The gates of cities or castles were usually only opened during daylight hours. It was similar to how farmers in rural villages returned home after sunset.
During the day, the surroundings were bright, making inspections easy. However, after sunset, when darkness fell, even holding a torch made it difficult to do much.
This was no different for Spitzenberg, and now, just after sunset, the gates of the city were firmly shut.
In front of the gates, merchants and travelers who had barely missed entering were preparing to camp for the night.
Keldric made a displeased expression at the thought that he might have to camp right outside his destination.
“The gates appear to be closed.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
Having visited Spitzenberg a few times before, he intended to call upon a gatekeeper soldier he personally knew.
“Hey, Matthias! Are you there?”
A man suddenly poked his head out from the top of the castle wall. It seemed to be Matthias, the soldier Radomar had mentioned.
“Radomar? Is that you?”
“Yes! And this here is Sir Keldric of the honorable Bellaf family, coming from Bogenberg! He seeks entry into Spitzenberg open the gates for us!”
However, even for a knight, entering a city through closed gates at night was a significant imposition.
Gates existed to protect cities from external threats, and demanding they be opened at such a late hour was considered disrespectful to the nobles governing the city or castle.
“Sorry, but I can’t do that!”
Keldric understood this as well. Unless one belonged to a famously prestigious knightly family, it was unlikely anyone would make exceptions.
Unfortunately, the name of Keldric from the Bellaf family had not yet reached Spitzenberg.
Keldric reached into his coat and retrieved a letter from the Count of Bogenberg. Then, gently nudging his horse, Avelin, forward, he declared, “By the grace of God, I am Keldric of the Bellaf family!”
“It is an honor to meet you! However, by the current orders of the governor, entry to the city at night is prohibited!”
“I carry a letter from Count Johan von Bogenberg, the rightful lord of Bogenberg, addressed to the lord of Spitzenberg! Open the gates immediately!”
“…Please wait a moment!”
While waiting for Matthias’ response, Keldric calmly stroked Avelin’s mane. It didn’t take long for Matthias, who had disappeared behind the castle walls, to return.
“We will open the gates!”
Although nighttime entry was generally forbidden, exceptions were made for knights on official business with the city’s ruler.
Keldric, as a representative or contracted knight of the Count of Bogenberg, carried enough weight that denying him could lead to unforeseen consequences.
“Proceed.”
“Yes, Sir Keldric.”
Alongside the mercenaries who began preparing to move again, Keldric approached the slowly opening gates.
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The streets of Spitzenberg were surprisingly clean. While the city wasn’t particularly lively, it was mostly quiet except for the occasional noise from inns or taverns.
“Shall I inform His Lordship of your arrival?”
“There’s no need, It’s late as it is.”
Matthias had offered to escort Keldric to the Baron of Spitzenberg, but Keldric courteously declined. It was already an imposition to enter the city late at night under official pretense; barging into the castle and waking the baron seemed unnecessary and rude.
If they did, the baron would undoubtedly rush to prepare a reception, and Keldric would feel awkwardly obliged for such hospitality after disturbing the household at such an hour.
That would be poor manners. Keldric decided it would be better to find a nearby inn to rest for the night and send word to the castle in the morning.
“Let’s go. I know of a good inn”.
“That sounds perfect.”
After sending Matthias on his way, Keldric followed Radomar through the quiet night streets of Spitzenberg, taking in the city’s unique sights as they walked.
“City of stone, indeed… The rumors were true,”
While not every building fit the description, many appeared to have been carved from massive rock, rather than built using traditional limestone mortar.
Just glancing around, he could spot buildings that looked as if they were sculpted from solid stone slabs. Keldric recalled the legendary tales he’d heard about this place.
Spitzenberg was said to have been carved from a mountaintop by ancient dwarves using lost techniques.
This legendary city matched the stories perfectly. Even the city walls seemed more like a single colossal formation that rose seamlessly from the ground, rather than a structure built stone by stone.
Keldric’s eyes gleamed with fascination. It was like discovering that the fairy tales he had heard as a child were real. The idea of carving an entire city from a mountain peak was unfathomable.
When faced with something puzzling, Keldric often turned to Alyssa for answers. Riding alongside him, she looked equally intrigued.
“The structure of these buildings is peculiar. Do you think they were truly carved from solid stone?”
“It seems likely, I’d only heard rumors, but seeing it in person is a first for me too.”
“How does something like this even hold its weight?”
“I’m not sure… Perhaps it’s sustained by some ancient magic or runes that have since been lost to time.”
It was an entirely foreign concept to Keldric. He decided to leave it at that. After all, he didn’t even fully understand the principles behind Alyssa’s own magic.
Trying to analyze this mysterious architecture would only give him a headache.
Before long, they arrived at the inn Radomar had recommended. The establishment was clean, and the food was excellent. Even the inn, like many other buildings in the city, appeared to have been carved from stone, which seemed to fascinate Alyssa.
Paying for their stay wasn’t a concern. Count Bogenberg had provided Keldric with silver coins to cover travel expenses. Using them, Keldric settled the bill easily.
After washing off the grime of the day and lying down to rest, Keldric, worn out from climbing the mountains for half a day, quickly drifted off to sleep.
That night, Keldric had a strange dream.
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Waking up to a sensation of floating, Keldric found himself in an unfamiliar, strange place.
He glanced around with a dazed expression. The surroundings were dark, the ground damp, and it was impossible to figure out where he was.
“What is this?”
Remaining on guard, Keldric quickly replayed the events before he fell asleep.
He had filled his stomach with the complimentary meal provided by the inn, washed up behind the building, entrusted Arno with the maintenance of his armor and weapons, and gone to bed.
It was an uneventful sequence of events. Moreover, Keldric was a light sleeper; if someone had tried to move him to this strange place, he would have woken immediately.
Perhaps it was a dream. That thought brought him some relief.
In the darkness, Keldric slowly blinked. Imagining three dots floating in the void and rolling his eyes slowly, he gradually adjusted to the darkness, and vague outlines of his surroundings began to emerge.
“A cave?”
The sharp stalactites rising from the floor and ceiling and the occasional cold droplets of water falling suggested a cave. That explained the damp ground.
Now more accustomed to the darkness, Keldric cautiously stood up. Though he had left all his armor with Arno before sleeping, the clinking sound he heard was unmistakably that of chain mail.
He took a step forward. Despite wearing armor, his body felt inexplicably light an impossible sensation.
This was definitely a dream. The wet sensation of water pooling on the ground and the sound of droplets falling from above were vivid, but it still didn’t feel real.
Perhaps Alyssa would know something about this phenomenon. Keldric resolved to find her as soon as he woke up.
His eyes, now adapted to the darkness, granted him an ever-expanding view. Depending on his clearer vision, Keldric moved forward, one step at a time.
There was no turning back. Every time he turned to look at the path he’d come from, his body would inexplicably face forward again.
With no choice but to proceed, Keldric slowly advanced. At some point, an unsettling sound reached his ears.
Grrrr…
It was a low, menacing growl, like a dog baring its teeth in warning. Judging by its depth and resonance, it was likely no ordinary stray.
Instinctively, Keldric’s hand moved to his waist. But there was no mace or sword to be found.
All he had were his fists, encased in sturdy gauntlets. He swallowed nervously.
In a real fight, Keldric wouldn’t have felt fear—just tension. But this lucid dream, which mimicked reality, was unknown territory to him.
Without knowledge, there was no preparation. Keldric could only rely on his strength.
His eyes turned cold and sharp. The growling noise came from somewhere in the darkness ahead.
If it was a stray dog, he figured he could kick it away. But if it was a wolf—
“Many wolves are said to appear along the mountain paths. It’s just something I’ve heard… but please be careful, sir.”
The words of the pilgrim Verno, whom Keldric had met before, flashed through his mind.
Keldric was certain the low growling came from a wolf.
It was strange—he, who was usually cautious to a fault, felt an inexplicably strong conviction.
The frigid air brushed past the back of Keldric’s neck, and his tension reached its peak.
Standing still for a moment, Keldric resumed his steps. He had nowhere to retreat, and if it was indeed a wolf, he would simply have to use his fists to overpower it.
He walked for what felt like ages. The growling grew closer, and its frequency increased.
At last, Keldric emerged into an open, cavernous space.
“What…?”
He quickly surveyed his surroundings. The smooth chamber was filled with peculiar statues—some reaching forward, others collapsed and looking back, and still others crossing their arms as if to shield themselves.
A wave of oppressive heat suddenly surged toward him.
Instinctively, Keldric rolled to the ground and threw a punch with all his might. His fist struck something solid, like tough leather.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
The sound of someone gasping for breath rang out, and Keldric’s consciousness surged in an instant.
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“……?”
The warm morning sunlight gently touched Keldric’s face as he opened his eyes, gazing around with a bewildered expression.
Everything was just as it had been—the stone walls, the furniture filling the small inn room.
His mind was in turmoil. Shaking off his confusion, Keldric quickly collected his thoughts and dressed.
The vivid memory of the dream lingered in his mind, refusing to fade. He resolved to ask Alyssa about it.
“Dreams like that… I don’t really know. Divination or dream interpretation isn’t exactly my area of expertise,” Alyssa replied, already seated downstairs for breakfast.
Keldric frowned slightly, watching her chew on a piece of potato.
“Maybe you were just really tired? Even if you didn’t cross the whole mountain range, climbing halfway up is exhausting enough.”
“Maybe.”
“If it’s bothering you that much, why not consult a fortune-teller or someone who specializes in dream interpretation?”
Alyssa might have been right. It could have been nothing. Perhaps it was just an ordinary, meaningless dream brought on by fatigue.
Still…
‘It’s strange…’
Despite her casual suggestion, Keldric couldn’t shake off his unease. He decided to follow her advice and look into finding a fortune-teller sometime soon.
But that wasn’t something he needed to do immediately. There were more pressing matters to attend to.
Suppressing his lingering discomfort, Keldric turned his focus back to waiting for the servant from Baron Spitzenberg.
By now, word must have reached the Baron that Keldric had arrived in the city. It was only a matter of time before someone was sent to fetch him.