Legacy of the Tarot (Laoyon)

The wooden stairs creaked under their boots as Arden, Leigh, and Dominic ascended, leaving behind the dirt roads of their journey. As they stepped onto the Grand Porch, the view that unfolded before them was nothing short of breathtaking.

From this high vantage point, they could see Elysia's Stables below, the very path they had traveled, and far in the distance—the Cursed Wyvern Mountain, its peak still cloaked in lingering mist. The elevated city of Veyne stretched before them, built on sturdy platforms and stone terraces, rising above the swampy natural ground that surrounded it.

Arden took a deep breath, stretching his arms before his sharp gaze locked onto something far at the horizon. He leaned forward slightly, his grin widening. In the distance, beyond the rolling plains and dense forests, moved colossal humanoid figures—towering over the treetops, their massive forms cutting through the landscape like living titans. Arden's grin stretched even wider, his excitement practically radiating.

Leigh noticed immediately. "You absolute battle maniac," she muttered, shooting Arden a tired look as she followed his gaze.

Arden didn't even try to deny it. "You see the size of those guys? I bet they pack a mean punch."

Dominic, however, had stopped beside them, his expression shifting as he focused on something else. He tilted his head slightly, fingers tightening around Arcane Magnus.

"Chaos Energy, huh?" His lips curled into an amused grin.

Leigh sighed, rubbing her temples. "You guys are impossible."

Dominic turned to her, feigning innocence. "What?"

Leigh just shook her head and started toward the gate.

Under the massive stone archway, a sturdy steel gate hung above, its thick iron bars gleaming in the midday sun. The gate entrance stood open, flanked by two imposing watchtowers that loomed over the path like silent sentinels.

Between these twin towers, a well-groomed man clad in reinforced leather armor stood at attention. His posture was rigid, disciplined, his presence more akin to a seasoned knight than a mere city guard. The crest on his chestplate bore the sigil of the Merchant Council, a reminder of who truly ruled this city—not kings or warriors, but those who controlled its wealth.

As the trio approached, the man's gaze sharpened, scanning them with the precise, assessing look of a veteran who had seen his fair share of troublemakers.

Then, in a voice that carried the weight of authority, he boomed:

"LONG LIVE THE KING! Welcome, Lady and—"

He paused slightly as he looked at Arden and Dominic, eyeing them up and down with mild skepticism before finishing:

"—Gentlemen?"

Dominic frowned, clearly unamused.

Arden, however, grinned, entirely too entertained by the hesitation. "Why the doubt, gatekeeper? You don't think we look like gentlemen?"

The man cleared his throat and ignored the question, maintaining his disciplined stance.

"My name is Glenn, and I am the Gatekeeper of the Southeast Entrance of Veyne." His tone was flat, professional, but there was a flicker of dry amusement in his eyes. "Before you enter, you must register. You are not residents, after all."

Leigh, ever the diplomat, stepped forward. "What does registration involve?"

Glenn motioned to a sturdy wooden desk positioned just inside the gate, where a thick ledger lay open, filled with neatly written names. He flipped to a blank page.

"Names, purpose of visit, and expected duration of stay."

Dominic crossed his arms. "Isn't this supposed to be a free trade city?"

Glenn's lips twitched into something that wasn't quite a smirk. "Oh, it is. But let's just say the Council likes to keep track of who walks in and out of their profits—I mean, their city."

Arden leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "So, what if I just wrote 'traveler' under purpose? That work?"

Glenn let out a short breath, half amusement, half exasperation. "Sure. But if you cause trouble, that 'traveler' title won't save you from the fines."

Dominic grabbed the quill first, scrawling his name quickly before passing the ledger to Leigh. She signed neatly, then handed it to Arden, who scratched something down carelessly before sliding it back to Glenn without even looking.

Glenn glanced at Arden's writing. His expression went blank.

"Did you just sign it 'Awesome Traveler'?" Glenn asked, deadpan.

Leigh turned her head so fast, she nearly whipped Arden in the face. "Arden! Write your real name!"

Arden chuckled, flipping the book back and lazily fixing it. Barely.

Glenn let out a slow sigh, then stamped the page. "Fine. Welcome to Veyne. But if someone calls for 'Awesome Traveler' at the city gates later, don't come crying to me."

As they stepped past the gate, Leigh turned back. "Since we're new here, can you give us directions?" she asked, her voice composed and polite.

Glenn, still standing tall in his watchful stance, gave a small nod. His expression didn't change as he slipped into what was clearly a well-rehearsed city guide speech, his tone steady and practiced.

"The Harbour is to the north." His voice carried over the steady hum of the city.

"Trade ships arrive daily, bringing goods from across Laoyon. You'll find fishmongers, spice merchants, and rare imports from distant lands."

Arden's eyes lit up with curiosity, no doubt already imagining what kind of exotic wares he could barter for—or which vendors might be fun to annoy.

"The Weapon Market is to the south," Glenn continued, his sharp gaze briefly flickering to Arden as if he already sensed where his interests lay.

"Blades, bows, and armor—anything a warrior needs, if you can afford it. But don't get swindled; some sellers disguise poor craft as legendary steel. Best find a blacksmith with a reputation."

Arden grinned, nudging Dominic. "Sounds like we're gonna have to test some 'legendary steel' on a few merchants."

Dominic smirked. "Try not to get banned from the market on our first day."

Glenn acted as if he hadn't heard that and carried on.

"The General Market is to the west."

"Food, potions, supplies—everyday essentials. The merchants there are friendlier, but keep your coin purse close. Pickpockets thrive in crowded places."

Leigh sighed. "Great. More thieves to deal with."

Dominic shrugged. "It's a merchant city. I'd be surprised if there weren't pickpockets."

"The Bank is to the east," Glenn continued, his tone as unwavering as ever.

"If you value your wealth, store it safely. The Merchant Council protects the vaults, but don't expect charity—safekeeping comes at a price."

Leigh glanced at Arden. "We should deposit some of our earnings."

Arden raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were already in charge of the budget?"

Leigh crossed her arms. "I am. But I don't trust you not to accidentally spend our funds on some 'amazing deal' that turns out to be a scam."

Arden gasped dramatically. "How dare you assume I'd fall for that? I'm a master negotiator."

Glenn exhaled slowly, clearly regretting ever engaging in conversation. He pushed forward.

"You will find other shops scattered throughout the city."

"Alchemists, tailors, artifact dealers… whatever you need, someone sells it—for the right price."

Leigh nodded. "Good to know."

Finally, Glenn gestured toward the center of the city. "And at the heart of Veyne is the Star Rock Cafe."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "A cafe?"

Glenn gave the faintest of smirks. "Don't be fooled by the name. It's a tavern, a trading hub, and an information broker's paradise." He paused. "But a word of caution—don't ask the wrong questions unless you want trouble."

Arden cracked his knuckles, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Sounds like our kind of place."

Leigh gave him a warning look. "Don't start any fights."

Arden grinned. "I won't start any… but I can't promise I won't finish them."

Dominic chuckled, shaking his head as they turned toward the lively streets of Veyne, ready to begin their exploration.

Behind them, Glenn let out a slow sigh, muttering under his breath.

"Another day, another handful of troublemakers."