Just beyond the city walls, the landscape opened into a wide stretch of fertile farmland.
Fields of wheat, corn, and various vegetables lined the road, each patch of land neatly divided by low stone fences that traced the contours of the land.
The golden hues of the crops glowed under the late afternoon sun, their long shadows dancing across the earth in rhythm with the gentle breeze.
Farmers dressed in simple work clothes could be seen scattered across the fields, their movements steady and purposeful as they tended to the crops.
The soft murmur of their labor blended seamlessly with the peaceful ambiance of the countryside.
As Adam's carriage moved further from the protective embrace of the city, the tidy rows of farmland began to fade.
Slowly, they gave way to vast, open grasslands, their expanse stretching endlessly into the horizon.
The transition was almost imperceptible—the fertile fields gradually merging into rolling plains of tall, golden grass that swayed in the wind, resembling a vast ocean moved by invisible tides.
The road beneath the carriage wheels remained straight and clear, but the number of travelers on it dwindled as the city receded into the distance.
Without any shelter in sight and only the open sky above, the landscape felt vast and untamed, a place where the cautious tread carefully.
Adventurers and merchants alike traveled these parts with wary eyes, scanning the horizon for any sign of danger.
Bandits and wild creatures lurked in the wilderness, waiting for those foolish enough to drop their guard.
For seven days, Adam's carriage continued along this road, the journey marked by a steady, unbroken rhythm.
On the eighth day, the horizon finally broke, revealing the distant silhouette of a city rising in the distance.
Adam leaned forward slightly and called out to the driver. "Do you know anything about River City?" he asked, his voice calm but curious.
The carriage driver nodded at Adam's question. "Yes, I grew up right here," he said, his voice tinged with the nostalgia of someone speaking about their homeland.
"Can you tell me something about the city?" Adam asked, his curiosity piqued by the driver's familiarity with the place.
"Absolutely, Sir," the driver replied eagerly.
After a brief pause, he began, "Many years ago, the foundation stone of River City was laid by the greatest water mage this land had ever seen. He was a close friend of the king back then."
The driver's voice deepened with respect as he continued, "His name was Arthur. Later, his family became the governors of the city, and the king honored them by giving the family name 'Arthur' to signify their bond with the crown."
Adam listened intently as the driver spoke. "Most of the Arthur family are water mages, and they've produced some of the finest mages in the kingdom. Their mastery over water magic is unrivaled."
"But," the driver said, lowering his voice slightly, "things started to change about 20 years ago. King Pan Heartflame, in his wisdom or perhaps otherwise, sent another noble family to rule alongside the Arthurs. That's when trouble started."
Adam leaned forward. "What do you mean by trouble?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Well, Sir," the driver sighed, "what started as minor disagreements turned into something much worse. If one family made a decision, the other refused to accept it. Over the years, their rivalry became more bitter. Now, it's outright enmity between the two noble families, and the city has been caught in the middle."
"And because of their enmity, neither family paid much attention to the city," the driver continued, his voice carrying a note of frustration. "The situation only worsened about fifteen years ago, when all kinds of criminal organizations, gangs, and thugs seemed to appear out of nowhere. They started harassing the common folk without consequence."
Adam furrowed his brow. "Did the two noble families do nothing to stop them?"
The driver let out a bitter chuckle. "They only pay attention when they aren't too busy feuding with each other," he replied. "From what I've heard, although it's not confirmed, one of the families might be supporting these criminal groups."
Adam's eyes narrowed. "Supporting them?"
The driver nodded. "That's the word around the city. It would explain why so many thugs and gang members roam freely. Even if a city guard arrests one of them, they're released almost immediately. No charges, no punishment."
"And the guards don't retaliate?" Adam asked, his tone cold.
"They don't have the chance," the driver said, shaking his head. "Those brave enough to arrest a gang member are killed in front of their families. And no one dares to speak up."
Adam's gaze darkened. "Even if one family supports these criminals, what about the other family?"
The driver sighed, clearly perplexed. "That's the same question that plagues us all. No one knows what's truly going on between the two families or which one is backing the thugs. But the truth is, this city is crumbling from within."
As they spoke, Adam began to get a clearer view of River City in the distance. It loomed ahead, its skyline a mix of grand architecture and shadowy corners, a place of both promise and peril.
"Is it still the same, or has anything changed?" Adam asked, his gaze fixed on the distant city.
The driver sighed. "I moved with my family to the Kingdom's capital about three years ago... but I keep coming back here for work. From what I've seen, things haven't improved. In fact, it's worse."
Adam tilted his head. "If it's so bad, why don't people just leave?"
The driver grimaced. "They can't. The two noble families introduced a new rule a while back. If any resident tries to leave, it's considered an insult to the noble houses. Leaving the city now is seen as treason."
"Treason?" Adam raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," the driver confirmed. "Anyone who attempts to leave is imprisoned under charges of treason, accused of bringing dishonor to the families."
Adam frowned. "Then how did you manage to get out?"
The driver gave a small smile. "I was lucky. I left with my family before the new rules were enforced."
"I always thought River City was one of the most peaceful places in the Kingdom," Adam mused.
The driver chuckled bitterly. "You're not wrong. River City *can* be peaceful, but only if you pay the 'protection fees' to the gangs that run each district. If you pay up, you're left alone and can live in peace."
"And how much is the fee?" Adam asked, a hint of sharpness in his tone.