Abandes

Order Era, Year 1137.

Aina sat in Xia Lun’s lap. "Xia Lun, are you thirsty? Would you like some water?"

Xia Lun nodded. "A little, thank you."

Without hesitation, Aina took a sip of water herself, then pressed her soft lips against his, passing the water directly into his mouth.

Fortunately, Mo Lini was inside the carriage and couldn’t see what was happening outside.

"How was it? Refreshing?" Aina asked, her eyes brimming with amusement.

Xia Lun smacked his lips, savoring the taste. "Cool and sweet. Delicious."

Aina pouted. Teasing Xia Lun wasn’t as fun anymore—he didn’t even blush now.

Inside the carriage, Liyana’s expression twisted in discomfort, her toes curling as if trying to dig into the wooden floor.

Why did having sharp hearing have to come with such torment?

The carriage’s soundproofing barrier was one-way—outside noises could be heard inside, but not the other way around. Naturally, this was so Xia Lun and Aina could remain aware of their surroundings while inside.

"Liyana, are you alright?" Mo Lini asked, holding a plank position.

"It’s nothing. Next time we travel, I’m definitely bringing Delyan along," Liyana grumbled.

Musen wasn’t idle either, busy correcting Mo Lini’s form. "Miss Mo Lini, your body should be straight, hips lowered, and core tightened."

"Ugh—but I’m already exhausted."

"Blob, blob, blob—"

A slime bounced up to Mo Lini.

The adorable Mo Lini looked at the equally adorable slime, touched. "Are you here to cheer me on? I’ll do my best!"

"Blob—"

The slime hopped onto Mo Lini’s head.

Ever since Aina had fed it a small piece of ice crystal, the slime had taken on a pleasantly cool temperature, making it soothing to touch.

The ice crystal remained inside the slime’s translucent blue body, clearly visible.

"By the way, Mo Lini, are you going to give this slime a name?" Liyana asked idly. "You’ve decided to keep it as a pet, right?"

"A… a name?"

Mo Lini slowly lowered herself onto the seat and plucked the slime from her head.

Even the drake pulling their carriage didn’t have a name—Aina had said they’d replace it eventually, and naming it would only make them grow attached.

"Slimes can live quite a long time, actually. If you’re serious about keeping it, giving it a name wouldn’t hurt," Liyana remarked.

After a moment of thought, Mo Lini nodded seriously.

"Speaking of names…" Liyana suddenly grinned mischievously and opened the carriage door, calling out, "Xia Lun, Mo Lini wants you to name her slime!"

"Oh? A name?" Xia Lun blinked in surprise.

He was self-aware enough to know his naming sense wasn’t the best.

But since Liyana had asked, he didn’t hold back. "How about… Little Blue?"

Liyana blinked.

For a slime, such a simple name was unexpectedly fitting.

"Little Blue… you have a name now." Mo Lini playfully poked the slime in her arms, and it obligingly bounced a couple of times.

Xia Lun was taken aback—this was the first time one of his names had actually been accepted.

The drake continued pulling the carriage, blissfully unaware.

At some point, the dusty dirt road had given way to smooth, brick-paved streets.

Ahead, the majestic city gradually came into view.

They had arrived—the Holy City of Abandes.

From a distance, the city was a solemn expanse of pale gray, its towering structures exuding an air of dignity and grandeur.

From above, the streets were ingeniously laid out in the shape of a massive holy emblem. Walking through them subtly strengthened one’s faith in the Goddess’ Church—not through magic, but psychological suggestion.

For outsiders, the effect was minimal in the short term. But for the city’s residents, over time, it fostered an unshakable sense of belonging to the Church.

Perhaps due to the city’s sheer size and the width of its streets, the foot traffic seemed sparse, lending the place an air of quiet desolation.

Even so, the drake moved freely, unhindered by the open space.

Mo Lini craned her neck left and right, fascinated by the architecture. The thick-walled, flat-roofed buildings were unlike anything she’d seen elsewhere, and they practically begged to be sprinted across.

"Still the same as ever," Liyana muttered. Having lived so long and traveled so widely, she’d visited this place before.

Musen’s expression was complicated. Before Lessa had taken him to Nameless Village, this city had been his home for the longest stretch of his life.

A city of Abandes’ scale naturally had an Adventurers’ Guild.

Almost instinctively, Xia Lun found himself standing before its doors.

Other factions struggled to gain a foothold here, and the Guild was no exception—its lone building saw little traffic, its halls eerily quiet.

It was only after entering that Xia Lun remembered he no longer held an adventurer’s license.

"Welcome! How may I assist you?" The receptionist, a bright-eyed girl, regarded him eagerly.

Perhaps due to the lack of visitors, she was extra attentive to the rare guest—if only to justify her decent salary.

She wore a small brown beret and a plaid skirt, her round cheeks dimpling when she smiled. Fair-skinned and pleasant-faced, she wasn’t strikingly beautiful but had an instantly likable charm.

"Uh…"

Xia Lun hesitated, unsure if his Oliphant Academy student ID would work here.

He glanced at Liyana—she, at least, was still an adventurer. He recalled her mentioning she’d sustained herself through commissions over the centuries.

"We’d like to stay here."

Aina handed over an emblem.

The girl’s eyes widened as she took it. "Dawn’s Wings! You’re members of Dawn’s Wings?"

Aina nodded. "Can you arrange accommodations?"

"O-of course! Right this way—our finest rooms are available, though I’ve kept them all clean regardless." The girl beamed. "Oh, I’m Maya. If you need anything, just call for me."

"Even at night?" Liyana teased, her tone suggestive.

"Eh?" Maya froze.

Smack! Without hesitation, Mo Lini delivered a crisp slap to Liyana’s backside.

"Ah, sorry, just joking," Liyana apologized sheepishly.

Maya blinked.

These were… interesting guests.