God’s Tree

As their conversation continued, the land around them changed.

The open plains slowly gave way to roads, and the distant outlines of farmland became visible.

But what caught their attention the most—

A massive city rising in the distance.

Towering stone walls encircled the city, reinforced with metal plating and rune inscriptions that glowed faintly under the afternoon sun.

Even from afar, they could see massive banners waving atop the gates, displaying a royal crest they did not recognize.

Argolaith slowed his pace. "…Well, that's big."

Kaelred smirked. "Welcome to civilization."

Argolaith let out a low whistle, observing the sheer scale of the city.

"…This is going to be interesting."

And with that, the two continued forward, leaving the wild lands behind them as they stepped toward a new chapter of their journey.

The closer they got to the city, the more the landscape transformed.

Gone were the wild, untamed lands of Morgoth. Now, they passed well-trodden dirt roads, stone pathways, and farmlands stretching toward the horizon.

Workers in straw hats and simple tunics labored in the fields, their tools glowing faintly with rune inscriptions that helped till the land.

Small villages dotted the outskirts of the city, smoke rising from chimneys as merchants and travelers moved along the roads.

Argolaith whistled softly.

"I've never seen this many people in one place before."

Kaelred smirked. "And this is just the outer ring. Wait until we get inside."

Argolaith adjusted the strap on his sword. "Right. We should figure out how we're going to sell the wyvern materials."

Kaelred nodded. "We'll need to find a merchant or a guild that deals in beast parts. And we should also—"

His words stopped abruptly as they reached the city gates.

The city's main entrance was a towering steel-reinforced gate, flanked by stone walls that stretched high into the sky.

Two massive statues, carved from obsidian and etched with glowing runes, stood guard at the entrance—depicting warriors in flowing cloaks, their weapons raised in defense.

Lines of traders, adventurers, and common folk waited for entry, while heavily armed guards in polished armor checked each traveler before allowing them inside.

Kaelred let out a low whistle.

"Looks like this place takes security seriously."

Argolaith nodded. "Should we be worried?"

Kaelred shook his head. "Not unless you're planning to stab someone before we even get inside."

Argolaith smirked. "Not yet."

They stepped into the line of travelers, listening to the chatter around them.

A group of armored adventurers boasted about slaying a strange beast near the mountains, while a merchant argued with a guard about import taxes on enchanted silk.

Argolaith glanced at Kaelred. "So, what do we tell them when we get to the front?"

Kaelred shrugged. "The truth. We're travelers looking to sell materials. As long as we don't act suspicious, we should be fine."

Argolaith muttered, "That's a lot of faith in human guards."

Kaelred smirked. "You'll see soon enough."

When they finally reached the front of the line, a guard in silver-trimmed armor stepped forward, eyeing them carefully.

"State your business."

Kaelred spoke first. "We're travelers, looking to enter the city to trade."

The guard's eyes flicked to Argolaith's sword, lingering for a moment before nodding.

"Names?"

Kaelred answered easily. "Kaelred."

Argolaith hesitated before saying, "Argolaith."

The guard raised a brow. "That's a rare name."

Argolaith shrugged. "I get that a lot."

The guard motioned toward a small pedestal with a glowing rune inscribed on it.

"Hand on the stone."

Argolaith and Kaelred exchanged glances before placing their hands on the rune-carved surface.

A faint glow pulsed beneath their fingers, and after a moment, the guard nodded in approval.

"No criminal records. You're clear to enter."

Argolaith smirked at Kaelred. "See? Not suspicious."

Kaelred rolled his eyes. "We're not done yet."

The guard gestured toward another officer, who stepped forward with a clipboard.

"Any goods for trade or sale?"

Kaelred nodded. "Beast materials—scales, bones, claws, and blood. Mostly from wyverns."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "Wyverns? You mean actual wyverns?"

Argolaith grinned. "Do you want proof?"

Kaelred sighed. "Don't pull out the bodies, Argolaith."

The officer held up a hand. "No need. If you're carrying that much, I'd suggest heading to the Merchant's Guild or the Blacksmith's Quarter. Beast materials can fetch a high price, depending on quality."

Kaelred nodded. "Thanks for the advice."

The officer finished scribbling notes before stepping aside.

"Welcome to Val'Haren. Behave yourselves."

With that, the massive gates creaked open, revealing the bustling streets of the city within.

As they stepped through the archway, they were immediately hit with a wave of noise and movement.

Val'Haren was alive—a city of towering stone structures, colorful banners hanging from buildings, and streets packed with people of all kinds.

The smell of grilled meat and spiced bread filled the air, blending with the scent of burning incense and magical energy.

Kaelred took in the view with a small smile.

"Feels like home."

Argolaith, meanwhile, was staring at everything.

"This place is massive."

The streets were lined with market stalls, displaying exotic fabrics, shimmering potions, and weapons infused with magic.

A bearded blacksmith hammered away at a sword glowing with runic heat, while a group of robed scholars examined a floating orb of crackling blue energy.

Argolaith smirked. "Alright. Where do we start?"

Kaelred glanced toward the Merchant's District, where traders called out prices and bartered over rare goods.

"First, we find someone who'll buy these wyvern parts."

Argolaith nodded. "And then?"

Kaelred grinned. "Then, we figure out how to make some real money."

With that, they stepped forward, disappearing into the crowd of Val'Haren—ready to carve their own place in the city of trade, secrets, and opportunity.

Argolaith and Kaelred navigated the bustling streets of Val'Haren, their eyes scanning the city's towering buildings and vibrant market stalls.

The air buzzed with energy, filled with the sound of bartering merchants, shouting traders, and the occasional hum of magic-infused wares.

Argolaith grinned. "Alright, where exactly is this Merchant's Guild?"

Kaelred gestured ahead, where a large, ornate building stood at the heart of the trade district.

"That would be it."

The Merchant's Guild was unlike anything Argolaith had ever seen.

Tall marble pillars supported an intricately carved entrance, depicting golden runes and symbols of prosperity.

Merchants of all races bustled about, some carrying crates of goods, others engaged in heated negotiations.

Guards stood at the entrance, watching carefully as people moved in and out.

Argolaith raised an eyebrow. "Fancy. Do we just walk in?"

Kaelred nodded. "Yeah, but let me do the talking first."

Argolaith smirked. "Worried I'll say something stupid?"

Kaelred exhaled sharply. "No. I know you'll say something stupid."

Argolaith chuckled but didn't argue.

As they stepped inside, the air changed.

Unlike the chaotic streets outside, the guild hall was calm and controlled, with neatly organized counters and officials handling trades and transactions.

A massive chandelier of floating crystals illuminated the high ceiling, while merchants haggled in hushed tones at long wooden tables.

Behind a central desk, a stern-looking man with slicked-back silver hair and glasses sat, reading over documents.

Kaelred approached the desk, clearing his throat.

"We're here to sell high-quality wyvern materials."

The man looked up, adjusting his glasses.

"Wyvern materials, you say? What kind?"

Argolaith leaned on the counter, smirking. "Bones, scales, claws, blood—practically the entire beast."

The man's eyes narrowed slightly, as if assessing their claim.

"Wyverns are not easy prey. Do you have proof?"

Argolaith reached into his storage ring, pulling out a gleaming wyvern claw the size of a short sword, dropping it onto the desk.

The metal surface rattled under the weight.

The merchant's eyes widened slightly, but his expression quickly returned to neutral professionalism.

"Impressive. And you claim to have more?"

Kaelred nodded. "A lot more."

The merchant tapped his fingers against the desk, thinking.

"Very well. Step into the private appraisal room. If your claim is legitimate, you may have a very profitable day ahead of you."

The private room was smaller, lined with shelves containing magical tools used for inspecting goods.

A tall, thin man in dark robes awaited them, his eyes glowing faintly with rune magic.

The merchant who had greeted them earlier sat down, motioning for them to begin.

"Show us what you've brought."

Argolaith grinned, pulling open his storage ring and materializing several large wyvern parts onto the inspection table.

Glittering black scales, massive curved claws, thick, reinforced bones, bottled wyvern blood, shimmering with latent magic

The appraiser's hands twitched as he reached for a scale, examining it closely.

"These are… remarkable quality."

The merchant leaned forward. "Where did you get these?"

Kaelred smirked. "We killed them."

The merchant's expression didn't change, but the appraiser paused mid-examination, glancing at them.

"You… killed multiple wyverns?"

Argolaith shrugged. "It was a long day."

The merchant studied them carefully, then turned to the appraiser.

"What's the estimate?"

The appraiser ran his fingers over the scales, muttering an incantation.

The scales glowed faintly, revealing latent magical properties.

After a moment, the appraiser spoke.

"These aren't just any wyverns. They were strong—far stronger than common breeds. Their magic hasn't fully faded, meaning they were killed recently."

He turned back to the merchant.

"They're worth a fortune."

The merchant's demeanor shifted slightly.

No longer just another trade—this was a valuable opportunity.

"How much are you looking for?"

Kaelred leaned forward. "What's your offer?"

The merchant folded his hands. "For everything here? 200 gold coins and 10 low-grade magic stones."

Argolaith immediately frowned.

"That seems low."

The merchant smiled slightly. "It's a generous offer. Most hunters don't bring in this much material at once."

Kaelred, however, saw through the game.

"You're undervaluing the wyvern blood."

The merchant raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Kaelred continued.

"Wyvern blood is used in high-grade enchantments. If you were to refine this, you'd make more than triple your offer."

The merchant sighed. "Clever."

He tapped the table.

"Fine. 350 gold coins, and 20 magic stones."

Kaelred smirked. "Getting better."

Argolaith leaned forward. "Let's call it 400 gold and 30 stones."

The merchant chuckled. "You drive a hard bargain."

A pause.

Then, with a small nod, he extended his hand.

"Deal."

Minutes later, the transaction was complete.

A heavy sack of gold coins and a pouch of glowing magic stones now sat in Argolaith's storage ring.

Kaelred sighed, rolling his shoulders. "That went well."

Argolaith grinned. "We're rich now, right?"

Kaelred smirked. "For now. But money disappears fast in a city like this."

Argolaith tilted his head. "So what's next?"

Kaelred crossed his arms. "Now? We figure out where to sleep and what to do next."

Argolaith grinned. "Then let's explore."

With their newfound wealth, the two stepped back into the bustling streets of Val'Haren, their eyes set on whatever opportunities lay ahead.