The capital building of Confine, center of Froir.

The capital building has had a long history. Initially it was a mere school house of a settlement, teaching anyone below the age of twelve the arts of literature and simple mathematics. As time goes, modifications were made to it, and it was rebuilt several times. Each remodel being larger than the last, just like the city that it was in.

Around it were gardens with artificial waterfalls and every kind of flower imaginable. Guard posts could be seen on the outskirts and at ‘choke points’ inside. The structure and property took over eight acres of land and the way it was engineered, made the property and the structure is very hard to tell apart, so the phrase ‘structure and property’ was made to identify such a place. The structure spread over the land from one main box-like building, similar to plant tendrils, and enclosed a circular area.

Just outside one of the sixteen gates around the establishment, Yarla and Shel just arrived when Worill and Tus came out of the ground. The latter was unsteady as he was held up by the white gloved palm clutching his shoulder with a pale pace.

“I don’t want to do that again.” Tus muttered himself.

Yarla casted an indifferent glance at him, before turning around, heading towards the gate. The rest quickly followed behind with Tus being dragged.

The exterior of the gate was made of white marble with two large brown doors that prevented anyone unqualified from entering. On two sides of the gate were guards that watched the newcomers come out of the crowd to stand in front of the gate.

“Name?” In a flash of light, one of the guards jumped from the top of the thirty foot post to the ground. No evidence of impact was made as there wasn’t even a ‘thump’ noise. The guard who jumped down was wearing silver and yellow armor. He asked curtly, not wanting to spend time away from the lunch that he was having. However, once he made it down to the ground the thought of lunch went out of his mind as he felt his entire body go cold. He moved his own internal energy to mitigate the World of Em, but he still felt the suppression to a certain degree.

“Yarla Erkshem.” Yarla said emotionlessly.

The guards’ face distorted before returning to normal. He thought to himself, ‘Why do I have to deal with the Massacring Witch?’

He said aloud, “I need to know your groups basic attributes to allow entry.”

Basic attribute refers to the second hearts’ primary composite, in other words, the element. When the external energy is converted, it become a form that resonates with the persons’ body and soul, so it wouldn’t cause conflict. It turns to such forms such as water, earth, fire, air, life, death, wood, etc. When the internal energy takes effect outside the body, in this case the person is using a method to extract its potential, that element is expressed. Of course, besides the most basic elements, the primary composite of the second heart can become much more varied and abstract. Just take Yarla’s second heart. It exists as a spatial primary deposit that causes mental and body suppression passively, the World of Em enhances those effects while also granting personal abilities by utilizing the spatial property.

What the guard asks for is the general outline of the primary composite, not really the exact details. In this way, the security, even though they have an idea of the members coming for the meeting, they can do guard changes to fit any conflict.

Worill stepped forward, “Pressure, ice, spatial, and non-existent.”

The guards eyebrows shot up, “Non-existent? I’ve never heard of that before.”

Worill pointed to Tus and explained, “He doesn’t have a second heart, so there is no basic attribute.”

The guard nodded before sending a scornful and a curious look at Tus and his body flashed with light and disappeared.

Before entering Oblivion, Tus was very much used to such looks of disdain. In fact, outside of his home, he was bullied and ignored most of the time by ordinary people, with only a few childhood friends who gradually merged with the crowd as they grew older.

Remembering such times, Tus felt relieved and melancholy at the simultaneously. Relieved because he found the memories hazy due to the passage of time, but also sadness due to experiencing them in the first place. In the past, he thought that if he could gain strength and change the world, than that would be wonderful. As things stand to him now though, all of that was a pipe dream. Not being able to gain any kind of power from being within Oblivion for 200 years, all of his hopes for a miracle are down the drain. Sure, he can brag that he lived while fighting countless monsters night and day, but who would he brag to? No one would likely listen to him and even if they did they would ignore him for not biologically fitting into society.

The group waited for a while before the gate was finally opened revealing an elderly man in a clean silver, golden robe and flowing white hair that reached his shoulders. His nose and brown eyes were pointed like a bird as he walked in front of the group. He surveyed the group of four with his interest primarily on Yarla and Tus.

“My name is Eor Iator, at your service.” He introduced himself before bowing, “I’ll take you directly to the first day’s assembly. Right this way, please.” Then they all entered the gate before it closed.

…………

“Why do you think they brought something like that?” In one of the two guard posts above the gate, three people stood at a window watching Tus enter. The person who spoke wore a military uniform of silver and yellow. His hair was a bit grayed, but overall he appeared fairly young, around thirty to forty years. He was a general of Confine’s military, Marcas Yal.

“I think it is interesting.” Said a female who wore a robe with the same silver and yellow design. “People who lack the second heart essentially don’t exist nowadays with their forced extinction. Well, except for the sanctuaries.” She is the director of the servants and guards, Mali Trest.

The third person was entirely covered in black clothing as their silver eyes glowed with a particular obsession. This was a ‘tamed’ monster, named Gargoyle. It said vaguely, with a hidden sinister smile that showed two rows of shiny razor sharp teeth, “There might be some surprises for us during these next couple of days.”