At the tavern entrance, there is a young woman standing there, waiting for someone. She seems to be in her mid-twenty with knee length long black bouncing hair, tied right at her nape by a red silk trip, she wearing a pale cyan loose sleeves cross-collard robe, with white floral pattern. The young women are quite tall and her skin tone is lighter compare to a typical Downer woman. Her face looks neither Downers nor Uppers, and have a strange ethereal beauty. Her grace and beauty turn every heads in the tavern, man and woman alike.

“Whoa, look at that beauty, man…. does she tall.” The short middle-aged man said.

“man… can you find any creature more beautiful than that? I never saw anyone have a face like that. Wonder where she came from?” The bushy middle-aged man said.

“well… that is my wife.” The goatee man said and wave at his wife.

“your wife? Well, ain’t you the lucky man.” The short middle-aged smile.

“wait, does women in the capital all look like that?” bushy bearded man asked

“well… all I can said is that…. She is a very rare gem.” The goatee man smile.

“ye better be careful man, beauty like her is very easy to lose.” The bushy bearded man laugh.

“of course I will.” The goatee man said, then he took from his sleeves inner pocket a handful of coin and place them on the table “here for the food and drink, it a pleasure talk to you two.” he stood up, interlock his fingers and politely bow then join his wife.

The couple leave the tavern and took a stroll on the street. This couple actually is the ruling couple of the Varlann Empire, Emperor Suk Lam and Empress Aucelen. They were travel incognito to inspecting the live of the common folk in the newly build Jar Dee city, and also as a mean to inspection on the local officials and see if there is any corruption going on without the awareness of the imperial court. But one must be curious that “why unordinary individuals like Emperor Lam and Empress Aucelen can walk among the common folk in broad daylight without drawing any attention?” that is because a small silver talisman they wearing on their neck. These talismans were made by Empress Aucelen herself, carved with ancient language script, imbedded with quasium stone and infused with her Elvas magic. The talismans can create a hologram image around them and made their appearance look just like ordinary Downers folk, not only that the talismans can even completely change their appearance if Empress Aucelen wish so.

“so, do you hear anything of interest, Lam?” Empress Aucelen asked.

“there is rumour about some kind of swamp monster, according to the folk around here there a lot of sighting of this monster around the Elvas ruin in the swap.” Emperor Lam said, his left hand stroking his beard.

“monster in the swamp? That absurd.” Empress Aucelen smirk.

“you do not believe it? After Qua Loh and Bai Ni?” Emperor Lam said.

“I do not “not believe”. I know.” Empress Aucelen said with a great certainty in her voice “my people had already thoroughly explored the swampland before the war, and I heard no monster ever been found.”

“well, that was a long time ago, things changed.” Emperor Lam said “there is no harm to check it out. A little monster hunt just the 2 of us, a little fun adventure.”

“Lam, we are here to inspect on the people life and the local officials not on a vacation.” Empress Aucelen sigh “for goodness sake, we are not normal people, we do not have time to go on a monster hunt adventure or having fun. We have a lot of responsibility, especially me...”

Emperor Lam put his index on her lips, interrupted his wife

“Aucelen, is there anything else in that pretty head of your beside work? I know our marriage is political, but my love for you is real and now I just want a little private time with you. No work, no politic, no responsibility. Just a little, just this time, can you do that for me?” Emperor Lam said.

“and…” Emperor Lam grin deviously, and grasp his wife by her hip pull her close and whispering in her ear “you can do whatever you want to me tonight.” Then licked her ear.

“can you please not doing that in public space.” Empress Aucelen push her husband away, her cheeks red with embarrassments.

“ehem… well… speaking of the ruin, I also have heard some strange things too.” Empress Aucelen said.

“monster sighting?” Emperor Lam grin.

“no…” Empress Aucelen replied with an annoyed expression. “I heard some rumour about strange activities at the ruin especially on full moon days, some hunters saw light in the ruin, like there was some strange gathering at the ruin, and it seem this had been happening for a long time.” Empress Aucelen said. “not only that there was a surge of missing person cases in the past 2 years. They are giving the city governor a headache.”

“well then, look like a trip to the swamp is in order.” Emperor Lam grin.