The rain had finally subsided. The day was still partly cloudy, but a rainbow presented itself nonetheless. The remainder of the trip went by without issues beyond a monster robbing the caravan’s supply of bulk stored black powder. No one seems to be too broken up about that beyond Sardon Albrinter. Amidst the fresh mud and rainbows, the trail gives way to vibrant green trees and a field of grass. Off in the distance there are farming communities connected to the stone road by simple wooden signs and dirt paved roads, which have since gone muddy. There were points where bandits were spotted. However, when the bandits spotted how many men and women were armed and armored, they figured that they just let this payday pass undisturbed. That is until Ren decided to step away during a break and looked incredibly vulnerable to kidnapping and theft.

  “We should be leaving soon.” Luard says. “Everyone start packing up and get moving.”

  “Hang on.” Velaura says. “Ren isn’t back yet.”

  “Well someone else get her. I need to pour my coffee into my canteen.” Luard says. “Never stand between a man and his addiction. Especially if it’s a coffee addiction.”

  Luard places a funnel onto the top of a canteen and begins to pour a pot of coffee he brewed over a camp fire. As he proceeds to gently pour his morning coffee into his canteen. This delicate process was interrupted when a scream was heard in the distance.

  “HOLY SHIT!!!”

  Luard is startled and spills most of the pot of coffee before he snaps to attention. He pulls a pair of wands from his hips and starts searching for the source of the scream.

  “Where did that come from?” a knight says, whipping his head around.

  “Oh, that came from the direction Ren went to pick mushrooms.” Velaura says.

  “What? Why?” Luard says.

  “I don’t know. Ren just does whatever she wants. I wouldn’t be surprised if the bandits we saw stalking us got Ren’d.”

  Luard shakes his head while craning his neck.

  “I’m sorry what?”

  “You know. Ren.”

  “No, I don’t know. What are you talking about?”

  “Relax guys. It was just Ren.” Perschale Albrinter speaks up as she returns to the caravan.

  “I don’t know why we should be relaxing. What was that scream?” Luard starts to demand.

  “Oh. The screaming was Ren’s enemies.” Velaura says. “It was probably those bandits you told us about.”

  Luard just gives the both of them a confused look. After a moment, Ren emerges from the treeline covered in blood.

  “Don’t worry, I killed everyone and got some mushrooms.” Ren says in her usual tone of voice.

  Ren holds a bunch of mushrooms over her head. They were glowing and generally looked horrid and poisonous. Luard goes wide eyed and maintains the confused look.

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  “Why?”

  “Because I wanted to make stuff.” Ren says. “Don’t worry. Not one drop of this blood is my own. Anyway, let’s go.”

  Ren walks past Luard with a bounce in her step. Luard’s mouth just hangs open while he tries to process the fact that Ren is a person and not a pet rock on legs. After some time Luard pulls himself from his stupor and shakes his head.

  “Okay! Once I get back to the capital, I’m using my resources there to do a bigger and better background check on her.”

  The rest of the trip was uneventful and safe. Ren mostly spent her time mashing these strange mushrooms she got into some sort of paste like substance. Days on the road gave way to a grand gate. There was a line forming at the gate entrance. As the caravan was headed by Chancellor Luard Luminite and Lutz Albrinter, the caravan was ushered ahead of the line. Even with a noble with the sons and daughters of nobles, the caravan and all it’s occupants were to be inspected. Notably, Ren was to be inspected.

  “As someone who is not a citizen of the Irvan Kingdom, you are required to pay an entrance tax to enter the city.”

  “But why?” Ren asked.

  “As someone who is not a citizen of the kingdom, you have not paid to contribute to the upkeep and maintenance of the country. In addition, our guard must now be mindful of a stranger. There is the risk of danger and now our city’s security must now account for you. You also gain the benefits of the very city walls which were paid for by the kingdom, and the kingdom will not let you reap these benefits without payment.”

  Ren stares blankly at the guard. She slowly palms him a gold. The guard swiftly takes it.

  “Very good. Cause no trouble. As someone who is not a citizen, you are not afforded many protections. We provide our city guards with free health care, however should they be injured when coming to the defense of someone who is not a citizen, they are not afforded the same services.”

  “But why?” Ren asked again.

  “Because we cannot afford it at all times. You try paying for medicine every time some foreign nut job causes trouble. Or when an adventurer stumbles upon a conspiracy and hospitalize half the city guards because they run instead of stand their ground and fight.”

  “Adventurers?” Ren asked another question.

  “Yes! Adventurers.” the guard huffs. “A bunch of madfolk clinging to old stories of heroics through violence and chaos. They think that keeping that dump they called an adventurer’s guild makes them legitimate.”

  Ren’s facial expression doesn’t move, but she is bouncing on her heels at the news of adventurers.

  “Now again, stay out of trouble.”

  Ren prepares to rush off into the town seemingly without a proper direction. Before she could, Perschale grabs her by the back of her robes and holds her back.

  “Ren, I think you’re forgetting something.” Perschale says. “You have to see us to our father. He should be staying in Duke Falborne’s estate here in the capital.”

  With those words, Ren is dragged off by her employers. She is plopped on a wagon and is carried off into the city. Barred from the chance to explore and pursue her own goals. As they pass through the gates, a guard welcomes them into the city.

  “Welcome to Longcrest city. The jewel blessed by the winds.”

  The caravan is drawn into the city. Gossiping resumes and the most notable comment is one of demons.

  “Yee, gods. Here comes the demons.” Unwo scoffs.

  “Yeah, we just got here and demons are already trying to tempt me.” Lutz says.

  “Oh please! You townies need to hang out in the big cities more often.” Luard chuckles to himself.

  “What’s happening?” Ren asked.

  “Oh? Is this your first time in a city?” Unwo says. “You see, demons gather in cities to tempt people. Cities have a higher population density and offer demons more opportunity to tempt mortal people. You’ll see a lot more demons here pulling on our ears like we’re lotto tickets.”

  There is a brief pause before Ren asks a follow up question.

  “Angels are still a thing, right?”

  “Well, yes.” Unwo says. “It’s just that they… well… can’t keep up with all the demons without physical form in the streets. They let the people come to them to seek divine aid.”

  “Wow.” Ren says.

  “I know it can be hard, but always try to say no to demons whispering in your ear.” Unwo says as she nods.

  Ren does hear many voices, but hears no demons beyond the one sheathed at her hip. The other knights and guards seem to be irritated by something unseen. Supposedly, the ride from the gate to the estate was unpleasant for those who could hear demons whisper in their ears. Soon enough Ren finds her at the front door of some fancy estate with immaculate decor. There maids and butlers stand to either side of a grand foyer that leads to a large set of stairs. At the top, two older men with hairs starting to gray and a gorgeous young woman in the finest of dressed descend to meet the approaching Albrinters. At the bottom of the steps, the sons and daughters of Lord Oschont Albrinter give a light bow and curtsy.

  “Duke Gotez Falborne, Millia Falborne and father. We have arrived.” Lutz says while his head is lowered.

  “Greetings to you. You have journeyed long, for disappointment.” the man introduced as Duke Gotez Falborne says. “I have means of hosting your father, however I cannot provide the same for you. My guest rooms are occupied by foreign envoys as of now. I’m afraid I must apologize.”

  “Wait what?” Lutz snaps to attention and looks up at the man.

  “Hold on, what foreign envoys?” Luard barges into the conversation.

  The other older man shakes his head. If one is Duke Falborne, then this one is the one Lutz called father. That is to say, Lord Oschont Albrinter.

  “Chancellor, I’m afraid that the man made monster, Krosstetch, from the Razneck empire has come with it’s own trial via foreign politics.” Lord Albrinter says. “Princes and Princesses of the Razneck emperor have come guised as an effort to control the beast. We are to host them here while they do so.”