(Kaelira)
Days later, Kaelira stumbled from the jungle’s edge, wild-eyed and muttering about the never-ending attacks. She froze as four soldiers in gleaming white armor and dark cloaks erged, their gazes sharp with disbelief. One shook their head and stepped forward. ’’My Lady, why would you venture into the Death Jungle?’’
’’Looks for the nearest city,’’ she answered after assessing them not to be a threat. ’’I’m here to witness the White Dragons’ so-called greatness.’’
When the three heard this, another one who happened to be a woman comnted. ’’Oh great, another one. Should we take her to Whitehaven City or Oakheart Village?’’
’’Yes, let’s lead her to the Oakheart Village,’’ the older man said before turning to her. ’’If you’re looking for Draconia, we can take you to a border settlent.’’
Kaelira nodded. ’’Okay.’’
Following that, the humans led her toward a nearby road that she would have never seen on her journey through the jungle. The humans stayed ahead of her while she heard them guessing what she was, thanks to the powerful aura radiating from her body. She watched them, and they looked like hunters as the third one was carrying a dead monster.
After ten minutes, Kaelira spotted a plu of white smoke in the distance and narrowed her gold eyes at it. ’Looks peaceful, there isn’t any bandits or monsters lurking around.’
The leader of the group turned to her and smiled. ’’Here’s Oakheart Village; it leads to the rest of the empire.’’
’’Thank you for the help,’’ she replied.
Kaelira headed toward the village where she spotted dozens of rchants marching along the road, wagons full of goods they wanted to sell. This caught her attention as the northern lands don’t trade among themselves and are isolated, thanks to the constant wars that erupted all over the continents.
As the Wyrm Princess approached the entrance, she spotted a dozen soldiers patrolling the gate and ramparts. Their ornate armor, ticulously crafted to shield every vulnerability against powerful blows, caught her off guard. She hadn’t expected the White Dragon to equip his forces with such costly, expertly designed gear.
’Looks like he cares about his soldiers,’ she thought, curious but fascinated. ’Spares no expense in arming them.’
After passing through the gate, Kaelira stepped into the bustling village. Her eyes widened at the sight of three towering structures piercing the clouds, their stone facades gleaming under the midday sun. These towers stood at the heart of the settlent, dwarfing the modest hos and shops radiating outward in a sprawl.
Villagers stread in and out of the building’s arched doorways, their movents purposeful yet unbothered, carrying bundles, scrolls, or tools. The air humd with the murmur of voices and the clatter of daily life. Her curiosity sparked. ’What were these looming towers, and what drew the villagers to them?’
Monts later, Kaelira wove through the crowded streets, moving past rchants hawking fruits and craftsn hamring at their wares. The villagers’ faces glowed, their smiles broad and eyes bright, as if untouched by the perils in the Death Jungle. This happiness baffled her.
How could they be so at ease in a world where danger lurked beyond the gates? She paused near a market stall, where a woman laughed, handing a child a honey-dipped pastry. The child’s giggle rang like a bell, and her chest tightened; such joy felt alien. Drawn to the nearest tower, she approached its massive doors, carved with swirling draconic artwork.
A group of villagers exited, their arms laden with books and glowing crystals, chatting animatedly. Her brow furrowed as the people greeted every soldier they ca across. The White Dragon, whose warriors wore such fine armor, seed to be respected by the Water Elves.
She slipped inside, her boots echoing on marble floors. Inside was vast; a massive foyer stood in the center. Staircases were opposite her, where hundreds of people climbed up and down. It was only then that she realized it was the places where the village people stayed.
The Wyrm Princess glanced up only to see hundreds of balconies that stretched the length of the building with doors lined up behind them. Kaelira was amazed once more as this place housed thousands of citizens, as the towers pierced the clouds. Even with her eyesight, she couldn’t see the top of the towering structure, its peak lost to the clouds.
At its base, a vibrant cluster of shops sprawled, their colorful awnings and open doors buzzing with activity as villagers flowed in and out, laden with goods or empty-handed but purposeful. The lively scene bewildered her. Before she could ponder further, two young won approached.
Their faces were bright with warm, welcoming smiles that seed to light up the crowded street. The lead stranger greeted her. Before she could ponder further, three young won approached, their faces lit up with welcoming smiles that seed to light up the crowded street.
’’Hello there,’’ the leader said, her voice bright and lodic, her smile unwavering. ’’Are you an adventurer?’’
Kaelira studied the won warily, their easy cheer a stark contrast to the dangers she’d faced in the Death Jungle. She nodded slowly. ’’Yes. I’ve just arrived in Oakheart Village. Why do you ask?’’
The leader, a blue-haired Water Elf with green eyes, stepped closer. ’’Would you like to join our group? We’re heading to Draconia, where dungeons teem with treasures and monsters roam the forests. There’s good coin to be made there.’’
Kaelira’s brow furrowed. ’’Why not hunt here in Orientia?’’
The Water Elf’s smile faltered briefly, but her tone remained light. ’’We co from Avidia. The adventurers there have left thanks to the Draconians. Their security is suffocating, and they’re obsessed with purging the swarms that plague our lands, which is good but annoying at tis.’’
She was about to reply, but the second woman, who was a Lion Demi-Human, finished. ’’They’re less strict about adventuring on Draconia, so we’re headed there, but need to get to Westreach, it’s the only port city that will take us to the empire’s holand.’’
’’Holand?’’ Kaelira asked.
The Water Elf nodded. ’’Yes, Draconia conquered these lands in the last war, but the heart of the empire is a massive island to the Southwest. It’s where most of the people go to live, it’s ant to be a paradise.’’
This caught Kaelira’s attention as she nodded. ’’Okay, I’ll join you both, but I need to beco an adventurer to get my card; my lands don’t have any guilds.’’
The blue-haired woman’s face lit up with a warm smile as she extended her hand. ’’I’m Jasmine, and this is Khela. We’re E-Rank Adventurers."
Kaelira clasped Jasmine’s hand, returning a confident nod. "I’m Kaelira. I don’t have a rank yet, but I’m sure that’ll change soon."
Jasmine and Khela gestured for her to follow, leading the way toward the village’s guildhall. As they walked, Jasmine spoke with enthusiasm. ’’Empress Ashoka permitted the guild to establish a branch here. The previous eastern rulers clashed with the Guild Leader, but the emperor is different; she’s fond of Draconia and eager to et the emperor.’’
Kaelira strolled through the village alongside Jasmine and Khela, the cobblestone streets buzzing. Market stalls overflowed with goods, and children’s laughter rang out as they weaved through the crowd. In the distance, towering apartnt blocks glead under the midday sun, their sleek stone surfaces a testant to modern craftsmanship.
Her gold eyes lingered on the buildings. ’’Those are stunning. Who designed them?’’ she asked, her curiosity sparked.
Jasmine’s face lit up, her hands clapping together in excitent. ’’That’s all, Emperor Archer! Oh, Kaelira, you haven’t heard about him yet?’’
Her blue hair bounced as she practically squealed. Khela smirked, giving her friend a playful nudge. ’’Easy, Jas, don’t scare her off. But for real, Archer’s incredible. Imagine this: short, snow-white hair that shines like moonlight, violet dragon eyes that could stop your heart, and a physique like a god carved from marble. He’s insanely powerful, but so kind and sharp as a whip.’’
Jasmine sighed, gazing dreamily at the apartnt blocks. ’’He’s the mastermind behind those. Brought them to Orientia and every other continent. Before Archer, we didn’t have anything like this, solid hos for everyone that are cheap! The man is why the empire’s flourishing.’’
Kaelira raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ’’He sounds almost too perfect. What else has he done?’’
The lioness’s tone turned respectful. ’’Everything. Roads, schools, aqueducts, hospitals, and got rid of the holess by giving them jobs and hos, you na it. He’s got this grand vision for a united, thriving world, and he’s making it real. Plus, his charm? Your panties will be wrecked.’’
Jasmine giggled, fanning herself. ’’I saw him at a festival once. Nearly lost it. Those eyes, Kaelira. Wait ’til you see him.’’
As they approached the guild, Kaelira couldn’t suppress a smile at their enthusiasm, her interest in the Emperor growing with every step.
The Water Elf’s green eyes glead as she leaned closer, voice brimming with awe. ’’You won’t believe this, but I saw him in action once. A whole horde of Desert Barbarians, vicious, bloodthirsty raiders, stord the outskirts of a village not far from my ho village. Everyone thought we were done for. But then Archer appeared.’’
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