Sure enough, Yi Qiang had to wait only a few minutes for a random guard to appear. Whatever he was doing was chucked out of his priorities, however, when he saw Yi Qiang sitting on a golden, shining chair, the corpse of a captain on the ground and two guards passed out near him.

He screamed; a less-than-admirable reaction indeed, but it did the job of advancing whatever Yi Qiang would have to cope with as a repercussion to his actions.

As for why he was so content to just sit there, there wasn't much of a better option. Escape? That would be incredibly foolish - even if he managed, somehow, to escape the guard base, it would be impossible to sneak out of the city without attracting any attention at all. The gates were, after all, heavily guarded, and while Yi Qiang had Sneak, Shenyu was still extremely eyecatching, and he wasn't old enough just to fly out yet. Indeed, from Yi Qiang's perspective, this lack of initiative was instead proof of reason and calmness, and would appear non-threatening. He hoped so, at least. If he took the initiative, instead, the chances were that the whole matter would be muddled by fear and wariness on the other side.

Perhaps like this, he could show those who were to handle this matter that he was perfectly calm.

And, in that spirit, Yi Qiang decided to lay the bow at his feet and put his hands up. A useless gesute for him, of course, but they didn't know that. And didn't have to.

This seemed to calm the guard down visibly, so he was significantly less terrified(clearly not in possession of all of his lucidity, though) as he ran out the door to alert... someone?

Yi Qiang stayed like that, choosing to continue sitting down for its less threatening posture.

Soon enough, an authoritative man arrived, the first guard to have seen him in tow. He sported a dark frown.

"Why are you here?" Yi Qiang also didn't miss the tight grip the man had on his sword's hilt - how could he? - nor did he fail to notice that this man's armor was slightly more ornate than Saril's. Higher rank then, most likely.

"Well, this man, Captain Saril from what I hear, led me here. However, he attacked me and I had to respond quickly and decisively in order to save my life," Yi Qiang nodded towards the bow on the floor, "so it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I am willing to accept responsibility, but I hope sir can keep in mind it was an act of self-defense."

Yi Qiang's story appeased the authoritative man some, and he responded not kindly but without nearly as much animosity.

"There will still be consequences if you're telling the truth. If you're found to be lying though, it won't be pretty. If you are deceiving us, you'd better tell the truth right now to minimize the consequences of doing so. And believe me, we have many ways to ascertain the truth of what happened here today. If you will, please follow -" the man's voice cut off, him having finally noticed Shenyu on his shoulder.

Well, Shenyu, I think he's dazzled by your brilliance, Yi Qiang thought to his companion sarcastically as he pet him. Is it really surprising that I have a little dragon friend? Good.

"On the gods' earth, is that a dragon?"

The man practically shrieked his surprise. From his perspective, Yi Qiang reasoned, he must be having a really bad day right about now. A murderer of a high-ranking official, a dragon? I wonder how he'll feel if I tell him Saril was going to submit me to a Dragonblooded test... And if I passed? That would be almost worth it, heh.

Admirably, the man regained his composure quickly, and as calmly as he could, beckoned at Yi Qiang. "Follow me."

Yi Qiang nodded and stood up, while the man also told the guard next to him to handle the bodies.

They walked through now slightly-familiar winding hallways, Yi Qiang answering numerous questions on the way.

The man asked him about his name, occupation, and details on why exactly Saril had brought him into the guard quarters. Not wanting to lie - Yi Qiang figured it was pointless, that was something very simple to confirm - Yi Qiang just told him that it was because of his dragon. Unfortunately, he was pressed for details, so the archer had to tell his escort that he was being tested for being Dragonblooded.

The man's reaction was strange; he paled, then all the blood rushed to his face and he looked like he was going to burst with anger. Then, eerily calm, he said while ever-so-slightly shaking, "Saril was going to test you for being Dragonblooded?"

"Yes...? He told me it wouldn't be much of an inconvenience."

"That bastard!" Yi Qiang raised an eyebrow. "That is a test we stopped using 50 years ago unless in extremely specific circumstances. We stopped using it because of its inhumanity - it caused incredible pain to the testee, such that some innocents were permanently scarred. Over half of all the tested were recorded as begging to be killed instead while the test was going underway. Paired with the lack of success of the machine - not one time had it justly found someone to be Dragonblooded - it was sealed away. For Saril to think he has enough authority to bring it back to test you without express approval is... worrying."

Suddenly, something else occurred to Yi Qiang - the guard's reaction when he told him that he was Chosen. And, Saril's dismissal of this clearly important information.

"If it's important, the captain was also informed that I was Chosen, but gladly continued on. I don't know if that means anything, but the guard that asked me about it certainly seemed to think so."

The rage instantly morphed into terror. "You're... Chosen?"

"Yes."

"Come, run. This is suddenly a lot more important. I'm sorry, I can't explain everything to you right now, but you'll understand soon enough."

They began sprinting through the hallways, Yi Qiang easily keeping up with the suddenly frantic man.

Quickly, after climbing a few flights of stairs and traversing surprisingly long distances of winding hallways, the pair arrived at two large doors. They were ornately decorated with red and gold-colored inlays, and the wood itself was worked with fine attention to detail.

The doors were kicked open, blasting apart with a loud bang, by Yi Qiang's escort. Their opening revealed what Yi Qiang could only assume to be some sort of royal court, with three thrones opposite the doors and many finely-dressed elves standing at the sides.

One of the thrones, the one on the left, was vacant, while the center and right thrones were being sat upon by two incredibly lavishly robed elven youths.

One of the men on the side, seeing the two of them, immediately yelled out furiously, "What is the meaning of this, Ilvedoran?"

Ilvedoran, the man who had been accompanying Yi Qiang the whole time, ignored him and directly addressed the two elves in the thrones. Wait, I could have easily found his name if I just Analyzed him. I should really get into the habit of doing that.

He knelt before the thrones and, head facing down, proclaimed, "Your Majesties First and Third Prince, a Chosen has been bound to a dragon. If I may venture to say so, I fear the Annals may be unfolding themselves - he arrived here under false schemes and trickery."

Silence reigned the court, before it erupted into chaos. Everyone yelled out their own reaction to the news, each person trying to make themselves heard over the crowd.

An authoritative voice sounded out, slicing through the tumult like a verbal knife, making itself clearly audible despite its low volume.

"Order. I call for order. Will all the ministers please restrain themselves and depart. Return to your quarters. You will be briefed later. Officer Ilvedoran, please stay, as well as you, the Chosen I presume?"

Yi Qiang nodded, and everyone else started to clear out.

Soon after the court was vacated, the doors opened once again, and a lazily-dressed, handsome elven youth strolled in.

The high elf who had originally spoken, who Yi Qiang presumed to be the First Prince, nodded at the newcomer. "Second Prince."

That guy's a prince? Like, those two in the throne?

Yi Qiang glanced back and forth between the two sides. On one, two dignified and wise princes, and on the other, a lazy, clearly apathetic royal.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late, some matters held me up." Even his voice is lazy!

"It's completely alright Second Prince. Please join us, you've arrived just in time to help us deliberate on an important decision."

The Second Prince walked up, and Yi Qiang took the opportunity to Analyze the three of them.

Sirorel, First Prince

Boss

Level ???

HP ???

Alanas, Second Prince

Boss

Level ???

HP ???

Evetalan, Third Prince

Boss

Level ???

HP ???

Okay, good to know I can find out their names despite the level difference.

The First Prince spoke up. "Chosen, come forward." Yi Qiang walked forwards, standing at eye level before the three princes. He realized it probably would have been safer to kneel or show deference, but Yi Qiang did not kneel to people who didn't deserve this. "Tell me of what has happened since you have entered the city."