NOVEL NEXT Chapter 71: Tournament [3]
As the wagon came to a halt near the gates of the capital.
Kai hopped off with practiced ease.
Elina followed right after, nearly tumbling over her tiny boots in excitement.
The moment their feet touched the road, both Kai and Elina froze.
Heads tilted up, eyes wide.
It was… enormous.
Massive walls stretched high into the sky, adorned with carvings of mythical beasts and ancient battles.
Towering spires peeked above the buildings, casting long shadows.
It was nothing like Ashenford. And Bramwell looked like a village in comparison.
"Woaaah!" Elina gasped, her eyes sparkling.
"It's so… big!"
Lina nodded beside her, "And lively."
The streets bustled with people.
Vendors were shouting about their fresh bread, rare items, durable weapons, performers juggling flaming torches, armored tamers showing off beasts to curious kids.
"And look! That place sells rainbow bread! Rainbow! Can we—can we—?"
"I want it too," Lina said, stepping forward.
Kai exhaled slowly, taking it all in.
"First, we find a place to stay."
Both girls paused.
"And after that," he added, "we'll register for the tournament."
"…Then we explore."
Elina groaned softly, tugging on his sleeve. "But it'll get dark!"
"We'll be faster," Kai replied, ruffling her hair lightly.
Lina giggled. "He's right. Let's get the boring stuff done."
But no sooner had he turned to lead the way, both girls casually drifted toward the stalls lining the main road.
Kai stopped. "I said we'll find a place first."
"…We'll," Lina replied innocently, picking up a sweet bun from a stand.
"We're just—looking," Elina added with a mouth already full.
Kai sighed, but there was a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He shook his head. "Five minutes. Then we move."
"Deal!" they both chimed.
And so, with half-hearted discipline and wide-eyed wonder, they strolled through the streets of the capital like excited birds, eyes sparkling as they watched a fire-breather perform near a fountain square.
Vex, trotting beside Kai, seemed unimpressed by the capital.
Puff, on the other hand, sat on Lina's shoulder.
The lively rhythm of drums and laughter filled the air, and the capital's charm wrapped around them like a warm breeze.
Elina squealed in delight as a clown conjured butterflies from colored scarves, while Lina chuckled beside her, biting into a dumpling.
But Kai?
He wasn't smiling.
His gaze remained sharp beneath his calm exterior.
He walked a few steps behind the girls, casually blending into the crowd—but always watching.
He had felt it since the merchant square: the faint prickle on the back of his neck, the almost imperceptible shift in the air.
Someone was trailing them.
Kai didn't react. Didn't rush.
There was no need.
Whoever they were, they weren't amateurs. But they weren't stronger than him either.
If anything, his eyes narrowed with faint amusement.
[<Aren't you gonna do something about them?>]
'Let them think they're hidden.'
He let the girls wander.
They didn't notice the tension in his shoulders, the way Vex's ears twitched every time the air behind them shifted.
Eventually, they reached the grand plaza near the city center, where a long line of tamers was coiled outside a massive stone hall.
"I'll go get registered," he said to Lina.
She gave a small wave, too busy keeping Elina from trying to climb a decorative lamp post.
The hall buzzed with energy. Beasts of all shapes and sizes stood proudly beside their tamers, and officials in navy-blue robes moved about swiftly.
Kai stepped up, presented his token and information, and completed the registration.
When he returned, Lina and Elina were sharing a bright blue candy stick, both of their mouths already stained like toddlers.
Kai gave Lina a glance.
"You're not registering?"
Lina shook her head, smiling as Elina tugged at her sleeve, excitedly pointing at a pair of street dancers.
"I think I'll pass. I'd rather spend time with her than battle."
Elina nodded, mouth full of sugar.
Kai just nodded once, as if that made perfect sense.
He led them through the alleys away from the main road, away from watching eyes. The feeling of being tailed hadn't disappeared.
Soon, they reached a quiet, decent-looking tavern—not too flashy, not too run-down.
Kai stepped inside, arranged for two modest rooms and paid in advance till the tournament.
As he signed the logbook, he glanced out the window, feeling the gaze from the shadows flicker—and vanish.
After settling into the quiet tavern. Lina suggested to visit a shop to gather some supplies for the beasts.
Elina bounced up to him, eyes wide with excitement. "Ooh, let's go! I want to see all the cool things!" she squealed, tugging on his sleeve.
"And can Puff get a tiny cloak? Please?" she asked, already imagining little Mossfur cub looking like a tiny traveling knight.
Kai gave a half-smile, ruffling her hair as they stepped back out into the busy streets.
The market was still lively, but the earlier thrill of the capital had settled into a comfortable hum.
They headed to a nearby shop, one marked with a large sign of a glowing beast's paw.
Inside, the shelves were stocked with all sorts of beast-related items—essence stones, food for tamed creatures, potions, and various beast cores for sale.
Elina darted between the aisles, her excitement growing with each new display of colorful potions and exotic items.
Lina, on the other hand, browsed, picking up a few vials of potions for herself.
Kai didn't waste much time.
He quickly gathered what he needed—some potions for quick healing, essence cores to strengthen his beasts, and a few packs of travel food that would keep them sustained during their journey.
He noticed the different rarities of materials available—some standard, but others, rare enough to catch his eye. There was always something new in the capital.
Once they'd finished, they made their way back into the streets, and that familiar feeling of being followed didn't fade.
Kai's instincts were sharper than ever now, but—
He didn't react.
Not yet.
He kept his pace steady, unwilling to give his stalkers the satisfaction of making a move.