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The road was still a bit of an unfamiliar sensation underneath the tall white figure's boots as she finally arrived at her destination. And just like before, when a knight looking [i]up[/i] at asked for a name, he showed...well. There was a bit of surprise and confusion evident. And curiosity too. But what there wasn't was the dread, and hatred, and disgust that she'd so expected. Which she'd received close to none of on the walk through the city as well, and now the crowd clustered around. Oh, there were a few; people who so thoughtfully provided her with what she'd known was coming; the stares, the glares, the whispers. And yet somehow, despite the nigh-paper white skin, the long hair that nearly glowed such was its stark pallor, and the narrow red eyes...it all felt so normal.

Though, admittedly, her frame of reference was somewhat limited.

"[color=D0D4E5]Lucien Navietas.[/color]" The name felt strange in her mouth. There was an instinctual draw to use her true name instead, but she ignored it as best she could.

Hailing from? "[color=D0D4E5]The city Grayle.[/color]" This voice was okay, right? A little flat affect and it worked? It sounded okay, but who could be sure, really? Not her, certainly. Ah, and from which part of the city? "[color=D0D4E5]Along the eastern wall.[/color]" A small sound of confirmation as he realized that this applicant was a [i]noble.[/i]

Family background and rank? "[color=D0D4E5]Second son—[/color]" Oh gods that felt strange! "[color=D0D4E5]of Asceron Navietas. Honorable Lucien.[/color]" It had all been easy thus far. She just needed to remember this stuff and to not call herself [i]Lady Luen[/i] and she'd be fine.

Then came the question she'd expected to encounter sooner or later, if not right away: why did she look like this? She gave what she hoped was a disarming smile without being too [i]feminine[/i] of one. "[color=D0D4E5]I'm not sure, Ser. I was born like this.[/color]" And that was all she needed to say, right? No more? And indeed, it seemed there would be no more. She was waved through with a minimum of effort. That was easier than she'd though. Maybe it was because she was from an established (if somewhat obscure) family?

But that didn't matter. What mattered was that, despite her fears she'd be immediately recognized and sent home in laughter and shame...she'd made it through.

And so, head held high, she strode forward, doing her best to exude confidence despite the confusion she felt. Odd looks, certainly; but that was to be expected; her height had a brilliant white dot moving clearly through the crowd around her. But the vast majority just...didn't care. A few moments passed as she threaded through the people before she finally took up a position around the arena. Upon seeing it, her heart began to race. She'd made it in despite her fears, it was true. But that was just the first step. Now she needed to [i]stay[/i] in. She twisted her bracer around her arm as her she took a deep breath. She could do this. She just had to keep telling herself that. That she could do this. Despite the misfortune she carried like a cross about her neck...she could at least do this. She just had to keep telling herself that. That she could succeed. That she belonged here.

That whoever stepped into the arena with her would be a fool if they took Luenciel—[i]Lucien[/i]—Navietas lightly.