After eating at a restaurant and handing takeover to Lamuril, the couple spent the afternoon sightseeing and shopping for commoner's clothes. Having spare clothing inside a Dungeon is nothing to scoff at. While their brigandine was self-cleaning, wardrobe malfunction would always be a concern, especially upon exiting.

While tourism was an industry still to be discovered, the Capital had its share of monuments and wonders. They got nowhere near the noble quarter, off-limits because of the approaching war but if this world had a celebrity map, it would lead to the several mansions of the country's nobility. While the Royal Family and succession line was firmly ensconced in the paws of the leonals, to cat-kin what wolfmen were to wolf-kin, the nobility had their share of diverse races.

Tired but elated from their shopping and sightseeing trip, the couple let Lamuril drive them back to Bezzias' mansion. The academic was eager for their return, as someone that let their prized songbird out to fly but it was hawk mating season. To put it short, the bat-kin was in his stylish robes, waiting for the horseless carriage to return outside the mansion.

"Oh, you are back. I was afraid Lamuril would lose sight of you," He sighed in relief once the vehicle came to a full stop. "I hope your day was fruitful."

Nero nudged Altia with an elbow with a smug 'I told you' expression. He had a hunch that the elf wasn't just chaperoning them around.

"You have no idea, professor. But it is a story best left for tea after dinner. I am sure Lamuril will debrief with you while we freshen up, but I want to tell you my version of the facts,"

Nero said as he shook the bat-kin's hand. The master Gadgeteer blushed a bit.

"Of course. I'll tell Nala to ready your bath immediately."

"I'll do that, master," Lamuril said as he walked into the mansion by a side door.

"This way, this way," Bezzias led them to the front door. "Did you find the cards you needed?"

"Yes, but the Kingdom has this stupid edict where you get reported for buying more than eleven Skills. So we found the cards, but we only acquired a few of them," Nero said.

"And we were not expecting the prices. It is worse than the leopard-kin merchant that operates in our village," Altia added.

"This conflict will take its toll on the Kingdom, no doubt about it," Bezzias reflected. "And the knights are pushing for organizations like the lyceum and the guilds to side with them. However, if we compromise our neutrality, we will forever be on their paws. For centuries the Lyceum remained dedicated to knowledge and knowledge alone. To become a political tool would not only tarnish the memory of our founders but corrupt all we stand for.

"It was bad enough that the foreign students were 'invited' to leave," He grumbled at the end, clearly angry at the country. I

"Did the kingdom seriously forced the Lyceum to expel students?" Altia asked.

"Gods, no! They were sheltered by the neutrality of our institution. Their families, however, called them back. If any remained behind, the Knights would surely enter the campus to arrest them under any pretense to turn them into hostages. Things are dire. The kings were not the kind to trample over people's rights, that's why the founders built the Lyceum here. The leonals were always honorable. Nowadays, however, things took a turn for the worse."

The notes of despair in the academic's voice were real. They reached the front door and Nala was waiting for them in the lobby.

"Master, preparations for the guests' bath are done. Young master, young mistress, follow me, please."

"We'll see each other soon. Go ahead," Bezzias dismissed them.

They went to the bedroom and found that the items from their shopping trip were already moved from the carriage, waiting for them on the table. Nala led them to the bath and pointed at the fresh towels before leaving the couple alone. After freshening up, they descended to eat dinner with the host.

A table of exotic fruits was laid in front of them. Bezzias was still in his robes and he opened his wings up to welcome them.

"I heard the minnid tribe is also fond of eating fruit, so I prepared some of my race's favorite food. Please, enjoy yourselves."

Nero knew only about the local fruits, as some of these were cultivated in climatized greenhouses and only available for the capital's elite.

"I have drinks here too, this harmonizes perfectly with the fruit," He poured them a thick red liquid on a cup. Smelling it, Bezzias tasted and clicked his tongue. "Perfect."

Bat-kin were renowned for their unusual drinking habits.

"Is that blood?" Nero asked, unaware he was being rude.

"Oh, gods! No. Young Nero, if you allow me to be patronizing for a moment, I think a bit of our history may shed some light. A very warlike tribe of the bat-kin was indeed fond of drinking blood, but most of us can only eat fruit. I can barely eat meat, for one. Well, it turns out that because of this tribe, all the bat-kin race suffered persecution and even bounties were placed on us."

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"That's terrible," Altia gasped.

In their village, there wasn't much talk about the fate of other races save for one or another tale.

"Indeed. Throughout the centuries of persecution and even enslavement, the bat-kin was systematically driven to almost extinction, but the tribe of blood-drinkers vanished entirely. Eventually, we were able to regain our position in society but we never became prominent. We prefer the dark, our sight is not so good, and our hearing is too sensitive."

"Our kind also suffers a lot of persecution," Altia added, sympathetic.

"I know. The minnid is the least numerous of the ape-kin. I think your village of Hom is the last Minnid enclave in the country."

"But what are you drinking then, professor?" Nero insisted, slightly confused after the history lesson.

"I guess it really looks like blood, right?"

The young couple nodded. "Well, we've literally seen gallons of blood being spilled, professor," Nero added.

"This is a sweet wine. It goes well with the fruit. Please, have a sip." They tried the wine. It was really, really sweet but you had to drink it to go along with the fruit. The professor chuckled. "It seems it is an acquired taste. Please, don't force yourselves. We also have ale or spring water."

"Regarding the incident with the knight this morning, we used the Lyceum's name," Altia changed the subject. "Will there be any trouble?"

"More than what's already happening? Not. You didn't lie, you are assistant researchers since your badges are already made. It is my fault for not sending you to pick them up today, but I don't want you to feel I'm rushing you through. I'd like this to be a long and fruitful relationship, so we can collect more data as young Nero here evolves during his career."

"We are relieved. We really didn't want to trouble our host," She added.

"Oh, don't worry. I'll send an official letter to guild master Clara right away. Fairies, in general, don't sleep and I know she'll be working through the night. In fact," He rang a bell. A maid approached, he whispered something in her ear and she left. "I'm sending Lamuril with the letter within the hour. Now, let's eat."

Despite the lack of animal protein, dinner was as nourishing and filling as it was exotic. Altia and Nero went to bed earlier, tired from their day in the big city.

----------------------------------------

The next morning, Nala woke them up and after making sure she could enter the bedroom, she handed them over some uniforms. The design looked like the ones the students at the Lyceum used but the color was different. While the students wore blue, yellow, red, or green, the clothes were white.

"This is the uniform of the Lyceum assistant researchers," Nala explained. "The teaching staff and researchers wear black."

They changed into the uniforms and noticed that the design of the clothes blended with their bandolier and belt. The left sleeve had buttons on the back so they could move their Arbitrii through the tight-fitting clothing. Over the heart, the emblem of the institution was embroidered with golden and crimson thread.

"School, after we're adults," Nero joked. "who would imagine that."

"I think you look handsome in a civilian uniform," Altia purred. "And white goes well with you."

They took some items they'd need and put in a backpack, then joined Bezzias at the front porch.

"Oh, assistant Nero and assistant Altia. Glad to see you in time," the bat-kin researcher in his black uniform that included a lab coat with a gear motif along the rims greeted them.

"We are ready to work, professor!" Altia beamed.

"That's the spirit. The Lyceum is close enough to reach on foot, we will walk. I take you won't have any problem with that."

"No, we are used to walking back home. Miles every day."

Bezzias laughed and they went on their way. His house was a bit further down the street from the Lyceum main gate and they could see the stream of carriages and students coming in on foot. They reached the gate where some guards with the Lyceum livery were arguing with knights. Nero cringed inside. As they approached, the fragments of conversation allowed them to understand the knights were inspecting the students that arrived and were trying to force entry into the campus.

"Is there anything wrong here?" Bezzias asked with an authoritative voice. A high-pitch harmonic followed his high tenor voice and it stung the ears of those around, drawing attention to the bat-kin immediately.

The bickering parties and a lot of students stopped to look at the eminent figure of the academic.

"Tenured professor Bezzias. The knights arrived with unreasonable demands that go against orders from the dean."

"Look," The lead knight, a lieutenant if Nero figured out the insignia pattern of the militant order said, "We know of no such orders. We were allowed in campus yesterday, why are we barred now?"

"I can answer that, lieutenant," Bezzias intervened. "Due to dishonorable conduct of your order, including assault on our esteemed guild master of the Adventurer's Guild, the magnificent Dean of the Lyceum decided to cancel our treaty and disavow the knight order. Your recruitment drive on the campus is no longer welcome. We need to look after our students and maintain our neutrality. We also will be very thankful if you refrain from assaulting our staff as well."

While he spoke, Bezzias maneuvered to interpose himself between the Lyceum guards and the knights. The lieutenant took a step back, probably afraid the bat-kin would simulate an incident. The knight drew a scroll from a bag, unfurled it, and declared.

"The King decreed that all Nereid in the capital are to be arrested and interrogated, on suspicion of sedition, spying, and treason. We demand the Lyceum surrenders all students of the aforementioned race."

Bezzias straightened his back and flared his ears, shifting them to the front. He was clearly enraged. "I will not deign to answer that. You are forbidden from entering. If the King is so interested in racial persecution, he can contact the Dean himself. I'm late for my morning appointment. Guards, the Dean's orders are to be respected, whichever they are."

"Yes professor," The guards nodded.

"Assistants, follow me."

The trio passed through the gates. A gathering of students was on both sides of the main driveway. Once Bezzias was clearly inside, they started to clap and cheer. The bat-kin raised his wings to demand silence.

"Students. Some of you know me, but most of you know how much my race suffered. The Lyceum is dedicated to knowledge and to fostering the people, no matter what race they are. Do not discriminate your fellow knowledge-seekers because of how they look like."

Another round of ovation but Bezzias just hurried along the way and into the Gadgeteering department. The campus was large and had a lot of open space. The Gadgeteer building had nothing distinctive about it. Until you noticed it was the only one constantly releasing a plume of smoke and the grinding sound of gears as you approached. Bezzias approached the glass doors and his Arbitrium lit up. The doors moved out on its own and he walked through. Altia did the same but when Nero was about to enter, the doors suddenly closed on him even though his device lit up. He jumped forward, crashing on the floor and barely avoiding the trap.

Bezzias chuckled. "Oh, I'm sorry. I should've expected it to happen."

Nero checked his device.

> Entering "UNKNOWN" - rank I

He lowered his device and gasped at the professor.

"Is this building a Dungeon?"