The smell of roasted meat and heavy spices invaded Kyrian’s nose the moment he crossed the door of the Silver Moon restaurant. The main hall bustled with merchants, drunk soldiers, and even some nobles dressed in expensive, colorful clothes.
As soon as he entered, he attracted many curious glances, some immediately judging his simple clothes that he had bought at the first store he saw.
But Kyrian ignored everyone while searching for an empty spot on the first floor, but there wasn’t any.
He then decided to move on and head to the second floor, climbing the stairs calmly until he reached the door.
Only for his path to be blocked by a fat man with an arrogant face.
"The second floor is reserved only for VIP customers," said the man, rolling his eyes at little Kyrian.
Kyrian stayed silent for a moment, not liking the way the man spoke.
"How much does it cost to be VIP?" Kyrian asked with his usual expression.
"It’s not about money, brat. It’s about status. Something a poor like you doesn’t have." The man laughed, showing his yellowed teeth.
Kyrian took a deep breath, remembering that Rurik had warned him about this.
"I see," he said, and then acted.
His right hand suddenly went up to the man’s collar, pulling him down hard enough to make the man fall to his knees on the floor, his face now at Kyrian’s height.
The impact echoed through the hall, making everyone on the second floor look instantly. But because of the man’s size, he was blocking Kyrian, so they couldn’t see him yet.
"I’m hungry, and I’m going to eat here. If you have a problem with that, just call your boss. But if that happens, you won’t have a job anymore." Kyrian said it in such a calm voice that it made the man shiver.
Kyrian didn’t look at the man again as he walked past him and entered the hall. As soon as they saw him, everyone was surprised. Kyrian didn’t care and looked for a place to sit.
But before he could find one, he felt someone watching him, and it wasn’t like the others. It felt... dangerous. He then turned in that direction.
At a table next to the balcony, there was a man sitting alone, wearing simple white clothes. Nothing about his appearance drew attention.
But when Kyrian looked at him, he felt the man was strong. Stronger than anyone he had ever seen.
’Could he be... one of the martial artists Rurik talked about?’ Kyrian thought, looking at the man who smiled faintly at him.
The man, seeing that Kyrian had felt his gaze, raised his head and said without raising his voice:
"Come here, young one."
The words were normal, but due to the slightly noisy environment, Kyrian didn’t hear them, he read the man’s lips.
He didn’t think much before walking toward the man he judged to be a martial artist. He was really curious about these people.
Kyrian then sat in the chair on the other side of the table without the man needing to say anything.
"You are?" The man began, studying Kyrian with interest. The others might not have seen it clearly, but from where he was, he had seen perfectly Kyrian knocking down the second-floor guard with ease.
"Kyrian, I came from Falk."
The man’s smile widened upon hearing this.
"Ah! Rurik’s child," the man said, guessing.
"He’s not my father," Kyrian replied, frowning. Apparently, Rurik was not just the captain of the guard. Otherwise, how would so many people know him?
"No?" The man laughed softly.
"He certainly acts like one. Letters, recommendations... and even threats to anyone who might get in your way."
Kyrian didn’t respond, but in his mind.
’What the hell did Rurik do?’
"I’m Kael, martial artist of the Royal Order." he introduced himself, raising a cup of tea.
"And you, Kyrian, are really going to make the tournament more interesting this time. I’ll be rooting for you."
Before Kyrian could ask anything.
The fat man from before arrived with a woman whose face was loaded with makeup.
The fat man pointed at Kyrian, but as soon as the woman saw Kael, her face paled, and she quickly approached, recognizing him.
"M-Master Kael. Forgive me for not being here to welcome you," she stammered slightly, bowing.
Kael merely waved his hand, uninterested.
"I’m done here. Take good care of my new little friend. Put on my tab whatever he eats," Kael said before standing up and adjusting his clothes.
"We’ll meet again, Kyrian. See you later," he said, bidding farewell with a simple smile and walking toward the exit.
Kyrian only looked at the man’s back with a furrowed brow.
Kael just did what he wanted and left, Kyrian hadn’t been able to ask anything at all.
’Royal Order... that must be where the martial artists live. I need to go there. Maybe they know something about the particles.’
’But I doubt it. Kael seems strong, but... I can’t feel or see anything related to the particles in him.’ Kyrian thought before turning to the woman who was looking at him strangely.
"You must be the owner of the restaurant. Review carefully who you hire as guards. If I weren’t in a good mood, I could have him arrested for being rude to an officer," Kyrian said, showing the vice-captain’s badge.
This made the fat man behind her sweat, and a nasty expression appeared on the woman’s face before she bowed and apologized repeatedly.
Kyrian decided not to push it further and simply asked them to bring him the best dishes they had. He wanted the most requested ones.
And so it was done.
Kyrian devoured three main dishes, four desserts, and a jug full of red fruit juice. The people in the hall couldn’t understand where all that food was going.
Not that Kyrian knew either.
In the end, everything was courtesy of the owner, who now treated Kyrian with respect.
And while eating, he thought about what he would do next. He had already explored the city, and although it was indeed interesting compared to Falk, it was nothing special.
’I should leave tomorrow for the last city and then head to the royal city. Maybe something interesting will happen there. I’ll see if I can learn more about the Royal Order before the tournament.’
Kyrian decided, standing up from his table and leaving the restaurant with a childish smile. He was satisfied with the food.
"Letters. Threats." When he was already outside the restaurant, he reflected.
Rurik seemed to have left an invisible safety net around him. Kyrian didn’t know whether to feel touched or irritated.
Night had already fallen when he left the restaurant, and he quickly looked for an inn.
He entered the first one he saw, even though it was completely simple.
He paid for a room, speaking to a young attendant with a cute appearance.
The young woman, in this case, was more than twice his age.
After entering the room, Kyrian stared at the ceiling until he fell asleep, which happened quickly.
...
He woke up at his usual time, put on his guard uniform, and walked to the guard barracks of this city.
Upon arriving, he noticed the difference in size. There were four buildings larger than in Falk, and the fenced territory was absolutely larger.
He reached the entrance where four soldiers were talking.
"I came here to get my horse," Kyrian said calmly as soon as he approached.
The soldiers, who were distracted when they heard that childish voice, wondered if they had heard correctly.
But as soon as they turned and saw Kyrian, they didn’t dare be rude.
"Vice-Captain Kyrian, I’ve heard about you from the superiors. I’ll take you to your horse." The soldier bowed slightly before guiding him.
Kyrian calmly followed the soldier, observing the barracks inside. There were already several soldiers stretching, their faces still sleepy.
’Looks like things start early here,’ Kyrian thought, and soon they arrived at a large stable.
Kyrian brought out Shadow, who seemed happy to see him, trying to lick his head, but Kyrian stopped him.
He then calmly led him out of the barracks, heading toward the city’s exit. He ended up not seeing Erik again but didn’t care much.
Then Shadow began running again, the Stone Tower city quickly left behind.
But what Kyrian didn’t notice were the two people watching his back the moment he left the city.