A bright morning enveloped the capital of the Erthland Empire. The warm morning sunlight swept across the neatly arranged cobblestone streets. The air felt very fresh, with no thick scent of smoke or magical pollution disrupting their breathing.
Calian and Wolvin stepped out of the palace grounds, walking down the main street that was beginning to fill with crowds of residents already going about their daily routines. The sound of trotting horse hooves, the wheels of merchant carts, and the chatter of citizens became a lively morning melody.
Wolvin's eyes moved incessantly in all directions. The Night Wolf teenager saw beastfolk from various clans walking side by side, trading, and laughing freely with the human race. There were no slave collars, no condescending stares, and no whispers of hatred.
Seeing such harmonious life in this capital made Wolvin's chest feel expansive. His heart was filled with an extraordinary sense of relief. He never expected that one day he would be able to walk casually and hold his head high amidst the bustle of a large city.
"Darling!" Wolvin whispered enthusiastically, closing the distance to stand right by his husband's side. "Life here is truly comfortable and safe for my race! I no longer need to feel uneasy about sharp glares or being humiliated in public like I always felt during my time in the Yornvast Empire."
"You are right, Wolvin." Calian replied, offering a faint smile as he saw his spouse's two wolf ears standing erect out of happiness.
Then, the purple-haired teenager stopped his steps for a moment, looking left and right at the row of magnificent buildings and intersections that were foreign to him. "But... where should we go now? Honestly, I don't know the layout or the areas of this city at all."
Wolvin chuckled softly. He could not deny his husband's honest words, because he himself was just as blind to the streets of the Erthland capital.
"There is no need to think too much about a definite destination for now!" Wolvin answered casually. "At the very least, let's just walk down this main street while enjoying the scenery and the new atmosphere in this place. We will surely find the city center later."
Calian nodded in agreement with the simple idea. Ignoring the stares of a few passersby, Calian reached for Wolvin's hand and grasped it gently. Hand in hand, the two teenagers continued their steps, walking around the corners of the capital that was growing busy.
The warmth of his husband's grip felt between his fingers made Wolvin feel very comfortable and protected. A sincere, happy smile radiated clearly on his sweet face.
This is the first time I can feel the warmth of my husband's hand while walking freely in the middle of a city like this without having to hide. Wolvin thought happily, his black tail wagging slowly in rhythm with his footsteps. But... we also cannot continue to relax and be lulled by the peace in this place. My husband must become even stronger!
A rational thought crossed Wolvin's mind. He looked up, staring at his husband's side profile.
"Darling?" he called out softly.
"Yes, Wolvin? What is it?" Calian replied without turning his head, still enjoying the architecture of the surrounding buildings.
"Don't forget, while living here, you must also start making your physical training schedule a routine so your stamina becomes even stronger!" Wolvin said bluntly, acting as a reliable reminder. "I do not want you to be caught off guard and grow weak just because of the comfort present in this place."
Calian's steps slowed slightly. He realized that what his spouse had just said was an absolute truth. His physique still needed to be forged. He had to keep training to increase his stamina capacity so he could control the power of his [Time Loop] blessing more perfectly.
From previous experience, Calian knew that as his body's base stamina increased, not only would the duration of his magic usage grow longer, but the scope of the [Time Loop] magic's activation area, especially to expand the range of the 'stasis' effect that could stop time around him, would also become wider.
"You are right! I cannot afford to be lazy!" Calian answered, nodding slowly. He met Wolvin's gaze. "I will be heavily depending on you to supervise and accompany me in that physical training later, Wolvin."
"Of course, Darling!" Wolvin replied enthusiastically, his eyes shining brightly. "I will certainly always accompany you to train every day. Hehehe."
Hearing that crisp laugh, Calian's heart fluttered warmly. Without the Night Wolf teenager knowing, Calian felt very grateful and lucky towards fate for sending a spouse like Wolvin. Someone so loyal, always supporting him, reminding him when he was nearly off guard, and always being by his side without ever complaining in the slightest even when living in exile and discrimination.
That overflowing gratitude in his chest caused Calian's emotional defenses to loosen slightly. Without him realizing or planning it, a sentence slipped right out of the purple-haired teenager's mouth.
"I love you, Wolvin."
Instantly, Wolvin's steps came to a halt. His eyes widened slightly. He turned his head quickly, looking at his husband's face with a pleasant sense of surprise. A sincere and incredibly sweet smile immediately blossomed on the black-haired teenager's lips.
"I already know that!" Wolvin replied softly, his tone of voice sounding immensely happy. "But you are indeed always stiff and find it very difficult to honestly speak what is in your heart to me from your own lips, even when it is just the two of us in our room."
Wolvin shifted his position, then gripped his husband's hand even tighter with both of his hands.
"I think you also know very well that I love you very much too, Calian." Wolvin continued, staring right into the depths of his husband's purple eyes.
Calian froze for a moment, then smiled faintly after hearing his spouse's honest answer.
I also already know very well your immense feelings for me. Calian replied in his heart, feeling a gentle thumping in his chest. Therefore, for the rest of my life, I only want you to be by my side. Even until now, the thought of betraying you has never once crossed my mind. You are the best spouse who has continuously accompanied me with pure sincerity all this time.
After enjoying that brief, heartwarming moment, the two of them resumed walking down the capital's streets.
A few moments later, their footsteps came to a halt at a fairly large public square.
Across the street stood a magnificent and busy three-story building. The building was made of sturdy red bricks supported by white pillars. And right above its wide main entrance, there was a thick wooden sign carved with gold ink bearing the words "Central Imperial Merchant Guild", which was quite large and easily readable from a distance.
"That is the place!" Calian said.
The two of them walked across the road and entered the merchant guild building. Their objective was clear: to carry out their mother's task of selling the jewelry, while simultaneously finding out about the currency system and values applicable in the Erthland Empire so they would not be financially blind.
As soon as they passed through the entrance, the noisy atmosphere of price haggling and the clinking of coins immediately greeted their ears. The room was very spacious, with many counters attended by the guild staff.
Calian and Wolvin stepped towards one of the reception desks that appeared empty. Behind the polished, shining wooden desk, a beautiful young woman dressed in an official guild uniform welcomed their arrival with a very friendly and professional smile.
"Good morning and welcome to the Central Merchant Guild of the Erthland Empire's capital." the young woman greeted with a very friendly and polite voice. "I am Hera, the receptionist who will be serving you today. Is there anything I can help you with, Gentlemen?"
"Yes, good morning." Calian replied politely but without wasting time. "Can we sell some luxury jewelry at this place?"
Hera smiled even more warmly. "Of course you can, Sir! Our guild accepts a wide variety of high-value commodities. Please, if you wish to sell your jewelry here, our appraisal team will surely buy it at a very reasonable price that matches the current market rates."
Hearing the confirmation from the receptionist, Calian turned his head to the side. He gave a small nod as a signal, asking his spouse to take out all the jewelry given by their mother from inside the dimensional space necklace around Wolvin's neck.
Understanding his husband's signal, Wolvin stepped forward to approach the reception desk. Without the slightest hesitation, he channeled a wisp of mana into his necklace.
Clack! Clatter! Clink!
In the blink of an eye, a glimmer of golden light appeared on the desk. A series of velvet boxes, diamond-studded gold necklaces, ruby gemstone bracelets, and various high-class jewelry they had previously bought in Argam City spilled out and piled up on the reception desk like a small mountain of treasure.
Seeing the sheer amount and quality of the jewelry overflowing and covering almost half of her desk, Hera gasped in shock. She reflexively took a step back. Her eyes widened, looking back and forth between the pile of jewelry with fantastic value and the two casually dressed teenagers in front of her.
However, as a central guild receptionist trained to handle various types of clients from different high-class circles, Hera's surprise did not last long. In just a matter of seconds, she took a deep breath, neutralized her facial expression, and returned to her friendly smile as if the mountain of jewelry in front of her were an ordinary morning sight. She still had to work professionally and immediately process the fantastic-valued transaction right before her eyes.