The City of Ivanov, Vawn’s Words

Ivanov was a huge middle-class city within the Grand Alvaria Dynasty. It was a marvelous metropolis that spanned an unknown distance, capable of housing more than two hundred thousand families with ease. Its high walls were made from Blue Iron Stone, giving it a bright blue sheen that shone brightly due to the variety of unusual light coming from lamps embedded on its surface.

Like many other middle-class towns, Ivanov was a city with its specialties, famed for its variety of unique products, ranging from weaponry, engineering, and other local produce from specially bred mystical beasts.

For this reason, Ivanov has primarily selected a central hub for business between all middle-class towns within the Highland Prefecture of the entire dynasty. Many famous merchant families and other parties were nested beyond its all-embracing walls, making it both a place of wonder and obscure currents hidden beneath its outer facade.

Nevertheless, these issues were of no concern to the current party entering its domain, neither the Wilborn's who are of middle-class merchant family background nor the Edgewicks, who are merely outsiders experiencing this brand-new world.

While Jae pointed outside of the window excitedly, chatting away in hopes of drawing his father's attention, Marius, Ria, and Grevlin stared out the window on the other side of the carriage as they sized up the scene before them.

After passing through the towering gates with a few guards on watch, they moved along with a series of carriages through a crowded street paved with ancient stones. Most of them had moss growing from through their cracks, as others had aged color carrying a hint of the town's history.

Looking around, one would see a variety of buildings lined at the corners of the streetways, paving a path towards the distant center where a large building stood, overlooking all others.

People moved about chatting in idle, be it couples or wandering warriors, each dressed strangely from the typical sight on Earth, many of them garbed in armor with weapons at strapped at their waists as these people lived a more harsh lifestyle.

Some of the carriages that passed by had Centuarians pulling them towards the front before halting at a large building in the distance with a sign titled, Centuarian Coach Firm with its famous symbol hung high above its walls.

Jae's eyes lit up as he spoke, "Yes, we're finally here. I can't wait to take a bath and change these dirty wears. Father look, Uncle Brav is standing nearby."

When Vawn heard those words, he narrowed his eyes as he looked ahead at the building, seeing a slender looking man with the spectacle on one of his eyes, along with a pointed mustache. His body well decked out in a high-class noble suit as he stared in their direction, or rather, onto Grevlin's Darkness Soldier with a strange look in his eyes.

'Tsk, if it wouldn't be that bastard, it looks like I'll have to find separate chances to get closer to that miss; I'll first need to handle these affairs.'

Vawn thought as he currently pushed aside his thoughts on Ria, focusing on the present issues.

Marius and his family felt at ease at this time, they had finally found civilization, and while the sights were a bit strange for Marius and Grevlin, they quickly adjusted as if it was nothing too alarming.

"Let's get going; we can't overdo on our 'host's' kindness," Marius said as he looked at Ria and Grevlin before hinting towards Vawn with his eyes.

"As you wish, dear."

"Okay, father."

Ria and Grevlin replied without any hesitation; it seemed that they were a bit disturbed by the Wilborn's. Following those words, Marius and his family glowed in a strange light before vanishing from their positions. Vawn stared at them with an in-depth look on his face, his current thoughts unknown to the world.

By this time, the carriage had already arrived at the Centuarian Coach Firm. When this happened, the Darkness Soldier that carried a listless look vanished into the shadows that faded into nothingness. In this instance, the obnoxious voice from the person identified as Uncle Brav had sounded from the outside.

"Vaaawwwwn! You're quite late on this recent travel of yours; I've heard that you were coming days ago and was expected to arrive this evening, but who would have thought that you'd be held up. What kept you? Surely it couldn't have been that sudden outburst of rain; such a little storm is truly nothing."

When Vawn heard this, he gritted his teeth while thinking to himself.

'Che! Bastard, I bet that this shit face was one of those who commissioned that Denver, humph! I'll have my way with him soon...'

While Vawn pondered dark thoughts, Jae hurried out of the carriage towards the man on the outside as he spoke in a cheerful voice, "Uncle Brav! Uncle Brav! It's me, Jae. I'm happy to see you!"

Uncle Brav's eyes narrowed when he saw Jae appeared but that soon changed as he patted his head while speaking with a gentle look on his face.

"Haha, oh my Jae Boy, it's been far too long; I remember when you used to be a little runt no taller than my knee, time surely flies. You're here for that entrance exam, am I correct?"

"Hehe, yes, Uncle Brav, I dare say that I'll get first!"

Jae replied with a look of confidence on his face.

"Oh, that's the spirit, truly expected of a Wilborn; I'm expecting remarkable things from you, Jae Boy."

Uncle Brav said with an extra smile on his face, his eyes closed so tightly that it curved, showing a simple look on his face.

At this time, the annoyed Vawn had appeared from the carriage; he stared at Uncle Brav and snorted before he walked by him as he spoke.

"Come on, Jae; we have business to attend."

"Oh, okay, father."

As Jae and Vawn walked into the building, Brav's eyes flashed in a cold ray as he glanced at the slight amount of damage on the carriage and thought to himself.

'They've made it here in one piece, but I have yet to learn how, what was that creature that escorted their carriage, and what happened to that team? Tsk, it looks like I'll need to speak with the others.'

After wrapping up his thoughts, Brav wasted no time here, walking towards a different direction of the building, not even caring about Vawn's initial indifference, his lips curved in a mocking smile as he muttered to himself.

"Hmph! Even if you got here in one piece, you wouldn't be able to escape the next storm..."

Unaware of his Brav's thoughts, Vawn led Jae towards the main quarters to formalize a recent accident report. However, while walking, he noticed that Jae had a slightly lost look on his face.

"What's the matter?" Vawn asked.

Jae hesitated before he spoke, "Father, those people haven't left with us; they're still in the..."

Vawn shook his head as his eyes showed a complex look when he recalled how Marius and his family just vanished from the carriage moments ago. He spoke, "They're gone."

Jae was alarmed at this; he didn't know when they left; he recalled Grevlin's figure and gripped his fist as he spoke, "What? But... I... I haven't yet..."

Vawn frowned at this and snorted as he spoke, "Listen to me boy, I've told you repeatedly, you are a Wilborn. Even if we have fallen to the ranks of a mere merchant family, you are never to stoop so low as to beg others for their strengths, nor seek out what they aren't willing to give; our ancestor's blood is much too proud for such a chore. Remember, if a man is stronger, you can exceed him. If he's taller than you then outgrow him, and if there is something in this world that exists at a higher level than you do, rise above it and take it with your own two hands."

As Vawn said this, he didn't even look back onto the dazed Jae that stared at his back in silence, watching as he went ahead of him as he gripped his fist with hardened eyes.

'Father, I... I understand, even if he might be my better, for now, I shall exceed him in the future, for I… am Jae Wilborn.'

Following those words, Jae's aura changed by a tiny section, the air around him having a tinge of majesty which faded an instant after as the scene here continued like normal.

****

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