Mimic Awakening

Chapter 44: Into The Imperial Capital

On a sunny day, a magic circle suddenly comes forth in the middle of the woods. A second later, two figures instantly appear on the magic circle.

It is a pair of a man and a woman, who both seem to be in their adolescence. Azrael and Alina have arrived near the outskirts of the capital of the Siafran Empire, the Imperial City of Saiverr.

"It’s sure hot in here."

(The empire is far from the north after all.) Claire responds to Azrael’s mumble through Farspeech. (I have given the list of what we need to Alina. Leave it all to her. All you have to do is to protect her.)

(Leave it to me. I’ll see you later.) Azrael then abruptly ends the telepathic call.

"So we just have to walk until we reach the road?"

"Yes. We will be able to see the road to the imperial capital half a shadowturn from here and then another half before we step into the outermost wall of the imperial capital."

"That’s quite a walk. Nevertheless, let’s go."

◆◇◆

An hour later, after covering around five kilometers of compacted dirt road, Azrael and Alina have arrived at the gates of the outermost wall of the city of Saiverr. There is a long queue of those on foot to enter the city, so the pair wait in line for their turn.

"The imperial capital is quite big," Azrael says as he peers up to the top of the wall.

The capital of the Siafran Empire, Saiverr, is the biggest city on the Western Revoria in terms of size and population. It is also the most prosperous city in the region as well as one of the major cities on the continent of Revoria.

From a bird’s eye view, the large square-shaped city is composed of three twenty-meter-high walls, namely, the inner, middle, and outer walls. The city is inhabited by around half a million people compared to the hundred thousand population of the Roheazul Kingdom’s capital. Other than the size differences, the imperial capital has one thing that the kingdom capital does not have.

"Wait, that person’s ears are quite long. Is that an elf?"

"That’s right, Master. He’s an elf. I assume that it is your first time seeing one."

"Yeah."

Boarding a horse-drawn carriage, Azrael sees a nonhuman among the passengers. Alina quickly points out that what he is looking at is indeed an elf, a classic race in fantasy books.

Azrael has seen orcs and goblins in the dungeon, so he is expecting that other races must exist in this world too. He only sees one now since, according to Claire, the Kingdom of Roheazul firmly believes in human supremacy.

In the kingdom, nonhuman races like elfs, dwarves, beastfolks, and so on are persecuted. The kingdom is also known for being the most religious nation on the continent after the Holy Lands of Velerian, even though the Holy Lands does not explicitly support human supremacy.

The empire does not discriminate against every race; as a result, a portion of the empire’s population is nonhuman. Even though the empire welcomes other races, they are wary of a few races that can potentially harm the empire, like the demonfolks, or, as they are known, the majins, of the Eastern Revoria.

As Azrael takes a closer look at the surroundings, he starts seeing more nonhuman races entering and leaving the city. The culture of the Kingdom of Roheazul makes him realize that racism even exists no matter the world.

"It’s about our turn, Master," Alina reminds.

"Right."

Once the people in front of them pass the gate, it is now their turn. As the one with experience, Alina walks first, and then he follows. They find themselves before the opened windows of a guardhouse, where a few gate guards are stationed to check the entering citizens.

"You need to show your identification before you can enter the city."

The male guard says with a serious tone, asking them for their identification. In response, Alina grabs the handbag hanging on her left arm and takes out a small, half-centimeter thick, and rectangular metallic card. She hands it out to the guard before he places it into the mold, the same size as a magical device.

So that’s an identification card, huh?

The majority of this world adapts an identification system that utilizes a person’s magical signature by imbuing it into an article called an identification card. This system is developed by the Sorcerer Elf Nation, the most technologically and magically advanced nation on Revoria.

Normally, the people can enter the city without inspection. But due to the current war with the Kingdom of Roheazul, the large cities in the empire have implemented a mandatory inspection of the travelers to spot spies or people transporting illegal contraband into the city.

"Alright. You are all good," the guard confirms her identity upon seeing the gem on the device lights up blue. "But how about him?"

"Actually, he doesn’t have an identification yet. We came here for him to register for an identification."

"I see. It’s very unusual that he hasn’t registered yet. But anyways, please place your hand on this device and channel your mana to make sure that you haven’t registered with any nation."

"I understand."

When a person reaches a certain age, they are required to undergo the process of identification. Each village, town, and city has a device that registers their population before sending it to the capital of their nation.

Every nation has their own identification. When a person registers, their mana will be sent to the magical data center in the capital to claim the person’s magical signature as a citizen of the nation.

As instructed, Azrael places his palm on a magic device that looks like a digital weighting scale. He channels his mana into it, and one of three gems on the device lights up.

"A white, so you’re clean," the guard says. "If you are going to register, then please proceed to the registration office right beside the gate."

"Thank you, sir. Let’s go, Alina."

◆◇◆

"Where do we get this mithrill wires Claire needs for modifying the house?"

"If I remember correctly, they can be sold beyond the middle walls, the busiest area of the city. I think it would take half a shadowturn to reach by foot."

"I see, so we have to board a carriage then."

It did not take half an hour before Azrael got his identification card. From now on, Azrael Demiurge is a citizen of the Siafran Empire. If he were to ask, he actually prefers living in the empire to the kingdom.

After getting his card, Azrael and Alina are currently walking along the main road for a little sightseeing. Looking around, Azrael once again realizes that he is in another world.

Brick and cobblestone roads, wooden houses with stone foundations, Hanseatic establishments. From his view, he feels like he is in medieval-to-Renaissance Europe.

He enjoys the foods the city offers together with Alina. Claire has given them quite a sum, so they do not hold back with their lunch. Now that he thinks about it, they look like a couple given their similar age range.

Claire taught him about the currency of this world. On this continent, every nation circulates the coins that the Sorcerer Elf Nation mints. The Elf Nation is considered the most neutral and one of the most powerful nations, and every nation collectively agrees on using the currency they mint.

The elven currency is composed of six distinct coins, namely, from the least to the most valuable, small nickel, large nickel, brass, silver, gold, and platinum. The face value increases by ten in order, so a gold coin is equal to ten thousand small nickles.

After the sightseeing, the two continue on to purchase the things they need, like food ingredients and the materials for building the house. Realizing how big the imperial capital is, they decide to take a carriage ride to reach the middle wall.

"Carriages usually park in the carriage station," Alina informs him. "I think the station is near the gate."

"Okay."

Standing at the side of the main road, Azrael’s eyes locked onto a luxurious carriage moving steadily on the brick pavement.

"It must be a noble’s carriage," Alina mutters.

"Yeah, I think so too."

As the carriage passes them, Azrael cannot help but look at the window. The glass is dark like a car’s side window. Even with that transparency, Azrael can see what is beyond the glass.

Inside the carriage, he sees a lone passenger, a woman to be exact. Possibly noticing his curious gaze, the woman stares outside and sees them. For some reasons, she breaks out a smile.

"What was that?" Azrael ponders as the carriage rolls farther.

"Are you alright, master?"

"Oh? Well, yeah. Nevermind me. Let’s go."

Claire has taught him how to suppress his mana to the point it is distinguishable from a regular adventure, so no one would know he possesses power greater than the Great Sorceress.

Azrael cannot let that weird feeling go. He feels some mysterious aura around that woman. No matter what it is, he just shrugs it off and goes to the carriage station with Alina.