The towering gates of Veldenreach loomed ahead, carved from ancient stone and reinforced with gleaming blacksteel. Lyra stood quietly in the long line outside, her cloak drawn tight and her hood low. This was no simple village or frontier outpost—this was one of the eastern kingdom's major cities, and it pulsed with life.
Merchant caravans lined the road, packed with crates and barrels. Adventurers in mismatched armor joked loudly with one another, while elegantly dressed nobles passed by on carriages, guarded by grim-eyed escorts. Travelers from every corner of the region stood in the queue, some nervous, others weary, but all drawn here for the promise Veldenreach held.
Lyra studied everything in silence. Her eyes flicked from person to person, absorbing details. The city's sheer scale reminded her just how far she had come from that flower bed in the forest. From solitude to civilization. It felt distant, even unreal.
"So this is what the world looks like outside," she murmured. "Busy. Loud. Unfamiliar."
The line inched forward. As she waited, she began to notice patterns—how guards checked wagons, how nobles moved ahead with tokens and stamped documents, how some adventurers flashed shiny plaques or cards. Identification, she realized. Something official.
When her turn finally came, a uniformed guard stepped forward, halting her with an arm. He carried a ledger and a polearm, looking her up and down.
"State your reason for entering Veldenreach."
"I'm here to trade monster materials and seek lodging temporary."
He wrote it down.
"Identification?"
"I don't have one yet. I plan to register inside."
The guard squinted at her, then nodded.
"Temporary entry, then. Three silver coins."
Lyra handed over the coins without protest. As she stepped through the gate, the full force of the city hit her—sights, sounds, smells. It was like stepping into another world entirely.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Veldenreach's streets were a swirling tapestry of chaos and culture. Cobbled roads gleamed beneath the late morning sun. Stone and timber buildings towered above her, many adorned with colorful banners or iron signs creaking in the wind. Market vendors shouted, calling attention to their wares—textiles, fruits, potions, charms.
"It's louder than I thought," Lyra whispered, dodging a rushing courier. "And more alive."
She approached a fruit vendor casually arranging oranges.
"Excuse me. Do you know where I can sell monster materials?"
The man looked up and blinked. Her mask likely startled him, but he didn't comment.
"Merchant Association's what you're looking for. Big white building with gold trim. Main road, then left. Can't miss it."
"Thank you."
Lyra followed his directions, soon standing before a grand building unlike any other she'd seen. The Merchant Association towered over the district—marble walls, golden inlays, and stained-glass windows that shimmered in the sun.
"It looks like a noble's palace... just for trade."
She entered.
The interior stunned her. Marble floors so polished they reflected the chandeliers above. Counters lined with well-dressed clerks. Market stalls filled with goods—from common wares to glowing magical items. The scent of ink, incense, and polished wood filled the air.
"This... is the center of wealth."
She approached a receptionist.
"Welcome to the Merchant Association. How may I help you?"
"I want to sell some monster parts."
"Certainly. Please follow me."
She was led to an appraisal room where a bearded merchant waited.
Lyra laid out her collected parts—boar tusks, fangs, claws, and hide from her recent hunts. The appraiser raised a brow.
"Not bad for an independent. You've been busy."
He tallied her items carefully, writing values with practiced ease.
"I'll offer five gold and four silver."
He placed the coins into a pouch and slid them to her.
"Do you have a membership card with the Association?"
"No. Should I?"
"It's useful. It acts as an official ID and gives you a slight discount on purchases. Members also receive better prices when selling to the Association."
Lyra tilted her head.
"What's the cost?"
"Entry-level card is three silver. You'll get a two percent discount. If you buy or sell frequently, the level can be upgraded. Or you can pay a large fee upfront for a better level."
She considered for a moment, then nodded.
"I'll take the entry-level."
The process was quick. A name wasn't required for this level, just a fingerprint and the coin. In moments, a small silver card with a symbol of the Association and a faintly glowing rune was handed to her.
"Welcome to the Association."
She nodded, slipping it into her cloak.
(Why not sell the mana crystals?)
Her hand instinctively brushed over her satchel but didn't open it. The mana crystals were safely locked in her storage gift—an invisible space only she could access. But not to mention selling them even showing one here would be foolish.
"Those are high-tier currency... only used in auctions run by nobles and royal factions. Flashing one in a city like this is only asking to be hunted."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After finishing her business, Lyra returned to the front desk.
"Do you know of a decent inn nearby? One with food and a bath?"
The receptionist gave her a brief list, then tapped one with a polished nail.
"Try the White Fern Inn. A bit pricey, but the rooms are private and clean. Comes with hot water, too."
Lyra nodded in thanks and headed toward the White Fern. Compared to the Merchant Association, the inn was modest, but clean and well-maintained.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The inn stood three stories high, made of dark wood with ivy trailing the edges. A glowing lantern swayed above the door, casting warm light over the threshold.
Inside, the air smelled of citrus soap and baked root vegetables. A young receptionist greeted her.
"I'd like a room for a week. Also, food delivered each night."
The receptionist behind the desk gave her the rate.
"Seven nights, meals included... that'll be twenty silver."
Lyra paid, took the key, and climbed the stairs to the second floor. Her room was surprisingly spacious—wooden walls and flooring, a soft single bed in the center, a small desk and chair, a standing wardrobe, and to her relief, a separate bath chamber.
"A luxury, after sleeping in roots and caves."
She placed her things down and headed straight to the bathroom. The tub took time to fill, but the warmth was worth it. Sinking into the water, Lyra let out a slow sigh.
"Finally. I forgot what comfort feels like."
She hadn't had a proper bath in over a few weeks, relying solely on magic to cleanse herself. The heat eased the tension in her shoulders, her legs, her back. The silence was welcome this time.
Later, after drying off and dressed in fresh clothes, a soft knock came at the door. Her dinner—roasted chicken, soft bread, and steamed greens and broth.
She ate slowly, savoring every bite. It was the first warm meal she'd had since entering the forest.
"Warm food. No dried meat. No bitter herbs."
Her stomach full, Lyra crawled into bed.
she began to recall what she'd heard through the city about currency.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currency System — As Understood by Lyra:
From scattered conversations, passing mentions in shops, and the Merchant Association itself, Lyra pieced together the financial system used across the continent. The structure was surprisingly rigid, but it made sense once laid out clearly:
Copper Coin (¢) – The most basic form of currency. Used for small, everyday purchases like bread, fruit, or a simple bowl of soup.
Bronze Coin (Ƀ) – 100 copper coins equal 1 bronze. Often used for bulk purchases, tools, and common traveling gear.
Silver Coin (s) – 100 bronze coins equal 1 silver. This was the most commonly accepted coin in trade, suitable for lodging, weapons, armor, or decent meals.
Gold Coin (g) – 100 silver coins equal 1 gold. Gold coins were considered significant wealth. High-quality equipment, horses, property rentals, or commission fees were typically paid with gold.
Platinum Coin (Ᵽ) – 100 gold coins equal 1 platinum. Rarely seen in common circulation, used for large land purchases, noble family dealings, or high-grade magical services.
Mana Crystal (✦) – No fixed rate. Considered a universal and elite currency. Only used in high-tier auctions and noble trade circles. Even possessing one openly was dangerous outside of highly secure capitals.
"A hundredfold jump between each tier... no wonder most people never see past silver," she thought, turning over the coins in her pouch.
Lyra made a mental note to commit the entire scale to memory. Gold could buy power. But knowledge could keep her alive.
And so, for the first time since her awakening, she truly began to step into the world.
"No whispers. No monsters. No edge-of-sleep spells."
Also, for the first time in what felt like ages, Lyra slept soundly—no blade under her pillow, no spells prepped in her mind, no flicker of dread at the edge of sleep
Just sleep.
And peace.