Approaching the guards at the entrance of the city she immediately examined their appearance.

The guards were an assortment of young and older men, they were well equipped and appeared able.

They eyed their group with suspicion upon seeing how cloaked and inconspicuous they presented themselves to be, however still gave off an air of professionalism as they scanned their group.

A guard who clearly resembled the senior of those present by the deferential way the other guards looked at him was the one to address them, “Been to the City before? We will need your passes out and for you to pull down those cloaks so we can see your faces before you are permitted for entry.”

‘Passes?’ Ava thought worriedly wondering how Arwen was going to solve this problem. The guards definitely did not resemble the sort to take bribes and took their role seriously.

Nonetheless Arwen was able to deal with the matter smoothly as he took out the same thing that demonstrated his Druidic status to the elves.

After he shared a few words to the senior guard and explained the need of their cloaks, the senior guard let out a hearty chuckle as he replied, “No need to concern yourself with these checks further, the Druids reputation as a neutral and just force is known, the Empire has maintained a good relationship with your kind. Another member of your order has helped saved the lives of many of my friends dealing with a particular bad monster outbreak! And we understand the need of secrecy, I’ll let my men know not to bother you, people around these parts have a bit of a skewed impression of you Elves, it should be much better in Kaldor as they are more used to seeing friendly members of your kind.”

Arwen nodded in appreciation and just like that they were able to enter the City without much hassle.

She was surprised by how simple it was, but she guessed that was the nature of being a Druid around here.

Druids were a unique order in these lands. They did not vie for territory, power or lands, their powers made the nature of one who choose to become one someone who had a calm, serene temperament.

To control the bloodline and urges of the beast inside them was delicate and required balance, otherwise if someone who did not have such a compatible personality, one who was greedy for the power it brings, letting the urges of his bloodline take over his personality then his mind would shatter becoming a mindless monster acting on instinct.

The Druids themselves would hunt down such a person, they always took responsibility for a member of their order going astray like this, it was the one time they choose violence as to them it would be ending the suffering of the person who had becoming nothing but a mindless husk of the person they were.

Their ethics and doctrine made them present everywhere in the continents, a Druid never stayed in one place and would wander around for offering acts of charity everywhere they go.

You can see them as adventurers who worked for free, they would want nothing in return and lived on the generosity of what was donated freely. It was no wonder Kingdoms and Empires treated then amiably as why anger an extremely powerful group of experts needlessly?

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They benefited them greatly and saved a great deal of resources that would have went towards dealing with the problems a Druid would solve.

Not to mention they mostly kept to themselves and sometimes you may not even realise a Druid helped you.

Additionally the times in history where the Druids had a conflict with an Empire, Kingdom or even a Sect was down to them witnessing corruption and evil committed by them, it was why the common man who worked an honest living like the Senior Guard did adored them, the only one who had to worry about offending a Druid was someone who had something to hide.

Passing through the thick gate into the city she found themselves entering a bustling street making her eyes grow wide in amazement again.

The City was even more wondrous on the inside. She found herself walking along with Arwen and the others staring slack jawed at the sights of the City.

Even though she saw plenty of nice looking cities in her old world, nothing could prepare her for this, everything seemed new with the technological and multicultural gap between the worlds.

Soon enough she found herself seeing a number of shops and stalls all around, even a few high end market places that seemed to be catered to the rich of the city.

The City was crowded with people, humans dressed in an array of different clothing.

The fashion of this world was nothing like her old though the differences of a wealthy, poor individual was plain to see with the brighter, colourful and more decorated dressed individuals clearly being the more affluent members of the city.

She even was able to see a few Demi-humans around much to her excitement as she stared enviously at a cat-kins soft looking tail.

Initially she wondered if they would get strange looks for their suspicious looking garb but it seemed they were treated like air by the cities occupants with a few strange looks here and there.

Overall the bustling City seemed too busy to take in the forms of a few strangers who wanted to remain hidden, or even more likely they were confident of the competence of their guards.

Eventually they came to a stop and Arwen announced he would look about to get some lodging for today in which they will plan to leave by the boat tomorrow morning.

It was that moment Althaea looked down at her with a wicked grin as she said, “How about I take our little Ava here for some clothe shopping in the meanwhile then? She could do with some cute outfits.”

The way she propositioned it sounded like she was looking out for her best interests, but the look Althaea was giving her right now was plain terrifying.

Her Father meanwhile could find no reason to disagree at his daughter getting some nice clothes bought for her as he gave his permission only leaving Arwen left to give his approval.

“Fine, but be back here in two hours exactly, no dawdling around or causing trouble. Xandas, I think it best you escort them otherwise Althaea may get lost for time…” Arwen said in a way she all knew too well.

He was politely saying they needed a man present wasn’t he?

Well, she had a feeling it would work out best for her anyways as the way Althaea shoulders slumped at hearing her Father would be coming was a sight to see.

“But only two hours? How would I…” Althaea was about to mumble more showing she fully intended to ignore the two hour advisement by Arwen in the first place.

“Two hours. That’s final.” Arwen said leaving no room for further argument.

“Hmph. I’ll suppose that will have to do for now but we’ll have plenty of time when we get to the academy…” Althaea mumbled leaving Ava feeling a shudder run through her body.

‘Why do I feel this is going to be a long two hours?’ She wondered when Althaea gripped her little hand and they began walking off with Xandas in tow.

‘Ah it’s only shopping. I love shopping for new clothes.’ She thought trying convince herself.