The ship finally landed on the mountains nearly an hour later, having floated above the docking area while waiting for a spot. Once they disembarked, Cassian and Katherine didn't have to wait long before they found themselves at the back of a nearly half-kilometer-long queue of people waiting to enter the city.
Luckily, they were with Julius, who, unlike Katherine and Cassian—who had both forgotten important items back home—came well-prepared. He had a token that allowed them to bypass the long line and enter the city through a side entrance without any trouble.
Once inside, the city looked much like what Cassian had seen from above, but what stood out now were the diverse types of people around. Some had skin as dark as coal, while others were a pale, ashen white. There were those whose eyes seemed almost perpetually closed, and others with wide, bright blue eyes that never seemed to blink.
The variety of people was unlike anything Cassian had ever encountered before.
The city Cassian had lived in before had a much more uniform population, so this was the first time he had seen such a diverse mix of people in one place. Their clothing, their speech, everything about them was different, yet they moved through the city with ease, interacting with one another as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
As Cassian scanned his surroundings, his attention was drawn to a large statue in front of him. It depicted a female mage, holding a long staff, with the same pointed hat that he had seen many other mages wearing.
The statue itself wasn't much taller than an average person, but it stood atop a towering pedestal, which had long inscriptions etched into its surface, likely telling the story of the figure it honored.
"In the shadow of thrones and empires, where crowns reign supreme, lie the Free Cities—ten jewels untethered by royal decree. From the bustling markets of Galdor's Haven to the moonlit festivals of Silverport, each city stands as a testament to freedom's spirit.
Magisteria, the City of Knowledge, offers wisdom beyond borders, while Velastri's artisans craft masterpieces in a world where skill, not status, rules. In the northern peaks, Cragspire raises towers of thought and steel, as Duskholm weaves the mystic with the mundane in its forested heart.
Ironhold prizes strength, Myrithal devotion, and Soltaris serenity amidst desert sands, while Drakmor dances with shadows and fortune. Here, in these untamed havens, no crown sits heavier than the weight of one's own choices." Cassian finished reading the long inscription but found no mention of the statue before him.
"My lady, who is she? And are these the names of the Free Cities?" Cassian asked, his gaze fixed on the statue's face. It depicted a beautiful young woman, and if he had to guess, she didn't look a day over thirty.
Before Katherine could respond, Julius answered, "No one knows her true name, but every Free City has a statue of her. It's said she helped establish hundreds of cities all over the world, even in territories of other species." He paused for a moment, then continued, "Some texts refer to her as The Guiding Flame of Freedom.
You should know, some of these cities were around during the War of Extermination and even before that. Much of the history has been lost or destroyed during those times. And yes, those are the names of the ten cities she helped establish within human territories."
Cassian nodded, feeling a surge of excitement as he learned more about the world. The mysteries it held were thrilling, sparking a newfound curiosity in him. He hadn't felt this pull to explore before, but now the desire to unravel the secrets of the world around him was had seemed quite exciting.
The three of them bowed silently to the statue in respect before heading into the city. Soon after, Julius parted ways with them, mentioning he had something to take care of. Lady Katherine then led Cassian to an inn where they would stay for the night, as they planned to visit the city center with Julius the following morning.
Katherine also mentioned wanting to meet Julius's wife, who was not only her classmate but also a close friend.
Cassian finally pieced together the connection between Julius and Katherine after overhearing their conversation. Now, as they rested in their room, Cassian stood by the window, gazing out at the bustling streets below, still fascinated by the lively energy of the city.
"I can see why you want to live here, my lady," Cassian said with a smile, watching as a group of people got into a brawl, only to be quickly separated by others nearby.
"Oh, did you?" Katherine replied, her tone surprised.
"Yeah. The most appealing thing about this city is its diverse population. Each person brings a different culture, unique ways of speaking, and various abilities. When you gather all that in one place, it creates a wealth of new ideas.
That's exactly the goal of this city: to collect knowledge and generate new insights from it." He paused, then added, "And part of that process, creating new knowledge from all this excitement, is called research—which is why you're here."
Cassian spoke as if he'd uncovered some profound truth about the city, reflecting on the significance of knowledge. After all, it was known as the City of Knowledge; what other reason would people have for coming here?
Katherine looked a bit disappointed as she replied, "Yeah, that. Now, can you go get me something to eat? I haven't eaten since this morning."
Cassian felt the same pang of hunger and nodded. "What would my lady like to eat?"
"Get some kind of meat soup and bread, and make sure to get some for yourself too," she said, handing him a few silver coins.
Cassian took the coins and asked, "Would chicken soup be all right?"
"Yeah, now go! I'm really hungry," Katherine said, her tone hurried. Cassian noticed she didn't seem like her usual self, but he knew that when women were hungry, they sometimes acted that way. With that thought in mind, he quickly set off to find a restaurant.
As Cassian stepped outside, Katherine closed the book she had been reading and said, "I was going to come meet you tomorrow, master Yuliresio. Why did you trouble yourself to come here?"
"What can I do, little Kath? Your mother has been breathing down my neck this past week, threatening me about your whereabouts." A voice echoed in the room, seemingly from nowhere, before the source materialized. An older man appeared, dressed in silver-white robes and a large pointed hat. He carried a wooden staff adorned with intricate white metal carvings, topped with a large black crystal.
"She said she would come here and kill me if I didn't tell her about you within a week. Thankfully, you arrived before that..." he finished with a forced chuckle.