Chapter 7: Phobos and Unexpected Reunions
Late in the afternoon, Edgar’s merchant carriage finally arrived at the gates of Phobos. Since he was already a well-known figure in the city, the gate guards immediately ushered him inside. Phobos was a massive city laid out in several ascending circular tiers. The lowest and largest tier was home to the guard knights, the market district, and the slum area on the right side of the city.
The smaller second tier housed the city residents, craftsmen, major trading companies, inns, and bars or restaurants. Beyond that was a square, followed by the academy grounds and arena on the third tier. The fourth tier contained the dormitory complex and gardens, while the final, highest tier held the grand academy itself, which accommodated students from every human kingdom.
"Sigh, back here again," Dion and Luna grumbled simultaneously as the carriage entered the city.
"Oh, were you two students at the academy here before?" Edgar asked upon hearing their complaints.
"Something like that, Mr. Edgar," Dion said calmly.
"Hmm... so that’s how it is. Which kingdom are you two from?" Edgar asked.
"We’re both from the Kingdom of Thetor," Dion answered, pointing to himself and Luna to clarify for Edgar.
"Alright, we’ll reach my trading company shortly," Edgar said.
They began ascending to the second tier via the left side of the city, which allowed carriage traffic. Upon arriving, it turned out that Edgar’s trading company was quite large and well-renowned, boasting branches in almost every kingdom, including the Kingdom of Thetor. It was called the Aetheras Trading Company, a firm trusted by many nobles, operating under the motto: "Whatever you need, we provide."
The moment they saw the company logo displayed on the wide signboards of the long two-story building, Dion and Luna slowly turned to look at Edgar. They hadn’t expected the owner of a trading company famous across every kingdom to dress so modestly and ride an unbranded merchant carriage. A few staff members then stepped out from inside the store to help Edgar and speak with him.
After a few moments, Edgar, noticing Dion and Luna staring at him, turned around after directing his workers to unload the products and goods from the carriage.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Edgar asked.
"Um... are you the owner of the Aetheras Trading Company?" Luna asked.
"Yes, that’s right... oh... I forgot to mention it, didn’t I? Haha," Edgar answered casually.
"You really forgot, and we’re totally shocked," Dion chimed in.
"Alright, let’s head to the inn next door," Edgar said, pointing to a wide, four-story building right beside his.
"Wait, Mr. Edgar... isn’t that inn also owned by the Aetheras Trading Company?" Dion asked.
"And isn’t it the one usually used by visiting nobles when they drop off their kids at the academy?" Luna added.
"Oh... right, you really were academy students. Usually, noble children from various kingdoms stay there before getting their dorm rooms... did I forget to mention that too?" Edgar asked.
"You forgot," Dion and Luna said in unison, annoyed.
"Hahaha... I’m sorry. When traveling alone, I just prefer doing things this way. Come along, I’ll walk you in," Edgar said casually.
Having no choice, Dion and Luna followed Edgar to the inn next door. The first floor functioned as a tavern, while the inn rooms started on the second floor, complete with spacious quarters and private baths in each room—truly an establishment tailored for nobility. Upon entering, a receptionist greeted them, startled to see Edgar.
"Please set up a room for them," Edgar told the receptionist.
"Right away, sir. How many rooms?" the receptionist asked, looking at Dion and Luna.
"We’ll take two..."
"One room with two separate large beds!" Luna shouted, cutting Dion off while raising her hand.
Naturally, Dion snapped his head around to look at Luna beside him. But Luna simply gave him a thumbs-up, smiling and winking all at once with a face that practically said, "we need to save money." Before Dion could even protest,
"Very well, we will prepare the room. Please wait a moment in the tavern," the receptionist said.
"Alright then... I’ll take my leave for now. If you need anything, just step next door and call for me. Excuse me," Edgar said.
With that, Edgar briskly exited the inn while the receptionist vanished upstairs, leaving Dion unable to protest and forced to resign himself to the situation. Suddenly, a loud crashing noise like breaking glass echoed from inside the tavern, reaching all the way to the entrance. Naturally, Dion and Luna peeked inside. The tavern was packed, yet dead silent. All eyes were turned toward the largest table in the center of the room. A handsome yet arrogant man with a buzz cut and expensive clothes sat there, resting his feet on the chair beside him like a delinquent.
Beside him sat a pretty black-haired woman with her long hair tied in a ponytail. She wore the dark attire of a swordmaster or samurai, sitting across from the man with her head bowed down, staring at the table. Behind the man stood four soldiers carrying katana swords at their waists and wearing cloth masks over their faces. Dion and Luna spotted a shattered glass on the floor right beside the man’s feet below; it seemed he had smashed it on purpose.
Catching sight of the arrogant man’s face and the girl sitting bowed across from him, Dion and Luna froze. From their expressions, it was clear that both of them recognized the arrogant man and the girl opposite him.
"Luna... if I’m not mistaken... that’s the third prince of Eredor... Yugo von Gehenas," Dion whispered to Luna beside him.
"And across from him is our classmate from Eredor... Mei von Sion," Luna replied.
"Why... are they in this city?" Dion asked.
"Hmm... I don’t know. As I recall, Mei went back to her kingdom intending to become an adventurer there. She didn’t want to form a party with us... because of Rene... but that’s not what’s most important. Why is Mei involved with that notoriously annoying Yugo?" Luna answered.
"We’d better not get involved," Dion said.
"Yep... you’re right," Luna replied.
But before they could move, both Yugo and Mei turned toward the door. Their faces instantly filled with shock, and naturally, their glares locked onto Dion, who felt the sharp intensity of their gazes. Seeing both of them staring at Dion, Luna slowly turned to look at Dion with a confused expression.
"Do they know you?" Luna asked.
"Oh... who knows, hahaha," Dion answered nervously. "Damn it, they obviously know me from that incident back at the academy," Dion thought in his head.
Suddenly, Yugo and Mei stood up and walked toward the door. Dion was surprised to see Mei clinging to Yugo’s arm. As Yugo brushed past Dion,
"Move... I’m done with you," Yugo said, glaring sharply at Dion out of the corner of his eye.
"Oh... okay," Dion replied, stepping aside.
However, just as Dion shifted slightly, the arrogant Yugo deliberately slammed into him, knocking Dion to the floor. After that, he sneered down at Dion before walking out alongside his bodyguards, while Mei passed by Dion without glancing at him even once.
"Dion!" Luna yelled, helping Dion to his feet.
Luna glared at Yugo and Mei as they walked up the stairs, her eyes filled with a murderous look. But Dion raised his hand, pulling Luna’s attention back to him.
"Just let it go," Dion said, getting back on his feet.
"This is too much... just because he’s a prince... besides, why is he walking around with Mei, who’s two years younger than him?" Luna asked, visibly annoyed.
"Who knows. I’m sure Mei has her own agenda. We’d better not get involved," Dion said, calming Luna down.
"Fine, if you say so," Luna pouted.
"Let’s head inside and wait for our room to be ready," Dion suggested.
"Okay... let’s go," Luna replied, still looking upset.
They walked into the tavern. Dion glanced back briefly before continuing forward. Meanwhile, the tavern’s atmosphere, which had been stiff and awkward, returned to its noisy, chatter-filled state. After they sat down and a server delivered drinks to their table,
"Dion, if I remember correctly, Mei has the same tier of class as Rene, right?" Luna asked, holding her beer glass.
"Hmm... yeah, but she uses dual swords... SS-rank Dual Wielder Samurai... if I’m not mistaken," Dion answered, lost in thought.
"Yep... another rare class," Luna said, taking a sip.
"Just like yours, right?" Dion asked, looking at Luna.
"Hmm... like ours... not just mine," Luna stated firmly.
"Oh... right," Dion replied. "Except my class doesn’t even have a rank," Dion thought in his head.
"So after this, we’re stopping by the capital of Lutherias to go shopping, right?" Luna asked, suddenly cheerful with flushed cheeks.
"Huh... for what?" Dion asked.
"The fashion over there is amazing, and we can buy furniture for the house too... I want to buy stuff to bring home," Luna answered.
"Home? Where?" Dion asked, growing increasingly confused.
"Our territory, of course... hic," Luna answered, her face bright red as she pouted at Dion.
"Oh... our territory," Dion replied, trying to stay calm. "She’s getting drunk. I forgot Luna can’t handle alcohol. Besides, since when did my land become ’our territory’?" he asked in his head.