Primordial System Awakening

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Through the Gate

I crouched behind a stack of hay bales near the side gate. The evening sky had turned deep orange, and lanterns were already lit along the high stone walls of Valthor. My stolen horse stayed quiet behind the old barn, but my heart beat loud in my ears.

The mage with the glowing crystal stood right at the front of the checkpoint. He swept the crystal left and right while guards checked carts and travelers. Every time the crystal pulsed red, the guards pulled someone aside for questions.

I wiped the blood from my face with my torn sleeve. My clothes looked bad — ripped, dirty, and stained. If I walked up like this, they would stop me for sure. The System words stayed quiet for now, but I felt the hunger still there, waiting.

I needed a way in without fighting. Not yet. Too many eyes. Too many spears.

A group of farmers pushed a cart full of vegetables toward the gate. They laughed and talked loud about the price of grain. One of them had a dirty cloak thrown over his shoulders. That gave me an idea.

I used Shadow Step once, quick and quiet. I slipped behind the last farmer in line. My body turned to shadow just long enough to move without sound. I pulled the cloak off his back in one smooth motion and wrapped it around myself. The man kept walking and did not notice right away.

The line moved forward. I kept my head low and shuffled like the others. The relic and shard fragments felt heavy in my pocket, but I stayed calm.

When my turn came, the mage lifted his crystal. It glowed soft blue at first, then started to flicker red. He frowned and stepped closer.

“You there. Lower the hood.”

My mouth went dry. I could feel the power in my arms, the new speed in my legs. I could take him and the two guards beside him if I had to. But that would bring the whole gate down on me.

Before I could decide, a loud voice called from inside the city.

“Hold! Let them through. The Duke wants all traders inside before full dark. We have reports of trouble in the ruins, not at the gates.”

The mage looked annoyed but waved his hand. The guards stepped back. I kept my head down and walked through with the farmers. The crystal stayed red behind me, but no one grabbed me.

I let out a slow breath once I passed the thick wooden gate. The streets of Valthor opened up in front of me — narrow lanes, stone houses, and the smell of bread and smoke. People moved everywhere, talking, buying, and selling even as night came.

I had made it inside. The main quest felt a little closer.

But I was not safe. The captain and his men would reach the gate soon. The mage had sensed something. They would start searching the city.

I pulled the cloak tighter and moved into the crowd. My plan was simple: find a cheap inn, clean up, and learn what I could about the relic and the System. Maybe sell a few small things from the ruins to get coin.

I turned down a quieter street lined with old buildings. A sign swung above one door that said “The Broken Barrel.” It looked cheap and dark — perfect for someone who did not want questions.

Before I could step inside, a hand grabbed my shoulder from behind.

I spun fast, fist ready.

A girl stood there. She looked about my age, with short black hair and sharp green eyes. Her clothes were simple but clean, and she carried a small dagger at her belt. She did not look scared. She looked curious.

“You move like someone running from trouble,” she said quietly. “And you smell like ruin dust and blood. Not many come through the side gate like that.”

I stepped back. “Who are you?”

“Name’s Lira. I watch the gates for interesting people. People with power.” She tilted her head. “That crystal the mage used turned red for you. Most don’t make it past without a fight. How did you do it?”

I kept my mouth shut. Trusting strangers had never been smart.

Lira smiled a little. “Relax. I’m not with the guards. If you need a place to hide for the night and maybe some answers about old relics, I know a safe room upstairs. No questions asked. For a small price.”

She nodded toward the Broken Barrel.

I looked at her, then at the street behind me. Torches were moving near the main gate. The captain’s men were already inside the city.

The System gave a small message.

New side quest: Secure shelter.

Reward: Information on Valthor’s hidden powers.

My side still ached a little from the earlier fight, and the night was getting cold. I needed rest and time to check my new stats properly.

I nodded once. “Lead the way.”

Lira turned and walked into the inn. I followed close behind, keeping one hand near the relic in my pocket.

As we climbed the creaky wooden stairs to the second floor, I heard loud voices down in the common room. Someone was asking about a blood-covered boy from the ruins.

Lira opened a door at the end of the hall and stepped inside. The room was small but clean, with a bed, a table, and a window that looked over the back alley.

She closed the door and turned to me.

“Safe for now,” she said. “But you should know — the Duke has eyes everywhere. And whatever you woke in Nethralis… it’s already spreading stories.”

Before I could answer, a loud knock came from downstairs. Heavy boots on wood. Then the mage’s voice, clear and cold.

“Search every room. The anomaly is here.”

Lira’s eyes widened. She looked at me.

“Choose fast, stranger. Hide under the bed, or go out the window. But if you jump, they’ll see you.”

My hand tightened on the relic. Shadow energy stirred under my skin, ready.

The knock sounded again, this time on the door right below us.

I had seconds.