Apexus stepped out of the golden doorframe and into the small woods. It was the best hidden spot they had found. To emerge from the air randomly, Aclysia had reckoned, would not aid them in creating a trustable image on a Leaf that had forgotten much about magic. Especially with the way he stored the key, after everyone had emerged.

“You feeling like fox for second breakfast?” Reysha asked and pointed at the red-furred critter staring at them from a distance. The animal intuited that it was safe. It would be proven wrong swiftly if anyone in the party meant otherwise.

“It seems non-magical. There is no point,” Apexus responded.

“I wonder if the lack of magical animals and the diminishment in local acumen regarding the supernatural arts are related,” Aclysia thought out loud. “Perhaps the lack of challenges diminishes ability?”

Apexus raised his head and took a couple of deep inhales. The multi-layered scent of the forest brushed over his nose. Fox and cat, bird and stoat, dirt and leaf, wood and fungi, the intertwining of the various musks ended on a pleasant note. No traces of the rot that a large carcass would create nor the blood such a hunt would spill.

“These woods are tamed,” he said. “Like a wolf reduced to a dog.”

They set out north, to reach the main road again. As they stepped out of the small woodland, Korith raised her voice. “Uhm, weird question, but you just mentioned dogs so it got on my mind-”

“Ya don’t have to run us down your entire thought process when you wanna say something, squishy, just out with it.”

“Okay… do you… get along with dog people?” Korith asked.

Reysha started to laugh, loudly. Even if that was the reaction that Reysha had to a lot of things, Korith still blushed. She dragged her feet, gradually falling further and further behind the party. Once it exceeded more than one of his strides, Apexus stopped. Without a word, he lifted her onto his shoulders. That she wore her full plate barely made this more difficult.

Korith gulped down the little bit of emotion that accompanied the hot tingle in a whole different part of her body. ‘Hamena hamena hamena.’ The word repeated in her mind. Firm muscles of the neck and shoulders were her seat. Powerful, big hands remained on her thighs.

The laughter ebbed away. Just as they resumed their walk, Reysha finally responded. “The fuck is that question even coming from?”

“Y-you know, cats and dogs aren’t supposed to get along…?”

“Yeah, cats and dogs. I’m a tiger.” The redhead’s striped tail waved lazily along the swing of her hips. “Besides, there were a bunch of cats and dogs that got along where I lived. More important question – Korith, you’re higher up, is that guy heading for us?”

“Hm?” The kobold looked up from Apexus’ fox ears and looked in the direction Reysha was pointing at. “Uhm… yes, definitely… why do you even ask?”

The person in question was running in their direction at basically full speed. Apexus spotted a sword on their waist, something none of them had seen so far on anyone around. Robes that appeared to be simultaneously stiff and airy clad him in several layers of brown and deep grey. The colours, as the party had learned yesterday, of the Felmers – the soldier caste.

The man stopped shortly in front of them. Not even a quick muster was given, the Felmer immediately went into a speech. “I am Redant of the Felmers, keepers of the peace of Mayana. By authority of the castes and the Highest Gifted, I invite you, outworlders, to the garrison of Kaba.”

Apexus looked eastwards. Kaba was the city that these farms were technically part of. It was several hours east, hours that the man before them must have spent travelling here after news had reached him.

No one in the party was surprised. They had anticipated this, even banked on it to some degree. “Invited?” the Monk asked.

“Yes, invited,” the Felmer responded with a disciplined nod. His hand played steadily with the brass decoration on his sword hilt. He scratched at dirt that he knew wouldn’t loosen. “Do you accept?”

Apexus stared at the soldier, who returned the gaze straightforwardly. The size difference between the two of them was immense, almost one and a half heads. The Monk was slowly getting a true idea of it, but it seemed like the people of this Leaf were of a generally shorter stature than those that he had visited previously. Only Korith was shorter than the man. Aclysia and Reysha were tall women, admittedly.

The Felmer’s eyes finally broke, first staring at the girth of Apexus’ arms, then the crimson colour of Reysha’s crystalline axe. “I’m expected to return by tonight,” he said, and slowly returned to look at Apexus.

Finally, the Monk nodded. There was no predation in these eyes, no slyness. “Lead the way. We are interested to learn more about your country and your Leaf.”

The soldier breathed an ever so slight breath of relief, before turning around and marching ahead. They soon reached a carriage, drawn by four mixed breed horses.

Apexus had rarely felt more cramped than inside the carriage. The ceiling was less than a hand width above him. The bench was too small too. To the point that he sat down on the floor instead. Legs crossed in the typical meditative pose, he stared at the Felmer. “Who is driving the carriage?” he asked.

The Felmer made a dismissive gesture. “A Harlenn of the garrison.”

“Harlenn?” Apexus tilted his head, trying to recall the rank among the seven castes. Yesterday had provided them with much information and much of it hadn’t sunk in entirely yet. “The servant caste, second lowest, correct?”

“You know of our castes? Are they reflected in your own?”

“Where I am from, there are no castes,” Apexus replied swiftly and that answer made the man blink a couple of times.

“Then how do you ensure the gods-blessed order that leads to prosperity?”

“I grew up in a world crueller than this,” Apexus kept it short. “It was the law of eat or be eaten.”

The soldier shuddered, as if he had just been touched by something terrifying. “The gods should have blessed you with knowledge of your place in the world.”

“Oh, where do you think that place would be?” Reysha asked, her ever-present smile twisted into something toothy. “Where I grew up, we stuck to families and-“

Aclysia knew what the next word would be and interrupted. “Reysha, please…”

The redhead shut her mouth and demonstrably turned her eyes to the window. Agitated fingers danced over the surface of the bench that she, Aclysia and Korith shared. “You talk then,” she hissed, doing her best not to listen too closely. ‘Everything about the way this place is run pisses me off.’

There was no further talk that happened.

______________________________________________________________________

The keep was a structure of smooth, carefully cut stones that had been stacked with artistry. Grey and brown rocks created a steady diamond pattern along the walls. Large banners with various house animals on a brown and grey background hung from the walls. Four bridges of solid rock crossed the rainwater filled moat, leading up to four gateways without doors.

Apexus’ fingers brushed over the wall, while he stepped through the entrance. The only bumps he felt were that of the gaps between the stones. In the courtyard, a dozen men of various ages executed steady routines, dancing with their shiny, blunted swords in a display of impressive swirls and flourishes.

“The Dalara,” the Felmer who fetched them reported, pride brimming in his voice. “The invincible sword dance. The reason why the pirates have not dared attack us!”

“We heard they attack every year,” Apexus reported.

“Where our reach does not extend!” The Felmer spat out. “Cowards that they are.”

Apexus beheld the sword dancing for a little while. He had seen routines before, been part of them every morning that he had trained under Maltos. There were wasted movements in many routines. A Monk’s daily set of motions were to loosen muscles and to develop them. They were starting points to actual fighting techniques, not techniques in and of themselves.

“You mean to say that these motions will win you the battle?” Apexus asked for clarification.

“Whoever is the greater master of the Dalara will win.”

“You should dispense with that notion.”

The soldier’s smile wavered. His brows trembled. Again, he played with his sword. Every ounce of honour within him demanded a duel, but he beheld a giant of a man, taller and broader than any that he had faced before. Further, one who had come from beyond, who was said to be accompanied by one who could turn invisible whenever she wished.

No resolution was reached, Apexus instead looked to a gold-robed man steadily approaching him. The people of Mayana were all light skinned, but this one seemed like he hadn’t seen the sun in days. A pale that was reinforced by a thin layer of make-up that removed any blemishes under pinkish white. He was bald, had shaved eyebrows, and from the face to the gut he showed a weight beyond what was healthy.

“You are the outworlders, then,” he said in a melodic voice.

Aclysia had the decency to bow her head. Korith followed the example. Neither Apexus nor Reysha did. The Ragressian even rolled her eyes and sat down on a nearby staircase that led to the catwalk atop the walls. To call them battlements would have been a step too far.

If the lack of courtesy bothered the man, he did not let it show. “We have heard much of your exoticness. I am Maya-Harl Eltahn.”

“Maya-Harl… a relative of the Maya serving as local official?” Aclysia recollected. “Please excuse my illiteracy regarding your customs. Your castes are confusing to me. May I list them as a reminder to myself, before we begin?”

“Please, go ahead. Your interest in our culture honours you, miss…?”

“Aclysia. With me are Apexus, Korith and Reysha,” she pointed at them in turn.

Reysha again deliberately turned her eyes away from the scene. She had nothing nice to say and in the interest of not getting them into any further trouble she wouldn’t say anything. ‘And that’s as much as they can ask of me,’ she thought.

“I shall list them from lowest to highest. I understand that Aggrars are your farmworkers. Then come the Harlann, the servants. Above them are Termer, the traders, then Doadas, the crafters, Orissas, the local lords, Felmers, the soldiers, and finally the Maya and his Maya-Cast, the relatives he delegates to be his representatives among the lower castes. Correct?”

Eltahn clapped his hands. “A fine and basic summary. Do you wish to step inside, to converse further over wine and cake?”

“No,” Apexus responded swiftly. The answer caused Aclysia to look back to her leader, forehead in wrinkles.

“What is the matter, darling?” she asked quietly.

Apexus pulled her aside, an action that got many of the soldiers that had been training to instead come closer. “This place reeks of pretence,” he whispered to her. Behind her, Reysha nodded, following the conversation with her keen ears. He waited for Korith to join them, before he continued. “This fort has never seen a single projectile break upon its walls. Their blades are only crossed with each other’s. Their customs are stagnant. They have the appearance of purpose and nothing else. There is no value in talking to them.”

“Darling, I believe this decision may be hasty… I find the determinism of status by birth unconscionable, but we’re strangers here.”

“An animal is better understood by watching, than by counting its parasites.” Apexus gestured around them, at the people that surrounded them. “What more do you need to see from here?”

Aclysia took a deep breath and pressed her lips together. She glanced over once to the overweight, patiently smiling man, then to Reysha. The blue eyes of the redhead begged for her to relent. “What do you think?” she asked Korith.

“I think they just want to know if we’re trouble… and we’re already behaving like it sooooo…”

Aclysia sighed and rubbed her forehead. Ultimately, the metal fairy did nod and stepped away from Apexus. A deep bow preceded soft words. “We are honoured by your wish to speak with us, but we believe our fate is on the road.”

“And where would that road take you?” the Maya-Cast asked, his voice as warm as before. It contrasted starkly to the ring of swords that surrounded them.

“East,” Apexus answered. “To clear the dungeons.”

“I see. Please understand that Mayana will keep track on you while you move within our borders.” The smile faltered and was replaced by an enigmatic, almost worried expression. “We have proper ways to do things in this country, removed from whatever anarchism you may be used to. I pray you are humble enough to learn that the words of restless Aggrars are not laden with wisdom.”

“We will keep contact to a minimum.” Apexus turned away, the signal for Reysha to jump to her feet.

“Let them pass.” The Maya-Harl ordered the Felmer. In unison, the soldiers twirled their swords three times, before sheathing them in a slow motion that made the blades glisten in the sunlight.

The party stepped out of the gate.

“That was a waste of our time.” Reysha folded her hands behind her head.

“No, it was not,” Apexus disagreed. “We know now we are in a land of weakness.”

“It could have been an elaborate ploy to make us believe they are weaker than they truly are,” Aclysia cautioned, then took one more look at the luxurious garrison. “I rescind the statement. Still, I believe we should not take sides until further information has been gathered.”

“What could you possibly learn that would get you in favour of these people?” Reysha asked.

“Well, uhm, to be fair, things aren’t terrible around here,” Korith pointed out and gestured at the tilled fields and nourished people.

Reysha rolled her eyes. “They’re surrounded by fertile lands, no hostile forces, and those pirates sound like absolute fucking wimps. I think you’d have to absolutely screw up to not feed everyone under these circumstances.”

“A system that maintains momentum generally has value of some description,” Aclysia stated. “Did they not have a soft caste system where you’re from, Korith?”

“I mean, no? Maybe? I’m Goldborn.” The kobold tugged at the strands of her blonde hair. “We’re taught to offer to Hoard, but that’s… there’s not an obligation on the how, you know?”

“Everyone has the expectation that one’s children will follow in your footsteps,” Reysha kicked the air with every step. “It’s a different manner if your father says that you’re going to inherit the fucking workshop and some asshat declaring that everyone’s bloodlines are going to do only one thing until the end of eternity.”

“I do see your point, but could you at least attempt to understand mine?” Aclysia requested, mildly annoyed. They took the quickest route out of the city and tried to keep their conversation quiet enough that they weren’t overheard. Their appearances drew enough attention as it was. “This is a functioning country. It is unwise to upend what functions just because it displeases you.”

“I don’t plan to upend anything, but it does fucking annoy me,” Reysha stated. “What about you two?”

“I haven’t seen enough,” Apexus kept his answer short and to the point.

“Same, kinda? I don’t share your… hatred for this?” Korith shrugged, making her heavy armour clack.

They would see more one way or another.