The horses' hooves clattered against the cobblestone road as the massive white walls of Oakhaven loomed over us. To a human, this was a sanctuary. To me, with my [Chaos Sight] still humming beneath my skin, the city looked like a glowing cage.
A massive golden barrier—a dome of pure Light magic—shimmered over the battlements.
[Warning: Holy Sanctum Barrier detected.]
[Status: 'Humanoid Echo' is masking your mana, but your core temperature is rising.]
"Halt!" a guard at the gate barked, lowering a halberd. "State your business and present your seals."
"Commander Valerius," my escort leader replied, his voice booming. "Returning from the Jungle of Whispers with a survivor of a Class-B Chaos Event. Open the gates."
The guards immediately straightened, their eyes darting to me—a messy-haired "peasant" sitting awkwardly on a warhorse. They moved a large, crystal-embedded rod toward us.
"Scanning for corruption," the guard muttered.
My heart hammered against my ribs. If that crystal turned purple, this city would become my tomb before I even saw the library. I reached deep into my soul, pulling the 'Void' around my dragon heart, muffling its beat.
The crystal stayed clear.
"Pass," the guard said, stepping aside.
As we rode through the archway, the sheer scale of the city hit me. Oakhaven was built in tiers. The bottom tier was a chaotic mess of wooden stalls, the smell of baked bread, and the shouting of merchants. The higher tiers were made of white marble, culminating in a cathedral that pierced the clouds.
But I wasn't looking at the architecture. I was looking at the people.
Thousands of them.
Every single one of them was a potential snack—or a potential threat. I could see the faint glow of mana in their veins. Most were weak, barely Level 2 or 3, but the guards patrolling the streets were all Level 15 and above.
"Listen, boy," Valerius said, slowing his horse next to mine. "The Inquisitors will want to see you at dawn. Until then, you stay at the 'Golden Sun' inn. Don't wander. The city is on high alert after that dragon sighting."
"I understand, Commander," I said, keeping my head low. "I just want some rest."
He handed me a small pouch of copper coins. "For a meal. Consider it a gift from the Church."
I watched him ride away toward the upper district. The moment he was out of sight, my fearful expression vanished. My eyes flashed violet for a split second.
[Quest Update: Locate the 'Great Library'.]
[Marker Detected: 800 meters North-East.]
I started walking, weaving through the crowds. The sensory overload was intense. My dragon instincts wanted to roar at the man who bumped into my shoulder; my human mind told me to stay invisible.
I passed a blacksmith's shop, and the smell of hot iron made my scales—currently hidden under my skin—itch with a phantom memory of the forge. I passed a fruit stall, but the "sweet" scent of the apples smelled like rotting garbage to my reptilian nose.
Dragon's don't eat apples. We eat meat. And magic.
Finally, I stood before a massive building shaped like a scroll. It was guarded by two stone gargoyles that, according to my [Chaos Sight], were very much alive.
"The Great Library," I whispered. "Somewhere in there is the map to the other Star-Cores."
But as I stepped toward the stairs, a voice stopped me.
"You smell like a campfire that's been put out with salt water."
I spun around. Leaning against a pillar was a girl no older than me. She wore a thief's cloak and had a smirk that suggested she knew exactly what I was hiding.
[Target: Unknown (Level ??)]
[Status: Cannot Analyze. Target is using 'High-Tier Concealment'.]
"Who are you?" I growled, my hand instinctively going to where my claws would be.
"A friend," she said, tossing a silver coin into the air and catching it. "Or an enemy. Depends on if you're really the 'peasant' the Paladins brought in, or if you're the reason the Sky-Sentries are screaming in the jungle."