Chapter 64: Long live Lady Vesha!
As Adyr wandered the streets in search of the inn, he noticed something strange. Despite the damage to the outer walls, none of the buildings inside the city bore any signs of destruction. In fact, most of the people he saw, while carrying a faint sense of gloom, appeared to be going about their lives without major disruption.
That brought his thoughts to the practitioners tasked with defending the city.
According to Vesha, only four remained after the last attack by the Spark. One was at Rank 4, two at Rank 3, and the last at Rank 2. She had spoken with particular excitement about the Rank 4 practitioner, describing in detail how she had shielded the entire city and how, thanks to her power, not a single civilian in the capital had been harmed so far.
Strong enough to protect the people, but not strong enough to defeat the Spark. That was the conclusion Adyr drew.
The fact that only four out of so many practitioners had survived in years, with the rest killed by a single Spark, made the imbalance of power painfully clear.
Not too long after, Adyr finally found the inn, situated along a busy street. It was a four-story building made of well-maintained timber, its structure reminiscent of old western architecture. Despite the traditional design, it looked refined and expensive.
As he stepped through the open door, the noise inside washed over him. One side of the inn was filled with people eating, drinking, and chatting at scattered tables and chairs. On the other side was a bar that also served as a reception counter.
The moment Adyr entered, every gaze in the room shifted to him. His height alone made him an uncommon sight. He ignored the stares and walked calmly toward the man behind the counter—a bald, lean-skinned figure polishing a glass.
Adyr looked down at the man, standing just a few centimeters taller than Vesha. "I want a room. I’ll pay upfront for seven nights."