It had been two weeks since the Brighton City report on the Beast Clan gathering, and from the local newspaper, residents learned of three significant events in what seemed like the city's usual routine.
First, General Horton had ordered Lieutenant Colonel Mogoth to lead a 50-man reconnaissance team to the southernmost town of Brighton City, Sunset Town, near the border with the Beast Clan.
Second, the captain of the Queen's Guard of the Elf Queen arrived in Brighton City three days ago at the invitation of law enforcement officer Livlan and took residence at the Warths Manor, where Lord Edwards Child lives.
Third, all Beastmen with temporary identification were sent back to the Beast Clan territory, except those with permanent resident status.
Arthur had been in Brighton for three weeks now. Besides attending school on weekdays, he volunteered at the school from Thunder Moon Day to No Moon Day. His father used to tell him that whenever one received kindness, it was essential to give back. Arthur was grateful for everything this charity school taught him; he had even learned to make a few simple dishes in crafts class.
As the weather grew colder, another Thunder Moon Day arrived. Fewer students came to help clean the school on their day off. Arthur was sweeping the second-floor hallway with a straw broom, preparing to head back to the first floor, when the classroom office door at the far end of the hallway opened. Livlan, with her violet skin, emerged, carrying a large stack of cultural textbooks.
Due to the Beast Clan chieftain gathering, Livlan had been urgently summoned two weeks ago to ride back to Elf Forest in the elven realm to report the situation to the Elf Queen. The elves were generally reluctant to use human technology, and although they were allies now, the Elf Queen had expressly forbidden any elf within Elf Forest from using human technological devices, like the telegraph machines used by human law enforcement and some noble lords.
As Livlan turned around upon exiting, she noticed Arthur standing there with his broom, dazing off. She motioned with her eyes and softly asked, "Aren't you planning to help your teacher?"
Arthur clearly remembered his teacher in front of him; his first class at the charity school was Livlan's cultural studies class, where she recounted the story of Brighton City's sixth lord, Ryan Hebrew, which Arthur vividly recalled. Particularly afterward, no matter how much students prodded, the teacher refused to elaborate further on Ryan's story. George told Arthur it was due to "positional sensitivity." Arthur didn't fully understand what that meant, but he had a good impression of this elven girl.
Arthur trotted over, taking the books from Livlan and following her down the street, which seemed to change around them. Seeing that Livlan hadn't mentioned where they were going, Arthur couldn't help but ask, "Ms. Livlan, I still have to clean the first floor, so I can't go too far."
"Don't worry, we're here already," Livlan said, pointing behind her to a five-story building. She quickly stepped up the stairs while Arthur looked up in awe at the tallest building he had ever seen. This was clearly on Etzikri Street, yet he had never seen this building before.
Even though he trusted that Ms. Livlan wouldn't harm him, the unknown and the oppressive aura of this building made Arthur pause on each step for five or six seconds. Livlan, who had already placed the books on her desk upstairs, peeked down at Arthur from the gap in the staircase above, surprised, "Why are you moving so slowly? Are you injured?"
"Ms. Livlan, this place feels strange. My body feels stiff," Arthur said, bending and stretching as he leaned against the railing. He wasn't trying to lag behind; he realized that each step felt heavier, as if an austere force was scrutinizing him with each ascent. By the time he reached the landing between the first and second floors, he was drenched in sweat.
Livlan furrowed her brow thoughtfully, then widened her eyes and clapped her hands, quickly descending a few steps to place her hand on Arthur's shoulder. Instantly, the oppressive sensation vanished.
"I almost forgot! Every ordinary person who enters the Enforcer Hall feels that suppression," Livlan said, patting Arthur's shoulder a few more times to ensure the pressure had dissipated completely before jogging back up to the third floor.
The Enforcer Hall? Where the law enforcers worked? Arthur wiped the sweat from his forehead, picked up the books again, and followed her inside.
Entering the door on the third floor of the Enforcer Hall, Arthur took in everything around him. From the cluttered coat rack by the entrance to the disorganized desks around him, Arthur found it all fascinating. Was this what the Enforcer Hall looked like? It wasn't quite what he'd imagined, though he wasn't sure how he'd imagined it.
"Just put it on the second desk to your right," Livlan's voice came from an inner office.
Second desk—was it this one? A neat stack of books and documents was placed on a desk draped with a purple cloth, with a small branch from the Elf Forest brought by Livlan in the top left corner. Strangely, the branch had no soil around it, yet it bore a few pink buds.
Arthur reached out, curious to touch the branch, but Livlan suddenly appeared behind him and stopped his hand. "You'd better not touch that branch. It can drain water from the human body."
Arthur awkwardly retracted his hand and asked, "Water? Isn't that dangerous? I remember Ms. Joan saying that the human body is made of water. Wouldn't someone die if it drained too much?"
"Do you think the Enforcer Hall would let me keep something that dangerous on my desk?" Livlan laughed, handing Arthur a small box with a purple ribbon.
What's this? Arthur recognized it as a gift box, like one he and George had seen in a specialty shop on Etzikri Street.
"In two weeks, it'll be Thanksgiving. I've prepared some gifts for the children at the charity school. There aren't enough for everyone, though, so you're pretty lucky—you get the first one. You can open it now."
A gift… This was the first time Arthur had ever heard of such a thing. In Green Village, there wasn't much of a tradition for it; for his birthday, the most he'd get was an extra bowl of corn porridge. Should he open it now? Arthur set the box down on the purple-draped desk, untied the decorative ribbon, and opened it to find a small teddy bear. His eyes grew misty.
"It's a bit early, but I wish you a happy Thanksgiving, Arthur," Livlan said, softly clapping her hands behind him.