After separating their paths, Soren and Lavenza started to swim towards Crystalia City and thanks to the stone path, both of them made it to the city within the next half hour. Once they made it out of the coral forest, a huge pinkish dome that was covering the entire city was the first thing to greet their sight. At first, the barrier looked like a big glass dome, but at a closer inspection, the dome was made of pink hexagons.
"That is one big city, that's for sure. Can't wait to the inside of it. How do you feel Lavenza?"
"Kyuu~!" Lavenza rose her head in excitement.
After that brief conversation, the two of them reached the entrance gate on the east side of the city. The gate itself was around 20 feet tall and the way the gate opened was through chains that were set on the top part of the gate, that when pulled, the door of the gate rose up. The entrance of the gate itself was guarded by 4 guards who were wearing iron armor that covered the top part of their bodies, while their tail was covered by some sort of black leather tailwear. All four of them were also holding spears in an upright position, while also have sheathed swords and shields on their back.
'That feels like a whole of unnecessary weight to me.' Was Soren's thought on the guards and their equipment.
Once both of reached in front of the gates, Soren decided to ask one of the guards in front of the gate.
"Excuse me sir, could you please give me permission to enter the city?" Soren asked the guard.
"Of course, may I check your ID quickly?" The guard asked.
"Forgive me sir, but my ID was stolen a couple of days ago together with my stuff."
"I see, but if you want to want enter the city, you either need to have an ID of sorts, or we could issue you a temporary ID but we will have to do a full check on you.
" How do you do a full check?"
"The way we do full checks, is by a truth stone. Truth stones show the true status of the person. Their name, race and even their titles if it is necessary for suspicious individuals. No criminal can get away with getting checked by a truth stone." The guard explained with a hint of pride in his voice.
"I see, thank you for your information, sir guard. I would like to take the truth stone check." Soren said with a serious tone.
"R-Right this way, sir." The guard felt a bit intimidated by Soren's voice in that moment but kept his composure.
After Lavenza, Soren and the guard entered through the gate, they immidiately went to the first building to the right and entered inside it. The inside of the building was pretty basic with just a wooden counter and white walls. A woman with brown hair and eyes and was wearing glasses, was standing behind the counter. Then the woman asked.
"Did you come here for a truth stone check?"
"Yes, ma'am." Soren answered.
"Good manners kid. The room you want to enter is room 215." The woman then, gave Soren a slip of paper saying "215".
" May i ask for the location of the room 215?"
"Second floor, last door to the right. It will also have the sign "215" on the door." The woman explained.
"Alright, thank you for your information miss." Then Soren and Lavenza started swimming towards room 215. At that momemt, the guard left the building and went back to his post, while the woman contuined her work.
"That is an interesting little boy." The woman chuckled.
Soren and Lavenza were swimming towards the second floor when suddently, a man carring a bunch of books rams onto Soren, causing him to get knocked on the wall while the man dropped the books he was carring.
"What the hell dude? Can't you see where you are walking? You made me drop my books." The man said infuriated.
"Tsk. Ouch, my body... I should be the one saying that you, suddenly appearing from the side. At least when you are carring a lot of stuff that are blocking your vision, swim a bit slowly or even better, ask for help, that has never killed anyone." Soren felt infuriated wjth the unreasonable response of the man.
The moment Soren saw the man, he saw a young boy with brown eyes and red hair and tail who was wearing a white robe that looked like a priest's clothes.
"S-Sorry kid. I didn't mean to lash out at you. Look, let me he-"
At that point the boy with the red hair suddenly threw a punch on Soren's face while having an angry look on his face.
*smack* "Ouch! What the hell was that for?"
Soren was starting to see red and it wouldn't be long before he snapped.
"Don't call me a boy. I am at least 22 years old, y'know. Besides you are the kid that looks like it came out its egg."
"Well, for a 22 year-old man, you look like quite the short stack." Soren crossed his arms while having an angry expression.
"Compared to you, at least I'm way sharper than you." The short man retorted.
"I can dunk you easily out of the window you know." Soren returned back at him.
At that point, the two of them were ready to litterly rip each other,s throats when suddently, the woman from the reception smacked both of them, on the head with one of the books that were floating on the ground.
"What are the two of you doing? What do you think you are? Five? Kid, go to room 215 quickly. As for you Toby, better start picking up the books and leave, before i kick you out of here." The woman said angrily.
"Fine. Lavenza, let's move before we start getting some stupid red hair disease." Soren said angrily before he left with Lavenza towards room 215.
"Well I don't to contact your blue hair virus, you freak!" The young man named Toby, yelled back before he started picking up the books.
After Soren and Lavenza entered into the room, the woman said:
"Honestly Toby, this is first time i have seen you so angry. What happened that caused to lose your cool?"
"Come on Elrena, at least call me Tobias and not Toby. I'm an adult and I don't want to be treated like a kid anymore and you know that. Besides, that guy was rather rude. Can't believe he had the courage to call me a young boy." Toby said annoyed.
"Considering your build of your body, a lot of people would confuse you for a kid at least. Your little baby face doesn't help either." The woman names Elrena said, while trying to resist the urge to pinch Toby's cheeks.
"Also, did he try to say sorry at least? Because if he did, then you would be the rude one." Elrena added.
"N-No, he didn't say sorry. He just called me a young boy and didn't even feel the slightest bit sorry." Toby said nervously. He couldn't accept it. He wouldn't accept a "Sorry" from him, thanks to the way he treated him.
"Anyways, pick up your books. Didn't you sat were in a hurry before?" Elrena asked.
"I DID! GOD! GOD! GOD DAMN IT!!!" At that point, Toby picked up all the books hastily and started swimming as far as he could.
-Room 215-
The moment Soren and Lavenza entered the room, they saw a man with black hair and eyes, sitting on a chair, a table with a white stone in the middle and another empty chair.
"Welcome young lad, what brings you here?" The man looked at Soren.
"Uhhh... I would like to do a truth stone check."
Soren said a bit nervously.
"Alright, sit down and just put your hand on top of the white stone."
After the man said that, Soren sat down and put his hands on top of the white stone and for a little while, the stone didn't seem to respond at all, until it suddenly changed into a blue color.
"Alright, there seems to be no problem with your criminal record or titles. Your temporary ID will be ready in a bit. Just wait in the lounge, on the first floor, until the ID is ready." The man exclaimed.
"May i ask you something sir?" Soren asked.
"Go ahead, young lad." The man answered.
"Does Lavenza have to do this check as well?"
"By Lavenza, you mean...?"
"The sea serpent over here." Soren pointed at Lavenza.
"It depends. Did she get born recently?"
"She definitely hatched a couple of days ago."
"Were you with her the entire time?"
"Yes."
"Then are you her caretaker?"
"I guess...? I mean, I am her protector, so does that count?"
"It's enough. There is no need to check on her, since anything illegal that she would have done, would have appeared on your criminal record. Any other questions?"
"No, as far as I can think of."
"Alright, then you can go and wait in the lounge." The man said.
"Thank you and farewell sir." At that moment, Soren got up off the chair and left the room with Lavenza.
The man was alone in the room, with a list of information and then he said:
"An interesting young lad, for sure. Heh." The man chuckled before he left the room as well.