{ CHAPTER - 9 } The town where adventures begins

The country of Veridonia exists in the western part of the Solstice Empire. It is also the closest country to the western border of the Empire.

The country is noticeably large and mainly consists of four towns.

Guildhaven, Crestwood, Silverreach, and Misthaven.

Out of these four, the place to go to be an adventurer, as the name suggests, is Guildhaven.

Located near the Solstice Empire's western border, Guildhaven is a bustling town renowned for housing the largest guild in the region.

The town serves as a hub for adventurers, mercenaries, and explorers from far and wide. The streets of Guildhaven are lined with taverns, weapon shops, and establishments catering to the needs of adventurers.

The guild itself is an impressive structure, with multiple floors dedicated to training facilities, quest boards, and meeting halls.

The town buzzes with excitement as adventurers gather to form parties, seek employment, and share tales of their exploits.

Although he was staring out the window while his hand was supporting his chin, the stranger listened to Anna very closely.

He then turned to face Anna who was sitting opposite him and asked, "How strong are the adventurers in that guild?".

Lifting her finger in excitement Anna said, "From what I've heard, all the adventurers that gather there are all very powerful and are some of the best in the whole empire".

Hearing that the man wondered, "If they are that strong, aren't they a threat to the law?"

"That's not the case," said Sir Garrick "While it's true that the adventurers are certainly strong up to the point where they can be a force of their own. However, they are still no match for even 1/3 of the Empire's army".

Surprised by the confidence backing the knight's words, the stranger asked, "Is the empire's force really that powerful?"

"Of course," Said Anna "The people in the army of the Solstice Empire are of the best soldiers in the entire world. And that's not all, the training those people are put through is so intense that only 1 out of 100 people can withstand and get through it"

"I see why the Empire has its current position," said the stranger.

"Yes, but that's just the army under the Emperor," said Sir Garrick.

The stranger wondered, "Hmm... What do you mean by that?"

"In the Empire, the strongest force is under the Emperor, His Majesty Julian Flameheart. But that's not all the forces. There are many families after the royal family and each family has their army in the Empire."

The stranger looked at Sir Garrick and asked, "What about the barclad family?"

This was something to be excited about as Anna said proudly, "My family is the third strongest family in the Empire. That also means that our knights are just that much stronger— But..."

A sad expression formed on her face as she recalled the recent incident, "But to think that someone from our own family could do this".

She then looked at the man sitting in front of him and said with a smile, "I am truly thankful for what you did. If not for you, who knows what could have happened".

In hopes to lift the mood, the man tried to change the subject.

"By the way, I'm curious to know what's your ranking in the forces of the empire, Sir Garrick?"

The knight smiled and said in a humble voice, "While it's true that I'm noticeably strong, I am nowhere close to even the top 100 in the whole empire".

Another shocking statement for the stranger to understand.

'If a person who can disappear from in front of your eyes is not even in the top 100, then just what kind of monsters live in this world' he thought to himself.

"That is very surprising to hear that a person of your calibre is not even in the top 100"

Sir Garrick laughed and said, "HAHAHA! If that's surprising to you, then should I also tell you that we are just talking about the army within the Empire?"

"Huh? What do mean?"

"There are much stronger people who live outside of the empire and are not a part of any force. And then some are people from other empires and kingdoms. If we take all of them in ranking then I'm in the top 500".

"Hmm... That's a lot of strong people huh?"

But then, he continued on the talk from before, "Anyways. Could you tell me more about Veridonia?"

Anna cheerfully exclaimed, "Of course".

The Next town after Guildhaven is Crestwood.

It is nestled in the picturesque countryside of the western region, Crestwood is a charming town known for its rolling hills, fertile farmlands, and peaceful atmosphere.

It serves as a gateway to the Solstice Empire's borderlands and acts as a trading post for goods flowing between the empire and neighbouring countries.

Crestwood's quaint cottages, colourful markets, and warm-hearted inhabitants make it a popular stopover for travellers and merchants journeying through the region.

The town after that is Sliverreach.

Situated in the heart of the western country, it is a prosperous town known for its silver mines.

The town's economy thrives on the extraction and trade of silver, attracting miners, blacksmiths, and jewellers to its bustling streets.

Silverreach is adorned with impressive architecture, including the grand Silverhall, a majestic structure serving as both a town hall and a gathering place for its citizens.

The town's cultural heritage is rich, and festivals celebrating the silver harvest and craftsmanship are common occurrences.

And the last town in the country is Misthaven.

Tucked away in the western countryside, Misthaven is a tranquil town enveloped by a perpetual mist that blankets the surrounding landscape.

The town is renowned for its natural hot springs, which draw visitors seeking relaxation and healing properties.

Misthaven is a place of serenity, with beautiful gardens, soothing music, and a renowned spa renowned for its rejuvenating treatments.

The townspeople are known for their herbal medicine expertise, and travellers often seek their guidance for remedies and potions.

As Anna explained all she knew, the horse carriages started to slow down and stopped at one point.

Then the door was opened by a knight and he announced, "Young miss, we have arrived at our destination"

CHAPTER - 9 - TO BE CONTINUED