Aurelion — Morning
For the first time in several days, Noah woke up without thinking about where he should go next.
He spent a little time reading beside the window, then checked the city map.
He had explored the Royal District, Merchant District, and Adventurer District.
However, Aurelion wasn't just a collection of impressive buildings and commercial streets.
Millions of people lived here.
They had homes, workplaces, schools, families, and ordinary routines.
Noah decided to spend the day exploring the residential side of the capital.
He left the Golden Palace Hotel shortly after breakfast.
The Southern Residential District
The southern residential district was different from the wealthier areas near the palace.
Its streets were narrower, buildings were smaller, and shops were often operated by families.
There were bakeries, tailoring shops, repair workshops, small markets, schools, clinics, and public courtyards.
Noah walked along the main street.
A delivery carriage stopped outside a grocery store.
Two workers unloaded wooden crates.
A woman was arranging flowers outside her shop.
Children in school uniforms hurried past while discussing their lessons.
It was a completely ordinary morning.
Noah found himself enjoying it.
He entered a small stationery shop.
The shelves contained notebooks, ink bottles, parchment, writing tools, and magical recording crystals.
The shopkeeper greeted him.
"Good morning. Looking for anything?"
"Do you sell ordinary notebooks?"
"Of course."
The shopkeeper showed him several types.
Noah purchased:
- Blank Writing Notebooks ×10 — 2 Silver Coins each.
- Ink Bottles ×6 — 1 Silver Coin each.
- Writing Quills ×12 — 5 Copper Coins each.
- Sealed Document Envelopes ×20 — 2 Copper Coins each.
Total: 2 Gold Coins, 9 Silver Coins, 4 Copper Coins.
He stored the supplies.
The shopkeeper carefully packed the remaining items.
"Thank you. Have a good day."
"You too."
The Public School
A few streets later, Noah noticed a large building surrounded by a stone wall.
A sign above the entrance read:
SOUTHERN AURELION PUBLIC ACADEMY
It was an educational institution for children from ordinary families.
The building had several classroom wings, an outdoor training yard, a library, and a small magical practice area.
Noah noticed a public information board outside.
It listed the institution's programs.
Educational Programs
- Basic Reading and Writing.
- Mathematics and Practical Accounting.
- Aetherion History and Geography.
- Magical Theory Fundamentals.
- Physical Education.
- Basic Self-Defense.
- Practical Craftsmanship.
Noah found it interesting.
Education in Aetherion wasn't limited to nobles and wealthy families.
The kingdom had established public institutions to provide basic education to ordinary citizens.
He continued walking along the outer wall.
A teacher was standing near the gate while students entered.
One little boy accidentally dropped several books.
Noah stopped and helped him collect them.
"Thank you, sir!"
"Be careful. Those books look heavy."
The boy nodded seriously.
"They're my history books."
"Then you'd better take good care of them."
The child smiled and ran towards the entrance.
Noah watched him disappear inside.
He continued down the street.
The Neighborhood Library
Not far from the school stood a small public library.
It was considerably smaller than the Grand Library of Aurelion, but it served the surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Noah entered.
The librarian was an elderly human man.
"Welcome. Are you looking for a particular section?"
"Just browsing."
"Visitors are welcome. Reading is free, although borrowing books requires a membership."
Noah nodded.
The library contained several sections.
There were children's books, basic educational materials, local history, practical crafts, and regional geography.
Noah browsed the history section.
He found a book about the development of Aurelion.
It described how the capital had expanded over several centuries.
The original settlement had been much smaller, with only a few fortified districts.
As trade increased, additional roads, bridges, markets, and residential areas were constructed.
The city gradually developed into the enormous capital it was today.
Noah read for almost an hour.
He also found a section containing old maps of the residential districts.
Some streets had existed for more than two hundred years.
He found that surprisingly impressive.
Before leaving, he purchased a secondhand book from the library's small book sale.
[Purchase]
Aurelion: A City Through the Centuries ×1 — 4 Gold Coins.
"It's an old edition, but the information is still useful."
"That's exactly what I'm looking for."
The Public Park
By midday, Noah reached a public park.
It was called Willow Crescent Park.
Unlike the Royal Botanical Gardens, it wasn't designed for visitors or tourists.
It was a place for local residents.
There were walking paths, benches, children's play areas, small ponds, and open spaces.
Several people were exercising.
A group of elderly men played a board game beneath a tree.
Two young women were practicing music near a fountain.
A small dog chased a ball across the grass.
Noah sat on a bench.
For a while, he simply watched the surroundings.
He had spent a considerable amount of time exploring dangerous places since arriving in Aetherion.
It was easy to forget that most people didn't spend their days fighting monsters or searching ancient ruins.
They lived ordinary lives.
A few minutes later, an elderly man sitting nearby glanced at Noah's horns.
"Those are impressive."
Noah turned towards him.
"Thank you."
"Are they natural?"
"Yes."
The old man nodded thoughtfully.
"Interesting. I've read about dragons in old books, but I've never seen one."
"Then today is your lucky day."
The old man laughed.
"Perhaps it is."
They spoke for a few minutes.
The man introduced himself as Thomas.
He had retired from the city's administrative office several years earlier.
He told Noah about how the residential district had changed over the decades.
Several streets had been rebuilt, old houses had been replaced, and the population had increased considerably.
"Cities never really stop changing," Thomas said.
"That's true."
Thomas eventually returned to his newspaper.
Noah remained seated for a little longer before continuing.
The Local Artisan Workshop
In the afternoon, Noah wandered into a small workshop.
It was operated by a middle-aged woman named Helena.
She specialized in handmade leather goods.
The workshop contained belts, pouches, travel bags, protective covers, and decorative leather accessories.
Noah examined a small pouch.
"Did you make this?"
Helena looked up.
"Yes. My daughter helps with the stitching."
The pouch was simple but well made.
Noah purchased:
- Reinforced Leather Pouches ×4 — 2 Gold Coins each.
- Small Equipment Belts ×2 — 3 Gold Coins each.
- Leather Document Cases ×2 — 4 Gold Coins each.
Total: 18 Gold Coins.
Helena wrapped the items.
"Thank you. My daughter will be happy to know someone appreciated her work."
Noah smiled.
"She did a good job."
He left the workshop.
The Community Clinic
A little farther along the street stood a public clinic.
It was smaller than the major medical facilities in the capital, but it provided affordable treatment to local residents.
A sign outside listed its services.
- Basic Wound Treatment.
- Fever and Infection Treatment.
- Magical Exhaustion Recovery.
- Minor Poison Treatment.
- Emergency Stabilization.
Noah glanced inside.
Several patients were waiting.
A healer was speaking with an elderly woman, while another assistant prepared medical supplies.
He didn't enter.
There was no reason to disturb the people working there.
However, he found it reassuring that even ordinary neighborhoods had access to basic magical medicine.
The Residential Market
Before returning towards the central district, Noah visited a neighborhood market.
It was smaller than the Grand Exchange.
Merchants sold household supplies, clothing, tools, books, and everyday magical products.
A shop displayed small household enchantments.
Noah examined several items.
One was a simple cleaning crystal.
Another was a small lamp powered by a mana fragment.
He purchased a few practical objects.
[Purchases]
- Household Cleaning Crystals ×4 — 3 Gold Coins each.
- Mana-Powered Desk Lamps ×2 — 5 Gold Coins each.
- Small Temperature Regulation Stones ×3 — 4 Gold Coins each.
Total: 34 Gold Coins.
He stored everything.
He might use them to improve some of the smaller buildings in his Personal Dimension later.
Evening — Aurelion's Streets
Noah walked towards the central district as the sun began setting.
The residential streets had become busier.
Shopkeepers were closing their stores.
Children were playing in courtyards.
The smell of fresh bread drifted from a nearby bakery.
Noah passed a small public notice board.
A new announcement had been posted.
COMMUNITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
The southern residential district would receive:
- Two new public wells.
- Road repairs across six streets.
- Expansion of the local clinic.
- Additional classroom facilities.
- Improvements to public lighting.
The project was scheduled to begin next month.
Noah read the announcement.
It was a small thing, but it showed that the kingdom continued investing in its residential areas.
He continued towards the hotel.
Personal Dimension — Night
After returning to the Golden Palace Hotel, Noah entered his Personal Dimension.
Archivist-07 greeted him.
"Welcome back, Master."
"Everything running normally?"
"Yes. Environmental systems are stable. Automated storage is functioning at full efficiency."
Noah walked through the research facility.
He checked the materials he had collected over the previous days.
The newly purchased crystals, herbs, and tools had been registered properly.
"Any research progress?"
"The First Architects Technology Fragment has reached 25% data recovery."
"Only one percent?"
"Some recovered sections contain overlapping spatial data. Reconstruction requires additional verification."
Noah nodded.
"Take your time. Accuracy is more important."
"Understood."
He then walked towards the lake.
The evening atmosphere inside the dimension was peaceful.
Noah decided to try the Advanced Skill Development Scroll.
He opened his system interface.
[SUPREME DRAGON SYSTEM]
Available Skill Development Resource:
Advanced Skill Development Scroll ×1.
Compatible Skills:
- Advanced Spatial Movement.
- Ancient Dragon Meditation.
- Elemental Control.
Noah considered the options.
His spatial movement had improved recently, but he still had difficulty maintaining precise displacement over consecutive steps.
Improving it would be useful.
He selected the skill.
[Advanced Skill Development Scroll Used]
Target Skill: Advanced Spatial Movement.
Development Process: Initiated.
[Skill Development Complete]
Advanced Spatial Movement — Legendary.
Mastery: Improved.
New Improvements:
- Greater spatial displacement accuracy.
- Reduced mana consumption.
- Improved consecutive spatial movement stability.
- Better control during mid-air displacement.
Noah read the updated information.
"Good. That should help."
He tested the skill.
A small spatial distortion appeared before him.
He stepped through it and emerged ten meters away.
Another step.
Twenty meters.
Then thirty.
His movements were considerably smoother than before.
He smiled.
"Much better."
He practiced for another twenty minutes before stopping.
[SUPREME DRAGON SYSTEM]
Daily Reward Available.
[Reward Claimed]
- Evolution Points ×2,000.
- System Gold Coins ×35,000.
- Supreme Mana Recovery Potion ×2 Bottles.
[Updated Resources]
Evolution Points: 112,000.
System Gold Coins: 2,047,000.
Noah stored the potions.
He looked across the lake.
Today hadn't involved ancient ruins, dangerous monsters, or powerful treasures.
He had simply explored a city.
But he had learned something important.
Aurelion wasn't impressive only because it was the capital of Valtherion.
It was impressive because millions of people had built their lives there.
Noah smiled faintly.
"Tomorrow, let's see what the city has to offer outside its walls."
He turned towards the mansion.
His stay in Aurelion was becoming more enjoyable than he had expected.
End of Chapter 25