Chapter 9: Catrin City

Arthur after a quick breakfast at the inn resumed his journey towards the city. He couldn't wait and witness for himself the incredible things Amon told him about. In his mind he already had a certain image…

The wide streets illuminated with white nora crystals during the night. The multiple carriages lead by automatons heading towards different directions. The tall buildings, shops, pubs and other incredible things a large city ought to have.

He daydreamed and time flew by. In the distance he could already see it.

He quickened his pace and passed by a road sign that said:

"Catrin city"

***

Arthur thoroughly enjoyed himself after arriving in the city.

First he entered a bakery and bought himself some sweets, buns and other things he fancied. He remembered to not reveal his spatial wallet and was treated normally this time.

After eating everything he bought he visited a shop that sold different kinds of clothing. He purchased a new cloak and a few sets of clothes he found good looking. His creativity though should be criticized a bit since he picked everything in a similar color and style to what he had on him.

His next stop was at one of the markets. People there sold a lot of different things and he did not hesitate to buy a couple of souvenirs. The ones most worth mentioning were a pocket watch that was made of some dark metal and a toy that was a small automaton that fit in one's hand. It was in the shape of a wolf and Arthur really enjoyed playing with it, so much so that the pedestrians walking by gave him questioning looks.

He then decided to simply sightsee a little and he was not disappointed with his decision. The city had a lot of different monuments depicting different people and other fascinating things, for example near the city center he visited a cathedral dedicated towards the Goddess of Light named after a certain saint Ezekiel. He didn't like it too much though as the interior was eye blindingly white. He liked the paintings that were there though.

Not far from the cathedral was a museum that as its theme had the history of the Republic and by visiting it Arthur got to learn quite a lot.

According to the records in the museum the first cities on the Veron island were established by merchants who wanted to conduct trade between the northern and southern continents in the later years of the Age of Gods with exact years said to be lost to history. The Verondian Republic itself came to be in the year 27 of the Age of Darkness with two main reasons for that. First more and more people sought refuge on the island from the Darkest Night which sadly was not described and the second was that the countries the cities belonged to initially simply perished.

'The Darkest Night had two meanings in the past. The event which started the Age of Darkness and then the monsters that came with it'

Amon's voice suddenly echoed in Arthur's mind.

'You seem to know quite a lot about this'

'You are not wrong. You could even say that I was there when it was written. Good times'

Amon gloated a bit and it caused Arthur's curiosity to skyrocket.

'Then what was the Darkest Night?'

'Ehh… Maybe I will tell you another time'

Arthur was disappointed with the answer but did not mind it too much and continued to read about something else.

The first challenge to the survival of the Republic was the Darkest Night itself and while only a small number of monsters reached the island the food shortage was a huge issue throughout the entire Age of Darkness. Other than that another island nation to the west called Lotran often raided the Veron island for its resources and when the Age of Darkness finally ended a rising power in the northern continent became another existential threat to the country which came to be known as...

'You know we still have an errand to run so why not come back here another time? It's already getting late after all'

Amon suddenly reminded Arthur that they still had something to do.

'You're right I guess…'

Arthur obliged although reluctantly.

He left the museum and noticed that the sun had already started to set. He took out his new pocket watch and confirmed the time. It was already past five.

"I guess I should hurry"

He had an option to use a public carriage but was not fond of the idea. He still wanted to explore the city a bit so he simply walked towards his destination at a solid pace.

It did not take long for Arthur to leave the more crowded streets and enter the side of the city locals nicknamed the poor district although the official name stands as the Coln district.

It really contrasted the city center and other districts that Arthur had the chance to sightsee today. The streets were narrower and so much so that sometimes only one carriage could barely fit in one. People there also had a more gloomy feeling. They wore old and often damaged clothing. Tramps were on every corner and begged for food or some change. Arthur wanted to give some but was advised against doing so by Amon. He did not explain why exactly but made it clear that would put him in danger.

'I can't believe such a place can exist. People only few streets away live in abundance but here they can barely scrape by'

Arthur lamented and was quite distraught with this. He couldn't understand how those two contrasts lived on as neighbors.

'Such is life, kid. Some people must suffer so others can have an extra sugar cube in their tea'

Amon did not sugar coat this nor did he provide him any consolation.

'By the way you might want to avoid that alley you are heading towards'

'What? Why?'

Arthur asked in surprise. Weren't they talking about something else? Why can't he go there?

'I smell blood'

Amon for a change replied in a serious tone.

In that dark alley something unspeakable happened.