After so many hours of wandering and being trapped underground, Southern Sonill felt like a completely different world. Tall, whitewashed buildings reflected the sun's rays, and the cobbled streets bustled with life. People passed by me, busy with their own affairs—some talking, others haggling at market stalls. The air was filled with the smell of roasted meat, fresh bread, and exotic spices.
The knight guiding me stopped beside a large building with a sign that read "Orphanage."
I frowned.
A middle-aged woman walked out of the building and started talking to the knight. I had no intention of standing there, waiting for someone to decide what to do with me. Let them talk. I'll go explore the city.
After a short walk, I reached the central part of Southern Sonill—the marketplace.
So this is the real Market Square!
It was enormous.
Stalls were set up everywhere, packed with fresh fruit, clothes, jewelry, and mysterious items whose purpose I couldn't even guess. People crowded between the booths, laughing, bargaining, and exchanging coins.
In the center of the square stood a large stone statue. Intrigued, I walked closer.
It depicted a tall, well-built man in armor, holding a saber. A crown rested on his head. Probably some ancient king.
Beneath the statue was an inscription.
I leaned in to try and read it, but… No use. The text was written in a language I didn't understand.
I sighed.
Fatigue was starting to catch up with me. After everything—underground chambers, beasts, knights—my brain was begging for a break. I moved to the side of the square and sat down in the shade, resting my head on my arms.
How am I supposed to find Nave now?
I looked up, scanning the crowd. There were too many people. Too much noise. The hustle and bustle of the city, which had seemed so fascinating just a moment ago, suddenly started to wear me down.
But before I could think any further, something blocked my view.
Two men.
One was fat and held a meat cleaver. His greasy fingers nervously drummed on the handle, and his sweaty face twisted into a nasty smile. The other was thin as a stick and gripped a long wooden staff. His eyes sparkled with a disturbing gleam.
A pang of unease hit me.
— "Huh?" I muttered, frowning.
Isn't this exactly the kind of situation where someone's about to attack you? I shot to my feet.
— "Some knight said he lost track of you," said the fat one, his voice full of mockery. "And whoever finds you gets a nice reward."
— "We haven't seen you around this city before," added the skinny one, tightening his grip on the staff.
Oh, great.
My instincts screamed one thing: Run!
Without waiting for them to make a move, I bolted into the side streets.
— "Hey! We're not done with you yet!" one of them shouted.
They both gave chase.
I didn't know the city. I had no idea where I was going. I turned into one of the narrow alleys, hoping to lose them. Bad move. A dead end. I skidded to a stop.
Damn it.
I turned around.
The thugs stood at the entrance of the alley, triumphant expressions on their faces.
— "End of the line," said the skinny one, stretching his mouth into a wicked grin.
— "Back off! I'm not who you think I am!" I snapped, trying to sound confident.
They didn't look like they were planning to back off.
— "We'll find that out ourselves," the fat one said, slowly stepping closer.
His greasy hand reached for my shoulder.
This time, I smiled.
I smacked his hand away with a firm motion.
— "Don't touch me. Unless you want to lose that hand."
My voice was cold. Firm.
The fat man hesitated for a second, but the skinny one raised his staff and swung at me. I ducked instantly, avoiding the blow. I drew my sword. I was just about to strike when something suddenly wrapped tightly around my body and yanked me upward.
A rope? Now?!
The ground vanished from beneath my feet. Moments later, I was on a rooftop.
Stunned, I looked down. Below, the thugs were glancing around, trying to figure out what had just happened. Before they could react, knights rushed into the alley.
— "On the ground!" one of them roared.
The men turned pale, but they had no choice. A moment later, they were cuffed. I remained sitting on the rooftop, trying to process what had just happened.
— "You have any idea how much trouble you'd be in if you killed them?" said a woman's voice behind me.
I turned around instantly. She looked at me with one eyebrow raised, as if surprised by my reaction.
I stood up, still gripping the sword tightly. I met her gaze with cold eyes.
—"Who are you, and why did you help me?" I asked, pointing the blade at her.
The girl just smiled.