Chapter 6: The City

The blare of horns shattered the morning calm, their sharp notes echoing off the towering stone walls surrounding the city. My heart jumped, a knot of anxiety tightening in my chest.

Stewart, ever composed, glanced toward the walls. “I wouldn’t worry,” he said, his voice steady. “This happens all the time. Those horns are a warning—there’s a group of monsters near the city.”

As if on cue, a company of soldiers burst through the city gates. The ground trembled beneath their synchronized march, their formation tight and disciplined. Their armor was a blend of practicality and craftsmanship—lightweight for mobility, with metal plates sewn into key areas and supple leather covering the rest. There was no clatter or looseness in their gear; it all looked custom-fitted and battle-tested.

Some carried swords, others wielded spears or longbows. But two figures immediately stood out. One walked unarmed, cloaked in dark robes—likely a mage. The other sat atop a black horse, shouting orders with authority. He wore a polished chestplate and a deep red cape that fluttered behind him. Several soldiers carried banners bearing a familiar symbol—the very same crest engraved on my pendant.

My chest tightened at the sight. Coincidence?

As the last of the soldiers passed, Stewart spoke again. “They’re heading out to intercept the monsters before they get too close. The city guard handles anything near the walls. Adventurers like us deal with monsters that threaten roads or outlying villages.”

Bardock snorted. “Don’t forget, monster groups don’t just show up outta nowhere.”

Stewart nodded. “Right. Most monsters aren’t cooperative. Even in dungeons, they tend to fight each other rather than work together. But sometimes… a group will form under a dominant leader—something stronger and smarter than the rest. Could be a unique monster, or even a mage using taming magic.”

He paused, then added, “A coordinated group of monsters—regardless of who’s in charge—is never a good sign. Especially inside a dungeon.”

I frowned. “What’s a dungeon?”

Sasha turned toward me, brushing her white braid over her shoulder. “Dungeons are magical places—formed by concentrated mana. Inside, you’ll find countless monsters, and deeper in, powerful ‘boss-class’ creatures. These monsters often guard the core of the dungeon: a massive mana crystal on an altar.”

“The crystal creates the dungeon and holds it together. Remove it, and the whole structure collapses. If it’s underground, the tunnels just… vanish, returning the land to its natural state.”

“But don’t worry,” she added with a small smile, “when you take the crystal, it automatically teleports you to the surface. No one knows exactly where you’ll end up—it depends on the crystal’s size and power.”

I tilted my head. “Is the crystal the only valuable thing in a dungeon?”

Lily stepped in. “There can be other valuables—rare materials, ancient relics—but the mana crystal is the real treasure. The bigger it is, the more powerful and valuable it becomes.”

She paused, then added, “The crystals from high-ranked dungeons—S-rank and above—are massive. Just one could make you rich for life. Some are even used to power entire cities or national defense systems. That’s how important they are.”

“I see… how interesting,” I said.

We finally arrived at the city gates, where a pair of guards stood watch. As we approached, one of them stepped forward and held out a hand.

“Identification, please.”

Stewart reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. It had the words Dragon Huntersprinted across the top, along with their party’s name: The Red Wings. He exchanged a few words with the guard, who glanced over the rest of us, nodded, and then waved us through.

I leaned closer to Stewart. “What’s with the card that says Dragon Hunters?”

He chuckled. “That’s the name of our guild. When you register a party at a guild, they give you an ID card. It shows the guild’s name, your party’s name, and your group’s rank.”

“Are there many guilds in the city?” I asked.

Stewart gave a proud grin. “Plenty. But the Dragon Hunter Guild is the best of the bunch.”

I smirked. “Maybe I’ll check it out.”

Lily glanced over her shoulder. “Well, you’re in luck. That’s exactly where we’re headed. We’ve got to drop off a letter—let the Duke know we found his ‘son.’”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Right… I’m his grandson.”

As we entered the city, I was immediately overwhelmed by its size. The buildings stretched almost as high as the outer walls, and the entire city was divided by massive inner walls into several distinct rings.

The first district we passed through was filled with modest homes—clearly the commoner housing. Beyond that, we reached the business district, packed with shops and restaurants. Crowds bustled through the streets, laughter and chatter echoing off every stone and stall.

The third ring was wealthier—large houses with sprawling yards, separated from the noise by elegant fences and guards in polished armor.

And then we reached the fourth district, a mix of everything: businesses, homes, and towering structures that marked it as something more. This was where the guilds were located.

Everywhere we walked, there was motion, color, and life. People smiled. Children ran through the streets. Despite the looming threat outside the walls, it all felt… peaceful. Like no one had a care in the world.

Eventually, we reached the Dragon Hunter Guild building—and the moment we stepped near it, the noise doubled.

The structure was massive, easily ten times the size of the house I grew up in. Built mostly of dark, sturdy wood, it loomed like a fortress of chaos and camaraderie.

I left Hati and Sköll by the cart, giving them a quick pat before stepping inside.

The interior was wild. Tables and chairs filled every corner. Adventurers—young and old—laughed, shouted, danced, drank, and ate like it was a festival. The smell of roasted meat and spilled ale hit me like a punch to the nose.

It was pure, overwhelming chaos.

As I walked through the crowd with Rias beside me—guided by Freki and Geri—people turned to stare. Conversations faltered. Eyes widened.

Not at me, exactly. But at Rias… and the two dire wolves flanking her.

As soon as everyone noticed the dire wolves, the room fell silent.

All eyes were on us—on Rias, on Freki and Geri, and on me. The energy shifted, thick with surprise, maybe even tension.

Stewart, ever the showman, raised a hand and shouted, “Free drinks on me!”

The room erupted into cheers. Just like that, the tension snapped. Laughter, shouting, clinking mugs—it was like someone had unpaused a festival at full volume.

We made our way to the front desk, weaving through the crowd. A woman stood behind the counter, smiling professionally.

“Welcome,” she said. “My name is Tiffany. How may I help you today?”

Lily stepped forward. “We’d like to confirm a quest completion. Also, we need a letter delivered to the quest giver.”

Tiffany gave a practiced nod. “Certainly. May I see the quest sheet and the letter?”

Lily handed both over. “The quest was issued by the Duke himself.”

At that, Tiffany’s polite smile didn’t fade, but something behind her eyes shifted. She read the contents quickly, then gave a sharp nod and tapped a small bell on the counter. Within seconds, a man wearing sleek, enchanted leather armor approached from the back room. He said nothing, just held out his hand for the letter. Tiffany handed it over.

“I’ll make sure this is delivered directly to the Duke’s estate,” the man said, then disappeared just as quickly.

I leaned against the counter, trying to make sense of it all. My head was spinning—partly from the sheer noise and energy in the room, but also from the weight of everything we’d just done. Rias reached out, gripping my sleeve. I glanced down.

Her blind eyes were calm, unreadable, but I could tell she was listening intently to everything around us.

“We’re safe,” I murmured to her. “At least for now.”

She nodded faintly.

Tiffany turned back to us. “There’s one more thing. The Duke’s request also included a special clause.” Her eyes flicked to me. “You’re to be tested immediately.”

“Tested?” I asked, feeling the weight of a dozen nearby adventurers’ gazes.

“For mana affinity and bloodline verification,” Tiffany said smoothly. “The Duke wants confirmation before proceeding further. It’s standard practice when claims of noble lineage are involved.”

Sasha stepped forward, her tone measured. “Where’s the info crystal?”

“Right this way.” Tiffany walked from behind the desk and gestured for us to follow her down a hallway branching off from the main room.

The noise of the guildhall slowly faded behind us as we moved deeper into the building. The hallway walls were lined with weapons and paintings of legendary adventurers, each plaque boasting a name and rank: S-Rank, SS-Rank.

We stopped before a small, reinforced door. Tiffany produced a key and unlocked it.

Inside was a plain room with a single pedestal in the center. Resting on it was a floating, teardrop-shaped crystal glowing faintly with pale blue light.

“This is an Info Crystal,” she explained. “Place your hand on it. It’ll display your mana level, elemental affinity, and basic details like age, race, and name—as long as you’re not under a concealment spell.”

My mouth was dry. I looked at Rias, who gave a slight, encouraging nod.

Steeling myself, I stepped forward and placed my hand against the smooth surface of the crystal.

It flared with sudden light. A projection hovered in the air above it.

Name: Arthur

Age: 16

Race: Human (Anomalous Physical Trait: Giant’s Blood)

Mana Level: ???

Affinities: Fire, Lightning, and Null (Unique Trait: Beast Bond)

Contracted Beasts: Sköll, Hati

Bloodline Status: Match – House Fenrir

Tiffany gasped. Even Sasha, who had seen many strange things, looked momentarily stunned.

Stewart whistled low. “Beast Bond… unique?”

“What does that mean?” I asked, staring at the flickering words like they might change if I just looked hard enough.

Tiffany stared at the info crystal, her expression unreadable. After a long moment, she looked up at me, then to Sasha.

“…It’s true,” she said, her voice quieter than before. “Null affinity. Just like you suspected.”

Sasha gave a small nod, arms crossed as if she’d expected nothing less. Lily and Bardock exchanged glances, but said nothing.

“And the bloodline?” Stewart asked. His tone was steady, but I caught the slight shift in his stance—he was bracing for something.

Tiffany turned the crystal toward him. “There’s no mistake. He’s Orpheus’s son. The crystal’s confirming it. A perfect match.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Rias, standing close by with Geri and Freki at her sides, smiled faintly. “Told you,” she whispered.

Tiffany reached into her desk and pulled out a sealed envelope, pressing her guild ring to the wax. “I’ll send this to the Duke’s estate immediately. With confirmation of both the mana affinity and bloodline match.”

She handed the envelope to a waiting guild runner. “He’ll have it before nightfall.”

I looked down at the glowing crystal, still faintly pulsing in my palm. That little shard had just turned my world upside down—again.

Tiffany softened. “You and your sister have been through a lot. Rest. You’re under the guild’s protection now… and more importantly, under the Duke’s.”

Stewart placed a hand on my shoulder. “Come. You’ve earned some peace.”

We exited the guild and said our goodbyes. Lily took the cart, heading off with Bardock and Sasha. That left just me, Stewart, and Rias standing on the quiet stone steps outside.

I gave a low whistle, and moments later, Sköll and Hati emerged from the shadows near the guild—silent, watchful, ever at our side. They fell in line behind us as we walked toward the street.

We didn’t wait long. A massive carriage rolled up to the front gates—twice the size of the one we’d arrived in, pulled by two pristine black horses with silver-plated tack. Its polished wood gleamed beneath the setting sun, and the crest etched on the door was one I didn’t recognize—but from the way heads turned as it passed, it clearly belonged to someone important.

I stared. “This is yours?”

Stewart smirked. “My family’s been adventuring for generations. We’ve done well for ourselves.”

I helped Rias into the plush interior, then climbed in after her. The wolves didn’t try to squeeze in—they simply took their places behind the carriage, padding in silence like sentinels guarding a royal procession.

As we rolled away from the guild, I glanced out the window. Sköll caught my eye and gave a low grunt, almost like a huff of amusement.

“Wealthy adventurers, huh?” I murmured.

Stewart leaned back with a grin. “Bardock’s family is the same. Not all of us spend our gold on taverns and temporary fame.”

I let my head rest against the seat. Outside, the city slowly gave way to open space and well-kept roads. The tension in my chest finally began to ease.

The upper district was quiet as we rode in Stewart’s private carriage. Lamps flickered in the fog, and the weight of the day pressed heavier with each passing second. When we finally arrived at his estate—a grand manor nestled at the edge of the city—I could barely keep my eyes open.

The inside smelled of cedar and old books. A servant showed us to a spacious guest room. Rias sank onto the bed, her wolves curling around her protectively. Sköll and Hati stood near the window, alert but calm.

“You should sleep,” I murmured, covering her with the blankets.

“I will if you do,” she replied softly.

I sat on the couch across the room, trying to quiet my mind. The fire crackled low. The air was still.

We were safe. For now.

Sometime deep in the night, I stirred.

A presence.

I opened my eyes.

A figure stood over me—tall, cloaked in black. The moonlight filtering through the window caught a gleam of silver on their chest.

A crest I recognized, even in the dark.

The symbol of House Fenrir.

They said nothing. Just… watched.

And for a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was still dreaming.