'll take care of it myself tomorrow morning."

"That works, too. I'll go reserve a carriage for you right now."

"Hey..." As soon as he finished speaking, the man hurried out. Lanlos hadn't reacted quickly enough to stop him.

Some people were too kind for their own good... Was he being too fussy?

Lanlos smiled wryly and couldn't help feeling relieved. He'd thought the task would be troublesome, but Sasley had thoughtfully prepared all the materials on the order in advance and even given him a generous discount. Thanks to that, Lanlos had plenty of gold left over.

Even though it was public money, he shouldn't skimp on necessary expenses.

Lamplight filtered through gauzy curtains, casting a dreamy, hazy glow. Gold trim on the second-floor railing gleamed alongside the patterns on the walls, creating an air of luxury. Upholstered leather chairs, diamond-studded tableware, and fine wines in the cellar all gave off a faint, fragrant aroma.

The inn's lavish decor rivaled that of Sunfury Spire.

Lanlos stood at the entrance for a long while. Seeing the magical gems and inscriptions used as decoration, he couldn't help swallowing again.

"Hehe, welcome, handsome. Is there anything I can help you with?" The proprietress wore a dazzling dress that left little to the imagination. Though she was no longer young, she was still alluring, and her flirtatious smile made Lanlos wonder if he'd walked into the wrong room.

Fortunately, the information age he'd experienced had broadened his horizons without him ever leaving home. Years of practice with hundreds of gigabytes of classic films on his hard drive had kept him from making a fool of himself.

"Do you have any rooms available?"

"Of course. But..." The proprietress paused, then slowly drew closer to Lanlos and whispered almost against his ear, "Would you like a room for one, or for two?"

A rush of heat surged to Lanlos's head, and he raised an eyebrow. But remembering how strict Alona was—and what would happen if he misused public money for that sort of thing—he gave the other woman a polite smile. "Just one."

High prices meant high-quality service. Wearing a loose robe, Lanlos sat on the balcony and admired Silvermoon City's nightscape, while a maid stood behind him, ready to refill his wine at any moment.

Neon-colored lights illuminated the streets. From somewhere nearby came the faint sound of lilting songs and the laughter of men and women...

Everything looked so beautiful, like paradise on earth.

But as an outsider, Lanlos saw another side beneath all that glitter.

In corners untouched by the Sunwell's radiance and the glow of the magic lamps, he occasionally spotted one or two ragged vagrants drinking themselves senseless. He couldn't tell whether they were drowning their sorrows over a wasted yesterday or a tomorrow with no future in sight.

Quel'Thalas had generous welfare policies, but even so, the common people struggled to make ends meet after all the layers of exploitation.

The High Elves had never been a perfect race. They believed in bloodlines. Families such as the Sunstriders and Windrunners had inherited the throne and the title of Ranger General for generations, while Silvermoon City's inner district was inhabited entirely by nobles of "standing."

Unlike the former, who devoted themselves wholeheartedly to Quel'Thalas, the noble circles were a mixed bag. Many incompetent heirs inherited their ancestors' honors and wealth, only to squander them on indulgence and pleasure. Their corrupt way of life had influenced countless promising young people.

To keep their descendants from falling into the same habits, prestigious families like the Windrunners had moved away from Silvermoon City long ago, choosing instead to put down roots on the war-torn frontier.

But people's hearts were hard to fathom, and not every noble family shared that outlook. More people craved pleasure than dedication and honor.

This had long been a stain on High Elf society.

The royal court could hardly have been unaware of the damage caused by this class divide. But nobles' influence over Quel'Thalas went beyond tradition. The distribution of power and wealth meant the kingdom could not maintain its prosperity without them.

That was reality: helpless, cruel reality.

Whether in an egalitarian society or a class-based one, there were advantages and disadvantages. Lanlos didn't like it, but that didn't mean he intended to change it. Besides, he had no power to do so—not now.

Raising his glass toward the sleeping vagrant in the corner, Lanlos tipped his head back and drained it in one gulp. Other than the warmth in his throat and stomach, he felt no satisfaction at all.

He'd be better off throwing a Fireball!

Shaking his head, Lanlos walked toward the soft bed, ready to welcome the next dawn.

He didn't notice the drunken vagrant in the corner raise his bottle toward the spot where Lanlos had just been.

PS: The Arcane Staff Alona rewarded him with gained the spell-storage attribute. This has been corrected earlier in the text.

Thanks to Spinning Small Fan for the tip, and thanks to everyone for your support! Thank you!!