The grand city of Befardo stretched before Liam, its cobblestone streets bustling with life. Vendors called out, hawking their goods, and the sound of clinking coins filled the air. The towering buildings, adorned with flags bearing the emblem of Celestiya, cast long shadows in the afternoon sun.
Liam and Caiser strolled through the streets side by side. Caiser, more relaxed now, seemed to enjoy playing the role of a tour guide.
"This area is called the Merchant's Quarter," Caiser explained. "You can find almost anything here—rare herbs, magical artifacts, even some black-market goods if you know where to look."
Liam raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Black market, you say? How do you know about that?"
Caiser laughed. "Let's just say I've spent enough time here to learn a few things."
As they continued walking, Liam's eyes darted around, taking in the city's sights and the people's expressions. He noticed a group of soldiers in silver armor patrolling the streets, their presence causing some citizens to shy away.
"Those soldiers," Liam remarked, "they don't look like regular guards."
"They're not," Caiser replied. "They're part of the Queen's special unit. Elite soldiers tasked with handling high-profile cases and maintaining order in the capital."
Liam's gaze lingered on the soldiers for a moment before turning away. "Interesting. I'll keep that in mind."
They made their way to a grand plaza, where a magnificent fountain stood at the center. Water cascaded down from the statue of a winged woman holding a sword aloft.
"That's the Fountain of Victory," Caiser said, pointing to the statue. "It's a tribute to Queen Carmila IV's victories in the recent wars."
Liam's eyes narrowed slightly. "Queen Carmila… I've heard she's quite ambitious."
Caiser nodded, his expression turning serious. "She is. She's enacted many reforms and has strengthened Celestiya's military. But not everyone agrees with her methods."
Before Liam could respond, a commotion broke out at the edge of the plaza. A young woman, dressed in rags, was being dragged by two of the Queen's special unit soldiers. She struggled, pleading for help, but the crowd merely watched in silence.
"Help me!" she cried. "I didn't do anything wrong!"
Liam's eyes flicked to Caiser, who looked conflicted. "What's going on?" Liam asked.
Caiser frowned. "It looks like she's been accused of theft. The punishment for stealing in the capital is severe."
Liam's gaze hardened. "Is it really theft, or is she just an easy scapegoat?"
Caiser hesitated. "I don't know. But interfering could get us in trouble."
Liam's smirk returned. "Trouble has a way of finding me anyway."
Before Caiser could stop him, Liam stepped forward, raising his voice. "Hold on! What's this woman accused of?"
The crowd parted as the soldiers turned to face him, their eyes narrowing. One of them, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, sneered. "Who are you to question the Queen's justice?"
"Liam Hemsworth," he said casually, a confident smile on his lips. "Just a concerned citizen."
The soldier's sneer faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "This woman was caught trying to steal from a merchant. We're taking her in for questioning."
Liam's eyes flicked to the woman's wrists, noticing fresh bruises. "Doesn't look like she got a fair chance to explain herself."
The soldier took a step forward, hand on his sword hilt. "Are you questioning our methods?"
Caiser stepped up beside Liam, a tense smile on his face. "Let's not escalate things. I'm sure we can resolve this peacefully."
The crowd watched in silence, anticipation hanging in the air. Liam glanced at the woman, who met his gaze with a desperate, pleading look. He let out a small sigh.
"Fine," Liam said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Take her away. But I'll be visiting the barracks later to make sure everything's handled properly."
The soldier hesitated, clearly unnerved by Liam's confidence. He glanced at Caiser, recognizing the hero's presence, before nodding reluctantly. "Very well. But stay out of this if you know what's good for you."
As the soldiers dragged the woman away, the crowd slowly dispersed. Caiser let out a sigh of relief. "You just love stirring the pot, don't you?"
Liam smirked. "I wasn't going to let them drag her off without saying something."
Caiser shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're reckless, but I suppose that's part of your charm."
They continued their walk through the city, but Liam couldn't shake the woman's face from his mind. Ray's voice cut through his thoughts.
"You're planning something, aren't you?"
"Maybe," Liam admitted. "It depends on what I find out when I visit the barracks."
Ray chuckled. "You're like a cat who can't resist poking at a hornet's nest."
Liam's smile widened. "And I haven't been stung yet."