The iron bells hanging from the carriage swayed back and forth with a crisp chime as the caravan slowly made its way along the road winding up the hillside.
"Is that Scorched Stone City?"
Sylutia looked out the window at the city built against the mountainside. Just as its name suggested, many of the stone bricks bore scorch marks, as though they had been through a great fire.
"That's right. We'll reach Scorched Stone City soon." The merchant Vandhi rode past the carriage Sylutia was traveling in.
"Once we arrive, we'll take a longer break to restock our goods and sell the things we've collected to the city's merchant guild."
"Mr. Vandhi, don't you sell them to the townspeople yourself?" Sylutia asked, somewhat surprised.
"It's not like selling to the village," he said, shaking his head.
"The market fees in the city aren't cheap. Besides, it would take a long time to sell off this much merchandise, so it's simply not worth it."
"Lastly, the merchant guilds in the city are powerful. A wandering trader like me can't compete with them. To avoid conflict, selling the goods directly to them is the best choice."
"I see."
As they chatted, the caravan gradually reached the city gate, where the guards inspected them.
The process didn't take long. The guards simply recorded the number of carts and the general types of goods they carried, then quickly let them through. As for the carriage Sylutia was in, they didn't even look at it.
"Hyah." The driver flicked the reins and urged the draft horses forward.
Once they entered the city's stone-paved streets, the carriage ride grew smoother. Through a gap in the window, Sylutia watched the streets pass by.
The city was quite lively. Many villagers from the surrounding areas and street vendors walked along the roads, selling everyday necessities and local foods.
Just then, Sylutia noticed several unusual people. They wore short cloaks and carried weapons over their shoulders: double-bladed axes, greatswords, spears, and bows. Compared with ordinary passersby, they seemed much more confident and brash, and they spent freely when buying things.
"Those are adventurers." Talia noticed who Sylutia was looking at and explained.
"Grandpa used to be an adventurer. They take jobs posted by the local guild and earn rewards by completing them."
"How strong are they?" Sylutia blinked. Her Identification Pupil told her that, although none of them had reached First Order in Aspect Power, they were much stronger than ordinary guards. One of them had even reached the second stage of the Breathing Technique.
"Adventurers vary a lot in strength. The more capable ones may reach First Order, but it's rare to find anyone stronger," Talia replied.
"But my grandpa used to be a Second Order adventurer. He was really strong." No wonder the old man had such a temper, and Frien didn't dare talk back to him.
To have reached Second Order when he was young made him a rare talent in this region. It was no surprise that he had been on good terms with the previous Baron Holin.
When they arrived at a large inn in the city, Vandhi spoke with the owner for a while, then had the carriage driven into the back courtyard and parked. Talia and Sylutia got down as well.
The stable smelled of damp fodder, animal droppings, and livestock. Fortunately, it was open to the air, so the odors weren't too strong. After stepping down from the carriage, Sylutia covered her nose slightly with her sleeve, then curiously looked around beneath her hood.
As soon as they left the courtyard and entered the inn's front hall, a member of the caravan came over.
"Miss Tia, Lord Vandhi invites you to join him for dinner."
"Where will it be?" From the way he said it, it seemed they wouldn't be eating at the inn.
"At the Gelia Restaurant in the city. I'll escort you there." The man bent forward and gestured for them to follow.
Sylutia and Talia followed him along the street. About two minutes later, they arrived at a restaurant by the roadside.
Its arched windows were decorated with colored glass, and the doorway was formed by glass panels and curtains. The place looked especially elegant.
When they stepped inside, several maids waiting by the door came forward to guide Sylutia upstairs to a private table. Curtains divided the room into several window-side booths, creating a quiet atmosphere. Talia stayed downstairs to eat with the young man from the caravan.
When Sylutia entered one of the booths, Vandhi was already seated. He had taken off his felt hat and set it aside. His bear-like frame leaned against the back of his chair, and for once he looked relaxed.
"Miss Tia, you're here." He half rose to greet her, then sat down again.
After spending these past few days together, he and Sylutia had grown somewhat familiar with each other. He was no longer as stiff and ingratiating as he had been at first.
"Please, sit. The food here is delicious. I'm sure it won't disappoint you." He assured her.
"Now I'm really looking forward to it." Sylutia smiled and dipped her head in thanks.
Seeing the silver-haired girl across from him smile, Vandhi stared for a few seconds, then shook his head.
"Miss Tia, your beauty is truly hard to resist," he said with a sigh.
He wasn't even sure whether she really was a noblewoman, but her bearing and appearance were beyond what even some heirs of great noble houses could match. That was why he was willing to invest in a friendship with her.
"Thank you for the compliment." Sylutia had lost count of how many times people had praised her appearance over the past few days. Even though she was prepared for it, she still felt a little shy whenever she heard it.
Honestly, being beautiful really was a blessing, though it occasionally brought trouble, too. She had already begun wondering whether she should wear a veil when she went out in the future.
They chatted briefly about what they had been up to over the past few days. Vandhi said he would be staying in the city for a while. He knew Sylutia had only just arrived in Scorched Stone City and would surely need help with many things.
"What do you plan to do in the future, Miss Tia?"
"Me? I'll probably find somewhere to live in the city first, then look for a job and learn a few things. After that, I'll make plans for the future." Who could say what the future would bring?
At this, Vandhi didn't immediately offer any suggestions. Instead, he stroked his thick beard and thought for a while.
"I'm a merchant, so I don't have much influence in the city. But I can arrange a place for you to stay. It's somewhere I used to live, but I'm rarely in Scorched Stone City, so it's been empty for a long time."
"That's very kind of you. I'll remember your generosity." Although Sylutia knew he was investing in her for his own benefit, she still felt grateful. Given her current circumstances, it would have been very difficult to settle in the city on her own.
"Hahaha, it's nothing." Seeing Sylutia respond so sincerely, he felt much more reassured. At least there was some hope that his investment would pay off.
If Sylutia had been indifferent or acted with a touch of arrogance and pickiness, he probably wouldn't have dared to offer her much help, lest he lose out.
A little while later, the restaurant's waiter brought out the prepared dinner and set it on the table. When he lifted the cover, fragrant steam rose into the air.
On the silver platter lay a large roasted goose, its skin golden and crisp. Red berries and roasted parsley were arranged around it.
"Sir, shall I carve it now?" the waiter asked, bending forward.
"Let's admire it for a little longer. Every time, I feel that Chef Martin's cooking is like a work of art." He praised the restaurant's head chef.
The waiter understood what he meant and carefully turned the platter, allowing the two of them to admire the golden-brown goose from every angle.
Even for Sylutia, who had memories of her previous life, this was a rare feast. Her eyes filled with curiosity, and information about the dish surfaced in her mind.
[Fragrant Roast Goose] (Quality: Excellent): After removing the innards, stuff the goose with bread, orange segments, and spices. Brush the skin with butter and roast. Finish by sprinkling it with pepper and brushing on a little sauce. Excellent flavor and texture.
After they had finished admiring it, the waiter took out a carving knife, cut open the goose's belly, and removed the bread inside. He divided it into portions, paired each with a small piece of goose meat, and placed them on the two plates.
"Please enjoy." After finishing the carving, the waiter respectfully took his leave.
Sylutia speared a small piece from her plate and put it in her mouth. The warmth mingled with the sweetness of butter. As she bit down, she first tasted the pepper and meat, followed by the softness of the breadcrumbs. The flavors blended together, and the juices spread through her mouth, awakening her taste buds.
Phew...
After finishing the bite, she let out a small breath to cool her scalding tongue.
Seeing the girl's adorable manner, Vandhi had to look away again. Otherwise, he felt he would melt beneath the strange charm she exuded.
Even a princess of the kingdom wouldn't be more adorable or captivating than her, he thought. If this girl entered noble society, who knew how many young talents would compete for her? If I were ten years younger, I'd probably join them, even if I had little chance. But now... the ambition I had in my youth has long since faded.
As they enjoyed the delicious meal, Vandhi asked Sylutia how old she was.
"About fifteen or sixteen."
She had guessed her age based on Talia's. Talia was just over sixteen, and the two weren't far apart in height.
"Sixteen?" Vandhi looked Sylutia over. The lines of her face were still soft, and she hadn't fully grown into her features. Sixteen seemed about right.
"If you're sixteen, finding a job won't be easy, Miss Tia," he said thoughtfully.
"There'll always be a way." Sylutia had already worked for several years after leaving university in her previous life, so she wasn't too worried about it.
At worst, she could live more simply and cut back on expenses. In this world of supernatural powers, what mattered more was how to grow stronger.
"Mr. Vandhi, do you know where I could learn about advancing in supernatural Aspect Power?"
"I happen to know a little about that. Or rather, anyone with even a bit of ambition will look into it. Hehehe." He laughed and lifted his wineglass, gently swirling it.
"For ordinary commoners, the most common path is to join the army or a noble's guard. They teach knowledge related to the Castle Aspect, as well as various combat techniques. If you have exceptional talent and reach Second Order before you're forty, you'll earn plenty of respect even if you come from a humble background."
"But for the true upper class—by that, I mean the rulers and powerful figures of this country—reaching Third Order is only the beginning."
"Once you reach Third Order in the Castle Aspect, you're qualified to swear allegiance to a monarch or great noble, become a knight in their service, and receive your own fief. At the very least, it'll be a village. If you perform well, you might even get a town."
"The king's forces usually include a powerful knightly order. Every member is a Third Order knight or higher. Each one can destroy a village or town on their own, hunt powerful monsters in the mountains, and serve as a shining force on the battlefield."
"Each knight is paired with three or four Second Order Castle Knight Attendants. Together, they form a steel army of thousands that can sweep across a battlefield, smash through any line of defense, and remain undefeated."
"The Regas Kingdom we're in today was founded by a monarch known as the Knight King. Hundreds of years ago, he led the Fir Knights in twenty-seven consecutive battles. Their swallowtail banners, patterned with icy fissures, fluttered as thousands of lances tore through the cold fog like thunder, routing countless enemies and local tribes. At last, they established their capital in White Cliff City and carved out their own kingdom among these mountains."
"But all that happened a long time ago. The Regas Kingdom is much weaker now, and it has even been downgraded from a kingdom to a duchy." He shook his head slightly.
"Apart from the most common path, you can also join various guilds and organizations. Smaller ones include the 'Gourmet Guild,' the 'Gardeners' Guild,' and the 'Masons' Guild.' They have knowledge and secret techniques for related First and Second Order Classes. Larger guilds, such as the 'Pharmacists' Guild,' the 'Blacksmiths' Guild,' and the 'Thieves' Guild,' have knowledge and secret techniques for related First to Third Order Classes."
"Is that all? I heard Talia mention the Candlekeep School." Sylutia was puzzled.
"Oh, right. Her older sister Winnie studied under Scholar Heide." Vandhi stroked his beard as he answered.
"The Candlekeep School is different from the other guilds and organizations I mentioned. It's a powerful organization that stands apart from the nations. Even many kingdoms rely on them to solve problems."
"I don't know much about the Candlekeep School, since I'm only a small merchant. The only thing I do know is that many of the nobles' advisers and consultants in the Regas Kingdom come from that school. Scholars who earn a Candlekeep insignia are highly respected throughout this land. Even nobles treat them courteously."
"Thank you for telling me all this."
Their meal was gradually coming to an end.
After enjoying the rare feast, Sylutia and Vandhi went downstairs. They joined Talia and the young man from the caravan, who were waiting for them, and boarded the waiting carriage back to the inn.
The night passed peacefully.
The next day, Vandhi had someone clean the house that had been vacant for a long time. He also had a new bed brought in for Sylutia.
After receiving the key, Sylutia and Talia spent a long time walking through the house and looking around inside and out.
"This is the East District. It isn't as wealthy or luxurious as the West District, but it's still a very good area," Talia explained.
"The North District is where Viscount Xuefeng's Castle is. Ordinary people can't go in there. The West District is home to the wealthy and a few nobles. The East District is mostly for freemen and various professionals. The South District is also called the Lower District, and that's where many of the poor live."
The house wasn't large. The ground floor had five rooms for everyday use: a living room, a kitchen, a washroom, and two bedrooms. Upstairs was an attic for storing odds and ends, but it wasn't very spacious.
There was a small yard five meters wide behind the house. Some flowers and plants grew there, though most had withered by now, and weeds had sprung up all over.
It really wasn't large, but Sylutia was satisfied. It was much better than the place she had rented while working in a big city in her previous life.
The following day, Vandhi sent some people to clean the whole house. Afterward, Sylutia settled in. Talia would be staying there for now as well, so they could keep each other company.
That night, after washing up, the two of them sat in their nightclothes in the little yard behind the house. The cool evening breeze brushed past them, drying the moisture left on their skin and bringing a comfortable sensation.
Sylutia leaned back in a tall wooden chair. Her ankles swayed gently beneath her pale white nightdress as she tipped her head back and gazed up at the night sky. It was rare for the moon to be visible today.
Faint dark markings could be seen on the gray-white moon, like flaws in jade. Yet those imperfections made it seem more real and clear, less like an illusion.
Basking in the moonlight, the girl felt a faint sense of lightness, as though she could relax her whole body and float all the way up to the moon.
Unfortunately, when she opened her eyes, she realized it had only been an illusion.
"Tia, just now you seemed to have a faint veil over you. It was the same color as moonlight." Talia's eyes held a note of curiosity.
"No, maybe I only imagined it. I can't see it now."
"Mm." Sylutia lowered her gaze to the ground, then looked at Talia beside her.
Maybe I really do have a strange connection to the moon.
Before you continue