“We’re three hours from the Capital of Solara! I repeat, three hours from Solara!”

  The voice of the guard echoed over the carriages, drawing the attention of those who had grown tired from the long journey. Their heads poked out to the sides, and even the children, who had been visibly bored, sat up straight to see what was happening.

  Even from miles away, the gigantic walls of the capital were like a mountain range. Massive and dark, they seemed to never end.

  For a moment, the exhaustion that the people on the carriages accumulated was forgotten. Their eyes widened, and murmurs began through the groups.

  “Mama…how many people live there?” A child excitedly asked his mother not too far away.

  “Look at that... it’s enormous,” another voice murmured amongst the crowd.

  Relyn was no exception. His gaze was locked on the view ahead. Out of everything he had seen in his life, this was something else entirely.

  As they drew nearer, more details began to turn visible. At the outskirts of the city, groups of soldiers were marching and patrolling the area, their figures were small like insects against the walls.

  Nearby, farmhouses were all across the landscape, with cows and horses grazing in the fields. Farmers tended to their animals, children running around and playing.

  ‘They have people living beyond the walls’

  This was the first time he had seen people living in communities outside the walls. Even if they were not that far off.

  The convoy slowed down and then stopped. One one of the soldiers who had accompanied them dismounted, carrying what looked like a letter.

  The man, older and stern, approached the nearest gate soldier. Their conversation was low, too far for Relyn to hear them.

  The man who seemed to be in charge of the gate had his lips closed as he glanced toward the carriages. As the conversation continued, they seemed to have a small argument that lasted for a couple of minutes.

  Eventually, looking reluctant, the captain gave him a nod and signaled for the caravans to proceed. As so, the carriages began to move forward again.

  …

  “Fresh apples! Get it before it’s gone!”

  “Clothing repair! Best prices in all of Solara Low!”

  “...this is their punishment for our greatest sin! Come and seek salvation!”

  Relyn leaned back and looked over at everything happening in there. The streets were full with people. Stall owners shouted over one another, everything from a dozen eggs to supposedly legendary treasure maps.

  A young ginger boy ran past their carriage, clutching a loaf of bread tightly to his chest as an angry baker gave him chase.

  “Come back here you little rat!”

  “Go back first, Uncle. I forgot something at home…” The boy screamed, while running.

  “You’re not escaping today!” The angry man said.

  And before long, all Relyn could see were their backs getting into some of the many alleys.

  The people along the streets glanced up as the carriage passed by, some curious, a few discussed their arrival, and others just briefly looked at them before going back to their own business.

  The city was full of activity, old buildings standing next to new ones under construction. Horses were pulling carts down the streets, while a strange vehicle occasionally would roll past. But most people didn’t even glance at it, too focused on their own lives.

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  After some time, the convoy came to a stop in front of a large stone building with a faded sign that read Shelter B3.

  The older man who’d been in charge started to split the carriages into groups. Only two carriages were directed toward the building. The others began to circle back, heading down the road to continue towards different shelters.

  And Relyn was amongst those who stayed.

  Their group waited in front of the shelter for what felt like an eternity. Everyone was told to stay put and wait.

  After about an hour, from the four soldiers who had remained with them, one finally had enough and got off his horse, muttering something under his breath.

  Without a word, he walked to the shelter’s entrance and disappeared inside.

  “Do they even know we’re here?”

  “They probably forgot us”

  From his seat, Relyn could roughly hear what the other soldiers were speaking to each other. At this point, they weren’t even trying to lower their voices anymore.

  When the soldier returned, his face visibly disappointed, a short, stocky man with a mustache followed right behind him.

  His gray hair stuck out in messy tufts, and his uniform, if it could even be called that, was full of stains. He carried a wrinkled piece of paper in one hand and scratched his head with the other one.

  “This is Manager Bral. He oversees Shelter B3. He is-” The soldier who had brought him out gestured before being cut off.

  “Soldier boy, hey, soldier boy. Leave it with me, that’s what I do. See this badge here?” Manager Bral said, and showed something that was hung on his chest.

  “Alright, listen up,” he began, his tone carrying not much enthusiasm to be there.

  “This is Section B of the Solara refugee shelters. Specifically, Shelter B3. Now, here’s how it works: you get a roof over your head, a nice place to sleep, and two meals a day. For free. For two weeks.”

  “After that, if you’re still here, you’re gonna have to start paying. Ten silver coins a month. If you can’t pay, you’re out, no exceptions.”

  As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of whispers started through the carriages. After leaving all their belongings, their houses and their jobs behind, this is what they received, fourteen days of leniency.

  Most of the people who left Salath in a rush were poor to the capital’s standard, and ten coins a month was not something they could afford.

  “Yes, yes. I know. The world would be a better place if we could just keep the thousands of you who arrive every week for free with our resources forever. Unfortunately, we can’t do that.”

  “Well, since everything is clear now and we’re all thankful and happy again, you’ll need to wear this.” Manager Bral reached into his pocket and pulled out a bundle of faintly glowing yellow stripes.

  “They go on your right arm, and they will mark you as... what’s the name again? I always forget it…” He squinted his eyes at the paper in his hand.

  “Eh, it doesn't matter. The point is, you can’t take them off. You will only get rid of them when you leave the shelter for good”

  Manager Bral handed out the yellow bands. One by one, everyone would step forward to receive their glowing stripes.

  Relyn watched as the band tightened around their arms, and when his turn came, he took the band from Bral and put it on, feeling the faint warmth and tingle before it adjusted itself to his arm.

  “There,” Bral muttered and waved a hand. “Now you’re part of shelter B3. Go in there with a big smile, boy”

  The shelter’s interior was as dull as the outside, a large, open room filled with rows of narrow cots, each one accompanied by a thin blanket and a pillow that looked like it had seen better times.

  At the other side of the shelter, there were a couple of lengthy tables and seats.

  The majority of the cots were already occupied. Some had simple bags resting there, a few with personal belongings or shoes tucked underneath. Others had people seated or lying on them.

  Children walked close to their parents, their faces filled with uncertainty, while others wandered back and forth, picking cots that seemed to be in better conditions compared to the ones available.

  Manager Bral stood near the doorway, speaking to the group once more, his posture as slouched as ever.

  “Remember, we’ll see each other again in two weeks and I hope you’ll all have gifts for me. Ten to be more precise. Questions? No? Good.”

  With that, he turned and started talking to one of the soldiers, leaving everybody to settle in on their own.

  Relyn chose a cot near the wall, setting down the small bag he carried. The thin mattress sank under his weight as he sat down and looked around the room.

  To his surprise, Relyn noticed the ginger boy from earlier. The child was sitting on the cot right next to his, seemingly separating a few things on top of his blanket.

  Relyn couldn't make out the items, but when the boy noticed his glance he looked back with a ferocious expression, he extended his tiny arms forward, as though trying to hide whatever he was doing.

  The ginger boy glared at him for a moment, eyes filled with defiance, before quickly turning his attention back to the things in front of him, still keeping his arms stretched to protect the objects.

  Before Relyn could think too much about it, Manager Bral's voice echoed from across the room again, causing people to turn around and look at him.

  "Remember, two weeks, people! Two weeks, and we’re checking up on you. Don’t think I’ll forget about you. I still remember the first conversation I ever had when I was four!”

  “And I could tell you every single word that cat told me,” Bral laughed out loud and finally disappeared through the door.