Two weeks had passed since Caela became the Host in Riverbend, and even now, she still wasn't used to the special treatment she received in the palace. She still couldn't quite believe that she was a true Host, according to the ancient and forbidden myths. Sometimes, she was afraid that the people in the castle—and even the King—might find out the truth and accuse her of being a heretic, a follower of a forbidden faith punishable by death.
Since Rieva had decided to return to Tevira, Caela hadn't missed a single day of her routine of practicing magic and reading. But here in the castle, she had added a new routine: sword training with the castle guards. At first, many of the guards opposed the idea, but the King had no issue with it.
During one of her sword practices, a guard summoned her to the King. Caela immediately stopped and, barefoot, quickly made her way to the hall where the King waited. She knocked and entered.
"My King, you summoned me?" Caela asked.
"Yes, Caela, my child, come here for a moment."
Caela approached the King and stood before his throne, waiting for him to speak.
"There will be a gathering of Hosts tomorrow in the Central Lands. I want you to go."
Caela raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Alright. Will you be coming as well?"
"It seems I won't be able to. Is it alright if you go alone, with just the guards?"
Caela pouted a little but understood the King's condition—how hard it was for him to walk or even stand. "Fine… I guess I have no choice."
"Good. You should get ready now, then. The journey is quite long. Central is a lively city though it's a business hub, there are many kinds of entertainment I think you'll enjoy."
Caela nodded with curiosity. "Really? What kind of entertainment?"
The King chuckled and scratched his head. "Beautiful women, for example."
Caela let out a small sigh.
"Hey, don't go falling for some handsome man over there, okay?"
"W-what do you mean by that?!" Caela's face turned red, clearly flustered by the King's teasing.
The King burst into laughter. "Oh, don't worry, I'm just joking."
After their talk, Caela excused herself to prepare for her trip to Central. She departed with a few guards, the journey taking about two hours by land. Along the way, they passed small rivers, forests, and even fended off wild animal attacks, which proved no problem for Caela and her protectors. In the middle of the journey, they also came across several piles of corpses left unburied.
"What is this...?" Caela asked her guards.
"It looks like... these were heretic groups that were cursed."
"Heretics…" Caela narrowed her eyes.
"Lately, many rebel groups have been claiming that the current teachings of the Gods are wrong. They despise the crystals—possibly followers of the old myths about the Gods," the guard explained.
Caela stayed silent at the explanation. The story made her uneasy, but she remained determined and continued on her journey.
**
Caela finally arrived in The Central.
The city was just as she imagined when the King first told her about it—bustling with trade, festivals, and much larger than Riverbend. Unlike Riverbend, there was no water surrounding the city. Instead, it was filled with shops, bars, restaurants, and opera houses.
Caela looked around. She parted ways with the guards, telling them she would meet them later near the nearest inn if she needed to return to Riverbend. She wandered the city, admiring the floral decorations that adorned every house lined up along the streets. A little girl offered her flowers for sale, but Caela gently declined.
After walking around for some time, Caela entered a bar. She pushed open the wooden door and was met with the noise inside. She stepped in and sat at the bar, still unfamiliar with the crowded setting.
"What can I get you, Miss?" the bartender asked.
"... Anything. I'm just thirsty," Caela replied.
"You know this is an adult place, right? I don't serve juice or milk."
Caela nodded. "I'm not a child. Just bring me something."
The bartender quickly served her a clear drink with ice and fruit. After placing the glass in front of her, Caela drank it all in one go, surprising and impressing the bartender.
"Whoa, take it easy, Miss."
Caela exhaled, "So salty… How strange…"
The bartender laughed. "It's a secret recipe made with sea salt."
Caela frowned. "So awful…"
"You're clearly not from around here. A traveler, maybe? A merchant? What are you selling, Miss? Got anything good?"
Caela sighed again. "I'm no—" someone interrupted.
"Isn't she a bit too elegant to be a merchant, Sir?" a male voice chimed in from the seat beside her, causing Caela to turn toward him. The man looked at her too—he had crimson eyes and messy brown hair. A tattoo marked his arm with a precise pattern. Those red eyes—so familiar to Caela. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"...Aunt Rieva…?" Caela blurted.
The man tilted his head, puzzled. "Who's that?"
***