The midday sun filtered through a thin veil of drifting clouds, casting a warm, golden haze over the world below. Jin and Serenya reined in their horses at the crest of a low hill—dirt and grass giving way beneath their hooves as they slowed to a halt.
There it was.
Solaria.
Even from nearly two kilometers away, the Radiant Dominion's capital was breathtaking.
A colossal wall—white stone veined with silver—stretched wide across the land like the hem of a celestial robe. It curved gently with the natural shape of the surrounding terrain, soaring higher than any city walls Jin had seen before. The sun struck its upper ramparts, casting dazzling reflections across its surface, as if the wall itself were woven from light.
At the base, a grand gate dominated the center—flanked by towering statues of long-forgotten heroes, cloaked in the dust of centuries. On each side of the gate, a long crimson carpet stretched from the watchtower above to the ground below, emblemed with the Radiant Kingdom's crest. The gates were open, allowing a steady stream of travelers, merchants, and adventurers to pass through in both directions. Here and there are the sounds of the wooden wagons creaked, horses snorted, and traders barked offers at passersby. The closer he looked, the more color and chaos he could make out.
With his enhanced perception, he pushed his focus further.
Beyond the main wall… a second set of fortifications. Not as tall, but no less impressive. Its curves framed the inner city like a protective shell. And past that—half-lost in the wavering heat of the midday sun—he saw it.
Rising far in the distance, bathed in haze and gold.
A spire.
No… a tower. No—the tower. The tallest in the city. Its silhouette barely visible, but unmistakably regal. Broad at its base and rising in layered elegance, the top seemed to shimmer like crystal. A banner fluttered from its peak—too distant to read, but Jin could feel the weight of its presence.
A royal citadel.
- "The Solarian Citadel…" he murmured.
Beside him, Serenya took in the sight, her voice soft with reverence.
- "It's even grander than the Church's scriptures described…"
- "Ah yes, I guess this is the first time for both of us" – glanced at Serenya with a warm smile, Jin said
The wind carried the faint scent of lilac and iron, a strange yet fitting blend for a kingdom of both faith and strength.
Jin exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders fading for just a moment. They had made it this far. But something about the city's glowing walls, bustling gates, and veiled towers told him this wasn't the end of anything.
As they neared the towering gates of Solaria, the noise grew louder—merchants shouting and kids weaving between travelers with small bags slung over their shoulders. The line to enter the city stretched out like a slow-moving serpent, made up of cloaked adventurers, families, and traders alike.
Jin and Serenya guided their horses alongside the queue, heading straight toward the side entrance where armored gate guards were checking papers more thoroughly.
- "Halt," one of the guards barked as they approached, raising a hand. "State your names and your business in Solaria."
Jin nodded calmly, reaching into his satchel.
- "Kazama Jin, registered adventurer. Here's my Guild ID—and this letter of introduction from Obsidian, Guild Master of Willowshade."
Beside him, Serenya dismounted and produced her parchment as well.
- "Serenya Lysveil, Priestess of Gleaming Veil Church. This is my authorization, granted by Vice High Priestess Thalira Merrowyn."
The guard took both papers, giving them a long, scrutinizing glance before passing them to a senior officer nearby. The man read them, muttered something to another guard, then returned.
- "You're clear," the officer said with a short nod. "Your credentials checked out, and you're expected. Proceed through the city's lower ring, then continue westward. You'll reach the Noble District's gate. Show those letters again there. You'll find the Adventurer Guild Headquarters past that, closer to the central plaza."
- "Understood. Thank you." – Jin bow his head, replied.
- "Welcome to Solaria," the guard added, stepping aside.
They urged their horses forward and passed through the arching gate, leaving the outer walls behind.
And just like that… they were inside the capital.
The main road stretched wide and paved with smooth white stone, flanked by orderly rows of merchant buildings, inns, and artisan shops. But Jin and Serenya didn't slow down. Following the directions given at the gate, they made their way west through the outer ring of the city, bypassing colorful market stalls and curious glances from locals.
After nearly half an hour of steady riding, they reached the second gate—taller, reinforced, and far more heavily guarded. This one, too, bore the radiant crest of the kingdom: a sunburst rising over a silver shield.
Two guards stepped forward, already eyeing their approach.
- "Got business in the Noble District, lads?" one asked, brows raised.
Jin held up the same letter from Obsidian.
- "I am, Reporting to the Adventurer Guild Headquarters. We were instructed to present this here."
Serenya followed suit with her scroll from the Church, adding calmly,
- "Under the authority of Vice High Priestess Thalira, I am to accompany this adventurer as a witness and liaison."
The guards exchanged glances, took the documents, and passed them along to a scribe seated beneath a shaded canopy. The man scribbled a few notes into a large leather-bound ledger, stamped the papers, and handed them back.
- "Very well," he said. "You're now officially registered as 'visiting personnel on record.' You'll be allowed within the Noble Quarter. Guild HQ is straight down the Promenade Road—you'll know it when you see it. Don't dawdle, though. They'll expect you to report in immediately."
- "Wouldn't dream of it," Jin muttered.
- "Welcome to the Noble District," the guard added, then waved them forward.
As they passed the gates, the tone of the city changed. Roads widened; greenery returned—trees lined the streets in clean, symmetrical rows. The buildings here were elegant, made of white marble, reflecting the sun in soft halos. Fountains gurgled, and stone benches sat beneath shade trees like quiet invitations.
Up ahead, a massive structure came into view. A broad hall with towering pillars, banners of gold and violet fluttering at its front, and the unmistakable emblem of the Adventurer Guild emblazoned above its doors.
Jin exhaled, then glanced at Serenya. "Let's finish the paperwork. We've got stories to tell."
As they approached the building, Jin slowed his horse, eyes widening slightly. The Adventurer Guild Headquarters of Solaria stood like a fortress carved into elegance—its marble facade glimmering faintly under the sunlight, with four spire-like towers stretching above the main hall. The front steps were wide enough to fit ten men shoulder-to-shoulder, and twin statues of hooded warriors stood on either side of the door, holding murals etched with names of fallen adventurers.
Jin stopped, quietly taking it all in.
- "It's bigger than all of Willowshade," he muttered.
- "They say it holds its own armory, library, a dozen training halls, and sleeping quarters for over three hundred adventurers." – Serenya smiled beside him.
- "So… a small city inside a city." – Jin replied.
They dismounted, handed their reins to the stablekeeper, and made their way up the steps.
Inside, the Guild Hall stretched wide like a cathedral. Floors gleamed under their boots, and ahead, rows of reception counters buzzed with activity. Adventurers moved in and out—some clad in shining armor, others in dusty travel clothes—loud, laughing, arguing, reporting. Despite the size, everything moved like clockwork.
Serenya approached one of the receptionists—a young man in polished green robes.
- "Good day. I'm Serenya Lysveil of the Gleaming Veil Church. We come bearing a report of urgent nature. I request audience with the Guild Master."
The receptionist looked up, startled by her formal tone.
- "Ah… yes, one moment."
He quickly scribbled something, sent it off with a small paper-familiar spell, and nodded politely.
- "He's currently in the upper hall. Please wait here—he'll be with you shortly."
A few moments later, heavy footsteps approached.
From a side hallway emerged an Elf, tall even by his race's standard, draped in a muted silver coat with a sun-embroidered mantle. His long white-gold hair was tied behind his back in a neat clasp. Though his posture was relaxed, there was something about his presence that caused conversations around them to dim, if only slightly.
His eyes—sharp as carved crystals—swept across Jin and Serenya with quiet intensity. Kindness lingered at their corners, but that kindness didn't dull the feeling that nothing escaped his gaze.
- "Priestess Lysveil," he said, voice smooth, dignified. "And…the adventurer from Willowshade. I've been expecting you."
Jin bowed lightly, remembering Obsidian's instructions.
- "Kazama Jin, sir. Rank E under Willowshade's registry. I bring a message and… evidence."
The Elf gave a slow nod.
- "I am Velquinn Elaris, Guild Master of Solaria – Head of Guild Masters in all Radiant. Follow me."
He turned, leading them into a quieter corridor lined with statues and magical wards humming faintly in the walls.
Velquinn Elaris's office was nothing like Jin expected.
It wasn't grand or gilded like a noble's chamber—no glittering chandeliers or velvet furniture. Instead, the room was clean, functional, and filled with quiet power. A vast circular table dominated the center, surrounded by maps pinned with colored markers, scattered reports, and magical scrolls that hovered in the air, displaying live battlefield data from across the kingdom. A large crest of the Adventurer Guild—a silver sword crossed over a radiant sun—was engraved into the stone wall behind the Guild Master's chair.
The moment the heavy door closed behind them, Velquinn turned.
- "You may speak freely now. I assume your report concerns the increasing activity along the central corridor?"
- "Yes, Guild Master." – Serenya stepped forward. – "As representatives from Willowshade's Church and Adventurer Guild, we bring urgent news about possible military-alchemical movements involving both the Ravetheim Empire and Ostrya Kingdom."
Jin reached into his pack and unwrapped the preserved Chimera heads, one from each nation. A thin mist escaped the talisman-sealed cloths, revealing grotesque remnants of the monsters they'd fought—one with manticore-like wings and lion's mane, the other still leaking traces of corrupted energy from its spike-covered hide.
Velquinn didn't flinch. His eyes narrowed.
- "Hybrid Chimeras… and from opposing nations?" He stepped closer and knelt beside the remains, checking beneath its chin—just where Jin had shown him. His gloved fingers brushed over the engraved crest etched with preservation runes. "Empire alchemy… but these layers—this one's Ostrya's stitchwork."
He stood again, arms crossed, deep in thought.
- "They never attacked together. Always one side or the other. It's like they're testing different models… not competing—more like sharing data." – Jin spoke again.
- "The mutations carried remnants of necromantic energy. We had to use Purification. Normal healing or strikes wouldn't have worked alone." – Serenya added.
Velquinn was silent for a long moment.
Then he stepped to the wall and tapped a small crystal.
A circle of light shimmered midair—his voice echoed through it.
- "High priority alert. Dispatch a formal courier to the Radiant Palace. Seal it with the Guild's emblem and inform His Radiance and Her Grace that I'm requesting an immediate Council review. Evidence is physical, confirmed, and in my possession."
The light vanished.
When he turned back, his tone had shifted—he looked not only like a commander, but a watchful elder.
- "You've done well. Both of you. This information… will change things. Perhaps more than we're ready for."
He sat down slowly behind the desk.
- "And now, before I move forward with this—one last question, Kazama Jin. You were just an adventurer from the Evernight Veil, unknown even in Willowshade until recently. Yet here you are… cutting through abominations and reading their origins like a historian."
His sharp gaze locked on Jin.
- "Who are you—really?"
The question hit like a hammer in a quiet room.
Jin stiffened. His hand, still resting lightly on his hip, twitched. He glanced at Serenya beside him, who turned to him in surprise.
He hesitated for a breath, then two. "I..."
Veilquinn raised a hand gently toward Jin then turned to Serenya.
- "I apologize, Priestess Serenya. But I would like to speak to your companion in private. Would you mind waiting outside for a moment?"
She hesitated. Her lips parted, but she saw something in the elf's expression that made her pause. She looked to Jin. He gave her a small nod.
She bowed slightly, turned, and exited through the side door, her soft footfalls echoing against stone.
Silence returned.
Veilquinn waited until the door latched before stepping further into the chamber. He moved like a breeze across still water—unhurried, certain.
- "What level are you now?"
Jin's heart stopped.
He blinked, eyes narrowing.
- "What...? How do you even—"
- "You're not the only one who's seen the system, Jin" Veilquinn said quietly, folding his hands behind his back. "I knew a man… long ago. Five hundred years, to be precise. He was like you. Ordinary on the surface. But extraordinary in every way that mattered."
Jin said nothing.
- "He spoke of a system no one else could see. Of titles and stats, of quests and skills. He too appeared when the world was fraying at its edge. Just like now."
Veilquinn turned his head, eyes like tempered steel, wise and unyielding.
- "So, I ask again. Who are you? Not your name. Not your origin. But your truth."
Jin looked away, toward the light streaming through the stained glass. For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he sighed. Not in defeat, but in decision.
- "I'm just an ordinary human who was given a second chance by gods. And yes, as you already figured I can see the system. I can grow in ways others can't. More than anything... I also want to understand why I am here."
Veilquinn regarded him in silence. Then, slowly, the elf nodded.
- "That's more than most ever dare to admit."
He stepped closer, placing a hand gently on Jin's shoulder.
- "You're not the first. But perhaps you are the first who came not for power... but purpose. Remember that."
Jin's breath caught in his throat.
- "So, I'm not alone?"
- "You are now," Veilquinn replied. "But the echoes of those who came before are etched in the choices you'll make, perhaps it's that time gain..."
He turned and called, "Priestess Serenya, you may return."
The side door creaked open again, and Serenya stepped in, visibly worried.
- "Everything alright?" she asked.
- "Yeah. We just had a talk." - Jin gave her a small smile.
Veilquinn faced them both.
- "Your warning will be taken seriously. You are to meet the Crown directly. I will arrange an audience within two days. Until then, rest. Solaria is not as peaceful as it may seem."
And with that, the elf turned and disappeared into the corridor beyond.
Jin stood still for a moment, the words still echoing.
- "… it's that time again..."
Next morning, the sun was bright, softened only by lazy clouds drifting overhead. Jin and Serenya had taken the morning to stroll the northern district of Solaria, the scent of baked bread wafting from open-faced stalls, chatter of nobility and merchants mixing in the air. Compared to the tension of the journey, the city felt strangely normal… until the tremor in the atmosphere shifted.
A murmur swept through the crowd near the North Inner Gate.
Jin's head turned instinctively, his instincts prickling. Hoofbeats rang against the stone roads—steady, rhythmic, commanding. People stepped aside as soldiers in crisp, dark-red uniforms marched in tight formation, flanking a regal figure atop a black stallion.
The man at the lead wasn't bulky—his armor wasn't the kind made to intimidate, but to move, flow, fight. Functional. Precise. On his right breastplate, embossed in metallic red and gold, was a sigil Jin had seen before—on the mutated chimeras, on captured insignia…
The crest of the Varetheim Empire.
Behind him, riding with eerie poise, was another figure. This one was fully encased in silver-plated armor, helm sealed tight, visor down—revealing nothing of their face. Yet something about him made Jin's skin crawl. Power clung to him like shadow to flame. The same sigil marked his chest.
The whispers started like wind in the grass.
- "That's them…"
- "The Empire's Royal Guard…"
- "I heard they demanded entry to speak to the Crown."
- "Why now? After years of silence?"
Jin and Serenya stood at the edge of the onlookers, silent.
- "They're headed for the palace," Serenya said softly, voice barely audible over the murmurs. "That crest… there's no mistake."
- "And the one behind him… he's not just a knight. He's something else." – Jin nodded.
The procession passed them, soldiers disciplined, expressions unreadable. As the two mounted envoys disappeared into the depths of Solaria's inner streets, the city behind them seemed to exhale a breath it hadn't realized it was holding.
Jin looked up toward the distant gleam of the Royal Tower.
- "Guess we're not the only ones with urgent messages for the King and Queen."