It was a peaceful journey, with no robbers or wild beasts attacking them midway.
The caravan traveled along the dirt road, the creaking of wheels under the weight of the luggage and passengers, until the path led them out of the dense forest. The great walls that towered above the trees of Dawn City came into the sight of the caravan members, as the city gates were wide open, surrounded by guards in silver armor that reflected the midday sunlight.
The sounds from the city could be even heard at the edge of the forest: the voices of people queuing in front of the city gates, the sound of merchants' carts moving to transport their goods, and the sound of the bells ringing faintly from the church.
Kass's eyes stared at the magnificent city, but as he gazed, the scene in front of him seemed to shift.
The peaceful city was overlapping with the city from his memory. Black fires burned all over the city, cracked and crumbling stone walls, wooden churches that had been eroded and disintegrated by the sordid light of the stars, smoke and ashes scattered throughout the city, twisted people like monsters, the screams of despair that still lingered in his mind.
He blinked, and the overlapping city disappeared, leaving only the present city vibrant with colors. Yet, the faint smell of smoke still lingered on the tip of his nose. He gripped the handle of his sword. 'This time, I will do everything to stop it.'
"Kass?" Jade's quiet voice brought him back to reality. Walking ahead of him, she turned back to look at him.
He took a breath. "It's nothing," he replied. "Let's go."
When the caravan reached the city gate, the guards set the path for the wagons to move to the large gate on the left, which was the screening point for baggage and caravan members. Kass and the others had to go to the small gate on the right for travelers.
"It's time for us to part ways." Uncle Robert, the caravan leader, said as he got down, dusting off his cloak. "It's the rule. Caravans must enter through the gate for caravans, and non-members must enter through another gate. The guards will check your class and level, so don't cause any trouble."
Tanya frowned as she asked back. "Why can't we go in? Since we came together, after all."
Robert chuckled. "Hoho. But in the end, rules must be rules. But you should be glad that you are a Novice Level 10 who came to receive blessings. Otherwise, it will be difficult to enter the city, especially those of you who do not have identification cards. And you will be okay since there are people from the church with you" He added, glancing at Jade.
"And what are those orbs that some people have to touch before entering the city?" Tanya asked her question.
"The verification orb for those without cards. Just put your hand on it and the information about the class, level, and race will be displayed to the guards." Robert replied calmly.
Kass's gaze moved to the orb. He knew how it worked and its other abilities. It did not only indicate race, level, and class, but also traces of evil cults, curses, and secret tracking marks that were secretly used on criminals who had committed crimes.
'I haven't done anything in this life, so it should be okay… right?' Kass thought to himself, then turned to the others.
"Let's go." he said as he led the group to the line.
The line in front of the city gate moved ever so slowly, each person entering the city had to step forward to place their hand on the orb, which responded by glowing faintly, displaying a text message indicating their level, class, and other information for the guards standing guard to see. They recorded the information and occasionally dragged someone from the line into the room by the city gate.
"Where are they dragging them?" Tanya asked, glancing towards the room in the gap of the city gate.
"Probably criminals who tried to sneak into the city, got caught by that orb, and were invited to have some tea." Kass replied humorously.
Leonard spoke nervously, "What if… I mean what if the orb finds something… weird about us? Like, what if it thinks we're criminals or something?"
Tanya snorted. "Leonard, the worst thing you've done is eat my share of apple pie last week. You're hardly a hardened criminal."
Leonard pouted. "That… that was just an accident!"
Kass glanced at them with an indifferent expression. "If we didn't do anything wrong, it's fine."
After waiting for a while, it was their turn to enter the city gate.
"Who's going to go first?" Tanya turned to ask the group, and everyone turned to look at her without any prior arrangement.
"Me? Then fine, I'll go first." Without giving the others a chance to say anything, she stepped forward confidently, her hand hovering over the orb for a moment before pressing it down. It glowed faintly and a message appeared:
Race: Human
Class: Novice Level 10
Crime Record: None
The guard glanced at the message before turning back. "Name and reason for entering the city."
"Name Tanya! Come to receive blessings." she said with a smile.
The guard nodded, jotting something down in his little notebook. "Good luck getting the class you want, girl. Next!"
Tanya turned back and gave them a thumbs up. "See? Easy-peasy." She mouthed.
After Tanya entered through, both Kass and Jade turned to Leonard at the same time.
"I… I'm… next?" he asked haltingly while making puppy eyes.
But the thing he got wasn't answer, but the silence.
"O-okay." Leonard pouted and walked in front of the orb, reaching out to it.
Race: Human
Class: Novice Level 10
Crime Record: 1–None
Some of the messages had changed before anyone noticed.
"Name and purpose." The guard, who seemed to not noticed the change in the orb, asked the same question.
"L-Leonard," he stammered. "Here to receive blessings."
The guard smiled faintly when he saw his concern. "Relax, I won't eat you, little one."
Leonard attempted a laugh, though it came out strained. "Haha, yeah… Just, you know, making sure I don't accidentally… explode the orb or something."
The guard raised an eyebrow at his reasoning. "Explode the orb?"
Leonard waved his hands quickly, trying to deny any accusation. "Not that I could do it! Just… you know, hypothetically. If someone could. Which I can't."
The guard chuckled, jotting down Leonard's information. "You're a clear, little scaredy-cat. Now go before you scare yourself to death and get me to clean your mess."
As Leonard disappeared past the gate, Kass and Jade were left standing together.
"Ladies, go first." Kass said to Jade, gesturing toward the city gate.
"Then I won't reject your goodwill." After walking a few steps, Jade glanced back at him for a moment, then she said softly like she was talking with herself. "You know, you're too hard on him. On all of us, sometimes, along the way we travel together to this place."
For a moment, Kass's hand drifted to the hilt of his sword. He looked away. "I have no choice."
"You always have a choice." Jade countered him and didn't say anything else.
As Jade stepped forward, the atmosphere changed slightly. The guards seemed to have taken more upright demeanor, their gaze filled with respect. She placed her hand lightly, which caused the orb to glow and reveal a character:
Race: Human
Class: Novice Level 10
Crime Record: None
"Your name and purpose." the guard asked politely, bowing his head slightly.
"Jade. Priestess Candidate, here for the blessing." She replied, her tone calm and steady.
"It is my honor to serve you." the guard said with a warm smile. "Your church is always our guiding light. May the spirit of the tree be with you."
Jade inclined her head politely and walked through, while the other guards bowed their heads to her slightly as she passed.
'It's just me this time, huh?' Kass smiled wryly to himself, as he walked towards the orb as the last of the group. He reached out and placed his hand on it, feeling it tremble slightly under his palm. Then the letters appeared:
Race: Human
Class: Novice Level 10
Crime Record: None
'Sigh' Kass unconsciously sighed in relief.
"Name and reason for entering the city." the same guard asked him in a tone that was not as respectful as when he asked Jade.
"Kass." He spoke calmly as if he did not feel any discrimination. "To receive blessings at the church."
The guard jotted something down, his gaze shifting to Kass's hand gripping the sword's hilt before meeting Kass's eyes with a meaningful look. "That's a different level of caution than others. But good luck nonetheless, little swordsman."
Kass nodded, stepping into the city gate.
The guard muttered as he returned to his post, "Such a strange group of children. Especially that young swordsman and little archer… there's something strange about that scaredy-cat and little priestess as well. Seem like there's some sort of trouble coming after them too. What a headache."
Before returning to attend the next in line, his eyes briefly glimmered, revealing a faint hourglass symbol. In the flicker of an instant, it vanished again.
Kass, unaware of the guard's lingering gaze, walked stiffly into the city, gripping his sword tightly. Behind him, the orb flickered faintly, peculiar white light flashing momentarily before fading into silence.