"Please step into the center of the circle, sir."

    Zeke complied, his curiosity piqued as he observed the process. Technically, this was his first time using an official gate, as he had previously traveled with his own Magic. The procedure seemed overly intricate, requiring multiple layers of verification on both sides. Perhaps the stringent checks were due to the fact that he was leaving human territory.

    After a short wait, the Archmage overseeing the transportation finally gave him the go-ahead. "They’re ready to receive you now, sir. Are you prepared? This can be rather disorientying if you’re not accustomed to it."

    Zeke allowed himself a small smile and briefly flared his Space affinity. The Archmage’s posture eased noticeably, a nod of understanding accompanying his relaxed demeanor. "Ah, I see. I suppose this won’t be an issue for you then. Safe travels, sir."

    With those words, Zeke felt the space around him solidify, locking him in place with an unyielding force. It was far beyond anything he could achieve, and he was certain that no amount of struggle would free him from this invisible prison. This was the undeniable difference in power between an Archmage and a Grand Mage.

    Moments later, he sensed a membrane of spatial Mana beginning to envelop him, spreading from head to toe. If not for his enhanced perception, the entire process would have been over in the blink of an eye. Now, experiencing it in slowed detail, Zeke could fully appreciate the precision and skill of the Archmage’s work.

    He could replicate something similar at a comparable speed—but only for himself. Encasing another person in spatial Mana would take him significantly longer, and the difficulty would increase dramatically if the target moved. This explained why he had been immobilized beforehand.

    Soon, his body was encased in a robust cocoon of spatial Mana, and Zeke felt the familiar pull of a connection forming with another location. No matter how much he heightened his perception, he couldn’t detect the traversal of space itself. One moment, he stood in Tradespire; the next, he was in a nearly identical location, though manned by a completely different set of people.

    "Welcome to Stonehearth, Ezekiel of Tradespire," a voice greeted him.

    Zeke looked up and saw a human addressing him. This was expected—dwarves, after all, couldn’t develop a spatial affinity. In fact, humans were the only race on the continent capable of mastering the domains of Space and Time. It was one of the reasons for their dominance.

    He nodded respectfully at the Archmage. "Am I good to go?"

    The man returned the gesture with a friendly smile. "Yes, you’re properly registered with the network, and the Department of Immigration has already approved your visit. There’s no restriction on how long you may stay."

    Zeke was pleasantly surprised by how smooth the process had been. Compared to his journey to Korrovan, this was worlds apart. He recalled sneaking through the land with Leo, avoiding roads and settlements, their every move shrouded in caution. Back then, they had looked more like beggars or thieves than travelers.

    But he hadn’t had a choice. As a mere True Mage, nearly anyone posed a threat. Even a small group of wandering Grandmages could have overwhelmed him. And with the bounty on his head, there had been no shortage of people eager to try.

    Fortunatly, the situation was entirely different now. With his current strength, Zeke no longer feared Grandmages. Of course, he wasn’t arrogant enough to believe he could defeat all of them in a head-on fight—far from it. However, with his repertoire of spells and abilities, he was confident in his ability to escape nearly any peril.

    "Aye, ye plannin’ to stay ’ere forever, lad, or ye thinkin’ o’ movin’ on someday?"

    Zeke turned to see a stout man pushing a massive wheelbarrow. He was heading toward the area where the next platform would soon descend but was blocked by Zeke. "Sorry about that," Zeke said, stepping aside. "I was a bit mesmerized by the sight."

    The man’s gruff expression softened slightly as he glanced over the railing, his small stature barely allowing him to peek over. "It sure is a sight, ain’t it? I reckon this be yer first time in the city, eh?"

    Zeke nodded, gesturing to the Gate building behind him. "Just arrived."

    The dwarf nodded, setting down his wheelbarrow and rolling his shoulders. "Where ye headin’, lad?"

    Zeke studied the man more closely. He seemed to be middle-aged, with a massive bushy beard and ruddy cheeks. His height barely reached Zeke’s chest, but his shoulders were almost twice as wide. It was a common misconception that dwarfs were small. In terms of overall mass, they often outweighed the average human. This man, for example, had arms thicker than Zeke’s legs.

    "I’m looking for the Steelbender Forge. Do you know where it is?" Zeke asked.

    "Aye, I do," the dwarf replied, then spat on the ground in apparent disgust. "But what’s it to ye? Everyone knows ol’ Steelbender’s nothin’ but a bandit an’ a scoundrel. His wares ain’t even half as good as what others can churn out and twice as expensive."

    Zeke had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. According to David, Steelbender was a highly respected artisan and a master of his craft. He wasn’t about to take the word of this random stranger to heart. Still, there was no harm in playing along for now.

    "Is that so?" he asked, feigning surprise. "Then, where do you suggest I go instead?"

    The dwarf gave him a long, appraising look, as if trying to determine whether Zeke was being honest. After finding nothing suspicious, he nodded with a satisfied grin. "It’s a good thing ye’ve crossed paths with me, lad. Others might try an’ swindle ye, but I ain’t like ’em. If ye want th’ best wares in all o’ Stonehearth, ye best be headin’ to ol’ Gunner’s smithy."

    Zeke wracked his brain, even asking Akasha for help, but he couldn’t recall ever hearing of a place called ’Gunner’s Smithy.’ It was likely either a hidden gem or a completely insignificant shop.

    "Never heard of it," he admitted.

    The dwarf flushed slightly but quickly regained his composure. "Course ye haven’t, lad. Ye’ve only just arrived. Where would ye’ve heard of it? In yer human lands? Ha!"

    Zeke had no intention of contradicting the man. Instead, he simply extended his hand. "Makes sense," he said. "I’m Ezekiel."

    The dwarf seemed to appreciate the straightforward gesture and firmly clasped Zeke’s hand, his palm nearly enveloping Zeke’s. "Pleasure meetin’ ye, lad. Name’s Gunner."