By the time the tall walls of Valerius came into view, the mood inside the carriage had changed again. The road widened into a busy path filled with travelers, merchants, and carts all heading toward the same destination. The city stood ahead like a giant block of stone, its high walls stretching far to both sides, with banners hanging from the towers. Guards moved along the top, watching everything below.

Liam leaned forward, eyes wide. "That’s... big."

"It’s a city," Maya said. "What did you expect?"

"Not this big."

Dory didn’t say anything. He was watching the gates.

’...Too many eyes...’

The closer they got, the clearer everything became. The main gate was crowded. Merchants lined up with their goods, guards checking carts one by one. Some people were turned back. Others were stopped and questioned for longer.

Sirene shifted slightly in her seat.

"I won’t be going through the gate like this."

Everyone looked at her.

"What do you mean?" Lola asked.

Sirene pointed toward the front. "They know me. If I walk in openly, it raises questions."

Elian frowned slightly. "Then what’s the plan?"

"I stay out of sight," she said.

Liam blinked. "...Inside the carriage?"

"Yes."

Maya raised an eyebrow. "You’re serious?"

Sirene didn’t reply. Instead, she stood up and moved toward the back of the carriage where the supplies were stacked. With quick movements, she pushed aside a few sacks and created enough space to crouch low.

"Cover me," she said.

Dano hesitated. "Won’t they check?"

"They might," Dory said.

Sirene glanced at him. "Then make sure they don’t look too hard."

Dory nodded once.

"Understood."

Lola smirked. "So now we’re lying to guards too."

"We’ve already started worse," Maya replied.

Horg didn’t turn back, but his voice came from the front. "We’re almost there. Decide fast."

Sirene lowered herself into the space between the sacks, pulling a rough cloth over her shoulders to blend in with the cargo.

"Don’t draw attention," she added quietly.

Liam swallowed. "No pressure."

The carriage slowed as they joined the line.

The noise around them grew louder. Voices, animals, the sound of metal armor shifting. The closer they got, the more tense it felt.

Dory adjusted his glasses.

’...Stay normal... don’t rush...’

Elian straightened his posture at the front, his expression calm and confident. Horg sat beside him, arms crossed, looking like he didn’t care about anything around him.

"Next," a guard called.

The carriage moved forward.

Two guards approached, both in full armor, their eyes sharp as they looked over the cart.

"Halt."

Elian pulled the reins, bringing the carriage to a stop.

"State your business."

Elian gave a small, polite smile. "Merchant. Traveling from the outer villages."

The guard didn’t react. His eyes moved past Elian, scanning the carriage.

"What are you carrying?"

"Goods," Elian replied calmly. "Iron tools, basic supplies."

The guard gestured with his hand. "Show me."

Horg finally moved. He stepped down from the front of the carriage, landing heavily on the ground. Without saying a word, he walked to the back and pulled one of the sacks aside, revealing a set of tools neatly arranged beneath.

Hammers, tongs, molds.

All clean. All real.

"Blacksmith," Horg said simply.

The guard stepped closer, inspecting the tools. He picked up one of the tongs, turning it slightly before placing it back down.

"You made these?"

"Yes."

The guard nodded once, then looked at the ingots stacked nearby.

"Iron?"

Horg crossed his arms. "What does it look like?"

The guard didn’t seem offended. If anything, he looked satisfied.

"Quality looks decent."

"It is," Horg replied.

Behind them, inside the carriage, no one moved.

Liam sat stiff, trying not to glance toward where Sirene was hidden.

’...Don’t look... don’t look...’

Maya kicked his foot lightly.

"Stay still," she whispered.

Dory kept his expression neutral, his gaze steady.

The second guard stepped closer to the side of the carriage.

"Who else is inside?"

Elian answered without hesitation. "Assistants. Family."

The guard looked in.

Dano gave a small wave.

"Hello."

Lila smiled nervously.

Lisa looked down, pretending to adjust her bag.

Lola crossed her arms like she didn’t care.

Maya leaned back, relaxed.

Dory gave a small nod.

Liam forced a smile.

"...Hi."

The guard stared at them for a moment.

Then his eyes shifted slightly toward the back of the carriage.

Dory felt it immediately.

’...Careful...’

The guard took a step closer.

"What’s under there?"

Horg answered before anyone else could. "Food and spare cloth."

The guard looked at him. "Move it."

There was a brief pause.

Dory’s fingers tightened slightly.

’...If he checks properly...’

Horg didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, grabbed one of the sacks, and pulled it aside just enough to show a layer of wrapped supplies beneath.

Bread.

Cloth.

Nothing unusual.

Sirene didn’t move.

Not even a shift.

The guard leaned in slightly, looking.

Then he stepped back.

"Fine."

Dory exhaled quietly.

’...Good...’

The first guard returned to Elian. "Papers."

Elian reached into his coat and pulled out a folded document, handing it over smoothly.

The guard took it, scanning the contents.

"...Elian."

"Yes."

"Registered merchant."

"That’s correct."

The guard looked up at him, then back at the paper.

After a moment, he handed it back.

"You can pass."

Elian nodded. "Thank you."

Horg climbed back onto the front without a word.

The reins shifted.

The carriage moved.

No one spoke as they passed through the gate.

The moment they were fully inside, the tension broke slightly.

Liam slumped back.

"...That was too close."

Maya smirked. "You almost gave it away."

"I did not."

"You did."

Dory didn’t join in. He was looking around.

Valerius.

The streets were wide and busy, filled with people moving in all directions. Shops lined both sides, guards patrolled openly, and the noise was constant.

’...So this is it...’

Behind them, Sirene finally shifted slightly under the sacks.

"...We’re in?"

Dory answered quietly.

"Yes."

There was a brief pause.

Then her voice came again, calm as always.

"Good."

The carriage continued deeper into the city.

And just like that—

They had entered Valerius.