After two arduous days of traversing challenging terrain, Jeremy and his entourage finally reached their ultimate destination: the illustrious Nocturne City.
During these two days, they encountered a fascinating array of individuals, each adding to the rich tapestry of their journey. This was only natural, given that Nocturne City, as the principal metropolis within this particular instance, was the most bustling and vibrant location they could hope to arrive at.
What truly sets Nocturne City apart is the colossal sun that hangs perpetually in the sky at the city's very center, never setting.
Additionally, the city walls are adorned with numerous smaller suns, each emitting light and heat to fend off any threats that could jeopardize the safety of Nocturne City.
As the group approached Nocturne City, stopping about a mile away, Heber addressed them.
"Before we can gain entry into Nocturne City, we must first undergo a thorough inspection by the city's guards." Heber elucidated, multitasking as he directed the caravan guards to unload their cargo while simultaneously explaining the protocol to the rest of the group.
"Given the recent spate of events." he continued, "Nocturne City is undoubtedly aware of the cataclysm that befell Dawn City. Consequently, we can expect the inspections conducted by the city guards to be significantly more stringent this time around."
The reason Heber took the time to remind everyone was that he was keen to avoid any further delays. His primary objective was to expedite their entry into Nocturne City.
This way, he could promptly sell off his remaining valuable goods and swiftly find a suitable location for Master Bard to concoct his potions.
Jeremy and the others nodded in understanding, acknowledging Heber's sense of urgency.
Jeremy took special care to store all his powerful weapons within his storage space.
Meanwhile, both Bonnie and Master Bard were meticulously checking their respective belongings. Only Nina stood apart, gazing curiously in the direction of Nocturne City's imposing walls.
As the daughter of Dawn City's lord, Nina had visited this place before. However, each time she came here, her father would hurriedly rush inside Nocturne City to meet with its prominent figures, leaving her with little opportunity to explore.
Nina would invariably be escorted by her mother to stay in some of Nocturne City's luxurious hotels. Consequently, she had never taken the time to truly observe the surroundings of Nocturne City.
"Haven't you ever been here before?"
Jeremy asked, approaching Nina as she stood lost in thought, staring at the city walls.
Nina turned her head and, upon seeing Jeremy, smiled faintly. "I've been here a few times." she replied, " but I was always with my mother. She never let me stay outside the city walls for too long. She always said it was too dangerous out here."
Jeremy nodded affirmatively.
"This time, you'll have the chance to properly take in the scenery outside the city walls. There are so many people queued up ahead of us that who knows how long it will be before the guards of Nocturne City get around to inspecting us."
Hearing this, a faint blush spread across Nina's cheeks as she slowly turned to Jeremy and asked,
"In that case, would you mind accompanying me for a little walk around the area? There might be dangers lurking nearby."
Recognizing the validity of her concern, Jeremy agreed to explore the surroundings with her.
Jeremy and Nina departed from the caravan and made their way toward the distant city walls.
It didn't take long for Master Bard and Heber to notice their movements.
Master Bard deliberately approached Bonnie and, with a hint of implication in his voice, remarked.
"It seems that young Nina understands Jeremy's heart better than anyone else."
As their attention was wholly focused on Heber. Heber, meanwhile, reached into his pocket and produced a string of gemstones.
"Brave guards of Nocturne City, your diligent service is commendable. Please accept this small token of our appreciation." he said, offering the gems to the guard captain.
The captain glanced around briefly before snatching the bag of gemstones from Heber's hand.
"And how exactly do we prove that we are no threat to Nocturne City?" Heber asked urgently.
The guard captain lowered his voice and replied.
"Just keep all your weapons hidden. Here is the new Nocturne City pass. Present this at the city gate, and the guards there will let you in."
Handing the pass to Heber, the captain then led his squad toward the next caravan in line.
"I doubt the Nocturne City pass has actually been revised! This is just a ruse by those guards to line their pockets."
Master Bard grumbled after the guards had left.
"Regardless, we can finally enter Nocturne City now, can't we? Let's move quickly. I have a bad feeling about lingering here." he added with a sense of urgency.
Jeremy found Master Bard's concerns reasonable.
However, since Heber had already handed over the gemstones, there was no point in dwelling on the matter any further.
Though Heber felt a twinge of regret, he accepted it as part of the cost of doing business.
As a merchant, he was accustomed to greasing palms each time he visited Nocturne City.
"Now that we have the pass, let's proceed to Nocturne City without delay."
Heber commanded, directing the caravan towards the city gates.
Though the city gates were only about a kilometer away, the sheer number of people ahead of them meant it took the caravan a full hour to reach the entrance.
At the gates of Nocturne City, two guards lounged lazily against the wall.
"Do you have a pass? If so, show it and enter quickly! If not, step aside!" one barked.
Heber promptly produced the pass, along with two smaller gemstones from his pocket.
The guards' eyes lit up at the sight of the gems.
"Dear guards, is there anything we should be aware of in Nocturne City?" Heber inquired, seizing the moment to gather information.
The guards frowned in thought before one of them, lowering his voice, said.
"Avoid the central administrative district for now. Something troubling seems to be happening there. That's all we can tell you."
"Thank you for the heads-up!"
Heber expressed his gratitude and then led Jeremy and the rest of the group into Nocturne City.