Chapter 43 - The Capital

"How are you guys holding up back there?" a man asked as a large caravan proceeded out of the mountains.

"We're doing fine," Mei answered, putting a wet towel on Yang's head. Yang had a strong fever, sweat forming and covering his brow. His eyes were shut tight, groaning in his deep sleep. A woman in her late twenties was in the carriage with the duo, helping Mei care for Yang while a little girl and boy watched.

"He is doing alright. The lad has done something that went entirely against his spiritual self. He is on the verge of victory in the war inside his own mind," the woman said, a practitioner at the middle Meteor Vessel Stage. "It is strange. Such a metamorphosis does not occur so early in life. What has your friend done to cause this?"

"He cast aside his past," Mei said.

"The hold of the past must have been strong then," the woman said as she patted Yang's cheeks to absorb the sweat into the wet towel she also held. "It's been almost three weeks since you joined our caravan. This young man is at the peak of the Element Adept Stage; you are also at the same cultivation level. It is good to have such childhood friendships."

"Yes. Lance Wang and I have been friends for a long time," Mei said, the Guo siblings choosing this new alias for Yang as they were heading to the southern continent where the mages lived. This way, Yang would be considered part of both continents, which explained his red hair color.

"It must be true. A metamorphosis this profound... it's as if he is a human becoming a dragon," the woman nodded. "We should be at the capital soon. He should awaken before then. Lance will be fine. You should both be careful, though. Some don’t like foreigners ever since the Day of the Eye and Snake."

"Of course," Mei said, staring silently at Lance. "We'll be fine. We'll be leaving the Pangu Continent soon."

"Hoping to learn magic too, are you?" the woman asked, Mei nodding.

"We experienced much pain here. It is good to have a fresh start and explore the world, learning its ways. Doing so, we will be more powerful than we ever could have been," Mei said, and noticed Yang open his eyes.

"....Mei.....I'm thirsty," Lance rasped, and Mei quickly gave him a cup of water.

"I presume the war within you is over?" the woman asked, Lance nodding silently.

"Good. My grandchildren and I will return to our carriage now. Make sure he rests until we enter the capital," the woman said, the duo murmuring their thanks as the three outsiders left.

"I am finally at the initial Meteor Vessel Stage," Lance sighed, feeling raw power inside his body. "I can now draw spirit energy from the stars."

"Yes," Mei nodded as she helped him lean back against the wall of the carriage. "What was it like, the metamorphosis?"

"It was... horrible. I can't express it in words. There are none. My personality remains the same: cold and heartless. The transition will take time. Being human is difficult. It affects my mentality more than I would like to admit," Lance sighed. "I need to rest. Maybe I can sleep this time."

"Alright," Mei said, seeing Lance close his eyes. "I guess it was too much to expect him to change right away."

A few days later, "Lance, it's time to get up. We're here."

"So this is the capital," Lance said as he gazed at the golden wall before him.

"Not exactly. This is the outer wall. Most of the farming and armed forces live here," a guard riding a horse beside them answered as Lance and Mei poked their heads through the windows of the carriage. "The outer area of the city is fifty miles long. The real city is past the inner walls. It's shaped like a large oval, the actual city only encompassing half of it with the palace laying against a huge mountain range."

"What about invasion from the mountain range?" Lance asked.

"Impossible. Magical beasts at the Meteor Vessel Stage reside all over the surface of the mountain range, the inside of the mountain covered with traps and a labyrinth. The weakest palace guard is at the initial Meteor Vessel Stage, and all of them are equipped with magical reloading crossbows. Land, air, or underground; nothing can threaten the city," the guard said. "We are going inside soon. Our job of escorting you is over. Have fun in the capital."

"Thank you," Mei said, and she and her brother left the carriage and stood in line. Guards would check them in ten-minute intervals. Lance was getting irritated at the constant inspections, but the city guards were all at the Element Adept Stage. He would be imprisoned against so many of them, especially since he had just become an initial Meteor Vessel Stage practitioner.

"State your business in the capital?" a man with a large scroll and quill asked.

"We're going to the auction house and applying to the Adventurer's Guild," Lance said.

"Foreigner?" the guard asked.

"Half. I was born here, but my mother wasn't. My name is Lance Wang, family name of Wang," Lance answered.

"Explains why it's just the hair, then. Thought you dyed it," the guard nodded and gave them silver passes. "These passes are given to visitors. You are allowed to stay one month in the capital. The fee for entry is 15 demon spirit coins, 30 demon spirit coins for a month extension."

"That won't be necessary," Lance said, giving the guard 30 demon spirit coins to pay for them both. "We're only here for the weekly auction. The big one is once a week, right?"

"Yes, it is. Tomorrow, in fact. Follow the road down and take the third path on your left. It'll take you to the Adventurer's Guild. You can't miss it," the guard said and waved his hand. Ten guards nodded and allowed Mei and Lance to head into the city. "Welcome to Gold Song City, the heart of the Song Dynasty."

"The big city sure is different. Look at all the vendors!" Mei cried, admiring all the merchandise of the shops and stalls on display.

"We're not here to go shopping," Lance sighed and headed to a man selling BBQ. "I'll buy three sticks."

"That'll be eighteen demon spirit coins," the vendor said, exchanging the sticks for the money. "Storage ring. Not bad."

"Yes. Do you happen to know the results of the inter-academic competition?" Lance asked, five demon spirit coins in his hand.

"Ah, yes. Gold Lotus City was the victor. Some kid named Guo Lin came in first place, with a prince and princess taking the next two ranks," the man answered, smiling as he got the coins.

"Thanks for the info," Lance said, handing a stick to Mei as he quickly finished one and took his time eating the second.

"Lin won. That's a relief," Mei said as she headed inside a shop. Lance frowned as he saw that it was a mail carrier shop.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Writing a letter to say that I've escaped the man who kidnapped me and that I'm currently finding out clues to who is in charge of the criminal ring the kidnapper worked for. I am letting them know that I aim to take it down and won't return home anytime soon," Mei answered. "I'm letting them know you're alive, the two of us separated as I could not save you from a group of slavers at the Meteor Vessel Stage."

"Why do that?" Lance asked.

"Because Mom and Dad will cry their hearts out. They do love you, you know," Mei said.

"I suppose. I'm just not used to the whole emotions kind of thing. I still don't care much," Lance shrugged. "Get on with it, then. Let's head to the guild."

"Wait up!" Mei said as she quickly finished the letter and paid the shop, an emblem of an eye, sun, and lightning bolt on the top left of the envelope. Mei was sure her family would know it was her.

"I can never understand sentimental thoughts. Is it really necessary to send a letter now?" Lance asked mildly as they walked down the road and saw the third path on their left. "Have you thought of an alias?"

"Yes. My first name will still be Mei. I'll use your alias's last name, Wang, and pose as your cousin," Mei answered.

As Lance and Mei walked in, people stared at them. Lance had the hair color of a foreigner, and both of them were not even adults. Most of the guild members didn't bother to check their cultivation, but the smart ones did. They were utterly terrified. The two only looked around fifteen, and they were both at the Meteor Vessel Stage? They could practically be palace guards with their cultivation!

"Heh. Look at that foreigner. Wait, he looks like one of us. It's just his hair. Ha! A half-mutt, huh?" a man laughed, his friends around the table laughing as well. The smart guild members paled with fear. Most of them were at the Spirit Forming Stage, a few at the Element Adept Stage. This was because the Adventurer's Guild was not popular in the Pangu Continent, and most guild branches were formed in the other continents. The Adventurer's Guild in the Pangu Continent only formed just over a century ago. The prejudice against foreigners was exactly the reason.