Omen of a Bluebell

It takes nearly half an hour after leaving the inn to reach the steps to the surface.

I hadn’t noticed when entering the undercity, but the stairs in and out of the undercity are both equidistant from the train station, so it’s not too hard to find our way.

It helps that Bella is leading the way, again. Even so, the trip is incredibly awkward for me now that I have context for what’s actually been going on these past couple of days.

I keep feeling the urge to get closer to her, even though we're already hand in hand. Or the sudden feeling to say something silly, or leading, or teasing. I push it all away with some effort, constantly reminding myself that I'm not exactly in my right mind.

Gods forbid I say something I'll regret in a few weeks. Or do something.

She glances back at me for a moment as she drags me along, and I grin.

Gods dammit all, this is hard.

Only once we reach the guard station at the top of the stairs do I manage to pay attention.

A large, heavily fortified checkpoint lay sprawled out before us. Its massive iron gate, nearly identical to the make of the one built around Bephis’ Tunnel entrance, lay open for people coming and going.

Like the train station, nearly a dozen Attendants sit at desks, shuffling through their duties with an efficiency that would make even Cari jealous.

We pick one at random.

Our arrival draws a few looks from the guards stationed about, though nothing too overt. Just the professional curiosity and wariness of guards on duty.

Still, it sets my nerves on edge. Even Bella seems nervous, her palm growing clammy as she clenches my hand even tighter.

By the time our group reaches the front of the line, Bella has shuffled her way to the back of our little group. When the Attendant waves us forward, she lets go of my hand and waves for us to go ahead.

I frown at her.

“Please,” she whispers, her eyes sincere.

Gah! Why's she gotta give me that look?

I go along with her request, stepping up to the desk.

“Identification?” the Attendant asks, his voice nasally but clear and professional.

Krissy and Nyria pull out little slips of paper, while Cari and I pull out our Delver badges. In no time at all, the Attendant is rifling through papers and drawers, scribbling away inside several notebooks and ledgers, then handing the papers and badge back.

“All clear,” he says with a sniff. “The entry fee is one silver each, which covers your entry and exit for the next month so long as you have your identification at hand.”

He indicates a little divot in the desk, where it looks like a small bowl was carved into the wood. We each toss our coins in and step to the side once he nods and waves us through to the guards nearby.

We wait a few paces away for Bella, who is only now stepping forward. When the Attendant asks for her identification, instead of papers or a badge of some sort, she pulls a small ring from her hidden storage and places it in the divot on the desk.

The Attendant visibly stiffens. He places his hand over the ring for a moment, but seems to take great care to avoid actually touching it, before his hand whips back as if it were burned.

“Your Highness! It is—ah—our honor to welcome you to our great city!” The man’s voice cracks halfway through the sentence, his forehead nearly slamming into the desk as he quickly stands and bows.

I notice from the corner of my eye as several guards sprint away before heading up the last set of stairs to the surface, and I just know they’re going to spread the news of Bella’s arrival.

A spike of anger stabs through me at the thought that those bandits might find us again thanks to this. No doubt they already know where she was going, but I had hoped that our secrecy would serve well enough to keep them from catching our tails.

The Attendant continues, sounding almost panicked. “I apologize for not properly announcing your arrival, as word seems to have not reached us that you were coming. We shall have accommodations prepared—”

“That won’t be necessary,” she interrupts, her tone cold, matching her emotionless mask. “I am here to attend Elderwynd Academy, nothing more. I will not take kindly to interruptions. Am I understood?”

“Y-yes, your Highness. Please, at least allow us to escort you to—”

“No.”

“Please, your Highness, I must insist we at least ensure your safety,” he begs.

“And whose fault is that, might I ask? Did I tell you to announce me? Did I give notice of my arrival, so that I might be lauded about the city like some visiting attraction at the beck and call of the vestiges of your nations petty nobility?” she snaps, glaring a hole through the back of his head.

His whole body shakes with nervous terror at the implications. Honestly, I’d be nervous too, the way she just put it.

Who in their right mind wants to be the one responsible for ousting the identity of a Princess that’s clearly trying to hide?

“Well?" she snaps. "Did I misspeak? Or are you simply not listening?”

“N-no, your H-highness. My sincerest apologies, I was unaware—”

“Enough of this,” she interrupts him again, waving dismissively at him. “We are done here.”

He pauses for a moment, then says in a defeated sigh, “Yes, your Highness. Please stay safe.”

She snatches the small ring back and storms over to us. The entire interaction, I’d been staring at her, stunned.

Then I'm stunned again, only with indecision this time, as she walks right up to me and takes my hand in a rough grip before dragging me through the gates.

The other girls quickly follow, trailing us as Bella all but storms the fortifications.

The guards stationed throughout the checkpoint kneel as she passes, but it only seems to annoy her further. She quickens her pace, only slowing once we start climbing the stairs, and even then only out of necessity.

Sunlight spills into the tunnel, polluting the starlight glow of the Tunnel’s rocky surfaces until it’s the only light visible. Cresting the last step, we find another fortification, nearly identical to the one below, surrounding the entrance.

Dozens of guards scurry about, quickly forming into two rows to make a pathway from the Tunnel entrance to the gateway and the massive square beyond. We rush through before the guards finish forming up, merging into the crowd before any more attention could be drawn to us.

My eyes are drawn to her lips, parted in a smug grin as we swiftly become anonymous once more.

We don’t get ten paces out before we’re bombarded with offers.

“Ladies, need a ride? Where’re you headin’? I can get ya anywhere in the city in less than twenty minutes, just two silvers!”

“I bet you’re hungry after a long trip! Come on over and put some meat on yer bones!”

“New to the city? Trying to see the sights? I’ll guide ya! Just fifteen—no, ten coppers! I can show ya the way anywhere!”

The last one comes from a kid no older than fifteen, who tags alongside our group for a good five or six paces before picking up on our apparent disinterest and turning to offer the same to the next person exiting the gate behind us.

On and on the shouts go, some undercutting their competitors, who then undercut the ones trying to beat their offers, all angry voices and scathing glares. It's all very exciting.

And a bit overwhelming.

Bella takes it all in stride though, speed-walking us through the space and into the wide leather canopy in front of a nearby tavern absolutely bursting with patrons.

Most seem to be there for breakfast or an early lunch, the noise of their gathering only matched by the thrum of footsteps, chatter, and shouting merchants from all across the square itself.

She heaves a sigh of relief then, turning to us. “Alright, do you two remember the directions?”

Her question is aimed at Krissy and Nyria. She’d apparently caught that offhand comment they made about finalizing their property the other day and somehow remembered, even after everything else.

It makes me smile, just a little, knowing that she cared enough to commit something like that to memory.

Both of them nod, and Nyria grins while holding up a small sheet of paper with the directions written down.

Bella nods. “Very well. Be safe, and remember to go through the merchant district, not the commons. There’s no need to risk more pickpockets than necessary.”

They both give Cari a hug and share some hushed words I can’t make out, washed out as they are by the noise surrounding us, then approach me. They both wrap me up in a tight embrace, which I happily return with a low purr.

“We’ll send a letter to the Academy once we have a place set up. Remember to visit often,” Krissy says right into my ear, her breath tickling and sending it into a twitching frenzy.

Nyria doesn’t say anything, just rubs her cheek against mine with a pleased sigh. When she tries to sneak her hand around to the base of my tail, I swat it away. She just giggles before giving me another squeeze slinking away.

“We’ll see you soon! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she says, sparing Bella a glance and winking lasciviously.

I try to swat her again, but she twirls away with a laugh, using Krissy to block my attempt.

“I’ll visit as soon as I'm able,” I sigh, giving Krissy a final squeeze for good luck.

Nyria waves goodbye energetically the whole time, but it only takes them ten or so steps to fade into the crowded streets. Almost like when I left Bephis itself, I feel a small pang of loneliness with their absence.

Cari takes my free hand, then, and the bubble bursts. She beams at me, her anticipation for what comes next winning out over her nerves.

Bella’s expression is much less open, but I can see the slight quirk of her lips as she watches us both.

“Are we ready to go?” she asks.

“Yes!” Cari explodes, answering for the both of us. I just laugh and nod along.

Once more, she guides us through the busy city, though I’m still shocked by just how many people there are. Their hands are warm in mine, though for some reason Bella’s feels even warmer.

I give it a little squeeze, and blush when she glances back and graces me with an actual smile aimed at me and me alone.

It’s demure, and only there for a moment, but I saw it. My heart flutters, threatening to bring back the warmth from earlier this morning, so I quickly look away.

Instead, I take the opportunity to really look around, distracting myself with the sights... though I make sure to commit that smile to memory.

I realize now that with the start of my estrus, I hadn’t actually given the place much thought, distracted as I was.

The surface of Theola is so much more... diverse than Bephis. I’m used to seeing other races thanks to the Delvers Guild and visiting trade caravans, but it was still rare.

Maybe one in every one-hundred newcomers to Bephis would be of another race, if that. Even then, they often didn’t stick around for long. They’d either move on to delve elsewhere, or finish their trades and leave.

Here, though?

Just looking around me, it’s easily one nonhuman for every ten humans. Orcs are the most prevalent, though I’m not surprised so much by that. They're the nomadic sort, usually dabbling in trade.

Every now and then, though, I spot an elf, dwarf, or fellow beastkin.

No foxkin, though. While I know now why that is, and in more detail than I care to think about, the thought still brings my mood down a bit.

To be fair, if I spotted another foxkin, I’d be more nervous than anything. The last one I met was a bandit trying to kidnap Bella and I.

So I’m not exactly keen on meeting more, regardless of our apparent rarity.

Still, I spot a black furred wolfkin, a white furred bearkin nearly half again as large as The Archivist, and so much more.

The elves are tall and elegant—just like in the stories—slipping through the crowd with a grace that makes me green with envy.

The dwarves are never far behind, all but bowling over any of the taller races unfortunate enough to be in their path.

I eye them the most, finding myself more and more fascinated with the intricacy of their beards and mustaches. One dwarf I spot on our path has a handlebar mustache so grand that the tips of it stick out past his broad shoulders.

I outright laugh as he casually swats away a man who gets too close to brushing against it.

The dwarf must’ve heard me, though, because he looks right at me and, upon seeing my unabashed delight with his appearance, grins and gives his impressive mustache a flourishing twirl before continuing on his way.

I lose him in the crowd the moment he takes his first step, but I see the unmistakable evidence of his passing as folk are suddenly shunted aside, no doubt because they got too close.

Then there’s the buildings.

Some are so tall that I have to crane my neck until I lose sight of the ground entirely just to get a glimpse of their peaks.

Only Bella’s guidance keeps me from being trampled by the busy crowd, and she even tugs me from the path of a pair of rushing humans.

I give her a shoulder bump in thanks, then quickly pull away, my thoughts conflicted.

Gods, this is the worst. Am I flirting on accident? Or was that fine? Ugh...

I refocus on the buildings.

Some are made of stone, others of wood, each with a variety of decorations, engravings, color schemes, and materials.

The mix would be nauseating, if it weren’t so awe inspiring. One building, a multi-story adobe style structure, near perfectly matches the appearances I’d imagined while reading up on a desert type dungeon a month back.

How it was built in what is probably the most temperate region of the continent, I'll never know.

Hand in hand with Bella and Cari, I manage to let myself be absorbed in the sights of the massive city.

Like the undercity, we travel through the trade district, into a somehow even wealthier looking district, with houses and manses fit for royalty. At least, according to my admittedly sheltered view.

So distracted by ogling the people and buildings around us, I don’t notice where we are until we stop and I bump into Bella in my daze. She steadies me easily enough, gracing me with yet another of her rare smiles.

I look away quickly, only sheer force of will keeping me from matching her. Then my eyes land on something wondrous.

A towering fence of black metal, beautifully woven into interlocking floral motifs and laced with delicate silver filigree, stretches into the distance to our left and right.

It's a fence. But not just any fence.

I recognize it the moment I see it, in no small part thanks to Cari's endless chattering about the place whenever we got together. To be fair, she was mostly right. It is truly impressive.

Beyond this fence lies the famous Elderwynd Academy.

Except... I see nothing. A thick, obscuring mist reaches high into the sky, only going further the higher I look, as if growing to match my gaze.

I realize then that the fence is laced with runework. Countless runes form just as many enchantments, each no doubt working together to hide and protect the academy.

For a moment, I can’t help but stare at the black metal in awe.

Because to my sight, there is no mana around it.

Well, okay, that’s not entirely true.

I watch as a wisp of mana flickers into existence in the strange ways only mana can—but then it’s gone. Sucked into the fence before I have time to so much as blink.

I’ve heard of enchantments so powerful that they can practically drain an area of mana entirely, but I’d never actually seen anything even come close to achieving that.

Hells, even the entire train station and every train within it couldn’t manage it.

Thoroughly starstruck, I don’t notice the guard speaking until he stands before us, blocking my view of the incredible magics. He strikes an imposing figure, fully suited up in silvery plate armor that practically glows with magic to my eyes.

His appearance snaps me out of my daze, and I quickly check his tag.

Elf Fighter

Level ??

Whoa, another Tier Two? Or… is that Three?

Cari mentioned at one point how the question marks after their level would denote their Tier, but I never committed it to memory.

Probably two? Two question marks... ah, whatever.

“…problem at all. It’s fun to watch the first timers,” he chuckles, his words finally registering.

“Still, it is not my intention to waste your time. Here, this is proof of my enrollment and identity,” Bella says, a paper and the ring from earlier appearing in her hands.

She presents them together for the guard, and he takes them both. The moment he touches the ring, he nods and quickly passes it back to her. He opens and quickly skims the paper before returning it as well.

“Your admittance is in order, Princess Arabella von Bysm. I welcome you to the city of Theola, and the Elderwynd Academy,” he says with a low bow.

Then he straightens up and his gaze lands on me. “And you, miss…?”

“Ah!” I jump. “S-sorry, I’m here to, uh, I mean, I was invited to the Academy.”

My palms are clammier than they've ever been, and when I try to pull my hands free, only Cari lets go. Bella just tightens her grip, refusing even as the guard looks me over expectantly.

He smiles as he asks, “Well then, Miss Invited, do you have a name?”

I feel my face heat with embarrassment, and a messy swirl of emotions from Bella not letting me go.

Then I realize that he’d been asking for my name from the start, and I just rambled on like a starstruck fool.

“Emilia,” I say, my voice coming out more squeak than anything.

I quickly tilt my head down to hide my face, but I see his eyes crinkle at the edges, just barely visible through the helmets visor. It's clear as day that he’s enjoying this, especially if his comment from earlier about first timers is anything to go by.

“And you, miss…?” he says again, only this time aimed at Cari.

“C-Cari Ward, s-sir,” she stutters out.

I look back at her to find her literally shaking in her boots.

But not from fear.

No, all I see in her eyes are stars and raw fanaticism.

She practically vibrates with excitement, and I have absolutely no doubt that if she had a tail, it’d be swishing violently all over the place. She manages to keep from actually jumping for joy, though, so I mentally cheer for her.

Then my heart skips a beat.

Wait, oh gods, she gave her full name. I didn’t give my full name. Is that bad? Should I do it now, or is it too late? Wait, do they even know that I took on the Ken Clan name? Should I tell them Ward, or—

“Very well then, my Ladies. Please, wait here a moment. A clerk will be along to assist you shortly,” he says, before turning abruptly and returning to the giant black-barred gate.

I panic.

Just a bit, though.