Elmes Wuqiroth was not out of place in the streets of Zephys, his armor leading many to believe he was a high-ranking Bortanni warrior, second only to Arden Akarynn and Chief Ikkul Ravofarn himself.

This granted Wuqiroth and Coxinjarn easy passage into the city, as Coxinjarn blurted out that they were here on “important business from the Chief” and the guard believed them. 

The same could not be said for Dareak Therkira, trailing behind the other two. The trek had been arduous, without mounts or company (until Horseboy), she was forced to walk up the Valley of Creation, through fields she’d only ever seen covered in blood and bodies, and towards the Floating City in the distance. It was magnificent to see: three layers of city: one hovering over the next. It was a dream for many to even see the Magic College of Zephys from up close, but here she was, escorting a prospective student. Or at least, escorting the escorts. She considered it the same thing.

When she came face to face with the same guard who’d just let in Coxinjarn and Wuqiroth, she’d found him far from welcoming. He relentlessly asked why she had come to Zephys, and when she said it was on Bortanni business, he replied from beneath the faceless blue helmet, “I just let two folks in on Bortanni business, and a boy before him. Sounds more to me like a drip-feed invasion than a little visit to the city. Get lost.”

Dareak stammered; of course, it would be strange for multiple waves of soldiers from a technically independent village to be marching into the city, but there was no ulterior motive behind Ikkul’s order. He just wanted to see Nalrik off to school safely.

She tried to argue, but only ended up provoking the guard, who pulled his spear on her and prepared to attack. If not for a miracle, Dareak Therkira would’ve started an armed conflict between Bortan and Zephys: a fight she was certain neither Chief Ravofarn or the Grand Wizard (Salasar Feaphed, she had heard he was called) wanted.

Luckily, the miracle came in the form of a fourth follower: Nalrik had made his own way, trailed by Coxinjarn and Wuqiroth, trailed by Dareak… and when Ikkul Ravofarn’s hand landed on Dareak’s shoulder, she realized that the Chief had not trusted them to get the job done on their own, and had followed her to clean up her mess. No, this wasn’t her fault. Coxinjarn should’ve brought her. It was Coxinjarn’s fault.

Words poured from her mouth trying to explain this, but the Chief held up a hand, stopping her as he said, “Dareak here is looking to join the college. I’m escorting her to Upper Zephys for the entrance exam. Let us pass.”

"College? What do I look like, a bookhead?" Dareak scoffed. She couldn't give the Chief the wrong image of her. She was a soldier, his personal warrior if he wanted it... she couldn't let him trust her with scrolls and tomes. He'd only be disappointed in the result.

"A scholar, you mean?" The Chief's tone was exasperated as he sighed and shook his head.

"Yeah, that!"

"Ah, you're a scholar! My apologies, Chief, I hadn't received word you were sending another scholar to study here." The guard bowed his head and let them pass, apologizing profusely as he did so. Zephys was its own territory, technically the capital city of the Draconians, but each village was independent enough that the Chiefs served as world leaders in their own right, capable of visiting where they pleased. It was well above the guard’s pay grade to question what business the Chief of Bortan was on that he’d come to Zephys. Ikkul Ravofarn went as he pleased.

"I'm not-" Dareak tried to say, but Ikkul pushed her into the city limits and away from the guard.

"Shut your mouth. You have a job to do, don't you. So do I. We happen to be heading in the same direction."

"Nalrik!"

"Sure... Nalrik." Ikkul nodded.

Dareak questioned in her mind as they walked past throngs of people: why was the Chief here? Did he really not trust them? Or was he here for other reasons? She couldn’t even bring herself to ask, unable to summon the words. Ikkul was focused, leading her through the streets. He only stopped once at a food stall, intimidating the merchant until they handed over an apple, and the second he handed the apple to her... her mind forgot what it had been thinking so hard about, and repeated one thing: eat the apple. Eat the apple. EAT THE APPLE! So, not wanting to deny her stomach its due, she chowed down on the apple.

It was almost too late when she realized that she still didn't know where Coxinjarn was. The oaf had wandered into the largest city in the world, and the crowded streets made him nearly impossible to find. If she couldn’t find Coxinjarn, loud and brazen as he was, then she’d never find the more unassuming Nalrik. Ikkul would watch her fail...

Ikkul placed a hand in front of Dareak, stopping her in place, “There.” A pavilion stood before them, a massive crowd gathered around it. One guard stood in the same blue armor as the last, standing in front of a gazebo-like structure that stretched upwards towards the floating layer of Upper Zephys above them: the excelsior, an enchanted device that could transport people up to Upper Zephys. The entrance exams were at the top of the excelsior, but prospective students needed to find their way up there themselves. This was the first leg of the test.

Nalrik Tilrak stood in front of the guard, trying to convince him to let the Chief’s son up. It wasn’t exactly working, as the guard didn’t budge no matter what Nalrik did. The mission failed without her: Nalrik wouldn’t even get to the test, let alone the school. Fear gripped Dareak Therkira, and she began to worry about what Ikkul’s next action might be. He was not known as a merciful man, especially after his many campaigns in Evity, Ealla, and Ebreichzell. What punishment would he bestow upon her for this blunder?

It was at that moment that she saw Coxinjarn: atop a boar, charging through the street directly toward her. Wuqiroth was tied to the back of the massive creature, unconscious but clearly terrified in the last moment his eyes had been open. Where had they gotten that beast? That was the last thought to pass through her mind before she stopped thinking altogether. Before fear took hold.

All Dareak could do was pray for the protection of Phrixus, and that she would be judged justly in the afterlife, as the boar prepared to run into her.