The town of Layrest was a lakeside settlement near the water grids of the kingdom. Since its territory was within a sea of woodlands and mana generation was restricted to only combat, the kingdom acquired their water supply by constructing large factories near these patches of water. This made lakeside settlements comparatively wealthier to non-mainland cities.

The upkeep of wards and facilities required a lot of manpower, creating many job opportunities for people living near the factory. Also, with a sizable amount of the kingdom’s and local government’s budget going into maintaining roads and rest stops, trade with other cities and roadside markets kept travelers and pellets flowing.

Layrest was no different. Wealth meant better houses, cleaner roads, and most significantly, much more vibrant people. The weight of survival did not hang on their shoulders. They cared and they gossiped. If Rana were to enter a place like this, she would no doubt be the center of attention. The jacket that covered her from head to toe and the shadow of her hood that was meant to conceal her face, an attire to dissuade interest in the shady parts of town, would no doubt be the origin of fast traveling rumors. Normally speaking.

Layrest was different in one single aspect that made her appearance a nonissue. The town was one of the closest hub areas to several settlements near the Forest Boundary. This meant that marked ones usually chose Layrest as a place to congregate, whether to share information, prepare for an assignment, sort their rewards, or simply rest after a hunt. This naturally leads to the establishment of a Guild. This meant mercenary marked ones, who most have unconventional appearances due to the assorted equipment they have on, were not an uncommon sight.

The Guild building was Rana’s destination. Usually, nonmember marked ones would have difficulty getting in, usually requiring an entrance fee or extensive documentation. However, Layrest and its bordering areas were far from the frontlines and the ashen forests were especially thin, making most assignment small jobs for few pellets. They were not enough to require an organized effort, but enough to sustain the need for a centralized administration.

Rana stood before a three-story building of quality wood and stone. The Guild emblem for The Guild of Layrest was a simple obsidian splash of three water droplets. Like its name and its emblem, the building was one of the plainer Guilds she had the displeasure of entering. The simplicity was also an indication of its stature. The Guild was not big enough to participate in the territorial competition between Guilds, but they were essential enough to be granted an obsidian stone.

She entered its doors and was welcomed by curious glances and whispers. She was not alarmed, however. Most Guilds attracted adventurers and mercenaries of all places, and it was only the larger ones that adopted the policy of exclusivity. To the clerks of the Guild and the few lingering marked ones, a newcomer at best became a few minutes of break from their tedium routine. In the end, everything remained the same. The clerk dealt with assignment paperwork, and marked ones went about whatever business they had.

The relationship between marked ones and those without the mark remained unchanged for centuries, and she doubted an extra one would make things different. There was no animosity between the populace and marked ones, but neither was there a connection. The two groups barely interacted with the other.

Inquisitors were the ones out of the norm. Their prey was humans, whether they had a mark or not.

Rana walked up to the young clerk standing behind the counter. He had bright eyes and wore a practiced smile that somewhat appeared genuine. He bowed and greeted with a cheer, earning an internal groan from Rana. He must’ve been a new hire. Those who still have their enthusiasm intact and not beaten out by mundane routine were the nosiest. Still, if there was one thing that could curb that, it would be any sign of authority.

She flicked her Status open and closed it, a clear indication that Rana was a marked one and did not want to divulge anything further. “Give me a key to the general board and Church board,” she said as she put a few pellets on the counter, interrupting the clerk before he could speak. His smile deflated a bit, but it was commendable he managed to maintain it. Still, he was talking to someone who knew what they were doing and preferred if he minded his own business.

Did she feel bad? Rana didn’t.

“Yes, mam,” the clerk said, his voice a bit shaky. It was expected. The poor man was practically told to shut his mouth before he could even speak no fewer than a few words, and then had to deal with someone on Church business. The former bruised the ego and the latter… was that fear?

Rana looked him in the eye and held his gaze. Yes, it was indeed fear. Interesting. The Church held the hopes of humanity, yet its business was not privy to most. When the populace spoke of agents from the Church, it was usually spoken with nervousness and uncertainty, and most want nothing to do with them. The sooner the agents left, the sooner their daily lives returned to routine.

Fear was a more concrete emotion. It implied a reaction to something specific. Ignorance could not be a source of fear, there had to be something, even if vague, to inspire it.

Rana decided not to pursue any further, not right now. “Hurry,” she said and the clerk blinked before apologizing for the delay and scurried to the back. There was no need to start a scene. She would know how to approach the situation once she checked the Guild boards.

She was an inquisitor, the wrath that burned away impurities and silenced corruption that prevented her from reaching the truth. She needed to direct her investigation somewhere and not aimlessly lash out. There would be too much noise, too much attention drawn if she did not have a focus. Luckily, her sister’s compassion allowed some of the soldiers to escape, runoff and carry the news of the traitor paladin. Soon, the kingdom and the Church would hear unsettling news, critical enough for them to react. There was valuable information in their reaction, and could oftentimes be more telling than what they show on the surface. That was why it was important to never reveal anything, to operate under the shadows.

The clerk came back with the wards, two stones dipped in obsidian. The one with the simpler runic pattern was for the general board, assignments available to any marked one. There was no need for identification, as mana was required to activate the ward. The one with more complicate runes was for the Church board, assignments and information only available to their own agents.

Rana thanked the clerk, as courtesy is an expression of character more so than a formality. She headed to one of the devices lined up to the side of the building. The devices were imitations of the Altar and copied the Quest system, allowing marked ones to access assignment information stored within. She placed the Church key first as the clerk’s fear intrigued her.

She sensed the mana, hostile and volatile. Yet there was no danger, she knew how to unlock the code and gain access to even information only for the highest levels of Church members. She repressed a chuckle. Now that she thought about it, the security of the Church was woefully lacking. Was it born out of arrogance, or was it due to negligence? The truth was neither. The Sapphire Order made sure of the Church’s secrecy and took care of those who sought to break it.

However, whatever amusement she had soon ceased. Her eyes widened then quickly narrowed. Interesting. The traitor paladin would be the least of their worries if her deduction was correct.

Rana let loose a small smile. Things would suit her just fine.