[@Heckno12]
[@Rune_Alchemist]
[@6slyboy6]

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Maria von Hohenzollern 
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Royal Capital Lugnica 
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[color=gold] “A carriage that propels itself? Your people must excel at magic to be able to utilize a Metia that can pull a carriage without horses,” [/color] Maria said, interested in what Ryan portrayed as his home country. A city of 40,000 could at the very least be a city-state somewhere, but Maria had never heard of such technologically advanced city-state. 

However, 40,000, according to Ryan, was a small number of people, which did confuse Maria a tad bit. Even in the Capital of Lugnica, there were a tad more than half a million citizens, but even so a city with 40,000 was definitely not, to Maria’s idea, a small city. 

Taking up his offer to provide her with the food stable which Ryan had called “Fruit Loops”, Maria meticulously observed the odd, sharply colored candy-like barley grain. Perhaps it was a sort of snack which is commonplace within the confines of Ryan’s own place of origin? Either way, if Ryan was going to consume the odd candy, and considering Maria’s current hunger, it couldn’t hurt but to attempt to try it.

Placing the fruit loops to her mouth akin to how Ryan had done, Maria found that the taste was very sweet; much sweeter than she could have imagined. [s] Good old American high-fructose corn syrup [/s].  Of course, Maria was one who did actively enjoy such sweetness. Within her life, she was known from her family and servants to enjoy the likes of cakes and other such treats. But even so, there were hardly any sort of sugary taste which Maria could liken the odd intensity of the “fruit loops” to. 

[color=gold] “Hey, these aren’t half bad,” [/color] Maria half states, half exclaims, as she continues a ravenous assault upon the stock of fruit loops, though after realizing how silly she might have looked, slowed down her own pacing in front of the boy she was supposed to be protecting, but was truly, from an outsider’s perspective, using her position to take food from the lad. 

[color=gold] “But perhaps then you come from a city which doesn’t take kind to demihumans? Of course, even those within Lugnica discriminate against one another, and there have been movements against the presence of demihumans, but I never understood any sort of prejudice one could have against them. If anything, they are just as ‘human’ as you or I, no?” [/color] 

Maria was a tolerable individual or at least appeared to be so. Even though she had known other knights to discriminate against those of the strata. Even if she did have a bit of a short fuse, there were few triggers that truly contributed to an explosive assault of either words or a flurry of attacks. She was a simple individual to some respects, but even those simplistic individuals would have certain aspects they would find offensive or distasteful. 

Maria was about to speak about the local market to Ryan, however, she had spotted something she considered odd. Within the corner of her eyes, some sort of conversation between a young girl and someone that on first glance looked to be a veteran warrior. As someone who practices the sword, Maria could tell the sort of muscle build-up that would occur upon a person in the event it was their discipline, even if through chance. 

Even if the swordsman was only a demi human canine. 

Typically such an instance would not give way for Maria to care much of the situation. But something about the girl had attracted Maria’s attention. Her clothing was something akin to Ryan’s in the sense that she was also a foreigner. Perhaps from the same sort of land? Was this a clue? 

[color=gold] “Give me but a moment Ryan. I must inquire about to something.” [/color] 

And with that, Maria began the short walk towards where both Chieko and Grian were arguing in hushed tones, her knightly armor seemed to produce a glamorous sheen as she strutted towards the two. Placing her hand upon the hip which held her sword, and when within position to act in the event something was to occur, Maria spoke.

[color=gold] “Might I ask of you a few question?” [/color] 

Maria seemed to demand the attention of the two with her tone, both direct and without any degree of fear within her voice. With all the confidence of someone who was assured of their own abilities as they were assured of their position as a Knight. 

[color=gold] “You two seem to be discussing an important matter. If that is an issue, I may wait for such to conclude, but know I do have business with you.” [/color] 

But within another corner of the city, the body of a merchant had been found by a guardsman, and a short investigation revealed the likeliness of fowl play. Therefore another investigation was launched to search the streets to find any sort of leads for the murder and an increased parole of guards within the city. Perhaps a omen of events to come? 

...