The wind was harsh when we descended.
Dravengard Pass stretched out below like a scar carved through the continent — a narrow valley wedged between two cliffs, with towers of pale stone standing guard at its mouth. Even from above, I could feel the weight of the place. Towns built on borders always carried this — that mix of pride, paranoia, and profit.
I am not really a fan of such excitement but I don't want to waste time by taking detour when I am this powerful.
We landed just outside the main gate. The smell hit first — dust, oil, and smoke from too many caravans crammed into too small a space. A few guards turned their heads upward, muttering about "flying lunatics." Not exactly a common sight here, I supposed.
I jumped off Flash and stretched. "We'll rest them here for the night," I said, brushing off the dust from my cloak. "They've flown enough for one stretch."
Raven nodded.
"Good," I said. "Let's go."
The others dismounted with their usual noise. Lucas nearly tripped over his robe, Brock cracked his neck, and Emma managed to land lightly — right beside Emilia.
They looked like a mismatched group, but Claw worked. And it was the best I could have asked for.
We started toward the gate. I noticed how the guards didn't bother hiding their unease. Their armor wasn't polished. Their hands hovered near their swords. My Sixth Sense told me clearly they were just nervous.
I couldn't blame them. A group of six descending from the clouds on flying beasts wasn't something any normal gate patrol was ready for.
In fact most cities reacted the same way. But they were more peaceful so we didn't encounter any problem.
When we reached the line, a guard stepped forward.
"Purpose of visit?" he asked.
"Rest stop," Raven said curtly before I could open my mouth. "No trade, no politics. A small stop and we leave"
The guard's eyes flicked toward me. "And you are?"
"Just passing through," I said. "Heading east."
He frowned slightly. "Most travelers heading east don't fly."
I shrugged. "Most towns don't ask that many questions."
His lips tightened. For a moment, I thought he might press the issue. But then my Sixth Sense whispered a different story — his irritation was real, but his concern came from something else entirely. Something inside the town.
Whatever it was, I didn't plan on getting tangled in it. Not tonight. Not ever.
After a long moment, he waved us through. "Don't cause trouble."
"Last thing I want," I said, and walked on before he could change his mind.
---
Dravengard Pass up close was worse than from above. The streets were narrow, the houses too tall for comfort — all built of gray stone. The sound of haggling mixed with the faint clang of metal — armor repairs, probably.
Brock glanced around. "Place feels tense," he muttered. "Even for a border town."
"Maybe someone important's visiting," Lucas offered. "Or maybe they heard rumors about flying mercenaries."
Emma grinned. "Maybe they just don't like your face."
"Ha. Hilarious," Brock replied.
I watched a patrol march past — their insignias mismatched. Two bore the emblem of Dravengard. The others carried none. Mercenaries, maybe. Or conscripts.
"Something's off," I said quietly.
Raven looked at me. "You feel it too."
"Yeah." Sixth Sense was also warning me.
"Could be a change in command," he said. "Happens near borders. Power shifts faster than maps can catch up."
I nodded. "Let's hope that's all."
But my Omniscient said otherwise. Too much random movement. And too much information that doesn't add up well.
And it didn't look peaceful.
---
We reached the inn by dusk. The Bent Halberd, the sign read — which, given the crowd inside, was probably more literal than creative. The air smelled of ale, sweat, and stories best forgotten. I generally stayed at expensive inns, but here this was the best I could manage.
Raven handled the rooms. I leaned against the counter, half-listening to a merchant complain about tariffs.
Other members let us do the booking of room.
I caught the innkeeper staring at us — not suspiciously, more like he was weighing something. He saw the weapons, the posture, the lack of smiles. Then he looked away. Smart man.
When Raven returned, he slid a key across the counter to me. "Two rooms. Yours upstairs, ours next door."
"Fine by me," I said. "I'll eat some food first."
As I turned, a commotion near the entrance caught my attention. Three men — cloaked, but not subtle — stepped inside. One carried the posture of authority, the kind that came with too much confidence and too little reason.
"Town Enforcement," he announced, flashing a small bronze badge. "Routine inspection. We'll need everyone's travel papers."
The room went silent.
Maybe they have a habit to disturb.
I sighed. "Of course. Just my luck."
Raven glanced at me. I shook my head slightly.
I really just wanted to end it with Apocalypse.
But the man's eyes were already scanning the room, and when they stopped on us, I knew trouble had found its way anyway. Damn, they were looking for me.
Soldiers after me… second time now.
"You there," he said, pointing at me. "You arrived by air, didn't you?"
"Is that illegal now?" I asked.
"It's… unusual," he replied carefully. "And unusual things attract attention."
"Maybe you should try it sometime," I said. "Helps with perspective."
With each Nature Force I gather, I'm getting more cocky. I hope my plan succeeds. Or my tounge will slip in front of a powerhouse and I will die.
As for the guard? He stiffened. The other two guards moved closer. Around us, the innkeeper pretended to wipe tables, and everyone else pretended not to exist.
Well, I'd do the same in their place.
"Papers," the officer repeated.
Raven handed them over before I could escalate further. The officer scanned them, his frown deepening. "Claw… never heard of you."
"That's because we don't advertise," Raven said. "We do our job and move on."
The man looked at me again. "And you?"
"Traveler," I said simply. "Nothing more."
"Traveler with flying beasts and hired guards," he muttered. "Forgive me if that sounds odd."
Well, weak hire guards, especially with a duke trying to kill them.
He didn't notice his hand twitch toward his weapon — but my Omniscient did. Before he even realized what he was doing, I had already moved.
Teleportation placed me beside him — one hand on his wrist, stopping the draw before it began.
The inn gasped as if I'd vanished and reappeared.
I smiled faintly. "Careful. Accidents happen fast."
For a heartbeat, no one spoke. Then I released his hand and stepped back.
The officer swallowed, eyes darting between where I'd been and where I now stood. "You—"
"Relax," I said. "No harm done. We're just here for the night."
Raven's voice was calm but final. "We'll cooperate. But if you have more questions, save them for your commander."
The officer hesitated, then gestured sharply to his men. They left, though not gracefully.
Well, I must look like a monster to them now.
I hardly think the situation will improve.
As the door closed, Brock exhaled. "Well, that could've gone worse."
Emma smirked. "Yeah, like facing a kra… I mean, facing a strong monster."
"Because it always can," I said.
I sat back down, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "I wasn't trying to start anything."
"No," Raven said, "but it had to be handled."
I grinned. "That's true."
He didn't smile, but the corner of his mouth twitched. That was close enough.
---
Later that night, when the others had gone to their rooms, I stepped outside. The street was quiet.
Leaving without escorts… am I closer to freedom?
But I always find this world strange. Well, let's just take some air.
My senses stretched again — the whole town breathing around me. The guards at the gate changing shifts. The distant murmur of a conversation held behind closed shutters.
And somewhere beyond the walls, something else. A faint echo. The thrum of magic, steady and unfamiliar.
"Raven," I murmured. He was already behind me.
"You felt it too," he said.
"Yeah. West side of the wall. Someone's casting — but not locals. The rhythm's different."
He nodded. "You want to check?"
I looked up at the stars, faintly veiled by drifting clouds. We were supposed to rest. But border towns never stayed quiet for long.
"Let's check," I said finally. "No reason to sit still when the night's alive."
Raven nodded faintly. "I'll wake the others."
I shook my head. "Not yet. Just us."
He hesitated, then nodded once. "Understood."
We slipped into the shadows.
And as we moved, I felt that something was happening in Dravengard Pass, and we'd stepped right into it.
But I feel free now. Now I finally feel like I can live safely.
If I am going there doesn't it means I am finally halfway there
I need to take that Nature Force, though, just to remove the final chain.