I Only Tame Dragons

Later that night, Horizon and the group decided to head back into the city for dinner, leaving Frigid behind to guard their belongings.

They trudged through the dimly lit streets, the air thick with the smell of rain and the distant hum of the city. Horizon and everyone was determined to get enough food for everyone, even if it meant a long trek back.

As they walked, Lydia couldn't hide her displeasure. "Why don't we just stay at a hotel? It's better than that shack we're living in. We can afford it, right?"

She wasn't wrong. The loot they had gathered from the Lizardmen cave could easily fetch 200,000 gil or 2 Aurum—enough to live comfortably for a while.

Having 2 Aurums in hand as an independent player—without the backing of any guild—was no small feat.

To put it in perspective, 10 Aurums could easily make up the entire fortune of a small guild. For second or third-rate guilds, 50 Aurums was the marker of their collective wealth, while the elite, first-rate guilds, or even an entire kingdom, could boast of holding 100 Aurums in their coffers.

So, for a lone player to possess 2 Aurums was nothing short of remarkable—a symbol of sheer grit and exceptional talent.

It wasn't just wealth; it was a statement of independence and power in a world where strength usually came from numbers.

Still with five people and the prospect of staying for two months in an inn, Horizon wasn't sure if the money would stretch that far. Not to mention the food and the things that they might need.

Continue your journey at empire

"That's our gold, thief. You didn't earn a share in that," Nyx hissed, her eyes narrowing as she cut Lydia off.

"I don't think spending it on an inn for two months is the best idea," Frigid chimed in, his voice cool and practical.

Lydia shot him a glare. "What do you know? You live outside."

Horizon sighed, already used to the bickering. "We're not wasting our gill on luxuries. We'll buy materials to upgrade our equipment."

"Well, that's that," Cappy added, shaking his head as he raffled his feathers.

Lydia took a deep breath, clearly still frustrated. "Why is our place so far from the free food hall in the city, anyway?"

Silphie rubbed her stomach, and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's so far. I'm starving."

"You're always hungry," Lydia muttered, rolling her eyes.

As they continued their walk, they passed by several buildings that stood in stark contrast to their own humble abode.

The two-story structures were neatly lined up, the lights inside warm and inviting. Other groups of players, mostly from smaller guilds, emerged from these lodgings, heading toward the main city for their free meals as well.

Von eyed them with mild curiosity. "Iron badge players," he muttered. "Probably from the smaller guilds."

Lydia scoffed. "Why is there such a huge gap between bronze and iron lodgings? Is it too much to ask for decent living conditions and not that scrap heap we call home?"

The iron badge players, mostly clad in well-maintained Low to High Tier Iron Equipment, barely spared them a glance. Some sneered, others walked past as if the bronze badges on Horizon and the others made them invisible.

"Why are they looking at us like that?" Silphie whispered with a bored tone, tugging on Horizon's cloak.

"Don't pay them any mind," Horizon said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her head.

Von chuckled, leaning in with a playful grin. "They're just jealous. You ladies are far too cute to go unnoticed."

Silphie blushed, her cheeks turning pink as she smiled shyly. Lydia, on the other hand, wasn't so easily swayed.

"Let's pick up the pace," she muttered, her voice laced with unease. "I don't like the way they're eyeing us." She was talking about those predatory stares that lingered a little too long on her chest and hips, the kind that made her skin crawl.

They picked up their pace, heading toward the north end of the city.

The streets grew more crowded as they neared the food hall, a massive building teeming with players coming and going.

Inside, the atmosphere was lively, filled with chatter and the clinking of trays. Horizon noticed right away that there wasn't a single silver or gold badge in sight.

"They're probably getting their meals delivered or enjoying gourmet food at some fancy restaurant," Lydia grumbled, her stomach growling at the thought of better fare.

She glanced at Horizon, batting her eyelashes in an exaggeratedly sweet manner. "Horizon, how about we splurge just this once? A nice restaurant for dinner tonight? Please? Pretty please . .

.?"

Horizon shot her a flat look. "Once I've bought all the materials we need, if there's anything left, we'll talk about food."

Lydia sighed, deflated. "Stingy."

Nyx snickered from behind her. "You're one to talk."

The dynamic between Lydia and Nyx never failed to amuse the group.

Horizon ignored their back-and-forth and turned his attention to the trays other players carried. The food was decent—soup, roasted meat, mashed potatoes, and vegetables.

Lydia let out another long sigh.

"At least it's acceptable," she muttered.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Silphie, however, wasn't as pleased. "No dessert?" she pouted, her head lowering in disappointment.

Horizon chuckled softly and patted her head. "We'll get dessert on the way back."

Silphie's face brightened immediately. Lydia shot him a sour look.

"Why do you treat her so much better than me?"

"Just your imagination," Horizon replied, his tone casual as his eyes scanned the crowded hall.

He had hoped to spot Travis or Trisha among the crowd, but with so many guilds and independent players milling about, it was impossible.

The fact that no one was fighting or causing trouble was a surprise. He had read about guild rivalries and infighting, but the presence of the Sentinel Elven guards stationed at key points in the city likely kept everyone in line.

After grabbing their food, the group decided to take it back to their shack, not wanting to leave Frigid waiting. The hall was too crowded anyway.

On the way back, the night was peaceful—until they encountered a familiar group loitering near the trees. Veilborne.