***
“Halt!”
Kyrin heard the shout from behind her and turned to look at three of the Holy Knights of Perakis heading her way. Their armor was almost as pristine as the Valharan knights but not quite as intricately decorated. She knew the way to get past them was to appear wandering and unimposing.
“Yes?” she asked, smiling almost sweetly.
“What are you doing out here at night?” one of them asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
“Just passing through.”
“You’re a shifter?”
“Yes”
“What’s your name?”
“Why do you care?” she asked him. “I’ll be out of Terrahaut soon.”
“I care because this is my dimension, and you’re in it.”
“Fine, friends call me Finn,” she said, and smiled. “I am just looking for a portal.”
“That’s it? Nothing else?”
She shrugged. “What else is there? I’m searching for water.”
“Well if you find any water here, you leave it be,” he said angrily.
“I won’t touch your water.”
“I still don’t like that you’re out here alone at night. Something’s suspicious.” The three Holy Knights walked toward her, and her hand itched to grab her flail. She knew they were master swordsman though, and she couldn’t take on three of them without using magic.
“I’m not doing anything. Why can’t you leave me alone?” she asked, stepping back.
“Hold out your right wrist.”
“Why?”
“Because the Clemency Consortium’s been looking for a girl about your description, and she has a D burned onto her right wrist.”
Kyrin hadn’t planned on killing these knights, but now she didn’t have a choice. She reached out, as if to show her wrist, and then grabbed her flail. “Bring it on, Perakis scum.”
They all unsheathed their swords and fell into formation. “Are you Kyrin?”
“Yes, I am,” she said, and advanced.