It took several stops along the way for Fusain to rest. But also for Ewan and Pavas to drink some water and stretch their legs.
In all, the journey to Ylesse must have taken them an entire day, and into the early evening, before they reached one of the great stone gates of the walled city.
Ylesse was a huge city surrounded by several walls, themselves bordered by several kilometers of fields in which the annual crops had not yet emerged.
Seen from the sky, the city could surely resemble a kind of star, with several sharp angles pointing to each of the four cardinal points.
If you saw a map of any part of the continent of Neridanne, there was always that famous wind rose in one corner, locating the four cardinal points. And Ylesse, with its perfect geometrical shape, was the life-size replica of this symbol: a huge stone wind rose with four large and four small branches, perfectly oriented towards the north, south, east and west. This also placed it right at the intersection of several Ley lines. And this position, like this architecture, had left absolutely nothing to hazard.
The city of Ylesse was protected by an enchantment drawing energy from the Ley lines, keeping buildings and inhabitants safe from all monster attacks. And these kinds of armored magical cities had become the norm throughout the human-controlled part of the continent.
However, such an enchantment could also have its disadvantages. The controls at the entrance of these cities were reinforced, and their positions allowed them to hinder - or on the contrary facilitate - the multiple commercial exchanges taking place in the vicinity.
Hence, Ewan wasted another half hour waiting outside the western gate of the city, with another dozen or so people waiting their turn to enter.
Merchants, travelers, and locals took turns showing a tag hanging around their necks to prove their identity or profession.
Each plate was different, although explicit categories existed to differentiate them, and were enchanted to prevent forgery. But because of the limitations of enchantments, these plates had to be renewed every five years, by an alchemist seconded from the capital.
There must have been at least two more people in front of them, when Ewan took out his identification plate in turn, and showed it to the little girl.
"You have that kind of plate on you too, or...." he began.
'... Or didn't your parents have time to make one for you?' the young man finished mentally.
Pavas shook her head negatively.
He hoped that this would not be a problem for the future.
Taking advantage of the fact that the queue was still moving forward, Ewan got off Fusain, and holding him by his reins, made him move forward behind him.
He preferred to leave Pavas sitting on the horse, since the little girl looked exhausted by the fast trip they had had to make so far. He could see by the light of the torches fixed to the city wall that she was beginning to struggle against sleep, her eyes opening and closing repeatedly.
Then finally, it was their turn.
Two guards beckoned them forward, dressed in reinforced armor under which a white tunic with blue edging protruded.
They inspected Ewan's plate.
"Hmm. Ewan Jesabell. Monster hunter, Sharmyr County," the guard said, examining his badge carefully.
His colleague, meanwhile, was already inspecting with a sort of small wooden staff Fusain and the bags hanging on his sides. Then, he signaled that nothing was wrong with the young man's load.
"Okay, your identity is fine," said the first guard. "But that of the little one behind you...."
"She's not old enough to be required to have a plate yet," replied Ewan.
Which, in short, was a half-truth.
It was true that children, until the age of 12, were not required to carry a nameplate. But it was also true that Ewan knew absolutely nothing about the little girl behind him, including her age. He had only been able to get her to tell him her name so far, and she hadn't said a word the whole trip.
The guard looked intently at Pavas, as if trying to gauge her age. However, he quickly gave up, not really sure of his own estimation.
"Well, you can go," said the guard, still with a suspicious look on his face; "but don't dawdle on making a plate for her. We've had reports of missing children in town the last few weeks, so watch yourselves."
Ewan thanked them for this warning, while sighing internally. They could finally enter the city, and start looking for the military barracks.
The night had almost completely fallen, and all the streets were already lit by torches fed by a network of copper pipes in which flammable gas circulated.
It was really only in the big cities that such a system existed, and every time he had to go to one of them, Ewan couldn't help but be in awe of such ingenuity.
It was also very easy to find his way around, with signs at each intersection indicating the neighborhoods and buildings of interest nearby, as well as their general direction.
Thus, he quickly found himself in front of a huge white stone building, similar to a castle, and which on its facade presented a long and immense cloth hanging representing the coat of arms of the city.
Ewan wondered by what prodigy a hanging of a size similar to a huge house could have been hoisted so high. However, he was brought out of his reverie by a guard coming in his direction.
Unlike the guards at the entrance to the city wearing armor, this one had donned what appeared to be a white military uniform, with two black stripes down each side of the pant legs, and with several colorful badges on his chest representing the ranks and unit to which the man in question belonged.
"Can I help you sir?" Asked the officer, visibly disturbed to see the small group arrive so late in front of him.
"I am Ewan Jesabell, monster hunter. I have an urgent message to pass on immediately to your leader." He said, showing his identification plate.
"What kind of message?" asked the military man, who was not at his first free-riders.
"A message about a threat ranking above 400. No, maybe even 500." replied Ewan gravely.
Faced with the unprecedented number, the military man seemed to react, and frowned.
"Are you serious? Because if this is a joke, it's in very bad taste," said the man sternly.
"I am absolutely serious," said Ewan, "Said creature has totally destroyed a village, and nothing can stop it."
Faced with Ewan's firm expression, the soldier on duty had to face the facts. He was not dealing with a prankster.
Immediately, he spoke in a kind of metal tube, and seemed to carry on a conversation that only he could hear. Then, after a few minutes, he motioned for Ewan to enter.
"The Quartermaster General awaits you in the hearing room," he said, pointing to a building on the right side of a huge courtyard behind him.
The young hunter thanked him promptly, and then, with Fusain still trailing behind him, crossed the huge stone arch separating him from the courtyard of the military barracks.
A few astonished looks followed his progress, until he left Fusain and the little girl in front of the steps of the building where he had to enter.
"I'll be back in a few minutes, Pavas. So stay here with Fusain, okay?" He said as he finally got her off the horse.
The little girl nodded, and then sat down on the first step of the stone stairs, while the young hunter already started to climb them.
He arrived in a large wooden hallway, quite old in construction, and dusty. The floor creaked under his footsteps, and in a few seconds he arrived in front of a massive door next to which was fixed a metal panel.
'South Hearing Room'.
Surely it was in this room that the Quartermaster General was waiting for him.
Quickly, he opened the door, and upon entering, found himself facing a man with medium-length blond hair sitting behind a large table.
"Hey, Ewan, it's been a while!" exclaimed the man.