Yann’s nervous gulp and shuddering were contagious. Even if Adam remained unfazed most of the time, a hint of worry found its way to his brow. He frowned, glaring at the panel hovering in front of the enforcer. What kind of magical technology was that, and what principle allowed it to scan their blood?
’Nothing like that exists in the magical world.’ He massaged his temple with one hand, ensuring the other one was where the enforcer could see it. After all, the least he wanted was to create a scene at their first stop.
Soon, the enforcer’s hazel eyes narrowed. He gestured to his two colleagues, and Yann let out a shrill gasp.
Greaves clinked against armored boots, and gauntlets tightened around weapons. Mana flared around their eyes in blue and green, wisps of water and wind drifting. Tension crackled between the two sides for a moment.
Adam almost imitated them with his own mana, but barely suppressed himself at the sight of the first enforcer.
The man’s hand loosened around his spear, his gaze fixed on his panel. Only his slightly twitching lips were worrisome, but all in all, Adam didn’t see the signs of someone about to attack.
And indeed, the enforcer simply pointed at his panel, then shook his head. His colleagues mirrored his gesture before confusing Adam with a brief nod and an apologetic glance.
Finally, the first enforcer patted Yann’s shoulder, eliciting a horrified shiver from the arcanist. "It’s always a tragedy to learn about ancient families’ fall. The Laurentius Lux Aeterna house was perhaps not the noblest, but they held the elusive southern reaches for millennia." He lowered his head. "Please, accept my condolences, Yann Laurentius Lux Aeterna."
Yann’s eyes widened. His heart raced against his ribs, fire searing their marrow and dissolving the horror. The breath he had been keeping in finally left his mouth as he lowered his face in feigned sadness. "Thank you, Sir. The news surely travelled fast."
Adam’s frown deepened. More than fast, they had only stepped into the archipelago half a day ago. And with the Ashenveil Grove separating the destroyed household and Port Vaelora, it made no sense for the enforcers to know. Unless...
The enforcer pointed at Yann’s chest. "The entire family but three is marked as dead in the blood registry. I guess the teenager and the girl are the remaining two, but we’ll still check for safety measures."
His expression was solemn as he nodded at Adam. "Bear with the pain, lad." With a swift pull, his dagger scratched Adam’s skin. Yet, the cold metal failed to pierce it.
’Shit.’ Adam rolled his eyes, instantly closing his fist as if the pain had surprised him. Then, he drove a nail through his thick skin, letting a few drops of blood splatter before the same vortex absorbed them inside the enforcer’s gauntlet.
The enforcer didn’t seem to have noticed and simply checked his panel.
"Adam Laurentius Lux Aeterna." He nodded, then did the same with the sleeping Qing. Of course, Adam subtly numbed her nerves to keep her asleep.
The enforcer gave a final nod before revealing a name no one had expected.
"Quintella Laurentius Lux Aeterna."
Adam pursed his lip, his head moving forward slightly. Who? His mind raced for a moment, realisation dawning on him. Qing sounded too much like a cultivator’s name—not ideal to blend with the mage island’s population. Leviathan had foreseen the issue and tweaked her name when she had forged their identities.
He tilted his head, his hand finding his chin. It didn’t sound half bad. And close enough to the original not to feel alien.
With their identities checked, he noticed the enforcers’ features relax. The same one who had identified them spoke, his voice carrying a softness that contrasted with his earlier sternness as he handed Yann, the oldest, a canteen full of fresh water. "I know it’s hard to lose family members, but I must ask what happened. Is the South under attack? And how did you reach Port Vaelora this fast?"
Before Adam’s confusion about the protocol could settle, Yann massaged his forehead and began to answer.
"It is indeed hard, sir. And it struck us even harder once we returned from our promenade on the beach. This morning, the girl happily built sand castles while the lad trained his spells against the wave, and only for this... sight to greet us when we returned at midday."
"What sight?" The enforcer leaned forward, his grip tightening around his spear.
"Fire. So much fire, I almost thought we walked into an infernal purgatory. We tried to put it off, but wind only fueled its unrestrained rage, and water evaporated upon contact. The stench was..." He bit his lip, his cheeks trembling in a performance that would fool even cultivators trained to read micro-expressions for lies. "It was a nightmare made worse each second we stood around. Smelling our parents’, brothers’ and sisters’ flesh go up in smoke was unbearable. So we fled. We fled far from this nightmare."
As he was about to continue with how they crossed the forest, however, the enforcer raised his palm to interrupt him.
"Not an assault, then. Listen, Yann. Fleeing in this situation is relatable, at least to me. But I need you to think hard about that moment. Was the fire’s color tainted? Was the stench unusual? Any detail is crucial to piece together what happened back there."
While Yann’s frown deepened, Adam rolled his eyes. Wouldn’t they cross the grove or moor a ship to investigate? Somehow, the enforcers at the back, who were fanning their faces or yawning, didn’t give him the impression they would bother.
"Nothing unusual, sir. But I remember my father’s talk about an experiment the previous night..." Yann said, his eyes widening at the end as if he had finally realised something. "Do you think the experience went wrong?"
The enforcer hesitated for a moment before acknowledging the story. Failed experiments were rare but did happen. Anyway, reaching the south through the grove would require men that Port Vaelora couldn’t spare. Travelling by ship was even worse, considering the detour would take three more days. Not worth it for a minor, nameless house. If not for its proximity, he wouldn’t even know about its name.
"Likely." Eventually, he tapped on his panel, adding ’decimated by a failed experiment’ beside all the dead members of House Laurentius Lux Aeterna. "The cause has been registered. So other enforces shouldn’t trouble you over it."
Adam crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes sparkling in understanding. Leviathan could have registered the cause of death, but had preferred to forge a story for them to share. Why? Because her foresight was terrifying.
He didn’t hear Yann’s invented explanation about their lucky travel through the grove. Instead, he nodded toward the sea.
Leviathan hadn’t merely smuggled them inside with forged identities. She had accounted for every possibility. The isolated family, the first enforcers they’d meet right after the accident. And somehow, he knew that if enforcers ever investigated the charred manor, they would find the traces of a failed experiment.
As he understood everything, he saw the enforcer nod at Yann.
"It’s not much, but I hope you’ll have a pleasant stay in Port Vaelora." He winked and stepped aside, gesturing at the open gates. "I waived the Prestige fee. Small token for your cooperation and grief."
Yann thanked him, and Adam did, too. Then, he stepped inside the city, relieved that their identity was safe, and eager to discover the archipelago’s customs, even if he knew the real marvels lay further upstream.
AN: One week, still not healed... At least I feel a bit better, but god... that cough is hella annoying.
But here’s another long Chapter. :D