Archive City - Wild Spring Restaurant.

The restaurant occupied a prominent corner along one of the city’s main streets, its exterior built of polished darkwood and pale stone, maintained so well that it seemed untouched by time. Warm crystal lanterns hung beneath the curved eaves, casting a soft golden glow across the entrance as patrons flowed steadily through its doors.

Large windows revealed glimpses of the bustling interior, where merchants, cultivators, scholars, and ordinary citizens shared the same space with surprising ease. The building lacked the gaudy extravagance favored by many wealthy establishments, relying instead on quiet refinement and impeccable upkeep to announce its success.

Inside, the dining hall was spacious and inviting, filled with the rich aromas of roasted meat, fresh bread, fragrant teas, and simmering broths. Conversations blended into a pleasant sound that never became overwhelming, while attentive servers moved effortlessly between tables with practiced efficiency.

Polished wooden pillars supported the high ceiling, and crystal lamps bathed the room in warm light, making the entire restaurant feel comfortable and welcoming. Like many things in the city, everything seemed to function with remarkable smoothness, creating an atmosphere so naturally pleasant that visitors often found themselves lingering far longer than they had intended.

She has scouted this location before picking it as a meeting spot with arguably the most influential figure in the city. She was cautious enough to realize she was at a disadvantage in this negotiation about to take place.

If she had known, all those months ago, that the very person she had once gone to great lengths to avoid would eventually become the city’s most powerful and enigmatic figure, she would have invested all her efforts in forming an alliance early on. Instead, she now found herself wracked with anxiety, wishing she had recognized the signs of this individual’s rise to power and acted accordingly.

Regret, however, was a bitter pill she had no choice but to swallow, at least, as far as she knew. Then again, in a world filled with alchemists, practitioners, and inventions that defied logic, she couldn’t help but wonder, a wry amusement curling her lips: perhaps someone, somewhere, had already concocted a remedy for regret itself.

Currently seated on a double-seater table in the restaurant, she observed the area. There doesn’t seem to be any ’poor’ cultivators around. This was one of those places in the city that did not cater to practitioners without good backgrounds. In fact, the food sold here is so expensive that even if those cultivators sold every belonging they brought into town, they still couldn’t afford more than a day’s worth of meals here. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Because of this, only the demihumans who recently came to town could afford to eat here, and some residents, as is obvious from the guests currently in the restaurant.

She let out a soft sigh, feeling the weight of countless eyes drifting her way. ’They are looking again,’ she thought, her internal voice tinged with a weary resignation.

Where she came from, she was looked on as a precious child by everyone in the city, so hardly would she get any ’gaze’. Back then, if she had been told she would experience such uncomfortable attention, she would have scoffed dismissively, as she would not have understood what it meant.

Now, however, she was acutely aware of how her striking appearance drew persistent, sometimes hungry, glances from men throughout the restaurant. The attention was exhausting, a constant drain on her composure. It wasn’t just the men, either; some women’s eyes lingered on her with admiration, while others shot her fleeting looks edged with envy or even open hostility. Navigating this sea of gazes had become an ordeal, one that reminded her just how far she was from the sheltered innocence of her upbringing.

She felt like she was sitting on pins and regretted her choice of place before the restaurant’s entry was pushed open, drawing her attention. She heard surprised gasps from those inside the restaurant as people began speaking in low murmurs.

The one who had just arrived was none other than the figure she was waiting for, the most influential figure in the city, the silver elf, the clear-eyed inspector, Eva.

Vaelonea found herself momentarily captivated. ’She is beautiful.’ The thought surfaced unbidden as she watched Eva approach, her poise and graceful bearing making her seem almost otherworldly. For a fleeting moment, Vaelonea realized she was no different from the other women who watched her in open admiration, caught in the magnetic pull of Eva’s presence.

Eva sat on the free chair that was opposite the girl in front of her. "I heard you asked me to make a trade?"

Ever since Alaric had requested that she obtain resources and important information/knowledge from those in the city, she has been using the products he refined to exchange for them. Trades like these happen often now, as the products are a hot topic among cultivators.

"Ah, yes, sorry for acting so rudely." She stuttered a little, trying to keep her composure. It was clear that this experience was a ’first’ for her. My name is Vaelonea. I heard you are offering resources to trade for raw materials and information. I would like to trade with you."

Eva regarded her with a discerning gaze, already seeing past the surface. "I am guessing you have a special reason for requesting me directly? You could have completed the trade with Brother Son without involving me." It was true, such negotiations were usually delegated. Only those with unusual circumstances or requests sought Eva’s personal attention.

Vaelonea managed a faint, nervous smile. "You are right, Sister Eva, I do have special circumstances that made me request your presence. Besides that, I wouldn’t want to be scammed by Brother Son; he is very reputable in that aspect." Her attempt at levity drew a wry smile from Eva, who seemed both amused and resigned.

Eva cleared her throat, gently steering the conversation back on track. "Let me hear your request. If it is worth the goods you have for me, I will try to fulfill it."

Vaelonea’s demeanor shifted, growing serious. "I would like to join your faction."

Eva’s eyebrows rose in mild surprise. "Faction?"

"Yes," Vaelonea clarified, "not the organization you are building right now, but the one that you will be a part of in the future."

Interest flickered in Eva’s eyes. "Oh? You seem so sure we will create a faction in the future?"

"I am sure once you find out about the situation within Archive Mountain Academy, you will create your own faction," Vaelonea replied, her tone confident. Eva leaned closer, curiosity sharpening her gaze. "What situation is that?"

Vaelonea shook her head politely. "That would count as ’important information.’ If you want to know, you have to complete the trade first."

Eva paused, assessing Vaelonea with a faint, knowing smile. "What do you truly want?"

Eva was no fool; she understood there had to be layers to Vaelonea’s request. No one sought to join a ’future faction’ without reason. There must be deeper motives beneath the surface. Vaelonea held Eva’s gaze. "Why would you think there is a deeper reason behind my request? I just don’t want to join any other existing factions within the Archive Mountain Academy."

Eva shook her head, unconvinced. "I would believe that if I hadn’t seen you myself. Now that I have met you face to face, I can’t accept such a simple explanation. You have a naturally reserved nature, which is clearly not just because of the attention you receive from others. You’re more cautious and calculated than most. I noticed it the very first time I saw you that night, following that old man. There must be reasons a young girl like you is so different from the lively young cultivators in the city."

That wasn’t really the main reason, but it didn’t matter much; she just had to give a plausible explanation. That was what Alaric had taught her. Since she couldn’t reveal the truth as it would make her feel uncomfortable, the best thing she could think of was to give a more believable explanation that was more believable. Maybe if their relationship were more than it is right now, they could speak openly about their secrets.

’Alaric needs to see her, whether this negotiation is successful or not’.

A flush of embarrassment crept up Vaelonea’s cheeks. She hadn’t realized she had been noticed that night. "What about you? You don’t act like those young, lively cultivators, either. If I were told you were a reincarnated elder, I would believe it."

Eva let out a soft, amused laugh. "If that were true, I would probably kill you for guessing that." Vaelonea gulped, suddenly unsure whether to take her seriously.

"I was just joking. Let’s just say I have a very special situation that led to me being the way I am."

"So are you going to tell me why you are here?"

"I need protection." She said in a very somber tone.