Thanks to their progress the day before, the capital was now less than a day away—they'd reach it before sunset.
So, they set off once again, embarking on the final leg of their journey.
An unnatural silence settled over the group.
Each of them had suffered in some way because of the nobles who ruled that city.
Their thoughts remained their own for most of the trip, and they only spoke during short breaks to eat.
And before they knew it, towering walls loomed ahead.
"We made it," said Kiera, her voice low.
"Barmonia…" muttered Vael.
They approached the gates, which were, oddly enough, devoid of any other travelers.
Not a merchant or noble in sight.
"Maybe this entrance is closed?" suggested Ash.
But the gates stood wide open.
Without waiting any longer, the group trotted toward the entrance.
Just as they reached it, two guards stepped forward, blocking their path.
"Halt, travelers! State your business in this city, or be denied entry," ordered one of the soldiers.
"We're here to join the Soummara Academy," replied Vael.
The guards exchanged a glance, then nodded.
"You may pass. Entry fee is ten copper."
Without ceremony, Vael took a silver coin from his ring and tossed it from horseback to the guards.
The guards stepped aside, and they entered the city.
What they saw blew their minds.
A vast city stretched out before them, sprawling across kilometers.
It was built upon a hill, and at its peak stood the castle of the Royal Family, towering above everything else.
But as they ventured further in, the reason behind the empty gate became clear.
They had entered through the slums.
A place where poverty was the norm, financial ruin a certainty, and murder a daily occurrence.
Vael and Kiera wisely stored their mounts inside Vael's Spatial Pocket.
With their tattered clothes and lack of bodyguards, they blended in seamlessly—just a few more unfortunate teenagers trying to survive.
But they had no intention of staying.
They were rich, after all.
As they made their way toward another district, they took in their surroundings.
The houses were cobbled together from scrap metal, rotting wood, and whatever debris people could scavenge. After just two minutes of walking, they had already passed six corpses—each in a different state of decomposition.
Most people spent what little money they had on alcohol or food.
Every bar they passed was packed, even though the sun had yet to set.
In the alleys, the less fortunate sought refuge—mostly the elderly and children, their bodies so thin that the rags they wore barely clung to their frames.
Kiera tried to maintain a stoic expression, but Vael could feel her pulse quicken.
Ash, however, remained completely impassive—which was more unsettling than anything else.
After about an hour of wandering and getting lost more than once, they finally crossed into another sector.
Though still a district for the poor, it was a clear step up. The commoners here lived in actual homes, not heaps of trash.
They stopped at the first inn they saw and paid 20 copper coins for three weeks of lodging—one room, with one meal per day included.
It was a good deal.
Their room was simple: one bed, a desk, and a bathroom.
They bathed and settled in for the night, drained from their journey.
Vael and Kiera gave the bed to Ash—both of them were used to sleeping on the floor by now.
It wasn't much, but at least they finally had a roof over their heads.