Just as Levi had commanded, I continued walking forward without looking back. I moved through the forest first, and soon the trees thinned with each step until I was climbing uphill.

The pain in my ribs pinched at me gruesomely, but I endured it, pressing one hand against my side as I pushed forward.

The pale light of the moon cascaded down in a flood of silver now. The night, if it could even be called that, was unnervingly bright — almost as if dawn was approaching. Or was it? I wouldn't know since I'd been stuck in a cave all the while.

As I climbed toward the hill's crest, the ocean revealed itself beyond the cliff's edge. It was endless, spanning across the entire seascape to meet the grey horizon far away.

This was the Aetheris Kingdom's great port, a hub of foreign trade… and most likely my ticket out of all this mess.

I could see the outlines of several ships, each one the size of a plane. They were built with thoughtfulness and resourcefulness that could be compared to the cargo vessels of Earth, except these things looked more like terrifying beasts than mechanical constructs. Massive wooden hulls curved like ribcages, their masts jutting skyward like spines.

Their method of building in this fantasy world — I didn't know whether to call it crude or actually terrifying. The fact that they could birth something so massive was proof of the frightening power that came from collective minds working in concert.

It made me realize something uncomfortable. Earth was not special. And humans were most likely not either… because I had to take into account other races too.

Just then, I tore my gaze away from the water as a loud cry erupted ahead of me. I pressed forward, climbing the stone steps with what confidence I could muster.

"Get out of here, you wild animal! No different from a spirit beast!" The man ahead shouted and drove his boot into another person's stomach, sending the latter staggering back before he rolled across the dirt.

There were distinct features I noticed about the young man being kicked.

He had ashen hair tousled like a halo framing his face. Two foxish ears extended from that hair, white but fading to deep grey toward their tips. As I passed, he was just getting up and glanced at me. His eyes were yellow — dangerous and subdued at the same time, like a predator that had learned the cost of fighting back. A metallic collar gleamed around his neck.

'Oh? Beastkin!'

I tried not to look at him too long. I didn't want a situation where he'd start asking for my help. I was in no position to help anyone right now.

As I reached the massive arching gate of Faeren Heights, the naval gatemen turned their attention to me. The one who had just kicked away the Vulpine Beastkin — Feralis, as they were called in the native tongue — barked at me, almost transferring his aggression as I arrived.

"Yes?! Identification."

I gave him no irritated expression, nothing to throw him over the edge. I simply dipped my hand into my clothes and brought out the wooden token Levi had given me.

"The Radiant Judge help me, I've had enough of these people trying to sell themselves into slavery just to travel across the sea."

He mumbled with an irritated tone as he inspected my token, turning it over in his fingers. Then he returned it and looked at me properly for the first time.

"Welcome to Seacliffe." His voice had regained some calm. He stepped aside, letting me pass.

There were other guards, all of them donned in navy blue uniforms with lightweight silver armor and open-faced helmets.

Four of them stood at opposite angles of the gate, each holding a halberd from which the blue flag of the Kingdom hung limp in the still air.

They watched me carefully as I walked through. One even squinted his eyes, and for that moment, I thought it was over.

"Please! Let me in! I swear I'm a slave!!" The beastkin's scream stole their attention away.

"You spirit-fucked nonentity! Ah, Eternal Sun forgive me! You just fucking broke my three weeks of no curses, you shit-faced animal! Get out of my sight before I fuck your face!"

I could hear stomping and the dull thud of flesh meeting stone as I moved further into the city, passing rows of settlement buildings.

Faeren Heights was more warehouse than residence — large shops and storage facilities dominated the landscape, and the grind of industrial machinery nearly drowned out the chatter of people.

There were several inns and taverns. In fact, they dominated the businesses here.

And a lot of beastkin were on display in the streets.

'Shit…'

Perhaps that was the most bitter part of walking down this refined hub of activity. Even in the night, people in prestigious attire moved back and forth, different smells wafting across the air — roasted meat, salt from the harbor, something perfumed that couldn't quite mask the underlying stench.

But to the sides of the streets were beastkins. Vulpines, which were fox-kin. Lupines and Felines too — wolf-kin and cat-kin.

All of them wore metal collars around their necks, linked to chains that bound their hands and legs. Their gazes were hollow, their faces mapped with wounds both fresh and scarred over. Some of them were so thin that my mouth went bitter just looking at them.

"Here, here! Customer, you can purchase a very loyal wolf-kin Feralis here for just ten silver talents, hmm? This one might not have a bloodline ability, but he's skilled! Very fast!"

The voice came from somewhere to my left.

'Ten. Isn't that like half the average earnings for a mundane soldier?'

"People, come! I have all sorts of potions ranging from very strong aphrodisiacs to love potions — tested and trusted! I'm in love with my maid because of this thing right here. I tell you! Oh, customer, you want to give it a try? Works like magic, really!"

He wasn't talking to me, but my feet might have slowed for a moment.

'An aphrodisiac could make the work so much easier…'

But there were certain things I didn't know. Kassie was a spirit — would something like this even work on her? Did she even eat? Poop? Digest anything?

'Spirits don't have to do all that, right?'

Because it would be a shame to find out those two had gone and messed up a corner in my Nave while I was away. I shook my head, pressing forward.

Only to realize a moment later that I actually had no direction.

'...'

I was lost in the market.

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