A horse-drawn carriage traveled at a moderate pace along a dirt road. About a kilometer ahead, a tall, sturdy wall stretched so far that its ends disappeared from sight.
Inside the carriage were dozens of passengers—men and women, young and old. Each wore clothing of various styles and colors, yet all looked simple, made of plain fabric.
A grown woman, whose beauty had begun to fade from her face, appeared slightly weary. To her left, a sweet little girl, who seemed about twelve years old, was sleeping with her head resting on the woman's shoulder.
On his right sat a boy who had just entered his teenage years. His body was somewhat slender yet strong, with brown hair and eyes. At the moment, he was observing the scenery through the open side of the carriage.
The carriage slowly made its way toward the massive city wall that resembled a fortress. After several minutes, the middle-aged man driving the carriage finally stopped and called out to the passengers,
"We've arrived at the gates of Morlin City. Unload your belongings and line up to enter. Don't forget to prepare two copper coins per person."
The passengers began filing out with their belongings. The woman gently woke her daughter, who was still asleep, and then stepped down with her son.
As they stepped outside, they were greeted by hot, stifling air. Before them stood a gate ten meters high, with the city wall stretching to the left and right—even taller than the gate itself. Countless people and carts queued up in front of it.
The little girl's eyes widened at the bustling sight. "Wooow, there are so many people…" she exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hands.
The teenage boy beside her was also awestruck. They had come from a village, and this was their first time visiting a city.
The woman was their mother, Catherine, a single parent. She had been very beautiful in her youth, but raising two children alone had made her beauty fade faster than that of other women. Now, at thirty-seven, she appeared middle-aged, with a little dull skin and some gray hair.
Catherine held her children's hands and joined one of the lines. After waiting for over half an hour, they finally managed to enter Morlin City.
Once they passed through the gates, the scene before them changed dramatically. Morlin's main street stretched wide, paved with neatly arranged flat stones—very different from the dirt roads of their village.
Rows of buildings stood on either side, most two stories tall, some even three. Their roofs were red tile or deep blue, while their walls were made of smooth stone that reflected the sunlight. Wooden signboards hung in front of many buildings, displaying symbols or writing—shop signs, inns, clothing stores, restaurants, and more.
The hustle and bustle inside the city was far greater than what they had seen outside the gates. People bustled about—some carrying sacks of grain on their backs, others pulling small carts filled with wooden barrels.
The sound of conversation filled the air, adding to the city's lively atmosphere.
The little girl grew more and more excited, feeling the city was far grander than their village. Meanwhile, the boy gazed at the scenery, his mind filled with many thoughts.
He squeezed his mother's hand tighter, happy yet afraid of getting separated in the crowd.
"Mom… there are so many people…" he whispered softly.
Catherine gave a faint smile, though she too felt overwhelmed inside.
"Come, let's find an inn first. We'll take care of the rest later."
Catherine led them along the main street, then turned into a smaller road. They walked for dozens of minutes until the scenery began to change—not grand buildings anymore, but houses and shops clearly older and more worn than those near the main street.
After a long search, Catherine finally stopped in front of an old two-story building. Inside, they found many wooden tables and chairs like a dining hall, though it was empty at the moment.
Behind the counter sat a woman in her fifties, who rose to greet them.
"My name is Martha, the owner of this place. Would you like to stay?" she asked, her tone warm, like an experienced innkeeper.
Catherine nodded with a smile and asked, "What's the rate here?"
The woman replied enthusiastically, "Eight copper coins per day for one room. Meals are one copper coin per person per serving—just pay when you order. Hot water is five iron coins per bucket."
Catherine made a quick calculation in her head, then decided, "In that case, we'll rent a room for a week," she said, handing over five silver coins and six copper coins.
Martha took the money, asked for Catherine's name to record it, and then handed her a wooden plaque and a key. "If you need anything, you can ask me or my daughter if I'm not around."
Taking the key, Catherine smiled and said, "Alright then, I'll be counting on you."
The three of them went upstairs to where their room was. Inside was a bed large enough for all three of them, though a bit cramped.
Catherine sat down with her children and said,
"Evan, I'll try to find work for now. You'll have to watch over Reyna for me."
Reyna frowned, clearly unhappy at being treated like a child.
"I'm already twelve! I'm not a little kid anymore! I can take care of myself, and I don't need my brother to watch me!"
Evan ignored his sister's protest but disagreed with his mother.
"Mom, let me work instead. I'm old enough now—it's time I start earning money."
Catherine was touched by her son's willingness to help but remained firm.
"I know you want to help this family, but we're still new in this city. Let me work first. Once we've settled in, then you can work."
Seeing his mother's usual firmness, Evan could only shrug helplessly.
After that, they drew water from the well to bathe. The half-day journey from the village had left their bodies sticky.
That night, after dinner, they all squeezed onto the bed and fell asleep—each with their own thoughts.