Capital Villages(1)

The setting sun bathed the passing clouds in a pinkish-orange hue. The Eldin Forest was filled with thin shafts of shadows, painting the forest in darkness. The wagon finally came upon the peak of the border, the rode gradually descending into a long downwards slope. The traveling group was able to see the vast view of the entire Goldenstein kingdom.

Jean grinned and glanced back at the children. "Well, my first and only young passengers. I Jean Lock humbly give youuuu...The wonderful, beautiful, the all-time famous…..Capital Villages!" Jean cried, waving his hands dramatically before giving a slight bow like a charismatic show host.

The children gasped in admiration.

"OOOOH," Callie cried. her large brown eyes sparkling. Sorren was in awe. He could see paradise green fields filled to the brim with various shades of yellow flowers, neatly paved roads made of stone, even various sized carriages, with some parts made of gold, from prominent figures going to and from different villages.

As the slope descended, golden statues of long jewels lit up in different colors. these statues descended well into the community of villages. They served to light the way of passing delivery men from suburban villages and visiting tourists and merchants.

Just beyond the community of villages lay a large circular stone wall, that soared high in the sky. It enclosed many other large prominent buildings that peeked from the distance. Sorren could even see in the far distance a large glamorous castle that looked of gold and bits of silver. It stood as if it could reach the sun-soaked clouds.

"Hiyaaah! What a sight never gets old huh!" Jean chuckled as he stretched. Inwardly, Sorren agreed. It was like they were in a different world altogether. As if the world Sorren knew was much smaller.

Though Suburban villages were much larger in size due to the vast fields for herding cattle and planting crops, they lacked the technological resources that the capital villages had. Roads were not paved and most of the hard work was done by hand.

Jean pointed in the distance, catching Sorren's attention. "That gate over there is known as the Golden Gate. It serves as a security point where they check your belongings before letting ya in. Heard it's a real strict process for merchants"

The Golden gate housed two entry points located on the east and west of the circular wall. The road that extended in the Capital villages divided into two as you got closer to the wall and proceeded to both entrances.

"Just beyond is where the Royal Capital lay. Not many commoners would find themselves inside there unless they were attending Zalfos Academy"

Sorren tilted his head confused "Zalfos Academy?" Jeans eyes widened. "Eh? ya, mother never told ya about the academy!?" Sorren shook his head. Annie never really talked much about herself to Sorren or his siblings. Anytime he asked she'd always avoid the question. She made sure his father Gale wouldn't talk either.

Jean pointed to the far left side of the royal castle. It had thin peeked blue roofs and white walls, it looked very large even from a long distance.

"Ah really? well, Zalfos Academy is where ya train for ya careers in the future. It trains young lads like you in various fields upon your choosing. Swordsmanship, magic, rune creation, you name it. I think it'd be a good fit for you…"

Sorren gazed once more at the building Jean had just pointed to. 'It really is like a brand new world. Wonder what it's like...attending a fancy school' Sorren thought. His heart pounded excitedly.

"Ah come to think of it...ya mother used to be a teacher at Zalfos academy" at that, Sorren flinched.

"WHA!? MOTHER WAS A TEACHER!?" Sorren shouted.

Jean laughed and nodded.

" Yea, she used to be a mage instructor, ya old man would tell me stories of their time in the capital, quite an experience" Jean mused.

Sorren felt conflicted because his mother and father were much more mysterious than he thought. 'Why wouldn't they tell me about this…" Sorren thought. Jean gulped a bit. He only wanted to help ease the boys' tension but it seemed like he made it worse.

' I get the feeling I wasn't supposed to tell'em that yet….' He sweated nervously.

Meanwhile, Sorren's younger sister Callie was excitedly taking in the glorious view.

"AH PWETTY VILLAGE!" She cried her brown eyes, much like her fathers, sparkled.

"Cale! Cale! look pweety villages!" She said pointing, but she got no response from her twin brother. She looked back and saw Cale was once again asleep.

Callie puffed her cheeks out and frowned.

Sorren glanced at his siblings, he could practically see steam puffing from his younger sister's ears. She looked like a little angry chipmunk. He knew she hated being ignored, he could only smile nervously at the rude awakening Cale was going to get.

"AH Cale! Cale! No sleeping!" She smacked her brother's head repeatedly. Cale awoke by the stinging sensation, his sleepy eyes barely opened. "Owwy...that hurt Callie…" he mumbled as he patted his chubby cheek.

"Cale you don't sleep! Look at the pweety villages!" Callie shouted angrily. Cale's sleepy eyes glanced at the villages. "Ah….sleepy village…." He grinned before dozing off.

"WHA?? NO CALE! NOT SLEEPY VILLAGE PWEETY VILLAGE!" Callie once again tried to wake her brother up, but he was out as the lights.

Jean chuckled at the little toddlers' antiques as he flicked the reins, the horse slowly descending down the slope.

After a while, they could clearly see the beautiful gardens in their full vigor, sanitizing scents filtered through the air. Sorren could smell the freshwater as it moistened the grass. Just beyond was a stone booth with a young woman with light blonde hair inside. She wore a gold-colored uniform, her blonde hair tightened in a neat bun.

"Welcome, you are now at the Golden checkout booth, do you have identification?" She said She looked serious as her eyes were glued on a stack of papers in her hands.

"Stiff as always eh Riza '' Jean said with a smirk.

Riza frowned and looked up, she hated when random strangers tried to call her name as if they were intimate. It happened with dozens of men when she was on business.

Then she paused. " J-Jean" She frowned fiercely, her face flushing red. " You're not supposed to be delivering today!" Jean cocked his head to the side "oh...you've been keeping track of my schedule?" Jean asked grinning.

Riza's face turned even redder at her blunder. "L-LIKE HELL I HAVE! I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE IT RANDOMLY" She shouted. Jean snickered. " a-anyway what have you come for then if not delivery" her sharp brown eyes glanced at the young children, who flinched. She quickly changed her expression, her eyes softening.

"Ah, they must have some business with the academy?" She inquired, smiling gently at them. Jean looked around before continuing. " Nah we're just hoping to settle down here…you know for a nice change in scenery"

Riza frowned in suspicion. "You're not thinking of using these kids to flirt around, are you? If you are, then I refuse to let you enter," she said glaring at him. Jean coughed awkwardly at the attack. "Hey hey, what are ya saying….I'm being accused falsely ya know" he scratched his head.

Riza flared up " Don't lie! These children are probably kids from some unfortunate soul you're duping off on! SHAMELESS!!"

Sorren and the children peered at the arguing duo in confusion. Jean sighed 'hahh women these days….really….' he thought before leaning in closer to the booth so that only she could hear him.

" I'm sure…. you know of the rumors Riza….about the suburban villages" he looked her dead in the eye in all seriousness, his voice very quiet. Riza flinched at his serious tone.

She indeed heard about the many rumors regarding the suburban villages that were being destroyed. Many people believed it to be the possible sign of the "Awakening" with the recent monster uprisings. However, Riza only passed it off as political talk, and nothing more.

Jean continued on " well this is the result, a small band of survivors trying to make a new life in safety. And these little tots here are children of old friends, who happened to not survive with me...I was requested to escort them here...get the picture"

Riza's eyes flushed with guilt and shame. To think that the rumors were indeed true. Seeing the small children parentless and without homes was truly gut-wrenching. "I-I apologize, it would seem I misspoke…" she said quietly.

Jena shrugged before leaning back. " Anyway, these little ones here don't have identification, which is why I need you to do me a lil favor, for old time sakes' ' he winked at her. Riza bit her lips and groaned.

"You're driving me crazy, are you trying to get me fired!" she whispered- shouted before peeking around.

" Hmm interesting irony, but nope of course not. which is why I'm asking for a one-time-only thing that won't be revealed even before our graves.."

Riza growled a little. "You should know that the hounds can sniff out deceit," she said slowly. Jean smirked, "only if you don't hide the trail, I trust….you know how to correct?"

Riza sighed, finally relenting.

" Fine...but only because I owe you for that…" She said, She dug through the drawer and pulled out a small stamp. She stamped 4 documents and handed them to Jean.

"These are only 1-time express passes, normally you'd have to go through verification to get them. It will get you far enough to the Golden inn where you can stay and to a nearby village however afterward you will need to get the children legitimate identifications"

Normally verification takes up to weeks and must be stamped by official employees at the booths. This process differs between nobles and commoners as they have other means to get through without needing the verification process.

" Why thank you, sweetheart, I'll buy ya a drink on me," he said, flicking the reins.

Riza rolled her eyes " Just get out of here" She felt like she just sold her soul to a snickering raccoon for some reason.