Lukas and Lyric continued talking as they made their way down the road, Sera sticking around to listen in and see what she missed out on while hidden away in her cave. Lukas wasn't able to get much more useful information from Lyric, knowing it would've been suspicious if he accidentally asked about something even little children knew. Instead, he learned a bit more about the man and his apothecary business, trying to use that as an in for broader knowledge.

It was as the elf said before—he and his wife mostly dealt in lower-quality herbs for novice alchemists and other professions that made use of natural treasures. One thing Lukas was able to ask about was the effects of certain herbs and what other kinds there were throughout the globe. He already knew a decent amount about the local resources thanks to Sera's library, but was eager to learn what else was out there.

It turned out that Lyric had an ability that allowed him to identify useful herbs while also providing some basic information on the natural treasure. It was similar to Lukas' own identify though Lyric's was more focused, and it did not provide a text screen, instead dropping the knowledge straight into the elf's head. Lyric's ability went deeper than Lukas', giving a list of what potions a specific herb could be used for and what other ingredients it would work best with. Lyric also revealed that it was this ability that allowed his business to run smoothly, growing a good reputation with customers. It turned out that it wasn't uncommon for people to try and peddle bad products.

As they traveled and talked, time passed—as did the landscape. The forest around them changed slightly, the trees becoming more orderly, growing in lines. Lyric pointed these out as lands belonging to the lumber industry, something that seemed obvious to Lukas.

It was also around then that they began to see more people traveling on foot or on wagons like them. The first they came across were an elf and a cannid, both wearing armor and brandishing weapons. They gave Lukas and his bloody state a curious look as they passed but didn't say anything. Wondering who the two were, he asked Lyric and learned that they were likely adventurers on a patrol contract looking out for beasts and bandits.

As the road gained more travelers, it also widened to the width of a four-lane road. Lukas thought it a bit unnecessary as there weren't that many people sharing the road with them. That was until they passed some manner of floating barge-like vehicle that was used to move around large quantities of lumber. The barges took up almost half the road on their own, with travelers giving even more room for those guiding and escorting the transport. Lukas was fascinated by the vehicle, his eyes running over the magic scripts that lined the floating barge hungrily.

Eventually, they came across the first village. It was quaint and nothing all that special to anyone passing through—just a place to help service the nearby industry—but to Lukas, it was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen. It was a true reminder that he was on an alien planet.

The trees were much sparser around the village, allowing for some agriculture, giving the village a very cozy feel as it was surrounded by dense forest on all sides. The buildings in the village were all made of wood and stone, their shapes formed with earth-shaping abilities. Some of the structures even incorporated still-living trees into the design, something Lukas learned could be done with a type of nature magic over time. The buildings were all architecturally different from anything back home, but were similar enough that it all seemed surreal with the fantasy touches thrown in. It felt like he was walking through a book cover or a movie.

There were poles along the side of the street, what Lukas guessed were street lamps, but they didn't have any lamps or bulbs at the top so he assumed they were magic. They passed businesses, storefronts, and cafés all along the main road. Just off the main street, Lukas saw what looked like an open-air market, the warm smell of cooked food wafting their way. The people he saw were all fair-skinned and wore practical, casual clothing perfect for the forest environment—most of it better quality than what he'd found in Sera's cave.

The whole village flooded Lukas' senses, magical and otherwise. He wanted to take it all in—the sights, the sounds, the smells, the people. His aura senses were overwhelmed by the number of people after having traveled alone for so long. Lukas desperately wanted to hop off the wagon and explore the village, but managed to restrain himself, although barely.

As the village was left behind, Lukas couldn't help but look back, craning his neck to see as much as he could. Eventually the village disappeared behind a bend in the road and Lukas returned his attention to where they were going. He was disappointed that they had just left the village behind without stopping, giving him an excuse to explore, but his disappointment was assuaged slightly when they came across more towns.

The closer they got to the city, the larger the towns and villages became, holding bigger populations, bigger farms, and more to see. The more Lukas took in the more impatient he became, wanting to see what a magic city in a world like this could hold. Even Sera couldn't hide her interest, eager to see how the world had developed.

Lukas knew they were getting close when the roads grew in width once more, going from four lanes to a massive six. The traffic was thicker now, though not cramped, and Lukas didn't hesitate to find out what kinds of transportation this world held. Most of the people he saw traveled on foot, others riding on the back of marels or other work animals. There were some in drawn wagons like him and Lyric, and judging by the contents of those wagons, most of them were merchants or crafters like Lyric.

The rarest kind of vehicle was the ones propelled by magic, most of these looking like old-timey buggies with magical scripts engraved on the wheels. These were the closest thing to cars Lukas had seen thus far, and he was curious to see how far along these people were technologically. So far, he'd seen rather modern-looking appliances, but most of that was in Sera's cave. Lukas assumed that technology had a way to go here with magic picking up the slack in certain areas.

Lukas was just thinking about how he could introduce electricity to this world when a pair of bedraggled-looking adventurers stumbled out of the forest and onto the road just ahead of the wagon. One was a wiry-looking man in what Lukas would call wizard robes with an accompanying staff and wand, only missing the pointy hat. The other was a very pretty elf woman who looked similar to Lyric, with fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. She wore light armor and had a bow and quiver slung over her shoulder. The pair were bloody and ragged, looking like they'd been in a few fights.

Lyric pulled up the wagon next to the two, "Are you two alright?"

"We're fine," the elf said, "We just ran across a pack of sky gliders."

"We're not really equipped to deal with a bunch of small and quick beasts," the human explained further

Without the others noticing, Lukas pulled out two health potions, "Here," he offered, holding out the bottles for the two to take.

The pair looked at the potions in his hand, then up at him, "I think you might need those more than us," the man said.

Lukas shook his head, "This is the aftermath of a fight, I'm fine."

"I don't think we can afford those," the elf woman frowned.

"They're on the house, don't worry about paying. I've got more than I know what to do with."

"Uhm, alright," she said, reaching out to grab the potions, "Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"Would you two like to join us?" Lyric asked the pair, "We're on our way to the city."

The elf woman shot a side glance at her human counterpart before shaking her head, "Thank you, but no. The city's not far, and we've got some things to go over."

The robed human gave the elf an inquisitive look, but didn't say anything.

"If you say so. Hope to see you two around, have a good day."

"You too," the human said before looking back at Lukas, "And thanks again for the potions."

Lukas, not really knowing what to say, just nodded and Lyric pulled the wagon off the side of the road, and they got moving again.

***

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Derek and Naiome watched the wagon trundle down the road toward the city.

"That was nice of him," Derek said, rolling the red potion over in his hand.

"A little strange though, nice, but strange."

"Agreed. He was wearing bloody rags and a torn-up wolfskin cloak, but also had a mask that is obviously high quality."

"Weird."

Derek nodded in agreement, "I'm still going to take the potion though, the cuts those sky gliders leave behind are painful."

***

"That was nice of you," Lyric said.

Lukas shrugged, "Thanks to my benefactor, I have plenty of ingredients for potions and poisons, and I have a large stockpile of concoctions already, so giving out two isn't a big deal."

"Still, both of those could've gotten you a fair bit of coin."

"I'm not worried about money for the time being. Better just to help because I can than because there's money to be made."

"Not a whole lot of people who share that view."

"There never are."

"That was quite altruistic of you," Sera said from her spot on the back of the marel, "You might want to tone that back a notch before you become an even more appealing bachelor."

"I'd scoff if it wouldn't draw attention. I doubt giving two random people some potions will have any kind of repercussions," Lukas replied to the goddess.

"If you say so," Sera said with a grin.

Not much later they encountered a rather large hill and Lyric informed Lukas that they were close to the city now. Lukas and Sera both perked up at his words, eager to see what kind of majesty the city would provide. They didn't have to wait long as they approached the top of the hill, revealing the city in the distance.

The first thing Lukas noticed was the size and scale of the city; it was massive, larger than anything he'd ever seen. He'd never actually been to the bigger cities back home, but he imagined that the one before him was larger than those. The buildings were all more grand than anything he'd seen on Earth or in the villages. They were all towering edifices that reached for the sky, the architecture unlike anything he'd seen. Some were twisting spires like the horns of a kudu, others looked like ancient ziggurats pulled through time and made modern. They all had brilliant and magnificent shapes—some looking like they'd fall over, others appearing more like empty space than a building. One thing they all had in common was the inclusion of nature. Living trees were used in the construction of the monumental buildings, while living plants hung down the walls, many flowering under the warm afternoon sun. It looked like a solarpunk city with more fantasy and magic than technology, and Lukas loved it.

Even at a distance, Lukas could see how wide all the roads were to accommodate all the people. They were even larger than the one he and Lyric were traveling, larger than some highways back home. This gave the city a wider and more open feel compared to the cramped and boxed-in feeling that often accompanied cities back home. That feeling was enhanced by the addition of plants and other fauna along the road to give it a more natural feel. A massive number of parks could also be seen, although barely at their distance. At the edge of his vision, near the back of the city, Lukas thought he could see what looked like a palace made of white marble that gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

Surrounding the center of the city were smaller buildings, none more than five stories tall but all matching the grandeur of the rest of the city. Surrounding that and the entirety of the city was a thick but rather short wall that couldn't have been more than five meters high, something that Lukas was confident he could climb over quickly.

Lukas just stared in silent awe while Sera looked on with interest and fascination. As they made their way down the hill, the more distant parts of the city became obstructed by those that were closer. When they drew closer to the walls of the city, Lukas noticed that all the tree and plant life within a hundred yards of the wall had been cleared, and didn't seem to be used for anything as far as he could tell.

"What's with the cleared space?" Lukas asked Lyric.

"It's to make any approaching beasts easier to see so that they can't sneak up to the wall. It also helps keep a clear line of sight in the event of a beast tide."

Lukas just nodded, having no idea what a beast tide was, so he asked Sera, "What's a beast tide?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. A bunch of beasts go mad, create one giant horde, and swarm the city."

"How often does something like that happen? And what happens to the smaller villages?"

"They're fairly common, but they're easy to catch and notice. It's a bit like a tsunami where beast activity dies down for a bit before a huge wave of them appears. Once the signs are caught, the people in more isolated areas evacuate to the cities or more reinforced villages for protection."

Eventually, they came to the gates of the city and the guards blocked entry. From what Lukas could tell, it seemed they were checking people for contraband or whatever a fantasy city didn't want within its walls. There was a row of guards standing in front of the large entryway, a line forming before each. Each line had different people. One line had those who traveled on foot, and they were quickly checked before being allowed entry. Another two lines were made up of those with wagons, and these lines moved the slowest as the contents of the vehicles had to be checked before gaining entry. The final line moved the fastest and was the shortest, containing the magic vehicles not drawn by animals. Lukas assumed that was because the people who owned such modes of transportation were wealthy and influential, not needing to bother with the same checks as everyone else.

Lukas and Lyric sat in line for a while until it was their turn at the gate. Lukas noted that all the guards wore the same armor and wielded the same weapons, unlike the adventurers he'd seen on the road who all had specialized and personalized equipment. These guards also had a crest on their armor—a large pine tree atop a sheer cliff with water far below.

Lyric pulled the wagon to a stop and the nearest guard, a Canid, approached. "Lyric," the wolf man greeted, "How are you now?"

"I've been good, how about you Wayne?"

"Oh, not so bad. How's the business?"

"Business is great. Leanna and I signed a deal with one of the local restaurants recently."

"That must've brought in a decent amount of coin."

"It did, but it also brought a larger workload with it."

"I know how that feels," the guard said, leaning to the side to look at the line behind them, "Got anything you shouldn't in there?"

"You know me, if I ever decided to deal in illicit goods Leanna would have my head."

The guard chuckled, "That she would. What about you?" he asked Lukas.

Lukas opened his mouth to answer, not really knowing what to say, but Lyric beat him to it, "He's clean—well, he's absolutely filthy, but he's alright. Picked him up after he helped me out with some bandits."

"Bandits?" the guard asked with raised brows, "Well I'm glad to see you made it back in one piece. I should probably move on to the next person, you go on through."

Lyric urged the marel forward, "Thanks, Wayne. You and Shayna should come by for dinner, it's been a while."

"I'll put it to the wife and we'll come up with a time!" he called back, waving as they entered the city.

Lukas looked back at the guards, "I would've thought adventurers would have been guarding the gates."

"Not here. Some cities do that, putting out contracts with the adventure society for things like guard duty and policing. That's usually only done when there aren't enough normal guards for a city. In Pinewood there are plenty, all under the Duke."

"Was that his palace I saw off in the distance?"

"It was," Lyric nodded, "It might look big and ostentatious, but the palace is one of the final fallback lines should the city defenses get overrun."

"That's not likely to happen," Sera told Lukas, "The magic here is too low to produce anything strong enough to get that far into the city, beast tide or otherwise. It was probably used for that purpose millennia ago when the ambient magic was higher, but now it's probably just a big house for the important people to feel special."

Lukas nodded and looked around at the sprawling city they'd just entered. At this part, the buildings were no more than a few stories tall and more closely resembled the villages they'd passed through on their way here. They were all similarly built with some manner of stone and nature-shaping abilities, with the occasional deviation for certain businesses. They were all unique in the way the living parts of the structures grew, however, making each building feel different and full of character.

As they wound their way through the streets, they passed cafés and restaurants, people sitting outside in the pleasant warmth of the afternoon sun eating, drinking, and laughing. Riding past one of the many parks, Lukas felt like it was more of a wildlife preserve than anything, considering its size, but there were neatly made paths and benches throughout. There were even some animals living in the parks as well, though none had a level.

Lukas was surprised to see how uncongested and lacking in traffic the roads were, giving everyone plenty of room to travel freely. He assumed that would change deeper in the city, but out here it was rather peaceful. He found that everyone seemed to be relaxed and laid-back, as though there wasn't a care in the world.

Now that they had finally made it to the city, Lukas just wanted to jump off the wagon and sightsee, looking for the answers to all his questions. He wanted to find a library and tear through all the books available until he knew everything, but he held off, not sure what to do about Lyric. He didn't want to just leave the man—that didn't seem right—but also didn't want to follow him around endlessly. Lukas was just too awkward to talk to the man about it.

Before Lukas could build up the courage to say something, Lyric directed the marel to take them down a side road that ran behind a bunch of businesses. Lukas was about to ask why they had stopped when a door opened nearby and a dazzling elf woman stepped out.

She had silky chestnut hair tied back in a ponytail and warm brown eyes, "Lyric!" she beamed, "How was the trip, my love?"

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