In the borders of the Gulukian Kingdom, the sun beat down relentlessly on the land, casting a sweltering heat over everything. A man of hulking stature and clad in heavy armor shifted uncomfortably, his upper body wrapped in layers of cloth in a desperate attempt to shield himself from the scorching rays.

"Man, this is a hot day. Should have brought some more water," he grumbled, his voice muffled by the makeshift protection.

Beside him walked a hooded figure, their features carrying a woman-like elegance. "Sir Ivan, you just drank an abnormal amount of water, did you not?" the figure inquired.

"Well, I can't argue with that, Serefina."

"Please, just behave, sir. Let's not draw unnecessary attention as we wait in line to enter the kingdom," Serefina advised as she scanned the long queue leading to the border gate.

"I know, I know, no need to be so uptight about it." Ivan let out a sigh. "What do you think about the reports from the guild?"

"It's poorly written."

"I'm not talking about the writing quality, are you messing with me?"

"No, of course not. It's just that the report seems suspicious. If the claims about the lightning sightings are true, they could be linked to the Dragon King, Lord Larcosta."

"I'm glad you noticed it too, Serefina. But why would a Dragon King venture into the Abandoned Forest near a countryside city?"

"Hmmm, I can't provide an answer to that, I’m not exactly sure why, which is exactly why the Empire tasked us with investigating."

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"Well, let's make the best of it then," Ivan said, a hint of uncertainty in his voice as he contemplated the upcoming mission.

Time crawled-by under the relentless sun. Beads of sweat formed on Ivan's brow, and his clothing grew damp. The line moved at an agonizingly slow pace, and Ivan began to worry they might be stuck outside the border, forced to camp for the night. Suddenly, a woman came rushing towards them, accompanied by two men who appeared to be adventurers, judging by their gear.

The woman approached Ivan, her expression a mix of panic and urgency. She bowed before him, even though he was nearly hidden within his bundled garments. "Sir Ivan Falkenberg, am I addressing the right person?"

"Y-yes, I'm surprised you recognize me."

"We received a message from the guild earlier, which informed us of your arrival. My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Mira Lostar, the guild representative of Molokut!" She announced with evident pride.

Whispers rippled through the crowd at her proclamation. The sight of a guild representative making such a public introduction was quite the spectacle. Some speculated that a high-ranking individual had arrived, while others entertained the possibility of an important dignitary visiting the local guild branch.

"Is that so? Well then, Mira, what brings you here?"

"We're here to provide you an escort to our modest city of Molokut!" she declared enthusiastically.

"Could you please lower your voice? I'd prefer not to draw attention in this crowd. Serefina, what message is she talking about?" Ivan shot a mildly irritated look at his companion.

"While you were busy complaining about the heat, I took the initiative to send my summons to the guild. It was my way of expediting our entry through the border, and also my attempt to spare myself from your incessant griping."

"Well, that was kind of you. But the last part wasn't necessary." Ivan managed a tired smile. "Alright then, Mira, do we have permission to bypass the line?"

"Yes, indeed! We have a carriage waiting for us within the city walls."

"Alright, lead the way," Ivan replied with a grateful smile, ready to escape the oppressive heat of the border queue.