Beauty and Ugliness, Light and Shadow

Following the magical broom in front of him, Lanlos felt incredibly embarrassed.

He was lost.

The size and complexity of Silvermoon City far exceeded his imagination; unlike humans who pursued order, the High Elf people preferred to follow their whims.

The winding roads followed no discernible pattern, and had it not been for the help of the guards, Lanlos might not have even found his way out of the Sunstrider Isle.

The only silver lining was that it was said there were no dead ends in Silvermoon City; as long as you kept moving forward along the path, it would eventually lead you through someone else's shop or house to get you where you needed to go!

Yes, it was just that willful! As long as you followed the road, you were bound to reach the city gates!

Unfortunately, this only applied to those who knew their way around. As a first-time visitor, Lanlos had already circled the same spot countless times...

Fortunately, the street signs in Silvermoon City were written in magical ink, emitting a conspicuous red glow even during the day. Coupled with the patrolling arcane sentinels and the elven guards, he finally managed to locate the Garden Market.

What annoyed him was that, being a fresh face, these Silvermoon City guards kept pulling him aside to ask endless questions, their haughty demeanor making Lanlos want to Fireball them right in the face.

But now, all the irritation in his heart had been cast aside.

Before him lay a vast plaza, its edges rendered breathtakingly beautiful by clusters of vibrant flowers and golden trees. As a gentle breeze swept through, the petals and leaves shimmered with an intoxicating radiance in the twilight. In the center stood a massive fountain, featuring lifelike elven sculptures that were graceful and captivating.

Pairs of young lovers sat or reclined in the garden, filling the entire plaza with the scent of youth.

Such beautiful scenery was truly refreshing.

Lanlos accepted this sudden display of public affection with a bitter smile, then turned his attention elsewhere.

Although it was a market, there were no hawking voices to be heard. Quaint elven cottages were tucked away behind flowers and shadows, their doors wide open; even without signs, one could clearly see the goods within.

The task Alona had given Lanlos was right here: to purchase raw materials for teaching enchanting, inscription, and alchemy.

Lanlos was quite interested in these professional skills as well, not just for the boost they provided to his abilities, but more importantly, because they could bring in gold...

"Thank you, Sasley, this is more than enough." Checking off the last item on the order and signing his name, Lanlos expressed his sincere gratitude.

"Don't mention it. Alona is always very kind to us merchants; this is the least we can do." With a gentle smile, the grocery store owner's enthusiasm made Lanlos feel slightly uncomfortable.

There were plenty of shops in the Sunstrider Isle, but those shopkeepers, relying on their noble connections and status, looked down their noses at everyone. It was no wonder Alona didn't want to place her orders there.

"Since you've finished checking the inventory, I'll go help you load it onto the carriage."

Glancing at the darkening sky outside, Lanlos stopped the eager owner in time: "That won't be necessary. It's getting late, I'll just handle it myself tomorrow morning."

"That works too. I'll go book a carriage for you for tomorrow right now."

"Wait..." Before he could finish, the man rushed off in a flurry, and Lanlos, caught off guard, failed to stop him.

People, honestly—too much enthusiasm isn't always a good thing... Am I being too sensitive?

With a self-deprecating laugh, Lanlos couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He had expected it to be a hassle, but he hadn't anticipated that Sasley would be so thoughtful, having already prepared the materials on the order and even providing a generous discount. Because of this, Lanlos had saved quite a bit of gold.

Even though it was public funds, he couldn't be stingy with necessary expenses.

Light filtered through sheer curtains, casting dreamy, hazy colors. The gold trim on the second-floor railing complemented the patterns on the walls, instantly evoking a sense of luxury. There were leather-upholstered chairs, diamond-encrusted tableware, and expensive fine wines from the cellar emitting a faint, lingering fragrance.

The luxurious decor of this inn was in no way inferior to the Tower of Sunfury.

Lanlos stood at the entrance for a long while, watching as jewelry and inscriptions imbued with magical energy were used as mere embellishments, and he couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Hehe, welcome, handsome. Is there anything you need help with?" The owner wore a glamorous dress with a daring cut. Though she was no longer young, she remained incredibly alluring, and her provocative, charming smile made Lanlos wonder if he had walked into the wrong room.

Fortunately, the information age he had experienced in the past allowed Lanlos to broaden his horizons without ever leaving his home. Thanks to the hundreds of gigabytes of classic films on his hard drive, he managed to keep his composure.

"Do you have any vacant rooms?"

"Of course, but..." The owner paused, slowly closing the distance between her and Lanlos, whispering almost against his ear, "Would you like to stay alone, or with someone else?"

A surge of hot blood rushed to his head, and Lanlos couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. However, remembering Alona's severity and the consequences of misappropriating public funds for such activities, he simply offered her a polite smile: "Alone."

High consumption meant high-quality service. Lanlos, draped in a loose robe, sat on the balcony watching the night view of Silvermoon City, while a maid stood behind him, ready to refill his wine at any moment.

Neon-like colorful lights illuminated street after street, and in the distance, the faint, melodious sound of singing and the laughter of men and women drifted by...

Everything looked so beautiful, like a paradise on earth.

Unfortunately, as an outsider, Lanlos saw a different side beneath this glamorous exterior.

In the corners where the radiance of the Sunwell and the magical lamps could not reach, one could occasionally see one or two ragged vagrants drinking themselves into a stupor, unsure if they were mourning a wasted yesterday or a future they couldn't see.

The welfare policies of Quel'Thalas were considered generous, but unfortunately, under layers of exploitation, the lives of the common people were still far from guaranteed.

The High Elf race was never perfect; they believed in the theory of bloodline. Take the Sunstrider and Windrunner families, who held hereditary titles of royalty and Ranger General; the inner city of Silvermoon City was inhabited entirely by "distinguished" nobles.

However, unlike the former who dedicated themselves to Quel'Thalas, the noble circle was a mixed bag. Many incompetent individuals, having inherited the honor and wealth of their ancestors, knew only how to squander and indulge, and their decadent lifestyle influenced a large number of young talents.

To prevent their descendants from being corrupted, prestigious families like the Windrunners moved out of Silvermoon City early on, choosing to take root on the war-torn borders.

But human hearts are unpredictable; not all nobles shared such sentiments. Compared to dedication and glory, more people craved indulgence.

This was a stain on High Elf society that had long been criticized.

The royal court was not blind to the impact of this class divide, but the influence of the nobility on Quel'Thalas went beyond tradition. The division of power and wealth meant that maintaining the glorious development of Quel'Thalas was inseparable from these nobles.

This was reality—a helpless and cruel reality.

Whether it was a utopian society or a class-based one, there were pros and cons. Lanlos didn't like it, but that didn't mean he had to change it; besides, he didn't have the ability to change it right now.

Raising his glass to the vagrant sleeping in the corner, Lanlos tilted his head back and downed the drink in one gulp. Aside from the warmth in his throat and stomach, he felt no sense of satisfaction.

It would be far more satisfying to just throw a Fireball!

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

He did not notice the alcoholic vagrant in the corner raising a bottle toward the spot where he had just been standing.

PS: The Arcane Staff rewarded by Alona has had the spell storage attribute added; the previous text has been revised.

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