Darius and Lodan approached the walls of Astrath just before dusk. The city rose from the plains with tall stone ramparts and watchtowers, the silhouettes of guards patrolling along the top. Torches flickered on either side of a wide gate, revealing a steady flow of people entering and leaving. Wagons rattled by, carrying goods under the weary gaze of uniformed sentries.
Darius slowed, scanning the bustling crowd.
"This place is larger than I expected."
Lodan pulled his hood low over his face.
"I've seen grand cities before, but something about this one feels tense."
They joined a line of travelers heading into Astrath. Merchants hawked wares from rough carts, farmers led tired horses, and a group of adventurers in mismatched gear trudged forward with dirt-stained boots. A murmur of conversation hung in the air, punctuated by the occasional shout from a guard.
A stern-faced soldier in a battered breastplate stood at the gate, checking documents.
"Name and reason for entering?"
Darius glanced at Lodan.
"Darius, looking for work. My companion's Lodan."
The soldier eyed them, taking in their ragged clothes.
"Refugees from the north?"
Lodan forced a grin.
"Something like that."
The man grunted.
"No trouble in my city. Understood?"
Darius gave a curt nod.
"Understood."
They stepped through the gate, passing under a heavy portcullis. The streets inside were paved with uneven cobblestones and lit by lanterns that cast wavering shadows across the facades of timber buildings. Crowds pressed in from all sides, forcing Darius to weave carefully between strangers.
A cart piled high with crates rumbled by, nearly grazing his shoulder. Lodan muttered curses, sidestepping a pushy vendor waving dried fish in his face. The noise and closeness reminded Darius of Blackstone City, though Astrath's streets lacked the ominous hush of back-alley deals.
He paused at a quieter corner, letting others shuffle past.
"We should find a place to stay before it gets too late."
Lodan tugged his hood lower, looking around with restless eyes.
"Agreed. But we have almost no money."
Darius fingered the few coins left in his pouch.
"We'll need to be careful with what we spend."
They continued along a winding avenue lined with taverns and shop fronts. Lanterns swung above doors, each sign painted with symbols of ale, beds, or trade goods. Boisterous laughter spilled from an inn called The Copper Crown. Across the street, a smaller establishment displayed a sign shaped like a sleeping cat.
Darius considered both places. The Copper Crown sounded lively and expensive. The sleeping cat sign seemed more modest.
"Let's try that smaller inn first."
Lodan nodded.
"Lead the way."
They entered the low-ceilinged space, where the scent of roasted meat clung to the air. A few patrons nursed drinks at rough wooden tables. Behind a counter stood a stocky woman with short gray hair and a no-nonsense demeanor.
She eyed their worn clothes.
"Rooms are cheap but not free. You paying in coin?"
Darius placed two silver pieces on the counter.
"How many nights will this get us?"
She counted one coin, then the other with practiced speed.
"Two nights, no meals. If you want food, that's extra."
He glanced at Lodan, who offered a shrug.
"That's all we can manage for now."
The woman placed a small key on the counter.
"Up the stairs, second door on the left. Name's Ilsa, in case you need something."
Darius scooped up the key. He and Lodan headed to a cramped wooden staircase that creaked at every step. The room they found at the end of a narrow hall was barely large enough for a single bed and a rickety dresser. A lone window overlooked a dark alley, and the smell of damp wood seeped into the air.
Lodan wrinkled his nose.
"Better than the streets, but not by much."
Darius set his pouch and dagger on the dresser, glancing around for any sign of the orb.
"We'll need to figure out our next move tomorrow. The orb mentioned a synchronization. Whatever that means, it must be tied to this city."
He sat on the edge of the bed, mind racing with possibilities.
"From what I've seen, Astrath is brimming with all kinds of travelers. If there's a place to find information, it's here."
Lodan stood by the window, peering through the narrow gap at the alley below.
"You think the orb will just appear again? Maybe in the sky, or near our room?"
"It's possible," Darius replied.
"But I won't rely on it. We might have to search for leads."
Lodan turned away from the window.
"What kind of leads?"
Darius thought back to the bustling streets.
"Adventurers, mages, anyone who deals in strange magic. If the orb is some kind of system, there must be hints about it here."
A soft knock on the door interrupted them. Ilsa's voice came through.
"If you're hungry, stew's a copper a bowl. Dining area downstairs."
Darius stood up and opened the door a crack.
"We'll be right down."
The moment she left, he looked at Lodan.
"Might as well eat something. Then tomorrow, we start digging for answers."
Lodan shrugged again.
"I'm too hungry to argue."
They headed downstairs, where the common room had filled with a few more patrons. At a back table, two figures in hooded cloaks talked in hushed tones, while a tired bard plucked absentmindedly at a lute near the corner. Ilsa ladled stew into battered bowls, placing them on the counter.
Darius nodded his thanks and carried the bowls to a vacant table near the window. He tasted the stew, finding it thin but warming. Lodan ate silently, occasionally stealing wary glances at the hooded pair in the corner.
After a while, Darius noticed one of the cloaked figures tilt their head in their direction. He tensed.
"Keep your eyes on your stew."
Lodan kept his gaze down.
"They're watching us?"
"Seems like it."
Seconds later, the stranger stood and approached. A silver amulet glinted at their neck, marked with swirling symbols that Darius couldn't place. The hood concealed much of the face, but from the voice that emerged, the figure sounded young.
"You two look like you've come a long way."
Darius remained calm, setting his spoon aside.
"We have. Something we can do for you?"
The figure lowered the hood, revealing a girl with cropped dark hair and keen eyes.
"Name's Sella. Saw you enter the city gate earlier. You don't look like normal travelers."
Lodan gave Darius a nervous sidelong glance.
"We had some trouble up north."
Sella studied them both.
"Lots of folks come here after trouble. Astrath's a magnet for wanderers and fugitives."
Darius narrowed his eyes, uncertain of her intentions.
"Are you with the city guard?"
She shook her head.
"No. But I know someone who might help you. He deals with... unusual cases."
Lodan couldn't hide his curiosity.
"Unusual in what way?"
Sella's gaze flicked between them.
"Magic, curses, strange phenomena. If you don't know your place in this world, he might guide you."
Darius leaned forward.
"Why are you telling us this?"
She shrugged, offering a guarded smile.
"Because it seems like you're lost, and I have a knack for spotting people like that. If you're interested, meet me at the old library tomorrow morning."
Before either of them could reply, she turned and returned to her companion. They left the inn without another word.
Lodan shook his head.
"This city's full of surprises."
Darius stared at the empty doorway, wondering if this was a trap or a genuine lead.
"We need all the help we can get, but let's stay on guard. We'll check it out."
They finished the stew in silence, each lost in thoughts of orbs, magic, and hidden agendas. Darius felt the weight of uncertainty press on him. He had crossed into a world full of unfamiliar powers and shifting allegiances, yet a flicker of determination kept him focused. If there was a way to discover the orb's secrets, he would find it. And if anyone stood in his path, he would face them on his own terms.
He glanced at Lodan, who offered a half-smile.
"Tomorrow, then?"
Darius gave a slight nod.
"Tomorrow."
They ascended the stairs to their cramped room, minds racing with questions. Night had fully fallen across Astrath, but neither man found comfort in the darkness. Somewhere in these winding streets, answers lay waiting—ones that might change Darius's life yet again.