Great Journey: Whims of Fate

The convoy arrived at the royal palace, where the goods were handed over to the appropriate authorities. Meanwhile, Bastion was escorted to the guest palace, where visiting dignitaries were accommodated during their stay in Aurenthal.

Bastion and Elyra were led to the room they would occupy for the week leading up to the upcoming social gathering.

'The guest palace's interior resembles the castle's hallways,' Bastion noted as they walked.

When they arrived, the room looked almost identical to his chambers back at Diamondhart Castle, aside from the absence of a balcony and a shift in color scheme. Instead of Diamondhart's signature deep blue, the room was decorated in royal purple with accents of gold.

It was a truly luxurious estate.

"What's our schedule looking like, Eli?" Bastion asked once they were alone.

"There doesn't appear to be one, Master," Elyra replied. "We're expected at the prince's palace, in the grand hall, by the evening of next week. No other engagements were scheduled before then."

"So we're just... early to the party?"

"It would seem so, Master."

"In that case, we should do some shopping and sightseeing," Bastion suggested.

"If you wish to acquire anything, Master, we can simply have a merchant brought in to meet your needs."

"I'm not looking for anything in particular, Eli. I just want to walk around, see the city, and maybe pick up something interesting along the way," Bastion said, then paused before asking, "We do have money, right?"

"Yes, Master. I've been given your allowance for the duration of your stay."

"How much?"

"100,000 gold coins."

Bastion blinked. "That's a bit excessive, no?"

"It is enough to cover all your needs for the week, Master."

"Enough? Eli, I could buy a business, run it into the ground, rebuild it, destroy it again, and still live comfortably for the next century."

"Assuming you live like a commoner, Master," Elyra replied, calm as ever.

Bastion sighed and leaned back, considering the sheer amount of gold.

The local currency was structured by increments of a hundred, copper, silver, gold, platinum, mithril, and magic crystals. That meant Elyra currently held ten mithril coins in her magic bag, equivalent to 100,000 gold.

There was no need for paper or credit systems here; magic bags were affordable even for most middle-class citizens. For the wealthy, carrying large sums of coins had never been a concern.

"Anyway," Bastion said, shaking off the thought, "I want to explore the city. That won't be a problem, right?"

"Not at all, Master."

"Good. Because I refuse to waste an entire week sitting around doing nothing."

"We could… enjoy each other's company," Elyra suggested, fidgeting slightly as she spoke.

"We will," Bastion replied, stroking her tail. "After we finish shopping and sightseeing."

"Yes, Master."

As it was already quite late, they settled in for the night and woke early the next morning to begin sightseeing around the city.

Their first stop was the Cathedral of Brilliance.

"It's quite beautiful, Master," Elyra remarked, standing beside Bastion.

"It is, from a distance," Bastion replied. "But up close, it just looks unnecessarily massive."

The cathedral stood well over two hundred meters tall, and its ground floor alone could easily accommodate thousands of people comfortably. It was truly an awe-inspiring structure.

As Bastion and Elyra entered, they were quickly approached by a nearby priest.

"Welcome to the Cathedral of Brilliance. How may we assist you today?"

"I just need a place to pray," Bastion answered.

"Then, please proceed to the prayer hall. There is no sermon today, so you may take your time."

"Thank you."

"May the Goddess of Brilliance's light shine upon you."

As Bastion stepped into the hall, he immediately felt the subtle, yet undeniable aura of the Goddess of Brilliance. It was less potent than he remembered, but her presence permeated the space.

He found a seat nearby and began to pray.

It had been eighteen years since his encounter with the Goddess, yet the image of her beauty had never left his mind. It felt as though her visage was branded into his very soul, an indelible mark that time could not erase.

He prayed for a minute, then five. An hour passed, yet there was no sign of her. He had hoped, foolishly, perhaps, to meet her again, even if only in some miraculous, anime-like encounter. But nothing came.

With a final sigh, he stood, and Elyra silently followed as they left the cathedral.

Their next stop was the guild district, a bustling area that housed the five major guilds most commoners flocked to for work: the Adventurers Guild, the Merchants Guild, the Mages Guild, the Tamers Guild, and the Crafters Guild.

The Adventurers Guild is responsible for registering and distributing various tasks, ranging from simple chores like cleaning gutters to high-stakes missions such as slaying dragons.

The Merchants Guild manages the taxation of all merchants, ensuring they meet the kingdom's requirements. Essentially, the guild handles much of the administrative burden for nobles and the kingdom, which is why the system continues to thrive.

The Mages Guild oversees everything related to magic and the pursuit of knowledge, from skill books and scrolls to spells and magical research. Their domain even extends to mundane scientific studies.

The Tamers Guild specializes in the taming of beasts, making it the best place to acquire a loyal companion, as long as the necessary funds are available.

Lastly, the Crafters Guild manages the kingdom's crafters, ensuring the quality and distribution of all crafted goods.

These five guilds can be found in every major city, and even in some growing towns and villages, so long as there is potential for profit. For instance, the Adventurers Guild has branches in nearly every village, as their services, ranging from monster hunting and foraging to mining small veins, are always in demand.

Bastion decided to visit the Mage's, Tamer's, and Crafters Guilds to see if they had anything of interest for sale. He didn't have any particular business with the Adventurers or Merchants Guild, as he had no need for a job, identification, or trader's permit, essentially all they had to offer.

They made their way to the guild district and found five massive buildings, each the size of a shopping mall. A constant flow of people moved in and out of them, each group distinguished by unique clothing.

Some wore armor, weapons or magic bags proudly displayed. Others dressed in sharp business attire, the flowing robes of scholars, barely anything at all, or heavy leather overalls built for labor.

It was a fascinating sight, watching people of different races go about their daily lives in a fantasy world. It reminded Bastion of his favorite pastime back on Earth.

He found a quiet cafe nearby and sat with Elyra to observe the crowd and quickly noticed a striking difference between the people here and those on Earth.

'The people here are incredibly attractive,' Bastion thought.

Even the most ordinary-looking person would be considered above average by Earth's standards. This was likely due to their stats. 

As guild employees, they undoubtedly had developed statuses, and as regular citizens, they probably invested heavily in Vitality or Charm to maintain their health and appearance.

The Tamers Guild and the Merchants Guild had by far the most attractive people, while the other guilds had individuals who were still notably above average.

He also noticed that people here displayed a broader range of natural emotions.

Back on Earth, the most common expressions were hope or despair with a majority defaulting to concealed despair. People either expected something new if they were well-off or trudged through the day, having lost the will to care.

Here in the guild district, the emotional landscape was far more nuanced. The Adventurers Guild radiated either raw loss or fierce determination. The Merchants Guild mirrored Earth's blend of hope and hopelessness, though most seemed to lean toward hope. The Mages Guild exuded a detached apathy laced with curiosity. The Tamers Guild burned with ferocity and unshakable resolve. And the Crafters Guild pulsed with obsession and despair, with hopelessness being the dominant emotion.

These emotions weren't absent on Earth, they were simply rarer, at least in his experience. Maybe the park he used to frequent reflected the mindset of the Merchants Guild more often. If he had spent time observing people on a military base instead, perhaps he would've seen more of the loss and determination found in the Adventurers Guild.

That was until Bastion saw a cloaked figure heading to the Tamers Guild from the Mages Guild. He couldn't see much, only that it was a woman, and she was tall.

He felt his talent activate but could not see the usual flash of an ending. What he felt instead was a sense that this woman would go through an extraordinary life.

It was a new feeling he had never experienced before. He simply knew that her future was going to be quite an adventure. Great things were in store for this woman. Whether that was good or bad, he couldn't say, only that it would be great.

"Master, it's getting late. We should head back for today," Elyra reminded him from beside his seat.

They had unknowingly spent most of the afternoon watching the busy district.

"Alright, let's head back. We have a few more days here, so we're in no hurry," Bastion replied.

They made their way back to the guest palace and enjoyed a peaceful evening before turning in for the night. Elyra joined Bastion in bed for his promised pampering.

Tomorrow, Bastion planned to visit the Mages Guild to browse their selection of skillbooks.

Unseen beneath the calm surface of the city, the currents of fate had already begun to shift.

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