Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 64: Journey to Velmoria

Chapter 64: Journey to Velmoria

"Hina, Esther... Good morning." Serina greeted with a warm yet composed smile.

"Good morning, Serina!!" Hina practically bounced toward her, clasping Serina’s hands excitedly.

"Morning," I mumbled, my voice as lazy as the cold breeze around us.

Serina gave me a small nod before turning back to Hina with a teasing smirk. "You two seem as lively as ever. Such a cute couple."

Hina immediately recoiled, her hands dropping from Serina’s as if she had been burned. "Hell naw—don’t start that again!" she snapped, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

"Hehe, just teasing," Serina said with a giggle, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

Hina huffed, crossing her arms. "One of these days, I’m gonna make you regret saying that."

"Ooo~ scary," Serina teased, winking at her.

I sighed and shook my head, already regretting the amount of energy I was about to be stuck with for the next several hours.

"So, is this your car?" Hina asked, eyeing the sedan with interest.

"Yeah, my dad sent a driver to drop us off. He said it’s safer and more comfortable than taking a train," Serina replied, glancing toward the driver’s side.

Right on cue, the door opened, and an elderly man in a crisp black uniform stepped out, giving us a courteous nod. "Miss Serina. Shall we depart?"

"Yep, let’s go!" she said.

Hina and Serina slid into the backseat together, leaving me to take the passenger seat next to the driver. Exactly how I wanted it—some much-needed distance from their constant chatter.

As the car pulled away, the city slowly faded behind us, replaced by stretches of open roads blanketed in snow. The inside of the car was warm, unlike the crisp winter outside.

It wasn’t long before the two behind me started their talks.

I exhaled, resting my head against the window, letting their voices fade into the background as I watched the scenery pass by.

"And look at Esther, completely ignoring us as usual," Hina said.

Serina leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on the front seat. "He’s in his own world, huh? Maybe he’s thinking about some deep, philosophical nonsense."

"Or maybe he’s just wondering how to get rid of us," Hina added with a grin.

"...Both," I muttered without looking at them.

"Oof, cold," Serina feigned hurt, clutching her chest. "Hina, your man is ruthless."

Hina gagged. "Not my man! Stop it already!"

Serina burst into laughter, making Hina groan in frustration.

Despite my best efforts to ignore them, the atmosphere in the car remained lively. The driver, silent and professional, followed the directions on the digital navigation screen.

At some point, we passed around bags of snacks, munching on chips and drinking juice as the hours stretched on. The journey itself was long—three to four hours—but with these two keeping things entertaining (or annoying, depending on the moment), it somehow didn’t feel that bad.

And just like that, we were on our way to Velmoria, the newly built city that promised excitement, adventure, and, hopefully, just a little bit of peace.

...Though, knowing these two, I highly doubted that last part.

The long tunnel stretched before us, dimly lit with overhead lights casting a soft yellow glow over the smooth pavement. The moment we exited, a massive gate loomed ahead—towering, intricately designed with golden embellishments, and flanked by two massive statues of armored warriors.

Beyond the gate, the city of Velmoria bustled with life. People walked in groups, chatting excitedly, some dressed in extravagant outfits, while others carried suitcases as if they were moving in for a long stay.

The driver smoothly brought the sedan to a stop near the entrance, where a group of royal guards stood in formation, checking tickets and ensuring order.

One of them, clad in a sleek black-and-gold uniform, stepped forward. "Passes, please," he said, his voice deep and commanding.

Serina casually leaned forward, pulling out the sleek VVIP passes from her purse. "Here you go," she said with a confident smile.

The guard took them, scanning each one under a bright blue device strapped to his wrist. He barely glanced at Hina and Serina but lingered on me for a second longer than necessary.

"Everything checks out," he said eventually, handing the passes back.

"Woah, that was fast!" Hina grinned. "I thought they’d at least interrogate us a little for the extra drama."

The guard gave her a deadpan stare. "Miss, this isn’t a fantasy novel."

Serina chuckled as she nudged Hina forward. "Come on, let’s not hold up the line."

As we stepped past the first checkpoint, the aesthetics of Velmoria became more apparent.

The streets were paved with polished stones that reflected the soft winter sunlight. Ancient-looking houses, resembling traditional mansions lined the roads, blending seamlessly with the luxurious cars parked nearby.

It was like a fusion of old-world charm and modern high society.

After weaving through a few wide streets, we reached yet another grand gate. Unlike the first, this one had a smaller crowd gathered in front, forming neat lines leading to yet another checkpoint. The guards here were even more intimidating—silent, clad in darker uniforms, their sharp eyes scanning everyone.

The car rolled to a halt as the driver pulled up near the side curb. He adjusted his cap before glancing at us through the rearview mirror. "This is as far as I go. Outside vehicles aren’t allowed beyond this point. You’ll have to proceed on foot."

"Ohh, is that so?" Hina leaned forward, peering through the windshield. "Man, they really take their security seriously."

Serina nodded. "Makes sense. It keeps the streets less chaotic." She grabbed her bag and pushed open the door. "Alright, let’s go."

We all stepped out, and the moment our feet hit the pavement, the atmosphere around us became even livelier. A large crowd was formed at the entrance, most of them waiting for their passes to be checked before being let inside the city proper.

For regular visitors, the lines stretched long, wrapping around the corner of the main gate. But for VIP and VVIP pass holders, a separate, much shorter line was formed on the right side.

Serina confidently led us there, flashing the VVIP passes once again.

The guard assigned to our section took them and examined them closely. Like before, his gaze flicked to me, lingering longer than usual. He wasn’t subtle about it either. His suspicious eyes scanned me from head to toe, his grip tightening slightly around the pass.

I remained unfazed, keeping my hands shoved inside my pockets, my head slightly tilted down. Our eyes never met, but I could feel his intense scrutiny.

Another guard standing nearby also took notice, subtly exchanging glances with the first one.

I didn’t react. Instead, I just kept walking forward as the guards continued staring—one of them even turning his head slightly to watch my back as I passed.

I had no idea what their problem was.

But for now, I chose to ignore it.