The next morning, everyone woke up, freshened up, and had a quick meal before setting out toward Vulan. It was a day's journey away, and the group was eager to reach the town before nightfall.
"Did you know?" Hakon said as they rode along the dirt road. "Vulan is one of the few towns that are independent from the Empire's laws."
"Is that true?" Draven asked, raising an eyebrow. "Does that mean things will be cheaper there since the queen's tyranny doesn't apply in that town?"
"Probably," Hakon replied with a shrug. "I've never been there myself, but I've heard about it. The weird part is that, while the rest of the Empire is suffering under her rule, Vulan is untouched. No one really knows why."
Valerius listened silently, his expression unreadable.
"Hey, Coleen, how far are we from Vulan?" Serephina asked.
Coleen pulled out the map and scanned it. "Hmm… I'd say about half a day's journey. We shouldn't need to set up camp tonight."
"That's good," Valerius said. "A proper night's rest and some real food will do us good."
"Food, right Valerius?" Serephina repeated, eyes gleaming.
Valerius quickly turned his face away, already knowing where this was going.
The group continued riding, taking short breaks to let the horses rest. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Vulan finally came into view.
"Oh, so this is the independent town," Grimwald said, taking in the sight before them. "It's smaller than Vihadi, but damn, it's prettier. The buildings, the culture everything feels so… alive. Maybe the queen left it alone because of its beauty."
"I doubt that," Draven muttered. "There's got to be another reason. But honestly, I don't care. If it means we get to enjoy cheap food in such a nice place, I'm all for it."
Serephina stretched in her saddle. "I'll handle finding us an inn. Coleen, come with me."
"Right," Coleen said, following her without hesitation.
"What about us?" Valerius asked. "Do we just wait, or do we check things out?"
"I'll be heading to a blacksmith," Hakon said. "I want to see the quality of the craft in this town."
"I'll just browse the market," Grimwald added. "See if there's anything interesting though I probably can't afford it."
Draven crossed his arms in thought. "I'll ask around and see if the local knights know anything useful about this place."
Valerius said nothing, secretly waiting for them to leave so he could slip away and hunt for food.
Everyone split up, and after some time, they regrouped at their meeting spot.
Serephina arrived with a smug grin. "Hey, I found an inn with a restaurant. You won't believe it it's bigger and better than the one in Vihadi, and it's cheaper too."
"Well, that tracks," Draven said.
"Let's go, then," Valerius said, leading the way.
As they walked through the town, leading their horses, they took in the scenery. Unlike Vihadi, Vulan had fewer people, but the streets felt more vibrant. The people wore beautiful, colorful clothing, their expressions full of joy and life something that had become rare under the queen's rule.
"So this is what a place untouched by her tyranny looks like," Grimwald murmured.
Everyone silently took in his words and nodded.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the inn.
"I handled everything," Serephina announced. "Paid in advance, got six rooms one for each of us. Coleen covered the cost."
"Really? Coleen, you have my gratitude," Grimwald said.
"Thanks, Coleen," Draven added.
Valerius walked up to the front desk, leaning on the counter. The receptionist, a young woman, glanced up and her breath hitched.
Damn, he's handsome. And he smells amazing… She quickly composed herself and put on a professional smile.
"Hello, sir. How may I assist you?" she asked.
"Good evening," Valerius said. "Is there a bank in town where I can exchange currency?"
"There is, sir," she replied. "Once you leave the inn, take a left and keep going until you reach the second junction. Then take a right, walk a few more meters, and you'll see the bank on your right."
"Got it. Thanks. One more thing," Valerius lowered his voice. "How long does it take to exchange a platinum coin?"
The receptionist's brows lifted slightly, but she quickly adjusted her tone to match his.
"It shouldn't take more than half a day, sir," she whispered back.
Valerius gave a small nod. "Understood. Thanks again." He turned to his group. "I'm heading to the bank. Someone take my things to my room." Without waiting for a response, he walked out.
Following the receptionist's directions, Valerius soon found the bank. The building was well-maintained, with polished wood doors and a brass sign above the entrance. He stepped inside, where a soft chime rang as he approached the counter. A well-dressed, beautiful middle-aged woman greeted him with a warm smile.
"Welcome to the Bank of Vulan," she said. "I don't believe I've seen you here before, Mr…?"
"Valerius," he introduced himself. "I'm just passing through on my way to Velmora."
"I see. Well then, Mr. Valerius, how can I assist you today?"
"I'd like to exchange a platinum coin."
"Of course, sir," she said smoothly. "May I see the coin?"
Valerius reached into his pocket and placed the platinum coin on the counter. It made a soft clink against the polished wood. The clerk carefully picked it up, examining it under the light to confirm its authenticity.
"However, we'll need about half a day. Not because we lack the gold, but because we have to ensure that such a large withdrawal doesn't disrupt our operations or affect our other customers."
"Makes sense," Valerius nodded. "In that case, how long would it take to convert ten platinum coins?"
The clerk's hand froze mid-page flip. Her eyes widened slightly, and she cleared her throat before speaking.
"T-Ten… platinum coins, you said?" she stuttered, before composing herself. "That's a significant amount. A conversion of that size would heavily impact our reserves and temporarily halt several operations. I'd estimate it would take anywhere from a week to ten days."
"I see," Valerius mused. "I don't actually need to convert them I was just curious."
The clerk let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I appreciate that," she admitted. "I was worried we might have to turn away such a wealthy customer." She checked her logbook and glanced at the clock. "It's nearly afternoon. Please return before closing this evening, and I'll have your gold coins ready. You don't need to hand over your platinum coin now you can give it when you collect your exchange."
"That works for me," Valerius said. "Thank you. I'll be back later."
"Thank you for your business, Mr. Valerius," the clerk said as he exited the bank.
Valerius made his way back to the inn. Upon entering his room, he noticed his belongings had already been placed neatly inside. He also found Draven lounging on the floor.
"Draven," Valerius called. "Wake me up before it gets dark. I need to head back to the bank."
Draven stretched his arms behind his head. "Got it."
Satisfied, Valerius collapsed onto the bed, groaning as he sank into the mattress. Bless the people who invented these, he thought before drifting off into sleep.
Several hours later, a knock on the door woke him. He got up, rubbed his face, cleaned himself and stretched before stepping out.
"Thanks," he told Draven, giving him a light fist bump.
"No problem," Draven replied before heading back to his room.
Valerius made his way back to the bank. The same clerk greeted him with a friendly smile as he stepped up to the counter.
"Ah, Mr. Valerius, welcome back," she said, reaching below the desk. "Your exchange is ready." She placed a weighty pouch on the counter.
Valerius handed over the platinum coin in exchange.
"If you'd like," the clerk offered, "you may weigh the pouch to confirm the amount. It should be the equivalent of one hundred gold coins."
"That won't be necessary," Valerius replied, waving a hand. He had already memorized the weight of a hundred gold coins from the pouch Coleen had shown him earlier. Without further ado, he picked up the bag and walked out.
"Pleasure doing business with you," the clerk called after him.
Back at the inn, the group gathered at the restaurant, ready for dinner. They ordered their meals and talked over their plans for the next few days while eating.
Valerius made sure to place an order for packaged food the next morning before they left. After the meal, just as they were about to head to their rooms, he approached Coleen.
"Hey, Coleen," he said. "About the money I owe you I'll pay you back in full, including what you covered for Draven, Grimwald, and Serephina." He pulled a few gold coins from his pouch.
Coleen hesitated, shaking her head. "It's really fine. I'm having fun traveling with you all, so don't worry about it."
"Still," Valerius insisted, pressing three gold coins into her hand. "At least let me cover my own expenses. I'd rather not carry the guilt."
She sighed, accepting the coins with a small smile. "I guess I won't be able to talk you out of it. Alright, I'll take it." She tucked the coins into her pouch. "But you really didn't have to."
With that settled, they both headed to their rooms for a well-earned rest.
The next morning, they ate breakfast, collected the food they had ordered the previous night, and saddled their horses.
Coleen unrolled her map, studying it as they prepared to leave. "The next town is Vikran," she said. "It's about two weeks from here at our usual pace. After that, it'll take another two weeks to reach Aldoria. Apart from a few villages along the way, there won't be any major towns like Vulan where we can rest properly."
"Alright," Valerius said, gripping the reins. "Time to strap in for a long ride."
His horse neighed as if agreeing.
The group exchanged grins, and with a shared, enthusiastic "Yeah!" they set off, leaving Vulan behind and riding toward their next adventure, not knowing that they are going to face an adversity entirely different from what they have been facing until now.