[hr][hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/L8ankxx.png[/img][/center][hr][hr][center][h2][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtQ67stwYoY]♫[/url][/h2][/center][hr][hr][center][color=FFE4B5][i][b]Present:[/b] Yalen Castel [@pantothenic], Maura Mercador [@Ti], Trypano Somia [@A Lowly Wretch], Ingrid Penderson [@dragonpiece], Niallus Saberhagen [@McKennaJ71], and Abdel Varga [@YummyYummy][/i][/color][/center][hr][hr][color=FFE4B5]When they woke up in the morning, Xiulan was not there. It was cool and overcast and the cityscape was red and gold and increasingly barren brown where trees peeked out among the sea of rooftops. In fact, she was not there for the start of breakfast either and, when she arrived, sweat pasted a few stray locks of hair to her forehead and she was noticeably out of breath despite her efforts to hide it. People had already started eating and the meal consisted of items one might not normally have considered 'morning food'.

[color=a2d39c]"Very sorry!"[/color] she chirped, sliding into a seat beside Yalen. [color=a2d39c]"I have some sings to arrange zis morning. We have a busy day!"[/color] They bundled up as they ate, but the inn was kept quite warm and it wasn't strictly necessary. Yin and Mr. Wei scurried about, attending to everything they needed and a good many things that they didn't. If one were to look carefully, it would be evident that both seemed to have bags under their eyes, and the younger of the two quickly hid a yawn at more than one point. They were nothing if not professional, however: all smiles and helpfulness when they needed to be.

A couple of the students, as well, were possibly not as... bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as they might've been. Kaureerah picked at her guitar a bit listlessly as a couple of fleeting, significant glances passed between her and Yalen. Maura was perhaps a bit less energetic than usual. She had been out last night, scouting some locations by the docks, and she had sensed something, fleetingly, as if it were the echo of some great distant 'crash': intense magic use, and powerful. It had been too much to ask for her to follow it, however, and she had returned to familiarizing herself with the area unsupervised, not entirely sure what - if anything - she was searching for. She had employed magic sparingly, when needed, to help her navigate the built environment or light her way. Yet, after some time doing this, she could sense them at the fringes of her range: people, always people following her, and brief flares of minor magic use, but never more, and never getting too close.

It was a different world by day, and how alien yet familiar, how exciting and new and [i]gorgeous[/i] Retan was! Xiulan seemed eager to split her time mostly between Yalen and Maura as they were led through the spice market and the textile market. There was some time to shop, escorted for their own safety, of course, before they were taken to see a customs house, invited into a beautiful island pavillion in a lake within a walled garden for tea, and then shown around what was called a 'Guardian Station'. The uniforms of the people there seemed to vary by department, though the majority were blue, red, and orange, with a smattering of green, brown, and gold, the last of them similar to those of their escort. There, they were each given a folder to study for later, with details of the gruesome murders of mostly-minor government officials by the Traveler's Agent, who local law enforcement had nicknamed the 'Pale Ghost'. 

Wherever the group of foreigners went, save the Station, curious onlookers seemed to follow them and some attempted to sell them items. Even within the station, a few still craned their necks or stole glances or whispered among their fellows. During this time, they saw not a single Constantian or Severan face, much less anything more exotic.

It was the later afternoon by the time they were led to a restaurant at the edge of a great plaza, where the colourful Exemplar of Creation and Destruction, Wu Long, was waiting for them in his official robes, surrounded by orderlies and guards who he soon dismissed to other tables to be treated to a dinner well above their pay grade. [color=ed1c24]"Good to see you,"[/color] he greeted each of the students, somehow able to recall all of their names. [color=ed1c24]"Your first full day in ReTan,"[/color] he remarked, leading them to a table. [color=ed1c24]"How invigorating, I'm sure. How [i]exciting[/i]. I bet you learned [i]much[/i]."[/color] His tone was... queer. Was it sarcasm? Was he simply that earnest? Was he probing?

Their host made polite conversation with them all, and they found him somewhat more open than the others they had spoken with. When Rikard, sitting beside Xiulan, commented that they were being rather purposely and prominently displayed on the patio, she blushed and her eyes darted about awkwardly for the umpteenth time that evening, but the Exemplar merely let out a bark of laughter. [color=ed1c24]"Oh, absolutely!"[/color] he confirmed, [color=ed1c24]"for that is the Retanese way."[/color] He took a moment to dab at the corners of his mouth with a napkin. [color=ed1c24]"I find we are an odd paradox, as a people: very taken with displays of influence, wealth, and exclusivity, yet sneaky."[/color] He nodded. [color=ed1c24]"We are sneaky, I fear, as you may have already gathered, and opaque."[/color] 

The sun was getting low as dinner was served, its golden rays like great fingers of light across the flagstones, long and lengthening shadows separating them. People bustled about on their evening business, some pausing to glance at the odd group so displayed on the patio. When they noticed the Exemplar, they bowed deeply in his presence and, receiving a nod, continued on their way. [color=ed1c24]"This is my country,"[/color] Wu Long assured them, [color=ed1c24]"and I love it despite its imperfections."[/color]

Indeed, there were families walking about, young couples holding hands or kissing under trees, and children running about, their play powered mostly by imagination. In particular, two little boys had been at it for some time, one moving as if in a bubble of slow time and the other always trying to get in behind him. They'd now broken into something of an argument. [color=fdc68a]"但我是睡鲤鱼。你应该慢慢绕着我走！(But I'm Sleeping Carp. You're supposed to move slowly around me!)[/color] the former insisted. [color=7bcdc8]"不！我是笑鱿鱼也许我用了我的特殊能力，我已经在你身后了。" (No! I'm Laughing Squid. Maybe I used my special ability and I'm already behind you.)[/color] They continued bickering for another minute or so before they moved on, and some of the group idly watched them.

Captain Zhu plucked up the courage to speak, then, when the show was over. He had been quiet and deeply respectful int he presence of one so revered. It was Xiulan who translated for him. [color=a2d39c]"You may have notice how little magic used here,"[/color] she said, and he continued for her to translate further. [color=a2d39c]"We know zat zis is not ze way of your land."[/color] As he spoke, she spoke. [color=a2d39c]"But we belief it is better for few trusted people have it when we need zan everybody."[/color] He gestured outward in an all-encompassing gesture and Wu Long was silent, poised and listening. [color=a2d39c]"You see how peaceful and prosperity it has make our nation."[/color]

The Exemplar stabbed at his food with his chopsticks and bit down. [color=ed1c24]"Well spoken, Captain..."[/color] He quickly repeated himself in Retanese. Captain Zhu bowed his head crisply and deeply.

The sun began to set in earnest and lanterns glowed ever brighter into the burgeoning gloom. It was then that those not already drunk on their fifth cup of baiju and alert enough towards their surroundings may have noticed something: magic use. Their host noticed it too, and he straightened. Five men and a woman in grey uniforms similar to those of the Guardians strode briskly towards one of the large and opulent houses across the square. People cut them a wide berth, bordering on outright fear. 

Wu Long began cleaning himself up and the students would feel a significant amount of energy drawn his way, but he remained outwardly nonchalant, even as the area began to feel almost-uncomfortably warm. Captain Zhu rose to his feet and barked out orders to his men. Dai, Huang, Xie, and Peng quickly joined him, drawing as well. Wang, Chen, Zhang, and Zheng spread out. [color=a2d39c]"我应该把它们带到安全的地方吗?" (should I take them somewhere safe?)[/color] Xiulan inquired with some urgency, but Wu Long merely dusted some crumbs from his robes and tilted his head to one side. [color=ed1c24]"No,"[/color] he replied in Avincian, much to the translator's visible distress and a worried look from Captain Zhu. [color=ed1c24]"It is not business that concerns us anyhow, and I think our guests can handle themselves should the need arise, else why would they be here?"[/color] He addressed the biros. [color=ed1c24]"Get ready for a show, I think. You're about to see the Grey Ghosts in action."[/color] His eyes narrowed and an almost predatory smile creased his lips.

From inside the house, some two hundred yards distant, came flares of quick, precise, powerful magic. Then, to Kaureerah's shock and dismay, an older man was dragged out into the street and flung roughly to the pavement by two of the grey-robed figures. [color=C0C0C0]"你的主人在哪里!?" (Where is your master?)[/color] demanded the sole woman of the group. She was beautiful, but steely-eyed and severe in bearing. [color=ffffff]"不知道!" (Don't know!)[/color] he insisted, [color=ffffff]"我[i]不[/i]知道!" (I [i]don't[/i] know!)[/color] he cried.

[color=C0C0C0]"我不相信你" (I don't believe you.)[/color] came the frosty reply. The already-thinning crowds swirled back to a distance, radiating fear, but they did not entirely flee as kicks rained down upon the old servant. [color=DEB887]"What's his crime?"[/color] Kaureerah blurted, clearly distraught at the display. [color=DEB887]"How do they know he's guilty!?"[/color]

Xiulan shifted uncomfortably, but she put on a sympathetic smile and grabbed hold of the eeiako's hand. [color=a2d39c]"I know it is... distressing,"[/color] she admitted, and Kaureerah noticed that her hand was trembling, [color=a2d39c]"But if the Grey Ghosts come for him, he is guilty already. One hundred percent, or he's master. He has been done some very bad sing. Do not to worry."[/color]

Wu Long sat there, tall and stoic, expression unreadable. [color=ed1c24]"Do not worry,"[/color] he repeated, with slightly better grammar, [color=ed1c24]"This is Retan."[/color][/color]
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[center][hider=Action Opportunities][color=FFE4B5][h2]Coming Soon![/h2][/color][/hider][/center]
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