The line is long. I think it's because their citizens are going in and out of the wall to start their day. Merchants start selling things as soon as they get out. Adventurers in high spirits to do their quest. Nobles cutting the line as they're in a hurry. Knights and guards doing their job inspecting those waiting in line.
While I love being a law abidi?, someone who follows the laws, I can't see Tio in the same line, but the glow is getting stronger. I'm sure she's somewhere in the city, and if I don't hurry, I'll probably miss her again.
(The barrier is strong, but not something I can't break through. I'm sure even if I screw up, I can cover my tracks) [Diana]
This is definitely a crime. A crime so bad that Auntie Amleth, Nar, Sas, Khamisah, Dana, Jean, and others will surely scold me to no end. Yes, they will. I'm sure of it. Perhaps I should consider cutting the line and asking the knight for help. Yes, that seems reasonable too...
And as soon as I do, I get scolded by all of them. I try to ask the knights as well, but they keep telling me to get in line and various other questions like where are my parents, why am I alone and more. This certainly doesn't work in my favor, so as soon as I'm back at the end of the line, I use my invisibility spell, fly through the wall and try to break through the barrier.
(Let's see here... It has an alarm function to detect intruders, it has a tracking function to track those who enter illegally, it also surprisingly has some, for lack of a better word, holes in it? Is it recently done or was it intentional?) [Diana]
I'm not sure, but if I can get around that hole in their barrier, I'm sure I can get in without being detected. I just need to manipulate the space magic here, break the circle magic here, rewrite the spell here, and I'm in! It's surprisingly easier than I thought. There's no way their mage doesn't know about this. Maybe it was left there on purpose?
This land, this city of theirs, it's smaller than Amleth. While it has its own charm, especially the red colored roofs that seem to go on forever, with umbrellas covering the sidewalks to shade the sunlight, it's not as busy as Amleth.
As soon as there's no one around, I start dispelling my invisibility spell and look for Tio. I bring out the grasshopper golem and randomly search the city, street by street, building by building. It's not as big as Amleth, but it's still a tiring process, but I don't even know anyone here. I certainly don't. My blessing doesn't tell me that I'm in danger, but the people here don't look as friendly as the ones in Amleth.
But that doesn't stop me from trying. Maybe I should ask the food vendors, I can buy food and ask them questions at the same time. That seems reasonable, so I pull out my money and start buying some hot buns that a street vendor is selling. It's a bit expensive, and I get the feeling that I'm about to be scammed, so I just keep my money and go to the next food vendor, but again I get the feeling that they think I'm an easy target. How rude!
Second option! Go to the adventuring guild, eat some food and ask them for help at the same time! Yes! That's a much better option! Besides, I'm sure I'll meet an adventurer from Amleth there. I might not know some of their names, but since I go to the guild often, I'm sure some of the Amlethian adventurers will recognize me. This seems to be the safest bet.
I randomly ask a lady and she kindly tells me where the guild is located. I quickly fly in that direction. Again, since I am usually seen flying around in Amleth, the Amlethians are fine with it, but not here. They stare at me as if I were some kind of attraction. Well, they smile when they see me floating and flying around, so I just say hello and they respond well. Maybe they're not as bad as I think.
As soon as I see the adventure guild, I discover a familiar mana in one of the carriages that has stopped in front of the guild. The grasshopper is also jumping around happily, and the glow is getting stronger and stronger. Without much hesitation, I take a look inside the carriage. Strangely, there's no one matching the description of the kidnapper, but Tio Mana is definitely inside.
"What are you doing, young lady?"
"Looking for my friend! Now stop!" [Diana]
"Huh?"
(You two horses, please, my friend is inside, please distract the driver!) [Diana]
"What are you whispering to my horses... Whooaa! What's the matter, boys?"
(Now!)
(Thank you, Mr. Horse!) [Diana]
I get into the big carriage. It's pretty big, so I guess it's a coach used for international travel. It's quite comfortable inside, must be one for more luxurious and comfortable travel. Anyway, I pry open one of the suspiciously large loads, while the other passengers just stare at me, and
"TIO!" [Diana]
"A child!?"
"Oh Goddess!"
"What the hell is this?"
"Shit! Hey Valdrid, isn't that your luggage?"
Valdrid? So the kidnapper's name is Valdrid. Doesn't matter, what's important now is
"Tio, you look sick... Are you okay?" [Diana]
"Di...a...na... Thank Goddess... Thank you..." [Tio]
Tio collapsed