I had entered the city of Furrina... Yea, she named a city after her. On my journey here, I learned that the city was going to be the cleanest and the most high class in all the continent. Another thing I learned was a prophecy that had been circulating around the dominion of Pride.
'When the judgement day arrives, all shall perish as a reparation for the great sin.'
People had been worried and decided to blame something or someone to ease their hearts and the beastfolks became easy target.
To me, it did matter a bit. I would learn the reason of my arrival here allegedly. And also what truth this Furrina may be hiding.
I had an appointment put in place by Kuaishwa to meet Furrina in person. The city was as expected. A sophisticated society with dressed up men and women. Everything about them screamed 'class'. And I stood out since I was wearing a dirty coat and shoes with oversized shirt and pants. It was easy to move around in and travelling does dirty your clothes. The glances I received were definitely sending chills up my spine. It was almost like accidently walking into a different class.
The city was nothing short of an architectural masterpiece. The city was divided in four levels and the infrastructure was made of stones making it quite stable given the era I was in right now. Money was being spent on this city and it stood in contrast to other cities I had been to. I wonder if Furrina is corrupted and that's her secret. But maybe not. It would be too obvious.
City was quite convoluted and difficult to understand.
"Wasn't I just here...?" I looked around and it seemed familiar but not at the same time. What should I do...?
"Are you lost?" I heard a female voice and turned to see who it was. It would be an understatement to say that she wasn't the prettiest woman I had ever laid my eyes on.
"Ah... Yea..." I was lost for a second given her blue corset and hat covered in all sorts of accessories and a feather.
"You shouldn't be here if you're not an aristocrat." She continued with a concerned tone. "People might call Knights of Furrina."
"No worries there. I have an appointment on behalf of Grand Order Moh."
"Really? Ah! Nice to meet you." She bowed ever so slightly while holding her skirt. "I'm Celine De Lilia."
"I'm Kara... Just... Kara." I answered.
"I see. I think the least I can do is assist you to the office of Lady Furrina. As it involves two of the five grand orders, I think it is of utmost importance."
"Thanks!" I smiled. She seemed quite older than me. Maybe in her mid 20s, I wonder.
I could also notice some people following us but I think they wouldn't attack.
"Oh, did you notice my guards?" She must've noticed my shifting eyes.
"Guards? I see."
"If you don't mind me asking, as you're related to Lord Moh, you must be a formidable warrior?"
"Huh? N- Of course. You don't get noticed by grand order if you're not strong and important." I'm in a foreign land where I can't rely on my friends anymore. Lying my way through should prove beneficial.
"To be noticed by one and to meet another sounds like a romantic story. A hero in making possibly! AH! How romantic." She smiled while indulging in her wild fantasies about grand order. In all honesty, I don't exactly see Kuaishwa in such light.
It took us roughly fifteen minutes to finally reach the destination.
"I'll be on my way then. Hope we meet again." She waved and left the entrance garden of the palace.
There were twelve blocks in the garden, each with different kind of flowers. I think she likes gardening because this is so excessive. I showed the letter and was allowed in.
...
"So, you've finally arrived, outlander?" A girl around my age walked in. She just looked 18 or 19 but from what I know she is roughly 500 years old. She doesn't age because she isn't a human. I wonder how smart she might be given the prophecy.
The girl was wearing a red tea length dress with pink highlights and a row of flowers going from the top of her shoulder all the way down to her waist and a necklace with gem in shape of eardrop. It was in stark contrast to dress since it was blue in color compared to her scarlet outfit and hair but it did suit her quite well.
"Kara. And... Yes." I answered.
She sat across me on the sofa and took a sip of the tea a maid had poured for both of us. I do not enjoy tea so I guess I would be dehydrated for a while.
"So, you're here in regards to your magic. I, the god of pride, will definitely get to the bottom of this. We, Gods, are responsible for handing over magical abilities so a god failing to do so is definitely suspicious and warrants an investigation. Yet, I'm aware you're on a time constraint." She spoke in a... weird manner. It was extravagant to say the least yet there was something artificial about it.
"Right and about the prophec-"
"No worries! Believe in me. The God of pride and fire, Furrina. I have spent last 500 years researching on the prophecy and have already found a way to deal with it. But a grand party is in order for your arrival! This is the first time two grand orders have decided to collaborate on something." She shot up and clapped. "I can already see the smiles on the residents of the people of this city."
A character she is... For someone like me, she definitely is the worst kind. Too extraverted people tend to drain energy out of introverts. I feel tired already.
"Oh and I have some things to talk about."
"Oh? What could that be?" She sat down again and smiled at the maid. "If you could, please bring in more desserts." Maybe indicating the maid to leave us alone.
"I think you already know. What is up with the segregation?" I asked.
"Oh? I didn't create it. People did it on their own. I already have laws in place where if someone feels discriminated against, they can report it to the knights. The laws also include beastfolks who had to migrate from their lands since it was occupied by some ... species. It surely doesn't belong to this world. We have spent multiple platoons and researchers to check what it truly is."
"As the ruler, isn't it your job to make sure these laws are implemented correctly?" I asked.
"You can't POSSIBLY expect me to take care of every single person." She sighed in annoyed tone. "People need time to accept each other. Forcing relationships never works."
"MISS FURRINA! THIS IS UNRGENT!!" A loud bang was heard on the door.
"So annoying! Come in." Furrina sighed again.
A soldier walked in panting.
"Noah has been arrested under the suspicion of treason and act against humanity."
"Noah?" Furrina's demeanor changed entirely. She was now somehow worried and maybe whoever this Noah guy is, he is important. "Explain in details."
"Noah is suspected to have lead a coup on the nobles in multiple cities and have murdered countless aristocrats. Currently the number is 93 but we are not sure how high it can go."
Furrina fell silent. The extravagant girl was no more. This really doesn't have anything to do with me. This case was intriguing though.
"Yo! Who is Noah and why coup?" I asked the guy.
"A-Ah... Noah was the in-charge of the knights of Furrina in 4 out of 6 nations under the dominion of pride. He was of the opinion of inclusion of beastfolks and even created a whole division for them. But crimes against them increased and... and..." He couldn't finish the sentence.
I can conjure up the rest myself. Basically, he took revenge, right?
He is guilty through and through.
"When is the trial?" I asked.
"In seven days." He answered.
"Furrina... I'll leave for now. Take care of yourself." I left the room and walked out of the palace to see a crowd chanting anti-beastfolk slogans and asking for their eradication as a whole.
I decided to hear in.
"Even Lord Noah sided with them. First they took our lands and now they're even taking up OUR jobs!"
"We wouldn't have to do this if they just listened and left us alone."
"Those monsters migrating here is literally a genocide on humans!"
People are not happy, I guess.
I could also see smoke coming out the crowd. They might be burning things. A tactic often used during protests. I just got here so I can't exactly relate to them so my reaction isn't as extreme either. But even I can tell this is bad.
As I passed a bonefire I heard some voice.
"I can't... world... move on... Last dance."
I couldn't make out everything but I wonder if I was hearing things.
As I exited the city, I met Celine with her guards.
"Yo! We meet again." I waved at her.
"Lord Kara? Things are going south. I would suggest you leave for now."
"I heard some Noah guy was arrested. Know anything?" I asked.
"He has already pleaded guilty the moment he was arrested. The trial is merely to sentence him to capital punishment." She sounded pained. There was a certain heaviness in her tone. "How..." She was trying to hold her tears back.
To an outsider like me, this is a clear and cut case. A man decided to become executor of justice and got what was coming for him. But it somehow feels more important given the status of the criminal.
"They think these beastfolks bring disaster to wherever they go. First they ruined their own land and now they're coming after dominion of pride... But aren't they just as alive as us."
"Who is the judge?" I asked.
"Lady Furrina is the judge of this nation." She answered and sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I'd be helping beastfolks escape the nation because this ... can go awry."
"I can help a bit. Moving them to the edges might work. If you do it to Scofinia, they might be able to escape." I suggested. I knew the lands were occupied by monsters but given my knowledge on magic, these monsters would be akin to a mosquito for beastfolks.
"T-Thanks!" She said something to the guards and they left.
"I have some other things to do, so, I will be on my way." I bid her farewell for now. I want to see how the things are in other nations and if the prophecy has something to do with this incident.