The towering walls covering the city a whole looking like it would still stand no matter how many attacks it takes making my shoulder relax a little.

Finally we are back.

“Stop!”

Standing between the gates was a soldier who shouted at us, through his empty stretched hand I put my guild badge and the trio followed after me finally the soldier look at the coachman who gave his own identification and with nod the soldier went to the side.

“You can pass.”

After taking back our badges the wagon made its way through the wide gates of Athros City, we alighted the coachman's wagon who we met halfway through the journey, thanks to him we arrived before the sunset.

“We're back!!”

Bart cheered as he looked towards the crowded main street.

“Let's go to guild.”

Stopping him from celebrating more was Denn's voice who head straight towards the crowd.

Following him we walk among the bustling crowd until we arrive at the three story building with a sign of crossed sword and axe on top of a diamond shaped shield, inside of its doors where people with colorful armors and assorted weapons the sound of their noisy chattering and the smell of mixed sweat, blood, and iron hang around this familiar place, its the mercenary guild.

We pass by some mercenaries who greet us by either congratulating our success or catcalling Alexa making her glare at them and before long we arrived at the counter.

Denn lined up in one of the counter I was about to follow him when in the corner of my eyes I notice Zana's counter which is empty so after letting them know I made my way there.

“Hey.”

“Oh, its you looks like you finished your quest how was it?”

Surprise could be seen from her eyes followed by a wave of relief.

“Its good, we fought some orcs.” I said then explained her what we went through.

“Amazing your party was just made less than a month yet you are about to do your second iron rank quest.”

We chatted until there's a person lined up after so me I excuse myself after saying goodbye to her and went towards where the party is, they must have been finished submitting the quest as I only saw the lady handing over a pouch.

“Here's the additional reward.”

“Thanks.”

Looking at us Denn showed the pouch full of coins and instead of the sound of coins clattering with each other a loud noise was heard coming from Bart's stomach.

“I am hungry.” He said making the three of us laugh.

“Hahaha, I am hungry too, how about we eat at that place.”

“Alright!”

After exiting the guild we walked towards the restaurant called Wolves' Den, it is the restaurant we frequently in and we ordered a sumptuous meal.

“What's our next quest?” Alexa asked.

“I don't know yet, if I find something good I'll take it so for tomorrow you can do your own things.”

“Would it also be an Iron rank quest?” Bart asked after swallowing a piece of meat.

“Of course it is.”

After the meal we said our goodbyes as we head to different place and after making my way through the alleys I arrived at the inn where I am staying.

The sound of chime sang as I open the door and saw the innkeeper lady, she still had her smile plastered in her face as she greet me.

“Welcome— Oh, its you, I thought you’re dead.”

“I just got back after finishing a quest in a village south from here.”

Hearing her thought that I was dead made me smile wryly as I explained what happened.

“Oh so that's it, if you're one day late I would have taken your belongings out of your room and have someone replace you, so next time inform me if you're going in a long quest, a mercenary life is a fought with dangers after all.”

That's right mercenaries like me treks to the edge of mountain, if we pass the said mountain our efforts will be rewarded by golds and if not only death awaits us.

“Thank you and sorry for the trouble.”

“It's alright at least you came back.”

Afterwards I chatted with her until the next costumer came so I headed upstairs.

As I unlock the door I was greeted by the room I was using since I've come in this city, running towards the bed I discard my items as I kneeled in it and touch the soft mattress that was covering it.

“Finally I can sleep in a proper bed.”

A teardrop almost escape my eyes after seeing the bed that I once thought uncomfortable but after experiencing sleeping in the ground with just a mat I finally realize how lucky I am having to sleep with this mattress.

That night I slept like a baby.

The sunshine and the echoing bells greeted me in the morning, I took my weapon almost heading outside with it but I remembered that we will not do anything today so I left it in my room before heading back downstairs then I order a breakfast and after bathing myself I wore a comfortable clothes before heading out the inn.

I walk aimlessly and my feet led me towards the central plaza with nothing to do I sit down towards an empty bench.

The plaza was full with people either playing or just relaxing like me I was watching the kids play with birds when a subtle sound caught in my ears.

Looking at my side I saw a man with his hands dirtied with colorful paints holding a brush in front of the canvas, a painter, I thought as I shifted my eyes towards his piece and when I saw it it took my breath away, captured in that canvass was a little piece of reality the towering statue of the man in the center under the cloudless blue sky around it where people of all ages and animals play together and in the distance a grand mansion high up the hill could also be seen, it captured this little scene perfectly to the smiling face of the little child until the falling feathers of the pigeon escaping from its clutches.

It was beautiful.

Looking back at the plaza I realize that I have been here in this city for a long time, I learned a lot of things and met a lot of people if I could I would stay here forever but everything has an end its just I don't know when but after being promoted to Iron rank I realized that it might not take long.

I stayed in the plaza for along time before I smelled the delicious scent of meat being grilled so I went near where the stalls are.

“Mister give me two of that please.”

“4 bronze.”

“Here.”

I waited for a long while until the smell of newly cooked meat wafted through my nose.

“Here's your two rabbit barbeque.”

“Thanks.”

I excitedly brought the first one in my mouth and a delicious flavor escape to my tongue as I bite in it.

“You brat!!!”

A sudden shout stopped me from relishing my food and when I look where it came from I saw a man chasing a boy's back, dressed in a rag like shirt and a messy oily brown hair he run towards the streets not letting the man catch him.

“Those rats again.”

“Rats?” I asked the stall owner.

“Those pests that came from slums coming here just to bother people, if you're not careful they will stole your money.” He said with a hint of disgust and hatred in his voice.

“Thank you for your warning.”

I subconsciously check my pouch and seeing that its still there I looked back towards where the pair vanished from.

I continued eating my food while thinking about the slums.

“Might as well check it.” I muttered as I look at the sun that still up in the sky.

After I finished my food I walked towards where they go and traversed the maze like alleys until I arrived at a residential street.

It is a street mostly filled with houses of residents and sometimes I could see passing carriage and children playing with each other together with their parents I walked in this street until I reach the part where the shadow of the walls darkens the place, I looked around and spotted an alley which is much more dirty than where I came from I move my feet there and as I walk deeper to it the sunlight vanishes making the place a lot gloomier, I also spotted people sleeping here and there until I arrived a the place called slums.

Old houses close to each other trashes and waste dirtied the street where people with blank look and soulless eyes pass by, I walked around this quiet place and all I found are people with bleak eyes and hunch backs.

I stopped walking when I was blocked by the tall wall that I first thought was reassuring but now I felt a little suffocated with it so I distance myself from the walls.

As I kept wandering in the slums I heard a murmurings away from me I looked where it is and saw the bleak people walking there in fast pace, curious I am I followed them and what greet me was a long line and at the end of it was people in white robes unblemished with any kind of dirt giving a meal towards the people of the slums.

In this dark and damp space they are like an angel describe in the books for this people.

When I asked someone about who those people are I was given an answer that they are from the church.

Lookin up the sky its still far from night so I move towards where the said church are.

I made my way towards the north western part of the city where the people I ask said the church are.

Passing through the main street I arrived near the flowing river and in the other side of this bridge is the church.

Piercing spires and walls painted in white adored with colorful windows it stood elegantly at the other side of the bridge, through its open doors I can see people kneeling down towards the altar at the front of the church where a stone white statue of a woman dress in elegant gown stood, her face was sculpted perfectly entitled for her to be called goddess by men.

“Hey! What are you doing here?”

Breaking me from my reverie a loud voice came from my side and when I turned my head I saw Bart who's holding to a kid.

“I kind of got curious by the church, what about you?” I replied.

“This is where I live.”

He answered pointing to the church.

“You live in a church?”

“More like the orphanage at back, didn't we told you last time that we are orphans?”

“So Alexa is here too?” I asked.

“She's at the back helping the sisters, want to come and take a look?”

“No its alright I don't want to bother her, Bart do you know who is that woman in a statue?” I asked pointing at the statue.

He looked towards where I am pointing before looking back at me with confusion.

“You don't know her?”

“No.”

“Ah right I forgot you didn't even know about the church.”

“So who is she?” I inquired.

“Why don't we talk inside looks like you are quite curious about the church.

Here go back to the others first, brother will talk to his friend alright.”

He put down the child in his arms and let it join with other kids before guiding me inside the church in the back row of a long benches where there's a little people sitting.

“For your question that statue was Goddess Menaia”

And so I was with Bart until the sunset as he explained to me about the church's doctrines and many more things about the Goddess of Humans called Menaia.

From his words the church believe that she was the one that gifted the humans with fire by letting us touch it, that's why her believers also hailed her as the Seeker of Knowledge.

I was kind of a little surprised with how much Bart knows and also how his entire demeanor change the whole time he was with me, he's like one of those people in white robes calm and collected unlike his child like personality.

Seeing that the streetlights was starting to light up the streets I stood up from my seat and thank him from this new knowledge he given me.

“Thank you for wasting your time teaching me like this Bart.”

“Its alright I am happy to share anything about the church with you.

Then I'll see you tomorrow!”

“Yes, see you.”

I wave my hand responding to Bart as he disappear inside the church, then I walk outside the church heading back towards the inn, it was a nice day as I learned another part of this huge city, a little more and I'll fully explore it.