For non-mutants, standing outside in the open usually ant sickness and discomfort due to the harsh air and unstable environnt. For that reason, such a crowded and relaxed outdoor area was sothing Marielle and Niva were seeing in person for the first ti.
The different-looking races moving around like characters torn from fantasy novels added another layer of depth and awe to the scene.
It felt less like a city and more like they had stepped into the pages of a book.
Since Adyr and the others had left them behind, Vesha had taken on the role of guide.
As a native of this world, she was giving the three won a city tour and trying to make them comfortable, like a host fulfilling her duty as Adyr's good friend or, more accurately, his assistant.
As they walked, she looked back every so often to see how they were reacting. She wanted to make sure they were having a good ti seeing the city their son and brother had built for them.
They had invited Marcus too, but when he answered that he was too old for these kinds of walks and that he had his own way of studying the city from a quieter angle, they simply left the boring old man behind and started to wander together as a small group of won, weaving through the crowd.
"Can we visit the shops?" Niva's blue eyes were bright with curiosity as her gaze lingered on stalls and stands selling all kinds of strange items, from unfamiliar fruits to faintly glowing stones.
It wasn't only human stalls and shop owners.
Many of the shops belonged to other races as well, and each stall carried the subtle marks of its owner's culture in the way the goods were arranged and presented.
After constructing the trade square, Humans had invited traders from other races and kingdoms.
They allowed them to sell their own goods in the city in exchange for small taxes, hoping to gain stable inco from tax revenues while also increasing foot traffic and turning the city into a true hub.
There was also another trade area they had built with the goal of attracting Practitioners, a place where those people could sell their Sparks or special
resources.
Unfortunately, that part of the city wasn't doing as well as they had hoped. No Practitioner wanted to involve themselves in trade in a newly constructed, still unfamiliar city. For now, that section remained mostly empty, like an unused wing, until they could find a way to earn their trust and draw Practitioner custors in.
"Of course we can." Seeing Niva's excitent, Vesha smiled wider and led the 3 won through the crowd toward a small shop tucked away at the edge of the bustling square.
The shop itself was tiny.
Inside, the shelves were packed with small cloth, wooden, and even leaf dolls. All of them looked masterfully crafted, each one detailed in a way that clearly showed the ti, effort, and care poured into them.
The shop owner was a woman who, by Human standards, looked to be in her 40s. Her small height, matching Vesha's, and slightly pointed ears marked her as a Velari, which also explained the delicate style of the crafts that reflected the artistic culture of her people.
"Lady Vesha." As soon as the shop owner recognized the most famous and well-known lady of her kingdom, she bowed her head deeply. Her voice and expression were full of sincere warmth and affection.
Vesha had already been well-known in her kingdom for her beauty, her kind heart, and her lovely smile.
In recent tis, her reputation had climbed even higher thanks to a few adventures with Adyr, adventures that had turned into stories retold in hos and taverns.
After they saved a village from a pack of wolves and a Rank 2 Spark, the tale had spread as both song and legend.
By now, even people who had never seen her in person knew her na.
There were also plenty who exaggerated those events, in numbers too large to ignore.
They claid that if not for Lady Vesha, their kingdom could not have been saved from the Rank 4 Collossith. In those stories, she stood almost at the sa level as the kingdom's Practitioners, turned into a symbol of hope and mortal power.
"Hello Lina, how are you today?" Vesha asked casually. She didn't display her ladylike deanor here. Instead, she looked and sounded like any other custor dropping by on a normal day.
The shop owner's face brightened even more. She was clearly pleased to be addressed by her na.
She answered with the sa respect and affection. "It's always the best day for every ti you visit this small shop, Lady Vesha."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the 3 taller won waiting behind Vesha, taking in their unfamiliar features and clothing. "You have friends today?"
Now that the Velari had t Humans, they could recognize their race more
easily.
Their tall builds and slightly different ear shapes were enough to set them apart, so the shop owner understood right away that they were locals of the
city.
Vesha smiled at the question. "Yes, they are Lord Adyr's acquaintances, who ca from far away to visit the city."
She omitted the detail that they were his mother and sister. That was sothing she preferred not to reveal, to avoid drawing the wrong kind of
attention.
Even so, hearing that they knew Adyr was enough. Surprise and joy flashed in the Velari woman's eyes, and she leaned in a little, suddenly more attentive. "Lord Adyr? Oh my... Please, welco. It's an honor to have Lord Adyr's guests
in my little shop."
The shop owner bowed her head deeply to them, almost folding in half.
Marielle and the others couldn't understand the words, but they didn't need a translation to see the gratitude and warmth on her face when she spoke Adyr's na. Saying it clearly ant sothing to her.
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