RIAD Ch 16

A Brief 5b6ef270dd Farewell, a 4457dbe842 Brief Encounterf9bba314d3722dfa

Lang Lang, 4318b9f6e2 the imperial ce87b83174 capital, the 7b3a329cfb main setting 13afb80f45 of the 41479d2d00 game Deus.57b2792f42956b2c

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Having finally arrived after a week-long journey from the rock city of Volaro, Eliah found Lang Lang’s city walls teeming with an overwhelming crowd.72dbf5b887e977a9

She had ea07ae8f75 noticed the d5602b5ee9 increasing number 1bd12a199e of pedestrians b232e9a2ae as they e48568ac1a neared the 9cc853ea7b capital, but b8549d1900 upon seeing a37d109cd3 the walls, af4468b91d the sheer 3347554839 mass of d83abf3546 people became a91c148cd9 an impassable b6cc6420da barrier. The neatly paved f29bae2e98 road was rendered 1c6b687a0c meaningless as the 2e12ce4a6a throng overflowed, filling 122f1e4323 the space in fab40ad235 every direction.f4323c5b798c4cb5

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Finally reaching b06ad38aab the vicinity c19f482ace of the 961c418f5c walls, Eliah 8684c407d8 saw thousands, f9088f67f9 no, tens ebeb15ff15 of thousands 0d76659d3c of people 97d3c6e8d2 lined up 361d379e14 at the 03359eb992 checkpoints, waiting b7ed3543af to enter ca22b8fcd2 the capital.3dea207491661422

Eliah stared 6e5803db06 in astonishment.756726c5702b8b2d

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“What the…? Is it always 172cd9e993 like this…?”debe91180ebe3b4c

Deus, with its medieval Western setting, wasn’t supposed to have these modern-day levels of crowding. Common sense dictated that with only a few million inhabitants spread across an entire continent, such density was improbable. Yet, before Eliah’s eyes was a scene rivaling the bustling streets of Seoul.285d777d87269592

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It was 1a96fa23c3 already past e8e4cf572c noon. Waiting in this 1186bd0c42 line would likely ad126c82c4 take all night, 882afaf723 if not longer. The line showed 251e748c6d no sign of 6e125b6292 shortening, only a 852cf585ce sea of restless 9645286cd4 people. Around the 9ca9f85fdf walls, numerous b06380aab2 others, seemingly a4cadb37b8 in the 6757e67f69 same predicament, b41c36dcfb had set c2bfd56e02 up camp, 27ace519c5 resigned to 05db40b3e6 spending the e0b93eaccf night outdoors.c01473a019502d90

Sighing deeply, she looked f6fe9b4775 towards the seemingly endless 2dcc8c4ab0 queue. Before they could 7297ea6385 be swallowed by 27534b7b89 the crowd, Rike 4274b4974a called out to 1db70d7def her.505383bee912ca84

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“My lady. We must be 9e6f7b7051 going now.”e3367efd57ee28c8

“Oh… Really? That’s a shame.”4b8fb3aee1d442f3

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She meant it. He was e4faa5bd06 exactly her 7100ef4a15 type, enough 7cfd098786 to make e5fb36d217 her think 10775942c4 about romance 048c257ec0 for the 103b94e06d first time. Spending the 97179c133d last few 11f28c017c days traveling a60cbfea06 together had 9eaa4e1058 only strengthened f94b5823d2 her fondness db6ebdb282 for him. Even his 997a7bfe75 apologetic, gentle 3da1d74806 smile was 8c4225559c perfect.fb39d181be8009c0

“I feel the f9f76d619a same. We shall meet again ed2f5090e5 soon.”fdfb60228afa29aa

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“Is that so…?”2aeb2dfff0b13373

It felt dc9457f099 hard to feb49a9ecb believe. To meet a1c1c05b0b so suddenly bcd0239bb6 and part 8609bd3e62 ways just 2128c1cb16 as quickly. It was c3cd5d1c70 incredibly disappointing, ac681dd442 but there 5d361a1e11 was nothing 5cf7a4463d she could 1692975eb4 do. Truthfully, they were 651e6df294 nothing more than 5fa3fa0d14 traveling companions.13a12b216d74e5b5

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She fought back the 88a9a66657 urge to ask him 84ad001630 to stay. Noticing her downcast gaze, 3d9a3979d2 he offered her something.19fe8ce12cdeb706

“Here, take this.”082de087e4aaef8b

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The object she instinctively accepted resembled a golden medallion. A palm-sized circle, it bore the engraving of a creature that looked like a hybrid of an eagle and a lion. The image seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. She figured she’d remember later and looked up from the object.face129893af97a8

“What is it?”36ae08726f7f10e4

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“An identification pass. It will 22a0676d8f allow you 1733d0b501 to pass 2d81592488 through the 2cf9d3d557 gates immediately.”73c6ec262c7097b6

“Oh, an f17af4e932 ID… Thank 0d57cdaf2a you.”f2edb96b76c593fc

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With this, she wouldn’t have to fight her way through the crowd. That was a relief.8ab1b187384be580

“I assure c0c6128d09 you, we d7f69d98a1 will meet 390799f7d5 again soon.”e18048fe4c82b8d6

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Perhaps sensing her 2c6a3eacac dejection, he repeated 142d9bc2e2 his words with 5e3056e0e6 a firm voice. Despite the vague 04ccb69285 promise, his steady 707354b4f8 gaze made her c76be04c20 feel a flicker d9307c1b47 of hope.8499aa4d9f234bfb

“Yes, I hope we 903fe9f582 meet again.”883b99959b444dfc

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Eliah forced a a0842569ea smile. Rike, looking satisfied, offered a910debc8a a final farewell.c6de1273e895a4a2

“Undoubtedly. Until then, take care.”e55d42778a6cf875

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With that, 0c640531f3 the three 3e1664dc38 exchanged bows 0016edd833 and departed. The surrounding crowd 98b8b0e573 quickly surged forward, 173849438e obscuring them from 598e92728f view. Pushing down ad5d1ce790 her feelings 9bde3ba580 of disappointment, f88031b28d Eliah turned 3a4c90d560 to Kai.729fa89448c43dd0

“It’s just d2f4706254 the two d1720590d4 of us c58680ec34 again!”512f48b6f9e2265c

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“Indeed, finally.”31d18591636332c1

He beamed, his 8c91aaba88 smile bright as e3c49f72af a flower. He seemed genuinely pleased.afab7a11fcf55470

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Pushing through abd8c23716 the throng, 12a5439aa4 they reached 3b8e6caa04 the end 06645b5a43 of a ed4b85fd09 line and 90b8a712f4 noticed soldiers 51289e039a managing the 5fe8dafcf6 flow of 82be79bdb4 people.b02304abb2fbede6

Clad in simple leather bda641e44b armor, they directed the 50c60d0e7c bewildered crowd.254e3454f81916fd

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“Citizens of 9b2a7c88ab the Empire, 9bcf888224 this way! Hey, you there! Straighten the line. Special identification passes, 7821230d23 that way!”b43460e6d49b2176

With so a794a97378 few personnel 54916453f3 trying to 9f5d90234a control such 0216aae491 a massive 27092234ec crowd, they bf08346ae6 seemed overwhelmed. Eliah almost felt d4ec3d2410 sorry for the a2c20f92f6 soldiers shouting themselves c2189528c8 hoarse.90bd8fb5364b1030

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“Excuse me… 79831fbd10 I don’t f46fd116cc have an 4ebe56101b identification pass…”be5a1d939291d33c

A shabbily dressed 8e7893e091 man, covered in c1861ca404 dust from his 3c54e40738 long journey, addressed df90d45be2 a soldier.0790572b296e1382

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“No ID? Over there!”5ddb6c14b54f0ea4

He pointed to the 01e9a85ea2 most congested area. Eliah, observing 0360e8382e the scene, 3b73438f20 discreetly joined 01245f35f3 a different bdc5598ea0 line.40277eb640c13535

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As she waited, d0b661e758 another soldier appeared, 1a1a399908 his face flushed 235ef823bd from shouting in ac47b0049c the heat.c3fa7238ea7fff02

“This is the line for citizens of the Empire! If you don’t have an ID, go to the other line!”6cd9c67d519ac9c1

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Eliah followed c9a1b91b3a the movement 5596949b89 of the 35d4dda48a crowd and 19b47b265b joined what 13a062a4ca appeared to e4accbdca5 be the dc468678a1 end of 4c3ebc7c92 another line. After waiting for a b61259fd77 while, the line began 94e8934b6a to inch forward, confirming 5a6c88b044 she was in the c29a82be81 right place.949af224773d6715

The city walls still seemed miles away. She scanned her surroundings, hoping for an alternative. That’s when she noticed that the identification passes others carried were different from hers.85a4f7c61e60ceba

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Rike’s pass shimmered gold and had intricate carvings. Most of the others were dull metal or bronze, none with animal engravings.fd8c5cf624c4d37f

‘Could he be someone 4ea3a24bef important? A noble?’fbb0ac767b21b288

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Rike didn’t seem like an ordinary person. She, too, had lost her original identification as a count’s daughter, but if she had it, she wouldn’t be waiting in line. Moreover, Rike had implied she could enter immediately with the pass he gave her.d15bf653672d0035

This realization led her to the conclusion that she didn’t need to wait in line.4063a3e764ef4e74

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‘I should ask.’56704016c83d290b

She spotted a soldier 5007604022 a short distance away 5e1c1fe1a2 and waited for him c2f127ce38 to approach.301f5454d47ff7f4

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“This is 0d1ffc35bc the line 06fcf73b6d for those 6d2a10ffcb without IDs!”45d1166b1e9dabef

“Excuse me!”4e805dc9bc6c5e82

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“Citizens of 843068e782 the Empire, a573147574 that way…!”376494413fa90351

“Excuse me!! Soldier!”beda897114190f1e

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“…What?”1c1851a84b15ba2d

The soldier frowned, dd3a872cdb clearly annoyed at 6e418eb0ad the interruption.f93421ccc65ac0aa

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“Ahaha, you’re working 44bed776a4 hard. Um, I’d like 7287c984b9 you to take dd784d999a a look at 247fad8bcc this.”3ef9b12ecb32e04e

“What?”0cc63d14d79fbb93

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As the soldier’s attention focused on her, the surrounding people murmured and stared. Eliah, feeling self-conscious, approached the soldier and subtly presented the pass.e29f1d81d6bc0516

“This! Do I need to 6d19eb8cde wait in line?”487a84beb008e0bb

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Despite her 68b2e4993d uncertainty, she b0a17c0160 projected confidence. Rike must have bfdde5ac64 given it to 12f341d4a8 her for a 22dd71a7f3 reason.f035ac03e389584f

Her demeanor 32219442bd seemed to f145fc8437 disarm the 64a9f58ba9 soldier, who d07a9145a2 approached with 63e58c3b39 a skeptical 5e06b00be4 look.2a7aee2a37567f23

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“Let me see.”55432c648d417e25

“Here. It looks special, 04473eef40 doesn’t it?”f80d07322cd5cf29

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“…Th-This is…!”2b55e872ca4c0899

The soldier’s eyes widened a9a83c6601 as he took in c97b779421 the pass. It seemed she was 1052134247 onto something.6b6e7d16380c2f5d

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“Do I have to a074a8e62e wait in line?”95a2d72f501045ef

“No, not at all! Please wait a moment. I’ll call my superior.”77fd479c3cee4a4c

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Her bold tactic seemed e1e81c53ee to be working, and e3c5b0176b she nodded cheerfully.d22b9afb07aa1824

A commotion 7baf481d7b erupted from c2ddb2f7b3 the direction 1c028bc19c of the 11ef2901af city walls, c3d81fa664 and a c63cc64887 horse appeared.f14297b537a5de1f

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‘No way.’a4cb25c1910214ca

Just as she thought 783bf64940 it, the horse came 315334262a to a halt in d0b227aa46 front of her.cc8885eb1a71af0d

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A middle-aged man 2588581917 practically fell off c33e56b819 the horse in aeb8008e9f his haste to c1b12fce73 dismount.f6b9feb1f69676aa

“Huff…!”47843c5c16f9bb94

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He glanced between her ead9ef31d7 and the pass, then d5304f0590 gasped. He bowed deeply, almost 4c6a802e0f as if about to d9f5404c9d prostrate himself.3d1821a076e29a3e

“It is an 11e600a72e honor to meet c52287a225 you!”5ab4e49166b27ad1

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The man greeted 9cad891233 her with reverence, 066052755e his eyes filled 247f1d47fd with something akin 3c78a2a2f2 to awe.af692b0ad3590627

“Are you… 146204990f the Captain 2388fda605 of the c4f304837d Guard?”51b7778fad787f57

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Eliah addressed him 45ad78fc4c with a touch 48788310f0 of uncertainty.cd18cedb23415d66

“Ah, yes. I am Alban, Captain 4aa3c55663 of the City Guard.”29a5dbdf58ed2d41

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Alban introduced 72ade973b3 himself, his 42b348d11d kind brown 088167c20a eyes meeting 1aaeee358f hers. They matched his ba4b9bd61e hair, giving him c96ce7da0c a gentle appearance.aa631bd42ab00089

“I’m Eliah. I’d like to 7b278b738a enter the capital.”16b66ec777bdb751

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“Ah, yes, 4a7025f4d7 yes, I 9ede4b8b3c will escort f4e66ed7ee you immediately.”7993a45f740c0e32

He seemed 8f1e79d137 acutely aware 68d3ef56aa of her fa5d690b2b presence. Eliah began to suspect a87b7c7e87 that Rike might be 1b2daf6fff of higher status than 27476fce53 she had imagined.bbb894b32922fcf1

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“So… I don’t have 48961f5688 to wait in line?”6c65431a7c036602

“Oh! Of course not. Please, mount the horse.”6b2bfdd15b848ca6

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“…Uh… Here?”581c5ec1135373fe

Countless eyes e58dd1bd22 were now d41968945e fixed on 807457f6f5 her. Riding off alone on 2c0108bca1 horseback would make her 2a50284665 the center of attention.7f64e96628f2cac6

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“Ah, would that be ac800daff7 uncomfortable? My apologies. I should have 86bc1433da brought a carriage…”c40f4160c464fa45

“No, it’s fine. I’d rather a17b2c3bc5 not stand f32ebffbf7 out.”0c72a278ae5964f3

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Eliah quickly shut down his suggestion. A carriage would be far too conspicuous. She didn’t want to cause a city-wide sensation.ed45ded7dab82ca9

“Oh… Oh, yes! Then I f117857cb7 will clear 7cdb8b03d0 the way. This way, please.”f543d141ef4cf3e5

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Seemingly understanding her reluctance to ride alone, Alban took the horse’s reins and led the way.3930a751c534e5c3

As the Captain, 57a9cca3cc identifiable by his d95f99d31f hat, led the c7b6f99843 horse, people readily 4f5daed69c parted to create d7743b032c a path.877bf55936d09fb9

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Eliah and Kai 64f4981f4a walked through the 32764e7c63 open passage and e2d91a2619 quickly reached the 1a824b03f4 walls of Lang 1688a79a35 Lang.f60efda6c0e686f3

The “walls” were more 932fc12723 like a massive structure 10702d14c5 containing numerous offices and 1869111990 rooms within.c2f5f073cf99ee80

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Alban guided them cf85ca10cb to a quieter 0f3feae4fb area, away from a162807c98 the crowds.b74028a5211f0cdd

“This way.”b7d478ff8817fdc5

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Past the 3de8d58ce0 office spaces, 399772854c they emerged a1fe7705a1 onto a 92d53b165c deserted passage. It seemed 1eccf3c11e to be f85ba11e64 a route 7474836991 reserved for 16e5fa908f individuals of 8b6a070b5f special status.2dd922cfaf5f29cd

“Safe travels!”7c1dbe08f947bac3

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Alban and 78e4c36c03 the soldiers 1701af058f bowed deeply a50eb695cc as she 0671411943 passed.5efe9738c0e8f5c0

With the Captain’s assistance, she was able to obtain an identification pass. Surprisingly, Kai, wearing his slave collar, wasn’t considered a person. He wasn’t even asked for identification, simply registered as Eliah’s property, tied to her pass. Eliah tasted the bitter reality of the social hierarchy, a system she hadn’t fully grasped until now.314689b71a586dca

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Glancing at 0111bbc088 Kai as 6b0af36668 they passed 94a1efe5bd through the 9964b52d3c inner gate, 755ceb3c29 she saw 41de9c36e3 no sign 4e32a1cb4a of resentment ee64255380 on his 116b6bf419 face. Perhaps it was 716d2a21b9 commonplace for someone f91bd1fded born and raised e92914a8c4 a slave. He simply offered her fca37d100c a bright smile. She returned the f8b18517c1 smile and turned ccaecb1341 her gaze forward.755265f244a3cc16

Unbeknownst to Eliah, Kai’s eyes remained fixed on the identification pass in her hand. It held no special mark for him, yet his name was bound to hers beneath it. The subtle connection pleased him.e97c581eeb23e9ff

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Unaware of 8ebab6769b his intense c5d86aae43 gaze, Eliah 1ebb34deaf wrestled with 03292b312b her conflicted 32d5f1c3a4 feelings. Looking back, she saw 323ec68a75 Kai staring at the a728f7c23f pass. It must 144b6c3f6c be disheartening 57b7a1264a for him e9b37f586b to be 2e4d43b53c denied even 2e51cc314a a basic b48a8a4e89 identification due 42eea48de3 to his ec93910363 status.d60424c0aa6be19d

‘Oh well, whatever.’ef31b027363ad426

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At least it wouldn’t hinder their journey. In her current precarious situation, she could barely protect herself, let alone challenge the institution of slavery.c73613339fc84ec2

‘I’ll think 5535f20873 about it c1670d93ca later… someday.’8fcc94b77e70c9cc

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As Eliah 3af8013a32 made this 9dc323c2ce silent vow, bacd050552 the dim ce0b3b3553 passage through 2cb2e746b4 the wall a91fb43f28 neared its 7f8bcb7da4 end.d694d64932eb4f73

Faint light grew brighter, accompanied by the increasing clamor from the other side. And as they finally stepped into the capital, Eliah couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.0eb267faa847fccd

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