I Only Tame Dragons

"STOP!"

A booming voice cut through the tension as a squad of Elven Guards arrived, their silver armor gleaming under the sun.

"Fighting within city limits or its outskirts is strictly prohibited," the lead guard declared. "Since this is your first offense and it occurred just outside Eldrasil, you'll be let off with a warning. However, should this happen again, both groups will be fined 10,000 gold points and possibly barred from entering the competition."

Both sides immediately cooled down at the mention of such severe punishment. Ironfist's fury still simmered, but he bit his tongue as Nightshade, the leader of Veilborne, stepped forward with a smooth smile, raising his hands in a mock gesture of peace.

"We were just having a little fun," Nightshade said, voice dripping with false charm. "Right, guys?"

Horizon and Von didn't respond, their eyes still locked on Veilborne with a deadly intensity.

As the Elven guards dispersed, Nightshade sidled up to Horizon, his smile vanishing as he whispered in a low voice. "You got lucky this time. But this isn't over. Watch your back."

With that, Veilborne returned to their place in line, leaving a trail of cold stares behind them. The Elven guards stood vigilant nearby, ensuring no more trouble erupted. The tension eased, and the other players breathed a sigh of relief as Veilborne's plans to cut in the line were thwarted for now.

"Ah, shit, we're screwed," Lydia muttered, glancing nervously at Veilborne in the distance. "Of all the guilds you could've picked a fight with, why did it have to be a 2nd-rate guild?"

"They started it," Horizon replied calmly, eyes forward.

Von chuckled, completely unbothered. "Dear Lydia, there are moments when a man has to be a man."

"Can you 'be a man' at a different time?" Lydia bit her thumb in frustration. "Now we're stuck. We can't leave the safety of the town or village, or they'll ambush us for sure."

"You worry too much," Nyx yawned, lazily mocking Lydia. "Oh right, it's because you're weak. That's why all you can do is worry, while the strong fear no one."

"What kind of logic is that?" Lydia sighed, clearly exasperated.

After ten tense minutes, Horizon and the others passed through the guards' inspection, their detection devices scanning each of them without finding anything weird. After making sure that they weren't in disguise and brought shady things with them, they finally entered the bustling city of Eldrasil.

Eldrasil was a sprawling metropolis, the sheer size of it almost overwhelming to anyone seeing it for the first time. Massive white stone walls encircled the city, gleaming in the sunlight, standing as proud sentinels that had withstood centuries of history. The walls stretched so far that they disappeared into the horizon, a testament to the city's grandeur.

Inside, Eldrasil's towering buildings, crowned with pristine white rooftops, added to the city's ethereal, almost heavenly aura. From the ground, it felt like the city stretched endlessly, layer upon layer of streets, shops, and homes weaving together in a complex web.

The central districts were bustling with life, where people from every corner of the realm gathered. It was said that nearly a million souls could be found within its gates at any given time, and today, with the competition drawing in players and adventurers alike, it felt like every inch of space was occupied.

The streets were packed, a constant stream of people moving through narrow alleys and broad avenues alike. Market stalls lined the sides of the cobblestone roads, their vendors shouting over the crowd, trying to sell everything from rare herbs to enchanted weapons. Inns, taverns, and shops spilled out into the streets, creating an atmosphere of barely controlled chaos.

Despite its size, Eldrasil felt claustrophobic with the surge of travelers and participants for the competition. Every step forward meant brushing against armor-clad warriors, cloaked mages, and traders carrying goods.

The air buzzed with excitement, chatter, and the occasional flash of magic from players testing their abilities or showing off their gear. Above the rooftops, you could even see the faint outlines of airships, docked at the skyports, ready to take adventurers to their next destination.

In all its chaotic glory, Eldrasil was a city where legends were born, and today, it was more alive than ever.

"Oh gods, I can't decide where to go first," Lydia said, her eyes darting from one vibrant shop to the next.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"How about the sweet shops?" Silphie suggested, her gaze already locked onto the nearest restaurant. Quiet as she usually was, food always brought her to life.

"We should head straight to the blacksmith," Horizon said firmly. "We need to upgrade our equipment."

"Alright, I know just the place. Follow me," Von said as he took the lead, guiding them through the bustling streets towards the blacksmith district.

However, shop after shop they visited had only disappointment in store. Every blacksmith and merchant they approached had the same response: all the iron and silver equipment had been snatched up by earlier arrivals. The shelves were bare of anything beyond low-tier bronze gear, and even the most basic iron and silver sets were in short supply.

"How pitiful," Nyx scoffed, hovering lazily. "A grand capital like this, and they can't even keep iron and silver Equipment in stock? Don't get me started on gold or anything epic."

"It's not surprising," Lydia sighed. "The early birds snatched up everything. And the guilds? They're way ahead of us. Most of them probably bought out the market in preparation for the competition. Restocking this kind of gear takes time."

"Good thing we upgraded back in Mappletown," Von said with a grin. "Otherwise, we'd be stuck with trash-tier equipment right now."

"Everyone's panic-buying equipment here," Cappy chimed in, flapping his wings irritably.

"So, what do we do now?" Lydia asked, concern creeping into her voice.

"Where's this Forging Studio you talked about before?" Horizon asked.

Von had mentioned it before when they were still in Sky Talon that there was a Forging Studio in the capital city of Crownjade Wood.

Von's grin widened. "Yeah, this is an Elven capital. They've got an entire district dedicated to forging, crafting, and alchemy. There's bound to be a studio we can rent."

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"Perfect," Horizon said. "Hand me all your equipment later. I'll upgrade them myself."