The City That Watches
Soulforge City, the richest city in the Coreland.
Because this is the base of human of Coreland's No. 1 force—the Soulforge Citadel.
Up high, pale walls climbed without pause, forming a barrier that seemed never to end under open air. In the middle of town, a building made of golden wood and bone sat silent, watching everything below, its sharp peaks cutting into the heavens.
Money alone didn't tell the whole story.
Power alone didn't cover it.
It was authority.
The sort that had folks ducking their gaze before they even noticed.
"Look… that's the Soulforge Citadel."
"Don't stare too long, idiot. Show some respect."
"Even breathing too loudly here feels like a crime…"
Faint murmurs slipped through empty avenues.
Walking between homes each day, some folks would glance toward the towering structures downtown - each gaze held quiet respect, a kind of hushed wonder. These shapes rising above rooftops seemed to pull attention without asking. Passing by, people slowed just a little, caught in stillness. What stood there felt larger than stone, more than glass and steel. A presence lingered where sidewalks met shadow.
Some clasped their hands.
One by one, eyes turned downward.
Some moved quicker, as if staying put could bring problems. Trouble seemed closer when they stayed still.
"This place… it's like standing in front of a god," a passerby muttered quietly.
Just not a god, someone whispered, eyes on the palace. Could be worse than that
Yet right there amid everything -
A person stood out because they were different.
Apart from everyone else, just one youth stands mismatched. His posture doesn't follow the flow around him. While others lean left, he tilts right. Where faces blend into sameness, his expression sticks out. Movement surrounds him, yet he feels disconnected. The scene fits together - except where he steps in. Silence wraps him even amid noise. Everyone matches tones. He brings contrast without trying.
Leon walked calmly through the streets.
No rush.
No hesitation.
He moved through the world like gravity forgot to pull.
Behind him, his long black hair danced in soft motion, snatching pieces of sun. With every stride, those indigo robes followed - flowing like water over a form both upright and still, shaped as if by silence itself.
And his face -
Too clean.
Too sharp.
Too… unreal.
Yet appearance alone didn't define him.
Something about him filled the room. His standing there changed everything without a word.
As if the act of bending forward were a mystery. A stranger to the gesture, hands unsure where to fall. Body stiff, resisting what others do without thought. Movements halted, out of rhythm with expectation. Not refusal - just absence. An empty space where habit should live.
As though fear were a word never heard before.
Out of nowhere, those gold-flecked eyes moved ahead, slow but never missing a thing. Stillness lived in them, yet something sharp waited beneath. Not loud, just watching. Dangerous without trying.
Out there among the crowd - men, women, kids, elders - the boy's quiet manner pulled everyone close without a word. A stillness in him made eyes turn, again and again. Not loud, not trying, just present like that. Folks found themselves pausing mid-step, drawn by what he carried so lightly. Even those who didn't notice at first ended up looking back.
"Tsk tsk… this kind of temperament—he must be the son of some big family, out here to play."
"Are you blind? Even the heirs of the seven great sects wouldn't look like this."
"Brother, keep your voice down. You want to die? People like him… we shouldn't even talk about."
Their voices dropped instantly.
Because deep down—
They all felt it.
This wasn't someone ordinary.
There were men looking at Leon with admiration, and naturally there were also girls chattering.
A pure young girl tugged repeatedly at her friend's sleeve, barely containing her excitement.
"Turn around—quick—look over there… there's a handsome little brother!"
Her friend didn't even bother turning.
"You again?" she laughed. "Every time you see a decent face, you lose your mind. This street is full of rough men, where are you finding handsome guys?"
"No… this one is different…"
The girl's voice softened.
Her eyes locked onto Leon.
Wide.
Unblinking.
"This… this is really handsome… my heart is beating so fast…"
Her friend rolled her eyes.
"Look at your face. You're exaggerating. What, thinking of spring already?"
Still—
She followed the girl's gaze.
And then—
Her expression changed.
Her pupils shrank slightly.
Her lips parted.
"…What the…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Because for a moment—
She forgot how to speak.
When the girl noticed the silence, she turned her head and smirked.
"Oh? Didn't you say I was imagining things? Then what's with that look on your face?"
"I'm not—I didn't—!" her friend denied quickly.
But her eyes—
Didn't move.
Not even a little.
The girl crossed her arms, grinning.
"Yeah right. Look at you, staring like your soul just got stolen. Your saliva's about to drip."
"Shut up!" her friend snapped, blushing slightly. "You're the one who lost all dignity first!"
The girl laughed softly.
"Then why aren't you looking away?"
"…I just—"
She couldn't answer.
Because she didn't want to.
Around them, more girls noticed.
Whispers spread.
Blushes followed.
"Don't say it out loud…"
"Just think it…"
"How embarrassing…"
But even as they said that—
Their eyes kept drifting back.
Drawn.
Pulled.
Like something inside them refused to look away.
Because it wasn't just his face.
It was the way he walked.
The way he carried himself.
The quiet, effortless dominance.
"Why does it feel like… if I get closer, I won't be able to leave…" one girl whispered unconsciously.
"Same…"
And just like that—
The entire street subtly shifted around one man.
Then—
A voice broke through.
"Hey, handsome little brother, is this your first time in Soulforge City?"
Leon stopped.
In front of him stood a girl.
Different from the others.
Very different.
She wore a luxurious golden robe that shimmered under the sunlight, the fabric hugging her figure in a way that felt both noble and dangerously alluring. Her long blonde hair flowed in soft waves, catching the light like strands of gold.
Her eyes—
Deep sapphire.
Sharp.
Bright.
Like they could see through people.
Her face was exquisite, delicate yet bold, her lips slightly curved with a natural confidence. There was something holy about her presence… but beneath that, something far more seductive.
Her chest rose proudly beneath the robe, full and defined, her waist slim, her hips curving smoothly into long, toned legs that seemed to go on forever.
She stood there—
Unapologetic.
Confident.
Like she was used to being the center of attention.
And she was.
Because countless men nearby were already stealing glances at her.
Hungry.
Cautious.
Afraid.
No one dared approach.
Leon lowered his gaze slightly.
Then—
He casually reached down, gently rubbing the fur on the back of the Silver Rabbit's neck in his arms.
Selena's small body relaxed instantly at the touch.
Then he looked back up at the girl.
His eyes scanned her once.
Top to bottom.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Almost indifferent.
"Blonde… confident… strong background," he thought briefly. "Probably trouble."
Then he spoke.
"What's the matter with you?"