บท 30: About Capital

The first rays of dawn seeped through the cracks in the wooden walls, bathing the small room in a soft, golden glow. Alex stirred awake, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. The faint creak of the wooden planks beneath his bed accompanied his movements as he sat up.

His black hair, streaked with faint lines of cyan along the right side, fell just past his shoulders in a slightly disheveled mess, framing his angular face. His vivid blue eyes and lean, wiry frame spoke of someone who had lived through far more than his years should allow. He wasn't bulky, but every line of his body was defined.

Alex pushed himself out of bed, glancing at the corner of the room where Lyra still lay asleep on her blanket. Her form was small, almost swallowed by the oversized tunic she wore. She looked peaceful, the sharpness she usually wielded with her words replaced by the innocence of sleep.

He sighed quietly. 'She really does remind me of her… my sister.' The thought lingered for a moment, but Alex shook it off. "She is already dead. It is useless to remember her. Either way, she was annoying as hell as this girl."

He quickly splashed water on his face from the basin near the door, the chill waking him fully.

With a quick glance back at Lyra, he grabbed a small pouch of coins from the table and stepped outside. The morning air was brisk and refreshing, carrying the faint scent of baked bread and damp earth. The streets of the outskirts were quiet, only a few early risers moving about. This part of the capital was always like this—slow, detached from the busier, wealthier districts closer to the center.

'Four copper should be enough,' Alex thought, making his way toward the nearest food stall. A man with a thick beard and an apron waved him over as Alex approached.

"Morning," the vendor greeted, gesturing to the array of steaming buns and roasted skewers on display. "What'll it be?"

"Two skewers and a bread roll," Alex said, dropping the coins into the vendor's hand. The man nodded, quickly wrapping the food in rough paper and handing it over.

Alex sat on the bench beside the stall and started eating his skewer. The smoky flavor of the roasted meat was satisfying, though simple. He turned to the vendor as he took another bite, his curiosity surfacing.

"I'm new to the capital," Alex began, his voice even. "Can you tell me about how it's set up?"

The vendor, a burly man with a thick beard streaked with gray, leaned slightly on the counter, resting his forearm against the wood. His eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and familiarity—he must have heard this kind of question countless times before.

"Ah, the capital," the man said, his voice deep and gravelly. "It's divided, see? There are two sections of the capital here—one is the Inner Section, and the other is the Outer Section."

He gestured broadly, his arm sweeping toward the general direction of the city center. "The Inner Section, that's the heart of the capital. The nobles, the rich, the high-ups—they've got their mansions and estates there. Big roads, fancy markets, you name it. It's where the money stays."

Then, with a jerk of his thumb, he motioned to the area around them. "And then there's this side—Outer Capital. Folks like us live here. It's not as fancy, but it's home to most of the city's tradespeople, workers, and adventurers who can't afford the inner side. Rent's cheaper, but you'll find more trouble lurking about. Thieves, mercenaries, and the like—it's quieter, sure, but you've gotta keep an eye out."

"Do you know anything about any library?" Alex asked.

"If you need to go to a library, that's in the heart of the capital. There are some here in the Outer Section, but it's said they're not worth it."

"Do you know how to get in, then?"

"I don't know about that," the vendor replied, shaking his head. "I'm just a food stall owner—how can I know about all those? But I hear some chatter about it. They say you can get in if you become a Rank 5 Mage or a Platinum Adventurer, but I don't know if it's true or not."

"Oh. Thank you for the info you gave me. If you need any help, I'll be sure to help you," Alex said, nodding politely.

The vendor gave a slight grin. "You're welcome, kid."

Alex finished his food, stood up, and gave a quick nod of thanks before heading back to the house.

While returning to the house, Alex's thoughts churned in his mind. "If I can get into a proper library and obtain more information about magic and the world, it would be incredibly useful. But getting access will take time. To advance my rank normally, it might take six to ten years to reach Rank 5, according to Maren. I don't even know how long it could take for me, given my situation. My mana core has already grown unnaturally—from the size of a marble to almost a meter in diameter."

"Maren said it usually takes a month for the mana core to grow by just five meters in height. But mine? It grows a full meter in just two days. That's insane. At this rate, it'll only take six months for my mana core to reach the size of a massive ball, which can make me advance to rank 3."

As he thought, Alex returned to the house. He placed the extra food on the small table inside, wrapping it neatly in the paper. Lyra was still fast asleep, her small form barely stirring as he moved around quietly.

With one last glance at the room, he stepped outside again, locking the door behind him.

---------------------

From next chap more words like above 1.5k words every chap.