Mary woke early that morning. She was really looking forwards to the next months. While adventuring was fun and all there was just nothing as interesting as trying to understand how the world worked. First she had a friend to show the capital though.

They started after breakfast. She didn't need to bring any weapons, the first three districts of the capital were as safe as a city could get and her magic was way more dangerous than her sword anyways.

She was really glad winter was nearing as the heat could get unbearable in the summers. Fifteen minutes after leaving her home they arrived at the grand plaza.

“The walls are bigger than the central tower in the academy.” Taimanu marveled.

“That's only partially true, the walls on the other side are only fifty meters high, which is easier to accomplish.”

“That's quite a lot of guards for a single building.”

“The royal guard is more of a legion than a guardforce. They do much more than normal legions too. While not official it is common knowledge they control the emperor's network of spies and much more. They would probably do assassination too if that were required. My father once told me there are currently four thousand official members, bigger than any other legion in the empire.

The two thousand not in the palace are spread throughout the empire, securing important trade routes and protecting his family.”

“You want to tell me we had a company of royal guardsmen in the academy and didn't notice?”

“Not directly, they were out in the forest, Starshadow once spotted them before they set up the illusions that guard their camp right after the prince returned from one of his quests.”

“Let's not sour the mood by speaking of that person. Can I see the palace from within?” Tai asked with anticipation.

“Sadly not. While the palace, or at least the part I was allowed to visit is the most impressive piece of architecture I have ever seen the palace is off limits for all but the most powerful nobles.”

“Where is the reason in building a palace if nobody is allowed to see it?”

“Every noble sees it at least once in their live when we have to swear allegiance to the emperor once a year after their eighth birthday and I was allowed to accompany my parents in the last years. You’ll just have to become an archmage and join the empire than you will be able to see it too.” Mary grinned.

“Not gonna happen, I like my tribe very much thank you.”

“Thought so, I wouldn't want to give up my family for the empire as well.”

“So what are we gonna do now?”

“How about a visit to the ranger guild? They have this huge obstacle course and are too afraid of my dad to do anything. Yours too once you tell them who you are.”

“What do you mean?”

“The rangers guild has some very aggressive recruitment tactics. If you have a certain amount of skill they will do almost anything to get you join them. If not for my dad I would surely be a member.”

“Something like that has to be illegal.” Taimanu said, horrified.

“It is. But the ranger guild is on the border of legality anyways. The empire doesn't do anything against them as they don't target officials.”

“You are talking about assassination aren't you?”

“Yep, it's an open secret a ranger of the guild will do almost anything for the right price.”

“So it’s not through the guild but personal?”

“Exactly, but it is clear they don't discourage it as the parkour even has a city part, something no honest ranger should need.”

“And they are afraid of your dad?”

“Yep, they generally ignore requests on the lives of nobles but a group of twenty of them once accepted a commission on his head. Let's just say it didn't go all that well for them and the business they lost in the north because of that made sure they would leave him alone for the rest of his life.”

“Your dad didn't seem scary, more like a friendly old man which is stupid because he is quite young.”

“Oh he can get plenty scary once he sets out to do so. Usually he is happy to solve things without conflict but once someone come the wrong we that someone will regret it. And he is way older than he looks, as you may know your age resets once you evolve.

Here we are, the rangers guild.” Mary indicated at the building in front of them.

The rangers guild was a large building, with six stories it stood out even in the second district. Mary strode in with confidence to one of the counters.

“Hey there, I would like a run on the obstacle course with my friend here.” She said while showing her card to the guy at the counter.

“Sure thing Lady Falconbridge, that will be five silver. I assume you know the way?”

“Let's go Tai.”

They arrived at the obstacle course a few minutes later right on time to see a woman fall in the pond after losing her grip on a rope. Mary grinned, it was always easy to trick some of the newbies to try the hardest course for simple money. It didn't work on her as she barely managed to finish the course after five tries, to the great chargain of the three rangers that talked her into it.

“I see you are taking out a new member again Rokian.” Mary smiled at the huge man. Rokian was one bear of a man, over two meters tall with shoulders broad enough that Taimanu could comfortably sit on. He was a damn fine ranger though, one of the few that didn't take any shady jobs. Mary met him after he came back from a request for her father and had instantly taken a liking to the man. He had tried managed to talk her into trying the obstacle course in the hopes of taking her pocket money.

“Mary girl, good to see ya, I thought you were in school? Did they throw you out because of your attitude?” He laughed. Mary hit him on the shoulder.

“I have holidays you big oaf, I came here to have some fun with my friend.”

“The little beastkin is your friend? Well small kitty how about a wager? I bet three gold you won't reach the other side of the course in five tries.” Taimanu flashed him an evil grin.

“If I manage on the first you’ll stop trying that on new members of your guild.”

“Ha. Sure thing if you manage the hardest obstacle course in one try! I’ll even give you an extra try because I like your attitude.” Mary had her smile. There was no way Taimanu would fail that parkour. The small beastkin had a crazy control over her body and was made for stuff like that.

The course itself was five hundred meters long and you had to manage to cross them in ten minutes. That sounded easy in theory but with the obstacles it was quite challenging.

“You have to finish in ten minutes Tai.” She said, winking at her friend.

“Three … Two … One … Start!”

The first part of the course was simple, you had to cross a small pond, twenty meters across by jumping between thing logs ten centimeters in diameter. Each of those was about a meter and a half from the next so you had to do them at once or risk getting thrown off by the magical winds created to increase the challenge.

Taimanu jumped on the first, testing her feeting and then started. There were twenty of these logs sticking out of the water but that didn't matter to her friend, she easily jumped from one log to the next, ignoring every second log. She crossed the pond in record time and continued on to the climbing wall. She had to ascend an overhang of five meters. It didn't even stop the beastkin, she jumped once, reached the halfway point and jumped again with her arms just reaching the top.

After hauling herself up she had a few meters of even land to cross after which came a bridge five centimeters in diameter and thirty long with swinging logs and magical winds to be a challenge.

Taimanu had to problem with the small bridge as her pads were smaller than a humans feet and her sense of balance was far superior as well. Even Mary was impressed how her friend wove through the logs without problem, never once stopping her sprint. Next up was a simple two and a half meter all wall without any handholds, something which Tai just jumped over once again.

With one fifth ready Taimanu still had four hundred meters left. This part was less about running and more about strength of arms. First Tai had to crawl through under a low hanging ceiling, something she could do easily enough with her small stature. After another twenty meter sprint through some mud she had arrived at the spot the previous occupant had failed, a thirty meter long pond with some ropes hanging above.

Taimanu cleared it with ease, jumping between the ropes with the agility of a monkey. The rest of the course was no problem for her friend just like Mary thought. All in all Tai needed about four minutes. Mary turned to Rokian whose mouth was still hanging open. She grinned evilly.

“Told you you will lose to her, she is a cat beastkin something like this isn't even an obstacle for her.” He groaned.

“Played me well there, but you know I will have to report something like this to my superiors don't ya, didn't do your friend a good service.”

“Don't worry, she is like me, her dad is a chieftain.” Taimanu joined them.

“I won.” She grinned, only a little out of breath. “Why were you talking about my dad?”

“Just to discourage the guild to force you to join them, they like to ‘secure’ talent like you. If you have some serious backing or powerful family they will abstain from tha.”

“So I’d have to join that guild if not for my dad?”

“Most likely yes.”

“Ah well, lucky me than. Do they have something challenging?”

“That was the hardest, most people struggle for years until they beat it, there aren't many cat beastkin in human cities so having something they call challenging isn't worth it.” Mary answered. “And really all the other beastkin aren't nearly as athletic as you.”

“That's true, so can we visit the adventurers guild perhaps they have something that we two can do to kill some time.”

“Which one, the capital has four know of, one in the noble quarter for noble adventurers another one in the third for more high end adventurers and another two in the fifth district. I would suggest the third they are the most likely to have something we can do as two.”