Dusk went stumbling out of the beam of light. The first thing he did was check his surroundings. His eyes darted from one woman to another. Panic, reading and dismissing them until he assured himself none were the Duchess. He spun around, took a breath, and took a calm look around. Was he inside a building? The sun warming his skin said otherwise. Looking up showed him the cloud-free teal sky. The sun hit the walls, making them glitter and shimmer like diamonds. All sorts of beings walked around, some of which he couldn't even name. Walked around the large room he found himself in.

Everything looked bright and colorful. The complete opposite of Feverfew was that it was all browns and whites. It was a blinding wonder. Even the people themselves were a more colorful lot. He didn't see a strip of black cloth on anyone walking by; he stood out in that way. Tugging his white robes around himself, he itched to join in on the color. At least getting out of all this black would be a nice start.

“Thank the laylines.” Dusk placed a hand on his racing heart. Trying to calm himself and assure himself that he was not only safe but well and truly free, this was an overwhelming moment that was a crazy ride for his emotions. It was nothing that he could pinpoint or define. Dusk could only listen to his blood race and ask his heart to calm itself.

“Mr. Wooddancer, Dusk Wooddancer?” Turning to his new name. He saw a short woman who, if she was lucky, stood to his chest, and he stood at almost six feet. Dusk observed with interest that beast folk were uncommon in Redneval. Before him, was a mouse folk? She had large round ears on her head, and the fur matched the light brown of her hair. A thin, pale pink tail lay draped over her bent arm. In her hand were a white clipboard and quill. She wore a bright pink sundress and had a silver name tag pinned to her left shoulder. A thin silver chain hung around her neck and vanished into her dress. The name tag was reflecting the sun, making it hard for him to read.

“I am Dusk Wooddancer.” Dusk stood forward, hand raised. “You are from the school?” She fumbled with a chain, and out came a small card. Reading the card, Dusk found it to be more like a badge, declaring she was a representative of the school. A silver outline of a diamond stamped the corner, much like the letter he had received.

“I'm Ms. Limestone,” her pale peach nose twitched much like a mouse. “I'm here to give you your identification card.” She tapped a quill on her clipboard. “I see you completed...” She frowned and looked up, her nose twitching. “Your name changed?” Dusk was happy with her sensitivity. He didn't fancy the entire crowd hearing about his disavowal.

“Yes, Ms. Limestone,” Dusk said, offering no more. Though he did give her a small nod, placing his hand on his chest in silent greeting, she seemed to want to move things along, and he was fine with that. School was starting in a month; he had a lot to do, and he was positive she was the same.

“Okay,” she said, frowning until her nose was a fast-moving wiggle. She did some furious scribbling. “Please follow me, mm. Can you follow me to a free terminal?”

“Of course,” Dusk said with a short bow, and she followed after her short but quick legs. “Ms. Limestone, can I inquire about purchasing a title?” She stopped, turned, and tipped her head to squint at him.

“Mm, you have money?” Ms. Limestone asked more than he thought a school official would. Dusk nodded, and she mirrored him and continued to walk. He didn't spare more than a glance at his surroundings, though he was curious. Fearing, he would lose Ms. Limestone to the crowds. He did notice plenty of white robes among the crowd. Baron's are the cheapest, cheaper if you're paying in universal coin again, mm?” Dusk knew he could buy a title up to viscount, and after that, it needed a royal decree. Viscount would be out of his budget; he knew that without asking.

“I will be paying for it in universal coin,” Dusk confirmed. Watching her place a hand on a wall. He witnessed a transparent square pull out from the wall to rest in front of her. Dusk couldn't see a thing on it after pressing a few buttons. She fed the whole clipboard she was holding into the transparent box.

“I recommend a baron title; no one would question it, and given your history...” She turned her head to him, spreading her hands in front of her; her fingers lit up. “You would have it granted right away.” Dusk nodded, assuming he had been raised in a Duchess household and that it had been worth something. Gave him a good grasp on noble mannerisms. He did pride himself on his manners as well. “It's ten platinum.”

“Here,” Dusk said, pulling the ten platinums from his storage with a casual voice. Seeing the bright silver-white coins fall into her outstretching hands hurt. That was the same cost as his investment cabin. It was over a tenth of his entire budget. It had its perks, and it was a long-term investment. That was what Dusk had to focus on, and the cost was the only thing that had him wavering on the idea to begin with. In a way, having it done and gone was a relief as much as it was a financial pain.

“Thank you," said Ms. Limestone. Took the coins and fed them into the wall. “Your title will be on your new Donmiad identification.” Her fingers lit up and raced in a strike of white. A pure white card appeared in front of her. She grabbed hold of it, and everything else she was working on disappeared. “Identification runs from commoner black to duke blue. A drop of your blood, please.” Dusk went to his injured hand, unwrapped it, and tore it back open. Spreading a smear of his red blood on the baron's white card. It absorbed it, and Dusk had his card. His citizenship was now complete.

“A healing token,” she said, taking a small wooden circle out of her pocket. Snapping it over his hand, healing it in seconds. Amazingly, Dusk flexed his fingers, and the wound healed without a mark.

“My thanks,” Dusk said, dumping his wrapping into his spatial storage.

“Is that personal spatial storage?” Ms. Limestone asked, her eyes sparking with interest.

“I thought they were common here?” Dusk asked, giving the card a look. It was straight-forward; it had his birthdate, his race, and his title. Under his occupation, he was a student at the University of Lapidary. A small picture of him was in the top left corner; he was a pale, shaking version of his best self. Dusk was happy to have it, but not wanting to lose it, he tucked it away into his storage. He was not worried about it tangling with the coins and used bandages. Since inside were individual storage cubes. All very clean and organized.

“Mm, bags and rings are more common here.” Ms. Limestone was rocking on her heels. Her nose was moving faster than the thoughts racing across her eyes. Dusk could see her wanting to ask more, but she held herself back rather well. “I'll get back to business.”

“Your card is your identification.” She rearranged her tail on her other arm. “The blood bonds it to you. If stolen or lost, it comes back to you.” She fiddled with her tail, saying, "Losing it should be impossible." Dusk nodded in understanding. Loosing a blood-bonded item would make you a great fool. Dusk was many things, but he aimed not to be a fool.

“Snap this token; it's a teleportation token that will get you to your cabin. Unlike the one that brought you here, you have to tell it where you want to go.” She handed him a coin, like the one he used to get here. “Make sure you have a clear mental picture. Then these can lead you anywhere, except inside buildings or banned areas. With clear vocal instructions. Here is a map,” she said, handing him a small, plain, clear crystal. “Ask, and it'll lead you to most places.” He put the map in storage.

“My thanks,” Dusk said, giving a small bow. She waved and mimicked his bow, looking awkward while she did so. "Does a photo reference work since I've never been to the cabin?" She nodded.

"Mm, of course!" Ms. Limestone said with another nod of her head. “And, thank you, Baron Wooddancer.” Standing back up, she gave a small smile with a hum. “Welcome home.” Dusk took a long blink. Then he smiled. Yes, he was home now. “Let me take you to the exit. We only allow tokens in, not out.”

“Please do,” Dusk requested. She showed him a side path. It had less than a handful of people traveling down it. All appeared like him. Wearing white school robes and being led by mouse-beast folk. The hall branched out, but they remained on a straight path until they were outside. In a private wooded area, well-groomed hedges and immaculate flower beds spoke of being part of a large inner garden.

“Please remember, school begins the first of July.” She waved him off and left Dusk alone. Rolling the small, plain teleportation token in his hand, he knew the first thing he wanted to do.