Lorenzo, you're a virgin. But you're about to die a MAN.
He leaned in, lips trembling, about to meet hers—
CRACK!
THUD!
"My lady, we have arrived at the gates of Sidonia. Please step out—"
The carriage door swung open with an ominous creak, like fate itself was cockblocking him.
A Phoenix Knight in gleaming sunsteel armor stood framed in the doorway, his hand instinctively moving to his sword hilt as he processed the scene before him. His eyes—sharp and trained to spot trouble—locked onto Drake's compromising position above Elsa.
Drake froze mid-lean, lips still puckered like he was about to kiss a particularly attractive fish. Time crystallized into this one mortifying moment.
Elsa's eyes snapped open, meeting the guard's stunned gaze over Drake's shoulder.
"H-HUH?!"
"Lady... Elsa?!" The guard's voice cracked with disbelief.
"IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!" Elsa shrieked, her face turning a shade of crimson that could probably be seen from orbit.
Drake's blood turned to ice water. Lady? LADY?! I'm so dead. They're going to execute me with a rusty spoon.
SHING!
The guard's enchanted blade sang as it cleared its sheath, runes along its edge flaring to life with deadly promise.
"Step away from Lady Elsa, you barbarian scum." His voice carried the kind of authority that suggested he'd separated heads from shoulders for lesser offenses.
Drake slowly raised both hands, trying to look as non-threatening as humanly possible. "Whoa, whoa! She literally just said it's not what it looks like!"
The guard's eyes narrowed to slits. "Oh really? Because what it looked like was a commoner about to defile a noble lady of the realm. So please, enlighten me—what exactly am I not seeing correctly?"
Drake's mind raced like a hamster on fire. "Look, the carriage lurched—we both went flying! I was just... checking if she was injured! You know, making sure she didn't hit her head or anything!" He gestured wildly. "Everything else was just... unfortunate positioning!"
"And the kissing?" The guard's blade didn't waver.
"Kissing?! I was checking for breathing! You know—like when someone's unconscious, you put your ear near their mouth to—" Drake's explanation was getting more ridiculous by the second, but panic made him commit. "It's basic first aid!"
Elsa sat up slowly, her hair adorably disheveled, and fixed the guard with a withering stare that could melt steel.
"Sir Garrett, your driver just about launched us through the roof with that sudden stop. This gentleman"—she emphasized the word with pointed authority—"was making sure I wasn't seriously hurt. Unlike certain guards who draw swords first and ask questions later."
The guard—Garrett—immediately straightened, his aggressive stance crumbling like a house of cards. "My lady! I—forgive me, I didn't realize—the sudden stop wasn't intentional, I assure you—"
"Well it nearly broke my spine," Elsa huffed, reaching for her ornate staff and adjusting her wide-brimmed hat with practiced elegance. "Mr. Lorenzo here showed more concern for my wellbeing in five seconds than your entire escort detail has this entire journey."
Drake blinked. "It's actually Drake Lorenzo, my lady." The title felt weird on his tongue, but when in Rome...
"Sir Drake Lorenzo," Garrett repeated stiffly, sheathing his sword with obvious reluctance. "My sincere apologies for the misunderstanding."
"Apology accepted," Drake said, trying to sound magnanimous while internally screaming with relief.
Elsa gracefully stepped down from the carriage, her sapphire heels clicking against the polished cobblestones. Her violet cloak fluttered dramatically in the breeze, and the runed engravings on her steel staff caught the sunlight like captured starfire.
Even the wind seems to pose her perfectly, Drake thought, following her down. This girl could make stepping in a puddle look regal.
The checkpoint plaza spread before them—a marvel of organized chaos. Behind them stretched a line of carriages that seemed to go on forever: merchant wagons loaded with exotic goods, adventure parties with weapons and armor gleaming, even a troupe of performers practicing their act while they waited, juggling flaming batons that left trails of glittering sparks.
"Wow," Drake breathed, taking it all in. "That's quite the queue."
"Sidonia welcomes everyone," Elsa explained with obvious pride. "From the highest nobles to the humblest turnip farmers. The city thrives on diversity—you'll find goods and services here from every corner of the continent."
As they approached the main gate, Drake's jaw nearly hit the cobblestones. The towering silver gates were works of art unto themselves, inlaid with phoenix emblems that seemed to dance with inner fire. Floating crystal lamps bobbed gently overhead, their light revealing intricate runic inscriptions that pulsed with protective magic. Phoenix Knights stood at attention, their sunsteel armor engraved with ward-glyphs that made Drake's eyes water if he looked too long.
And those weren't horses they were riding—they were magnificent feathered drakes, their scales shimmering between gold and crimson, intelligent eyes tracking every movement with predatory grace.
This wasn't just a gate. This was the legendary Astral Archway, one of the Seven Wonders of the realm.
At the center stood an elegant marble podium where a complex sigil platform pulsed with soft azure light. This was where travelers presented their Solar Crest—the magical identity sigil that every citizen received at birth or earned through guild membership.
"Next in line, please present your Solar Crest for verification!"
The voice belonged to a female guard with auburn hair braided in the traditional phoenix-tail style. Freckles dusted her cheerful face, and her armor bore silver trim that marked her as a senior gate officer. Her nameplate read: NATALY BRIGHTFORGE.
Elsa stepped forward confidently, producing a sigil that blazed with soft golden light—clearly marking her as nobility.
"Lady Elsa!" Nataly's face lit up like festival fireworks. "By the Phoenix's wings, the capital hasn't been the same without your... colorful arrivals."
"Nataly!" Elsa beamed back. "You always know how to make a girl feel missed."
Nataly's eyes drifted past Elsa to where Drake stood trying to look invisible. A knowing smirk played across her features. "And who might this handsome stranger be? Finally decided to bring home a boyfriend?"
Elsa's face erupted in crimson. "W-WHAT?! No! He's not—we're not—he's just a friend!"
"Uh-huh." Nataly's grin turned positively wicked. "A friend who was sprawled on top of you not ten minutes ago, according to Garrett's very detailed report."
Drake felt his soul leave his body. "What exactly did that report say?!"
"Oh, you know," Nataly waved airily, "standard stuff. Compromising positions, near-kisses, the usual romantic carriage mishap."
"NATALY!" Elsa hissed, grabbing Drake's arm and pulling him forward. "This is Drake Lorenzo, he's from Novaria. Drake, meet Nataly—who apparently has too much time on her hands."
Drake managed a weak wave. "Nice to meet you. Please ignore everything you've heard about my alleged kissing techniques."
Nataly burst out laughing. "Oh, I like him already! And Novaria? Their honeyed root vegetables are absolutely divine!"
"Right?!" Elsa's embarrassment momentarily forgotten in shared culinary enthusiasm. "Their harvest festival is legendary!"
"Anyway," Elsa continued, her voice taking on a more serious tone, "Drake was traveling here as a merchant, but bandits attacked his caravan. They took everything—including his Solar Crest."
Nataly's expression sobered immediately. "No sigil? Oh dear, that is a problem."
Drake nodded grimly. "Three days out from Novaria. Eight bandits, maybe more. They scattered like smoke when they heard other travelers approaching, but..." He gestured helplessly at himself.
"But without a Solar Crest, you can't enter the city legally," Nataly finished. "That's... unfortunate."
"Please, Nataly?" Elsa stepped closer, lowering her voice to what she probably thought was a whisper but definitely wasn't. "Just this once? I promise we'll go straight to the Adventurer's Guild to get him registered properly. You know I'm good for it."
Nataly studied them both for a long moment, then motioned Elsa even closer. Their whispered conversation was animated, with Elsa's face cycling through various shades of red and Nataly occasionally glancing at Drake with barely contained mirth.
Drake, meanwhile, found himself distracted by a nearby knight's armor. The phoenix engravings seemed to shift and move when he wasn't looking directly at them. Is that... is that a chicken wearing a crown? Or is it supposed to be majestic? I can't tell if it's threatening or ridiculous.
"Drake!" Elsa's voice snapped him back to reality. "Good news! Nataly's agreed to let you through!"
"Really?" Drake blinked in surprise. "Just like that?"
Nataly winked. "Let's just say Lady Elsa made a very compelling argument about civic duty and helping travelers in distress."
Something in her tone suggested there was more to it, but Drake wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. "Thank you so much! I really appreciate—"
"But!" Nataly held up a finger. "You go straight to the guild, understand? Get yourself properly registered within three days, or my neck's on the line."
"Absolutely," Drake nodded vigorously. "Three days. Guild registration. Got it."
"Excellent!" Elsa grabbed his hand again—and Drake was definitely not getting used to how perfectly her fingers fit between his. "Come on, let's not keep the line waiting!"
As they approached the shimmering barrier of the Astral Archway, Drake felt a tingling sensation wash over him. Magic recognition protocols, probably, making sure he wasn't carrying any forbidden items or curses.
The moment they stepped through, his senses were overwhelmed.
The sounds hit him first—a symphony of urban life that made his quiet village seem like a library. Market vendors calling their wares, the rhythmic hammering from smithies, the musical chatter of a dozen different languages, street performers adding their own melodies to the mix, and underneath it all, the subtle hum of magic itself.
Then came the smells: fresh bread from bakeries, exotic spices from far-off lands, the clean ozone scent of active magic, flowering vines that bloomed year-round thanks to cultivation spells, and the oddly pleasant metallic tang of enchanted metals being worked.
But it was the sight that truly stole his breath.
Elsa turned to him with a radiant smile, gesturing grandly at the vista before them. "Welcome to Sidonia, Drake—crown jewel of the Kingdom of Astralheim!"
The city unfurled before them like a living masterpiece, built in an elegant spiral pattern that reminded him of a massive sunflower when viewed from above. It wasn't a random design choice—each district radiated outward from the central castle like petals of light, mirroring the very Solar Crests that granted citizenship.
The architecture was breathtaking. Buildings rose from foundations of polished white marble, their walls inlaid with veins of precious metals that caught and reflected the sunlight. Rooftops shimmered in jewel tones—emerald green, sapphire blue, ruby red, and pearl white—creating a patchwork of color that shifted as clouds passed overhead.
Magic was woven into the very fabric of the city. Luminous vines crawled up building walls, their flowers glowing with soft bioluminescence even in daylight. Crystal orbs floated at regular intervals above the streets, projecting public announcements, weather updates, and occasionally advertisements featuring dancing cartoon mascots shouting things like "Potions Plus—Now With Thirty Percent More Magic!"
The streets themselves pulsed with life. Drake watched in fascination as a baker used minor telekinesis to flip a dozen loaves simultaneously while chatting with customers. A flower vendor tossed handfuls of petals into the air, where they transformed into butterflies of pure light before dissolving with tiny chimes.
"Holy..." Drake breathed, spinning slowly to take it all in. "This place is like someone gave a fairy tale unlimited funding and access to advanced engineering."
Elsa giggled at his expression. "Wait until you see the night markets. The whole city transforms after sunset."
A group of mages floated past on hovering platforms, their robes billowing dramatically as they gestured in animated conversation. Phoenix Knights rode by on those magnificent feathered drakes, the creatures' scales catching the light like living gemstones.
And towering above it all, at the city's heart, stood the Royal Castle—a soaring spire of white stone and silver that seemed to pierce the heavens themselves. Royal banners fluttered from its highest towers, displaying the silver phoenix on deep navy blue.
Above the entire kingdom, massive crystalline satellites orbited in slow, majestic arcs. Streams of energy connected them in an intricate web, forming the protective barrier dome that had shielded Sidonia for centuries.
"It's incredible," Drake murmured, his voice full of wonder. "I mean, I could see it from the road, but being inside... it's like the gods decided to show off."
"That's exactly what my father said when he first saw it," Elsa said softly, and something in her tone made Drake glance at her curiously.
Before he could ask, something else caught his attention. Many of the citizens were carrying sleek, mirror-like devices that seemed to float slightly above their palms. The surfaces shimmered with moving images and text, and people were swiping their fingers across them or speaking into them in animated conversations.
"What in the world are those?" Drake pointed, nearly walking into a fruit cart in his distraction.
"Oh!" Elsa followed his gaze. "You mean the Mirrornets?"
"The what now?"
"Mirrornets—magical communication devices. Think of them like..." she paused, searching for a comparison he'd understand, "like crystal balls, but portable and connected to everyone else's."
Drake stared as a young man took what appeared to be a moving picture of his lunch, complete with floating text complaining about the temperature of his soup. "They're like... fantasy smartphones?"
"Smart-phones?" Elsa tilted her head. "That's an interesting way to put it. But yes, most people have them these days. You can send messages, images, even live projections to other users. They sync with your Solar Crest for security and identification."
"That's..." Drake shook his head in amazement. "That's incredible. In Novaria, we still use messenger ravens for anything more urgent than regular mail."
"Well, you're not in Novaria anymore," Elsa said with a grin. "And if you keep gawking like that, people are going to think you've never seen civilization before."
They strolled deeper into the city, following the curved streets that spiraled inward like rays of captured sunlight. Children zipped past on miniature flying carpets and enchanted hobby horses, laughing as they chased animated toy golems that bounded along on spring-loaded legs.
One child's magical mishap resulted in his pants suddenly developing legs of their own and running away, leaving the boy chasing after them in his underwear while a crowd of vendors erupted in laughter.
"Okay, the kids here are absolutely chaotic," Drake observed.
"Peak Sidonia," Elsa nodded sagely, dodging a runaway baguette that had apparently gained sentience and was making a break for freedom.
A elegantly dressed noblewoman rode past on a drake easily twice the size of the guards', its scales shifting through colors like an opal in sunlight. The creature even wore what appeared to be a monocle, giving it an air of distinguished intelligence.
"I need one of those," Drake declared solemnly. "I shall name him Sir Reginald Feathersworth the Third."
"You're completely hopeless," Elsa laughed, but her eyes sparkled with affection.
Drake tilted his head back one more time, letting the wonder wash over him. The castle reaching toward the clouds, the magical energy that seemed to dance in the very air, the impossible blend of the fantastical and the everyday.
For the first time in longer than he could remember, his heart swelled with something he'd almost forgotten existed.
Hope.
This world—this incredible, magical, impossibly beautiful world—was full of possibilities he'd never even dreamed of.
Then his stomach rumbled like a dragon with indigestion, completely ruining the poetic moment.
"Okay," he amended, "maybe some food would make this perfect moment even more perfect."
Elsa burst into delighted laughter. "Come on, you disaster. Let's get you some honeyfruit skewers before you collapse from hunger in the middle of the street. I know just the place."
Drake's face lit up like a child's on his birthday. "My grand adventure officially begins with magical street food. I couldn't ask for a better start."
As they walked deeper into the spiraling city, Drake couldn't shake the feeling that his life had just taken a turn into something extraordinary. And for once, he was ready to embrace whatever came next.