To the east of Kalista, a small city was situated at the borders.

Surrounded by giant walls.

The thing that made it different from the central base was the swap not far away.

A dark coverage has filled the outside of the walls like a coating of clouds. Behind the large swamp existed a dark forest in the form of a thin line if looked at from above.

Even then the forest looked densely packed, surrounded by mountains from behind.

Above, the grey sky remained unchanged.

Everything here was eerie.

So much so that shivers will run down my spine just thinking too much about it.

However, the main source of eeriness still remained the forest.

The creepiness one felt there was not easy to let go.

I tore my gaze away and looked at the door at my right and leaned forward.

Then the carriage stopped.

Following which six figures came out at the entrance of the wall.

"Ugh… these roads. Who the fuck builds roads like these?"

Summer groaned and hit her back twice before stretching her limbs.

"Just be grateful for a road, Summer; even I wasn't aware of it at first."

Enzo muttered and looked around the place.

"How eerie, but this place also has a built-in city here? That's something I never imagined."

Anny said with a dazed look. She was baffled by the presence of a city. Anyone would be since the contrast between the central base and here was too big.

"It is." Liber nodded.

Chris simply looked at the walls with a strange gaze, not showing interest in the conversation.

I walked closer to Anny with my hands inside my pocket and said with a faint smile.

"This place is also used as a hub to buy and sell goods. Some brave merchants have also decided to set their pace here. Well, even without it, this place gets the supplies first and then they are sent to other bases."

"And the road—don't monsters attack this area?"

Anny asked, tilting her head.

Summer also turned to hear my answer with her brows raised high.

"The roads are cleared from monsters regularly by soldiers. Even though not perfect, this road still is a big means of travel. That's why it took us two hours to come here; otherwise a whole day would have passed even by foot."

"Ah, that's an obvious answer." Anny chuckled dryly, her cheeks a little flushed from embarrassment.

"Don't think too much; he was speaking like it was something else." Summer sighed and stepped away.

I stared at them with my lips twitching slightly as I listened to their words.

"Why ask me then?" I grumbled, rolling my eyes.

Summer ignored me and then walked toward the gate, where several other carriages stood in line waiting for their turn to enter inside. She stared at them with a bored look and turned to see Enzo walking closer toward her.

"Half an hour more before they would allow us entry."

Enzo spoke before Summer could raise her voice.

"Even though we have a damn captain?" Summer chimed in with a smile as she pointed her finger right back at me.

There was an influx of carriages waiting for their turn to go inside. It was no surprise even our entry would get delayed, as there was no space for us to even consider going near.

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I ignored Summer's remarks and focused entirely on the caravana going inside through the gates. The longer I watched, the more thoughts flooded my mind.

Various questions—doubts—had rooted deeply inside me.

If I do what I had planned to do, a great danger would befall not only the soldiers but also the civilians as well.

Hesitation spread inside me.

But it was no use having such thoughts now. It was already too late.

Everything I had done was to lead to this moment. While not everything was done yet, I was sure the actions I had done before coming would surely bring the results I wanted. So, in a way I was halfway done. But in a way, the situation could get worse if I fail to complete the other half of the plan.

"At least this place is better than Central Base." Summer muttered as she moved to join us.

"Pft—"

Unknowingly I let out a laugh. Summer stopped and looked at me with a frown.

"What? Did I say something funny?"

"No. No. You said nothing wrong." I shook my head and walked away from her, heading directly toward the carriage we had come from.

"Hey! Say it if you have something in your mind!"

Summer gritted her teeth.

"Damn it, now I feel uneasy."

Hearing her words, the group tensed up.

Anny clenched the edge of her dress tightly before walking toward Summer with a gentle smile.

"Don't worry. Being here already means we have accepted the fate of being in danger. Everything will be alright."

"Sigh, you are so optimistic… I can't even argue with that." Shaking her head with her hands crossed, Summer returned a smile to the surprise of Chris and Enzo.

"Hey, Sis isn't cursing anymore?" Chris muttered with a dazed look.

He had believed that the trip would be more chaotic. But somehow it was a lot calmer than he had imagined it to be. It was a surprise, but not an unwelcome one at the very least.

They joined the line of waiting carriages, the sound of hooves and restless merchants filling the air. The gates loomed closer with each passing minute, until finally, our turn came.

"Move!"

Soon a voice called out to them. Two soldiers came forward and checked their carriage from the outside. They reached the shadow of the carriage before looking at the group now sitting inside of it. After a brief conversation the check ended and they were allowed to go inside.

***

A few minutes have passed since the road cleared. Our group finally entered the east base walls. The cobblestone path was much smoother here, which was a relief after the bumpy carriage ride. The city inside was bustling with activity. Merchants called out to each other, soldiers marched in formations, and the occasional sound of blacksmiths hammering filled the air. The city was a stark contrast to the grim forest outside.

Even then, compared to the markets of Saffron and Atlas, it was still on the smaller side.

However, this place had its own charm, one I couldn't put my finger on.

Maybe it was the atmosphere that felt neither warm nor cozy. It was probably the people who stared at us newcomers with sharp gazes and a hint of coldness and wariness in their eyes. But no one was affected by this. Anny, who has the softest and warmest heart among us, even looked aloof, unaffected by any of this. The dangers monsters presented were far greater and gut-wrenching; some wary gazes full of coldness were nothing to any of us.

But I was sure it was also the fact I couldn't sense any hostility from any of them.

Or I was simply overthinking from having too many eyes on me after a long time.

With a faint and untraceable smile, we moved through the close area of the inner city.

This place, while certainly not filled with the laughter of children running around, had a lot of noises. A not-so-densely packed place guarded all the time.

Not far away I saw a building of a familiar shape and size.

For a moment I was too surprised to speak as Liber whispered near me.

"Isn't that a temple?"

I nodded slowly.

I had been to one so many times by now that I could tell if one was a temple or not in a single glance.

Yet it made sense the commander of this base was The Blade of the East, Clonas, someone associated with the Temple. I wasn't aware of his standing in it but as a transcendent, it should be high and something similar to Morgana.

"Should we go there?" I asked.

Liber and the others stayed silent, glancing at each other. Chris shrugged before answering back.

"Sure."

Well, I would have gone there even if they had said no.

I nodded, thinking as such, and started to walk toward the tall building with several spires around the edges and considerably long glass panels to let natural light enter inside. As I reached it, I couldn't help but admire it for a few seconds.

Every time I had seen a temple, there was always something unique about it. That kept the outlook always interesting and evocative.

Reaching the outside made of white stones, we looked around.

A small garden of flowers has been made around it. Flowers with silvery–blue petals grew like frozen starlight.

It was my first time seeing one.

"Hmm, Asher, they look similar to your eyes," Anny muttered, bringing my attention back to the group behind me.

Suddenly all their gazes shifted to look at my face.

Summer came closer, her face inches apart from mine. I swiftly averted my gaze, feeling uncomfortable from the eyes on me. But her gaze became more intense as she narrowed her eyes.

"No, the flowers look better." Summer snickered.

"Really, I think they look the same." Anny answered back.

"Have you all never seen these flowers?" I asked, the others standing aside looking at both Anny and Summer as they talked without any care.

"No, it is my first time seeing them. They certainly do look beautiful, Asher, similar to your eyes, I think." Liber said with a teasing voice. I let out a laugh as I saw Chris added his own words to our conversation.

Enzo heard us with a faint smile on his face.

"Hmm, I wonder what they are called." Enzo asked.

"Amaranth, that's what it is called," An old man said, coming out of the temple. He wore a clergy dress, white and pristine, with a star embroidered at the center. With an old smile, holding no emotions other than peace.

"That's a unique name, Sir. Where do they come from?" I said with a respectful tone, looking at him from the corner of my eyes.

His presence was sudden but not out of expectations. The Temple gates were on the smaller side so our loud chatters could definitely slip inside.

The old priest let out a laugh before saying with a small smile.

"The flower depicts everlasting time and undying devotion… for its origin, even I remain unaware, as it was a gift."

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