The walk from the orphanage to the nearest town was the longest journey Ethan had taken in his new life. The dirt path wound through rolling green hills, the air smelling of wild grass and distant woodsmoke. After months of being confined within the stone walls of the orphanage, the vastness of the Oros plains felt both exhilarating and intimidating.
"Where exactly are we going?" Ethan asked, using reinforcement to keep pace with Elara's long strides.
"Gallows-Hill," Elara replied with a smile. "It's the main hub for this sector of this territory . We usually go once a month for supplies."
Ethan nodded, his mind drifting back to the lessons he had overheard. Oros is ruled by the Aurelian House and their Noble vassals, he remembered. He looked at the high stone walls of the town appearing on the horizon. Ethan nodded, his mind drifting back to the lessons he had overheard. Oros is ruled by the Aurelian House and their Noble vassals, he remembered. He looked at the high stone walls of the town appearing on the horizon.
"Elara, who is the Lord of Gallows-Hill? Is he a High Noble?".Looking farward to see the town.
"Of course!" she whispered. "But he doesn't like the stuffy life of the capital. He prefers running the orphanage and looking after us. Because he stays with us, the day-to-day business of the town is handled by a man named Mr. Memoir. He's the Governor."
As they approached the massive iron-studded gates of the town, Ethan felt a flutter of nerves. Two guards in polished breastplates stood at the entrance, their spears glinting in the sun.
"Halt. Identification and purpose?" one of the guards barked.
Elara didn't flinch. She reached into her tunic and pulled out a folded letter sealed with a wax stamp. The guard looked at the seal,which had Havi's mark,and his posture immediately changed. He stood straighter and stepped aside. "Forgive me. Proceed, Miss Elara."
Once inside, Ethan's jaw dropped. The town was a chaotic, beautiful symphony of life. Cobblestone streets were lined with timber-framed shops. Blacksmiths hammered on glowing steel, and street vendors shouted the prices of roasted meats. But what caught Ethan's eye were the people. He saw men and women draped in leather and steel, carrying massive broadswords, jagged spears, and staves that hummed with faint magical energy.
"Real adventurers", Ethan thought, his emerald eyes wide."they would have taken swords and spear if any walked back on earth back home " looking over the weapons
They went through the crowds until the wooden shops gave way to elegant stone buildings. They stopped in front of a sprawling white marble mansion that looked like it had been carved from a single piece of cloud. A butler in a crisp black suit met them at the door.
"Miss Elara, Master Ethan. Mr. Memoir is expecting you," the butler said with a bow.
He led them through hallways filled with velvet rugs and paintings that looked more expensive than the entire orphanage. They reached a pair of heavy oak doors. The butler knocked softly.
"The guests from the Ash-Tree have arrived."
"Come in," a smooth, melodic voice called out.
As they entered the office, Ethan felt his breath catch. The room was the definition of luxury shelves of leather-bound books, a desk made of dark, polished mahogany, and windows that looked out over the entire town. Elara gave a graceful, slight bow.
"My Lord," she said.
Ethan, seeing her, followed suit. He was nervous, his small hands fumbling with his tunic as he bowed. "I've never talked to a real aristocrat before", he thought, his heart racing.
A tall man sat behind the desk. He had raven-black hair swept back neatly and a sharp, defined jawline. But it was his eyes that were most striking they were a deep, piercing red. He had a friendly, easy-going smile on his face.
"Ease up, little Ethan," the man said, leaning back. "There's no need to be so tense in my office. I'm just a man behind a desk." He turned to Elara. "How are you doing, Elara? Is Havi still making you lift those boulders?"
"Every day, my Lord," she replied with a grin. "The training is going well."
Mr. Memoir turned his red eyes back to Ethan. "And you must be the new boy. lord havi speaks quite highly of you.
"Yes, my Lord," Ethan stammered.
A bit shy, I see," Memoir laughed. "Well, you'll grow out of that soon enough."
A servant entered carrying a silver tray with a heavy, fat leather pouch on it. Mr. Memoir gestured to it. "This is the month's allowance for the orphanage shopping and maintenance. Take it with my regards to lord Havi."
Elara took the pouch, thanking him, and they bid him farewell. Ethan didn't stop holding his breath until they were back on the street.
"Okay, now for the fun part," Elara said, patting the gold in the pouch.
They spent the next few hours going through the market, buying sacks of flour, new wool for blankets, and salt. As they shopped, Elara explained the currency.
"It's simple, really," she said, handing a coin to a baker. "One gold Crown is worth thirty silver coins. And one silver is worth twelve copper coins. Most commoners only ever see copper and silver. This pouch has five gold Crowns in it that's a fortune to most people."
Ethan watched the coins change hands, his mind calculating. "Gold, silver, copper. It's a classic system'.
"One last stop," Elara said, her eyes lighting up with a different kind of excitement. "We need to visit the Raven's Eye Guild."
"Is that an adventurer guild?" Ethan asked.
"No," Elara replied, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It's an Information Guild. They deal in secrets, maps, and whispers. They provide data to adventurers and Nobles for a price. It's my dream to join them one day. It's the most famous information guild on the continent."
She leaned in closer to Ethan. "Havi has been teaching me Illusion Magic specifically so I can qualify to join. They value mages who can hide in plain sight."
"Is it that important?" Ethan asked.
"Important?" Elara gasped. "Ethan, even the Great Houses visit the Raven's Eye. People like Lord Julien-de Claire, one of the fourteen Great Vessels, have been seen there."
"Who is he?" Ethan ask confused not knowing much about this new world
Elara shook her head. "Oh, Ethan, it would take me all day to explain the history of the Great Houses. You should ask Havi about the history of the continent when we get back. You really need to learn who runs this world."
Ethan nodded, realizing she was right. He was a man with twenty-two years of memories from another world, but in this world, he was still a blank slate.
They finally reached the headquarters of the Raven's Eye. The building was strange. it was built in the shape of a massive, perching raven, with dark, iridescent stone that shimmered like feathers.
Suddenly, a man appeared out of nowhere in a swirl of black mist. Ethan jumped, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger in his belt.
"Lord Hugo is waiting for you." the man said, with a flat voice.
He led them deep into the "raven," through corridors that felt like they were made of shadows. They reached an office at the very top. Before the servant could even knock, a voice boomed from inside.
"Come in!"
They entered, and Ethan froze. Sitting behind the desk was a man who looked identical to Mr. Memoir. The same black hair, the same sharp jaw, and the same red eyes.
The man, Lord Hugo, saw Ethan's shocked face and let out a hearty chuckle. "I take it you've already met my brother, the Governor? I'm the twin who prefers the shadows to the paperwork."
Hugo turned to Elara and handed her a sealed black envelope. "Deliver this to lord Havi personally. It contains the reports he asked for regarding the border movements."
Elara accepted the letter with a deep bow. "Thank you, Lord Hugo."
As they stepped back out into the evening sun and began the long walk back to the orphanage, Ethan felt a wave of exhaustion hit him.
"Talking to Nobles is nerve-wracking," Ethan muttered, looking at the distant silver tree of the orphanage. "They feel… different. Like they're made of a different kind of air."
That's what powerful people feels like, Ethan," Elara said softly. "But don't worry. You've got one of the best teacher in the world. One day, they'll be the ones nervous to talk to you."
Ethan didn't say anything, but he clutched the dagger in his waist . He had seen the wealth of the Governor and the shadows of the Information Guild.
The world was huge, complicated, and dangerous. And to survive it he needs to learn his this worlds history. he decided he gonna ask some books on history from havi.