Bro, I’m not an Undead!

“Ahahahaha!” a sophisticated laugh echoed within the crowd. “I’m sure this visit to one of the biggest cities in the nation will be absolutely stellar, ahaha!”

“That’s right, milady. I never thought I’d get to see so many people flooding into the city at one time. The event we are in for this time will likely be most memorable.”

“Ahahaha! You don’t have to tell me twice. It’s unusual for one of the six Houses to make a move like this. Do you reckon it’s in response to the tension regarding the Royal family’s decision to ally with the Sif?”

“Hmm. I’d say that’s reasonable. Or perhaps it is a way to quell the rising tension with a good show.”

At the gate to Genhuis City, nine queues could be seen, all with people impatiently waiting to enter into the enormous settlement that was hidden behind giant walls that seemed to have been built yesterday!

They had a dull brass colour with hints of gold on them, something that would keep bumpkins who were new to travelling outside the smaller communities out there, staring in awe.

The wall rose up to ninety meters with a width of almost sixty meters, patrol camps and sturdy towers steadily perked on top of it with several Knights standing aloof and looking down from them.

Getting pass this wall, even at a micro legal level was no easy feat, but for these past few days, the security was a bit lenient.

House EverSword had stressed that they wanted as many people as possible to get a chance to participate and even more people to get to spectate.

That said however, everyone, regardless of status had to wait in line first, each one having a designated purpose and demographic that made it.

The first two lines, if one looked from the gate, were reserved for very important figures whose rank outshone nobility like individuals from renown Families. There weren’t that many of these ORIGINALLY, but in this case, given the context and in terms of the initial announcement given by House EverSword, quite a bit of them have shown up as it was merely three days before the beginning of the event.

The next two lines were comprised of nobility and important benefactors.

Nobles in this world were not among the Families or Houses.

They were more like small groups ordained by either High official Capital Service members like Governors or by the Heads of Families to run the micro aspects of apportioned areas.

They were essentially delegated parties lifted in name as a result.

In truth, Pelian was so large that all the current Families and Houses could not claim all the land and resources to leave nothing behind, especially when considering the PHENOMENON that stopped the progression of all living things for several millennia after the Second Grand War.

This ensured that land apportionment and development lagged so much that it barely seemed like time passed between the ages.

The nobles helped to cover for the large burden that still existed, their purpose being integral to the workings of Pelian.

The rest of the lines were reserved for the general majority and overseeing the swift movement and vetting were the top notch Capital Service Knights of the City who were adorned in gold and silver armours, white capes draping behind them.

Each held a formal and serious temperament that demanded to be taken seriously and with at least six present along every line, there was no room for disorder or commotion.

Between the lines were spaces for people exiting the city or those who were deemed ineligible for entry due to various reasons, thus smooth flow of all activity was permitted.

“Hey, I heard that the venue for the event hasn’t been disclosed yet. Does this mean that the Maul Dome isn’t where this thing is happening?”

“Hmm. Where else would they hold such a large scale event? We’re taking almost all of the Families in Pelian gathering here.”

“I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out.”

“Ay. Who do you think we’ll see in the event? Some prestigious Families who have been in hiding, new ones?”

“Of course it’s both. I’m sure everyone wants to get into the EverSword House. Ah… I wish I had been read to become a fighter. I probably would have been a good one. <Sigh>. Direction can be so cruel.”

“That’s probably not true considering you’re a damn good carpenter.”

“…yeah.”

“Ah, excuse me. If you don’t mind my asking, why does it seem like the City is a little bright from here?”

At this moment, a scrawny man who looked to be in his sixties asked this random group of chatting young men.

“Oh, you don’t know?” one of them asked.

“Know what?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s always best to see for yourself when you enter the city, hehe.”

*

Hours later.

“Hello, good sir. May I have your full name please,” a pretty woman who sat on a lavish desk at the massive gate asked with a smile.

There were up to six of these desks with formally dressed Capital Service representatives who admitted people in after asking some questions and taking payment where necessary.

Two Knights were stationed by each desk, protectively standing guard and monitoring all movements.

“Festos Dawn,” came the reply from a man who donned a simple yet fashionable white shirt and dark pants.

His blank eyes locked against those of one of the Knights at the desk, a strange brewing of tension occurring for a second.

The woman nodded, completely oblivious to this as she scribbled down in her book rapidly and turned to the man’s side.

“Is she with you?”

“Yes,” the man replied with a rather uncomfortable smile while giving a quick stab to the lime haired girl at his side’s ribs with his elbow.

The girl winced and wore a smile, tearing herself from the stupor she had been in. Her lime hair was a bit ruffled up, showing that her journey here hadn’t been… conventional.

“Yes, yes…” she randomly said as she focused on the woman at the desk.

“What’s your name?”

“Yuyui Yuyui Yuyui.”

“What?” the woman at the desk asked quizzically.

“First name Yuyui, second name Yuyui, surname Yuyui.”

“R..right…” the woman said as she noted down, the Knights at her side looking closely at Yuyui before looking at each other.

The woman then turned back to the man who was Skullius and asked, “Are you a permanent resident of Genhuis or is this a visit?”

“It’s a visit.”

“Have you been here before?”

“No.”

“Do you have any forma—”

“Actually…” Skullius cut off the woman, ‘…I have this.”

Skullius said as he pulled out a fist sized red and blue disk with an insignia branded onto it.

The moment the woman at the desk saw it, her visage shifted from portraying general politeness to showing a look of understanding.

“I see. You are the one from the Bryne Family. Someone is already waiting you,” the woman said as she turned to one of the Knights at her side, giving him a message.

The Knight turned, walking into the gate almost ten meters behind the desk before returning five minutes later with a tall but thin man who wore a pair of black rimmed glasses.

He had light grey hair and an anchor style beard that matched the shape of his face well, his demeanour with his hands behind his back showing respect.

The man reached Skullius, his eyes fixated on the disk Skullius had as he then gave a nod of acknowledgement, though drops of sweat trickled from his brow.

He felt uncomfortable about something.

“Master Festos, it’s good to see you in person. Please, come with me,” the man said a barely noticeable tremble that was quickly hidden by his training.

Skullius expressed mild surprise as he and Yuyui who was not sure what was going on followed the man, slowly approaching the vast opening to the city.

“My name is Daggs. I am an attendant in the Bryne Family household. I will escort be escorting you to the Family’s residence in the city,” the man explained.

“Oh, I see,” Skullius said. “Let me guess, Silrat told you to come here didn’t he?”

Daggs smiled awkwardly. He had been tasked with waiting for Skullius at the gate for the entire day.

“Yes, Master Silrat did say so. He said you have habit of arriving at the last minute.”

Skullius chuckled at this.

He and Silrat were starting to understand each other pretty well.