First Legendary Dragon: Starting With The Limitless System-Chapter 315: Valoria

"Welcome to Valoria, esteemed guests," he spoke hurriedly, visibly anxious yet maintaining respectful composure.

Seris calmly approached the guard captain, handing over a small pouch of copper coins to cover the entrance fees.

Orion briefly raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised by the simplicity of the city’s system, but chose to refrain from questioning it openly, instead stepping forward confidently into Valoria alongside his companions.

As they entered the city’s outer area, Orion and the group carefully observed their surroundings. Unlike Thunderpeak Kingdom’s bustling and prosperous capital, Valoria’s outer city felt humble, worn, and burdened by war.

Simple wooden stalls lined the streets, merchants loudly calling out their wares—fresh produce, basic tools, and inexpensive fabrics.

The citizens filling the streets were exclusively Tigerkin, their expressions weary yet resilient. Mothers gently guided their kids through bustling crowds, laborers carried heavy bundles upon their shoulders, and elderly citizens exchanged quiet greetings.

Their clothing was modest and functional, visibly worn but meticulously maintained, demonstrating the proud dignity of a people determined to endure despite hardship.

Seris gently led Orion and his companions deeper into the outer city, explaining quietly as they walked, "Valoria’s outer city is where merchants, mercenaries, peasants, and lower nobles reside. The Inner City is reserved exclusively for nobility and the royal family."

Nyss, whose typically cold expression briefly softened with curiosity, asked calmly, "Is the city always this crowded?"

Seris softly nodded, her voice quietly sad yet firm, "Recently, it’s become even more crowded. Many villagers from settlements along the border have fled here seeking safety from Lionkin raids. The city struggles greatly with limited resources and housing."

Orion quietly listened to her words, yet he inwardly wondered if Tigerkin were doing the same to the Lionkin as well. He then silently observed the struggling populace.

Felira’s gentle eyes carried quiet sorrow, and she softly commented, "It’s heartbreaking to see people suffering simply because they lack sufficient strength to protect themselves."

Sylvia softly shook her head, "Strength dictates survival. Especially in a place with a Beastkin race. They live by the rule of survival of the fittest."

Orion gently nodded in silent agreement, his expression contemplative yet resolute.

As the group continued exploring Valoria’s streets, their presence drew increasing curiosity from the locals. Whispers filled the air, some wary, others curious, but none openly hostile. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Seris glanced around thoughtfully, quietly reassuring Orion, "Don’t mind the stares. Humans are a rare sight here, and the previous groups who arrived weren’t particularly courteous."

Orion offered a reassuring smile, gently replying, "We understand. Curiosity is natural, and caution is justified. We’ll strive to leave a more positive impression."

Eventually, Seris paused beside a bustling market square, colorful stalls displaying modest goods, fresh produce, and handcrafted trinkets.

Merchants loudly promoted their wares, while customers haggled amicably over prices. Despite their humble means, the Tigerkin people here clearly retained strong community bonds and resilient spirits.

Arya gently smiled, genuinely appreciating the vibrant, bustling atmosphere despite its simplicity. "Even with such bleak situations, the people here manage to maintain their warmth. It’s truly admirable."

Orion softly chuckled, amused at Arya’s kind heart as he realized that both Felira and Arya, who had Wood and Light Elements, had rather kind natures compared to the rest of the group.

He turned his gaze toward the market as he carefully looked through the stalls. Most of it was mortal stuff at Tier 1, with the occasional sighting of a Tier 3 treasure.

Turning to Seris, Orion gently asked, "Seris, is there anywhere else important we should visit or see within the outer city?"

Seris opened her mouth to reply, her eyes thoughtful as she began to mention an interesting location.

However, before she could speak, the hurried sound of footsteps echoed from behind them, interrupting the conversation. Orion and his companions instinctively turned around, their eyes carefully appraising the newcomers.

Approaching swiftly through the bustling market square was a small group of guards, escorting a handful of finely dressed Tigerkin nobles.

Their attire, though not as ornate or luxurious as Thunderpeak Kingdom’s nobles, clearly marked them as individuals of considerable status within Valoria.

The lead noble wore a navy-blue robe accented with silver embroidery, and his confident amber eyes studied Orion’s group closely, mingling curiosity with caution.

The guards quickly halted their march, arranging themselves respectfully around their noble masters.

The lead noble stepped forward and inclined his head courteously, his posture dignified yet slightly tense. "Esteemed guests," he began, his voice composed yet clearly tinged with subtle uncertainty, "Allow me to welcome you to Valoria on behalf of House Kaelen. I am Tiberius Kaelen. May I ask your names?"

Orion returned the greeting with a polite nod, his dual-colored eyes calm yet penetrating, quietly observing the Tigerkin nobles. "Greetings, Tiberius. I am Orion Helstorm from the Thunderpeak Kingdom."

His companions remained respectfully silent, each quietly assessing the new arrivals. Arya offered a gentle, respectful nod, while Emilia maintained an elegant composure.

Nyss’s expression was indifferent as usual, though her watchful gaze remained sharp and alert. Kale and Sylvia stood poised behind Orion, calm yet prepared, and Felira offered a polite, gentle smile.

Elias appeared visibly curious, his eyes flickering over the well-dressed Tigerkin with subtle interest.

For a brief yet palpable moment, a silence hung in the air, neither party wishing to speak rashly. Orion patiently waited, sensing that these nobles had approached them with a particular purpose in mind.

His friends exchanged quiet, questioning glances but refrained from interjecting, silently trusting Orion to lead the conversation.

Finally, after what felt like a lengthy pause, one of the younger Tigerkin nobles standing slightly behind Tiberius awkwardly cleared his throat. "Cough, esteemed guests," he carefully ventured, his voice cautious yet tinged with nervousness, "May I ask for what specific reason you have visited our humble kingdom?"

Orion calmly looked at the young noble for a moment before replying clearly and simply, "There is no particular reason. We had no specific destination upon arriving here, so we decided to explore and visit your kingdom."

The nobles exchanged cautious glances among themselves, clearly uncertain about Orion’s calm, nonchalant answer.

It was evident to Orion that previous encounters with humans had made these nobles wary. Yet, their curiosity about Orion’s group clearly outweighed their apprehension.

After a brief whispered conversation among themselves, Tiberius turned again to Orion, his voice more confident now as he spoke, "In that case, esteemed guests, would you perhaps consider visiting our estate? House Kaelen would be honored to host you."

Orion raised an eyebrow slightly, intrigued by this unexpected yet potentially useful invitation. After a brief moment of thoughtful consideration, he gently nodded his head. "Certainly. Why not?"

Relief visibly washed over Tiberius’s expression, his stance immediately relaxing. "Wonderful," he replied warmly, gesturing politely for Orion’s group to follow him.

Seris, who had been standing silently nearby, clearly hesitated, her amber eyes flickering uncertainly between Orion’s group and the gathered nobles.

Orion quickly noticed her uncertainty and offered a gentle, reassuring smile, quietly addressing her, "Seris, you can follow us if you wish, or return to your territory to care for your people. The choice is yours."

Seris hesitated for a moment, clearly wrestling with the decision before finally bowing deeply to Orion, her voice filled with sincere gratitude. "Thank you, Young Master Orion, for everything you’ve done for us. I may never be able to fully repay your kindness, but I won’t burden you further. I’ll return to my estate to ensure my people’s safety."

Orion gently nodded, his smile kind and understanding. "Take care, Seris. I trust you’ll lead your people well."

With another respectful bow, Seris turned gracefully, her amber eyes reflecting quiet resolve as she began her journey home, her silhouette gradually blending into the bustling market crowd.

Orion then turned calmly toward Tiberius and the other Tigerkin nobles, indicating that he and his companions were ready to follow. "Lead the way," Orion spoke softly.