Nameless King

Wain, Eva, and Feno approached the last gate. It was the largest and most important because it separated the Violet District from the Rose District.

The Rose District was where all the power and wealth of Virfal was concentrated. Only the wealthiest and strongest people lived there, each with power.

The Rosa District had the least amount of people, but it was no different in size from the other Districts. It showed the scale of the possessions of those who lived there.

'Hmm, the gates are always in the northwest, and we did an arc to get to them. Virfal has a circular structure, but then why isn't there a path from the Dandelion District to the Rose District if those two areas are closest to each other?' Wain pondered.

"Wait." The guard in dark armor said quietly. Unlike the other gates, this one had only two guards, but powerful auras emanated from them.

"We want to visit the Rosa District." Feno said.

"Of course, you can go through if you pay, but not these two." The guard said coldly, pointing to Wain and Eva.

"What? Why?" Feno was puzzled, but to Wain and Eva, the reason was obvious.

"They are strangers, and I have not been informed of them. I don't know these people, and they're not allowed to enter the Rose District. Also, I don't have the authority to do so even if I want to, so please leave." The guard was courteous and even polite but also menacing.

Feno was confused. He didn't know what to do and really didn't want to leave. Seeing the Hero Statue and visiting the Rose District Gardens had been a dream for him, and he was so close to it.

He only had one last hurdle left to go, but suddenly everything fell apart. Unfortunately, he didn't have enough money, so he would have to return.

Wain and Eva were silent. They were thinking about what to do. Unlike Feno, for whom this was a dream, for them, it was nothing more than a curiosity. It wasn't worth ruining their relationship with the guardian and Plants.

"Looks like we'll have to leave." Eva muttered with a shrug.

"But..." Feno muttered sadly.

"Don't worry, I promised you I would thank you properly for saving me. Eva and I won't be able to see the statue of the Hero, but that shouldn't concern you." Wain said and held out his hand to Feno.

He decided that there were enough interesting places in the Four Boroughs where he could rest and have a good time. Wain would tell Gisle about his find and go to the auction. He didn't know if the Plants in Virfal would be their friends, enemies, or just remain neighbors.

Feno shook Wain's hand, and it faintly glowed. Wain passed a thousand Void Souls to Feno.

"Is this truly...?" Feno was confused. To him, it was a huge sum of money he couldn't even earn in ten years.

"Yes, don't deny yourself anything. I'm sure there's plenty more to see in the Rose District besides the Statue of the Hero."

"Thank you!"

Feno nodded and, with a happy smile, paid and headed for the gate.

"Huh, this is the first time I've seen you this kind." Eva said flirtatiously.

"It's not kindness. It's fairness and honesty."

"Then you're an incredible greedy and cheapskate if you've valued our lives at a few hundred Void Souls."

"That's not how it works. You know that yourself." Wain turned and headed for the Violet District.

The guardian breathed a sigh of relief. He could sense a powerful aura from Wain, even if he hid it carefully. The Sentinel had been through many battles and could easily tell when an invincible foe stood before him.

"Where shall we head?" Eva asked.

"First, we need a drink and a taste of the local cuisine. I think that would be the best thing to do in this situation."

"Oh, so you're taking me out to dinner? Are we on a date?"

"Maybe." Wain grinned.

'Wait...' Suddenly, the voice of the Knight of the Bloody Rose sounded in Wain's head.

'What is it?

'There... blood... flower...'

"Hmm?

Wain tried to find out more, but the Knight no longer answered him.

'I think he's telling you to go there.' Blind Sorcerer said.

'To the Rose District? But... why?' Wain was puzzled. The Knight of the Bloody Rose acted strangely since Wain had been in Virfal.

No one answered Wain's question. He couldn't understand what was happening and why the forms were ignoring him, though it had never happened before.

'Ah, that smell, so beautiful. For that, I don't mind expending a little strength.' The Knight of the Bloody Rose muttered, standing on the first platform.

He slowly raised his sword upward at chest level, and his eyes filled with blood. The bloody vine headed down toward the second platform and, like a ghost, went through it.

It touched Wain, and the same thing happened to his eyes in the real world. He looked like a vampire thirsty for blood, and his veins swelled as if under great strain.

"Wain, what's wrong with you?"

Wain shook his head, "Nothing, it's okay. Just a little cramp."

He took a deep breath and smelled a strong bloody scent mixed with hundreds of scents emanating from the Rose District.

Wain turned around, and his eyes darkened.

'Looks like I'm going to have to get there after all. This place is definitely hiding some kind of mystery.'

"What do you think of this cafe? They have a cool sign." Eva said, pointing forward.

"Yeah, it looks good. We need to rest, we escaped death today, and we're tourists here." Wain said and headed toward the cafe.

While Eva researched the menu and ordered, Wain focused on the bloody aroma. The smells came from several directions, they were like streams, small and larger. The main one was coming from the gateway to the Rose District, but others were heading to more secluded areas.

"Your food." The waiter said, bringing a salad and green pudding. The salad was for Eva, and the dessert was for Wain.

"It's a cozy and beautiful place, isn't it?"

"Yes, definitely, and also very interesting and mysterious..." Wain mumbled thoughtfully, and his veins throbbed weakly.