Finn nodded. "S-sir Reed is r-right," he stammered, trying to find the words. "Y-you'll see what he means. You c-can't see one-one end of the city... from the other."

"Edenva spans the entire Edenva Range and stretches all the way to the sea," Len added. "It's a true city–a sprawling, vast place unlike any village or town you've known. Even Bilen is but a shadow compared to its sheer size."

Fiona's eyes twinkled with excitement. "I heard one end of Edenva is a desert, and the other end is an icy glacier, Is that true?"

So I'm not the only one who's been told that rumour. Clay thought.

Len chuckled. "Ahem–no, not quite so extreme," he replied. "But the city does change as you move through it–different regions, different climates, even. It's a place of endless variety and sights. It's the Capital of the kingdom after all. Speaking of which... there it is."

They all turned as Edenva began to emerge–an endless, sprawling landscape stretching along the horizon. Even from a distance, the grand structures and glittering rooftops hinted at the city's vastness and wonder. 

"Wow..." Clay exclaimed. He wanted to take in the entire view, but it was impossible, even on a horse slowly trodding along the road. He wanted to stop and take a better look.

But he remembered Reed's words a few days back. The southern part of Edenva Range... Find someone with the name Arlen... 

As they drew closer to the city, the langscape around them gently rolled into a patchwork of fields and meadows. Small clusters of humble cottages, crafted from age-worn stone, their walls blending seamlessly with the green and gold of the countryside with their soft earth tone. Weathered red and ochre-tiled roofs sagged slightly with age but were neatly thatched in patches where tiles have slipped away. The uniformity was broken up by the stone chimneys rising from each house sending tendrils of smoke into the crisp air.

Many of those homes were modest, often no taller than two stories. Around the houses, small gardens burst with life, full of herbs, flowers, and vegetables planted in neat rows.

The main road they're on branched of into winding dirt paths connecting one community to the next, extending out into the fields where villagers tend to their livestock or gather in small orchards.

It reminded Clay of Stonetown. A rather humble and quiet village. Perhaps the only difference is that the folk within his village had an unexplainable tension with them, which is reasonable considering the forest filled with mutated monsters right next to them.

Nearer to the city walls, the houses grew closer together. At the backdrop, the wall loomed larger than ever, its colossal scale unmistakable. From afar, the towers blended into the landscape along with the rest of the city. But up close, they were awe-inspiring–each one a monolith that seemed capable of housing an entire village hall within its walls, with room still to spare.

"Is there really a need to build towers this big?" Clay asked, looking up. "We're not fighting giants, are we?"

"Actually, these walls were built because of giants." Len replied. "Back in the days when mutated monsters roamed the land, one creature in particular stood above all–a bear, as tall as a small mountain when reared up on its hind legs. We called it Ursidae Titanus, or Titanic Bear. Every step it took crushed villages into the ground, and no weapon could so much as scratch it."

"So... how was it defeated?"

"They didn't. Legend has it the beast simply passed away from old age. When humanity began rebuilding, our ancestors thought long and hard with the same question: how could they protect Edenva from such colossal creatures? After much thought, they realised there was no defeating such calamities–only outwitting them. So they constructed these walls, massive enough to hide the city from view, in hopes that any wandering giants would simply pass by. If nothing else, they gave the people of Edenva a sense of safety."

A long line of travellers formed ahead, with guards stationed at the entrance. 

Finn was the first in line. Len presented the Badge of the Bilen Family, a silver emblem that glinted under the sun. 

One of the guards recognised the badge and nodded. "Young Lord Bilen," he said, waving them through. "You may pass, along with your attendant."

Len, who stood a step behind Finn, offered a respectful nod. "Thank you, sir," he said, and both of them trodded pass the massive gate. 

Clay and Fiona followed closely behind, hoping to enter with Finn and Len. But the guard stopped them. "Halt! State your name and purpose for entering the city."

"I'm here to take enroll into The Barracks, sir." "Me too."

The guard glanced at their attire and swords. "Do you carry a writ of passage or a letter of remark?"

Clay's heart throbbed. A letter of remark? "No, sir, unfor–" Then he remembered the letter. "–Yes! I do. this letter is from Arlen of The Barracks."

The guard inspected the letter. "The writing is indeed from Professor Arlen. Enter, and welcome to Edenva. Mind yourself within!"

Clay went through, wiping a drop of sweat from his brow. Whew!

It was Fiona's turn. "Er..." she stammered.

"Do you carry a writ of passage or a letter of remark?"

"No, but..."

"If you have no clear business here, it's best you seek lodging outside the walls."

"Wait–!"

Clay turned back. Why hasn't Fiona gone through yet?

"What's wrong?" he called out, moving towards her.

Fiona glanced around. "I...I don't have anything to show them," she whispered. "I didn't think it would matter..."

Clay hesitated, his mind scrambling for a solution. No, my letter won't help her... no, this won't do either...

"M-maybe I can help?" a voice piped up from behind. It was Finn.

Len stepped forward. "Ms Fiona here is with us. She's part of Young Lord Bilen's company, here for the entrance test in The Barracks."

The guard raised an eyebrow. "With you, is she?" He looked from Len to Finn, then to Fiona, clearly skeptical.

"Yes," Len replied smoothly. "Lord Finn of Bilen is sponsoring her entry. Ms Fiona is under his protection."

"Y-yes, I vouch for her," Finn nodded nervously.

The guard paused, considering this. Finally, he nodded. "Very well, then. You may all proceed–but know that any breach of our laws will reflect on you, Lord Finn." and waved them through.

"As they entered the gates, Fiona turned to Finn, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Finn! I don't know what I would've done."

Finn smiled shyly. "I-it's no p-problem," he murmured, glancing away with a slight blush.