A gentle breeze played with the narrow alleys, carrying the chirping of birds that seemed to be playing a special welcome symphony for Kialen with every step he took inside the Arcanum Peaks. He felt a strange comfort creeping deep inside him, as if the city itself was opening its arms to help him breathe deeply. His eyes didn't stop moving; sellers calling for their goods, sweet spice smells tearing through the air, spontaneous laughter, and a noisy life that didn't look like anything he knew in his dry past.
Hanabi said while walking beside him with graceful steps:
"Would you like to eat wild pumpkin soup?"
Kialen froze in his place for a moment from the intensity of surprise, then answered with lightning speed:
"Yes!"
In his deep self, he was shouting with joy: Yes, food! Why would I say no to food when I am almost dying of longing for a new taste?
Hanabi laughed sweetly, and Namiro shared the laughter, then Namiro said while walking in front of them with pride:
"Follow us, I will take you to the best seller who makes wild pumpkin soup in all of Arcanum Peaks."
Kialen followed them with burning excitement, and Namiro also seemed excited for this delicious appointment. After a short distance through the crowd, they reached a place that looked like an old ancient house, its walls telling stories of time through deep cracks, and on its door was a wooden sign with eaten edges that said in bold words: Wild Pumpkin Soup.
Hanabi opened the heavy wooden door.
Kialen thought to himself that the place would be quiet or empty because of its humble outer look, but as soon as he crossed the doorstep, a real shock hit him. Loud overlapping voices, explosions of laughter, fun shouting, tables full to the end, and people crowding every corner of the warm restaurant.
His eyes widened in wonder, so Namiro laughed and said while noticing his features:
"Did you really think it would be empty of customers?"
Kialen replied in a faint voice:
"Yes… but how did you know what was going on in my mind?"
Namiro laughed and hit him lightly and with affection on his shoulder and said:
"I was exactly like you the first time my feet stepped into this place."
Then she added quickly while scanning the place with her eyes:
"Come behind me, let's catch a table before the place gets filled with people more than this."
Kialen muttered with wonder as he looked at the crowds:
"Filled? Is there still any space to sit at all in this flood of humans?"
Kialen and Namiro separated a little in the crowd searching for Hanabi who went before them. Namiro started calling her with her loudest voice, but the noise of spoons and people's talks was so dominant that her voice was totally lost. Suddenly, Kialen spotted a soft hand waving from far away in the middle of the smoke rising from the pots. It was Hanabi.
"Found her!" he said to Namiro with excitement.
They headed toward her, finding that she had reserved an old worn-out table full of scratches and cracks that showed the age of the place. As for the chairs, they were nothing but rough wooden boxes put with careful neglect. Kialen stared at the place with funny disapproval and asked:
"Are there no real and comfortable chairs in this place?"
Namiro hit him on his head a light hit and said with playful firmness:
"Don't complain like children. Sit and eat like the rest of humans."
Kialen sat on the wooden box, while Hanabi was watching him with a smile and said:
"Just try this soup, and you will totally forget about the chairs."
Kialen held the warm clay bowl. The soup was made from a rare wild pumpkin with a hard skin and a dark orange color tending to brown, and the smell coming from it was warm and attractive, making the mouth water. He tasted the first sip cautiously, then froze in his place.
The flavor was rich and exploding; a mix of sharp wild garlic, sweet white onion, and fresh ginger that leaves a light sting, and small tender chicken pieces that melt in the mouth, all of them joined perfectly. He finished the bowl in few seconds and said with amazement:
"It is incredibly delicious."
Hanabi and Namiro laughed from their hearts, and Namiro said with lovable gloating:
"Do you understand now the secret of this suffocating crowd?"
Kialen answered while wiping his mouth:
"Yes… exactly, the taste is worth all this trouble."
Hanabi looked at him with kindness and asked:
"Do you want another bowl of soup?"
He answered eagerly:
"Yes, please."
Hanabi went to bring it from the noisy kitchen. At that moment, Kialen started watching the people with curiosity. Suddenly, the shop door opened strongly and five people entered, wearing bright white shirts and formal black pants.
Kialen whispered to Namiro:
"Who are these people who look with this formal appearance?"
Namiro answered with awe:
"These are students from the prestigious academy."
The students sat in one of the far corners, and Hanabi returned with another bowl with steam rising from it and said:
"Here you go, enjoy your meal."
Kialen thanked her and started sipping the soup slowly this time to enjoy every bit of its flavor. Hanabi said while thinking about the next step:
"We need to go immediately to the Adventurers Guild to make an official entry card for you, so you can register in the academy tomorrow."
Namiro said while watching the sky from the window:
"Hurry finishing your bowl before the sun sets and they close their doors."
But Kialen, from the intensity of his enjoyment, continued with his extreme slowness, which raised the anger of Namiro who hit him on his head and said sharply:
"I told you fast!"
He finished the soup in a hurry, and they went out of the warm shop heading to the nearest guild office. On the way, Hanabi asked with interest:
"What is your favorite style in fighting, Kialen?"
Kialen replied with no understanding:
"I didn't understand what you mean exactly."
She explained to him quietly:
"I mean, do you prefer using a sharp sword? Or direct fighting with hands? Or maybe you prefer using a gun?"
Kialen froze and asked with surprise:
"A gun? And is it used in magic fighting?"
Namiro replied with a quick comment:
"Yes, but it will be weak and with no use without magic. You will need to reach the second level to be able to wrap the weapon with aura and fire super magic bullets."
Kialen thought for a moment of time, imagining himself in battle, then said with certainty:
"I think I will choose the gun as a basic choice."
Namiro said in a serious tone:
"If you entered a fighting field without magic aura, the gun in your hands will be just a piece of scrap. And even if you have the aura, if you face a skilled swordsman or a fighter who masters hand arts, the chance of your defeat will reach seventy percent."
Kialen replied with determination:
"Then, I will fight with the gun… and with hands too."
Namiro smiled with satisfaction and said:
"This is a smart idea and it fits you."
They finally reached the huge Adventurers Guild and entered with dignity. The lady in charge behind the counter welcomed them with a professional smile. Hanabi said clearly:
"I want to register one of my relatives and get an official entry card for him."
The employee said while taking out the records:
"You are welcome. Fill this paper with the required data."
Kialen filled his name, his age, and wrote in a clear hand that he owns an ethereal thread, and specified his style: Gun and Hand Fighting. He handed the paper while feeling his heart beating. The employee said with slight wonder while reading the data:
"Gun and hand fighting?"
Kialen answered steadily:
"Yes, this is my choice."
The employee was silent for a bit while writing notes, then she said:
"The fees are seventy silver coins."
Hanabi took out a shining gold coin and gave it to her saying:
"Keep the rest for yourself."
The employee presented the magic card to Kialen saying:
"Welcome officially to Arcanum Peaks."
Kialen said with gratitude:
"Thank you."
They went out of the guild as night had dropped its black curtain on the city. Hanabi said:
"Let's go to our house now."
Kialen asked with worry:
"But my home is very far from here, how will I reach?"
Hanabi laughed from her heart and said:
"You idiot, you will come with us of course. We have prepared a special room for you in our mansion."
Kialen was very happy and felt the warmth of belonging, then asked eagerly:
"Can I really enter the academy?"
Hanabi answered clearly:
"Yes, since we belong to a rich and prestigious family, your entry procedures will be very easy."
Kialen laughed and said sincerely:
"Thank you both for everything."
They reached the family's high mansion, where a servant in a formal uniform and a dignified tone received them:
"Welcome back, ladies… and welcome to you, young man, in our place."
Then the servant asked with curiosity:
"Who is this guest?"
Hanabi answered in a slightly sad tone:
"He is one of my relatives, and he knew my father very well."
The servant's features changed to amazement and he asked:
"Is my master Leonard still alive?"
Kialen's voice went low as he said with sorrow:
"He has left this world… he died."
The servant bowed his head in deep sadness and complete silence. Hanabi cut the silence saying:
"Accompany him now to his room to rest."
The servant led Kialen through white polished marble stairs reflecting the lights. The mansion was amazing from inside; ceilings colored with light blue, and luxury architectural details that take the breath away. The servant stopped in front of a carved wooden door and said:
"This is your private room. Welcome to the Chinoya family mansion."
Kialen entered the room to find a huge comfortable bed, and wide windows looking over the beautiful city lights; he felt like he was in a dream he didn't want to wake up from. He lay on the bed and smiled deeply and said to himself:
"Tomorrow… tomorrow my real life in the academy will start."