A few days passed by and Alaenor took the opportunity to wander around the strange new city, adorning herself in garments that made her look like she belonged there and not in some foreign clothing from another world. The city was full of hustle and bustle, happy chatter filled her ears as she explored one part of the town. She didn't know how far this city stretched but it would be wise to learn by wandering around.

So she walked along the streets of the city, admiring the people of the new universe who all shared something unique yet similar about themselves. She was lucky to have Euphemia as her mentor and guide so she wanted to explore further. Unfortunately, she had no way of asking her for any help. And so she continued to walk on without any knowledge of where to go. The lack of information made her anxious, thinking about how she could locate Euphemia when suddenly she heard footsteps approaching.

She stopped in her tracks, trying to figure out who was coming and who might stop by when she felt someone tap her shoulder and spun around. "Excuse me," The person spoke in a deep voice.

There stood an intimidating man wearing a dark blue outfit with gold embroidery on his shoulder. His black hair was tied in a bun and his face was covered with a beard. He stared back at Alaenor, seeming unamused. The girl swallowed her saliva uneasily before stuttering, "Yes, sir? Is something the matter?"

The man cleared his throat before replying, "I was informed by the guards at the gate that there was a new arrival a couple of days ago. I assume this new arrival is you?"

"Yup!" Alaenor exclaimed before remembering that they did not know each other. So she corrected herself, "Ah, um... Yes, that is correct."

The man seemed to stare intensely at her for a few moments before he sighed, "Then come with me. We must inform the council of your arrival." With that, he turned around and headed toward the center of the city, leaving a stunned Alaenor standing there dumbfounded. 'Council'? She followed him curiously until she arrived at what appeared to be a huge hall, filled with numerous men sitting around, reading books or chatting away.

Suddenly, she heard a voice ring from above her causing her to stop walking in surprise and raise her head upwards. A woman was standing at the top of the steps, looking down upon those sitting on the ground. The lady's dress was midnight blue and white with intricate patterns covering her whole body. She held the ends of her skirt in her hands and looked down at those below her, smiling softly, "Hello there, you are a newcomer to our city, yes?" The tone she used was soft and calm, making it seem as though she were greeting someone, but it did not feel forced. "I am the council's leader. My name is Mirana."Alaenor bowed politely, unsure of what to do now.

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"I am sorry for interrupting... What exactly is the council?"

Mirana laughed lightly, "Well, we are the ones who decide what happens in the country. We manage our affairs, govern our people, and act as law enforcement in our country."

Alaenor blinked owlishly at the explanation before nodding slowly, "Oh, okay..."

Mirana smiled warmly at Alaenor before continuing, "Now, why don't you introduce yourself to us? This is a good opportunity to meet the other members of the Council, after all."

Alaenor frowned, wondering if she could be honest with these strangers, and said, "Actually, uhm, my name is Alaenor."

Mirana nodded with understanding, "Very well. How may I address you then?"

"Just Alaenor is alright with me."

"Very well. We have gathered today to talk about your citizenship because the guards have noticed that you are not a citizen of Starfall."

"Oh, I suppose that does make sense... Um... So what does the citizenship entail then? Do I need to go through an identification process and get a permit?"

Mirana chuckled lightly before answering, "That can't be helped considering it is not uncommon for citizens to change their name after living in this world for several years. However, most citizens choose to retain their previous surname and continue using that name as their surname. The people from Starfall are different than you. You can keep your original name, but they can still choose to change their surname."

"That seems logical enough," Alaenor said, tilting her head slightly as she tried to grasp the concept but when she attempted to speak, Mirana continued, "If you do not want to choose a name and still want to proceed with your current name, it is also fine."

"Okay."

"Do you have any questions for the council? Asking them a question now would allow us to find out about your background and history before taking your citizenship papers. Of course, you are free to go now if you have no questions. But don't worry, your citizenship will be granted within the next day or so. However, you may choose to pursue education here at the Starfall Academy or find some jobs if you are interested. You can decide on this later on. Now, there are a couple of issues I must attend to now therefore I will leave the rest up to you."

With that, Mirana and the rest of the council stood from their seats and left the room, leaving Alaenor to her own devices.