The wagon wheels ground against gravel as we crested the final hill. I pulled back the canvas flap, my first glimpse of Kaldos City stealing my breath away. The sheer scale dwarfed anything I'd seen in my travels. Remembrance could have fit twice within its sprawling bounds.

The city filled a natural depression in the barren landscape, where little vegetation took root in the hard earth. Rings of thick stone walls sectioned the urban expanse into districts, each barrier topped with iron-tipped wooden stakes. Guard towers punctuated the fortifications at regular intervals, their shadows stretching across the packed dirt streets below.

But it was the Academy that dominated the vista. The school rose from the city's heart like a mountain of carved stone, its countless towers and spires reaching toward slate-gray clouds. The central tower pierced the heavens, so tall I had to crane my neck to see its peak. Even from this distance, I could make out the countless arrow slits and murder holes dotting its walls; this was no mere school, but a fortress designed for war.

The royal palace squatted to the east, its ceremonial battlements and gilded domes appearing almost apologetic next to the Academy's martial grandeur. From what I had heard, it had only been eighty years since the royal family had moved the capital of the Kingdom of Swords to Kaldos City, which had started off as a mere supply settlement for the Academy.

I understood now why this place had grown to become the capital. The War Academy's presence shaped everything around it, from the military architecture to the rigid organization of the districts.

My mechanical fingers traced the edges of Mallie's invitation through my dress. She should have been here instead of me. I made a very poor substitute, in my opinion.

The wagon train began its descent into the bowl of the city. Other travelers streamed past us on the road: merchants with loaded carts, farmers bringing goods to market, but most of all, warriors from all races marching in formation. Their weapons caught the wan sunlight, a forest of steel moving toward the fortress-school that loomed over us all.

The caravan halted at the main gates, where a line of wagons stretched ahead waiting for inspection. I gathered my meager belongings as the trail captain's boots crunched on gravel.

"When do you head to the Academy?" His beard twitched as he spoke.

I have a month before the entrance ceremony, I projected through Mind Speech.

He nodded, scratching his chin. "Listen, you'll want to find lodging in Monster Town. It's where most of the city's intelligent monsters live."

Monster Town? The name carried unfortunate implications.

"Aye. South district, past the tanneries. Not the prettiest part of the city, but you'll blend in better there." He glanced at my wrapped sword. "And keep that invitation under wraps. Plenty of high-ranked adventurers would gut you to claim it for themselves."

Thank you for the warning. I adjusted my veil, ensuring it covered my porcelain mask completely.

"Safe travels, widow." He tipped his head and strode back to his wagon.

The guards waved our caravan through after a cursory inspection. I walked beneath the towering gates, my mechanical legs clicking softly beneath my skirts. The cobblestones were worn smooth from centuries of traffic, and the walls above bore ancient scorch marks from long-forgotten sieges.

The entrance opened into a broad avenue lined with shops and food stalls. Merchants called their wares in dozens of languages while city guards in polished armor kept watch from street corners. Humans of every race mingled with monsters in the crowd: orcs carrying delivery crates, goblins sweeping storefronts, even a massive minotaur was directing traffic at an intersection.

But I noticed how the monsters gave the humans a wide berth, their eyes downcast, movements careful to appear non-threatening. The humans, in turn, ignored them completely unless giving orders.

I touched the invitation through my dress again. The Academy claimed to accept all races, yet it was very obvious that the city built around it treated monsters as lesser beings. My mechanical fingers curled into a fist. I would need to be very careful here.

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I followed the trail captain's directions south, the buildings growing more decrepit with each street I passed. The paved roads gave way to mud and gravel. The smell hit me first: a mixture of sewage, rotting food, and unwashed bodies that made me grateful I didn't need to breathe.

Monster Town announced itself with broken windows and crumbling walls. Structures leaned against each other like drunk revelers, their foundations slowly sinking into the muck. Refuse piled in corners where it should have been collected weeks ago. A group of goblin children played in a puddle of what I hoped was rainwater.

The streets teemed with monsters. Orcs lounged on stoops, their tusks yellowed and clothes patched. Kobolds huddled around burning barrels, scales dull from malnutrition. There were even a few winged beings perched up on the rooftops, their wings looking molted and ragged.

"Spare some copper, m'lady?" A three-armed something extended a begging bowl toward me. I shook my head silently, and he shuffled away to try his luck elsewhere.

More beggars approached, drawn by my fine black dress and wrapped sword. Each time, my lack of response drove them off. But I felt the weight of hostile stares following my progress down the street. To them, I was just another human come to gawk at their misery. It seemed as if my disguise, which had worked so well for me in human lands, did me a disservice now.

I stopped in the middle of the street and slowly removed my veil. The porcelain mask underneath gleamed dully in the weak sunlight. I pulled back my hood, revealing long black hair.

The hostility in their gazes transformed to curiosity. A young orc child pointed at me, only to have his hand slapped down by his mother. An elderly feathered woman cocked her head, studying me with bright yellow eyes. Even the beggars kept their distance now, unsure what to make of this strange new monster in their midst.

I was used to such reactions. In a world where most monsters fit known categories (orcs, kobolds, goblins and such) I was unique. Original, as my status box said. A thing of pale flesh and mechanical parts, neither fully organic nor construct. Their stares held a different quality than the humans' fear or disgust. This was the wary assessment of those who had learned to be cautious of anything new and unknown in their territory.

I needed to find lodging soon. The sun was setting, and I doubted Monster Town became safer after dark. I knew I could handle myself during a fight, but I would prefer avoiding conflict if possible. Especially here, where any violence might draw unwanted attention from the city guard.

A weathered sign creaked in the evening breeze: "Dragon's Den." The building stood apart from its neighbors, its stone walls scrubbed clean and windows unbroken. Light spilled from those windows, along with the sweet notes of a flute.

I pushed open the heavy wooden door and the music grew clearer. A goblin stood on a small corner stage, his fingers dancing across a battered silver flute. The melody wove through the chatter of various monsters seated at rough-hewn tables. A kobold family shared a steaming pot of stew. Two orcs clinked their mugs together in a toast. Even a pair of winged folk perched on specially-built high seats near the rafters.

The conversations stuttered as heads turned toward me. The porcelain mask and black dress drew their attention, but the stares felt more curious than hostile. The flute player missed a note, then recovered smoothly.

Behind the bar stood an enormous orc, his gray hair thin on top but making up for it with impressive muttonchops. His gut strained against a surprisingly clean apron. He watched my approach with small, shrewd eyes set in a face creased by smile lines.

"Welcome to the Dragon's Den!" His voice boomed across the room. "Looking for a drink? A meal? Or perhaps a room for the night?"

I require lodging for one month, I projected through Mind Speech.

His eyes widened slightly at the mental communication, but his smile only grew broader. "A month! Well now, that's music to these old ears. I've got just the thing! My finest room, recently vacated. And I promise the bugs are all normal-sized, not those giant ones you find in the cheaper places!"

He chuckled at his own joke. I stared at him silently.

"Tough crowd," he muttered, still grinning. "Right then, let's discuss price..."

The innkeeper and I haggled over the price, though his initial offer of 75 silver wasn't unreasonable.

I don't require meals, I projected when he included board in the cost.

"No food?" Barnus scratched his muttonchops. "Well that changes things. Sixty silver for the month then, if you're not eating."

I counted out the coins from my purse, laying them in neat stacks on the bar. The silver caught the lamplight, drawing a few covetous glances from nearby patrons.

"I'm Barnus," he said, sweeping the coins into a leather pouch. "If you need anything, except food apparently, just let me know."

The stairs creaked under my mechanical feet as I climbed to the top floor. My room waited at the hall's end, the door's hinges protesting as I pushed it open.

The space was simple but clean. A narrow bed occupied one corner, its blankets patched but fresh. A scarred wooden table and chair sat beneath two windows that overlooked Monster Town's streets. Someone had attempted to brighten the room with a faded rug, its pattern long since worn away by countless feet.

I placed my wrapped sword on the table and began unpacking my few belongings. The Academy entrance ceremony wouldn't begin for a month. Until then, this room would serve as my sanctuary, a place to maintain my mechanical parts away from prying eyes while I waited.

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