A new day gave way to a farewell. Both Idelya and the rest of their group were aware that staying together any longer would put them in danger. Perhaps they would have been kind to them since they had met, though that did not prevent them from looking out for their survival, mainly because of Finnian's recommendations. Maybe that was why Idelya gave him a parting gift, even if it wasn't as mysterious as the previous day's reading. A brown and crimson scarf with a silver duck symbol on its ends.

"No matter where you go, any merchant will recognize it if you show it to him," Idelya said.

"What does it mean?" Aer said, stealing his words and as intrigued as the others.

They were allies. In Elthea and elsewhere, some people made a living at the expense of others, with few merchants who could be considered honest. Idelya's clan was the second one, and that they had such a token marked them as supporters. They may have only shared the road for a day, but their memories would not fade.

"It's funny," Blanche said. They had already said goodbye to everyone and remained in the sanctuary. Finnian glanced at her, waiting for her to finish, "You don't behave any differently than you did on Earth, or not at all, and you make more friends than you did back there. Why is that?"

He merely shrugged, aware that his answer wouldn't do much good. After all, Blanche always behaved that way, and he wasn't going to try to change her. Part of him wanted to get it over with so that everyone could go their way, but the other possibility would take him too far away from his partners to look for something like that so soon.

So, after putting away the scarf, they continued their journey to Kiyeira without too many complications. The excellent weather of the previous day had disappeared, cooling down as they went along, as the sky became overcast and turned grey and white. The possibility of the storm worsening was one too great, although the closer they got to the city, a new inconvenience appeared in front of them. And in the most literal sense!

"What's going on here?" Leith mumbled.

"They're not giving anything away, are they?" Finnian said.

"I wish it were just that," Nero said.

With Ead getting ahead of him, it was enough for him to stop glowing to go almost unnoticed, although a bit of magical help never hurt. Nevertheless, Nero had seen enough to understand faster than the rest what was going on. An extensive line of elthean seeking to enter Kiyeira was as diverse as if it were a toy catalogue. They were refugees in need of asylum after losing their homes. However, the city authorities kept a close eye on the available entrances.

"Now I wonder if it would be a good idea to go further," Finnian said.

"Why do you say that? We are Signs. They are likely to let us pass to go on with our business," Blanche said.

"Yeah, like we've always had success with other large groups," Aer said.

Staying at a prudent distance would not help them either. They were not far from the city, but they didn't know how long it would take to get that line to move forward. They could get ahead, as Blanche said, but there was more to it than she didn't seem to realize.

"The tension is building," Rune said. "It's logical, although it would be worse if they had closed the doors to anyone nearby."

"We have to intervene," Finnian said.

"Any ideas? Because we don't know what's going on inside enough for them to control who comes in," Aer said.

"It's possible, but this is about Ariel and the Eroder, isn't it?" Finnian said, looking around, "It affects us, even a little."

It might be true that getting involved in how that city governed was none of his business, especially given all the implications it would have. Even Finnian wasn't sure what to do, being the first indication that they shouldn't be rushed. However, the chaos was spreading, although it did not end up exploding. Far from being something you could see with the eyes, it was like an invisible fog spreading among the refugees.

"We'll do what we can without getting overly involved. The important thing is that no one gets hurt," Finnian said as they continued toward the city.

"Why do you make a habit of going into danger? Shouldn't we turn back?" Blanche said.

"This isn't about yelling at them to let us through. It's about avoiding the worst-case scenario," Rune said.

"Although it wouldn't hurt for someone to put their foot down," Aer added.

What they did after that was yet to be decided. Returning to the road caused several to focus on them, although fewer than expected because someone had started a discussion. Before crossing up the bridge, with still a long way to go before they could enter, they saw guards encircling a figure. At first glance, it was a stylized human with green armour and a shield on each forearm. No further details of his person were apparent, though a voice so intense and loud filled the sound in the absence of others.

"We have been waiting for three days, and now you dare to slam the door in our faces?"

"Kiyeira cannot accept any more refugees," one of the guards spat.

"Have you no compassion for those in need?" the one in green armour exclaimed. "Do you think we came all this way because we love the view?"

They had lost their homes, their livelihoods. The possibility of continuing as they had known until now was not within reach of just anyone. What Green Armor was shouting was what many thought, the story of many elthean who hoped that those walls might offer them some protection as they slept. He tried to push aside several guards to make his way to the large gates that were now closed.

He was disturbed, but the worst thing was not the scene he had created. The riots would start if someone did not intervene, and it would be the same people who remained outside who would end up suffering the consequences.

"Why don't we all calm down?" Aer said, raising his voice.

"Before someone gets hurt," Rune added.

The elthean couple had gone ahead, followed by the rest at a short distance. Most let them pass without a problem, recognizing them almost instantly. The whispering had begun, each murmuring other comments. Some believed that their presence would give them a chance to enter the city, while others feared for their safety in their proximity.

One of the guards, the one who must have been of higher rank, for his clothing was different from the blue uniform of the others, having an additional white among his colours, emerged from among his own to speak to them. However, he could not appreciate other features of this one more accurately. None of those present ceased to be tense, ready to fight at the slightest threat. What they did from now on would be crucial.

"This is not Signer's business. The Kiyeira's government reserves entry to those it deems a danger, and that includes you."

"Are you the captain?" Finnian said.

After a glance at him and Blanche, he not only ignored him but addressed the rest of their group.

"You should leave before the situation gets more complicated."

"Is that a threat?" Blanche said, attempting to approach, but was stopped by Finnian.

"Don't jump in. That's what they want."

Some could consider them the saviours, the chosen ones, even if many saw them as dangerous. Wherever they went, there was a very high possibility that the Lord of Calamity or anyone with evil intent would follow them. As much as they tried to restore Elthea's balance, not everyone was their biggest fan.

Green Armour continued to be the centre of attention, although that anger and frustration that had characterized him so far were overshadowed. Perhaps his intervention would have been appropriate to stop him from doing something he would later regret, though they were far from getting out of there safely.

"We are not against the Signers, their allies or their mission, but we will not take sides."

The way he expressed himself was similar to a telegram or the typical student who memorized the lesson without understanding or sharing it. Having so many onlookers were getting on his nerves, although they couldn't turn away either. The urge to answer the guard would not go away, not to mention that his friends were just as upset as he was.

Taking a deep breath, he closed the distance to Aer and Rune so that he could reach Green Armour. Though they did not draw their weapons, the guards tensed but would not hesitate to do so. Then, after uttering a smile, he asked the one who had generated so much controversy:

"What is your name?"

"Me?" the elthean hesitated, and when he saw that he nodded without getting upset, he finished by adding, "Ephemer."

"Pleasure to meet you, Ephemer. I am Finnian."

Holding out his hand was an absurd gesture in such a situation. However, he had managed to catch him off guard, and Ephemer even agreed to such a gesture. His touch was enough to sense fear and desperation that had only been there for a short time, but it had penetrated to the very depths of his being.

"Why don't you go back with the others while we take care of this?" Aer said, appearing to his right.

"We'll do what we can. You have our word," Rune said.

Though he wasn't convinced that they hadn't attacked him, it said a lot more about them than it did about Kiyeira's guards. However, jumping to conclusions was not his job, at least not at this point. Ephemer ended up nodding, no longer sure of making his way through a city that did not want to receive him. Then, being followed by his partners, he advanced towards the guards' group that did not look away.

"Who is the one in charge?" Finnian said.

Again, the one in command ignored him, telling the rest that they should leave once more. However, Ead's intervention was so timely that it seemed planned.

"If you're not going to go to him, find someone who can talk to all of us," the frionach said.

"Because we're not going anywhere until your boss comes here," Nero said.

And from the collective applause behind them, they knew that they had intervened in something that might not affect them ultimately. Because if this was born out because of Ariel or the Eroder's presence, they had to do everything possible so that fewer lives were lost in the process, whether the Kiyeira government liked it or not.