Chapter 44: Gift
"I can see it...the Capital..." Kevin’s eyes sparkled as he looked in the distance and saw the huge statue of the Hero.
They were approaching the huge gates of the most important city of the Aldercrest nation—Velmarch.
"It’s the first time for me to come here..." Virelle spoke in a daze as she looked at the tall walls and watchtowers in the distance.
Arthur was silently sitting in the carriage while practicing his spirit magic with a small water orb floating before him.
He was not that energetic about visiting the capital. Well, he might see a few familiar faces there, but that’s that. He wasn’t going to interact with them, considering they might have fleeting memories of the past. And once the secret gets out that Arthur was Clarsen, forget about him; his family would suffer as well.
That’s why this secret was going to stay with him until the end.
The carriage came to a pause near the entry point, and Aston asked, "Dear, can I get the invitation?"
"It’s been a while, Aston." However, before Virelle could have handed him the invitation, suddenly someone called out, gathering the attention of the four as they looked at the man who approached.
He was a knight, dressed in the military gear of Aldercrest with a golden, shining insignia of a phoenix on his chest.
At a glance, Arthur could tell that he was a high-ranking soldier who might be waiting for their arrival.
’Does he know that we were coming?’ Arthur wondered. However, he was wrong.
"Drake?" Aston asked in a surprised tone as he got down from the carriage.
The way they shook hands and talked like they had been reunited after a long time made it apparent that they were old friends.
"Man, it’s been so long. How are you?" The brown-haired soldier whom Aston called Drake asked with a smile.
Aston shrugged, "Just doing fine. How about you? It seems you finally landed the job you always aimed for." Aston grinned.
They were both batchmates in the military school and were under the same Commander. They have executed several missions together before Aston was assigned as a border guard in the west, while Drake rose through the ranks and became a Gate warden.
"Man ...are you making fun of me here? I said I wanted to be a part of the Royal Talon...but here I am guarding the gate."
Aston chuckled, "Well, you are closely connected to the Capital and are responsible for its security."
Drake nodded before he turned toward the carriage, "Is your family there?"
Aston nodded, "Ah, yeah, I will introduce them-"
"No, it’s fine. You all must be tired at the moment. I will meet you on your way back." Drake urged him to take his family to the motel arranged by the royal family for the guests.
Aston exchanged a few more words before he returned to the carriage, and after taking the invitation from his wife, he showed it to Drake, just for assurance, before driving the carriage inside the capital.
As the carriage rolled through the gates, the city of Velmarch came alive with color and sound. Market stalls lined the cobbled streets, filled with fresh fruits, bright fabrics, and cheerful voices. Children laughed as they chased each other past the stone fountains, and the scent of baked bread and flowers drifted in the warm breeze.
In the distance, the golden palace rose above the rooftops, its towers shining under the clear blue sky. At the heart of the square stood a tall statue of the Hero, sword raised high, a symbol of hope and strength for all who entered the capital.
"Ah...it’s such a lively place." Virelle sighed as she looked at the market and the variety of items offered here.
Compared to Westmere, it seems they have entered a whole new world.
Traders from all over the world come here to present their items. And several foreign guests could be found all year long.
"Let’s come here later, Mom," Kevin suggested, as he also spotted many shops he wanted to visit.
Virelle hummed as the carriage finally came to a pause before an inn.
"Woah...this place is big," Kevin muttered as he stepped down from the carriage.
It was a building with four floors and large windows on either side. A grand entrance with flowers tracing the edges, and it was written on the board before the inn,
[To all our invited guests, we warmly welcome you to remain here and enjoy the celebration.]
"I will go and have a talk with the receptionist first." Aston stepped inside, leaving the other three near the carriage.
There were several carriages parked in the space beside the building. It seems many people have been invited.
"Have we brought any gift, Mom?"
Virelle nodded, "I made a good luck charm with precious stones. Although it’s not expensive, the Prince might keep it." She seemed hesitant.
She asked her husband to buy something from Atinberg. However, he insisted that she make something. Buying anything within their budget wouldn’t be appreciated much, as much as a handmade gift would be.
"After cake cutting, you and Arthur go and give it to him, okay?" Virelle told them.
Kevin seemed slightly nervous, but he diligently nodded, "I won’t embarrass you."
Arthur was, at the moment, surveying the capital.
It has been a thousand years, and surely, the place was nothing like before.
There were hundreds of buildings, while in the past there was a huge garden in the middle of the capital where children used to play, and the elderly liked to walk.
And...it was the same place where Clarsen was met by his demise.
’Well, with the growing population, they must have thought of building more homes ...’ he inwardly mused.
It was then, he suddenly felt he saw someone...familiar.
His head turned towards the carriage, which was passing by, and near the window saw a girl...who seemed quite familiar
The girl also turned to look at him, and the moment their eyes met, Arthur knew who she was.
’Grace...’
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A/N:- Thank you for choosing my novel.