The towering stone walls of Ravenshore loomed over the horizon, their jagged edges dusted with frost, a testament to the unforgiving cold that defined the city. Despite the harsh climate, the city bustled with life; traders, adventurers, and merchants lined up outside the massive main gate, their voices a chaotic blend of chatter, negotiations, and complaints about the slow-moving line.
The Thunder Ravens—his temporary companions—were walking ahead, their breath visible in the freezing air. Now that their leader, Kael, had been fully healed thanks to the efforts of their skilled healer, Selia, they moved with renewed energy.
Other members of the Thunder Ravens included Gareth, the defensive warrior whose protective nature was borderline obsessive, especially toward Selia. Riven, the rogue and scout of the party, always analyzing potential threats with sharp precision. Elias, their co-leader and strategist, was calm, reliable, and carried an air of leadership that made him easy to follow. And lastly, Daine, their ranged combat expert.
Kael, now fully recovered and walking beside Elias, gestured toward the enormous line of people congested at the main gate and shook his head. "There's no way we're waiting in that mess," he muttered. "It could take hours, maybe even the entire day. We'll be using the Guild Entry Gate."
Henry raised a brow, lowering his hoverboard slightly as he kept pace beside them. "Guild Entry Gate?" he asked.
Elias nodded. "Aside from the nobles who have their private entrances, the city also has special gates for registered adventurers and merchants carrying requested or rare goods. Since we're transporting an Aqua Hare on request from the Adventurers' Guild, we have authorization to enter through one of those gates."
Henry let out a low whistle. "So, basically, VIP access. That's a nice perk."
"It's less about privilege and more about necessity," Selia chimed in, walking beside him. "The Adventurers' Guild requests resources from all over the continent. If every delivery had to wait in the main gate's line, it would slow down operations too much."
Henry nodded, seeing the logic in it. "Makes sense."
Upon arriving at the designated entry gate, the Thunder Ravens were stopped by a group of guards clad in thick armor designed to withstand the cold. Each of them carried halberds with a crystalline core, their weapons radiating traces of mana. One of the guards stepped forward, his expression stern but professional.
"Adventurers?" the guard asked.
"Yes. We're from the Thunder Ravens, delivering a requested magical beast," Elias responded, handing over the official letter of authorization from the Guild.
The guard took the parchment, scanning its contents before motioning toward a glowing crystal tablet embedded into a stone pedestal. "Identification check," he stated flatly.
Each member of the Thunder Ravens stepped forward, placing their Adventurers' Cards and Identification Cards onto the surface of the crystal tablet. The moment the cards made contact, the tablet pulsed with a faint blue glow, verifying their identities. The use of blood magic ensured authenticity—each card was tied to their unique mana signature and blood essence, preventing fraud or impersonation.
Then came Henry's turn.
Or rather, he had no turn.
Since Henry wasn't listed on the letter and had no identification card, the guard's expression immediately hardened. "You're not on the Guild's authorization list," he stated.
Elias quickly stepped in, voice firm but not aggressive. "He's with us. He helped us fend off the attacking snow wolves."
Selia nodded in agreement. "And we vouch for him."
The guard eyed Henry suspiciously. "Vouch or not, we have protocol to follow. He has no identification, no Adventurers' Card, and no Guild authorization. He'll need to report to the main gate for registration."
Henry sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "And here I thought I'd get the VIP treatment."
The guards didn't react to his sarcasm, already escorting him toward the main gate. Elias gave him an apologetic nod, while Gareth—who was still passive-aggressive toward Henry—just gave a small smirk, satisfied that Henry wouldn't be immediately allowed in.
Henry rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, blondie," he muttered before following the guards toward the long line of unregistered individuals.
Luckily, the line for registration at the main gate wasn't nearly as long as the general entrance. Henry stood among other travelers, each awaiting their turn to explain why they had no formal identification. Using his magic sense, he listened in on their reasons—some claimed to be refugees from destroyed villages, others said they were nomads seeking citizenship.
When Henry's turn came, the guard at the registration booth eyed him with suspicion, immediately noting his unique eyes. "You're not fully human," the guard stated matter-of-factly. "What's your race?"
Henry shrugged, maintaining his carefree demeanor. "Probably half-beastman? No fur, no tail, but the eyes stand out."
The guard narrowed his gaze before retrieving a small enchanted quill. "Any proof?"
Henry gestured toward the Thunder Ravens behind the adventurer gate, particularly Elias. "They can vouch for me. I helped them out with a monster attack."
Elias, overhearing the conversation, quickly stepped forward. "It's true. He saved us from an ambush while we were transporting an Aqua Hare."
The guard glanced at Elias, recognizing the Thunder Ravens as a known adventurer party. "If they're vouching, that makes things easier." He motioned toward another enchanted tablet designed for registration, jotting down Henry's details. "You'll be marked as a refugee with half-beastman ancestry," he said, finalizing the documentation.
Henry smirked. "Sounds exotic."
The guard sighed. "Just don't cause trouble."
Henry placed a hand over his heart, dramatically faking offense. "Would I ever?"
The guard rolled his eyes before waving him through.
With his newly minted refugee status, Henry finally stepped past the gate and into the city of Frostbane. The streets bustled with activity—vendors shouting over prices, adventurers comparing battle stories, merchants displaying rare goods. The architecture was a blend of medieval fantasy and advanced magic, with glowing runes embedded into stone structures, suspending hovering lanterns overhead.
Elias approached, clapping Henry on the shoulder. "Welcome to Ravenshore," he said.
Henry grinned. "Nice place. First things first—selling these snow wolves. I'm guessing the adventurers' guild doesn't take direct sales?"
Elias shook his head. "Only registered adventurers can sell to the guild. Your best bet is the merchant shops."
Henry shrugged, pulling the ice wagon forward effortlessly with telekinesis. "Fine by me. Let's make some coin."
With that, the group made their way through the crowded streets, heading toward the trade district where Henry would finally cash in on the monsters he had collected.