As we got closer to the city, a few flying creatures passed our position high in the air. 

Griffons!

I started to watch them with great interest.

They were mythical beasts in my old world, but here they were real, flesh and blood. According to books, very few of them survived during Dark Ages and they nearly went extinct. With time their numbers have recovered, though they are quite rare even today. They might live for thousands of years, but their females lay an egg at best only once a century.

Back in the day they were spread all over the continent, which is where its name from... Griffus.

Hmm, those men riding on their back must be elite troops of the Council then. Only they should have permission to use them as their mounts. 

I watched griffons a bit longer and then faced my companions. "So... why is that Harbinger now a member of Silver Sword Order? I thought that with her involvement in that attack she will be locked somewhere safe for at least a decade."

"She made some sort of deal with them, but other than that I can only guess," answered Phoenix. "When we were hired to escort her to the capital, I was promised the audience with Lariel, who, as the right hand of Goddess, I hoped could help me get you back... only to learn you are no longer in our world... Anyway, when we brought her, there was a huge ruckus in the city. A few members of the Council insisted to sell her in the auction as a slave, but when Silver Sword Order requested her custody, the majority of the Council happily agreed. The next day she was officially pardoned for her crimes and was made into a member of the Order..."

"But she is a killer... How can they be sure she doesn't turn back on them at the critical moment?"

"I am sure they put some restrictions on her body..."

"This is hardly enough to stop her, she is Harbinger. They already have a head start of two years compared to Champions, now with her in their midst... I knew I should have killed her back then... "

"But isn't she immortal?" joined Tia.

"I might have a trick or two I haven't tried yet," I smiled, but avoided going deeper into details.

Her immortality is probably some kind of auto-resurrection, but I don't think it would work if she was out of mana, or let's say... missing a soul.

"Hey!" joined Jack. "I know she is a bitch, but I think everyone deserves a second chance."

"Sigh... It's too late for that anyway, will just have to be extra careful if ever meet her again..."

When I noticed that my thoughts were getting darker I changed the subject and looked at Phoenix. "Say, Darling, why you transferred us outside the city? You know I don't have guild badge, would saved us a lot of trouble if got us directly inside..."

"I don't think so, Kitty." shook his head Phoenix. "After the incident with Champions summoning, it's forbidden to use teleportation inside the capital without permission. Not many could teleport on their own in the first place, so few complained about this new rule."

*

We traveled while chatting for a while and finally reached the city... well, sort of. Many buildings were stretching outside the walls but first gates were still a distance away and there was a long line of caravans and people waiting to get inside. I looked at the queue ahead of us and sighed.

This will take a while.

With nothing better to do, I started to look around. How they protect this part without the walls? I mean, sure, animals would never wander too close to the city but there are still monsters to worry about. Hmm, it's probably not long before they start building a new... hmm?

I lifted into the air with wind manipulation and looked at the city from high up. Yes, just as I thought. There was a structure in the distance which was most likely a new wall under construction. With earth mages as a thing, I expected the work to proceed much faster though... probably reinforce with all kind of enchantment so a random earth mage cant break with a single spell.

The city itself was divided by many walls, towering forty meters high. They were almost identical to those outside and at some point, all of them probably marked the edge of the city. As the capital continued to grow, it had to do so outside. Just like the one under construction, the old walls were probably constructed each time the capital outgrew them... the cycle was repeated quite a few times by now.

"Kitty! What are you doing?! Have you forgot how you got into a trouble at the outpost?" I heard Phoenix down below.

"Oops!" I smiled and then quickly descended.

Luckily, we didn't get into a trouble this time.

*

"... and you are..." looked the guard at me and let Tia pass through the gates.

"Melissa, also known as Red Beast, and no, I am not a dragon."

"What do you mean... oh, that Red Beast... but I thought she was supposed to be..." he stopped himself in time when noticed my glare.

"Reveon Sile'dur, leader of Red Beast." Phoenix joined the conversation and tossed a few coins for the entrance fee. "She doesn't have her guild badge, but I can vouch for her identity..."

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

After a bit more convincing we passed the gates practically without any trouble. Although it was still quite inconvenient without guild badge so our first stop was headquarters of the guild.

The reason I didn't bother with guild badge when I was still in Endorod City was because I knew that making a new will take a day or so, there was no point in waiting that long when I could do the same there.

On the way to the guild, we passed another gate, and as we did so, it felt like we entered yet another city, the view has changed considerably.

People around us walked in fine clothing and it was obvious that each wall divide citizens by class. Sculptures, viaducts, and various exotic trees decorated the streets. I started to wonder how it looks even deeper inside the city... anyway since it was much harder to pass through this second gate probably would need special permission to go even deeper.

As we finally reached building of the guild, I took a notice of its size. It was at least ten stores high with a large, coliseum-like structure attached right next to it.

So, this is where the tournament will take the place?

As we entered inside, we were greeted by a large crowd. There were way more people than I expected and had to push them aside if wanted to move forward.

"It's not always like this." smiled Phoenix. "The Tournament. Many adventurers have traveled here to participate."

"This will be so much fun." grinned Elmor while looking at the crowd. "I will finally be able to test my strength."

"There you are!" I heard a shout directed at us and noticed a familiar orc approaching us. "Where the hell you guys have vanished? We searched for you everywhere. Darson has left to... Melissa?" she stopped in the middle of the sentence when saw me in the group.

I smiled at her. "Long time no see, Derea."

She looked almost the same, with very few changes. But just like Elmor, her neck was now missing a collar. Seems our smug elf really set them all free.

*

After I paid fine for 'losing' my guild badge, I was assured that a new will be ready by tomorrow. Though I had to return my old once my Space Time Magic has recovered. In the meantime, Phoenix has registered us for the tournament and once that was done, we left the guild.

Our next destination was... finding Darson. He was searching for Phoenix all this time, and this means we might have to visit quite a few places, namely places a few acquaintances of Phoenix used to visit. They were space time mages and lately Phoenix was meeting with them to discuss theories about improving teleportation. Seems that when he learned about my fate, he still tried to find a way...

"What's wrong, Kitty?" asked Phonix when felt my gaze on him.

"N... nothing." I quickly averted my eyes and when noticed a man standing a bit ahead, quickly added. "Maybe we should ask our 'friends' for a help? They obviously know where are we going, maybe they also know his current whereabouts. Would save us some time." 

It's not the first time I was followed, and I noticed our tail long ago, though swapping men tracking us was an interesting touch. Wasn't expecting it in this world. Do they have some communication enchantments or it's something else? This actually reminded me of that time when Degan, an enemy of my father in my old world, tried to kidnap me. Needless to say, it didn't end well for him...

"And you think they will answer?" chuckled Phoenix while following my gaze.

"Only one way to find out." I smiled in return and started to approach cat beastkin, he was surprised when noticed my gaze and even started to panic.

Must be new.

Hmm, speaking of communication enchantments, I should make Catbit 2.0 as soon as possible. We would never have problems locating each other if had those... Hmm, and new weapons... new armor would be nice too... and some means of transportation... so much to do.

I finally reached our 'friend' and asked with a smile... "Good day, Mr. Spy. Could you help us find our friends?"

*

"I can't believe he actually told you." shook her head, Tia.

"I can be very... persuasive," I said while searching the road.

I could track Darson with the others and on my own, but doing so just by the scent isn't very effective. Sure, I would find them eventually, but my nose doesn't work like a radar. There is always a chance that while I track one lead, they are already walking in opposite direction a bit to the side.

Which is why a general direction helped us a lot. 

A few hundred meters ahead Darson was now visible walking with the others and still haven't noticed our presence. Suddenly my mishievious side rised from the sleep and I realized that this was a perfect opportunity for a prank.

My eyes immediately started to scan the streets yet for some reason I was unable to find a single pebble! No other choice then. I activated transmutation and started creating a diamond from carbon dioxide in the air.

"Miriel! We found them." Derea suddenly shouted when saw them as well, "You will never guess who decided to join us!" 

Dammit!

As there were still many people between us, I couldn't reach Darson from my current spot... but that was only if I launched the 'pebble' in a straight line. With my thumb, I quickly launched the diamond at the wall and it bounced precisely as I calculated. But just as it was about to hit Darson in the rear an arm caught it in the flight.

Aww, so close yet so far... that Turion and his reflexes, it wasn't even him that I aimed at. I was curious how Darson would have reacted.

Turion looked at the diamond in his hand and when traced where the attack has come from, for a moment widened his eyes. Though it was only for a moment, others on another hand froze with their mouths wide open.

*

"Are you sure she is our Little Dragon?" Tia asked while looking at me.

"Hey! Please stop with the dragon thing. I am a cat." I complained. "C. A. T."

"Well, her Space-Time Magic isn't working at the moment, so her stomach is no longer bottomless, she can't eat as much as she wants," answered Phoenix and grabbed another plate with the food.

"But she eats even less than me!" objected Tia.

"You wouldn't understand..." I looked at the table and reluctantly picked another plate. "After Sei's cooking, everything tastes 'bland'."

"Sei?" Phoenix stopped eating and looked at me.

Was that anxiety in his eyes?

"My brother," I answered with a smile.

"Ah, so you do remember me." suddenly a new voice joined the conversation. "How many hours are you here now? Three? Four? And not a single word to your brother."

"Who is... she?" Jack spoke while looking at our guest.

"Sei!" I shouted when saw who it was.

"Sei?! You mean he is your brother?" Tia was looking at him with curiosity.

"It's not a woman?" whispered Jack.

A ghostly image of Sei was standing next to me and he was grinning with his four arms crossed on the chest. It wasn't his real body, just a projection created by my amulet. I can't believe I didn't recognize his voice immediately. I wonder why is that, ahh... 

"Hey, you never told me you know the language of my world!" I complained to him ignoring people around us screaming something about monsters.

Yes, he was now speaking in the same language as us! Must have learned still back then when the devil has taught me his. Not even once he mentioned he can do so.

"But Sis, you never asked." he smiled in return and then looked at everyone sitting at the table.

"So you must be Phoenix she was talking about..." he said when his gaze stopped on Phoenix.

Phoenix was looking at him all this time without saying a word, but a smile was returning to his face. At least until Sei decided to speak again.

"Hmm, you look like a weakling to me."