Aurelion — Golden Palace Hotel
The morning began with a gentle knock on Noah's suite door.
"Sir, your morning service."
Noah opened the door.
An employee stood outside with a small cart containing his requested breakfast and a newspaper.
"Good morning, sir."
"Morning. Thank you."
Noah took the cart inside.
He sat near the window and opened the newspaper.
THE AURELION DAILY
Today's Headlines:
- Royal Council Announces New Road Development Projects.
- Northern Territory Reports Increased Monster Activity.
- Golden Road Trading Company Opens New Commercial Route.
- Royal Mage Academy Begins Its Annual Research Exhibition Preparations.
- Valtherion's Royal Festival Scheduled for Next Month.
Noah read the headlines while eating.
The northern territory's monster activity caught his attention, but it wasn't anything particularly unusual. Frontier settlements frequently reported monster movements.
He folded the newspaper.
"Next month, there's a festival."
He hadn't decided how long he would stay in Aurelion, but a major royal festival sounded worth experiencing.
He finished breakfast and prepared to leave.
The Royal District
The Royal District was located near the center of Aurelion.
It contained government offices, public squares, royal administrative buildings, ceremonial halls, and the enormous royal palace.
Unlike the Noble District, it wasn't exclusively residential.
Thousands of citizens visited the area every day for official business, employment, trade, and tourism.
Noah entered through the main boulevard.
The first thing he noticed was the architecture.
The buildings were enormous, but they weren't unnecessarily decorated. Most were constructed from pale stone, with golden details and magical lighting.
Several public fountains stood along the road.
The central boulevard was wide enough for multiple carriages to travel side by side.
A magical tram moved along an elevated railway.
Noah stopped to examine it.
A sign displayed the available routes.
AURELION PUBLIC MAGICAL TRANSIT
- Royal District — Merchant District.
- Royal District — Academy District.
- Royal District — Southern Residential District.
- Royal District — Eastern Commercial District.
- Royal District — Northern Gate.
The ticket price was displayed beneath the routes.
Most journeys cost between 5 and 12 Copper Coins.
Noah purchased a ticket and boarded.
Inside, the tram was comfortable and surprisingly quiet.
Passengers sat in rows while a magical crystal above the driver's compartment regulated the movement.
Noah took a seat beside the window.
The tram moved forward.
He watched the streets pass.
A group of schoolchildren boarded at the next station, accompanied by a teacher.
Two merchants discussed a shipment.
An elderly man read a book.
A young couple sat near the rear.
It was an ordinary scene.
Noah smiled slightly.
He had spent much of his journey in forests, caves, ruins, and small settlements.
It was nice to experience a functioning metropolis.
The Royal Fountain Square
He left the tram at the central station.
The Royal Fountain Square was one of Aurelion's most famous public landmarks.
A massive fountain occupied the center, surrounded by statues depicting important figures from Valtherion's history.
Several families walked around the square.
Street performers entertained small crowds, and merchants sold souvenirs.
Noah approached one of the statues.
It depicted King Edric Valtherion's ancestor, King Aldric I, who had united several territories approximately 420 years ago.
A nearby information board described his achievements.
According to the historical account, Aldric had established the modern administrative structure of Valtherion and strengthened the royal military.
Noah read the information.
"Four hundred years isn't particularly old compared to some of the civilizations I've been reading about."
He continued around the square.
A small shop sold miniature statues, decorative maps, and handmade ornaments.
Noah entered.
The shopkeeper greeted him.
"Welcome! Looking for a souvenir?"
"Just browsing."
The shop contained items representing different parts of the kingdom.
There were miniature models of Aurelion's palace, northern mountain landscapes, Silverbrook's old watchtower, and the royal crest.
Noah purchased a small decorative model of the capital.
[Purchase]
Aurelion Royal Capital Model ×1 — 3 Gold Coins.
He placed it inside his ring.
The shopkeeper noticed his horns.
"Are you visiting from another kingdom?"
"Something like that."
"Well, welcome to Aurelion. I hope you enjoy your stay."
"Thank you."
Noah left the shop.
The Royal Botanical Gardens
A short walk from the square was the Royal Botanical Garden.
Unlike the academy's research gardens, this place was open to the public.
It contained plants collected from different territories of Valtherion.
There were ordinary trees, magical flowers, decorative shrubs, and several rare species.
Noah paid the entrance fee of 2 Silver Coins.
Inside, the atmosphere was peaceful.
Small paths passed through beautiful gardens, artificial streams, and shaded seating areas.
Some plants glowed faintly because of their natural mana.
A sign near one section read:
NORTHERN TERRITORY COLLECTION
Plants collected from the Frozen Crown Mountains and surrounding regions.
Noah examined several species.
One small blue flower had petals that released a faint cold mist.
Another plant possessed leaves that changed color according to the surrounding temperature.
He used his system to analyze one of them.
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS]
Plant: Frostbell Flower.
Classification: Uncommon Magical Flora. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Habitat: Cold Regions.
Properties:
- Mild cooling effect.
- Can be used in basic alchemy.
- Suitable for low-grade mana stabilizing mixtures.
Noah nodded.
He already had considerable experience identifying magical resources, but learning about different species was useful.
He continued walking.
Near the central pond, he noticed a small group of children feeding fish.
An elderly gardener was watching them.
One child pointed towards Noah.
"Grandfather, look! His horns!"
The gardener glanced over.
"Don't point at people, young one."
The child lowered his hand.
Noah smiled.
"It's fine."
The gardener nodded apologetically.
"Forgive him. Children are curious."
"No problem."
Noah continued along the path.
He spent almost an hour in the gardens.
The Artisan Quarter
By midday, Noah reached the Artisan Quarter.
It was a district dedicated to traditional crafts and specialized manufacturing.
Unlike the Grand Exchange, the shops here were smaller and often operated by individual craftsmen.
There were blacksmiths, jewelers, leatherworkers, tailors, glassmakers, woodcarvers, and magical engravers.
Noah entered a blacksmith's shop.
The sound of hammering echoed through the building.
A dwarf blacksmith was working behind the counter.
He looked up.
"Looking for weapons?"
"Not today. I'm interested in your craftsmanship."
The dwarf laughed.
"Then you've come to the right place."
He introduced himself as Borin.
Borin had operated his workshop for nearly forty years.
He showed Noah several examples of his work.
Most were ordinary weapons and tools, but a few contained magical enchantments.
Noah examined a beautifully crafted dagger.
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS]
Item: Enchanted Steel Dagger.
Grade: Rare.
Material: Refined Steel, Mana Crystal Dust.
Enchantments:
- Improved Sharpness.
- Minor Mana Conduction.
- Corrosion Resistance.
Noah nodded appreciatively.
"Good workmanship."
Borin smiled proudly.
"I made that one myself."
They spoke briefly about metalworking.
Noah asked about rare materials, and Borin explained that dwarven smiths generally preferred high-quality ores over enchanted metals with unstable properties.
He also mentioned that the Dwarven Mountain Federation maintained some of the finest metalworking traditions in Aetherion.
Noah found the conversation interesting.
Before leaving, he purchased a small tool set.
[Purchase]
- Advanced Portable Repair Tools ×1 Set — 18 Gold Coins.
Contents:
- Precision Hammer ×1.
- Enchanted Pliers ×2.
- Metal Cutting Tool ×1.
- Fine Engraving Needle ×5.
- Portable Grinding Stone ×1.
- Small Repair Kit ×1.
He stored the set.
It could be useful during future exploration.
The Artisan's Street
Noah visited several more shops.
A leatherworker showed him enchanted travel bags.
A jeweler displayed beautiful gemstones.
A glassmaker demonstrated containers capable of preserving delicate magical ingredients.
Noah purchased a few practical items.
[Additional Purchases]
- Reinforced Storage Cases ×5 — 2 Gold Coins each.
- Magical Glass Containers ×12 — 1 Gold Coin each.
- Portable Writing Kit ×1 — 4 Gold Coins.
- Waterproof Travel Notebook ×3 — 2 Gold Coins each.
Total: 28 Gold Coins.
He was gradually building a collection of useful travel equipment.
There was no reason to carry everything manually when his spatial ring could store it.
Lunch at the Merchant District
By early afternoon, Noah had reached the edge of the Merchant District.
He stopped at a comfortable establishment called The Silver Lantern.
It wasn't particularly luxurious, but it was clean and popular among local merchants.
He selected a table near the window.
The waiter approached.
"Welcome, sir. Would you like the menu?"
"Yes, please."
Noah ordered a simple meal and a drink.
While waiting, he observed the customers.
Two merchants were discussing a shipment from the eastern continent.
A pair of adventurers argued about the price of magical equipment.
An elderly couple discussed their grandchildren.
Nobody was paying particular attention to Noah.
He enjoyed the quiet atmosphere.
After finishing his meal, he paid 1 Gold Coin and left.
The Royal Museum
One place Noah had not yet visited was the Royal Museum.
It was located near the western side of the Royal District.
The building displayed historical artifacts, ancient weapons, cultural collections, and objects recovered from different regions.
Noah entered.
The entrance fee was 3 Silver Coins.
A guide welcomed the visitors. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
"Welcome to the Royal Museum. Our current exhibition covers the history of Valtherion and the surrounding territories."
Noah began exploring.
The first hall contained objects from the kingdom's founding period.
There were old coins, royal seals, ceremonial armor, and historical documents.
The second hall displayed artifacts from neighboring civilizations.
He saw elven jewelry, dwarven tools, beastkin ceremonial weapons, and ancient human pottery.
The third hall was dedicated to the Great Dragon Era.
Noah slowed down.
The exhibition contained several dragon-related artifacts.
A display case held a small fossilized claw.
Another contained an old fragment of dragon-scale armor.
There was also a painting depicting several dragons flying above a mountain range.
The information board explained that the artifacts had been recovered from different archaeological sites.
Noah examined the descriptions.
One particular exhibit caught his attention.
Ancient Dragon Inscription Fragment
Origin: Northern Mountain Region.
Estimated Age: Unknown.
Material: Black Stone.
Description: Recovered from an abandoned underground chamber approximately 500 years ago.
The inscription had never been fully translated.
Noah approached the display.
His Ancient Dragon Language Comprehension allowed him to understand the carved symbols through the protective glass.
The inscription read:
"The mountains remember the wings that once crossed the heavens. Beneath the frozen crown, the sleeping halls await the return of the blood."
Noah read it quietly.
The wording resembled the historical records Duke Ashford had provided.
However, it wasn't enough to establish a precise connection.
He took a moment to examine the surrounding information.
The museum's researchers had not identified the exact location where the inscription was originally found.
Noah didn't attempt to obtain it.
It was a public historical artifact, and he had no reason to disturb the exhibition.
He simply noted the reference.
Evening — The Royal District
Noah left the museum as the sky began turning orange.
He walked through the streets instead of taking the magical tram.
The evening crowd was increasing.
Several shops had illuminated their signs, and small street markets were beginning to open.
He stopped at a bookstore and purchased a local collection of travel stories.
Then he continued towards the hotel.
On the way, he passed a public notice board.
A large announcement caught his attention.
ROYAL CAPITAL FESTIVAL
Opening Ceremony: Next Month.
Duration: Seven Days.
Scheduled Activities:
- Magical Fireworks.
- Cultural Performances.
- Royal Market Exhibition.
- Adventurer Competitions.
- Magical Craftsmanship Exhibition.
- Public Music Performances.
- International Merchant Fair.
Noah read the announcement.
"Seven days. That could be fun."
He wasn't sure whether he would still be in Aurelion next month, but he decided not to rule it out.
Personal Dimension — Night
After returning to the hotel, Noah entered his Personal Dimension.
The familiar lake and surrounding mountains greeted him.
Archivist-07 was working inside the research laboratory.
"Welcome back, Master."
"How's everything?"
"Environmental conditions remain stable. The laboratory has completed another stage of analysis on the First Architects fragment."
Noah walked closer.
"Anything important?"
"An additional 3% of the damaged information has been recovered. The fragment appears to be part of a coordinate synchronization device."
"Can it be connected to the transportation gate?"
"Potentially. However, the recovered data is insufficient for direct activation."
Noah nodded.
"Continue the research."
"Understood."
He then walked towards the lake.
He spent some time practicing spatial movement.
His recent training had improved his control, but he still needed to become more precise when using consecutive spatial steps.
He created a small spatial distortion.
One step.
Five meters.
Another step.
Ten meters.
Then he tried a longer displacement.
His body emerged slightly above the ground.
Noah quickly corrected his position.
"Still needs work."
He laughed.
He continued practicing for another thirty minutes before stopping.
[SUPREME DRAGON SYSTEM]
Daily Reward Available.
[Reward Claimed]
- Evolution Points ×2,000.
- System Gold Coins ×35,000.
- Supreme Healing Potion ×2 Bottles.
[Updated Resources]
Evolution Points: 102,000.
System Gold Coins: 1,877,000.
Noah stored the potions.
He had enjoyed the day.
There hadn't been any dramatic discoveries or dangerous encounters, but he had learned more about Aurelion's culture, craftsmanship, history, and ordinary people.
A kingdom wasn't simply its kings, nobles, and armies.
It was also the merchants, artisans, workers, families, students, and travelers who lived within it.
Noah looked across his Personal Dimension.
"Tomorrow, perhaps I'll take a look at the Royal Palace from the outside."
He smiled.
There was still plenty of time.
End of Chapter 21