They rode farther and higher until they reached the peak of a small mountain pass the road they were following curved through. The sun would soon disappear over the horizon and occasional howls and cries could be heard from behind them from the distant forest where they had been just hours before.
Nobody talked, laughed or made any noise other than the occasional cough or heavy breathing. Each of the people in the caravan had their entire concentration focused on their surroundings.
However slight joy and anticipation could be seen on everyone's faces when they reached the peak of the mountain pass.
In the distance many faint lights lit up the sky and stretched as far as the eye could see.
Alex in particular was very surprised at the sight that lay a few dozen kilometres ahead of him.
'This city is huge!'
So huge that it covered more area than his entire asteroid colony combined.
"Valentis city is within reach, another two hours of riding and we will arrive!"
By now it had been over 5 hours since Alfred had passed out from overusing his abilities by constructing that huge dirt dome out of thin air. He had only regained consciousness an hour prior but still he was very weak and could barely keep himself upright.
The horses were utterly exhausted and were even struggling to breathe, the lack of oxygen at the peak of the mountain didn't help.
But they seemed just as determined to reach the city as the men sitting atop them.
Alex looked dazedly into the distance, gazing upon the skyline of the city.
However his thoughts still kept going back to the moment Alfred unleashed that powerful attack against the Galephant.
That was the first time in his life he had ever seen someone use their abilities in person, and he could barely keep his emotions at bay.
'It's never hit me until now just how unreal this situation is...'
He had just been living his normal life as a miner until one day he was dragged into this place called the Primordial Expanse, which even after hundreds of years the Federation still had little information about.
Even more unreal was that this mysterious realm could grant powers to ordinary people not even science could decipher. None of this made sense to Alex, and if it wasn't for how real this place felt he would have long thought he was in a dream.
A really, really horrifyingly messed up dream.
'What did that soldier guy call Alfred again.... right, a D rank adventurer? What's that?' This question remained on his mind ever since he heard the words uttered. He was still reluctant to ask about it as these men were still strangers to him.
"We will rest here for 15 minutes before we set off again for the city."
He was pulled from his thoughts from one of the three soldiers as he gave them a simple nod in response.
***
Two more hours soon passed. Despite the group's vigilance, they made it to the city gates safely, finally giving everyone some time to rest as they queued up behind the other travellers wishing to enter the city.
It would take many hours before their turn to be inspected and pay the toll to enter the city, which wasn't exactly ideal when they had an urgent report.
"You three stay here with the carriage and protect the goods," the man in charge spoke to the three other guards then turned to Alex. "You still haven't told me your name."
Alex didn't see the point in telling the man now since they had more important matters at hand, but he complied anyway.
"It's Alex, sir."
Alfred kept his serious expression as he spoke again. "Good, follow me Alex."
Groans and shouts could be heard when the adventurer and the boy brazenly skipped the hundreds long queue straight to the front. Some even tried to confront the two, but quickly backed away when Alfred placed his hand on his sword, a clear threat.
Naturally such a commotion also attracted the attention of the guards at the front who only looked on with some amusement, not bothering to intervene.
At this moment the sun was already long gone and had been replaced with a glistening moon and an empty sky void of stars.
When the duo arrived at the front, they spared no time waiting for the guards to finish with their current inspection.
"Please tell your captain that I, Alfred Wynter, have an urgent report!"
Alex looked at the man, Alfred from the side.
'Now that I think about it, this is the first time I've heard his full name.'
The guards simply ignored Alfred's words and carried on their inspection, laughing along to each other occasionally.
Alfred was being polite at first, but seeing the soldier's reaction, his patience had run out.
He jumped off his horse and made steady strides over to the nearest guard, who finally turned to look at him, a sneer on his face.
However Alfred didn't stop walking when the guard took notice of him. He simply kept his pace, as if the guard didn't even exist.
When he stood less than a foot away from where the guard stood with his hand resting on the sheath, he stopped walking and…
Thwack!
The guard hit the ground hard.
Alfred just sighed and looked towards another nearby guard, who now had his sword unsheathed.
He may still be heavily injured, but dealing with a measly guard like this one was nothing to him.
With all prying and astonished eyes on him, he simply reached into an opening in his armour and took out a small pendant, raising it in front of him for all nearby guards to see.
"I said, tell your captain that Alfred Wynter, Peak D rank adventurer, has an urgent report!"
This time, the other guards took him much more seriously.
Even the guard he had just headbutted on the floor replaced his anger with seriousness as he heard what Alfred said.