The capital of Vermilion was a sight to behold. From the skies above, it looked like a city that should not exist in such a world. It was massive and yet surrounded by tall, massive walls, having four gates to each cardinal point.

From up in the sky, they could already see the castles. Large and magnificent, the biggest amongst the many large buildings that filled this city, it was a clear statement piece.

The ship landed on the docks and was immediately surrounded by guards, heavily trained and decked in full armor. They had to ensure that this ship was indeed safe.

The moment Ross walked out, followed by the princess, Kira, and Mira, they all immediately bowed their heads to them.

Ken walked out alongside Luna and Leo, and the moment that the guards there saw two elves, their faces twisted behind their helmets. A deep-seated hate for a race that none of them had ever been in contact with seeped out. It leaked out of their very beings.

Ken could see their detest. He could not understand how people could allow hate to be so deep-rooted in them and not even know the true story.

As soon as they left the dock, there were already three carriages waiting for them. Ross turned and looked at the group. "I will be heading back to the castle to report on what happened. Nero and William will be coming with me. As for you, Princess and Lady Luna, you’ll be heading to the academy. Preparations have been properly made," he explained in a calm tone, and then he looked at Ken.

"I wish I could get you into the academy as a student immediately, but sadly you will have to pass through the exams. Even then, I’ll send in a letter of recommendation. The exam starts in one week.

You can stay with Lady Luna until then, if that will not be an issue."

"Nah, I’ll check out the capital. I have not been able to leave my town," Ken said. He really did want to stay in the capital for a bit before he had to head to the academy.

When Luna heard what he said, she grabbed his hands. "If you are staying outside, then I’ll be staying with you."

’Shit, should have thought about that. Luna will for sure not want to leave me, especially when the other option is that idiot Leo.’

Ken looked at Luna and then gave her a calm smile. "Come on, Luna, don’t be like that. This whole thing happened because of you. You have to be at the academy and start the whole process.

It will take me a few days to get to the academy, but for sure I’ll be there." He tried to explain to her. Her grip around his hand tightened.

Seeing that it was not working, he leaned in and whispered something into her ear. Her eyes lit up immediately with excitement. She turned and looked at him. "Really?"

"Yes, really," he replied.

"Fine, I’ll take your word for it," she said and finally agreed to go. She walked into one of the carriages, and so did Leo.

The noble trio all looked at Ken before they walked off. Ken could not really tell what they were thinking, but at least he was certain they didn’t hate his guts. Well, except for the princess. She surely wanted his head.

After they had entered, Ross pulled out a pouch and tossed it to Ken.

"I got that from the captain," he said.

Ken caught the pouch. The coins clinked inside it. He did not need to open it to know that it was money.

"That’s a little for you to take care of yourself until you head to the academy. I expect to see you there."

Ken nodded in reply, and Ross finally left with Nero and William. He watched all three carriages roll away, and when they were finally gone, he let out a breath.

"I guess this is it, the start of something difficult," he muttered and walked into the city.

The roads were paved with the best technology of the time, fine blocks made and placed in interlocking patterns, allowing easy access to any place. It showed that the capital was well taken care of. Clean streets, proper gutters to allow the flow of wastewater, crystal lamps on the side of the roads to ensure that there was light at night.

Ken picked a random street and walked into it. He did not know anywhere here, but he trusted in his capacity to not get lost and to also handle himself if anything went wrong. His hand was placed on his sword, ready to be pulled if the moment called for it.

He walked through that street for a while, but then from ahead, a group of kids ranging from very young, about ten, all the way to sixteen were running down, laughing and giggling like they were having a fun time.

Ken paid no heed to them and kept walking until they got to him and were going past him, with him in the center and wading through them. The very moment the last one went past him, Ken pulled his sword and slashed it, stopping an inch away from the neck of the last one and freezing the boy in place.

He was a bit shorter than Ken, but it was easy to see that he was sixteen or around there. The boy broke into a cold sweat. He could almost feel the sharp edge of the blade pressed against him. He swallowed hard.

"Hand it over," Ken muttered, and immediately the boy slowly passed the pouch backward. Ken grabbed his pouch and hung it back on his waist.

The whole children-running spectacle was all a ruse they used to steal from people. Their numbers made it hard to know who did it even if you discovered you had been robbed, but that was not Ken. He knew the very moment a hand had reached for it.

"Stealing isn’t good, you know," Ken muttered.

"I... I’m sorry," the boy stuttered. Sweat ran down his throat and dropped onto the blade. Ken pulled his blade back and then sheathed it. The boy almost collapsed from relief after that.

Ken turned around. All the other kids had moved.

"Seems they left you. A pretty good strategy though. Even if one is caught, the rest run. One loss can’t equate to the whole team," Ken said.

He paused and thought for a while, and then he looked at the boy. "If you need some money, how about you come work for me?

I’m new to the capital, and I need someone to help me." He looked down at the boy. "You’ll do it, right?" he asked, but it sounded more like a threat than a request.

The boy looked into Ken’s eyes and fear gripped him. "Yes, I know the city very well," he said and rose to his feet.

"Good, then get up." Ken offered him a hand. The boy was hesitant, but after a moment he took the hand and Ken helped him get up.

"What’s your name?" Ken asked.

"Richard."

"Nice, mine is Ken," Ken said and started walking. He pulled the pouch from his waist and looked inside.

Richard felt panic. He thought Ken was checking to see if anything had been taken from inside the pouch, but in reality, Ken was trying to see what Ross had given him. He was stunned when he saw that it was all gold coins, more than fifty of them.

"Uhm, Richard," he called out.

The panic in Richard grew. "Yes, boss," he managed to speak.

"What could a gold coin get in this city? Be honest."

"A gold coin is a month’s earnings for most people in the capital. For those that live in the poorer sides, it could last six months to a year," Richard explained.

"Oh? So it’s pretty valuable," Ken muttered and then pulled one gold coin out before flipping it in the air and catching it in his palm. "Then let’s go spend."

He sped up his steps, and Richard almost had to run to keep up.

"I want to get some new clothes. These are pretty oversized. Do you know a good shop?" Ken asked.

"I know all the shops. This is the eastern side of the capital, and it’s close to the north where the nobles and royals stay, so it’s a bit expensive here. I could take you down south. It’s pretty normally priced there, and I know a few people."

"Oh no, I don’t want to walk far, so close by is fine. Just take me there."

Richard heard that, and in his mind, he already believed that Ken was some spoiled rich kid that loved to splurge. Regardless, he led the way as they got to the shop. It was elegant from the outside, oozing class.

"This will do," Ken said and walked in.