Morning sunlight illuminated Noah's Personal Dimension.
Inside his mansion, Noah was sitting in the dining hall, looking through a detailed map of the Valtherion Kingdom.
The map displayed seven major territories, dozens of cities, hundreds of villages, and several unexplored regions.
His attention was focused on the royal capital.
AURELION — ROYAL CAPITAL
Population: Approximately 4.2 Million.
Location: Central Territory of Valtherion.
Government: Absolute Monarchy.
Current Ruler: King Edric Valtherion.
Major Institutions:
- Royal Palace.
- Royal Mage Academy.
- Royal Adventurers Headquarters.
- Imperial Merchant Exchange.
- Royal Auction House.
- Noble District.
- Grand Magical Research Institute.
Noah examined the map.
"Four million people. That's quite a city."
Silverbrook was relatively small compared to the capital. Aurelion was one of the largest human cities in the kingdom, with extensive trade networks connecting it to neighboring nations.
Noah closed the map.
"Looks like a good place to explore."
He stood up and walked outside.
Archivist-07 was floating near the entrance.
"Master, your journey destination?"
"Aurelion. I'll probably be away for several days."
"Would you like me to prepare additional supplies?"
"No need. I have everything."
"Understood. The Personal Dimension's monitoring network is functioning normally. Research Laboratory operations are also stable."
Noah nodded.
"Keep working on the ancient technology records. Especially the dimensional transportation blueprints."
"Understood."
Noah opened a golden portal and stepped through.
Northern Valtherion — Main Trade Road
He emerged near the outskirts of Ashbourne.
The morning sky was clear, and the surrounding fields were filled with workers.
Noah checked the map.
Aurelion was approximately 430 kilometers from his current position.
He could cover the distance using his spatial abilities, but he wanted to experience the journey.
"Let's take it slowly."
He began walking along the main trade road.
The road was considerably wider than the paths around Silverbrook. Merchant caravans travelled in both directions, carrying goods between major settlements.
Some wagons transported weapons and armor, others carried magical crystals, textiles, agricultural products, and luxury goods.
Noah encountered several adventurers along the way.
His horns and golden eyes attracted attention, but most people simply moved aside respectfully.
A few whispered among themselves.
"Is that really a dragon?"
"Look at his horns. They don't look like ordinary beastkin features."
"I heard dragons haven't appeared in the kingdom for centuries."
Noah ignored the conversations.
He wasn't particularly interested in explaining his existence to every curious traveler.
First Day — Trade Route
By afternoon, Noah reached a prosperous town called Brookhaven.
Unlike Silverbrook, Brookhaven was surrounded by tall stone walls and contained several large commercial buildings.
It served as an important trading stop between the northern territories and the royal capital.
Noah entered through the main gate.
The guards immediately noticed his appearance.
One of them stepped forward.
"Welcome to Brookhaven. Are you visiting for business or travel?"
"Just passing through."
The guard nodded.
"Then welcome. The main marketplace is straight ahead."
Noah entered.
Brookhaven was lively.
Several large merchant houses occupied the central streets, and magical carriages moved between important districts.
Noah noticed something particularly interesting.
A transportation station.
It contained several large enchanted carriages powered by mana crystals.
A sign displayed destinations and fares.
BROOKHAVEN MAGICAL TRANSPORT STATION
- Aurelion — 18 Gold Coins.
- Silverbrook — 6 Gold Coins.
- Northwatch — 12 Gold Coins.
- Elarian Border — 35 Gold Coins.
Noah examined the station.
"Magical public transportation. That's convenient."
He wasn't planning to use it, but it gave him a better understanding of the kingdom's development.
He continued through the marketplace.
There were shops selling enchanted clothing, jewelry, magical tools, weapons, potions, and rare books.
He entered a clothing establishment called Silver Thread.
Inside, several luxurious outfits were displayed.
A human merchant approached him.
"Welcome, esteemed customer. Looking for something particular?"
Noah glanced at the clothes.
"Show me your finest travel clothing."
The merchant presented several outfits made from enchanted fabrics.
Noah selected two.
[Purchases]
- Enchanted Black Travel Coat ×1 — 45 Gold Coins.
- Lightweight Dragon-Silk Shirt ×3 — 12 Gold Coins each.
- Reinforced Black Trousers ×3 — 8 Gold Coins each.
- Enchanted Leather Boots ×1 — 25 Gold Coins.
- Weatherproof Travel Cloak ×1 — 10 Gold Coins.
Total: 128 Gold Coins.
The clothing was comfortable, durable, and resistant to ordinary magical damage.
Noah stored the extra outfits inside his ring.
He also purchased a small collection of maps covering the central territories.
After finishing his shopping, he booked a private room at a respectable inn.
The Silver Crown Inn
Private Suite ×1 — 2 Gold Coins per night.
Noah spent the evening reviewing his maps and reading about Aurelion.
The capital was divided into several major districts, each serving a different purpose.
The Royal District housed the palace and government buildings. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
The Noble District contained enormous estates belonging to powerful aristocratic families.
The Merchant District controlled much of the kingdom's trade.
The Adventurers District contained guild headquarters, training facilities, and numerous equipment shops.
The Academy District was home to the Royal Mage Academy and several prestigious educational institutions.
Noah closed the book.
"Definitely worth visiting."
Second Day — Journey Towards Aurelion
Noah left Brookhaven early in the morning.
The road gradually became more developed as he travelled south.
Large stone bridges crossed rivers, magical street lamps stood along important sections, and several watchtowers protected the trade routes.
He passed through two smaller settlements and encountered another merchant caravan.
By evening, he reached a large fortified checkpoint.
Beyond it, the central territory of Valtherion stretched towards the horizon.
The guards inspected passing wagons and adventurers.
When Noah approached, one of the officers noticed his horns.
"Welcome, traveler. May I ask your destination?"
"Aurelion."
The officer looked surprised.
"Then you're on the correct road. The capital is approximately 120 kilometers ahead."
He paused.
"Are you travelling alone?"
"Yes."
The officer nodded.
"Safe travels. The main road is well protected, but there are still dangerous creatures in the surrounding forests."
Noah thanked him and continued.
He could have reached Aurelion that evening by using his spatial abilities, but decided to spend another night travelling.
He wanted to see more of the kingdom.
Third Day — Arrival at Aurelion
The enormous walls of Aurelion finally appeared in the distance.
Noah stopped on a hill overlooking the city.
For a moment, he simply looked.
The capital was magnificent.
Massive white stone walls surrounded the enormous city. Tall towers rose above the buildings, while several magical barriers shimmered faintly around the outer districts.
At the center stood a gigantic royal palace with golden rooftops and multiple towers.
Beyond the palace, enormous buildings, academies, temples, and merchant complexes stretched across the landscape.
The city was so large that Noah couldn't see its complete boundaries from where he stood.
A river passed through its eastern district, connecting the capital to several important trade routes.
Magical carriages moved along the main roads, and flying transport platforms could be seen above certain commercial buildings.
Noah smiled.
"Now this is a proper city."
[System Notification]
[New Major Location Discovered!]
Location: Aurelion.
Classification: Royal Capital.
Population: Approximately 4.2 Million.
Mission Available: Explore the Royal Capital.
Objectives:
- Visit three major city districts.
- Discover one important institution.
- Acquire information about a new region.
Rewards:
- Evolution Points ×5,000.
- System Gold Coins ×100,000.
- Random Reward Chest ×1.
Noah accepted the mission.
He walked towards the main entrance.
Aurelion — Southern Gate
The entrance was considerably more impressive than Silverbrook's gates.
Two enormous towers stood on either side of the road, and dozens of guards managed the incoming traffic.
Several merchant caravans waited in designated lanes.
Noah approached the checkpoint.
A guard wearing silver armor stepped forward.
"Welcome to Aurelion. Please state your name and purpose of visit."
"Noah. I'm here to explore the capital."
The guard glanced at his horns.
His expression became slightly more serious.
"May I confirm your race?"
"Dragon."
The guard paused.
A nearby officer overheard the conversation and approached.
"Did you say dragon?"
Noah nodded.
The officer examined his horns and eyes.
Unlike ordinary travelers, the officer appeared familiar with draconic characteristics.
"Your features certainly indicate a dragon. We haven't received a verified dragon visitor in the capital for a very long time."
He didn't demand further proof.
Instead, he respectfully returned Noah's travel document after recording his information.
"Welcome to Aurelion, Sir Noah. Please enjoy your stay."
Noah nodded and entered.
The Royal Capital — Merchant District
The moment he entered the city, the difference became obvious.
Aurelion was on an entirely different scale.
Wide streets were filled with people, magical carriages, merchants, adventurers, nobles, and travelers from different races.
Humans were the majority, but Noah also spotted elves, dwarves, beastkin, and several other races.
Some wore luxurious clothing, while others carried weapons and equipment.
The city was full of life.
Noah walked towards the Merchant District.
Enormous buildings displayed the symbols of major trading organizations.
He noticed the Golden Road Trading Company, the same organization Gareth had mentioned during his caravan journey.
Its headquarters occupied an entire building.
There were also banks, auction brokers, magical equipment stores, and international trading companies.
Noah entered a large commercial complex called the Grand Exchange.
Inside, hundreds of merchants conducted business.
Several floors were dedicated to different categories of goods.
First Floor: Common Merchandise.
Second Floor: Magical Materials.
Third Floor: Enchanted Equipment.
Fourth Floor: Rare Artifacts.
Fifth Floor: International Trade Offices.
Noah spent some time exploring.
He purchased several useful items.
[Purchases — Grand Exchange]
- Magical Communication Crystal ×2 — 20 Gold Coins each.
- Universal Translation Crystal ×1 — 75 Gold Coins.
- Portable Identification Lens ×1 — 18 Gold Coins.
- Enchanted Travel Bag ×1 — 12 Gold Coins.
The Universal Translation Crystal could translate several ancient and foreign languages, making it particularly useful for future exploration.
Noah also visited a rare-materials shop.
He examined several magical ores, elemental crystals, and monster cores.
Nothing surpassed the resources he already possessed, so he decided not to purchase anything.
The Adventurers District
After leaving the Merchant District, Noah headed towards the Adventurers District.
The headquarters of the Royal Adventurers Association was located here.
It was an enormous building with multiple training grounds and several administrative wings.
Adventurers from all over the kingdom gathered here.
Some wore expensive enchanted armor, while others carried weapons covered in magical inscriptions.
Noah entered the main hall.
A large board displayed regional quests and monster extermination requests.
He noticed several high-ranking missions.
- A-Rank: Investigate a corrupted forest in the Western Territory.
- S-Rank: Eliminate a dangerous magical beast near the Northern Mountains.
- S-Rank: Investigate unexplained magical disturbances near an ancient ruin.
Noah casually examined the board.
There were also special requests from noble families, merchant organizations, and royal institutions.
He wasn't interested in accepting a mission yet.
Instead, he approached an information counter.
"Excuse me. I'm looking for information about unexplored regions and ancient ruins."
The employee nodded.
"Certainly. We maintain regional exploration records. Some information is available publicly, while restricted reports require higher authorization."
"Show me what's available."
The employee handed him a catalogue.
Noah began reading.
Several locations immediately caught his attention.
Known Unexplored Regions
1. The Abyssal Verdant Expanse — Western Continent.
2. The Frozen Crown Mountains — Northern Territory.
3. The Sunken Kingdom of Nereus — Southern Ocean.
4. The Shattered Sky Islands — Eastern Territory.
5. The Eternal Dusk Forest — Border Region of the Elven Kingdom.
The descriptions were brief, but each location sounded interesting.
Noah purchased a detailed exploration record for 15 Gold Coins.
He stored it inside his ring.
[System Notification]
[Mission Progress Updated]
Major Location Discovered: Aurelion.
Major District Visited: Merchant District.
Major Institution Discovered: Royal Adventurers Association.
Progress: 3/3.
[Mission Completed!]
[Rewards Received]
- Evolution Points ×5,000.
- System Gold Coins ×100,000.
- Random Reward Chest ×1.
[Updated Resources]
Evolution Points: 92,500.
System Gold Coins: 1,702,000.
Noah summoned the chest.
[Random Reward Chest Opened!]
Rewards:
- Advanced Spatial Movement Skill Manual ×1 — Legendary.
- Supreme Mana Recovery Potion ×10 Bottles.
- Ancient Gold Coins ×500.
Noah examined the skill manual.
[Advanced Spatial Movement]
Grade: Legendary.
Description: A refined spatial movement technique that allows the user to cross short and medium distances through controlled spatial displacement.
Special Properties:
- Reduced energy consumption.
- Improved movement precision.
- Multiple consecutive spatial steps.
- Better spatial stability.
Noah stored the manual.
He would study it later in his Personal Dimension.
He looked around the bustling Adventurers District.
Aurelion was full of interesting places, and he had barely explored a fraction of the city.
There was still the Royal District, the Noble District, the Academy District, and the enormous auction house.
Noah smiled.
"Looks like I'll be staying here for a while."
He left the association building and headed towards a luxurious hotel he had noticed earlier.
Its name was The Golden Palace Hotel.
The building had twelve floors, enchanted lighting, a spacious reception hall, and several magical elevators.
Noah approached the reception desk.
"I'd like to reserve a private suite."
The receptionist smiled professionally.
"Certainly, sir. Our premium private suite costs 15 Gold Coins per night. It includes private accommodation, room service, security protection, and access to our rooftop garden."
"Book it for three nights."
[Reservation Confirmed]
Golden Palace Hotel — Premium Suite ×1.
Duration: 3 Nights.
Total: 45 Gold Coins.
Noah received a magical room key and entered the elevator.
His suite was spacious and beautifully furnished, with a large bedroom, private sitting room, bathroom, and balcony overlooking the city.
He walked onto the balcony.
Aurelion stretched out beneath the evening sky.
Thousands of lights illuminated the streets, while magical transport platforms moved between buildings.
Noah rested his arms on the balcony railing.
He had finally reached the royal capital.
And this was only the beginning of his journey through Aetherion.
He looked towards the enormous royal palace in the distance.
"Tomorrow, let's see what the Royal District looks like."
End of Chapter 15