“Arden, Kai,” Blake began one hot morning before training, “we’ve been meeting daily and training until sundown. While this is good, and we have seen progress, you also need to rest. On top of that, I have my duties as a Guardian to attend to, so I have decided that now is a good time to take a few days off from our training.”

I nodded in response, wondering what I would do with all the free time while he was gone. 

Arden, on the other hand, looked at Blake incredulously. “Take a few days off? We need to be ready, just in case.”

Blake opened his mouth to respond but I cut in first, “Arden, I know it’s unfortunate but we have to understand that Instructor Blake’s duty to Arboreus comes before our training.” 

Blake gave Arden a stern look. "On top of that, it's important to remember that rest is just as important as training. Your bodies need time to recover and build strength. And as for being ready, you should have plenty of time before any real threats are your problem. Let us Guardians handle any dangers like that."

Silence hung in the air for a few moments before Arden finally responded, “Yes… I suppose that’s true. You’re right, sorry Blake. Good luck sir.” 

Blake smiled. "We'll pick up right where we left off. And who knows, maybe a few days off will give you both some time to work on your own strengths and come back even stronger."

With those final words, Blake disappeared down the path leading out of the training grounds. I knew that Blake was right, we needed to take better care of our bodies if we wanted continued improvement.

As he walked away, Arden broke the lingering silence and turned to me with a proposal. "Kai, I was thinking, now that Blake is away, why don't I show you around Luminia?" 

"Really? I would love that, I've only seen a little bit of the city," I replied, feeling excited about the prospect of exploring Luminia with Arden.

"Great! I know all the best places to go," Arden said, a proud smile spreading across his face. “Meet me outside your house first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I replied, “See you tomorrow.”

I woke up the next day feeling incredibly excited, my heart pounding with anticipation. I had been wanting to explore Luminia since we arrived, but my training with Blake had left me with little time for sightseeing. Finally, I was going to be able to experience the city for myself.

Arden greeted me outside the Vale Mansion with a wide smile, "Good morning, Kai."

"Good morning Sir Arden, my honorable guide," I replied, playfully bowing my head.

"Good, good, that's the kind of respect you should show your prince," he teased.

"Where to first, my lord?" I retorted, tongue-in-cheek.

"Oh, come on, enough of that," he waved it off. "But, as for your question, we're starting at the heart of Luminia - the market square." He beamed.

Arden led me through the busy streets of Luminia, its towering buildings casting long shadows over the narrow alleys. People of different races and ages filled the streets, some even younger than us.

Despite the early morning sun overhead, the city was already alive with activity, vendors were setting up their stalls and people were hurrying to work or go about their daily business. The smell of fresh bread and roasted meats filled the air, making my stomach growl in hunger.

As we entered the market square, Arden took me over to one of the many food stalls producing a delicious aroma.

As we approached the stall, Arden turned to me and said, "I suggest trying one of these breakfast pies, they're quite popular in Luminia."

I nodded, taking a deep sniff of the fragrant smell of fresh pie wafting from the stall. I hesitated, unsure exactly what I should order. This cuisine was quite different from what we ate in the Vale Domain.

The rotund man behind the counter looked up at us and gave a jolly smile, "Not sure what to get, eh? Don't worry young lad, I'll get ya something you'll love. What do ya fancy, apple or peach?"

"I'll have the peach, and my friend here will have the apple." Arden chimed in, reaching over to hand the vendor two bronze coins.

As the rotund man began to prepare our breakfast, Arden turned to me with a grin, "This is the place to be for breakfast, my friend. They've got the best pastries in all of Luminia."

“I never expected to hear such praise from Prince Arden Sylvanmore of Arboreus. Thank you, my lord.” The man chuckled as he thanked Arden, his round belly shaking with laughter.

The man's jolly smile grew even wider as he began preparing our breakfast with practiced ease. 

I turned to Arden while we stepped back as he prepared the food, “Do you get recognized around here often?”

“Not all the time,” Arden replied, clearly embarrassed, “mainly by the older folk who have turned up to all those boring ceremonies.” 

A few minutes later, he presented us with two warm pies and freshly brewed cocoa. 

“Cocoa’s on the house.” The man grinned and bowed his head slightly at each of us in turn.

We took our breakfast to a nearby bench, taking in the bustling market square while we ate. The warm, soft pies were the perfect start to our day, and the rich cocoa warmed me from the inside out. It was a delightful experience, and I was already looking forward to exploring more of Luminia and its offerings.

The market square was a hub of activity, with vendors selling everything from exotic spices and fruits, to intricate jewelry and rare gems. I was amazed by the sheer variety of goods on offer and how busy the place was. It was a stark contrast to the Vale Domain, which was much more tranquil and peaceful.

I was particularly interested in a group of travelers who had set up a small tent and were selling exotic items from what I assumed was their homeland. They had strange musical instruments and richly colored textiles that I had never seen before.

As I was admiring the wares of the traveling merchants, I noticed Arden's gaze lock on a certain stall. He was looking towards a nearby stall where an elf woman and an elf girl were haggling over a silver bracelet. The girl had long, golden hair tucked behind her small, pointed ears. She had a pair of kind, emerald-green eyes that seemed familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I knew them from.

"Eira!" Arden called out, his face lighting up with delight.

"Arden!" she exclaimed, winning the silver bracelet and walking a few meters towards us. "Is this who I think it is?" she asked inquisitively, turning towards me.

“I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met,” I replied, curious as to how she knew me.

"I'm Eira Luthien, and you’re Kai Vale. I used to visit your house in the Vale Domain with my parents. My father was the Viscount of Cedarfall there. Now, my older brother holds that title," she informed me.

I finally remembered her, Eira and I used to talk quite regularly while our parents discussed politics and affairs of the Vale Domain.

“Oh yes, I remember now,” I said, “It’s good to see you again.”

“Yes, it’s been ages,” she agreed, “So, what brings you two here to the markets? I wouldn't think a prince and son of a duke would spend their time here.”

"I’m just showing Kai around the city," Arden explained. “He’ll be living and training here for a while.”

"And I couldn't resist checking out the market square," I added, impressed. "It's quite a sight. This place is incredibly different to the Vale Domain."

"Definitely," Eira agreed, with a smile. "Want to join me for a walk around? I’ve lived here for a couple of years now and know some great stalls to visit.".

Arden and I agreed, and we set off with Eira as our guide. She showed us all the different stalls in the market square, telling us about the merchants and their products. We came across a spice vendor who had some delicious-smelling spices, and Eira even managed to haggle a deal for us on a rare spice from the Hillcrest Domain.

                                                                           

As we walked through the bustling market, Eira’s eyes lit up when she spotted a jewelry vendor. The vendor had set up a long, vibrant booth, filled with colorful gems and intricate silver pieces. Eira couldn’t resist taking a closer look.

“Oh, wow,” she breathed, running her fingers over the intricate patterns etched into a golden bracelet. “These are gorgeous.”

I followed her gaze and was immediately surprised by the beauty of the jewelry on display. Each piece was unique and held a story, it seemed.

Eira’s gaze was quickly drawn to a delicate silver necklace with a green gemstone that reminded me of her eyes. She picked it up gingerly, admiring the intricate details.

“Do you like it?” I asked, smiling.

“I love it,” she said, holding it up to the light. “It’s so delicate and beautiful.”

“Excuse me,” I called out to the vendor, an elven man. “How much for this necklace?”

The vendor hesitated, eyeing me, then the necklace, for a few moments before replying, “10 silver coins.” 

That was much more than the average price for a piece of jewelry around here, the vendor must have assumed I was an easy target. Eira quickly stepped in, a surprisingly determined look on her face considering it was just a necklace.

“That’s a bit steep,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “What about 5 silver coins?”

The elf looked skeptical, but Eira’s unwavering gaze and persuasive tone convinced him to lower the price. After a bit more back-and-forth, Eira managed to secure the necklace for 7 silver coins, a much more reasonable price.

“I can’t believe you talked him down like that,” I said, impressed as I walked over to the vendor, handing him 7 silver coins.

Eira shrugged, grinning. “I’ve had a lot of practice.” Her expression softened, “also, you didn’t have to pay for that you know? I have money.”

“It’s a gift,” I replied, “for helping to show me around and for all the birthdays I have missed since we last spoke.” 

“Where is my necklace then, Kai?” Arden spoke up jokingly.

We all laughed as we walked away from the vendor’s booth, Eira placed the necklace around her neck, the gemstone sparkling in the sunlight. It looked like it was made just for her.

Suddenly, she turned to me, catching me off guard. 

“What do you think about visiting the Crystal Palace next?” She suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“No thanks,” Arden replied, “I have been there far too many times.” 

“Well I haven’t,” Eira retorted, “and neither has Kai.” 

“What exactly is this Crystal Palace?” I inquired, recognizing the name but not quite able to place my finger on it.

"It's a testament to the wealth, and ego, of Luminian nobility," Arden spoke up.

“The Crystal Palace serves as a symbol of the wealth, power, and cultural heritage of the city,” Eira agreed, “but it is really just a place for lower-ranking nobles to show off their life earnings. But it’s a beautiful place nonetheless and it’s somewhere you must visit at least once.”

“All right, we don’t have to stay for too long if it’s bad, okay Arden?” I made my opinion clear.

“Very well,” Arden replied somewhat grumpily, “follow me.”

Soon enough, the Crystal Palace was within view. The grand design left me in awe. It was created using shimmering iridescent crystals and had towering spires and intricate carvings adorning every inch of its exterior. According to Eira, aside from the Royal Palace, it was the largest building in Luminia. 

"This place is magnificent," I marveled as we approached the palace's entrance. "I've never seen anything like it before."

Despite many families sharing the title of ‘nobility’, there was still a distinct hierarchy among them. At the top of the hierarchy is the Royalty, which is comprised of the entire main branch of the royal family. Below that, there are the Dukes and Duchesses, who are in charge of a Domain, such as my parents. Then there are Counts and Countesses, who are in charge of the day-to-day affairs of large cities, followed by Viscounts and Viscountesses, who are in charge of towns. Barons and Baronesses are in charge of small villages and finally, there are Lords and Ladies, which is a general title for those of noble birth who did not inherit territory.

Upon entering the Crystal Palace, we were greeted by an awe-inspiring display of artwork including paintings, sculptures, and intricate carvings that adorned the halls of the palace. I was immediately captivated by a large painting depicting a battle between two opposing armies. The intricate details of each figure and the lifelike horses caught my eye. A plaque beneath the painting read ‘House Valerius vs House Alderwich, the Battle of the East’. This battle was a topic I was familiar with, having learned about it from my father during my childhood. He taught me about the formation of the current 6 domains and the frequent battles between Valerius and Alderwich, the two easternmost domains, before Sylvanmore's control.

Past the plethora of paintings, many depicting how certain houses joined the ranks of the nobility, there were 6 shields of grand design, 3 on either side of the hall. Each shield was engraved with a crest representing one of the six Great Houses in charge of Domains.

I quickly noticed the skillful attention to detail as I approached the first pair of shields, which faced each other. On one shield was a silver background around a sword, and the crest on the opposite shield had a gray background with a wolf in the center.

House Valerius and House Alderwich, I noted to myself.

The next pair of shields had a black owl facing a brown mountain, House Blackwell and House Hillcrest. I wondered what these two houses were like.

Finally, I reached the last pair of shields, and I saw a blue crest with an eagle, which I recognized as my own House Vale. The opposite shield had a green crest with a tree, which was the crest of House Sylvanmore. I felt proud, and slightly embarrassed, as these two houses were my own and Arden's.

Guilt gnawed away at my mind as we continued our walk through the lavish halls. Although the nobility of Arboreus was presented as majestic, I was all too aware of the dark history behind it. I knew of the cruel acts committed by each house, including my own House Vale, in their pursuit of power. It was a sobering thought, but one that couldn't be ignored as we admired the treasured items and heirlooms of various noble families, including some contributions from our own Houses.

As we circled back to the entrance, Arden proposed an interesting idea. "Kai, I heard there's a show at the Marble Coliseum today," he said. "I think visiting might be an interesting training opportunity for us. There won't be anyone as skilled as Instructor Blake, but it could be a fun experience."

"I heard there's actually a tournament happening now. Adventurers usually make up the majority of competitors," Eira chimed in. 

I nodded, intrigued by the opportunity to watch adventurers from Luminia, the best of the best, compete. "That sounds fantastic, lead the way."