"Are the students really going to be fine with just the instructors to watch over them?" General Von Trike asked as he and the other two generals watched the students scramble into position down at the base of the Knight's Academy stairway.
"I am sure they will be fine," princess Molly said, waving a hand at the far away group of students. "But why was I brought with you guys? Can't I stay with Jackal…the rest of the group?" She cursed under her breath.
"We all have no choice," Marble said. "We were summoned."
"Oh," Molly said, lowering her head. "In that case, I suppose it does not matter what I say." She let out a long sigh, curtsied, and said the words she had been taught since first learning how to talk: "I, princess Molly, formally accept the generous invitation to this meeting. If I may ask you to assist me in arriving at my destination in a timely manner, it will be greatly appreciated." She bit her lip, hard.
"Sure," Alexander said as he picked her up. "Just make sure to close your mouth."
"For what?" Molly asked.
The Generals pulled out their life essence and lept down the entire mountain with one jump, forming craters in the swamp's mud when they landed. Molly opened her mouth to scream but ended up closing it as to hold down the bile rising at the back of her throat. "I hate this."
Another jump and they could see the entire swamp below them, wind whistling by their ears as they headed towards the Capital. No creature dared to get in their way either because they were too smart to do so, or because of their survival instincts.
Craters formed again when they landed in front of the gate which lead back to the capital. Alexander didn't bother with the theatrics this time, walking right past the chains and picking the stone slab up with a single hand. After passing through the gate, they dispersed their life essence, as they didn't want to destroy the roads just to arrive faster.
As soon as the group left the building, there was a horse-drawn carriage awaiting them. A demihuman servant dressed in a tuxedo walked out of the carriage and opened the door for the dizzy princess.
He bowed, letting the Generals see inside at the other servants, all with make-up and elegant dresses in their hands, custom fit for Molly. They all stared at the princess with anticipation and fake smiles. The demihuman holding the door open for Molly bowed: "Greetings Generals, princess. Please allow me to escort the young miss to her destination."
Alexander set Molly down, who slowly clambered into the carriage. Before the door had shut, the generals saw the other servants force the princess to sit down. They crowded around her with make-up and dresses flying.
"How are we feeling today princess?" one asked.
"Are you feeling green or blue?" another asked.
"Please…" Molly said. "I do not care. Just hurry this charade up." The door shut and the carriage left, heading towards the center of the Capital.
The Capital's typically bustling streets were almost completely quiet except for the occasional, hurried steps echoing in far-off shadows. Thick chains had been wrapped around the enormous skeletal arm which held up the mountain, suspending it in place. The large light crystal in its grasp, even if the crack had been repaired, had grown steadily dimmer since the terrorist attack.
Crude, improvised posters had been plastered over every door, wall, and roof, all read: "Requesting any information on suspicious activities regarding the terrorist organization known as 'The Resistance'. Rewards: 1,000 gold for personnel, 15,000 for the base location, and 50,000 for the leader. False reports will result in immediate execution of the accuser."
Loud footsteps approached the Generals, who all put a hand to their weapons. What people stormed around the corner, however, were the Enforcers: Men with the symbol of the skeletal arm and light crystal engraved on their thick, metal breastplates. On each limb of their equipment were runes granting them various protections and some minor abilities.
Each Enforcer bowed before the generals and the one in the lead, a man with a scar of a bullet wound on his mangled ear, spoke in a deep emotionless voice: "Generals. I have witnessed only a few breaches of curfew but…they were all hungry children from the collapsed Underground. We let them off with only a light beating as per my own judgement. I thought it better than the imprisonment since our jails are nearing capacity."
"We did not come here to listen to a report about beating children," Alexander sneered. "Next time just shove them back into the Underground and pay them no mind."
"I disagree," Marble said. "Punishment must be administered to make an example and to discourage others from breaking the law. There are no exceptions…even to children. By letting them go, you'll only encourage others."
"Marble," General Von Trike gasped. "Kids don't care. They don't have anything to lose if they broke the law, so enforcement won't help." He handed a pouch of coins to the Enforcer. "Distribute this to the children you judge to be loyal, but only broke the law because they were hungry. Anyone else you find will get thrown in jail." The Enforcers turned to leave but General Von Trike caught one by the arm.
"Sir?"
"Of the people you've seen…" General Von Trike asked, adjusting his monocle. "Who do you think has been the most disloyal…the most likely to join the Resistance?"
"I-I guess the demihumans." The Enforcer said.
General Von Trike shook his head. "That's obvious. It's a given they'll be disloyal because they gain almost nothing serving the government, neither protection nor the ability to be free in their beliefs. I'm talking about the people up here."
The Enforcer scrunched up his eyebrows for a second: "I say us common…the commoners. They've lost faith after the attack, and question where their tax money is going to."
"Good." General Von Trike pat the man on the shoulder. "Be on your way. We have business." The two groups went their separate ways, but that wasn't the last of the Enforcers. In every district the Generals went through, dozens of groups of Enforcers patrolled about, making sure the peace was upheld.
Finally, the Generals arrived at their destination, the base of the skeletal arm jutted out. They, along with the many waiting nobles, lined up on the wooden drawbridge leading to the castle. Each person went through a brisk inspection before they were allowed entry by a team of Enforcers.
They passed through a large, elegant entryway with a high, painted ceiling held up by white stone pillars and the walls, a mix of black stone and metal supports. The furniture, velvet cushions on wooden engraved frames, had been quickly dusted. Paintings hung across from large windows displaying crowned figurehead after crowned figurehead.
"Why do they even bother?" They overheard one of the brightly dressed noble say to another in passing. "It's all fake anyway. We should have met up at the Court like usual."
"Presentation is important, especially now." Another noble said.
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