Chương 120: Chapter 117. Have you been in Haven?

Since waking up in this world, Rayne hadn't really seen anything that left him in awe. Most of his time had been spent in Fort Algar and the army camp, places filled with mud, sweat, and the constant movement of soldiers. There had never been anything that made him pause and take it in. Even the villages and smaller towns they had passed along the way hadn't been much different. They were functional. Wooden houses, narrow paths, a few shops, and people trying to get by.

Most of them were no bigger than Bricksall, and after a while, they all began to look the same. But Haven City was different. The moment it came into view, Rayne felt himself slow slightly, his gaze lifting toward the massive structure ahead. The walls alone were enough to set it apart. They rose high into the sky, far taller than anything he had seen before, built from pale white stone that seemed almost untouched by time.

Even from kilometers away, they stood out, stretching across the horizon like a barrier that separated two different worlds. As the army moved closer, the details became clearer. The surface of the walls wasn't rough or uneven like the fortifications he was used to. It was smooth, reinforced, and layered with symbols that probably made up some sort of a magical array. Large towers rose at intervals, each one positioned to oversee vast stretches of land, and along the top, rows upon rows of soldiers stood guard.

From this distance, they looked small, like insects lining the edge of the walls. Every single one of them was watching. They had already sent scouts head, so they wouldn't have to wait long to enter the city. Rayne exhaled slowly as he took the walls. Under different circumstances, he might have felt excitement, but the thought of what awaited him next dulled that feeling before it could grow. He could only hope Captain Edran wouldn't move to the capital immediately.

If he had even a day or two here, it might give him enough time to think and figure something out before things went out of his control. Otherwise, he—"Do you think the whorehouses here give baths too?" Jason's voice cut straight through his thoughts. Rayne blinked once, his focus shifting as he glanced to the side. The burly man was walking alongside them, his expression relaxed as he rubbed his palms like a thief.

"I experienced that once in Fanbian," Jason continued, sounding almost thoughtful. Nate clicked his tongue beside him.

"All you think about is paying for women," he said.

"We're in a city like this and that's the first thing on your mind?" Jason glanced at him.

"What else is there?" he asked. Nate's lips curved slightly, a grin appearing.

"Ale," he said.

"Proper alcohol. I haven't had a good drink in years. We could finally enjoy something without worrying about being dragged out for a patrol." Kesh frowned at that, looking between the two of them.

"You had a drink just before we left the camp," he said.

"I saw you steal from Axel's stock." Nate winced immediately, his eyes darting around for a moment, checking whether Axel was nearby. Seeing he wasn't, he relaxed. Then, glared at Kesh.

"That ended weeks ago, and I barely took anything." He shook his head slightly before adding, "Feels like years since my last drink anyway." Jason snorted at his words, shaking his head slightly.

"You're going to cause drunk fights either way," he said.

"And then the captain will have to deal with it." Nate scoffed immediately, his expression shifting to one of quiet confidence.

"I don't start a fight I can't end." Jason opened his mouth as if to argue back, but before he could say anything, Bran's voice came from behind them, firm enough to cut through the conversation.

"You all won't be doing anything today," he said. The group fell quiet for a moment, their attention shifting toward him.

"Just getting inside the city and reaching the army longhouse will take time," Bran went on.

"And after this journey, you should rest. There's no point exhausting yourselves on the first day." His gaze shifted briefly toward Nate.

"If you have some copper, the workers in the longhouse can probably get you cheap ale," he added.

"But even then, I'd advise you to relax today." Nate clicked his tongue at that, clearly not satisfied, but he didn't argue further. Hobbs, who had been walking a little ahead of them this entire time, gave a small nod in agreement without even turning back.

"He's right," he said in his usual loud voice.

"Don't stress your bodies too much. We'll be in the city for at least three days, so there's no need to rush into anything." He paused for a moment before adding, "And even after that, Valers is far more impressive than this place." That caught Rayne's attention immediately. His eyes sharpened slightly, and without thinking much about it, he quickened his steps, moving forward until he was walking beside Hobbs.

"Are you sure we'll be staying here for three days?" he asked. Hobbs glanced at him, and seconds later, a faint chuckle escaped him.

"Already dreading the truthsayers, huh?" he said, then shook his head slightly before continuing.

"And yes, we'll be here for at least three days. Maybe longer." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Rayne's expression brightened slightly as he listened.

"Teleportation arrays aren't something you use on a whim," Hobbs went on.

"They need preparation on both ends, and more importantly, you need a space mage willing to handle the transfer." He glanced ahead toward the distant gates of Haven City as he spoke.

"That alone can take time," he added.

"And I doubt Captain Edran sent an advance request before we arrived. Which means everything will have to be arranged now." Rayne absorbed that quietly, the weight that had been sitting on his chest easing just slightly. Three days didn't sound like much. He had weeks, and he hadn't accomplished much, but maybe it will be different in a big city. Another part of his mind also thought about the teleportation arrays.

He had known about them, mostly from his older memories, but now that he was actually going to use one, his curiosity grew. Major cities across the kingdom were connected through them, forming a network that allowed people to travel vast distances in moments. Valeria, from what he knew, was one of the leading kingdoms when it came to such magetech. The reason behind that was simple enough. One of the ducal houses specialized in space-aspected classes. It wasn't just one or two members either.

Generations of them had developed such abilities, and over time, they had become the backbone behind the creation and maintenance of these arrays. The arrays themselves had been designed by that house. Valeria also had more space mages than most other kingdoms, even more than the Rakasham Empire, which was far larger in land and population. Rayne didn't know how such a thing had come to be. Whether it was luck, bloodline, or something else entirely, it didn't matter much to him right now.

What did matter was the fact that these arrays took time to prepare. The conversations around him slowly faded as they drew closer to the city gates. The massive entrance loomed ahead, its scale becoming clearer with every step. The gates themselves were made of thick metal reinforced with the same pale stone as the walls. The guards stationed at the gates moved quickly as the army came to a halt, forming lines before Commander Evans and the captains.

They bowed deeply, before one of them stepped forward and began speaking. Rayne couldn't hear what was being said from where he stood, but the exchange seemed formal and brief. Around five minutes later, one of the side gates slowly opened, the heavy structure shifting with a deep, grinding sound as it made way for them. At the same time, Rayne glanced at the main gate. A crowd was already gathered there. Merchants with carts, travelers carrying bundles, and ordinary people waiting to enter the city.

Guards were checking each of them carefully, stopping some, questioning others, and letting a few through after inspection. Many of them turned to look at the army with envious gazes as they began to move through the gate. As they stepped inside Haven City, the atmosphere shifted almost immediately, and two minutes into the walk, they stepped on the main street. It was wide, far wider than anything Rayne had seen before, paved with smooth stone that showed little wear despite the traffic.

Buildings lined both sides in neat rows, constructed from solid materials rather than wood. Some rose two or even three stories high. There were balconies, glass windows, carved doors, that clearly told him this was a wealthy city. People in the streets reflected that too. Just the common folks wore clothes that were far above what Rayne had seen in Bricksall. Fabrics looked finer, colors richer, and there was an overall sense of prosperity that hung in the air.

As the army passed through, people moved aside instinctively, giving them space. Children stood at a distance, watching with wide eyes, their expressions filled with wonder as they looked at the marching soldiers, the armor, the weapons, and the sheer size of the force, but none of them came close. Rayne's gaze moved constantly, taking everything in as they turned through one street after another. At one point, something caught his attention. Two men passed by on the opposite side of the road.

At first glance, they looked human, but there was something off about them. Their skin seemed slightly hardened, almost like scales beneath the surface, and near their wrists, faint red patterns were visible before both of them quickly adjusted their sleeves to cover it. Rayne frowned slightly but didn't say anything at the time. It was only later, when he asked Bran, that he got his answer.

"They were probably half-breeds," Bran had said.

"Between human and naga." Rayne blinked at that as the veteran explained. Apparently, they were a smaller race scattered across the continent, living in isolated tribes and rarely interacting with larger kingdoms. Seeing half-breeds wasn't common, but it wasn't unheard of either, especially in larger cities. Rayne almost felt like asking Bran more about the half-breeds and the nagas, but before he could form the question, the longhouse came into view.

It stood near the central part of the city, a large three-story structure built from the same pale stone that seemed common across Haven City. Compared to the other buildings around it, it was wider rather than taller, its size stretching across a large section of the street. The entrance was open, with a few men already waiting outside for them. From what he knew, the longhouse would have rows of rooms filled with bunk beds, enough space for entire warbands to settle without trouble.

It wouldn't be luxurious, but compared to tents and rough camps, it would be the difference between heaven and hell. Especially with free food. Even so, not everyone was staying there. Commander Evans and Captain Clark Doloris' warband were being hosted at Count Halvric Dorne's estate, the man that governed over the city. He had already seen a glimpse of his noble estates while walking through the streets as it was the tallest building in the city. But Rayne didn't care much for it. If anything, he felt relieved.

It meant he wouldn't have to see Shawn or Captain Clark anytime soon. Although he had no interactions with them, both of them always shot him angry looks whenever they would cross each other. Soon, the warbands began filing into the longhouse, guided by young workers who quickly moved among them, directing soldiers to available rooms. The process was smooth, almost practiced. Rayne followed along with Nate and Kesh, and soon enough, the three of them were shown to a room of their own.

Two bunk beds, a small window, and just enough space to move around without feeling cramped. Before the young worker could move out, Rayne handed him a copper, and the boy looked appreciatively at him before closing the door. In the short time that had taken, Nate had already climbed up to the upper bunk, grabbing a bundle of hay to use as a pillow before settling down with a tired sigh. Kesh, on the other hand, barely sat still.

"I know Bran told us to take it easy today," he said, glancing between the two of them, "but I want to explore more of the city. Do you want to meet in the evening and take a look around?" Nate leaned over the edge of the bunk, looking down at him with half-lidded eyes.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"You saw a tavern or something?" Kesh snorted at that, shaking his head.

"No," he said, "but I saw a lot of shops along the way. There has to be a market somewhere nearby too, and I definitely have coin to waste." He paused for a moment, as if remembering something, before his expression brightened slightly.

"And there's the Adventurer's Guild. I've always wanted to see what it's like."

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