"Kaelan... wake up, Kaelan..."
A distant voice echoed through the abyss. He was drowning, trapped in a dark void filled with thousands of eyes staring at him.
It feels cold. I want to sleep.
"You better wake up..."
...
SPLASH!
"EEEIIII!!!" Kaelan shot up with a jolt, cold water dripping down his head.
"KARA!" he shouted, glaring at his sister. He felt a surge of heat, part embarrassment, part frustration was welling up. If he had his way, he'd toss her into the pigsty for this. Pulling himself up from the hay bale he'd been sleeping on, Kaelan looked around. The sun was already high in the sky. After days of endless work, milking cows, feeding pigs, hunting, gathering firewood, his body had given out, and he'd dozed off.
"You sleepyhead!" teased Kara, his seven-year-old little sister or seven and a half, as she insisted. She beamed with mischief. "Mom wants you to wash up for lunch. Oh, and someone stopped by. I think she's a knight," she added in a conspiratorial whisper, knowing full well about her older brother's obsession with swords and adventure.
"Really?!" he said, excited, before narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "You're lying."
"Tch, suit yourself!" Kara ran off toward the farmhouse, sticking her tongue out. "Don't be jealous when she makes me her squire!"
"Wait up!" Kaelan called after her, ready to chase her down, but froze in place. The feeling returned, the suffocating, inescapable sensation he'd had before waking up. He was back in the abyss, a void devoid of light and life. He couldn't see them, but he could feel the stares, the overwhelming dread, and a deep sense of incompleteness.
"OI."
An unfamiliar voice shattered the trance, snapping him back to reality. He turned and saw… an elf?
Elves had only recently been accepted into the kingdom, and even then, it was rare to see one in these parts. Known for their long, silky hair, smooth skin, and elegant clothing, elves carried an aura of ethereal grace. But this elf… she was nothing like the stories.
She looked rugged. Her hair was uneven, as if hacked off with a blade rather than cut with scissors. Her face bore numerous scars, one ran along the edge of her lip, another crossed the bridge of her nose and Kaelan suspected there were even more hidden beneath her sleek, battle-worn armor.
Her armor, though, was unmistakable: Sunsteel. He'd heard the tales of the miraculous metal, blessed by the Church of Solaris during the First Demonic War. It was said to reflect magical attacks, endure tremendous damage, and rival even mithril. But it came with a catch, the Church claimed exclusive ownership of it. Any ore found, or items forged from it, automatically belonged to them.
Kaelan's mind raced with questions. 'Why would an elf a people often at odds with the Church be wielding such rare armor? Unless…'
"You're probably wondering why an ugly elf like me is lugging this around, huh?" she smirked, her voice laced with dry amusement.
Kaelan stammered, before blurting out, "Y-you stole it! That has to be it, there's no way an elf could be part of… of the…"
"The Church?" she finished for him, raising an eyebrow. "Lucky for you, squirt, I'm not just any elf. I'm a Sun Knight, and I'm here to fetch your ass."
"W-wha?" Kaelan pinched himself, convinced this had to be a dream. But no he was wide awake.
The elf strode toward him confidently, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. With the other hand resting on her hip, she grinned, a mix of sarcasm and genuine amusement playing on her face.
"You've been chosen," she said matter of factly. "By Solaris himself to be the hero who defeats the Demon King."
Kaelan stood frozen as her words sank in. She let her hand fall from his shoulder, stepping back slightly as he struggled to collect his thoughts.
"Pack your bags kiddo. Its time to go"
...
"ₓₒᵣₐ"
He couldn't understand it. He refused to process it. His gaze turned to his mother and sister, who stood behind the elf. Kara looked confused, not understanding what was happening, but his mother… she looked devastated, as though she was holding back tears.
"xora…"
The world spun around him. It felt like he was back in that abyss, but this time, his thoughts were clearer. His expression shifted, caught between uncertainty and a hidden spark of excitement.
The elf spoke again.
"From now on, you are Kaelan, the Hero of Prearth."
"XORA!"
A sudden jolt snapped him awake, Princess Estellia's voice ringing in his ears. Xora stirred, blinking to find himself back in the carriage. Estellia and Edwick watched him with confusion, trying to decipher the strange expression he wore.
"S-sorry. Had a strange dream," he said with an awkward smile, glancing out the window. Outside, fields of golden wheat stretched for miles, farmers pausing their work to gape at the passing carriage. It wasn't every day they saw royalty traveling through. Up ahead loomed the Capital's massive white stone walls, their grandeur imposing even from a distance.
"I see," Estellia replied, brushing it off. "Well, we're almost there, so let me explain what's going to happen when we arrive."
As the carriage passed the first gate, Estellia began to explain. With news of the Princess being attacked, the Kingdom would be in a mild panic. Security around the royal family would tighten significantly. Her grandfather, the King, would likely be most concerned for her safety, though her older siblings would probably remain indifferent. Her father and mother, she added with a hint of bitterness, might not even notice.
"For this reason," she continued, her tone growing serious, "I need you to be polite, Xora. Don't speak unless spoken to, and don't make a scene. My family is… very particular about maintaining appearances."
She paused, her expression softening. "Alternatively, I could give you a few gold coins and let you explore the markets. Oh, that reminds me!" She gestured to Edwick, who retrieved a bag gifted by the village lord.
"Here," she said, handing Xora a golden coin. It was embossed with a unique emblem: a sword splitting through a stylized "V." "This is a Valor Coin. It might look like an ordinary coin, but it's important. It acts as a sign of higher status. It lets you bypass certain restrictions regular citizens have to deal with, like checkpoint fees."
The carriage rolled through the first gate and into the bustling lower district. The streets were alive with activity merchants shouting to advertise their wares, taverns buzzing with patrons, and small stalls selling everything from food to trinkets. Estellia pointed toward the distant walls that divided the city into layers.
"See those walls? They act as checkpoints between the city's districts. There are three in total: the lower district, the middle district, and the noble district where the Palace is. The lower district has most of the everyday businesses—taverns, blacksmiths, the Adventurers' Guild, and so on."
As they passed through the streets, Xora took in the sights. Taverns with colorful signs lined the roads, vendors of various races called out from their stalls, and houses of wood crowded together near the main thoroughfare. The air was thick with the smells of food, sweat, and smoke.
"That Valor Coin," Estellia continued, "will save you from having to pay the checkpoint fees. It's also a sign of respect, so people are less likely to hassle you."
They reached the second gate, where guards were stationed at three separate entrances: one for pedestrians, one for cargo, and one for carriages. Each guard meticulously checked paperwork for shipments and collected fees to allow passage.
The Princess's carriage, of course, was waved through without issue.
The middle district was noticeably cleaner and more refined than the lower one. The cobblestone streets were well-maintained, the air smelled fresher, and the houses were constructed from sturdy stone instead of rough timber. Children no longer ran wild in the streets, and vagrants were nowhere to be seen.
"This area is for the middle class," Estellia explained. "It's better in almost every way. The Adventurers' Guild here, for example, is much larger and handles more prestigious quests. The one in the lower district is mostly for menial jobs helping on farms, clearing out rats, or running errands. This guild handles the flashy stuff slaying dragons, exploring dungeons, gathering rare materials."
Xora nodded, barely able to keep up with all the new information. His eyes darted from shopfronts boasting polished weapons to bustling stalls selling exotic goods. The liveliness of the district was intoxicating.
Finally, they approached the third and final gate. Here, security was even tighter. Guards in polished armor stood at attention, and only two entrances allowed passage: one for cargo and one for carriages.
Their carriage came to a stop as guards approached, but Estellia remained unperturbed.
"Don't worry," she said reassuringly. "They're just here to escort us to the Palace."
As four guards surrounded the carriage, Xora's curiosity grew. This city was nothing like the quiet farm life he'd known. It was grand, bustling, and brimming with opportunities he couldn't yet grasp.
And now, he was about to step into the heart of it all.
As the carriage passed through the final gate, the transformation was undeniable. The noble district radiated opulence and order, a stark contrast to the bustling middle class area and the lively chaos of the lower district.
The cobblestone streets gleamed as though freshly polished, lined with ornate lampposts that bore intricate carvings of mythical creatures. Well-dressed individuals strolled leisurely, their fine garments accented with jewelry that caught the sunlight.
"Welcome to the noble district," Estellia said with a small smile, gesturing to the grandeur around them. "This area is home to the wealthiest families, influential merchants, and, of course, the royal palace where I live!."
Further down the road the pass by the Auction house. Estellia Comments on it "That is where rare and priceless items are sold to the highest bidder. Everything from ancient relics to rare magical artifacts can be found here. Only those with a Valor coin or a noble seal are allowed to participate."
A little bit down the carriage slowed down to a halt to let a group of worshipper to cross. Up ahead a massive silhouette of a Cathedral dominated the skyline. Its stain glass windows depicted radiant suns, religious symbolism and imagery depicting the Sun God Solaris, the myriads of colors created a kaleidoscope of light onto the streets below. The Churches Spire seems to reach the heavens itself, as the bells above are known to ring every hour. Estellia doesn't comment on it, more so she seems to scowl at it as they pass by.
Finally, the carriage turned onto the main boulevard leading to the royal palace. The palace itself was a masterpiece of architectural splendor, with soaring towers capped with gilded spires. Surrounding it were immaculately kept gardens, where fountains danced and exotic flowers filled the air with their fragrance. Guards were stationed all around the perimeter as they halt to a stop infront of the the golden gates with the Dawn family crest embedden on it.
Estellia stops Xora before they can leave the carriage "Listen. I really do mean it, please be on your best behaviour" she looks serious before smiling. "lets go then!"
Both them leave towards the Palace, as it was his first introduction into society.