"What?! A thousand Gurtz?!" Sylveras stared at the pouch of coins in shock. "I've never held this much money before... Ardan barely ever gave me any."
Gorion chuckled. "That's because Ardan used to share most of his money with the villagers. He was a generous man."
"Yeah, I remember he gave me some coins when I was little," Elara added with a fond smile.
"Alright then, today we're going to the city. We'll use teleportation magic—it's much faster," said Gorion as he tapped his staff on the ground. "I want to take you both to eat at a friend's place. He makes amazing curry."
"We're ready!" Sylveras and Elara replied in unison.
A glowing magic circle appeared beneath their feet, and in a blink, they were teleported.
They found themselves standing in the heart of Kozto City.
"Wow, it's so lively here…" Elara whispered, her eyes wide with wonder at the bustling scene.
"How far is it from our village?" Sylveras asked.
"About four days on foot," Gorion replied casually.
"That's quite a distance," Elara commented.
"Come on, the restaurant is nearby," Gorion said.
They walked through the peaceful city streets. Children were playing, merchants were calling out their wares, and the warm atmosphere enveloped them.
Soon, they arrived at a cozy but popular-looking restaurant. As they entered, a server greeted them politely.
"Is Larry in?" Gorion asked.
"Oh, you mean the owner? Yes, he's here. Wait… are you Gorion? One of the Seven Great Sages?!"
"Heh, nothing that grand. I'm just a traveler these days," Gorion said humbly.
The server quickly rushed inside. Moments later, a cheerful middle-aged man came out.
"Gorion! Long time no see!" Larry welcomed him warmly and immediately gave them special treatment.
Elara and Sylveras were visibly overwhelmed—it was their first time experiencing such hospitality. They ate heartily, tasting city food richer in flavor than anything they'd had before.
After the meal, they thanked Larry and left the restaurant. Gorion then led them to the shopping district.
While strolling past a jewelry shop, Sylveras suddenly stopped. "Let's go in."
Inside, he picked out a beautiful brooch and shyly handed it to Elara. "This is for you."
Elara blushed as she accepted it. "Thank you…"
Gorion smiled quietly at the scene.
Then, not to be outdone, Elara bought a simple bracelet and gave it to Sylveras. "Then… this is for you."
They continued to explore the city, enjoying every moment. Just as the sky began to turn orange, someone approached them.
"Fenrath Mongrim?" Gorion blinked in surprise at seeing another council member.
"I… I don't know what to do, Gorion. It's about Zorzak," Fenrath said, clearly distressed.
"I see," Gorion said seriously, then turned to Sylveras and Elara. "Sorry, something urgent came up. I'll teleport you both back home."
"Alright. We understand," they replied.
With a quick spell, the two of them disappeared, returned to Gorion's house.