Chapter 297 - Arrival at the Walled City

Hasan Walled City was a special city in the heart of the province. It was several hundred years old, built in a valley surrounded by tall walls that gave the city a secluded, protected feeling.

From the main gates the sections of the city could clearly be seen. From the outside in, there were three layers that circled the valley in distinct terraces. The upper layer was bordered by the outer walls and was filled with tightly packed, low buildings. This layer was the least secure and most populated area of the city.

A tall grey stone wall formed a distinct barrier between the upper and middle layer. Majestic gates with slate grey tiled roofs could be seen at various points along the wall that regulated traffic between the layers. The middle layer was filled with multi-storey buildings with dark timber framing and white washed walls, though due to the elevation difference between the upper and middle layers the tops of the roofs were still lower than the upper level.

A jade green wall separated the middle and lower layer of the city. The lower layer was the largest layer, filled with green pastures, gardens and leisure spaces. Women in coloured dresses walked peacefully, carrying bright yellow and orange parasols to block the sun. Old men played chess in the shade of manicured trees.

These green spaces, too, were separated by walls. In fact, every section of the city, whether it was the upper or lower layer, was distinctly segregated into districts by walls, restricting normal travel to the main roads and gates. The roads were disordered, following the curve of the land with side paths often leading to dead ends where they met a wall. It was easy to see how one could get lost inside the city without a guide.

At the northern part of the city a waterfall cascaded down a scenic rock formation. It wound around lazily, curving through the lower part of the city, adding to the lower layer’s peaceful ambiance. White stone pedestrian bridges crossed the river with gazebos that looked out on the water.

Aside from the three major layers there were also three special districts in the valley. These three districts were terraced hills, with access only from the lower layer. On each hill were two levels of walled estates. These hills were shared by various families, and so even these special districts were separated by walls.

The hill to the south was thin and bean shaped, it was populated by nobles and known as Sapphire Hill. The hill to the north was wide and round, the home of merchants known as Gold Hill. To the east, across the river in its own section of the city was Jade Hill. This hill was the most prestigious, populated by the families that governed the two nearby major cities of Plunes and Dimiya.

Sitting on top of the carriage as it rolled into the city, Char Char felt a sense of wonder. From the main gate, the entire city was laid out before her in a picturesque tableau. It was a city filled with colour and life. Every section of walls in the city had its own colour, decorations and features that gave each district its own character. Flags and banners of various colours and designs were displayed with pride throughout the city.

Even Kai, who normally was aloof and bored, looked out on the city with interest.

“Welcome to Hasan Walled City.” The driver grinned. “She’s quite a sight, isn’t she?”

“So many walls… I see why Corbin said there aren’t many guards in the city.” Char Char said.

“It’s a very peaceful place. Disorder is not tolerated, and it’s hard to get away with crime in such a small place.” The driver said.

“This is the home of the elite. Even the servants living in the upper and middle layers are quite affluent. The lower layer is owned completely by fourteen families, whose estates are on the three hill districts. The gardens and leisure spaces on the lower layer are maintained by the families.” The driver continued, pointing to the north, “We are headed to Gold Hill, which is considered part of the lower layer. There’s an unwritten agreement to allow all guests to access the gardens, so you’ll be able to walk around at your leisure.”

“You seem to know this place pretty well.” Char Char mused.

”I come here often. Comes with working for the import shop.” The driver nodded toward the sword at Char Char’s waist, “Speaking of, you won’t need that here. It would be best to tuck it away.”

On the surface it was a nod toward the peaceful and aristocratic climate of the lower levels, that didn’t appreciate seeing weapons in plain sight. However the tone of the driver was such that Char Char felt there was a deeper meaning to his words.

The driver made a comment about my sword, but he didn’t say anything about Kai’s weapon… If he noticed that my sword is special, maybe he’s hinting to me that the guards watching over the city are Exalted?

She glanced at Kai who met her eyes and nodded in response, confirming her suspicions.

“Hmm… Why didn’t the guards say anything about it when we entered?” Kai asked.

“Ah. That’s because the city guards are only responsible for travel through the gates, they aren’t too strict.” The driver said, lowering his voice slightly, “We’ll want to stow it for the lower gates to be safe. But more importantly on the lower layer, for matters within the districts, those are privately settled by the security forces of the family that owns that district.”

“Fourteen families…” Kai’s eyes darkened in contemplation, “Fourteen security companies?”

“Disorder is not tolerated in Hasan Walled City.” The driver replied with a meaningful nod.

~

In the upper layer on the south side of the city a teenage boy was unloading a cart of bright, colourful vegetables. Despite his slim lanky figure, he handled the crates with ease, carrying one into the back of a restaurant and dropping it on the floor with a thud.

“Gentle! This is the Grand Dynasty Emporium, not some village canteen.” The restaurant’s chef yelled.

The boy turned away to go back to the cart but the chef didn’t miss his lips as they curled into a snarl.

“What, you have a problem, mutt?” The chef stormed over, following the boy out of the store, “You want to say something? Say it to my face!”

The concerned merchant supervisor hurried over, “Sir excuse me, what is the matter?”

“Tell your dog to do his job properly. I pay a premium for pristine produce, not for bruised garbage!” The chef growled, “Did you pick this trash up off the street?”

“My apologies, sir. This boy was just a temp for the day. He’s not part of our company. We pride ourselves on top notch service, we certainly don’t tolerate such behaviour.” The merchant apologized profusely while bowing, before scowling darkly at the boy, “You’re fired. Scram!”

The chef and merchant watched the boy take off with looks of disdain as the other workers continued to bring in the crates.

“He doesn’t even have the class to apologize for his mistakes.” The chef muttered, “Is he from Hasan?”

“No. I brought him in from the city.” The merchant replied, referencing Dimiya to the southeast, “He can find his own way back.”

“Serves him right.” The chef snuffed.

They quickly dismissed the boy from their minds, carrying on with their day.

Turned loose the boy initially headed toward the southern gates, but once he was out of sight he turned off onto a side street, winding through the city to the north. He wore tattered pants and an unbleached woolen shirt, looking very much like a poor labourer. His black hair was long and unruly.

The main road of the upper layer was a show of opulence and wealth, filled with luxury stores and fine dining restaurants. The streets behind the main roads were geared toward deliveries and foot traffic of the workers who serviced the wealthy.

However as the boy traveled deeper into the middle layer the atmosphere became heavier. The streets were crammed and dirty. Piles of abandoned crates and carts filled the alleys. A thick stench permeated the air.

After a number of twists and turns the boy found himself in a dead end, looking up at the four storey wall that separated the upper and middle layers. He ran his hands along the rough plaster wall.

“Not here. This section is in good repair.” Came a quiet murmur.

He left the area, continuing his journey. Before long he came across a shorter wall with an open gate manned by a single guard, leading to the next district over. The bored guard barely even looked at him as he passed through alongside other similarly dressed people.

He passed through two more gates before coming across a part of the town where the wall was in much poorer condition. He once again found himself in a dead end examining the wall which was full of cracks.

The glint of metal shone from above, causing the boy to quickly duck into the shadow of a doorway. A guard passed overhead, casting his gaze across the alleys below.

When the coast was clear the boy walked up to the wall and knelt down, picking at the base of a crack that extended into the wall.

“This will do.” The rough voice spoke from a pair of lips that bubbled up behind the boy’s ear, “Well done.”

The boy stripped out of his clothes, tossing them into a corner of the alley before standing naked before the wall, “I’m ready, master.”

Even before he spoke his eyes turned black and beady, his nose protruded out from his face. Long whiskers grew out of his cheeks and his skin suddenly began to sprout coarse, brown fur. His body rapidly shrunk as his ears grew big and round and a long naked tail sprouted from his spine.

In a matter of seconds the boy transformed into a mouse and skittered through the crack down to the middle layer.

~

On the north side of the city a majestic waterfall was surrounded by a carefully curated natural landscape. A glimmering ornamental arch passed over the waterfall, completing the exterior wall. In the river leading up to the falls a metal grate extended the length of the water preventing access from outsiders that might try to sneak in through the river, with guards stationed above.

The water fell down directly to the lower layer, where the river was flanked by terraced gardens and lily ponds filled with golden koi.

In the shelter of a decorative bridge that passed over the river the water shimmered strangely.

The clear water bubbled and bulged out unnaturally from the riverbed as it took on the form of a human. The water solidified, forming pink flesh and silk robes as a beautiful girl took form. Her pink robes accented with cherry blossom embroidery flowed gently at her feet as she stepped onto the soft grass bank next to the stream.

A pair of women dressed in similar colourful robes passed by on the path, looking over at the girl at water’s edge. They shared a smile as they passed, not noticing anything out of place.

As they walked away the girl’s smile faded. Her eyes grew dim for a moment, then her ears pricked up and she looked over at the hill to the south.

“Gold hill… was it?” She whispered softly to herself, before taking off.

~

At the northern gate a closed black carriage pulled up to the guard house. The guards calmly walked over to review the papers. They checked the name and invitation with their own records, ensuring that the guest’s arrival was expected.

“Everything looks good.” The tall guard in charge said, passing back the papers, “For the Kong family, you can take the main path down to the lower layer, then take the southern gates to Sapphire Hill— one moment please.”

The conversation was interrupted as another guard came out from the gatehouse and relayed a message.

“Ah, apologies. please inform your passenger that we would also like to do a search.” The tall guard said.

A faint but notable aetheric aura had been sensed from within the carriage by the high ranking guards in the gatehouse, necessitating a more thorough search.

“I apologize for the inconvenience.” There was a slight edge in the air as the tall guard approached the door, “It won’t take long, sir. Just a routine inspection.”

The curtain of the carriage was pulled aside from within, revealing a man with a beautiful face and long blond hair. He had an androgynous face that was both handsome and beautiful, with a narrow jaw line, delicate lips and long eyelashes.

Jeweled rings glinted on his slender fingers as Cecil smiled calmly at the guard.

“Of course, that won’t be a problem.”