The Town of Oroga had one motto, written on a sign right at the entrance:

“We welcome anyone from anywhere!”

But the guard station at the front gates suggested otherwise. About thirty people were lined up, prepared to be questioned by the town guards. Aria and Farem stood at the end of that line. One guard was waving around a wanted poster—her wanted poster, featuring her dazzling white eyes, dark skin, and silver hair. Every time the poster flapped in the wind, it felt like it was pointing at her.

“Ugh…” she sighed. Aria could see it already: One guard noticing her face, the panicked shouts, and a hundred blades aiming at her head before breakfast. “How do we get past these guys?”

“Your cloak is enchanted with [Conceal], right?” Farem asked.

“Yes,” Aria replied, a soft humming of magic radiating beneath her cloak’s fabric. “But anyone with a high-level [Detection] would smoke me out easily. I need something with [Illusion] or [Shadow Robe].”

“Well, I can buy you something here,” Farem smiled. “An early birthday gift. What do you think?”

“No need. I don’t have a birthday,” she said plainly.

“Just a gift, then. From me to you.”

“I’m not so easily bribed, mister,” she grinned proudly—her past of negotiating with powerful lords had served her well.

“We’ll see,” he smirked. “Until then, let me handle the talking.”

Soon, the couple was at the gates. The guard bowed his head, adjusting his iron helmet. “Hello, please remove your hood,” he said, holding up Aria’s wanted poster and scanning the strange visitors.

“I’m terribly sorry.” Farem dashed in front of Aria, shielding her from the guard’s watchful gaze. “My wife has a terrible skin condition. She can’t handle the sun quite well, so if it’s possible, can she not remove her cloak, please?”

“I’m sorry, sir. It’s just the custom,” replied the guard, jerking his head up and down, left and right, trying to get a good look at Aria. But every time he tried, Farem stepped in front of his face.

“Listen, listen,” Farem reasoned. “My wife is very sensitive about her look. I can hand you her picture, if you’d like. She is a gorgeous woman.”

Annoyed, the guard groaned, “Fine, alright. Where’s the picture?”

“Here.” Farem handed him a portrait of a normal human woman that resembled Aria. The picture felt slightly heavy in his hands. The guard grew agitated. This wasn’t the woman behind Farem. She was something else. He couldn’t describe it in words, but his [Detection] was begging him to run away from this lady. A strange aura surrounded her—a frigid, bitter air of primal hunger.

“Sorry, sir. I don’t buy it.” The guard shook his head, wiping off his sweat. “Please tell the woman to remove her cloak.”

“Oops, I think you missed something on the back,” smiled Farem.

“What?” The guard flipped the picture to the other side. One hundred gold coins were pasted onto the back with [Slime Glue]. Gasping, the guard counted the money back and forth. Indeed, it was a hundred gold coins.

Clearing his throat, the guard glanced at Farem, still shielding Aria. Farem winked at him. The guard sighed and closed his eyes to think. Every second that went by felt like an hour. Rubbing his eyes, he raised one hand to the gatekeeper behind him. “Raise the gates! Let them through!”

The gatekeeper nodded, placed both hands on a massive lever, and cranked it. A thundering creaking followed as the huge gates slowly opened. “Thank you so much!” Farem shook the guard’s hands. “I’ll never forget your kindness!”

“Yeah, yeah, go on through.” The guard ushered them in, shoving the picture glued with coins into his pocket. “And go get your wife something. She looks pale.”

Aria glanced away, trying to hide the fact that she hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. This guard’s [Detection] was scarily good.

Farem nodded and turned to Aria. “Shall we go eat?”

***

Though the gates were far behind them, Aria kept glancing over her shoulder. “Ahh… That was soooo stressful,” Aria complained, slurping her cone of [Moonberry Ice Cream]. “That guard was too sharp for his own good.”

“Yeah. At least he took the bribe, though,” Farem replied, walking by her side.

“I wish I could be with you without my hood on… Farem, do you remember that rollercoaster trip?” Aria said, finishing her dessert. Satisfied, she let out a small burp, which she regretted dearly. Wiping her mouth with a napkin, she pretended nothing had happened.

“Of course, I remember,” Farem replied, stifling a laugh. “You were always a big eater.”

“Hey!” she gently elbowed him. “It’s not my fault you cook so well!”

“Flattering me isn’t gonna get you a second ice cream cone, honeypie.” He pulled her closer and pecked her on the cheeks, licking up a stray cream mark on her skin.

In public, no less.

Fire lit up her heart, thrusting a pulsing warmth into every vein of her body. She felt the darkness rumbling within her, cheering her on from the sidelines. Taking a deep breath, Aria regained her composure. She turned to Farem and eyed him threateningly.

“You will be punished, dearest husband,” she purred.

“May the gods be with me.” Farem prayed to the blue sky. Somewhere up there, the celestial divinities were throwing high-fives and flinging heavenly popcorns everywhere.

The couple continued walking down the town’s market square. In the middle, a large bronze statue commanded attention. The statue bore a golden crown, reminding Aria of someone familiar. She jogged closer to get a better look. That mustache. That well-groomed hair. The statue’s face confirmed her suspicion.

The High Emperor.

“He sure looks as grim as ever. Perhaps even grimmer.” Farem strolled over to her side.

“It surprised me that you stopped working with him back then…” Aria stared at the Emperor’s stoic face. It had been years. She could never forget his claymore, shining brightly as it inched close to her throat. He was the mightiest sovereign of the continent, ruling over the greatest nation among nations.

Aria knew she had to be careful. This town, this ground, and everyone here resided in the territory of the High Emperor. A part of the Highpeak Kingdom. It seemed he still wanted her head, judging from the heavily guarded town gates.

Farem nodded. “Yeah… He was kind of weird.”

Her eyes darted to the left, spotting three guards marching around with wanted posters. “Let’s go.” She squeezed his hands and pulled him away. 

But then, they glanced her way. One of them gasped.

Oh, no.