Dirga couldn’t shake the question from his mind.
Why did that man let us through so easily?
The old Devil’s crimson eyes had scanned him with eerie familiarity. No interrogation. No resistance. Just one quiet nod... and the gates of Ortheva had opened.
"See? I told you," Saelari said smugly as they walked, her voice pulling Dirga from his spiraling thoughts. "Just a bit of aura does the trick."
Kaela walked silently behind them, her chestnut hair flowing with each step, golden eyes soaking in everything.
They were inside.
The tunnel beyond the gates was wide enough for carriages and creatures alike.
To their left and right, elevated walkways carried steady foot traffic.
In the center, mounts, tal transports, and lumbering beasts rumbled by—so guided, others autonomous.
The air slled like oil, iron, and roasted at.
Magic lights flickered faintly overhead, blending with natural dusk.
As they erged from the tunnel’s end, the city unfolded before them like a waking dream.
"...whoa," Dirga muttered under his breath.
Z-Sector.
The heart of Ortheva.
Victorian-styled buildings lined the plaza—arches, stained glass, black spires and copper rooftops—
but it all pulsed with a modern twist: floating platforms, screen-like sigils, and rune-lit rails that guided sleek transports.
A massive bus levitated quietly at the curb, doors opening with a hiss as passengers shuffled in.
Dirga had no idea how it worked. But he knew one thing.
This place was alive.
Steam hissed from nearby vents.
Towering banners flapped above stone columns.
Street vendors called out in strange dialects, selling things in glass jars that blinked, floated, or oozed.
Creatures of every shape and race bustled past.
Devils, Nephari, horned traders, tiny fae in glass-armored drones.
Gold changed hands. Favors whispered. Tension thickened the air.
Dirga and Kaela stood frozen in awe—two villagers staring up at the spires of a new world.
"...hello?" Saelari waved her hand between them, eyes rolling. "Don’t just stand there like you’ve never seen a city."
Dirga blinked. "You’ve been here before?"
"Once," she nodded, her silver hair shimring beneath the overhead glow. "My ho city back in Niphari space is... well, ten tis this. Ortheva’s cute, though."
Dirga could barely imagine it. But he wasn’t here to sightsee.
I’m in the city now. But how do I contact Sasa?
That thought hit harder than the rest.
He had survived The Endless.
He had forged a Concept.
He had flown through a hellstorm with two lives on his back.
And now he was here—finally inside the Devil’s city.
But he had no clue how to contact Sasa across realms. No map. No guide. No beacon.
Just the city breathing around him like a beast made of tal, magic, and nace.
...
"...So, what do we do now?" Kaela’s voice broke the silence, her golden eyes flicking between Dirga and Saelari.
Dirga sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe... find clothes and a place to wash first?"
"I second that," Saelari nodded quickly, eyeing the dirt-stained sleeves of her tattered robe. "We look like we just crawled out of a goblin’s grave."
"Wait—what about money?" Dirga asked. "What do they even use here?"
Saelari smirked. "Oh, don’t worry. I ca prepared."
She swung her backpack around, fingers slipping inside a side pocket. With a flick, she pulled out a small, rune-etched black card glowing faintly at the edges.
Dirga raised a brow. "What’s that?"
"Our money," Saelari said casually. "Rember the goblin den? I, uh... looted their vault. Turns out they used a legit Devil bank system."
Dirga blinked. "...You robbed a bank?"
"Technically," she grinned, "I liberated my deserved compensation."
She held up the card, tapping its side. "Here in Ortheva, the currency works like this: Devil Bronze, Devil Silver, and Devil Gold. One hundred Bronze equals one Silver. One hundred Silver equals one Gold."
"And this little baby right here?" She kissed the card dramatically. "Ten Devil Gold loaded in. That’s enough for new clothes, hot food, and even a decent inn."
Her eyes practically lit up with greed—like coins had replaced her pupils.
"Let’s. Go," she declared, already marching toward the bustling crowd.
Dirga glanced at Kaela.
Kaela shrugged, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Together, they followed Saelari into the madness of Ortheva.
...
Not long after, the three of them erged from one of the city’s open-market clothing districts—dressed, cleaned, and transford.
Dirga rolled his shoulders in his new outfit. He’d gone for a jet-black ensemble,
resembling a sharp military uniform from Earth—
sothing between a martial arts gi and a student blazer.
The material was light but snug, outlining his lean, defined muscles like they had been poured into the fabric.
His silhouette now looked more like a warrior than a wanderer.
Saelari had chosen a surprisingly professional look:
a crisp white shirt tucked into tailored black trousers, her sleeves rolled up to the elbows.
The contrast made her blue skin and silver hair stand out even more.
Paired with her confident stride and slightly smug grin, she looked like she could both teach magic theory and bankrupt a small country.
Kaela, on the other hand, had gone with sothing simple:
a flowing, white one-piece dress with faint gold accents along the edges.
It swayed gently with each step, soft against her fra—but despite the modest cut, her natural curves still refused to hide.
Saelari clapped her hands together. "Alright—next stop: an inn."
She pointed dramatically forward, like a commander leading the charge.
"Preferably one with hot water, food, and beds that don’t sll like goblin feet," she added.
Dirga nodded. His body still carried the weight of every battle, every mont of tension. He had questions—so many questions—but first, they needed rest.
Saelari took the lead once again, scanning the bustling streets with practiced ease.
Ortheva’s outer district had no shortage of inns.
Being close to the main gate, this area was packed with establishnts catering to travelers, rcenaries, and rchants from across the realms.
Eventually, they settled on a mid-sized inn tucked between a tavern and a smithy.
The wooden sign out front depicted a silver fox curled around a teacup.
Inside, the air was warm and spiced with the scent of roasted herbs.
The receptionist—a tall woman with antler-like horns and leafy tattoos curling along her arms—welcod them with a polite smile.
"We’ll take two rooms," Saelari said confidently. "One for him, and one for us."
The horned woman nodded and handed over two bronze-etched keys. "Cos with dinner and breakfast. Hot bath’s available on request."
Dirga glanced at the cost. Five hundred silver. Not cheap—but considering they’d gotten new clothes, clean rooms, hot food, and peace?
Worth every coin.
The inn was quiet. Comfortable. The walls didn’t bleed or whisper like the castle. The beds didn’t grow teeth.
Dirga finally exhaled.
Tonight... they could just be people again.
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