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[i][b]Metropolis[/b][/i]
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[color=fd5e53]"...almost flew into a building, but thankfully Lady Yang was there to rescue me. May her soul find peace."[/color] Yalen was in the middle of delivering his witness statement to one of the newly arrived White Knights. [color=fd5e53]"There were twelve of them in total. When they determined they couldn't shake us off, six attempted to make their escape while the others stayed behind to slow our pursuit. Rikard and I,"[/color] Yalen gestured to his younger peer who was standing by his side, [color=fd5e53]"gave chase, along with four of your gold cloaks. We managed to capture those two in the process."[/color] The priest pointed at the two men in restraints who now had sacks pulled over their heads. One of them was dragging his feet, earning him a swift smack to the back of the knee with a studded club.

 [color=fd5e53]"I tried to regroup with the gold cloaks to capture the four other runners, but it was an unwinnable battle. They had a way to nullify our magic. Only I was able to retreat unharmed, mostly thanks to Rikard's timely intervention."[/color] Yalen reached into his bag and exhibited the strange metal orb he stole from the masked woman. [color=fd5e53]"This is the device they used against us... well, half of it. I've never seen anything like it."[/color]

Lieutenant Ming blinked. If his eyes did not quite light up, it was something close. [color=5F9EA0]"I would... very much wish to examine that,"[/color] he said through Shuyuan. [color=5F9EA0]"You must understand we will need it for our investigation, but I can arrange for you to visit tomorrow and join us."[/color] He shook his head slowly. [color=5F9EA0]"To think they took out Lady Yang so easily..."[/color] He trailed off for a moment.

[color=5F9EA0]"I know you are not from here and you may not know, but she was no weakling. Dare I say, she was my equal. If this is but an underling of your Traveler, then he is a very dangerous force indeed."[/color] he held out his hand somewhere between expectantly and hopefully for the sphere. [color=5F9EA0]"And this thing only solidifies the assumption. The technology! How I love to crack it open, see how it works inside!"[/color] He nibbled his lower lip eagerly. [color=5F9EA0]I fear our days of hiding from outside influences are at an end, whether we are ready to accept it or not."[/color]

[color=fd5e53]"Here."[/color] Yalen showed no hesitation to hand over the artifact. While it would be quite nice to keep, he wouldn't feel much grief over the theft of a device that merely imitated Command magic. [color=fd5e53]"I will take you up on your offer. I am very interested in the origins and function of this... machine as well."[/color]

Ming was lost to him for an extended moment, examining it with a magnifying glass, until Shuyuan cleared her throat. [color=5F9EA0]"Ah yes."[/color] He tore himself away from the device for a moment before backsliding and glancing at it once more, seeming to confirm something. [color=5F9EA0]"Well, I can tell you one thing already: the design is not Retanese, but the manufacture... I think it is. It's in the alloy, but also - Hmmm..."[/color] 

[color=a187be]"The folding technnique!"[/color] Rikard interjected. [color=a187be]"It's folded and pressed. That's only done that way in Retan and Nikan, isn't it?"[/color] Ming pursed his lips and nodded, businesslike. [color=5F9EA0]"Yes. Yes, you're exactly right. The 'Zhédié bō'."[/color] He caught himself quickly. [color=5F9EA0]"And there is a good deal more to unpack, I'm certain. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Castel, Rikard. I sense we are of much the same mind, and you did excellent work bringing those two in."[/color] He offered his hand to each in turn. [color=5F9EA0]"One way or another, we shall learn much from them. Until then..."[/color]

[color=fd5e53]"I look forward to it."[/color] Yalen accepted the handshake and smiled. He imagined how lucky it would be, if they could identify the machine's origin based on its alloy and craftsmanship. He gave a shallow bow to Ming as he set off to run his experiments on the orb. As he watched the lieutenant go, he felt a chill on his neck and shivered. 

[color=fd5e53]"Huh?"[/color] Yalen glanced over his shoulder. There was nobody there, but his instincts were warning him that he was being watched. Was the masked woman waiting for a chance to strike back at him? Or, was it someone else? Despite his certainty, his senses were definitively telling him that no such person was nearby. They were good... or he was merely paranoid. [color=fd5e53][i]Well, I've done all I can here. Time to follow the guards back to the inn for now.[/i][/color]

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While the others made their plans for the latter half of the day, Yalen retired to his room. He felt it too dangerous to wander outside the inn now that he had made his presence known to the Volti. Besides, a tethered person like him could see many things without the use of his eyes. Kaureerah would be snooping around the city again just as he’d expected. His plan for the evening was to keep track of her movements and find out exactly what she was up to. Whether this thread of investigation would lead to Yalen arresting her for dissension, or rescuing her from danger, he did not yet know. The eeaiko’s presence was already moving steadily in the direction of the docks. 

[color=fd5e53]”Hm?“[/color] Yalen spotted a sheet of paper lying on his table that was not there before. He scooped it up and inspected the handwriting, recognizing it as that of Sister Graziano, one of his primary affiliates within the Dark Somnian order. Had she used her temporal magic to send him a message?

[i]“Dear Brother Castel,

I came to check on your progress today, but it seems we just missed each other. I will try to get in touch with you again tomorrow. Verus eagerly awaits your report on the Traveler’s movements within Rettan. Stay strong.

-Gloria”[/i]

[color=fd5e53]”Ah…“[/color] Yalen was not surprised. The cardinal’s information network was wide. Although he wasn’t able to inform his superiors of his location yet, they were already well on top of things. It was good to know someone would be able to recover his corpse if he ended up dying in this foreign land.

[color=fd5e53][i]Ugh, that was in poor taste. Jocasta’s dark humor is beginning to rub off on me…[/i][/color] Yalen threw the note into the fireplace and locked his door, then sat cross legged on his bed. Unless something important came up he would focus all of his energy on Kaureerah. He was suspicious not only of her, but of the powerful being she encountered last night. With luck, several loose ends would be tied up before the sun rose tomorrow.