Yuriko paused at the threshold. Behind her, Gwendith peered over her shoulder to look at the two locals. Heron, being farther back, saw nothing, and simply waited for her to enter. The Sha’ledras captain, and the human lieutenant, noticed her at the door. Coinoch struggled to soften his expression, while the captain’s face morphed into a welcoming smile.

“Good evening to you.” The captain stood and gestured towards the armchair set before the desk. “I am Captain Fayeth Aeyra, commander of the outpost Duskfoot Guard.” She extended an open hand.

Yuriko strolled up to the chair, and after a moment of hesitation, recalled that the Karcellians sometimes greeted each other by clasping hands and shaking them, she extended her hand and grasped the other’s. Fayeth’s smile widened and her grip was firm. They shook once, then released.

The captain’s hand had calluses from weapon handling, though Yuriko wasn’t sure if the captain handled swords, guns, or some other weapon. Probably both. In contrast, Yuriko’s hand had zero calluses, though that was a product of her refinement more than anything else. The captain hid a frown, but was back to a sunny disposition right after.

“I am Yuriko Mishala Davar. These are Gwendith Devi Sharine and Heron Synka Muryh, my associates.”

“Welcome to the Republic of Bresia.” Captain Aeyra repeated. “You did not mention a rank? You are civilian explorers?”

Yuriko blinked, then said, “I hold no formal military rank within my home.”

“And that is?”

“Ah, the Eternal Empire of the Righteous Order.”

The captain and the lieutenant froze at her words, then Coinoch muttered, “I’ve never heard of that nation. You must be farther away than I thought.”

“I believe so as well,” Yuriko said evenly, “I’ve certainly never heard of your republic nor do I remember the geography or any of the landmarks we’ve passed by.”

“I see.” Captain Aeyra gave Coinoch a side eye. “Then you are truly strangers.” She cleared her throat, “May I ask your intentions? Lieutenant Coinoch gave me some information, but it’s always best to hear from the source.”

“Hmmm, well, our foremost goal is to find a way home,” Yuriko said frankly. “The method we know would take a bit too long, and what we’re looking for are portals.”

“Portals?” Captain Aeyra arched an eyebrow. “That would be easy. Bresia City has one.”

“Truly?” Yuriko gasped. Gwendith and Heron’s reactions were equally audible.

“But, uh, I’m not sure if it will lead you to your home. You were caught in a storm while in the Shattered Realm, right? Many Bresian explorers that suffered such a fate have never returned.”

“I understand,” Yuriko said, “but it's better than nothing.”

“Ah, but it also isn’t that easy to open the portal.” Captain Aeyra interjected. “I believe the last time it was activated was more than a century ago. Hmmm, when I was a child then.”

“Oh?”

“Ah, it was opened from the other side too, and I’m not sure who came through.”

“Alright,” Yuriko shook her head. “Thank you for being clear. Then, do you know where we could find the knowledge needed?”

“Hmmm, well, the Briarwin Academy should have something in their library…”

“Pardon, captain, but Niria is closer and has a more extensive collection,” Lieutenant Coinoch offered.

“It’s only a difference of a hundred leagues from here!” Captain Aeyra scoffed.

“Yes, ma’am, that’s at least five days,” Lieutenant Coinoch said, face expressionles. “Niria, Academy of Elemental Mastery, is closer and, arguably, has a more extensive library than Briarwin.”

Captain Aeyra snorted. “And all of the knowledge in your library, it only contains techniques on focus. The portal could not be made from a single element, and must operate of the cyclic nature of the elements!”

“That is a popular debate, captain, but something that neither of us are qualified to participate in.”

“You’re a Journeyman, I’m a Magus,” Captain Aeyra said heatedly. “I know what I’m talking about.”

“Of course, captain.”

“Tsk.” Captain Aeyra sighed, then glanced at Yuriko with a rueful expression, “We’ve shown you something disgraceful, I’m afraid. But the choice is yours.”

“Is there any reason why I can’t visit both?” Yuriko asked.

“None, really, but…” the captain frowned, “Pardon me, but do you mind showing us your element?”

“No, I don’t mind,” Yuriko laughed. She held up a palm and pulled Radiant energy from her surroundings, drawing them from the windows and the faltering sunlight. An orb of golden Radiance materialised.

The captain and the lieutenant stared at the orb for a long moment, before both winced and looked away. Yuriko supposed that it was too bright, but neither she nor her friends were bothered.

“That is not Fire,” Captain Aeyra said.

“No,” Yuriko answered.

“It is…a composite, isn't it? Multiple elements combined into one? Is that not proof of the complete cycle?” The latter half she murmured under her breath.

“It cannot be a composite,” Coinoch muttered. “Such fine control could not have been accomplished by spreading her focus across multiple disciplines.”

If not for the fact that they were clearly speaking their thoughts to themselves, Yuriko would have snorted and set them straight. Well, it wasn’t as if she owed it to them to reveal her secrets, wasn’t it? The only reason she was fine showing off like this was that it was clearly expected of someone of her power.

“I still don’t know what it is,” Lieutenant Coinoch said. He looked at Heron who was leaning against the wall. “Lord Muryh is a Wind Element magi, isn’t he? Corporal Ortiz recognised his element.”

“Hmm. Yeah, I suppose,” Heron said nonchalantly.

“Lady Sharine? Fire?”

“Hmm, close, but no,” Gwendith chuckled.

“Ah, so mysterious.” Coinoch laughed. “Lady Davar, which Academy would you like to head to?”

“Hmm, what about your capital? Bresia City? That’s where the portal is, isn’t it?”

“Yes, ma’am, but it's also within a restricted site. We can make the the necessary requests and fill in the forms in one of the academies,” Captain Aeyra said.

“Hmm, then I suppose the closer one would do.” Yuriko decided.

“I see.” There was more than a tinge of disappointment in the captain’s tone. But she cleared her throat and continued, “Then let us continue with the formalities. Ah, Lieutenant Coinoch also said that you’ve bound two Chaos Elementals? We cannot let them inside the country without a restriction cuff.”

“Yes, so I’ve heard. What exactly do they do?” Yuriko asked.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“It absorbs Chaos and prevents it from affecting people and the environment around them,” the captain said. “It's similar enough to the amulets every soldier along the border wears, and adventurers, too, I suppose. The difference is that the cuffs actively siphon the Chaos rather than absorbing those that come near the amulets. It will also be harder for your elementals to use their powers while wearing them. Ah, and they can only be opened by the matching key.”

“So they’re shackles,” Yuriko said, her voice cold.

“Huh, I suppose,” Captain Aeyra said, “but you can give the key to your elementals, if you trust them that much.” She cleared her throat. “Now, to administrative matters, I’m afraid. Lady Yuriko, if I’m not mistaken, you’ve reached the True Magus level, at least?”

Yuriko stared blankly at the captain, who chuckled nervously. “I understand the need for privacy, of course, but such a compound element could not have been mastered by one below that level. True Magus is the least I can register you at. The entrance tax for foreign Magi is one gold. Chaos Elementals, one hundred gold each. Anyone below magi, is a silver coin. Unusual vehicles have a toll of one silver as well, and to forgo cargo inspection, three silvers.” Captain Aeyra wrote down her account in one of the papers. The words weren’t in Wojan, however, so she couldn’t read it. There was a chance that they were being cheated, but it was just golds, after all.

Yuriko reached for her hip satchel to retrieve her coins, but the captain said, “Ah, payment to the bursar. He's down at ground level. Lieutenant Coinoch can guide you to him. The cuffs are included in the entrance tax. The bursar will give you a receipt and you can claim the cuffs from the quartermaster.” Aeyra stood up and handed the form to her. “You and your group are more than welcome to stay the night in Duskfoot. One night’s board and lodging are included. We will provide a guide to lead you to Nirlith City where the academy is located. Welcome again to the Republic and I hope you have a fruitful stay.”

“Thank you,” Yuriko responded to the clear dismissal.

“Let me accompany you, Milady,” Coinoch said.

At Yuriko’s nod, he led the way out of the office and they walked down the hallway to the stairwell. The halls had small windows just wide enough to fit a hand, or a gun barrel through. They opened up towards the southwestern valley. There were simple tapestries hanging on the stone walls, woven with intricate patterns. The threads making up the pattern were actually spun from some kind of golden metal. It wasn’t pure gold, but probably an alloy of sorts. She didn’t detect any Animus or ambient Chaos within the patterns, but perhaps they were powered with a different sort of energy.

The bursar’s office was right next to the stair, and upon handing the form over the to the surly man, he said, “Two hundred and three golds and five silver.”

“May I see what constitutes a gold coin?” Yuriko asked politely, though she pressed her Tranquility aura on him. His scowl eased after a long moment, and he drew a round coin that looked close to a gold mark in size, though not in weight. Yuriko’s perception aura and determined that a gold coin here actually probably had the same value as half a gold mark in Sovereigns, which also meant that she didn’t have enough coins to pay for the fees. “Can I see the silvers?”

The man proffered a coin that was nearly identical in weight and size to a silver mark, and probably in value, so the entire cost of their entrance was…uh.

“Heron, how much of this is in Sovies?” she whispered.

The young man hid a smirk, to which she rolled her eyes to. She relayed the perceived values and he answered, “One hundred thousand and fifty Sovereigns. Bringing Desire and Devotee along is expensive.”

“Yes, but I don’t want to leave them here,” Yuriko said pointedly. She had fifty thousand Sovereigns in on hand, so she supposed the only way she was paying for this was with the beast cores, if they were actually worth what Coinoch said.

“Can we pay in beast cores?” Yuriko asked.

“Hmm, of course, ma’am.” The bursar pulled up a sheet of paper that was covered in something stiff and clear. Of course she couldn’t read it so had to ask. “Ah, for foreigners a surtax of thirty percent is levied for beast core exchange. A core is generally one gold a piece, but it may vary according to the clarity, element, and size. I’ll need to appraise your cores first before we can assign a value. The appraisal fee is a gold or one percent of the value, whichever is higher.”

“Then please.” Yuriko took out a canvas bag from her hip satchel. Each of the cores was at least the size of her thumbnail, and there were two hundred fifty three of them inside. She handed the bag to the man, who then dumped the cores into a device behind his station. Yuriko couldn’t see the display, but it only took a few minutes for the device to sort and grade them.

“Your total, after deducting the surcharge and the appraisal fee, is one hundred and ninety three golds. The remainder of your balance is seven golds and five silvers.”

Yuriko handed over four gold marks. The bursar looked at them, and sighed. “Of course, foreign coinage.” He put the coins on a weighing scale and Yuriko was gratified to know that her analysis of the value was spot on. She received forty silver coins in return, with five silvers having been deducted for the exchange fee. She got the receipt, was led by Coinoch to the quartermaster, and received the restriction cuffs in return.

The cuffs were bracelets and inch wide. Intricate runescript patterns were etched on it, smaller and more delicate than the runescript patterns she was used to, as well as a small golden key for each pair of cuffs.

As she and the others returned to the Wind Darter, Lieutenant Coinoch followed behind them. He looked a bit shifty, and when Yuriko asked, he said, “Lady Davar…uhm, if it pleases you, I would like to volunteer as your guide to Niria Academy.”

“Don’t you have your duties here?” Yuriko asked, curious.

“Of course, but it is within the rules that I, as your point of first contact, am allowed to continue to guide, if both parties allow.”

“Hmmm.” Yuriko knew that there was probably more to this than was apparent, and considering the frostiness between him and the captain, she supposed he wanted to get out of an unpleasant posting. Still, she didn’t really care one way or another, and the man was pleasant enough, both in manner and to look at, so she simply said, “Alright.”

Coinoch gave her a relieved grin, bowed low and said, “Thank you, Milady.”