The hidden kingdom's prince Astraeus and the young swordfighter Lyn.
A strange pair on an even stranger journey.
To prepare for the long road ahead, they go to Bulgar, the commercial center of Sacae.
Unbeknownst to Lyn, she will discover something that will alter her life forever.
As the sun began to rise over the horizon, Astraeus, known to his friends as Astrid, and, were ready to embark on their journey. The wind carried the sounds of nature, mixed with the sound of their footsteps on the dirt road. The road was long and arduous, but they were determined to reach their destination.
As they walked, Lyn couldn't help but feel grateful for Astrid's companionship. It was comforting to have someone by her side who shared her goals and values.
Their destination was Bulgar, the commercial center of Sacae. It was the largest city in the region, and the perfect place to stock up on supplies before heading out on a long journey.
Lyn had spent the previous evening packing her bags, ensuring that she had everything she needed for their journey. Astrid had helped her by gathering necessary supplies such as food, water, and medicines. They both knew that they would need to be well-prepared for the road ahead.
As they approached the city gates of Bulgar, Astrid felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. He had never been to such city before, and he wasn't quite sure what to expect.
Lyn took the lead, navigating them through the busy streets to the market square. As they walked, Astrid couldn't help but admire the colorful stalls and the variety of goods on display.
Astrid's senses were overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the city. There were vendors hawking all manner of wares, from exotic spices and herbs to handmade pottery and jewelry. Although this pales in comparison to his kingdom's capital but it has its unique atmosphere.
Astrid couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between Bulgar and his own kingdom's capital. While the grandeur and opulence of his home were unparalleled, there was something raw and authentic about the energy in this city that he found appealing.
"Astrid! Over here!" Lyn shouted, pulling him out of his reverie.
He turned to see her waving at him from a nearby stall.
"This is Bulgar, the biggest city in all of Sacae." She formally introduced the city.
"We should purchase supplies for our journey." Lyn said, gesturing around them.
Astrid nodded in agreement. "Yes, we should make sure we have everything we need for the journey ahead." He then scanned the market stalls for any useful items.
As they walked deeper into the market, Astrid couldn't help but be amazed by the variety of goods being sold. "I've never seen so many different things in one place." He remarked, his eyes scanning the stalls with curiosity.
"It's amazing how much is available in this city." He added.
Lyn smiled at his wonder. "Bulgar is known for its trade and commerce. People from all over the continent come here to buy and sell goods."
As they walked, Astrid noticed Lyn eyeing a particular stall with interest. He couldn't help but ask. "Is there something you're looking for?"
Lyn nodded. "I've been meaning to buy a new sword. Mine is starting to show signs of wear and tear."
Astrid looked at the sword in question, noting its well-worn appearance. "You're right, it might be a good idea to invest in a new one. Let's see what they have."
As Lyn finalized her purchase of a new sword, she found herself distracted by the shopkeeper's endless chatter. She had been looking forward to exploring the city and preparing for their journey, but the merchant seemed determined to keep her in the stall as long as possible.
Meanwhile, Astrid had wandered over to a nearby stall, which caught his attention. The stall was managed by a set of twins, who he recognized hailed from a wealthy merchant family in his own kingdom. The stall was decorated with intricate designs and unique items that were not seen in the other stalls in the market.
As Astrid was browsing through the stall, one of the twins, a young girl with long, curly hair, approached him with a friendly smile.
"Can I help you find something, sir?" She asked.
Astrid returned her smile, impressed by the girl's eagerness to assist him. "Thank you, I'm just browsing for now." He replied.
The girl's twin brother, who had been busy attending to other customers, noticed Astrid and quickly made his way over. "Your Highness!" He exclaimed, bowing deeply.
Astrid shook his head amused by their reaction. "Greetings. But please do drop the formalities, I'm here as a traveler not as a prince. I'm sure you both know your mission."
"Of course, Your High-"
Astrid interrupted them with a big smile and a sharp look.
"Sir, yes sir." The twins immediately corrected.
Astrid chuckled at the correction. "Well, it's good to meet fellow countrymen so far from home."
The twins both nodded in agreement, and the young girl spoke up. "Is there anything in particular you're looking for, sir...? Perhaps we can help you find it."
Astrid shook his head. "No, I'm just browsing for now. But I appreciate your offer."
He glanced over at Lyn, who was still engrossed in conversation with the shopkeeper. "Actually, do you have any herbs or medicines that might be useful for a long journey?"
The young man nodded. "Yes, we have a selection of herbs and potions that can help with various ailments. Would you like to see them?"
Astrid agreed, and the young man led him to a section of the stall dedicated to medicinal items.
As the twins were showing Astrid some of their finest wares, Lyn was still busy talking with the weapon merchant about the new sword she had just purchased.
"I must say, this is a fine sword you have here." The merchant remarked as he inspected the blade. "But I must ask, what brings you and your friend to Bulgar?"
Lyn took a moment to consider her answer. She didn't want to reveal too much about their journey or the reason for it.
"Just some personal matters that we need to attend to." She finally replied.
The merchant nodded understandingly. "I see. Well, I wish you both the best of luck on your journey."
Lyn then thanked the merchant and turned to leave.
Finding Astrid, Lyn turned to see the twins from the neighboring stall talking to Astrid. They both had huge grins on their faces and were practically bouncing with excitement.
"So, I take it that business has been booming?" Astrid asked, making small talk with the enthusiastic young merchants.
The twins eagerly launched into a description of their recent sales, showing off their finest goods and chattering away about the customers they had served. Lyn smiled to herself as she watched Astrid interact with the young shopkeepers. It was clear that he had a way with people, even those as young and energetic as these two.
As Astrid was chatting with the twins, Lyn noticed that the siblings were actually quite young, no older than fifteen years old. Despite their age, they seemed to have a bubbly and energetic personality that was infectious. Lyn couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm.
"You guys seem to be really passionate about your trade." Lyn said entering the conversation, grinning at the twins.
The twins nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, we are! We come from a family of merchants, so trading runs in our blood."
As their conversation came to a close, Astrid and Lyn bid the twins farewell and turned to leave. But before he could take more than a few steps, one of the twins stopped him.
"Wait, Your High-- Sir!" The young merchant called out, reaching under the stall and pulling out a small, intricately crafted dagger. "We have something we'd like to give you as a token of our appreciation." The weapon glinted in the sunlight, catching Astrid's attention.
Intrigued, Astrid took the dagger and examined it closely. Its craftsmanship was exquisite, with delicate etchings and a beautiful silver shine. "What is it?"
The twin girl's face lit up with pride and enthusiasm. "I crafted it myself."
"With silver and love!" She continued.
Astrid couldn't help but smile at the bubbly energy of the young merchants.
"Thank you," he said with a warm smile. "This is a beautiful piece of work."
The twins beamed with pride and excitement, happy that the prince appreciated their gift. "We hope it serves you well on your journey." the twin boy said with enthusiasm.
"I'm sure it will." Astrid replied, tucking the dagger into his belt.
"Thank you again for your kind gesture. I won't forget it."
With that, Astrid bid the young merchants farewell and rejoined Lyn. As they walked away, Astrid couldn't help but feel grateful for the warm hospitality and generosity of the people of this land. It gave him hope that the kingdom of Asteria would be welcomed with open arms when the time came to reveal themselves to the world.
Lyn turned to Astrid, noticing the intricately crafted dagger in his hand. "Where did you go? Did you buy that?" She asked curiously.
"No." Astrid replied. "The twins gave it to me as a token of appreciation."
"Ah, that's so kind of them." Lyn said, examining the dagger with interest.
"It's quite beautiful." Astrid said, admiring the delicate silver work on the blade. "I'll have to find a good use for it."
The twins waved goodbye as Lyn and Astrid made their way out of the marketplace, the sounds of the bustling crowd slowly fading away as they moved further from the town center.
As they made their way out of the marketplace, Lyn and Astrid chatted about the various items they had acquired, unaware that a group of bandits was watching their every move. Astrid, being a prince, was trained to be alert to his surroundings and noticed the suspicious behavior.
He whispered to Lyn, "I have a feeling we're being followed. Keep your guard up."
Lyn looked at him in surprise and asked. "Followed? By whom?"
Astrid shook his head and replied. "I'm not sure yet, but we need to be careful."
Just then, a man on horseback crashed into them, startling both Lyn and Astrid. The man was dressed in green armor with a dark green tunic, and his green hair was styled in a messy manner and had a confident demeanor.
"Oh, my heart! What a dazzling vision of loveliness!" He exclaimed, gazing at Lyn with admiration.