The voyage from Mont Elea took eight days of mostly fair sailing. The Steady Current cut through the Middle Ocean. It was downright relaxing compared to everything Justin had gone through, aside from the first day, which he spent being horribly seasick.

But once that misery was over, it was nice to simply sit out on deck, watching the crew as they navigated headwinds and the occasional stormy morning. The weather was nothing truly dangerous, thankfully, and Captain Murdoch said it was about the best that could be hoped for, given the season.

Justin would just watch the coast, which was always within sight, slowly crawl by—endless lines of trees, hills, and headlands stretching into the distance.

He brought out Atlas, introducing his companion to both Alistair and the crew. After they got used to the construct, Atlas quickly became something of a mascot. Justin couldn't bring him out too much, since his ether supply was limited, but the crew always seemed disappointed when Atlas had to return to the ring.

It was nice, for a while at least, to not really have to worry about anything.

On the fourth afternoon, Justin found himself on the upper deck with Lila, watching seagulls wheel overhead. The wind tousled her longer hair as she leaned against the ship's rail, her green eyes gazing toward the shoreline. It ran through his own hair too, still long from his transformation after leaving the Nether Realm. Justin was starting to get used to it, but he preferred having it short. For now, though, having the longer cut and the beard would help him stay under the radar.

There, a small city was nestled between two large hills.

"Is that Belmora?" Justin asked. "It's... smaller than I expected."

Lila shook her head. "No. That's Aetherhold. Known for its ether crystal mines. They have a magic college there too, I think."

"I see," Justin said, then shifted topics. "So, have you given any thought to your advanced class?"

"I'm not sure," she said. "I've been considering my options. Do you want to help me think through them?"

"Sure. Maybe just not out here, where everyone can see it."

Cores were expensive; Justin didn't want to leave anything to chance or to prying eyes.

They retired to her cabin, where Justin reached into his pack, laying out his cores one by one: Athlete, Rogue, Archer, Warden, Wizard, Mystic, Barbarian, Pilgrim, Scholar, and Priest.

She examined the cores, each glowing with its distinctive color. "Damn. Really puts into perspective how much we've been risking our necks." She looked at him. "So, I'm good to use any of these?"

Justin nodded. "Everything was a team effort. And most of them are from Ashralok anyway."

"Just making sure. Hopefully, at least a few of them are compatible with Bard."

Justin shrugged. "Only one way to find out."

She reached for the red Athlete Core first. She smiled; obviously, this one was a match. "This one gives me Battle Dancer. Enhanced combat mobility, rhythm-based fighting techniques. I could literally dance my way through battles while inspiring allies."

"Sounds fitting," Justin said.

Rogue, Archer, Warden, and Scholar were all misses.

Next, she reached for the Wizard core, also blue. "Spellsong," Lila said, her eyes lighting up. "Combining music with wizardry. I could see myself using this one!"

"Sounds powerful," Justin said.

Finally, she picked up the orange Pilgrim core. "Wandering Voice. Looks like I'd get abilities that help me blend in with other cultures, language acquisition, and gain a bit more survivability."

Justin studied each compatible core thoughtfully. "That's three choices. Not bad. Do any of them call out to you?"

Lila seemed to ponder this. "That's just it. I'm not ready to commit yet. I want to see what Belmora has to offer first. This choice will shape the rest of my life. I have a feeling, whatever we end up doing in the big city, that the answer will come."

Justin nodded, understanding completely. "Not everything needs to be chosen in a rush. Sometimes the best decisions come when you have all the information."

"I agree. The thing about a big city like Belmora... it has options. I mean to explore them."

"Fair enough."

On the sixth day, they rounded the Knife, a long peninsula separating the Middle Ocean from the Golden Gulf. Almost instantly, the waters became smoother, and the wind picked up behind them, speeding their journey considerably.

At dawn on the eighth day, as the morning sun rose behind them, Justin saw spires in the distance. Spires, and dozens of ships dotting the waters like scattered leaves.

The city became clearer as The Steady Current entered the River Marin, almost half a mile wide here rather than the smaller affair near the city of Highcliff further inland. The ship's sails were half-furled as it navigated the increasingly busy waterway.

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Justin stood at the bow with Alistair and Lila, the Paladin not wearing the usual white robe of his station to better escape notice. The city spread before them on both sides of the river, with flat-roofed merchant buildings and warehouses clustered near the water, while canal systems wove through the urban landscape like silvery veins. Bridges of varying heights and designs connected districts, and golden towers and domes caught the morning light. The entire city seemed to glow with an inner fire.

Bells rang across the riverbanks, a harmony of churches, guilds, and districts marking the new day. A foreign ship passed them heading downstream, flying colors from some unknown country—blue and white stripes with an unfamiliar golden symbol. It was crewed primarily by orcs.

Justin had aimed for this city from the start, but now it felt surreal to actually be here. He realized that if he had come here first, he might not have been ready for the capital.

"Magnificent, isn't it?" Alistair said, his voice carrying genuine admiration. "I've been here many times before, but the sight never fails to impress. And it seems every time I come back, it gets even bigger."

As they drew closer, Justin noticed a tower rising much higher than the surrounding city. It was a spire of pure white marble rising at least twenty stories tall, dominating the skyline. There were many other similar towers, though none were quite so tall.

"The Aurelian Tower," Alistair noted, following Justin's gaze. "The tallest in Belmora, built by the wealthiest merchant family in the queendom. They say House Aurelia has enough gold to buy and sell small kingdoms."

"Interesting," Justin said. "And those other towers?"

"Owned by less wealthy merchants. But each is powerful in their own right."

Justin nodded. Starting a business here would not be simple. Success would likely attract the attention of one of these families, for better or for worse.

As they rounded a bend, the wonders didn't cease. Justin saw what seemed to be a massive complex of interconnected barges and floating platforms that formed what could only be described as a city on the water. This network of barges was connected to a colossal bridge that spanned nearly half the river's width, filled with towers and haphazard docks. Both bustled with activity even at this early hour.

"The Floating Market and Belmora Bridge," Lila said before Justin could ask.

As The Steady Current drifted closer, Justin could make out the incredible detail of the floating bazaar. Wooden walkways swayed gently between the barges, crowded with vendors. The air was filled with a cacophony of voices—merchants calling out, buyers haggling over goods, and dockworkers shouting directions as they maneuvered cargo.

On one barge, a human trader displayed bolts of silk that seemed to change color in the morning light. Nearby, a tattooed orc stirred a massive cauldron, the aroma of spices wafting across the water. Children darted between the stalls, and to Justin's eye, most seemed to be up to no good.

"It's like the entire world comes to trade here," Justin murmured, fascinated by the organized chaos of it all.

Alistair nodded. "Belmora has fast become a world center of trade, rivaling even the ports of Velandia, Eribar, and Karadesh. Queen Eleanor II has proven to be a capable queen."

It seemed to be toward the eastern bank, somewhat near the bridge, that The Steady Current was heading. From the top of the towers on the bridge, Justin spied flags bearing a rooster rampant on a crimson field.

Alistair, following Justin's gaze, chuckled. "It seems you have noticed the royal banner."

"Hard to miss," Justin replied, studying the proud bird depicted in gold thread. He almost wanted to ask how that came to be until he realized it was probably something he should be expected to know.

But for some reason, Alistair launched into the story anyway. "The mechanism by which Aranthia became a Queendom is, to this day, the subject of much scholarly debate. The official history claims it began five hundred years ago with the death of King Harland III, who left no male heirs. His daughter, Elenara, rose to the throne, breaking centuries of tradition."

"Sounds straightforward enough," Justin said.

"Ah, but there's another version of the story that's far more... interesting." Alistair's eyes twinkled with mischief. "You see, King Harland was known for his eccentricity. In his final years, he became convinced that his prized rooster, Reginald the Bold, possessed wisdom beyond that of any human advisor. When the king lay dying, he declared, before the entire court, that Reginald should inherit the throne, and no one could prove the proclamation had come from madness."

Justin blinked. "A rooster? He wanted a chicken to rule the kingdom over his daughter?"

"Typical," Lila muttered. "Men would rather see a bird on the throne than a woman."

Alistair winced slightly. "Fair point, my lady. But to continue the tale: Princess Elenara, naturally, objected to this arrangement. A formal challenge was issued, and she demanded single combat with Reginald for the right to rule. The duel was held in the throne room before hundreds of witnesses."

"I've always wondered how exactly one duels a rooster," Lila said, her earlier annoyance giving way to curiosity.

"Some say it was a battle of wits. Riddles and strategic challenges. Others claim it was actual combat, with the princess armed with a sword facing a magically enhanced rooster of unusual size and intelligence."

"And Elenara won?" Justin guessed.

"Indeed. Though whether through wit, blade, or sheer determination, accounts vary. What followed was her decree that only the wisest and fiercest rulers could reign, regardless of gender. Thus, the Queendom was born." Alistair gestured toward the flag, now closer, its details more apparent. "And to this day, the royal crest bears Reginald's likeness as a reminder of that fateful duel."

Justin guffawed. "Sounds like a tall tale if I've ever heard one."

Alistair chuckled. "Don't be so sure. Stranger things have happened."

The Steady Current made her way toward the waiting wharf. As they prepared to disembark, Justin took in the incredible diversity of people moving about the docks. Varkiss in scaled cloaks examined dried meats at vendor stalls, their reptilian features focused on commerce. It was Justin's first time seeing one alive rather than mummified. Orcs in both merchant colors and military armor loaded and unloaded crates. Humans from every conceivable background—merchants in silk, laborers in rough-spun cloth, sailors in weather-beaten leather—created a constant flow of activity.

The city was easily five times the size of Windfall, maybe more. Where Windfall had felt like a city for sure, Belmora was unmistakably a true metropolis. A place where fortunes were made and lost, where political power flowed like the river currents, and where anyone with sufficient skill and luck could reinvent themselves completely.

As the ship's crew secured the mooring lines, Captain Murdoch approached them with a genuine smile. "It's been a pleasure having you aboard, folks. Elea's winds favor whatever business brings you to Belmora."

"Thank you, Captain," Justin replied, shaking the man's weathered hand. "It's been a smooth voyage."

As they went down the gangplank, Justin mentally tallied their resources. About three hundred gold crowns between him and Lila, plus whatever Alistair might have from his Templar service. It would have to be enough to establish themselves and begin their mission of uncovering the conspiracy of which Valdrik was a part.

As they stepped onto the wharf, Justin was grateful for the solid stone beneath his feet.

"Welcome to Belmora," he said, adjusting his top hat against the morning breeze.

"There's a good inn nearby," Alistair said. "Not used by the Templars, but a perfect place to form a sort of base, and we can find something more permanent. I'm sure I remember the way."

"Lead on," Justin said.

Alistair led them deeper into the bustling port district.

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