ERA OF DESTINY-Chapter 158: WHERE SHOULD WE GO– III

Jiu clapped her hands.

The sound was light, but it traveled cleanly through the street.

The young attendants aligned themselves along both sides of the stone steps leading to the tavern. In their hands were shallow trays filled with orange petals, each tray carved from pale wood and lacquered carefully at the edges.

They bowed deeply.

Two attendants stepped forward first. Their movements were fluid, almost rehearsed, their sleeves sweeping the air as they ascended halfway and turned, gesturing inward with synchronized grace.

An invitation.

Petals began to scatter across the steps.

From above and below.

Soft orange against grey stone.

Behind Kiaria and his companions, the street did not celebrate.

Whispers hardened.

A fruit vendor muttered under his breath. A child was pulled away by his mother. A pair of merchants exchanged glances that carried quiet resentment.

The tavern welcomed them with flowers.

Rushway Street welcomed them with jealousy.

Kiaria walked forward.

The attendants continued their dance as he ascended. The petals touched his boots and slid aside. None clung.

Inside, the tavern hall was warm with lantern light. Wooden beams curved overhead in layered arches, smoke from incense drifting lazily near the ceiling. Guests sat at scattered tables–some drinking quietly, others watching openly.

"Where is the register?" Kiaria asked.

Jiu tilted her head.

"Register?" she said with a faint laugh. "Great One, what meaning lies in ink pressed upon paper? If you wish to tag your name, there are other places more suitable."

Her smile lingered.

Kiaria did not react.

Several guests overheard.

One drunkard, already flushed with wine, slammed his bamboo cup down. The liquid splashed across the table’s edge. He stood abruptly, dropped two silver stones onto the wood with deliberate force, and kicked his stool aside.

Before leaving, he turned.

His stare lingered on Kiaria filled with malicious intent.

The door shut behind him with a hollow thud.

"Set aside your flattery," Kiaria said evenly. "You addressed us as Great Ones. To ignore your own registration law–however minor–would be negligence on our part."

The hall quieted further.

Jiu’s fingers tightened briefly beneath the folds of her sleeves.

Aizrel noticed.

"As you wish," Jiu replied.

She raised her palm.

An attendant hurried forward, carrying a thick bundle of scrolls woven together and bound into a book form. The edges were aligned precisely, threads dyed dark to conceal seams.

Kiaria examined it.

"This craftsmanship is refined," he said calmly.

He unrolled the woven pages and began writing.

His name first.

Then each of his companions.

One by one.

When he finished, he paused.

"One more traveled with us," he said without lifting his gaze. "He is not presently here. He will join us later."

He wrote Azriel’s name into the log.

The ink did not smear.

The page did not resist.

He closed the woven register and returned it to Jiu.

"We are tired," he said. "Show us the room."

Jiu turned without hesitation and led them toward the upper level.

The stairs creaked faintly under collective weight.

At the end of the corridor, she stopped before a wide wooden door reinforced with dark metal bands.

The dormitory.

The lantern beside it flickered once–

then steadied.

Kiaria pushed the dormitory door open.

The room was larger than expected. Wooden beams crossed the ceiling in heavy arcs. Rows of low beds lined both sides, blankets folded neatly at their edges. A faint scent of dried herbs lingered in the air, not unpleasant–just present.

No windows.

Only two lantern hooks along the wall.

"Jiu," Kiaria said calmly, scanning the room. "I have a few questions. The rest of you–settle inside."

The companions entered quietly.

Jiu stepped closer, the door remaining half open behind her.

"Where shall we begin?" she asked with a faint smile.

"Direct questions are better."

Kiaria walked slowly along the beds, his fingers brushing the wooden frames lightly. Jiu followed a step behind him.

"When will food be served?"

"Anytime," Jiu replied. "Anything you desire."

"Anything?" Kiaria asked without turning.

She smiled.

"Yes, Great One."

"Souls?"

Jiu’s footsteps stopped.

The lantern flame trembled once.

Kiaria took two more steps before noticing the silence behind him. He turned slightly.

"Relax," he said lightly. "I was joking. If you were wicked, how could you hold the title of Lord here?"

The words were gentle. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The meaning was not.

Jiu resumed walking.

Her smile returned, though it no longer reached her eyes.

"You have not explained the woodcutting schedule," Kiaria continued. "We do not intend to waste your hospitality. We will pay by labor. Chopping logs should suffice."

He paused near the far wall.

"Or is that too little?"

Jiu considered for a brief moment.

"No," she said. "That is sufficient."

She folded her hands before her.

"From tomorrow onward–ten logs equal three copper stones. Twenty-five logs equal one silver stone. More than fifty logs in a day–six silver stones."

Kiaria tilted his head slightly.

"Oh! Interesting..."

He walked back toward her slowly.

"Is this arrangement designed to tempt men into working beyond their strength?"

"Or prepared specifically for us?"

Jiu did not hesitate.

"It was set by the previous Lord," she said. "I maintain it to prevent unrest."

Her tone was steady–too steady.

"Very well," Kiaria said.

"You may leave."

Jiu bowed lightly and turned toward the door.

She reached the threshold.

"Jiu."

She stopped.

"You forgot something."

She turned back.

Kiaria pointed toward the iron lock resting loosely against the doorframe. The key remained in her hand.

For a moment, her expression did not change.

Then she laughed softly.

"Oh. My mistake."

She stepped inside again and placed the key on the small wooden table near the entrance. The metal made a faint clicking sound against the surface.

She withdrew.

The door closed gently.

Not fully.

Just enough to appear considerate.

Her footsteps moved down the corridor.

At the stairwell landing, she stopped.

Her hand struck lightly against the wooden wall.

"Sly fox," she muttered.

The lantern light near her flickered.

She vanished.

Inside the dormitory, Kiaria stood still for a moment.

Then he laughed.

Openly.

Diala looked toward Princess.

Princess was already staring at Kiaria.

Aizrel crossed her arms.

Ru leaned closer to Mu Long."Is he alright?" he whispered.

Mu Long did not respond.

Diala began walking toward Kiaria.

Slowly.

Too slowly.

Princess could not endure it.

She rushed forward, grabbed Kiaria’s left ear, and twisted it firmly.

"Ah–!"

Kiaria bent slightly from the sudden pain.

"Azriel is missing," Princess said sharply, "and you have time to flirt and laugh?"

She twisted once more.

"Now laugh."

"Alright, alright–" Kiaria tapped her wrist lightly. "Release first. I will explain."

She let go.

The room settled.

"All of you, sit," Kiaria said.

Princess, Diala, and Aizrel sat along one bed.

Ru, Yi, and Mu Long remained standing behind it.

"You as well," Kiaria added.

They moved and sat on the opposite bed.

Kiaria lowered himself near Diala, facing them.

"Was it not entertaining?" he asked lightly.

Diala’s eyebrows lifted slowly.

Princess stared.

Aizrel narrowed her eyes.

Kiaria raised both hands slightly.

"Alright. Enough."

He leaned forward.

"Tell me–have you noticed anything unusual since we approached this place?"

"A lot," Aizrel answered immediately.

She folded her fingers together.

"The moment we peeked into Rushway Street... something shifted. Not only did we enter an unfamiliar place–we entered it without realizing we had crossed a boundary."

She paused.

"Our emotions changed. Our temper sharpened. It felt like we were reacting faster than usual."

Mu Long spoke next.

"Not only that. The moment my axe struck Azriel, I felt no resistance. It moved too easily."

He frowned.

"If it was merely blank paper, then how did it move like Azriel? His posture and nature felt flawless."

Diala crossed her arms lightly.

"I don’t like that Proprietress’s actions."

"She is hiding something," Aizrel added.

Princess shook her head slightly.

"She is not just hiding something. She is the main suspect."

Her gaze hardened.

"Her movements, deliberate actions, and flirty talk all felt intentional. She deliberately made us targets in front of the people here."

Ru nodded.

"I noticed that as well. But my confusion lies elsewhere."

He looked around the dormitory walls.

"This place feels too realistic. It resembles Rushway Street in the Grasslands almost perfectly. If Patron’s words are correct, and this land is not an illusion, then how can it resemble our land so precisely?"

He continued.

"Shouldn’t this ruin be ancient? Everything here should be arranged in an old-fashioned, traditional manner."

Yi added quietly,

"I thought the same. But what was more suspicious was something else."

He looked at Kiaria.

"The people reacted when Patron read the woodcutting post and commented on it. But before that, Mu Long slashed his axe at Chief and even cut the cobblestone."

He frowned.

"Why did no one react to that?"

Silence filled the dormitory.

"Good... good," Kiaria said softly. "All of your observations have improved."

He leaned back slightly.

"Then, what are your findings?"

No one answered immediately.

Each of them began connecting the gathered information, arranging fragments into structure.

Kiaria waited.

Minutes passed.

Suddenly Princess stiffened.

Realization struck her.

She stood abruptly.

"You–you mean..." her voice tightened, "you suspect her as the one hosting this illusion?"

Her eyes widened.

"Then could Azriel also be in her custody?"

Her breathing slowed.

"And didn’t we just walk into a slaughterhouse?"

Kiaria nodded once.

"Indeed."

His voice was calm.

"We are their prey."

He paused briefly.

"And we are sheltering inside their slaughterhouse."

The words settled heavily.

"But–" Kiaria continued.

"Sister, there is a small specialty in this slaughterhouse."

Princess remained standing.

"But first, Sister, sit down."

He looked at her steadily.

"Then I will explain."