The City Of Etria

At the very next morning, close to 9 in the morning. Arden is woken up by the sound of thing being packed by someone.

He opened his eye and yawn for a bit before recognizing his wife packing their stuff with the help of Maverick and Austin.

Still half asleep, Arden asked what were they going to do?

"Didn't you told me that we were going to left this place today??" Valen said while making a weird face and confused.

The boys did the same, then Arden thought for a little bit to himself. What is the schedule? What were they going to do today?

And that's when he remembered, his life force got out of him for a second then he started preparing his self as best as he could.

He cleaned himself and took some mint leaves for his breaths since it smells alcohol from yesterday.

Looks like he will be running late when he finished. Everybody is already waiting for him in the yard. Valen, Austin, Maverick and even Goswind are there waiting for him.

He quickly mounts his horse, Cisco that is ready by the hand of the stable man. He said a quick goodbye to Goswind before continuing his journey.

Also thanked him for everything he has done for Arden. Goswind just thought the thing he did for Arden is nothing since Arden basically saves the entire kingdom.

Then, the party that have 4 members in it right now left the town. Arden actually getting lectured by his wife because of the incident.

"You shouldn't drink until you are drunk again then forget all the things you said, understand?" Arden just nodded and then comply, looks like he can't drink anymore.

Even though he doesn't like to drink, it's only for a special occasion only. So Valen doesn't push the matter further.

They focused on the journey for now and then continue on making their way to the port town of Gillam. It's located on the south-east of Edklin.

There is 2 route to get there from Edklin, the first one being the fastest and the second one being the safest.

The first one is said the fastest because it's a direct road from the town of Edklin to the port town of Gillam.

But there is a thick forest in the middle of it and the rumour said that many merchants got robbed passing that place or either get lost on the forest.

The second one is said the safest because the road is better and there are multiple town and city on the road.

So they chose the safe road instead of the fast one to ensure their safety. What kind of people on the right mind that could bring 2 boys and a pregnant woman to the thick forest that rumoured has many bandits and other kinds of dangerous thing?

They also could meet a new kind of people and get to know a lot kind of things. So it's more beneficial to them.

Even though it will take... estimated 10 days of journey instead of the 1 day of journey if they used the fast one.

On the way of the road they chose to use, there is even the city owned by the Duke of Eglega. The one that took care of the eastern province.

He got his very amazing sounded title because he is known to people, that he crushed the rebellion in one day after him becoming a Duke in the past.

In one day, started from him moving his troop at dawn and ended up crushing the rebellion on the siege that last until the dawn.

From his heroic story, Arden already knew that he is an amazing person. A great person that benefited the country.

They slept on camp if they didn't found any village or towns on the way to their destination. This explained how good the local nobles took care of their own lands.

After a few stops on some villages and small towns that are located on the road. They continue their journey, 7 days have passed since they left Edklin.

And under the hot burning sun, close to midday. Arden saw something on the distance, the walls are high and protected every side of the city.

The city, according to map is the city of Etria, the one that the duke owned. It's almost as big as the capital city of Atlan and probably is the biggest city in the eastern province.

"We are not seeing the capital city of Atlan right?" He said to the others, their jaw is dropped too and they are as confused as Arden.

There is even 2 layer of walls that can be seen in the distance. This made it very clear what is it.

The inner layer of walls is separating the poor and the rich, this would happen in the city built by the kingdoms at the past. They made it very clear about the kind of high-born is different from the low born.

'To think about it, this province is a little bit weird. For example, when I was accused as a lowly peasant that commit a crime, the nobles at the town of Edklin look at me with disgusted face or some sort' Arden thinks to himself and then continue thinking.

'I'm not the kind of expert in this field, I will talk to a local noble when I have the time' He thinks to his self and then proceeds to make it as the list of question needed to be asked to a local noble.

Then they proceed making their way to the city gate. They have no problem getting on their way past the first layer.

'If I would ask some local noble about the question I have in mind, I need to find a better place to stay. Perhaps at the better part of the city,' He thinks to himself before calling one of the guards to ask.

The guard told him there is an inn at the better part of town for 1 Aurens a room included meals. The guard also told Arden there is a tavern or pub near there too.

That's perfect, so they began making their way to the better part of the town. Based on Arden's examination, this city is almost as big as the capital city of Atlan.

That is very surprising, the difference is at the street, the population. There are many homeless people, many prostitutes, many slaves and much more worse thing on the first part.

Arden then controls his horse in front of Valen and put his hand near his sword, ready to pull it out of the scabbard if someone dares to do something to them.

The two boys then control their horse as best as they could and circled Valen and then put their hands near their sword too, no one dares to come up to them.

They reached the second layer of the walls safely and after getting that much tension, they sighed out of relief.

The guards examine them and then let them pass without any question. This place used that kind of system, if you the guards see you as a good and wealthy person, the let you pass.

They got to the inn and Arden entered the inn with Valen and left the boy to guard the item that would be transferred to a storage place later.

He opened the door and see a clean place, nicely decorated and the smell of flowers filled the room. This is better than most inn he went to

He approached the receptionist and the receptionist greeted them like a really powerful noble or some kind... well, they are.

Even though they kinda smell a bit since the last time they cleaned themselves is like 2 days ago.

But then, there is always a problem that follows. A person, like a weaker noble himself, with jewellery all over his body and gold rings like in all of his finger.

And also... overweight, came inside the inn, there are 2 women following behind him. Looking like prostitutes that would sell theirself to the highest bidder.

The receptionist took a look at him and then sighed for a bit before calling a messenger boy then giving him a little envelop secretly without the man noticing.

Arden saw the receptionist doing this and then whispered his wife.

"Stay close to me," Arden started pushing Valen to the place that would make use of Arden's body to block this person from doing anything to Valen.

The man then quickly approached the counter and have a smug-looking face like "I'm the son of the king" face.

He talked to the receptionist about renting a room for that kind of thing, He didn't even try to hide, just bluntly tell them.

The receptionist complies and then the person turned to Arden... well, more like to Valen if to be exact.

Then he started making that kind of comment on her, Arden ignored most of his comment on his beloved wife and then he continued.

"Hey baby, want to have a go? Just dump this kind of man," He said still cocky and not knowing who is he facing. Arden just replied with a simple sentence as a warning perhaps can be called as a threat.

"One more time you said something like that and you would lose one of your teeth," Arden said and clenched his fist. That person gave a blind eye toward this warning and then continue pouring sentences.

Arden is currently using the steel gauntlet, if it were to make contact with that guy face, it would surely knock a few teeth out.

"What are you gonna do? Punch me?" He said, not looking afraid at all.

"Anyway, let's have some fun at the bed, why don't you comply to me and don't be such a b****," He shrugged his shoulder.

And then "Bam!!", one direct punch to his face, breaking his nose and 3 teeth came out. Instantly unconscious at the ground.

The 2 women behind him start making threats to Arden and so and so. Then a person opened the door, with the little message boy following behind him.

He just sighed and came up to the unconscious person on the floor, Arden just calmly told the receptionist he would like 2 rooms with 2 beds in it.

The person that just came inside the room then approached the unconscious person's and then crouch down and proceed to check his condition.

Once more, he sighed, then stood up and approached Arden. What would happen to Arden?