The scent of salt and damp wood hung thick in the air as Rivaan and Reiner stepped onto the bustling docks of Valtara. The city was a paradox — once a flourishing trade hub, now a prison of greed and corruption. Merchant stalls lined the streets, their owners watching warily as bandits and slavers patrolled openly, as if they ruled this land.
Rivaan adjusted the strap of his bag and glanced nervously at Griffith inside. This place feels... wrong, he muttered.
Reiner walked ahead, his swords resting on his back.
"Places like this exist everywhere," he replied grimly. "The strong take what they want, and the weak endure it."
They approached a group of ship dealers, eager to find a flying vessel. But the moment they asked for a price, a greedy-looking merchant sneered.
"You want a ship? Ha! That'll be twenty thousand Crowns — its worth. Unless you're working with the syndicate, then it's twenty times that."
Rivaan frowned. "That's absurd."
The merchant shrugged. "Then walk."
As they moved from stall to stall, the story was the same. Honest traders offered fair prices but whispered the same warning: if the syndicate caught them selling to outsiders, they'd be finished.
Frustrated and exhausted, Rivaan and Reiner decided to find a place to rest.
They entered a grimy bar filled with drunken patrons. They sat at the counter, and Reiner asked a beautiful woman for water and something to eat.
She poured water and said, "We only have dried fruits."
Reiner smiled gratefully. "Thank you."
As they ate quietly, a young girl with unkempt hair and big brown eyes approached.
"Would you like this cupcake?" she asked softly.
Reiner smiled. "What's your name, girl?"
"Mira."
"Where's your mother?" Reiner asked.
"At the counter."
"Oh, I see," Reiner said.
Rivaan smiled. "Why not, Mira?" There were two cupcakes. Rivaan and Reiner each took one, but Rivaan shared his with Mira.
Mira kept staring at Reiner's swords as she ate.
Reiner asked, "Do you like these?"
Mira nodded eagerly. "Yes! They look so cool."
Reiner chuckled. Rivaan said, "You look cute and beautiful, Mira."
Before they could finish, three thugs swaggered into the bar. Their leader, a scarred man with a jagged grin, slammed his fist on the counter.
"Hey, brat! Where's our drink?" he barked at Mira.
The girl stiffened. "M-My mother said… no more drinks on credit."
The thug's expression darkened. He slapped the cupcake from her hands, sending it tumbling into the dirt. "You little rat," he growled.
Reiner stood up to confront the leader, his fingers twitching toward his sword. But Mira, terrified, quickly grabbed a mug and poured them drinks.
Rivaan pulled Reiner back. The thugs laughed, mocking them.
"Outsiders, huh? You won't last long here," one sneered as they left.
Reiner sighed, pressing a few silver coins into Mira's palm. "For food. And buy something for yourself, too."
Mira hesitated, then whispered, "Thank you."
Before leaving, Rivaan said, "I'll pay your debt to us."
They both left to continue their search for a ship.
Mira hurried back to her mother, who was wiping down glasses near the counter. Despite her simple dress and weary eyes, there was an unmistakable grace about her — a grace that drew the wrong kind of attention.
The thugs, drunk and still lingering after their talk with Reiner, demanded more. Mira stayed hidden in the back, but the men soon went after her.
As Mira handed her mother the coins, her mother smiled warmly.
"You did well, my little one," she said gently.
But peace shattered.
The scarred leader and his men burst in.
"We were too kind earlier," he sneered. "Since your brat refused us, we're taking... compensation."
They tried to grab Mira, but her mother's beauty only seemed to inflame their lust.
The leader growled, "Your mother would be better than you."
Sera tensed as one man reached for her arm.
Mira screamed, "You can't! Please—!"
The leader grinned wickedly. "Oh, we can. And no one in this city will stop us."
"Call anyone you want — no one will help you, girl."
The bastards seized her mother like she was a possession to be taken.