Chương 140: Aqareth

Aqareth was an enormous city, even larger than the capital, Virelia, yet surprisingly less populated. Despite being such a vast city, and the largest in the Southern Lands, it was one of the few cities that had not been conquered by the Coalition. The reason was simple: the Coalition considered it a declining city with no real tactical or economic value. There were several reasons for this.

Job opportunities were considerably scarcer than those offered by the capital, while the climate made everyday life extremely difficult. The heat was almost unbearable for much of the year, and to make matters worse, the local authorities were highly corrupt and security was considerably worse than in Virelia. Despite this, Aqareth retained a particular charm.

The city had been built tens of thousands of years ago using an ancient and extremely rare stone, characterized by a pale blue color that faded almost completely into white. The imposing walls and buildings seemed to belong to an age long forgotten, giving Aqareth an almost surreal appearance. Felicity, Ethan, and Agnes finally reached the gates after waiting in a long line. Two toll collectors stood before them. One of them barely looked up before announcing in a bored tone:"Twenty-five crowns per person".

The three exchanged incredulous looks.

"Twenty-five crowns?" Felicity asked.

"You heard me".

"That's daylight robbery. And we have a child with us. Does she have to pay twenty-five crowns too?"

"I'm not a chi-" Ethan immediately covered her mouth with one hand.

"Twenty-five for everyone. No discounts for children", the toll collector repeated with absolute seriousness. Felicity stared at him for a few seconds before lowering her gaze to her pouch of crowns.

"That's a complete rip-off". She quickly checked her money.

"Do you have enough? I can give you some of mine", Ethan offered.

"Not necessary. I have exactly enough", Felicity emptied the entire pouch into the palm of her hand. She counted the coins. Exactly twenty-five crowns. Ethan then proceeded to pay for himself and Agnes. The toll collectors checked the payment and, after a few moments, signaled the guards to open the gates. The three entered the city. The moment they set foot inside, an enormous commotion surrounded them. Aqareth was teeming with life.

Merchants shouted to attract customers, civilians hurried along the streets, soldiers patrolled the main roads, and even magical creatures of various races mingled among the crowd. Ethan immediately noticed several elves. He watched them for a few seconds, one after another, before quickly looking away. He did not want any of them to remind him of Renlin. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The heat, moreover, was no better than it had been in the desert.

If anything, it seemed even more concentrated within the city walls. The hot air lingered in the streets, making every breath feel heavier. Agnes looked around with wide eyes.

"There are so many people…"

"I would have much preferred a small village", Felicity replied. They continued walking. The streets were covered in a thin layer of sand that crunched beneath their feet. The inhabitants wore long, lightweight tunics to protect their skin from the sun's scorching rays. Women tended to cover their heads with transparent veils or elegant garments specifically designed to shield them from the heat. Men, meanwhile, often wore simple straw hats.

After walking for about twenty minutes, they reached the large marketplace. The heat had already begun to take its toll. They were sweaty, tired, and thirsty. Ethan, however, continued to carefully observe his surroundings. There was something strange about the way he looked at the streets. It almost seemed as though he were remembering a route he had traveled countless times before. At one point, he turned toward Felicity and Agnes.

"Buy something to eat and drink. I need to go somewhere". Agnes furrowed her brow.

"Wait…where are you going?"

"And what if you get lost?" Felicity added.

"This city looks enormous". Ethan gave a faint smile.

"Don't worry. I was born here". Felicity and Agnes were both surprised. Before they could say anything else, Ethan had already walked away. He walked for nearly an hour and a half. As he moved farther away from the city center, Aqareth slowly began to change. The streets became dirtier, and the buildings more run-down. Here, the poverty was impossible to ignore. Men and women slept directly on the ground, huddled in the shade of buildings to escape the heat, at least partially.

Some silently exchanged objects, trying to obtain something useful in return for whatever they possessed. Others drank in the streets. The taverns were old and run-down, some so dilapidated that they looked as though they might collapse at any moment. Ethan continued walking without paying much attention to his surroundings. He already knew this part of the city. After a few more turns, he arrived in front of a small house. The wooden door was battered and covered in scratches. Ethan stopped.

He stared at it for a few seconds. Then he knocked twice. It was not long before the door opened. A woman in her fifties appeared in the doorway. Her face was gaunt from years of thinness, and her blond hair was streaked with gray. When she saw Ethan, her eyes widened slightly.

"You…" Her voice was barely a whisper.

"I thought you were dead". Ethan looked at her in silence.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Mother. I'm still alive. Can I come in?" The woman sighed and stepped aside. Ethan entered. The inside of the house was small, damp, and stifling. The air smelled stale, and everything seemed to have remained exactly where it had been. Ethan looked around. Everything was just as he remembered. The same poverty. The same furniture. The same smell. It was as if time had never passed.

"I suppose a Golden Knight like you is used to better places", the woman said sarcastically.

"Right, son?"

"I'm no longer a Golden Knight. I'm just a civilian now", Ethan replied. He continued looking around the house. Nothing had changed. It was exactly as it had been when he was a child. The woman let out a bitter laugh.

"You mean everything you did to become one was pointless? All those speeches about saving others, and now you've lost your position? That's pathetic". She sat down at the table. Ethan stared at her.

"It wasn't pointless. It helped me grow. It gave me a new purpose".

"And does that justify abandoning your mother here?"

"I didn't abandon you. I asked you to come with me several times. You were the one who refused".

"You think I would have gone to live in the capital of the kingdom? To watch my son serve the king like a little dog?" The woman's tone was harsh. And yet, behind that coldness, Ethan could still sense a certain fragility. He watched her for a few seconds. Then he turned toward the door.

"You haven't changed at all". He took a few steps.

"Coming here was a terrible idea. No matter how many years pass…you'll never appreciate me".

"Wait". Ethan stopped. He slowly turned around.

"What?" The woman lowered her gaze.

"I'm dying". Her voice was suddenly much quieter.

"Is this how you want to say goodbye to your old mother for the last time?" Ethan's expression immediately changed. The coldness gave way to concern.

"You're dying?" The woman gestured for him to sit down.

"Sit. Let's talk". Ethan remained motionless for a few seconds. Eventually, he retraced his steps and sat down across from her. Meanwhile, Felicity had changed clothes. She was wearing a loose white shirt, long black trousers and her usual sandals. Agnes looked at her curiously.

"Where did you get those clothes?"

"Stole them. From a merchant".

"What?! But that's wrong!"

"Ethan has rubbed off on you with his moralism, I see", Felicity scoffed. Agnes looked at her in confusion.

"Don't worry. I left my old clothes for him".

"But those were used…"

"They're still clothes a merchant can sell, if he's a good merchant". Agnes looked at her more closely.

"Wait…where did you change?"

"Behind the merchant. He didn't even notice I was there".

"He didn't even notice? What are you, a ghost?" Felicity adjusted her straw hat.

"Come on. Let's get something to eat and drink". Agnes immediately smiled.

"Finally…my stomach won't stop growling". And so the two of them ventured deeper into the market of Aqareth.