Kaiden continued to stare at Janos in disbelief before turning to Aridan. “What the hell? Your father is the General?”

“A General, not the General, there’s a few in the Army.” Aridan corrected with a smug grin.

Kaiden rolled his eyes, “As if that matters. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“And miss this reaction?” Aridan replied, his smirk widening.

Kaiden turned back to Janos, offering a respectful dip of his head, an attempt at the Elven greeting he’d seen others use. “Sorry, sir, I wasn’t expecting you to be here.”

Janos waved his hand dismissively, a smile touching his features. “That’s quite alright. I’m just glad to see my son still has his sense of humor.”

For a fleeting moment, Kaiden wondered how it would have felt to be a general in the Elven army and yet be powerless when his son was captured by the Dragonborn.

Janos gestured toward the chairs opposite his desk as he settled back into his own. “Please, take a seat. We have much to discuss,” he said, breaking Kaiden from his thoughts.

Kaiden and Aridan obeyed taking the seats as directed.

“Has my son explained to you the process of obtaining the Emergency Entry Permit?” Janos inquired.

“Only briefly,” Kaiden replied,

Janos nodded, steepling his fingers. “It’s a fairly straightforward process,” Janos began, his sharp eyes locking onto Kaiden. “Normally, you’d simply go to the appropriate department, and fill out form 157A with all the relevant details and reasons for your entry. This would be processed along with any officer reports and their recommendations – rarely needing anything above a Colonel’s approval.”

He paused, his gaze intensifying as he leaned forward slightly, hands clasped together on the desk. “Now, I find myself curious why Aridan would insist on a meeting with the General of the First Elven Army for a matter that typically doesn’t escalate beyond routine paperwork. Knowing that such a meeting would be held in this office,” he gestured around, “which is shielded from spying.”

Aridan, at Kaiden’s side, rolled his eyes slightly at his father's dramatic presentation. “No one likes a know-it-all, sir,” he replied.

Janos smirked, “Perhaps not, but in this line of work, being a know-it-all can be quite beneficial. Now, let’s cut to the chase. What exactly are you trying to do, Aridan?” the tone shifted, becoming more direct.

Aridan turned to Kaiden, offering a reassuring nod before responding to his father’s question. “Kaiden is half Dragonborn.”

Kaiden felt his heart clench, a wave of panic briefly clouding his thoughts. Surely Aridan wasn’t betraying him. He forced himself to relax, gripping the arms of his chair to steady himself. He trusted his friend and knew Aridan wouldn’t have told Janos unless it was absolutely necessary.

Janos stroked his chin thoughtfully, a frown creasing his forehead. “A half dragonborn-human with a knight class… I wasn’t aware that mixed races could possess unique racial classes,” he mused, his gaze shifting to Kaiden with curiosity.

Aridan coughed slightly. Janos quickly offered a nod. “Apologies, I was a little distracted there. I understand the dilemma now. You would have needed to present yourself for identification during the application process for the permit, and your heritage would have been discovered immediately.”

Noticing the tension in Kaiden’s expression, Janos hastened to reassure him. “Don’t worry, we don’t kill someone for merely being half Dragonborn. We’re not barbarians,” he said with a slight smile, attempting to lighten the mood. “However, your permit would have been denied, and you would have been escorted out of the Elven federation. It’s unfortunate, but there have been instances of half-Dragonborn attempting to curry favor with their kin by acting as spies. Not that it does them any good – Dragonborn typically don't treat species they see as lesser kindly, as I’m sure you’re well aware.”

Kaiden simply nodded grimly at that.

The general sighed heavily. “I will sign off on your EEP for the maximum period of one month. After that, you will need to apply for a different permit.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily. “The only options you’d be eligible for is a visitor’s permit, which is only valid for three months, or a permanent residency permit.” He paused, his expression somber. “However, I wouldn’t hold your breath. These permits require approval from the government, and given the current political climate, I wouldn’t get your hopes up. I haven’t seen one approved in years, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there’s an unofficial policy to outright deny such applications.”

Aridan leaped to his feet, agitation clear in his voice. “Are you saying Kaiden can only stay here for a month,” he exclaimed.

The general nodded solemnly.

“Then I’ll go with him.” Aridan declared.

“You are a soldier in the Elven Army; your duties are here.” The general responded firmly.

“And he is the person that returned me to the Army. I can’t just abandon him.” Aridan countered, his voice rising.

“Aridan, you still have two years left on your mandatory service. If you leave now, you will be branded a deserter and banished from the Elven federation on pain of death,” the general warned, his tone stern.

“I just spent three years in a hellhole, and this is how the Army repays me?” Aridan said through clenched teeth.

“The nation is at war, Aridan, and frankly, it’s not going well,” the general sighed, the weight of his responsibilities evident in his weary eyes. “Of course, you’ll be given time to recover, but we need every able-bodied elf at their post. Especially one with a ranger class.”

“Aridan, it’s alright.” Kaiden interjected, “You can’t throw your whole life away.”

Aridan’s expression hardened, a spark of defiance flickering in his eyes. “It’s not alright,” he countered sharply, his hands clenched at his sides. “After everything you’ve done, after everything we’ve been through this is how they treat us?”

“I’ll figure something out. We’ll keep in touch, and we can meet up after your service ends,”

“And who’s going to watch your back,” Aridan said.

Kaiden gave a half-smile, “I survived twelve years on my own before you came to Gul’Gormeth, I think I’ll manage in the human empire.”

Aridan sank back into this chair with a frustrated huff, “It’s still not right.”

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The general nodded. “No, it’s not,” he conceded. “War isn’t right. But I’ll do what I can to ensure Kaiden is prepared for when he must leave. I owe him that much at least for returning my son to me.”

Aridan grunted, displeasure still evident on his face.

“Thank you, sir,” Kaiden said, hoping to ease the tension. “Any help would be greatly appreciated.”

Janos gave Kaiden a nod of appreciation before addressing the issues at hand. “One of the main problems you’ll face is concealing your race. Any identification clerk or even some advanced guard classes have skills strong enough to reveal your race on your status,” he explained.

Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he continued, “Hmm, an enchanted item could temporarily suffice, but we need a safer, more permanent solution.”

“An enchanted item isn’t safe?” Kaiden asked.

Janos shook his head slightly. “They’re not bad. But the more complex the enchantment, the more mana it requires, and the more space it occupies. For basic concealment, the enchantments that can fit onto a ring would suffice. But for your needs, you’d require a higher level of protection – not only making the enchantment impenetrable to the highest analysis skills but also undetectable that there’s an enchantment in place at all. For that, you’d require something at least the size of an amulet or larger.”

Kaiden didn’t like the sound of that.

Janos continued, highlighting another downside. “Another issue with enchanted items is that any diligent official tasked with analyzing you would likely require the removal of all enchanted items beforehand,” he explained,

It was such an obvious solution to thwarting the enchantment that Kaiden mentally kicked himself for not realizing it sooner.

From his desk, Janos retrieved a silver ring, which he extended towards Kaiden. “Take this, it’s inscribed with a basic obscuration enchantment. It’s not strong, and to anyone with the right skills, they’ll know you're hiding something, but at least they won’t know what.”

The general drummed his fingers in contemplation, and the rhythm abruptly ceased. Leaning forward, he proposed a solution. “I think the safest way to conceal your Dragonborn heritage would be to get an enchanted tattoo.”

Kaiden noticed Aridan shift uncomfortably beside him. “What’s an enchantment tattoo?” he asked.

“They’re mostly practiced by the nomad societies within the Human Empire, ironically the same group we’re trying to pass you off as.” Aridan explained, “For them receiving a tattoo is a rite of passage. When a member reaches adulthood, they receive a tattoo. Success means full acceptance into the tribe. Failure results in banishment. However, these tattoos come with significant risks.”

Janos interjected firmly, “It’s a calculated risk.”

“A calculated risk! You know the potential consequences.” Aridan countered.

Kaiden’s concern deepened, “What kind of consequences?”

“Tattoos can enhance your attributes permanently,” Aridan elaborated, “but failures can lead to crippling pain, loss of limb function, paralysis, or even permanent de-buffs to your attributes.”

Kaiden grimaced as each grim possibly was detailed, the danger of the procedure becoming clear.

Seeing Kaiden’s reaction, Aridan added, “And that’s precisely why no advanced civilization practices these enhancement tattoos as a norm.”

Seeking a safer alternative, Kaiden proposed, “Is there a way we could just use the enchanted item instead?”

“I’ve already explained the limitations of relying solely on an enchanted item, and there’s no foolproof way to make it safer. Each option comes with its own risks, and ultimately the choice is yours.” Janos said, his tone grave. “But you must understand, if you are discovered to have Dragonborn heritage, while the official government stance is merely to expel you from Elven lands, there are those who might opt for a more… permanent solution. And I doubt there would be a thorough investigation into the disappearance of a half-Dragonborn.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. “And that’s not even considering the stance of Humans and Dwarves. I’m not fully up to date with their current policies, but last I heard the Humans were rounding them up into camps. Another thing to consider is that you’ll need identification papers before you leave here. Without them, you’ll face further security at checkpoints and city entrances. Unless you intend to live off the fringes of society, in the wilderness and remote towns. Those papers will require applying for citizenship papers at the Human embassy here, a process that will involve identification by an official with administrative analysis abilities – anything less than an enchantment tattoo is unlikely to pass such scrutiny.”

Janos leaned back, his expression somber, as he studied Kaiden. “In the end, I see no safer alternative to conceal your identity. Can you?”

Kaiden looked to Aridan for an answer. The elf looked thoughtful his brow creased in concentration. The General sat patiently waiting for an answer.

After a moment, Aridan exhaled sharply, a mix of frustration and resignation in his breath. “Damn it, I hate it when your right. Even that incident at the gate wouldn’t have happened three years ago. If that’s the attitude of some of our guards, it’s frightening to think how the general populace might behave. I agree, Kaiden, the risk of exposure and the consequences that follow might actually be higher than the risk of the tattoo procedure failing. I can’t see a safer option for keeping your heritage hidden.”

Janos’s expression shifted to one of concern. “What happened at the front gate?”

Aridan waved dismissively, “It was nothing too serious, just a young guard reluctant to let Kaiden in because he’s human.”

The general’s frown deepened. “It’s disheartening to hear that such sentiments have permeated even our ranks. Every soldier who has fought alongside our allies knows that our security is bolstered by our united front. This kind of rhetoric only weakens our position.”

“I know there’s always been a little distrust between the allied races, but why has it gotten so much worse?” Aridan asked concern in his voice.

The general shifted, his chair creaking slightly under his weight. “It’s the younger politicians,” he explained, his voice tinged with weariness. “They’ve been vocal, very assertive about the superiority of the Elven race. This rhetoric is gaining traction among the youth, exacerbating tensions.” He paused, his gaze distant. “And it’s not just here. Similar sentiments are being echoed by politicians among the other races. It’s a troubling time; mistrust is growing.”

“What exactly do these groups want?” Aridan asked.

“The general sighed, “Their demands vary wildly – some call for sealing out borders completely, others advocate for expelling all non-elven residents. The extremists even argue for Elven dominion over all the other races.”

“That’s absurd.” Aridan sputtered, his voice full of incredulity and anger. “We’ve been locked in a stalemate against the Dragonborns for years, arachnids infest our forests, goblins raid our caravans, vampires infiltrate villages to feed, and the Krustallosians press their religious crusades against everyone for using crystals and gems. If the dwarves weren’t holding them off in the mountains, they’d probably be invading our territory.”

Janos shrugged slightly “I didn’t say they had smart goals.”

“Is anything being done?” Aridan asked concerned.

“I’ve been liaising with a few level-headed politicians on our side; there are plans in place,” Janos replied, choosing not to divulge further details.

Aridan nodded, accepting the vague response, and moved back to the matter at hand. “Alright then, who are we going to find to tattoo him? We need someone with a high level, to maximize the chances of success.”

Janos pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote something onto it before folding it in two. “Tomorrow, head over to this address and ask for Delger.” He instructed, sliding the folded parchment over the desk to Aridan. “Deliver this to him. I’ve done what I can. This work will be strictly off the book. I’ll cover the cost myself.”

He leaned back, “Once the tattoos are completed, apply for your citizenship at the Human Embassy. Remember your cover story – you’re a failed nomad captured by the Dragonborns, then freed alongside Elves, I’ll write the report about you and Aridan’s escape myself, so if anyone looks deeper into it, your backstory will hold up. It’ll raise fewer questions about why you’re not already registered. Have a word with Delger; he might be able to patch any holes in your cover story.”

Aridan nodded, carefully tucking the letter into his tunic with a solemn expression.

“Thank you for all your help,” Kaiden said sincerely.

“No, thank you for bringing my son home,” Janos replied with a depth of gratitude.

Kaiden nodded in acknowledgment, feeling the weight of the General’s words.

Janos cleared his throat and stood up. “Now that we’ve sorted the logistical issues, let’s ensure that you’ll survive,” he said shifting the conversation.

The general moved towards an armored mannequin stationed in the corner of his office. He unhooked a belt with a large sword attached to it and strapped it around his waist with practiced ease.

“You’re a sword user?” Kaiden remarked with surprise.

The general gave a wry smile. “Indeed, we do have the odd outliers. Let’s just say I obtained this class due to a misspent youth. Now, come along to the training grounds. It’s time to put your skills to the test.” He said in a challenging tone as he stalked out of his office, gesturing for Kaiden to follow.