“What are you watching?” Addy asked curiously as she leaned over Isa’s shoulder to get a better look.

They’d stopped for the night and the group’s dedicated cook was in the process of preparing the evening meal. It was only the end of the second day of travel, but that was enough for the novelty to wear off for the preteen girl.

Isa tilted the screen to allow Addy a better view. “It’s a copy of some security footage from earlier,” Isa commented, not seeing a reason to hide it from her ward.

“Is that the airport?”

Isa nodded.

“She looks mad. Can I listen?”

Isa handed the girl an ear bud, and they watched the scene unfold together.

Karena looked much the same as she had five years earlier. It hadn’t been very long, in the grand scheme of things. And with the addition of mana, slower aging was somewhat expected once one reached physical maturity.

“I think I missed too much. Can you start it from the beginning?” Addy asked, turning her pleading eyes toward Isa.

Having grown used to such requests, Isa merely sighed and complied. She hadn’t gotten through the entire recording yet, but she already knew the basics of what had happened.

Before watching for the first time, Isa had read the two reports she’d received about the situation. One had been from the Council and the other from Kappa, her intelligence-gathering golem. The recording was a supplement attached to Kappa’s report.

The clip began with an image of Karena walking confidently toward the small line of security screening booths blocking the exit from the small intake area. The airport was small since the city did not allow much traffic.

Part of that was due to the security measures they had in place – security measures Karena appeared confused by in the video. The woman clearly expected to be allowed to bypass the booths entirely, but she was stopped by Jarrid, who’d taken a shift at the airport in place of one of his subordinates.

Every new entrant was screened by someone with a skill or blessing to detect potential threats. The details gathered varied between individuals, with some only able to detect intentions or lies and others being able to glean an understanding of a person’s motivations.

No non-resident was allowed to pass without some kind of screening to ensure they were not a threat to the community.

Given the information they had on the woman in question, Jarrid had opted to take point with Karena’s screening. It should have been seen as a sign of respect, given his position in the city.

“Do I really have to do that?” Karena asked, waving toward the line of security booths with an air of annoyance.

Jarrid looked remorseful but nodded. “I’m sorry. It’s city policy. Every non-resident entering the city has to be screened for the safety of the city. But given how much importance we place on building a relationship with your corporation, I’ll be the one doing your screening.”

“And who are you?” she asked brusquely. Her tone bordered on rude, but Jarrid was unbothered.

“I’m Priest Jarrid Hause. I’m also a council member for the city of Aurora.”

His introduction clearly ruffled Karena, and she visibly blanched.

“I apologize,” she said quickly. “I should have recognized you. It was a long flight.”

Jarrid smiled agreeably. “I understand. I can take care of you over here,” he said, motioning toward an empty booth. “Your companions will also need to be screened. I don’t mind doing theirs if they’d like to wait. Otherwise, they are welcome to join one of the other lines. It is not normally an involved process, and we’ve brought in a few extra people to minimize your delay.”

Karena looked uncomfortable but motioned for all but one of her companions to join the other lines. The one she kept nearby was likely a bodyguard of some sort, based on the weapons he openly carried.

Something like that would have been highly illegal prior to the ascension. But now, carrying weapons was almost expected in many situations.

And it wasn’t like storage bags were common outside of Aurora.

Kappa had already compiled the footage into an easy-to-watch format, and the view smoothly shifted to one focused on the security booth when Karena entered behind Jarrid. Her bodyguard was left just outside the short gate.

The physical gates leading to the booths were mostly for looks since enchantments lined the semi-permanent structures to protect the screeners and visitors, including their privacy.

Zeta, one of the two security golems assigned to the airport, was visible in the background, though it was easy to overlook the automaton if someone didn’t realize what it was.

“I should only need to ask a few questions for the record,” Jarrid began cordially. “First, what is the purpose of your visit?”

“I’m here as a representative of Mazlex Corporation.”

“Right,” Jarrid said pleasantly. “But what is the purpose of your visit?”

Karena’s frigid smile tightened. “I hope to build relationships and set up a deal with the leaders of the city.”

“Wonderful,” Jarrid replied. “Next question. How long do you plan to stay?”

“Likely only a few days during this trip, though I hope to return for a longer visit.”

The Priest nodded. “Do you have any mind-altering abilities or blessings? By that, I mean, are you capable of controlling or influencing the thoughts or emotions of others?”

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Karena visibly tensed. Her eyes darted to one of the people standing in another line before returning to Jarrid.

“I find that question particularly invasive. Why would you need to know the details of someone’s abilities?”

Jarrid’s smile thinned slightly. “Such abilities may place the residents of the city at risk. However, not all such abilities disqualify someone from entering. Regardless, our goal is to limit unnecessary threats. Certain mind-controlling abilities have been deemed such by the council.”

After a moment of silence, Jarrid repeated the original question.

“I am employed as an Analyst. I analyze things,” was Karena’s response.

“I’m sorry. It’s a yes or no question. Can you control or influence the minds of others?” he asked for a third time.

“No more than any other human might. I do not have any skills or blessings specifically related to mind control,” the woman replied through clinched teeth.

Karena’s eyes drifted to the other line again, focusing on a woman now being questioned. The other woman looked very tense and glanced in Karena’s direction a few times. Karena’s eyes shifted to her bodyguard, her lips pressed into a thin line.

The man standing behind her couldn’t hear the questions being asked due to the privacy barriers, but he noticed his charge’s discomfort and the glances she exchanged with the other woman.

The bodyguard shifted uncertainly.

“Do you wish to harm the people of Aurora?”

“…No.”

Jarrid’s head tilted slightly. “Do you wish to harm a particular person living in Aurora?”

Karena’s eyes narrowed. “What is this? Some kind of interrogation?” Her eyes darted toward the cameras before returning to the Priest. “Do you ask these questions to everyone coming to visit your city, or is it just me?”

“Yes. We ask everyone if they intend harm to our residents.”

The woman frowned. Her brow furrowed as she thought for a moment.

“She knew I was coming, didn’t she?” Karena asked knowingly before nodding to herself. Her voice was low, but loud enough for the recording devices to register. “She probably filled your mind with lies. You need to check her for mind controlling abilities. You know that she’s a dangerous exile, right?”

Isa and Addy watched with interest as the woman on the screen tried to push past Jarrid. “Let me by. I’m here on official business.”

Jarrid shook his head as the woman’s body temporarily froze in place. Seeing the interaction, her bodyguard rushed forward.

“Who was she talking about?” Addy asked, glancing back at Isa.

“Me,” Isa replied. “I met Karena right after the ascension. She tried to cause problems for me at work, and when I told on her, she did some bad things and got exiled.”

“Why would she say you control minds? Everyone knows you were the first one to volunteer to be screened,” Addy said angrily. “She’s obviously one of the bad exiles. They should have sent her back instead of letting her stay.”

Isa smirked and said nothing as they watched Karena’s bodyguard bounce off the [Barrier] a few times. Eventually, he removed a mace hanging from his belt and started slamming it against the semi-translucent obstacle.

The noise from his efforts was inaudible on the recording, but Karena’s eyes were wide with alarm.

A door opened behind Karena, leading to a secluded waiting room.

“Please enjoy our hospitality while you wait for the next shuttle,” Jarrid said with a friendly smile, just before the effect holding Karena in place ended.

“You can’t do this to me,” Karena gasped. “I represent Mazlex! I’m married to the CEO’s son! Once I tell them how you treated me, you can kiss any hopes of a deal with us goodbye!” Her words were said in a mix of panic and anger.

Jarrid shrugged, and Zeta stepped forward, startling both the fake Analyst and her bodyguard, who paused his assault when the golem moved.

“What the hell is that?” Karena screeched, flinging herself away from the approaching automaton.

“That’s a security golem. Please make your way to the waiting area,” Jarrid motioned toward the open door. “Your companions are welcome to join you.”

Karena shook her head angrily. “You’ll regret treating me like this. I’ll own this city when it’s all done with. And I’ll be sure to remember you when I come back,” she said darkly, pointing at the Priest.

Isa rolled her eyes as she watched the drama play out. No matter what, Karena would never step foot in Aurora again. She’d make sure of it.

The woman Karena had exchanged glances with had denied having mind-controlling abilities but had tried to use them against her interviewer. Her efforts had rebounded violently, injuring the woman by design.

She’d been carried into the waiting room by Theta, the other security golem, and placed on one of the couches. Isa felt it was more than fair, given the woman’s attempt to use mind-controlling magic against her screener.

Seeing the blood dripping from the mind-controller’s nose and the dazed look in her eyes, Karena released another slew of threats toward the people of Aurora.

Isa and Addy continued to watch for several more minutes as Karena paced around the well-adorned waiting area while ranting about how offended she was and how sorry the Council would be. She lashed out several times in childish tantrums, trying to damage various items in the room.

Her efforts were for naught since everything in that room had been made to withstand far more strength than an upper E-Grade human could manage.

Everyone else in Karena’s group had been politely redirected to the waiting room since their purpose in entering the city was negated by Karena’s rejection.

A couple seemed surprised and bothered by the vehemence of Karena’s reaction – and the revelation that they were traveling with a mind-controller. But that was beyond Isa’s concern.

“Are you worried she’ll cause problems?” Addy asked, looking away from the screen.

Isa shook her head. “No. I’ll send a copy of the footage to her boss along with an explanation detailing why we are not interested in working with or making any deals with their corporation.”

“She said they’d do something bad to the city,” Addy said worriedly.

The former goddess smirked. “Do you think they can get through my wards and the golems?”

The curly-haired youth shook her head. “No. But isn’t it dangerous to make enemies? What if they’re stronger than you?”

Isa considered Addy’s question more seriously than she might otherwise.

Just because she’d started off ahead didn’t mean she remained that way. Her former team had gotten close to catching up while they were defending Branston City from monster attacks, so it certainly wasn’t impossible for someone to have exceeded her.

However, even if someone had gained more levels than her, Isa doubted they were as competent or prepared as the former goddess.

“Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve,” Isa said confidently. “You focus on getting stronger so you can jump right over F-Grade when your system unlocks.”

Addy made a face. “It’s going to hurt, right?”

Isa nodded. “It will. But it won’t be anything you can’t handle. And the first upgrade is the worst. The second one wasn’t so bad.”

“Will you teach me the spell you used against the wolf boss?” Addy asked.

“Once you master the Wind Shield,” Isa replied. “You need to have a firm grasp of the spells you’ve already been taught before you try to learn more.”

With that reminder, the eleven-year-old withdrew to practice her magic, leaving Isa to review the digital information she’d acquired from Karena and her group’s devices while their meal finished cooking.

Based on the smells, it wouldn’t take much longer.

Once Karena’s group had entered the airport, the device she’d installed prior to leaving had tagged their electronics and manatech, allowing her access no matter how heavily encrypted they were.

To be fair, a few of the devices took her several seconds to breach, but that was of no consequence.

Linking into her closed network, Isa was able to compile the information her AI was pulling in, granting her a more comprehensive look at her old acquaintance’s intentions.

Now that she had access to the device – which she planned to maintain until it was no longer of use – Isa could see a lot more than the text messages stored digitally by the woman’s provider.

The addition of magic had pushed the world’s technology ahead by leaps and bounds, but it wasn’t nearly enough to exceed the former goddess’s capabilities. Perhaps someday that would change, but that day wouldn’t come for a long time.