Catherine, Elizabeth, Pierre, Virginia, and Thomas felt a flash of bright light before finding themselves standing in a narrow, silent alley. The alley was enclosed by towering brick walls, with only faint noises of city bustle beyond the buildings. Catherine stepped forward, scanning her surroundings with a sharp gaze.
"This place... is far more advanced than Esverita," Catherine remarked, glancing toward the end of the alley. A small sign with strange letters hung on one wall, signaling that they were indeed in a completely different city.
Pierre nodded in agreement. "These buildings are sturdier, and the streets look cleaner. But why are we always teleported to secluded alleys? Is this just coincidence?"
Virginia glanced toward the faint sounds of commotion beyond the walls. "It might be safer to start somewhere inconspicuous. We don't know who's here."
Elizabeth, looking awkward, stood behind the others. It was her first time joining the group on a mission, and everything felt unfamiliar. She fidgeted with the edge of her dress, trying to suppress her nervousness.
"What should we do?" Elizabeth asked softly, her eyes fixed on Catherine.
Before Catherine could respond, a familiar voice echoed in their minds. It was the navigator. "Listen, team. Like in Esverita, you need to start by gathering information. There are several ways: listen to local rumors, visit the adventurer's guild, or chat at the market. Start in one of those places. Focus on anything unusual or suspicious."
Thomas chuckled lightly. "Of course, repeating the same drill. It seems our navigator loves playing detective through us."
Catherine ignored Thomas's remark and began organizing her thoughts. "Alright, we need to decide where to start. The adventurer's guild might have more structured information, but the market is where the juiciest rumors spread."
"How about we split up?" Pierre suggested. "We'll gather information faster that way."
Virginia firmly shook her head. "No. We don't know what awaits us in this city. It's too risky to split up. We need to stick together."
Elizabeth hesitantly nodded in agreement. "I think so too. This place... feels too vast. I'm not used to all this."
Catherine looked at Elizabeth briefly before giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll handle this together. First, let's head to the market. It's the easiest place to gather information."
Thomas smirked. "Of course, Catherine. You always make the best decisions, don't you?"
"Obviously," Catherine replied coolly, though her sharp glance warned Thomas not to push her patience.
With determined steps, they started toward the alley's exit. The noise of the crowd grew louder—merchants shouting to advertise their goods, children laughing as they played in the streets. As they emerged from the alley, the grandeur of Arcadia's cityscape unfolded before them.
Virginia surveyed the surroundings carefully. "This city is full of activity. We need to stay alert. Not everyone here might be friendly."
"The navigator mentioned something about the possibility of other players being here, right?" Pierre asked, walking alongside Catherine. "If that's the case, we need to be prepared for anything."
"Exactly. But don't stir up trouble until we've gathered enough information," Catherine warned. "We don't want any unnecessary attention."
Elizabeth followed behind, trying to match her steps with the group. Her initial awkwardness was slowly fading, though her mind remained preoccupied with what challenges lay ahead. "What are we looking for at the market?" she asked.
"Anything," Virginia answered calmly. "Rumors, news, or even the smallest clues about our main quest."
For them, Arcadia was a new chapter full of challenges, and every step here could determine the success or failure of their mission.
Catherine, Elizabeth, Pierre, Virginia, and Thomas walked together toward the heart of Arcadia. The cobblestone streets they passed were bustling with merchants, carts, and busy townsfolk. The city's more modern architecture compared to Esverita made them feel slightly out of place, but its beauty was undeniable. Stone buildings adorned with intricate carvings lined the streets, and a towering clock tower loomed in the distance.
However, the further they walked, the clearer it became that they were drawing attention. The townsfolk began to glance at them curiously. Some whispered among themselves, while others pointed discreetly yet with evident interest. With their attire so different from the locals—Catherine exuding a graceful and commanding aura, Virginia radiating authority, Thomas dressed practically yet distinctively in his own way, Pierre appearing simple yet resolute, and Elizabeth resembling someone out of a nightmare—they were anything but ordinary.
A young man in the typical garb of the townsfolk approached them, his curiosity evident. "Excuse me," he said, glancing at each of them, "where are you from? You don't seem to be from around here."
Catherine opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. The question caught her off guard, and she wasn't sure how to explain their presence without sounding suspicious. Before the situation grew more awkward, Thomas stepped forward calmly.
"We're from the Kingdom of Esverita," he replied in a controlled tone, careful not to reveal too much. The young man looked as if he wanted to ask more, but before he could, Thomas glanced at his group and said, "We need to go now. Thank you for your interest." He signaled the others to follow.
As they walked away, Catherine voiced her thoughts, "Why did you answer like that? Now he'll be even more curious."
Thomas sighed softly. "If we stay here in a group like this, we'll attract more attention. We need to split up soon."
At that moment, the navigator's voice echoed in their minds. "Thomas is right. This is the first time you're all working together in such a large group. I didn't expect the townsfolk to engage with you so quickly. We need to minimize attention. Thomas, Catherine, and Pierre, head to the adventurer's guild. Look for missions or any recent news there. Virginia and Elizabeth, go to the market. Gather information or find items that might be useful. Report back with anything you discover."
"We could just stay together," Elizabeth said quietly, a bit uncertain about the decision. "This is a new place, and we don't know what we'll face."
Virginia gently patted Elizabeth's shoulder. "The navigator has a point. Splitting up will make us less conspicuous. Don't worry, we'll still support each other. Besides, this is the best way to complete our task efficiently."
Pierre nodded. "I agree. We can regroup after we're done. The market and the adventurer's guild shouldn't be too far from each other."
The navigator added, "You have a communication system in place for emergencies. Don't worry about your safety."
After a brief discussion, they agreed on the plan. Thomas, Catherine, and Pierre headed toward the adventurer's guild, weaving through the increasingly crowded streets. Meanwhile, Virginia and Elizabeth moved toward the market, where the noise of merchants hawking their wares grew louder.
On their respective paths, they all remained vigilant, observing their new surroundings closely. Elizabeth, though still feeling awkward about her role in the group, tried to match Virginia's confident strides. Catherine, despite her pride, couldn't suppress her curiosity about what they might find at the guild.
***
Virginia and Elizabeth strolled through the bustling streets of Arcadia, immersed in the lively atmosphere. The city's vibrancy was a stark contrast to the Kingdom of Esverita they had left behind. Brightly colored stone buildings lined the streets, adorned with vibrant fabrics swaying gently in the breeze. Merchants shouted to advertise their goods, from fresh produce to luxury items like jewelry and silk.
Virginia glanced at Elizabeth, who was looking around with a wide-eyed expression. "This city is far busier than Esverita," Virginia noted, folding her arms. "Back there, the streets were filled with guards and knights. But here, it's the merchants who dominate. I haven't seen a single guard so far."
Elizabeth nodded, her face still reflecting confusion. "Why aren't there any guards? Doesn't every city need protection?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Virginia shrugged. "Maybe this city is too peaceful, and they don't feel the need for guards. But if that's the case, why did the system send us here?" She frowned slightly. "There hasn't been a quest update, and that's suspicious."
Elizabeth fell silent for a moment, pondering Virginia's words. Then she asked, "Is Esverita as safe as this?"
Virginia exhaled softly. "Not really. In Esverita, the threat from bandits or rebels is very real, so security is tight. Guards patrol almost every corner. But here..." she glanced at the crowd, "it seems peaceful. Too peaceful, even. We should stay cautious."
Elizabeth nodded slightly, her gaze drawn to a display of goods at a nearby stall. "What's that?" she asked, pointing at a small, intricately carved pendant.
Virginia followed her gaze and gave a faint smile. "It's a pendant, probably just a simple accessory." She stepped closer, and Elizabeth followed. "But in a place like this, it doesn't hurt to check out what's being sold. Sometimes merchants sell rare items without realizing it."
They stopped in front of the stall, and the merchant, an elderly man with a bushy white beard, greeted them warmly. "Ladies, interested in my wares? This pendant was handcrafted by the finest artisans in Arcadia."
Elizabeth examined the pendant carefully. She wanted to ask more, but hesitated. Virginia stepped forward and asked, "Is there any special story behind this pendant?"
The merchant shook his head with a smile. "Just a work of art, miss. No magical tale or legend attached."
Virginia nodded politely, then glanced at Elizabeth. "It doesn't seem important for us," she said softly.
Elizabeth sighed in relief. "I thought there might be something... extraordinary about these items. I guess I still have a lot to learn."
"That's natural," Virginia replied as they walked away from the stall. "We all learn from experience. And don't forget, we have the navigator to help if something truly important comes up."
Elizabeth looked slightly reassured at this. However, a hint of doubt still lingered in her eyes. They continued to explore the market, occasionally stopping to examine other goods. Virginia remained vigilant, while Elizabeth kept observing, trying to understand this new world that felt so different from what she was used to.
"Virginia," Elizabeth called suddenly. "What do you think our real purpose here is?"
Virginia paused for a moment before replying. "Maybe we'll figure that out once we hear more rumors. For now, all we can do is stay alert and follow the navigator's instructions. And if this city really is as safe as it seems, I'm sure we'll soon uncover the reason we were sent here."
Elizabeth nodded, though the uncertainty remained evident on her face. With that, they continued their exploration of Arcadia's market, searching for clues while keeping an eye out for anything unusual in the seemingly peaceful city.
***