Stone City stood proudly under the gray skies of the continent, a beacon of strength in a world ravaged by chaos.
Its towering walls, thick and sturdy, had withstood countless battles, and the city's heartbeat echoed in the cobblestone streets.
The capital of the continent was not just a place of refuge but a thriving hub of commerce, culture, and life.
From here, the fate of the region often unfolded — be it in the halls of the elite or in the murkier corners where the destitute fought for survival.
Alan stepped out the carriage, his boots meeting the well-worn cobblestones with a quiet thud.
The driver gave a short salute, tipping his hat before he turned the carriage around and disappeared down the bustling street.
Alan watched the dust kick up as the vehicle rolled away, his gaze lingering for a moment before he exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Feels so good to be back," he muttered to himself.
The streets around him were teeming with life. Vendors shouted out prices, trying to outdo each other to catch the attention of the passing crowd.
The aroma of fresh bread and sizzling meat wafted through the air, mingling with the more pungent smells of the nearby smithies and tanneries.
The clang of hammer on metal, rhythmic and steady, rang out from a row of blacksmith shops that lined the street.
Some smiths hammered out swords or armor, while others worked on tools, all of them in a hurry to meet the demands of their customers.
He paused for a moment, letting the sounds of the city wash over him. Life here was chaotic, but it was alive.
In a world that had been on the brink of collapse for so long, people were still fighting, still making their way through each day.
Everyone had their struggles, their own debts to pay, but the city didn't slow down.
People moved in a kind of frenzied harmony, trying to make a living in an ever-changing world.
Alan ran a hand through his long, messy hair, feeling the weight of his thoughts. The debts… They were like an ever-looming shadow, always on the edge of his mind.
"Well time to be going then," he said under his breath as he adjusted his coat. The chilled air that had greeted him when he stepped off the carriage had begun to fade with the warmth of the city's bustle, but it still carried a bite.
He was going to try and start paying the debts off first.
He started walking through the crowded streets, the sound of his boots tapping against the cobblestones lost in the cacophony of the city.
As he walked, he could feel the eyes of the vendors on him, sizing him up as he passed.
His clothing, newly bought, marked him as a person of some status.
But more importantly, his weapon — a curved blade that hung low on his hip— was an unmistakable sign of who he was: a Beast Tamer. Although they hadn't seen his beast.
Beast Tamers were as much a part of the city as the food vendors and blacksmiths.
They walked with their beasts, companions of all shapes and sizes, beasts that had been tamed to serve them.
Some carried fierce wolves or large birds of prey, others with massive, hulking creatures or sleek, agile cats.
The bond between a Tamer and their beast was sacred. It was the key to survival in a world like this. And for many, it was the only thing that kept them from being consumed by the chaos.
Alan didn't mind the extra attention, though. He was used to it by now.
What bothered him more was the tight knot in his stomach. He had no time to waste.
His mother's treatment had drained him of what little savings he had, and if he didn't make some headway on his debts soon, he wasn't sure what he'd do.
The hospital bills were mounting, and though the city was known for its skilled healers, the prices for such services were steep.
Not even a Beast Tamer was immune to the cost of care.
His stomach rumbled, a reminder of how little he had eaten in the last few days.
The scent of sizzling meats and fresh spices from the nearby food stalls made his mouth water.
The hunger gnawed at him, but he forced himself to ignore it. It would be idiotic to spend the money he had on food when he didn't know how much he still owed. He needed to stay focused.
After a few more blocks, Alan arrived at the large building that towered before him.
The Stone Hospital, one of the largest medical facilities in the city. It was where his mother had been receiving treatment since her illness had worsened.
It was a place of life and death, and it was where Alan had spent much of the little money he had been able to gather prior to becoming a Beast Tamer.
The building itself was a mixture of modern architecture and ancient stonework, with large windows that looked out over the city.
The entrance was flanked by guards who nodded respectfully as Alan approached. His presence here wasn't uncommon — he had been a regular visitor since his mother had fallen ill.
With a deep breath, he pushed open the heavy doors and entered the lobby.
The faint smell of antiseptic and medicinal herbs filled the air. It was quieter here than on the streets, the noise of the city muffled by the thick walls of the hospital.
A receptionist, an older woman with glasses perched on her nose, greeted him with a nod as he approached the desk.
"Alan," she said softly, her voice warm but professional. "Your mother is resting. The doctors are still monitoring her condition."
He nodded in return, but inside, his heart sank. He didn't know how much longer she could hang on. He had been owing... they refused to tend to her to the best of her abilties but not anymore.
"Thank you," he said, his voice low. "I'll go see her now."
With that, he turned and made his way down the hall, His mother's well-being was his only concern.