When Ruby got back to the Inn her companions understandably wanted to know where she was. She just told them she was hiding in an alleyway the whole time and made her way back after it got dark out. She also mentioned that something else happened and would explain later in the morning. She then went to her room to sleep, but when she looked out the window, she noticed the spot she decided to wait in wasn't that far away from her vantage point. She scowled at this revelation.
The next morning, Judieth handed Ruby a cosmetic potion for her to drink.
"We really can't wait much longer. It was fine while we were traveling, but this new unpredictability of the cosmetic potion wearing off is going to become a problem." Judith said. "Yesterday proved it. We can't have you reverting back to normal in the middle of the city like that. If we get into any more big fights like the last one, the potion might not even work anymore."
"Well, we came all the way here to find Ruby's home. Do you have a lab here~?" Yuki asked. Today she was clinging onto Morella.
"Not near here. I never made a lab near this city. We'll have to head further east."
"So we'll be heading in the same direction anyway when we go to Ruby's home village." Morella noted patting the head of Demon clinging onto her.
"... We can head to Judieth's lab and stop at the different towns and villages along the way." Ruby said joining the conversation. "We need to deal with my and Yuki's situation first, but I still want to at least try looking for my mother while making our way there."
They continued having their conversation until they entered the dining area. Not wanting to be overheard they all stopped talking before sitting down at one of the tables. They ordered breakfast and while they waited for their food Ruby noticed a girl enter the room. With brown hair and green eyes, she appeared to be looking for someone.
'Oh, yeah. I forgot about them.' She thought. 'Maybe if I pretend I don't notice her she'll go back home.'
Unfortunate for Ruby Sara made her way to her table. She looked uncertain when approaching, but when she got close, she just stared at Ruby's face. The other three girls were bewildered by this strange girl's behavior, while Ruby pretended not to notice her presence. Eventually, the girl broke into a smile.
"Teacher, good morning!" Sara said brightly. She never learned Ruby's name, so she decided she should call her teacher. "I almost didn't recognize you! But that scar on your jaw helped a lot.
"... HI." Ruby said annoyed, which went unnoticed by Sara.
"Are these your friends? Nice to meet you, my name is Sara."
"Um, Hi, nice to meet you."
"Hey there~."
"Hello dear."
Judieth, Yuki and Morella greeted the girl who just called Ruby teacher. They turned to look at Ruby to clear the confusion. Ruby looked at them and simply said, "... I met her last night. Saved her and now shes here."
"Did she see your appearance?" Judieth asked.
"... She did."
"Okay." She said. Internally she thought this was an interesting development. 'So she won't kill kids? She had no problem killing those hunters from before, and a major reason was because they saw her face.'
While Ruby and Judieth had their exchange, Sara looked at Yuki warily. Even though she looked and sounded like the most friendly one there, she couldn't help but notice the pure hostility directed at everyone but her group. Sara herself was being hit with that same hostility but after making clear that Ruby knew her it was less intense than before. Still the girl was aware that the Yuki wouldn't attack anyone just yet, from what she could tell she had enough control over her negative emotions not to act on them. So Sara decided it was fine to leave her be for now and turned her attention back to her teacher.
"So can we start our training today?" Sara asked, eyes sparkling.
"... Shouldn't you go home to show your parents your safe?" Ruby inquired.
"Ah..."
Sara forgot that to everyone else, she just vanished in thin air. With that she realized she needed to hurry back home immediately and very fast. Suddenly panicking, she looked over at Ruby, hoping she would help her. Ruby, on the other hand, looked very interested in a wall all of a sudden. There wasn't anything there she was just ignoring the poor girls pleading look.
"Teacher, can you help me get back? I heard that powerful warriors are very fast, so could you possibly carry me back home?" The girl begged.
"... Do I have to?"
"Um, you don't, but I would appreciate it. Plus, my father would definitely appreciate you bringing me home. Then you can get that reward I promised you last night."
"Who's your father?" Judieth asked, curious.
"Drakove Prosperty."
"... I'm sorry, what? Like the current Lord of the city?" Judith asked, surprised.
"Yeah." said Sara, nodding.
"Ruby, I think you should carry her home." Turning to Ruby Judieth urged her companion to help out the girl.
"... Why?"
"Having connections with important people doesn't hurt, and returning the lords daughter will definitely put you and us in his good graces." Judith said. 'And you'll need allies if you decide to fulfill your role as the enemy of humanity.' She thought secretly.
"... Alright, fine." Ruby said reluctantly
"Really?! Thank you!" Sara thanked Ruby excitedly. "Let's go!"
Sara then ran to the exit, wanting to get home as fast as she could. Ruby, who didn't get to eat their breakfast, was less excited about leaving as she slowly walked to the exit. When she got outside, she saw the green eyed girl waiting for her near the door, beaming in excitement.
'Why is she so happy?' Ruby wondered as she approached the small ball of energy. "... Come here, i'm going to carry you." After saying that, she picked Sara up into a princesses carry and started running. "... I can assume you live in that castle over there?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah, that's where I live." Sara confirmed.
"... Okay then, hold on tight." Ruby then jumped onto a nearby building's roof and started running again. "... We'll get there faster this way."
Jumping from roof to roof the raven haired girl carried a brown haired girl across the city. For those on the street it was an interesting sight to see but not surprising. This wouldn't be the first time someone used the rooftops as a shortcut. After a few hours Ruby decided it was time for a break.
Finding a restaurant the pair quickly made their way inside. After setting down and ordering lunch they sat in silence. Ruby not really wanting to talk with the walking problem in front of her, and Sara not entirely sure of what to say. After ten minutes of uncomfortable silence Ruby finally spoke up.
"... So how did you end up making the journey from the Inner wall to the outer one?" Ruby asked. even after running for four hours they were only halfway there. And that was with Ruby's superior strength and using the tops of buildings as a shortcut.
"We have something called public transportation in the city." Sara said excitedly, happy that her teacher started the conversation. "There is a system of different carriages driving around to different stops to pick up and drop off people. Apparently the idea came from Lady Prosperty herself. She didn't get to implement it since she died before the outer wall even finished being built, but thanks to her forethought getting around the city is much easier for the people."
"... I see." Ruby said noticing Sara almost sounded like she was bragging when she mentioned how her ancestor came up with the Idea of public transportation.
"The city is so big that without transport it would take a normal person half a day to travel from the inner wall to the outer wall by foot. And every time an otherworlder comes here they tend to comment on how it reminds them of home." Sara said proudly, standing up and puffing out her chest. "My ancestor was ahead of her time. She did so many cool things and had so many ideas people today still praise her. I want to live up to my name so I don't bring shame to my family name."
Towards the end Sara started to grow a bit melancholy but quickly put a smug smile on her face looking at Ruby and said, "Well? Isn't my ancestor cool? And now you get to teach one of her decedents; isn't that exiting?"
"... Sure I guess." Ruby said slightly regretting talking to her. She just wanted to know how she got through the city but instead she got herself a history lesson. Just a simple "I used a carriage" would've suffice, she didn't need a whole story behind it.
After they finished lunch Ruby once again carried Sara across the rooftops to bring her home. She also started to notice an increase in the city's guards activity the closer they got. She gave it a passing thought before blocking it out. It didn't concern her so why bother thinking about it?
When Ruby saw the gate to pass through the inner wall she dropped down from the roof tops and approached the gate from the ground. Just as she approached the gate guard a loud ringing was heard from multiple bells across the city.
*Ding, Ding, Ding*
*Ding, Ding, Ding*
*Ding, Ding, Ding*
"DRAGON!" Yelled ever guard in the city.
The city was in an immediate uproar and people quickly made their way inside their homes or to stairs that led underground. Though people were moving fast no one seemed panicked weirdly. Surprisingly some people just looked towards the sky for a few brief seconds before going about their day not even trying to take cover, much to Ruby's confusion.
"Miss turn around and find yourself an emergency bunker." The gate guard said to Ruby.
"...Well can you let me through anyway? I have Sara Prosperty here. I came to return her home so can you let us through?" Ruby said pointing at Sara, deciding the odd behavior coming from the people wasn't important.
"What?" The man said looking at Sara. Apparently he didn't recognize her.
"Wait, what did you just say?" Another person, nearby in a high ranking blue militia outfit made their way to them after hearing Ruby.
'Surprised he heard that with all this noise around.' Ruby noted. 'He must be a strong fighter.'
"... Just like I said. I have Sara Prosperty and I've come to return her." She said treating Sara like a defective product and she came back for a refund.
"I can see that." The High ranking Officer said, looking at Ruby with a bit of suspicion, clearly recognizing Sara. "Grab some soldiers I'll be escorting them back to the castle myself."
"Yes Colonel." Saluting, the Soldier quickly gathered up other soldiers.
"Follow me." Said the Colonel.
Surrounded by soldiers Ruby and Sara followed the Officer. As they walked Ruby noticed that the people living in the old city were making their way towards the castle-like fortress as well. Unlike in the main city no one tried to hide inside any of the buildings or their homes. Noticing her confusion Sara decided to explain why.
Unlike the main city which was built later, the old city was not made with dragon attacks in mind. Which is why the old city is made mostly from wood with stone serving as the foundation, while the main city is mostly made of stone and little wood. The main city also built underground spaces in some of the buildings or in public spaces for people to hide in.
So as a result the citizens used the Prosperty estate as a fort like it was originally designed to do. Though most people don't think the Dragon will attack since those from the enchanted forest were friendly with them and they flew by about two or three times a year. That didn't stop other dragons from somewhere else from coming, so people still had to be careful.
"Though we have seen an increase in Dragon sightings lately." Said Sara.
"... Interesting." Was all Ruby said.
After a few minutes they found themselves inside the castle being escorted in a different direction than the masses. Walking along the blue carpet that muffled their footsteps, Ruby looked around. She saw paintings, decorative pots and vases, and decorative armor lining the walls. She sniffed the air like an animal would do when in a new location. This was the first time Ruby has ever been somewhere like this.
Eventually she was led to a room and was told to wait inside. Sara wanted to stay but was escorted somewhere else instead. Ruby sat down on one of the couches in the room. A maid with fox features was in the room placing snacks on the low table in the middle of the room. Her fox-like hands gracefully pored a cup of tea in a well practice manner before she handed it to Ruby.
Ruby took the saucer with the cup of tea from the Beast-kin. She noticed that she didn't have a slave collar on her neck. Back in Verland every Beast-Folk had a collar on them so Ruby was pleasantly surprised. She hated those collars and she hoped that this meant Prosperty didn't have slavery in their borders.
Ruby took a sip of her tea listening to the rhythmic dinging of the bells outside, waiting for whatever comes next.