664 10/12 2:51 (Autumn, Day, Near Midrar's Capital)
Luna held Sabel's left hand, comforting and leading her towards the city, or to be more precise the multiple lines to enter the gate.
"There are a lot more People here." The Lunarian noted aloud, successfully distracting Sabel by pulling her into a conversation.
"Well, yeah, obviously. Nealet is a Dungeon city, a city whose purpose is the management of the nearby Dungeons, inhabited by either People exploring such places, hunters specialized on Monsters or People that supports these endeavours in various ways, directly or indirectly. This, however, is a capital. And in addition, it's the capital of a nation in the middle of two others. Traffic here is more or less constant."
The black-haired one's words were easily accepted by the Vampiric one, the latter's pale arm encircling the Human's waist and pulling her more firmly against her body, distracting her from their other two Mates.
"Being careful with your words! Is that so hard?!" Mafel whisper-shouted at Amber, one of her hands grabbing firmly onto a shoulder, shaking her repeatedly while the other hand twisted her ear, a clear punishment for her previous words.
"Sorry, sorry. I didn't think about the effects of my words. I didn't mean it!" The blonde yelped back, trying to escape from Mafel's hold without too much success, especially considering how she needed to be careful of the gulf between their physical ability.
The struggling Demonic Phoenix looked towards the Lunarian for help, however she only saw a very intense gaze from the taller one, a gaze promising a later punishment and, in this way, causing Amber's face to redden significantly, involuntarily imagining what she will suffer that very night.
Gulping, the blonde immediately looked away from one of her white-haired Mates only to be met with the purple and gold eyes of her other white-haired Mate, the Elf examining their actions and nodding once, very satisfied about what she understood.
"Let's leave the rest of your castigation to tonight. For now, let's just prepare to enter the city." Mafel softened her hold on the Phoenix slightly, leading her to rejoin the other two and finally joining the line properly.
Luna's True Sight and Senses passed over the nearby People and Artifacts, scanning them for a single instant, far from enough to properly examine them but plenty for what she planned, the creation of perfect Records of everything she observed that she could then re-examine in detail later.
Time that promised to be quite soon considering how bored she felt, Luna leaning against Sabel as she dully watched the long file before them, each individual taking at least two minutes to pass the examination.
And considering there were around twenty People before them in this specific line, including multiple wagons belonging to various merchants that will need to be investigated in detail, she was left almost hoping for something to go wrong so that she would have something to do.
"Are you sure we are going to actually enter? The three of us are not from Midrar and we have a lot of power between us." Amber warily asked, watching the way the guards were behaving.
"No need to worry. I'm an Adventurer of Midrar and I am the daughter of the Guild Master in this city. A couple of temporary permits will be no problem." Sabel reassured soon followed by Mafel's intrusion.
"And while we were waiting in Nealet, we made some documents with the Guild. Officially, we are collaborators of the Guild thanks to our experience with that Dungeon, the power Amber and you possess and my status as a certified Medium, with Sabel being our contact with the organization." Mafel exacted, cutting off most of Sabel's smugness in an instant, before continuing in a whisper.
"Luna. Be extra cautious of how you use your Vampiric Abilities. While they aren't strictly illegal, the closer we are to Higrar, the worse they will be seen. All things considered, it's possible that some People will try to hurt you. In that case, leave everything to the three of us. I know I am asking a lot, but it's the only way we can nip any problems in the bud."
"I know, I know." Luna rolled her eyes, her dull answer clear indicator of the boredom she was currently feeling, her attention moving to dissect her newly acquired Records while they were waiting for their turn to arrive.
-
664 10/12 3:55 (Autumn, Day, Near Midrar's Capital)
After waiting for more than one hour under the Sun's light, enough time that she fully recovered the rest of her spent Astral Ichor, until they were finally next in their line, causing Luna to return to full awareness.
And to further fuel her annoyance, she was unable to advance her Orichalcum Essence Conversion's progress during this period as channelling that much Energy around in their situation would only cause further delays and problems.
Aware of the possibility of Luna causing issues, especially with the tension that filled the guards, Sabel stepped forward, retrieving her Guild Card, the Artifact that would mark her belonging to the organization and her status.
"Hello, my name is Sabel. I am a member of the Guild." She started, her expression clear of any insecurity as a pair of dull green eyes, the only trait that could be properly seen under the guard's heavy helmet, scanned her face for any irregularities.
The guard standing in their way was a muscular figure over two meters tall, enveloped in heavy armour that was a mix between metal plates and chainmail, designed to both hide their identity as well as protecting them while still maintaining the necessary flexibility.
Having confirmed that everything looked in order upon a first look, they simply gestured to the back, causing another guard, this one much less physically imposing and with much lighter armour to retreat briefly, retrieving a very specific Artifact, a large silver-like cube with an opening on one side and a screen of black glass on top.
The smaller guard took the Guild Card from the black-haired one, moving quickly but carefully, before they inserted it in the Artifact, causing it to generate a cube of dense energy and vibrations that completely hid the Guard and the Adventurer, starting to seek the corresponding file from the Guild's Records.
After ten seconds, so brief a time only because the search started from the Records belonging to the same nation as the cube, the file was found and the Artifact shifted once more, the top pane rising slightly to reveal a second pane of black glass that covered the opening on the side, revealing the image of an open hand.
Sabel gently placed her hand on the appropriate mark, feeling herself being scanned, an analysis that seek out her handprint, Energy signature and the presence of the Title of Adventurer, its newest updated version.
"What is your name." The guard let out, their voice masked such that it was impossible to properly examine it, constantly changing in pitch, tone and characteristics, starting their active interrogation immediately.
"Sabel."
"Where were you born."
"In the capital."
"What was the Guild you last visited."
"The Guild in Nealet."
"How old are you."
"I'm eighteen."
"Are you under the influence of any substances that dull your consciousness."
"N-no. I'm not."
"When was your birthday."
"The tenth day of the tenth month."
"What is your name."
"Sabel."
"Which one was the year of your birth."
"The 646th year of this Blood Moon."
"Are you being coerced in any way."
"No."
"Are you a member of the Guild."
"Yes."
"Are you under an Effect that changes your shape, directly or not."
"No."
"Do you know the People you are traveling with."
"Yes."
"Do you trust them with your life."
"Yes."
"What is your name."
"Sabel."
"Why did you come here."
"To present my... companions to my parents and maybe hunt some Monsters around here before we restart our journey."
"What is your next destination."
"We are going to the tournament in Terrar, hunting Monsters and Dungeons along the way."
"Did you ever kill a Monster."
"Yes."
"Did you ever kill a Person."
"No."
"What is your name."
"Sabel."
"Do you worship any Deity."
"My mother is a follower of the Lady of War, but I am not exactly an active worshipper."
"Do you travel with a Vampire."
"No."
"Is this your first visit to the capital."
"No."
"Do you travel with a Vampiric Entity."
"Yes."
"Are your current companions, the Guild Resources you are the contact for."
"Yes."
"Are they going to leave with you."
"Yes."
"Do you plan on bringing harm to the populace in any way."
"No."
"What is your name."
"Sabel."
"Do they have any way to observe what is currently happening."
"Yes, but only vaguely. They only know our general state."
"Are you being threatened."
"No."
"Are you lying."
"No."
"Are your companions planning on harming the general populace."
"No."
"What is your name."
"Sabel."
"Are you planning on harming Midrar, directly or indirectly."
"No."
"What is your and your companions' Racial Rank."
"Two at D-Rank and two at C-Rank."
"Do you possess a Unique Skill."
"All of us do."
"Do you know your parents' name."
"Yes."
"Are you staying long."
"No. Five days at most."
"Did you lie at any of the previous questions."
"No."
"What is your name."
"Sabel."
"Very well. We are done here." The guard said, the cube spitting out the Dungeon Card and returning to its initial state, maintaining the interference around the two for slightly longer. "Because of the Vow one takes upon becoming a Guard for a capital, all information obtained through the use of a Cube of Insight can only be shared if it presents a direct threat to People's life under penalty of dismissal and arrest."
Having finished with the required disclaimer, the Cube fully shut down, the tallest one giving it back to the smaller Guard. "One seven-days long permit for one Person and three permits linked to that one."
They had barely finished barking their orders that the other guard vanished and reappeared, presenting a small silver plate and three bronze ones to the four. "Now, hold them for a couple of minutes so that they can adjust to you. If any of you leaves or enters the city, you will need to be accompanied by the main permit's owner.
"They are only valid for seven days and by then you will need to either have requested a long-term permit or have given them back. I'm sorry for the inconveniences and I wish you all a happy stay in this city." The guard ended their role, pointing towards the opening in the wall that opened, allowing access to the four of them.
Sabel, tense because of both the interrogation and what it would mean that so costly a measure as the activation of a Cube of Wisdom was used, led her three Mates in.
---
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