The Journey to Duke Alvred's Territory
The sky hung heavy with clouds as Altair and Feran rode an old carriage pulled by a pair of black horses. The carriage belonged to a cross-border merchant they had helped fend off bandits a few days prior. In return, the merchant offered them a ride to the last border town still under the influence of the Rasyidia Empire.
During the journey, Altair and Feran sat in silence, concealing their faces beneath dark hoods. Around them, dense forests and barren lands stretched far. The cold air began to creep in as they traveled north.
"Once we get off, we'll walk to the Niaris border," Feran whispered. "This carriage can't go any further without document checks from the Duke."
Altair nodded. "We'll travel at night, avoid patrols, and enter from the west side. There's a small path we can take, according to the map."
After two days of travel and several stops at small villages, they finally disembarked at an old trading post. They bid farewell to the merchant and continued the rest of their journey on foot under the starlight.
A few hours later, they successfully slipped across the border without any significant incidents.
In the distance, the magnificent lights of the city of Yhven shimmered through the thin night mist.
Altair took a deep breath. "We've arrived."
Feran gazed ahead. "Hopefully, our family is still here."
With cautious steps, they blended into the crowds and entered the city.
The sun began to set as Altair and Feran walked through the grand gates of Yhven, one of the largest cities under the rule of Duke Alvred Haldren. The city teemed with magnificent buildings, a bustling market, and cobblestone streets filled with people from all walks of life.
However, this was no ordinary journey. They were in disguise—wearing black cloaks with wide hoods to conceal their faces.
"We have to remain cautious," Feran whispered amidst the crowd. "If our names leak out, we could become hunted immediately."
Altair nodded, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings.
Their mission was simple: to find information about their family without attracting attention.
Blending into the Crowd
They decided to begin their search at the main market, a place where various rumors often circulated.
They overheard many things:
* The Rasyidia Imperial forces were beginning to take control of the former Niaris Empire's territories.
* Several nobles were attempting to negotiate their allegiance with the Rasyidia Emperor.
* And most interestingly... a grand tournament would be held in the city with prizes of wealth, power, and even access to secret information from the Duke's archives.
Altair and Feran exchanged glances.
"This might be our way in," Altair said softly.
Feran thought for a moment. "But it could also be a dangerous trap for us."
Altair simply grinned. "If that's the case, we'll just have to try a little harder."
Preparation for the Tournament
That night, they rented a small room in an inn on the outskirts of the city. Inside the dark room, they discussed their plan.
"If we fight, we have to use aliases," Feran stated.
Altair nodded. "I'll use the name Aeron, what about you?"
"Faris."
They also adjusted their equipment, using ordinary swords so as not to attract attention with their unique weapons.
As the moon began to rise high in the sky, they were ready to face a battle that could determine the fate of their search.
The tournament began the next day.
The Next Morning, thousands of people had gathered in the central square of Yhven.
The arena was a large circle, with stands full of spectators from various backgrounds—from nobles and soldiers to commoners. In the highest seat sat a black-haired man in a gold cloak with red accents.
Duke Alvred Haldren.
His eyes were sharp, observing every participant who registered.
Registration & Group Separation
Altair and Feran walked calmly to the registration table.
"Name?" asked the guard.
Altair replied, "Aeron." Feran followed, "Faris."
After writing down their names, a soldier informed them of the tournament rules:
* Participants are divided into two groups (A & B).
* Only one winner from each group.
* No teams allowed.
* Each fight will be chosen randomly.
Altair was placed in Group A, while Feran was placed in Group B.
They exchanged a brief glance before separating to their respective areas.
Duke Alvred, watching from the upper stands, narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting."